An apparatus for cutting chips from a workpiece includes a cutting tool having a rake face and a flank face, the rake face including a cutting edge. A chip breaker is positioned adjacent the rake face for lifting a chip from the rake face after the chip is cut from the workpiece. A supply head is positioned adjacent the chip breaker and a chamber for receiving cryogenic coolant may be formed between the supply head and the chip breaker. A primary nozzle is positioned for directing cryogenic coolant from the chamber onto the rake face and under the chip cut from the workpiece. The primary nozzle may be formed by one or more nozzle channels recessed into the rake face of the cutting tool. A secondary nozzle positioned adjacent the flank face of the cutting tool for directing cryogenic coolant from the chamber onto the flank face of the cutting tool may be provided, wherein access of the secondary nozzle to cryogenic coolant from the chamber is determined by movement of the supply head between first and second positions with respect to the chip breaker.

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for cryogenically cooling a cutting tool. More particularly, the invention relates to a cutting tool which provides cryogenic cooling to the point of the tool which experiences the highest temperature during cutting and a method thereof. Furthermore, the invention is drawn to a chip breaker which contains a channel for cooling the tool.
Metal cutting or machining is a chip forming process. When the cutting tool engages a rotating workpiece with a fixed feed, a chip of material is formed by the tool penetrating into the workpiece. The chip formation involves two mechanisms referred to as primary deformation and secondary deformation. The process of primary deformation is actually a shearing process. The chip is fragmented from a ductile workpiece but rejoins itself, forming a continuous chip. Then friction between the chip and tool face deforms the bottom side of the chip, a process referred to as secondary deformation in the friction zone. Heat build up, as a result of this friction, increases the temperature of the tool drastically and concentrates the heat at the interface of the chip and the tool face. As the chip slides on the tool face, the temperature continues to increase until the contact pressure between the chip and tool drops. The highest temperature is experienced at a point along the tool face, also known as the rake face, but at a small distance from the cutting edge of the tool, as shown in the sample temperature distribution of FIG. 1 for normal conventional machining. The highest temperature point usually coincides with the area where crater wear occurs, a distance from the tool corner. This distance is approximately equal to the undeformed chip thickness or feed. Because of this high temperature, the cutting tool could overheat decreasing the tool life, increasing the force required to cut the surface and decreasing cutting accuracy.
When cutting ductile materials such as soft aluminum or low carbon steels, the heat causes a "stickiness" which produces material build-up on the edge of the cutting tool also, known as "welding." Conventionally, this problem has been solved by applying cutting fluid or cutting oil in a flood or mist directly to the back-side of the chips, the side opposite the cutting tool. This served as both a coolant and a lubricant. These cutting fluids however, resulted in a bad odor, water penetration into the machine bearings, and sanitary problems. In addition, they are prone to damaging the environment and may even cause health hazards.
The application of cryogenic fluid to cool the metal cutting process started as early as the 1950's. The cryogenic fluids used were CO.sub.2, freon, or solvenlene. They were sprayed in the general cutting area or were applied to the workpiece before cutting in a prechill. This method, however consumed excessive amounts of cryogenic fluid and had no lubrication effect. It has been demonstrated that it is generally undesirable to cool the workpiece by the cooling power of the liquid gas. In general, the strength of the workpiece material increases as the temperature drops, and the material becomes harder. Therefore, the tool requires more force to cut the harder material and the material becomes more difficult to machine.
Two known methods of using cryogenic fluids to cool the cutting tool are shown in patents to Philip and Dudley. As explained below, neither of these methods cool the face of the tool where the highest temperatures are encountered. Both cool the interior or backface of the tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,802 to T. B. Philip discloses carbon dioxide in the form of a liquid, gas or snow to cool the interior of a cutting tool. The carbon dioxide is allowed to expand into the vicinity of the cutting edge. A hole is provided in the middle of the cutting tool and a capillary is used to transport the carbon dioxide. Smaller holes are drilled to the tool surface for escape of gases. However, the cryogenic fluid does not reach the point of highest temperature in the tool and this has been proven to be unsatisfactory for the much higher cutting speeds used today.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,114 to G. M. Dudley discloses a cryogenic fluid routed through the tool which is discharged in a stream between the cutting edge and the workpiece when cutting. However, in Dudley, the cryogenic gases are not injected to the point of highest temperature and therefore, the effectiveness of the coolant is reduced. Secondly, in Dudley, carbon dioxide is injected at the interface between the cutting edge and the workpiece (i.e. at the backside of the tool). The coolant alone is used to cool the tool from the side surface, which is not the highest temperature area, thereby making the cooling comparatively ineffective. In addition, the workpiece cooling is not desirable and there is no lubrication effect provided by the methods as shown in Dudley or Philip.
With the improvement of machining technology, the cutting speed is generally much higher than in the past, the heat build up is greater, and the cutting temperature is so high that cooling by the indirect cooling methods of the prior art is no longer effective to cool the high temperatures. The method and apparatus of the present invention provide a practical solution for the improved machining of materials including high speed steel alloys, aluminum, titanium, low carbon steels, and composites.
Since the advent of carbide tools and the use of high cutting speeds, the continuous chips described above, produced in metal cutting have presented serious problems. At lower cutting speeds, these chips usually have a natural curl and tend to be brittle. However, cutting speeds have increased to such an extent that chip control is a necessity. In turning operations, where the tool is continuously removing metal for long periods, a continuous chip can become entangled with the tool, the workpiece, or the machine tool elements. This type of chip can be hazardous to the operator and, unless controlled properly, it can result in mechanical chipping of the cutting edge. In addition, the handling of long, continuous chips can present a major economic problem. For example, handling characteristic of chips can be expressed by their bulk ratio; namely, the total volume occupied by the chip divided by the volume of solid chip material. Unbroken, continuous chips have a bulk ratio of approximately 50. Tightly wound chips have a bulk ratio of approximately 15. Well-broken chips have a bulk ratio of approximately 3. The volume occupied by well-broken chips is, therefore, about one-seventeenth the volume of unbroken chips, a considerable advantage when it comes to handling and disposal.
When the chips are formed they have long grain structures, traverse to the direction of cutting. However, as the chip rubs the surface of the workpiece, the grain structure on the lower surface bends to form a "long tail" due to secondary deformation and the heat build up, as shown in FIG. 2. This lower surface then recrystallizes due to the grain structure and intense heat. This recrystallized area is highly undesirable since it is more difficult to have smaller, broken chips.
This invention has a special advantage in improving the chip breaking. The method of improving chip breaking for ductile material is through the following mechanisms: a) increasing the brittleness of the chip material by the low temperature application of the cryogenic coolant, b) reducing the secondary deformation that occurs at the bottom surface of the chip which rubs on the tool face, c) reducing the long tail in the grain structure of the chips, which is a major cause of the difficulty in breaking ductile chips, d) avoiding the welding or recrystallizing of the bottom layer of the chip (to avoid the strong bonding of chip structure which adds to the difficulty in chip breaking) by the coldness and reduction of the secondary deformation, and e) bending and curling the chip for breaking by the use of both a mechanical chip breaker and the pressure from the cryogenic fluid. This may occur when the liquid expands into gas within the nozzle.
Another problem encountered in conventional machining of soft, sticky, ductile materials, is the friction between the chip and the tool becomes so great that the chip material welds itself to the tool face. The presence of this welded material further increases the friction, and this friction leads to the build up of layer upon layer of chip material. The resulting pile of material is referred to as a build-up edge. The build-up edge often continues to grow and then breaks down when it becomes unstable, and the broken pieces are carried away by the underside of the chip and the new workpiece surface. The resulting workpiece surface is rough. Actually, build-up edge formation in metal cutting is the principal factor affecting surface finish and can have a considerable influence on premature failure of the cutting tool and cutting tool wear. This occurs because the build-up will accumulate on the tool face and pull the tool causing the tool to fall apart due to the two different thermal expansions of the two metals.
In this invention, however, the build-up edge formation is automatically prevented by injecting the super cold cryogenic fluid to the cutting tip area. This reduces the adhesion of the chip material to the tool tip which lowers the temperature in the cutting zone and prevents the welding phenomenon. Also, this invention can clean and remove the possible build-up edge with the cryogenic jet. Because the build-up edge is the main cause of poor surface quality, the method of the present invention also indirectly improves the finish of the machined surface. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting tool which injects liquid nitrogen or other liquified gas as close as possible to the highest heat affected area of the cutting tool, not the workpiece, through a nozzle, between the chip and the tool face. This provides a fluid cushion which reduces the friction of the chip rubbing on the tool face, and reduces the cutting force involved, as well as the abrasive wear. Furthermore, a chip breaker is used to slightly lift up the chip so that coolant can penetrate to the highest temperature area and reduce the contact length of the chip on the tool face. This will improve the penetration of coolant to the cutting zone. Thus friction between the chip and the tool face is greatly reduced and therefore, heat due to the frictional deformation is greatly reduced.


A system for diagnosing a vehicle terminal includes a WiFi dongle coupled to an external connection terminal of a vehicle to connect wireless communication between a vehicle diagnosis device and the vehicle terminal. A vehicle diagnosis device is configured to transmit an inspection start command to the vehicle terminal through the WiFi dongle, and inspect at least one of a Bluetooth function and a voice recognition function. The vehicle terminal is configured to download and store phone book data through Bluetooth paired with the vehicle diagnosis device, detect a phone book name in the stored phone book data, and enter a call making mode. The vehicle diagnosis device inspects the Bluetooth function according to whether the phone book data of the vehicle terminal is downloaded, and inspects the voice recognition function.

A vehicle assembly plant inspects whether a main function of a multimedia terminal for a vehicle (audio, video, and navigation (AVN), hereinafter, referred to as "a vehicle terminal" for convenience) is operated normally after in-line assembling. Particularly, a quality problem is generated in a Bluetooth function or a voice recognition function, which is a main function of the vehicle terminal, such that the vehicle needs to be inspected before being delivered.
In general, when the vehicle is assembled in the assembly line, an operator performs a visual inspection in order to inspect a functional operation of the vehicle terminal (Audio/AVN).
For example, in an existing vehicle assembly plant, in order to inspect Bluetooth of the vehicle terminal, an operator (inspector) manually pairs and connects with a mobile phone and directly executes music streaming to inspect whether the Bluetooth is operated normally.
Further, in order to inspect voice recognition, the operator presses a voice recognition button included in a steering wheel remote control, and checks whether the voice recognition function is operated normally by speaking a representative voice recognition command.
However, since a Bluetooth function and a voice recognition function are optionally provided to an audio product applied to the vehicle terminal, functions thereof may be differently applied, and thus, it may be unclear for the operator to know which function is needed.
That is, in a method of inspecting a function of a vehicle terminal in the related art, the inspection may be improperly performed due to a human error, such as a misconduct or check omission of the operator, and a production lead time is increased due to a manual inspection method, thereby degrading the production efficiency.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Diagnostic system and method for vehicle terminal


Any inspection object regardless of material can easily be inspected or discriminated with high accuracy and high sensitivity by being placed in a magnetic field generated by applying an alternating current to an exciting coil and detecting changes of voltage level and phase of electromotive force induced by a detection coil unit. The discrimination of the inspection object is performed on the basis of a DC voltage value with respect to a standard specimen and a phase differential voltage value with respect to a phase difference between the phase of a voltage signal from the induction coil and the phase of the exciting current to the exciting coil.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electromagnetic induction type inspection device and method for detecting defects such as void and foreign matter, abnormality, electric or magnetic characteristic changes of quenching and annealing, and minimal changes in electromagnetic characteristics of a material being tested by a change of electromagnetic induction. More particularly, this invention relates to an electromagnetic induction type inspection device and method for detecting defects in test materials such as structural parts in automobiles, industrial machines, rails, airplanes and architectural component elements for electric power plants, plant piping in oil factories, bridges, and buildings by placing the test material in a magnetic field induced by an exciting coil and measuring a change of electromagnetic induction.
2. Description of the Related Art
A change of magnetic flux is caused by placing a material object in an alternating magnetic field, resulting in a change of inductance of a coil placed in the same magnetic field. The inductance changes with factors such as electric conductivity, magnetic permeability, size and position of the material object in the magnetic field. As the material object is placed in the magnetic field provided some of known factors are kept constant, the other unknown factors can be determined. There have so far been a variety of electromagnetic induction type defect inspection devices having a nondestructive inspection function of identifying an object being inspected and detecting the presence or absence of the inspection object.
As one typical conventional inspection device of this kind, there has been proposed an inspection device 100A using self-inductance as illustrated in FIG. 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,444). The inspection device 100A comprises a bridge circuit 102 having an electromagnetic coil 101 for producing a magnetic field by application of alternating current. The electromagnetic coil 101 excited by the alternating current from an AC source 103 is equal in inductance to an inductor L of a gage arm of the bridge, while the resistors R1 and R2 having equivalent resistance in the other bridge arms are balanced, so that the output Vout of a differential amplifier 104 connected to the output points Pa and Pb is zero in theory in an equilibrium state of the bridge.
However, when placing an inspection object S in a magnetic field (magnetic flux fL) generated by the electromagnetic coil 101, the self-induction inductance of the electromagnetic coil 101 changes. As a result, the inductor L and the electromagnetic coil 101 in the bridge circuit 102 are unbalanced in inductance, thereby to create a potential difference across the output points Pa and Pb and then produce an output Vout corresponding to the coefficient of induction of the inspection object S. By using data on change of the output Vout, it is possible to easily recognize the material and size of the inspection object and even the velocity of the object moving in the magnetic field. Also, a foreign substance such as contaminant in the known inspection object can easily be found. For that purpose, the bridge circuit of the inspection device should have balance in inductance in the state that the inspection object is brought close to the electromagnetic coil 101 while placing a standard specimen opposite to the inductor L.
There has been hitherto known another typical inspection device 100B making use of mutual inductance as shown in FIG. 2. The inspection device 100B comprises an exciting coil (primary coil) 106 excited by being applied with alternating current from an AC source, paired detection coils (secondary coils) 107a and 107b inducing electromotive forces with application of the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 106, and a differential amplifier 108. The detection coils 107a and 107b are wound in opposite directions and connected differentially in series so as to allow the electromotive forces induced in the detection coils to cancel each other out due to the uniform magnetic flux fL of the exciting coil 106 in the static state. That is, the differential voltage across the output points Pc and Pd of the detection coils 107a and 107b (output Vout of the differential amplifier 108) becomes theoretically zero in the static state.
The inspection device 100B generally has an inspection space 109 between the exciting coil 106 and the inspection coils 107a and 107b, through which the inspection object S passes for the purpose of inspection. As the inspection object S gets across the magnetic flux fL of the exciting coil 106 to cause change of flux linkage on the detection coils 107a and 107b, the bridge comes to nonequilibrium, consequently to create the differential output Vout. Thus, it is possible to determine the material and size of the inspection object S or find defects such as void and foreign matter.
The other inspection device 100C (magnaflux inspection device) hitherto known has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Publication HEI 10-288605(A), as shown in FIG. 3. The inspection device 100C has a detection sensor 114 and a signal processor 133, so that an AC signal created by an oscillating circuit 122 of an AC signal generator 123 is applied to the exciting coil 111 of the detection sensor 114 through a constant current circuit 121. A phase-difference output 130 and differential output 131 to be outputted from a phase sensitive detector 128 and a differential amplifier 129 are obtained from changes of signals issued from the detection coils 113 through amplifiers 124 and 125 and phase adjusters 126 with reference to a signal from the oscillating circuit.
As seen from the above, the conventional electromagnetic induction type inspection device 100A in which the non-equilibrium state of the induced inductance in the balancing circuit having the induction coil is determined in the form of the differential voltage, is required to detect the change of the electromotive force induced by magnetic flux interlink of the inspection object with a high sensitivity.
However, the self-inductance type inspection device 100A has a little bit of rate of change of self inductance (difference between the specified inductance and the inductance in changing), and thus, cannot detect the inductance unless the inspection object has sufficiently large dielectric constant or is made of material capable of bringing about a large change of magnetic field such as ferromagnetic material. That is, the conventional inspection device has a low sensitivity, so that it cannot be applied to discrimination of the material of the inspection object and detection of the inspection object such as of nonferrous metal having a small rate of inductance change.
Meanwhile, the electromagnetic induction type inspection device 100B using mutual inductance, which has the inspection space 109 between the exciting coil (primary coil) 106 and the inspection coils (secondary coils) 107a and 107b. The induction efficiency of the detection coils 107a and 107b is in inverse proportion to the dimensions of the inspection space 109 (to be more precise, distance d from the exciting coil to the detection coils). Thus, even though this conventional inspection device is desired to have the large inspection space (inspection space) between the exciting coil and the detection coils to inspect the large object, the inspection space is limited to be made large, so that the large object cannot be inspected substantively. One of the main reasons for being able to make the inspection space large is that the detection resolution of the inspection device is diminished with the dimensions of the inspection space 109 even while enhancing the exciting performance of the exciting coil 106, consequently to make it difficult to detect a minute change.
The inspection device using mutual inductance has another inevitable disadvantage. For instance, the inductance of the detection coil 107a, which should be a standard inductance in the circuit, varies more or less with the change of the magnetic flux, resulting in cancellation of the electromotive force induced by the detection coil 107a due to the simultaneously-varied electromotive force induced by the detection coil 107b. The influence of the cancellation of the electromotive force is intricately varied with the relative position of the inspection object to the coils, consequently bringing about unignorable detection error in magnitude of the change of the expected electromotive force.
The inspection device (magnaflux inspection device) 100C illustrated in FIG. 3 is featured by two sensors and phase adjusting circuits in circuitries for generating a phase difference output 130 and a differential output signal 131. As an amplitude factor should be excluded in carrying out the phase adjusting, the changes of the amplitude and phase outputted from the sensors cannot faithfully be reflected in the inspection device 100C. Besides, a signal appearing in the output from the exciting coil irrespective of the inspection object to be inspected is inevitably amplified with the desired signals, so a high sensitive detection cannot be expected.
As noted above, the conventional electromagnetic induction type inspection devices have disadvantages of being inferior in detection accuracy of minute change in the inspection object and not applicable to a subtle inspection such as identification and discrimination of the material of the inspection object. Meanwhile, the aforementioned differential output type magnaflux inspection device has also disadvantages such that the output from the detection sensor interferes mutually with the phase varying in inspecting the object, thus to hinder a high accuracy inspection.

Electromagnetic induction type inspection device and method


Individual printed image elements from an image to be inspected are allotted individual nominal ink density values, as by scanning an ideal printed sheet by a CCD matrix camera. The ideal values are stored in a main memory having segments for maximum and minimum values for each image element. A multiplicity of proof images are scanned, and their density values measured and stored for each proof judged acceptable by an inspector. Thereafter, the variations in the acceptable proof density values are stored in the main memory as maximum and minimum acceptable deviations from the initial nominal values for each individual image element to provide a subjective tolerance value for the nominal density values in the main memory.

The present invention relates, in general, to a procedure for judging the quality of printed sheets. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for judging the quality of printed images on a printing carrier, such as paper, wherein a master image is obtained by first electronically scanning a master printed sheet, and thereafter scanning a multiplicity of proof sheets that have been judged to be acceptable by a human inspector to establish a subjective tolerance range for each of a plurality of image pixels. Subsequently, printed sheets are electronically reviewed and the ink density in selected pixels is compared with the stored values for those pixels. Sheets with ink densities within the allowable tolerance range are judged acceptable, while those with values outside the range are rejected.
Devices for judging the quality of printed sheets, or proof copies, are generally known; see, for example, European published unexamined patent application No. 0194331. The checking of print quality refers to the measuring of ink density values in measuring fields or areas selected for that purpose. Register deviations are checked by measuring special register faults and contrast marks for analyzing dot increases and contrast. Initially, these quality control checks could not be carried out over an entire printed sheet, but systems became available on the market which permitted such monitoring with the help of image exposure devices which project a printed sheet or a section of a printed sheet as a standing image on a monitor. Such standing images were stored in an image memory so that the printer could look at a selected still image of a printed sheet and could control the printed product on-line. Once it was known to do this, it became possible to compare later images derived from the printed products with the stored initial image and to produce signals representing any deviations, and such systems are now known.
However, it has been found such image comparison systems can result in excessive losses, for such systems operate to produce error signals whenever an image element comparison exceeds a predetermined error limit, represented by a defined difference between nominal and actual values. Such a rigid system of detecting errors is unusable in practice, since an exact correspondence of individual image elements between the "master" image and a printed image cannot be guaranteed during a printing run because of a variety of factors such as deformation of the print carrier, and the like. Such displacements of printed image elements can cause error signals in an automatic system even though the differences between the master image and the proof image are small, and would be judged acceptable by an inspector.
A difficulty with automatic image comparison systems, therefore, is that they may result in rejection of a printed image in cases where an inspector might consider the differences to be insufficient to cause an error signal. Tests have shown that visual examination of a printed image for the detection of printing errors is very subjective. When examining homogeneous surfaces; for example, unprinted sections, the human eye acts with the highest sensitivity to detect errors, and in such a situation, the slightest irregularities will be recognized immediately. On the other hand, the same irregularities within a printed section may not be recognized by a human inspector. However, both irregularities would cause an automatic inspection system to reject the printed image. Thus, there are significant limits to the use of automatic error detection systems for measuring irregularities in a printed product.


An elongate body includes a first fixed jaw fixedly and orthogonally mounted to the body, having a second sliding jaw, with the fixed jaw and the sliding jaw arranged to secure a pipe therebetween, such as the first jaw includes a piercing head. The piercing head includes a conduit structure in pneumatic communication with further conduit structure directed through the first jaw and body extending through the body, such that the body includes a further projection portion arranged for securement to conductive tubing.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to pipe piercing valve apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved refrigerant pipe piercing valve apparatus wherein the same is directed to the safe conduction of refrigerant from a refrigerant tubing arrangement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The ecologically sound disposal of contemporary CFC's and HCFC's must be conducted in a manner to prevent loss of such refrigerant fluids into the atmosphere. The instant invention permits the ease of mounting refrigerant conductive conduits for the removal and storage of such refrigerants in a safe and ecologically sound manner and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
Prior art structure relative to valve apparatus, and more particularly piercing valve apparatus arranged for securement to a tube structure is indicated in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,450,149; 3,978,881; 4,611,624; 4,921,004.

Refrigerant pipe piercing valve apparatus


An ultrasonic fuel-gauging system has a tank with several ultrasonic probes having reflectors spaced along their length. A vibrating cylinder densitometer is located at the bottom of the tank and provides an output to a control unit representative of fuel density at that location. The control unit calculates the speed of sound reflected from the reflector closest to the densitometer and uses this and the density measurement to calculate a fuel constant. The control unit calculates the density of fuel at different heights from the fuel constant and speed of sound measurements from other reflectors. From these density measurements the control unit calculates mean density and fuel mass.

This invention relates to fluid-quantity measurement systems and methods.
The invention is more particularly concerned with fluid-quantity measurement systems and methods employing ultrasonic probes with multiple reflectors.
In ultrasonic fluid quantity measurement systems, an ultrasonic transducer is mounted at the bottom of a vertical tube or still well, which is filled with fluid to the same height as fluid outside the tube. Examples of ultrasonic fluid-gauging systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,543, U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,974, U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,944, U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,589, U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,445, U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,457, U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,007, U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,406, U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,846, U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,535, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,080, U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,525, U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,747, U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,748, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,676, U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,340, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,266, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,549, U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,763, U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,801, EP 138541, GB 2185575, GB 2247753, DE 3330059, JP 69024, WO 9119191, WO 9214996, SU 821939. The transducer transmits bursts of ultrasonic energy upwardly to the fluid/air interface where it is reflected back to the transducer. By measuring the time of travel of the bursts of energy, it is possible to calculate the height of the fluid surface. The speed of sound varies according to changes in fluid density and temperature. In order to compensate for this, it is usual practice for the still well to include a number of reflectors spaced apart along its length. Because the height of these reflectors is known, the ultrasonic reflections they produce can be used to calibrate the system and improve the calculation of the height and volume of fluid. In many applications, however, such as aircraft fuel gauging, it is necessary to know the mass of fuel, so a measurement of density is needed. Because of the temperature stratification that can occur within the fuel tank, there can be appreciable differences in the density of fuel at different heights, making it difficult accurately to calculate the fuel mass. The accurate measurement of fuel mass is of considerable importance to aircraft operators because it enables reduced quantities of fuel to be carried without reducing safety. This in turn enables greater payloads to be carried, with increased profitability.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic measurement of fuel quantity and density


A shield connector includes: a female connector having a female terminal connected to a shield wire and a locking protrusion; a male connector having a male terminal connected to the female terminal when the male connector is combined with the female connector, and a coupling protrusion to which the locking protrusion is locked for locking with the female connector; and a connector position assurance that is combined with the female connector to be movable forward/backward and has support levers that support the locking protrusion and prevent the locking protrusion from being unlocked from the coupling protrusion when the connector position assurance is moved forward, in which locking steps are formed at the female connector, and an insertion portion is formed at the male connector.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a shield connector, more particularly to a shield connector that can improve operability of a connector position assurance when it is combined, and ensure contact point stability and reliability between shield conductive parts, and thus allows for simplification of shield parts and improvement of convenience in assembly.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, a connector is a connection part used for electrically connecting a circuit with another circuit, and various connectors are used in vehicles in order to connect cables or wires.
Recently, the number of electric devices mounted on vehicles has increased for the convenience of users, and the number of necessary cables or wires has increased accordingly, so that many connectors for connecting them are used.
Connectors are generally composed of female and male connectors that can be fitted to each other. Also, a space where a terminal can be received is defined in the housing of each connector, and a plurality of terminals are usually received in one connector.
The terminal of the male connector can be inserted in the terminal of the female connector, and when the connectors are combined, they are electrically connected by the insertion of the terminal of the male connector in the terminal of the female connector.
Since the connectors are parts for electric connection, complete electrical and mechanical connection is necessary when they are combined.
Accordingly, various members are used for complete connection of the connectors, and more complete connection of connectors is required, when whether connection of connectors is ensured has an important influence on vehicle safety, such as in a wiring system for a vehicle.
To this end, as a technology for preventing a risk of disconnection of a connector due to a wire harness, a connector position assurance (CPA) is applied.
The connector position assurance is provided for preventing unlocking between connectors, that is, preventing a locking lever from being unlocked from a connector, where the locking lever is a part that prevents connectors at both sides from separating from each other.
The locking lever is formed at one of the connectors (at the housing of the connector) so that the locking lever is locked to a coupling portion of the other connector, when both connectors are combined.
The connector position assurance supports the locking lever to prevent separation of the connectors from being unlocked, and the locking lever can be unlocked only after the connector position assurance is unlocked.
According to the connector position assurance, it is possible to achieve complete combination of connectors and prevent separation of connectors due to unlocking of a locking lever.
A connector with a connector position assurance has been disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0818629 (Mar. 26, 2008), and the connector position assurance of general connectors is formed as a separate part and coupled to a connector housing.
In particular, a connector position assurance is coupled to the housing of a connector (female connector as provided therein), and accordingly, by pushing the connector position assurance under a locking lever locked to the coupling portion of the other connector after the connectors are combined, the locking lever is deformed by an external force and the connector position assurance supports the locking lever to prevent separation of the connectors, thereby preventing sagging and unlocking of the locking lever.
However, the connector position assurance can move forward/backward in the housing of a connector, before both connectors are combined, so that the user has to pull backward the connector position assurance before combining the connectors and then push back the connector position assurance after combining the connectors.
If the connector position assurance has been pushed forward to the lock position before it is coupled to the other connector, the connection position assurance moved forward may be locked to the corresponding connector, so it is difficult to pull out the connector position assurance.
Further, in order to combine both connectors with the connector position assurance pushed forward, not pulled back, the locking lever is already at the lock position by the connector position assurance, so it may be difficult to combine the other connector.
Accordingly, there is a need of a structure that allows for reduced complexity of operation and simple combination when connectors are combined.
On the other hand, shield wires and shield connectors are used to reduce noise in electric signals. In particular, a shield and ground path are formed from a wire shield to the grounding terminal of a car body or electric devices by the internal parts of connectors, when the connectors are combined.
However, there are many complicated conductive parts for forming electric shield and grounding paths, it is difficult to ensure price competitiveness, and contact point stability and reliability between conductive parts, and bolting is required to form and maintain contact points between separate conductive parts, so assembly is not convenient.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A high-speed universal serial bus (USB) transceiver includes a voltage-mode architecture for generating a USB signal. The voltage mode architecture reduces power consumption by reducing the current requirements for high-speed USB communications. The USB transceiver can include a reference voltage generator, a resistive element, and a switching element for completing and breaking a circuit including the reference voltage generator, the resistive element, and a data pin of a USB port to generate half of the differential USB signal (e.g., the D+ signal). A similar circuit can be used to generate the other half of the differential USB signal (i.e., the D− signal). The resistive element can be a set of parallel resistors in the transceiver, with the set of parallel resistors being specifically selected from a larger population of resistors to provide the specified resistance (45Ω±10%) in the USB transceiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of computer electronics, and in particular, to a system and method for enabling low-power universal serial bus communications.
2. Related Art
The universal serial bus (USB) protocol is a popular communications protocol that allows a wide range of modern electronic devices and peripherals (e.g., scanners, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, and digital music players) to communicate with another peripheral. The present USB 2.0 specification ("Universal Serial Bus Specification", Revision 2.0, Apr. 27, 2000) defines three signaling levels that can be supported by USB-compliant devices. The three levels include a low-speed mode operating at 1.5 Mbps at 3.3 V, a full-speed mode operating at 12 Mbps at 3.3 V, and a high-speed mode that signals at 480 Mbps at 400 mV.
Modern high-speed USB 2.0-compliant devices include USB transceivers that are based on a current mode architecture for the high-speed transmitter, in which a current source drives the outgoing USB communications. For example, FIG. 1 shows a high-speed USB transmitter 100 (i.e., a device generating a high-speed USB signal) and a high-speed USB receiver 150 (i.e., a device receiving a high-speed USB signal). A USB cable 140 connects a USB port 111 on USB transmitter 100 to a USB port 151 on USB receiver 150 to enable communication between the two devices.
A USB cable (i.e., USB cable 140) is a four-line serial data bus. Two of the lines are power lines (i.e., VBUS and ground lines), and the other two lines form a pair of differential signal lines (i.e., D+ and D− lines). For clarity, communication between high-speed USB transmitter 100 and high-speed USB receiver 150 will be described with respect to only one half of the differential USB signal (i.e., with respect to signal D+). The inverted signal forming the other half of the differential USB signal (i.e., the D− signal) is generated in a manner substantially similar to that described with respect to the generation of the D+ signal. In accordance with the USB 2.0 specification, USB receiver 150 includes a termination resistor 160 connected between USB port 151 and ground (i.e., the ground supply voltage or lower supply voltage). A D+ signal received at USB port 151 is read from the junction between USB port 151 and resistor 160.
To generate the D+ signal, a high-speed USB transceiver 110 in USB transmitter 100 includes a current source 120, a switch 5105, and a voltage-setting resistor 130. Current source 120, switch S105, and resistor 130 are connected in series between a supply voltage VDD and ground. When switch S105 is closed, a portion of current I121 supplied by current source 120 flows through resistor 130 to ground (i.e., current I131) to set the output signaling voltage at USB port 111, while another portion of current I121 flows through USB cable 140 and through resistor 160 in USB receiver 150 to ground (i.e., current I161). By switching switch S105 on and off, USB transceiver 110 generates the D+ USB signal transmitted from USB transmitter 100 to USB receiver 150 by USB cable 140.
The USB 2.0 specification requires that termination resistor 160 (i.e., the resistor coupled between the USB port and ground in the downstream device) have a resistance value equal to 45Ω±10%. Voltage setting resistor 130 is sized similarly, so that the currents flowing through both resistors are the same (i.e., current I131 is equal to current I161) and that the voltage drops across resistors 130 and 160 are the same. Therefore, to provide the requisite 400 mV D+ signal (i.e., half of the total 800 mV signal specified for high-speed USB 2.0 communications), both currents I131 and I161 must be equal to roughly 8.9 mA (equal to 400 mV (signal amplitude) divided by 45Ω (resistance)). Accordingly, current source 120 must provide a total current I121 equal to roughly 17.8 mA (i.e., the sum of currents I131 and I161).
As the proliferation of USB-compatible devices continues to increase, the importance of power efficiency for those USB devices also increases. Unfortunately, the current-mode architecture used in conventional USB 2.0 transceivers (as shown in FIG. 1) is less than ideal in the realm of power efficiency. Specifically, because resistor 130 in transceiver 110 is used to generate the required signal voltage (i.e., 400 mV), current source 120 must effectively drive two parallel resistance paths to ground (i.e., through resistor 130 in USB transmitter 100 and through resistor 160 in USB receiver 150). Hence, current source 120 must generate twice as much current as is required by USB receiver 150.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system and method for providing high-speed USB communications that reduces power consumption over the conventional current-mode transceiver architecture shown in FIG. 1.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

USB 2.0 HS voltage-mode transmitter with tuned termination resistance


Down-the-hole drill comprising a housing (1), a hammer piston (6) movable to-and-fro in the housing and intended for impacting a drill bit (5). A back piece (3) provided with an extension (12) with a valve part (17) cooperates with a part (8) of a central channel in the hammer piston. This part of the central channel comprises a zone (16) with larger diameter than adjacent parts at an intermediate part of this part. This results in that pressure medium can pass the valve part when it is situated at the zone and that the valve part and the hammer piston sealingly cooperate when the valve part is on either side of the zone.

The present invention relates to a down-the-hole drill of the kind where the movement of the hammer piston controls the supply of pressure medium to the forward and rearward end surfaces of the hammer piston for the driving of the hammer piston in a to-and-fro movement.
In a prior art down-the-hole drill of the above mentioned kind, see DE-A 36 28 327, the chamber divider is provided with a cutout whose function is to increase the volume of the chamber so that the pressure increase during the return stroke of the hammer piston is decreased. A drawback with this design of the down-the-hole drill is that the impact frequency becomes comparatively low and that the risk that the hammer piston hits the chamber divider becomes comparatively high. Furthermore, the air consumption becomes relatively high.


A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical source to emit an optical beam, and an optical circulator to receive the optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is configured to collect all polarization states in the target return signal. The LiDAR system further comprises an optical element to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal, and the one or more PDs to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Conventional LiDAR systems collect either a single polarization state or limited polarization states of light scattered or returned from a target or a target environment. However, since certain diffusive targets may scatter an incident light with one polarization state into a returned optical beam or a returned light signal with multiple arbitrary polarization states, such systems suffer from an inherent inefficiency in the amount of light collected from the target, thereby reducing the coherently mixed heterodyne signal. As such, there is a need to develop a LiDAR system with a polarization-diverse architecture that enables the collection and mixing of all or dominant polarization states scattered from the target in order to improve the efficiency of a heterodyne signal.

Coherent LiDAR system utilizing polarization-diverse architecture


When a receiving end is a cellular phone, the cellular phone that displays the local time at the receiving end and a base station used in this cellular phone are realized. A time recognition unit that obtains the local time at the receiving end using the time information acquired from the cellular phone of the receiving end or the base station at which the cellular phone of the receiving end is registered in stand-by mode and a display unit that displays the local time are installed in the cellular phone. Further, when the time information or position information of the cellular phone registered in the base station in stand-by mode is requested from the calling end, a unit for sending the time information or position information at the location at which this base station exists to the cellular phone of a requesting source is installed in the base station.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cellular phone that can indicate the time-of-day (hereinafter referred to as time) and its base station, and, more particularly, to a cellular phone suitable for displaying the local time in a area where a recipient uses a cellular phone.
2. Description of Related Art
A cellular phone equipped with a clock circuit and a display screen and capable of displaying the time has come into wide use. However, in such cellular phone, the time displayed is only the time at the place where the user or calling party exists, and the time at a receiving end or a recipient could not be displayed. Accordingly, in the case of making a phone call in the United States where multiple time zones are provided within the country and making an international phone call, calls have been made without considering a time difference. As a result, such inconvenience has occurred that business could not be handled because the call was made not within the working hours of the receiving end.
As art that solves this problem, for example, as disclosed in JP-A No. H6-276262, there is a technique for calculating the local time at the receiving end from the telephone number of the receiving end and the local time at a caller. When a caller makes an international call, this technique identifies a country or an area of a recipient from the high-order digits within the international long-distance telephone number identification part of the recipient's telephone number and calculates the time difference between the identified country or area and the caller, and then calculates and displays the local time at the recipient, using the clock (matching the local time at the caller) inside the cellular phone and the calculated time difference.
In prior art, the local time can be displayed on the cellular phone. However, this technique is effective only when the receiving end is a fixed-line telephone, but any technique that is effective for making a call to the cellular phone is not disclosed.
In addition to the rapid spread of a cellular phone, due to an international roaming function that enables communication for a country where the services of the same method is being performed even if the cellular phone is carried out abroad, the probability that the recipient's phone is a cellular phone is inclined to increase more and more. This international roaming function has already been put in practical use in the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) that is the cellular phone standard of Europe. Further, in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the standardization of a third-generation cellular phone system of which the target is the realization of cellular phone mobile units that mount the international roaming function and can be used in common in each country of the world is advancing.
When the international call between cellular phones is daily placed in this manner, it becomes very important information for the user or caller to know that the recipient is in which country and area now and what time the local time is. In particular, the cellular phone does not have any international long-distance telephone number identification part in a telephone number. Accordingly, when the user moves abroad or to an area of a different time zone with his or her cellular phone, it is very difficult to know the time at the place where the recipient exists, since the current position of the user cannot be known only from the telephone number of the cellular phone.

Cellular phone and a base station thereof


Certain aspects involve training tree-based machine-learning models for computing predicted responses and generating explanatory data for the models. For example, independent variables having relationships with a response variable are identified. Each independent variable corresponds to an action or observation for an entity. The response variable has outcome values associated with the entity. Splitting rules are used to generate the tree-based model, which includes decision trees for determining relationships between independent variables and a predicted response associated with the response variable. The tree-based model is iteratively adjusted to enforce monotonicity with respect to representative response values of the terminal nodes. For instance, one or more decision trees are adjusted such that one or more representative response values are modified and a monotonic relationship exists between each independent variable and the response variable. The adjusted model is used to output explanatory data indicating relationships between independent variable changes and response variable changes.

Automated modeling systems can implement tree-based machine-learning modeling algorithms that are fit using a set of training data. This training data, which can be generated by or otherwise indicate certain electronic transactions or circumstances, is analyzed by one or more computing devices of an automated modeling system. The training data includes data samples having values of a certain output, which corresponds to a response variable of interest in the model developed by the automated modeling system, and data samples having values of various predictors, which correspond to independent variables in the model developed by the automated modeling system. The automated modeling system can be used to analyze and learn certain features or patterns from the training data and make predictions from "new" data describing circumstances similar to the training data. For example, the automated modeling system uses, as training data, sample data that contains at least one output and relevant predictors. The automated modeling system uses this training data to learn the process that resulted in the generation of response variables (i.e., the output or other response variable) involving transactions or other circumstances (i.e., the predictors or other independent variables). The learned process can be applied to other data samples similar to the training data, thereby to predicting the response variable in the presence of predictors or independent variables.

Training tree-based machine-learning modeling algorithms for predicting outputs and generating explanatory data


An example can include a frame of a vehicle. An example can include at least two wheels coupled to the frame, wherein at least one of the wheels is configured to pivot around a steering axis. An example can include a cornering force sensor to measure a cornering force of the frame with respect to the surface and produce a cornering force signal. An example can include a thrust generation controller to receive the cornering force signal and to produce a desired downforce signal. An example can include and a thrust generator to receive the desired downforce signal and to pump air through at least one of the at least two wheels to produce lateral force on the wheel in association with the desired downforce signal.

Creating downforce on a motorcycle is a problem recognized by the automotive industry, but with no satisfactory solution to date. Presently, there is not an efficient way to produce downforce on a motorcycle, such as in a turn. As an examples, presently, a MotoGP motorcycle can produce around 1.8 G-forces though a turn, while an F1 car, in part due to the downforce caused by their massive airfoils, can produce in excess of 4.3 G-forces.
There have been attempts to attach airfoils to the chassis of a motorcycle, similar to the approach used with four-wheeled vehicles. This can produce undesirable results, however. For example, a wing can produce downforce while the motorcycle is not leaning, which can even slow the motorcycle via drag, but may not help cornering. For example, as the motorcycle leans, the force generated by the airfoil can increase the stress on the tires, which can decrease cornering force. Further, the airfoil can undesirably load the suspension.
Because of these issues, motorcycles generally do not carry airfoil. As a consequence, the fastest cars are faster than the fastest motorcycles, such as around a given track, at a ratio of roughly 4:3, even though motorcycles accelerate much faster because of a lower weight-to-power ratio. Speed lost by automobiles to motorcycles in straight sections of a racetrack can be made up in the turns, because automobiles produce much more downforce in corners than motorcycles do.

Active downforce generation for a tilting vehicle


The present invention provides surface acoustic wave devices which do not require a balanced-to-unbalanced transformer circuit regardless of the type of the peripheral circuits of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, i.e. a balanced type device or an unbalanced type. A transmitting interdigital transducer and a receiving interdigital transducer are formed on a substrate comprising 41.degree. Y cut-X propagation lithium niobate. A balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is formed on a substrate comprising 36.degree. Y cut-X propagation lithium tantalate. The balanced type surface acoustic wave filter comprises two series-arm surface acoustic wave resonators and two crossed-arm surface acoustic wave resonators connected in a lattice. The substrate on which the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital transducer are formed and the substrate on which the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is formed are located in a ceramic package. One of the input terminals of the transmitting interdigital transducer is grounded. The output terminals of the receiving interdigital transducer are connected to the input terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device which can be used in mobile communication devices, more specifically to a surface acoustic wave device which can be used in a filter to penetrate electric signals having a certain frequency.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of mobile communication, demand for acoustic surface wave filters for mobile communication devices with high quality characteristics have been increased. Surface acoustic wave filters have been broadly used as a band pass filter in high frequency circuits of mobile communication devices. Known examples of electrode patterns of surface acoustic wave filters include a resonator type as disclosed in P.111-114 of Proceedings on 1992 Ultrasonic Symposium in 1992, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 19044/1977 and Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 183380/1993, and an interdigitated interdigital transducer (IIDT) type as disclosed in P.2-8 of IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology Vol. 38 No. 1 in 1989 and Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 154917/1983. Such resonator type filters and interdigitated interdigital transducer type filters are used as unbalanced type devices for inputting or outputting unbalanced signals.
In general, forming a balanced circuit as a high frequency circuit is advantageous in various aspects. Since a grounded wiring is unnecessary in principle, a high frequency circuit can be designed more freely to allow downsizing of the device. Further, noise reduction can be achieved and low voltage drive in an active device including an amplifier can be enabled. Consequently, by forming a balanced circuit as a high frequency circuit, downsizing and quality improvement of mobile communication devices including cellular phones can be realized. However, since various devices comprising a high frequency have not been comprised of a balanced circuit yet, unbalanced type devices are mainly used in a high frequency circuit with respect to the matching with peripheral circuits.
On the other hand, forming a balanced circuit in a surface acoustic wave filter is feasible in principle, and thus practical application of surface acoustic wave filters in mobile communication devices are expected as disclosed in Proceedings on 1994 MTT-Symposium (1994) WD4A-2.
However, when both a balanced type device and an unbalanced type device are used, a balanced-to-unbalanced transformer circuit to transform a balanced signal to an unbalanced signal is necessary. As a consequence, although characteristics of various high frequency parts are improved, the increase of the number of parts prohibits the downsizing and production cost reduction of the device.
The object of the present invention is to provide a surface acoustic wave device which does not require a balanced-to-unbalanced transformer circuit whether peripheral circuits of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter comprise a balanced type device or an unbalanced type device.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first aspect of the surface acoustic wave devices of the present invention comprises a transmitting interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded, a receiving interdigital transducer to receive and transform the surface acoustic waves generated by the transmitting interdigital transducer into electric signals, and a balanced type surface acoustic wave filter connected to the receiving interdigital transducer.
A second aspect of the surface acoustic wave devices of the present invention comprises a balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, a transmitting interdigital transducer connected to the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, and a receiving interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded which is to receive and transform the surface acoustic waves generated by the transmitting interdigital transducer into electric signals.
A third aspect of the surface acoustic wave devices of the present invention comprises a first transmitting interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded, a first receiving interdigital transducer to receive and transform the surface acoustic waves generated by the first transmitting interdigital transducer to electric signals, a balanced type surface acoustic wave filter connected to the first receiving interdigital transducer, a second transmitting interdigital transducer connected to the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, and a second receiving interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded which is to receive and transform the surface acoustic waves generated by the second transmitting interdigital transducer into electric signals.
In the above mentioned first to third aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to locate a plurality of transmitting interdigital transducers and a plurality of receiving interdigital transducers alternately to the propagation direction of surface acoustic waves.
In the above mentioned first to third aspects of the present invention, it is further preferable to provide reflectors at outer ends of the transmitting interdigital transducers and receiving interdigital transducers.
A fourth aspect of the surface acoustic wave devices of the present invention comprises a transmitting interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded, first and second receiving interdigital transducers, each with one terminal grounded and located at both sides of the transmitting interdigital transducer to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the transmitting interdigital transducer as surface acoustic waves having different phases and transform them to electric signals, and a balanced type surface acoustic wave filter connected to the first and second receiving interdigital transducers.
A fifth aspect of the surface acoustic wave devices of the present invention comprises a balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, first and second transmitting interdigital transducers with one terminal grounded and connected to the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, and a receiving interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded and located to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the first and second transmitting interdigital transducers and transform them to electric signals.
A sixth aspect of surface acoustic wave devices of the present invention comprises a first transmitting interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded, first and second receiving interdigital transducers, each with one terminal grounded and located at both sides of the first transmitting interdigital transducer to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the first transmitting interdigital transducer as surface acoustic waves having different phases and transform them to electric signals, a balanced type surface acoustic wave filter connected to the first and second receiving interdigital transducers, second and third transmitting interdigital transducers, each with one terminal grounded and connected to the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter, and a third receiving interdigital transducer with one terminal grounded, and located to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the second and third transmitting interdigital transducers and transform them to electric signals.
In the above mentioned fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to locate a plurality of transmitting interdigital transducers and a plurality of receiving interdigital transducers alternately to the propagation direction of surface acoustic waves.
In the above mentioned fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is further preferable to provide reflectors at the outer ends of the transmitting interdigital transducers and receiving interdigital transducers.
In the above mentioned first to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is further preferable that the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter comprises four surface acoustic wave resonators connected in a lattice. In this case, it is preferable that a plurality of balanced type surface acoustic wave filters are connected and used.
In the above mentioned first to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable that the frequency at which the insertion loss of frequency characteristics yielded by the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital transducer is at a minimum is approximately the same as the center frequency of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter.
In the above mentioned first, third, fourth and sixth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to provide an impedance matching circuit between the output terminals of the receiving interdigital transducer and the input terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter.
In the above mentioned second, third, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to provide an impedance matching circuit between the output terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter and the input terminals of the transmitting interdigital transducer.
In the above mentioned first to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable that the physical properties of the substrate on which the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital transducer are formed differ from the physical properties of the substrate on which the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is formed. In this case, it is preferable that the electro-mechanical coupling coefficient of the substrate on which the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital transducer are formed is greater than the electro-mechanical coupling coefficient of the substrate on which the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is formed. In this case, it is preferable that the frequency temperature coefficient of the substrate on which the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital transducer are formed and the frequency temperature coefficient of the substrate on which the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is formed are approximately the same. In this case, it is preferable that the substrate on which the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital tranducer are formed and the substrate on which the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is formed are located in an airtight container. In this case, it is more preferable that the impedance matching circuit located between the output terminals of the receiving interdigital transducer and the input terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is located in an airtight container, and further the airtight container comprises a multi-layered dielectric substrate. In this case, it is more preferable that the impedance matching circuit between the output terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter and the input terminals of the transmitting interdigital transducer is located in an airtight container, and further the airtight container comprises a multi-layered dielectric substrate.
In the above mentioned first to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable that the transmitting interdigital transducer, the receiving interdigital transducer and the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter are formed on the same substrate. In this case, it is preferable that the film thickness of the electrode comprising the transmitting interdigital transducer and the receiving interdigital transducer is thicker than the film thickness of the electrode comprising the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter. In this case, it is further preferable that the impedance matching circuit located between the output terminals of the receiving interdigital transducer and the input terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter is located in an airtight container, and further the airtight container comprises a multi-layered dielectric substrate. In this case, it is further preferable that the impedance matching circuit located between the output terminals of the balanced type surface acoustic wave filter and the input terminals of the transmitting interdigital transducer is located in an airtight container, and further the airtight container comprises a multi-layered dielectric substrate.

Balanced type surface acoustic wave device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides a catalyst which exhibits a high catalytic activity and allows asymmetric reaction in a high asymmetric yield to obtain a reaction product having a high optical purity. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of an optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone having a high optical purity useful as starting material of polymer in a high yield in a short period in the presence of the foregoing catalyst. A novel ruthenium-iodo-optically active phosphine complex is provided, represented by the following general formula (1): EQU Ru--I.sub.2 --(R.sup.1 -BINAP) (1). wherein R.sup.1 -BINAP represents an optically active tertiary phosphine represented by the following general formula (2): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an aryl group which may have a substituent selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1-4 lower alkyl group, a C.sub.1-4 lower alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-4 lower alkylamino group, and a halogen atom or a C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl group.

Many transition metal complexes have been heretofore used as catalysts for organic synthesis reaction. In particular, metal complexes made of ruthenium metal and optically active tertiary phosphine have been well known as asymmetric hydrogenation reaction catalysts. Examples of ruthenium-optically-active phosphine complexes containing as a ligand an optically active tertiary phosphine such as 2,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1-binaphthyl include the following compounds: EQU Ru.sub.x H.sub.y Cl.sub.z (tertiary phosphine).sub.2 (A).sub.p
wherein A represents a tertiary amine, with the proviso that if y is 0, x, z and p represent 2, 4 and 1, respectively, and if y is 1, x, z and p represent 1, 1 and 0, respectively (JP-A-61-63690 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), JP-A-63-135397); EQU [RuH.sub.r (tertiary phosphine).sub.m ]T.sub.n
wherein T represents ClO.sub.4, BF.sub.4 or PF.sub.6, with the proviso that if r is 0, m and n represent 1 and 2, respectively, and if r is 1, m and n represent 2 and 1, respectively (JP-A-63-41487, JP-A-63-145492); EQU [RuX.sub.a (Q).sub.b (tertiary phosphine)]Y.sub.c
wherein X represents a halogen atom; Q represents benzene which may have a substituent or acetonitrile; and Y represents a halogen atom, ClO.sub.4, PF.sub.6, BPh.sub.4 (Ph hereinafter represents a phenyl group) or BF.sub.4, if Q is benzene which may have a substituent, a, b and c each represent 1, if Q is acetonitrile, when a is 0, b and c represent 4 and 2, respectively, or when a is 1, b and c represent 2 and 1, respectively, and if the benzene having a substituent represented by Q is p-cymene and X and Y each are iodine atom, a, b and c each are 1 or a, b and c are 1, 1 and 3, respectively (JP-A-2-191289, JP-A-5-111639); EQU (Tertiary phosphine).sub.w Ru(OCOR')(OCOR")
wherein R' and R" each represent a lower alkyl group, a halogenated lower alkyl group, a phenyl group which may have a lower alkyl substituent, an .alpha.-aminoalkyl group or an .alpha.-aminophenylalkyl group or R' and R" together form an alkylene group; and w represents 1 or 2 (JP-A-62-265293, JP-A-63-145291); EQU RuJ.sub.2 (tertiary phosphine)
wherein J represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom (R. Noyori et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 109, No. 19, pp. 5856-5859 (1987)); EQU RuG.sub.2 (tertiary phosphine)
wherein G represents an allyl group or a methallyl group (J. P. Genet et al., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 555-567 (1991))
However, even the use of these ruthenium-optically active phosphine complexes has found difficulties in practical use on an industrial basis. For example, these ruthenium-optically active phosphine complexes exhibit an insufficient catalytic activity or asymmetric yield. On the other hand, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone (also referred to as ".beta.-butyrolactone" or ".beta.-methyl-.beta.-propiolactone") has heretofore been used as a raw material of polymers. In recent years, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone has been noted particularly because its optically active form is useful according to JP-A-6-256482, JP-A-6-329768, JP-A-7-53694, JP-A-8-53540 and JP-A-8-127645.
As processes for the preparation of optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone there have been reported the following processes:
(a) Process which comprises subjecting 3-bromobutyric acid obtained by adding hydrobromic acid to crotonic acid to optical resolution with an optically active naphthyl ethylamine, and then cyclizing the product (J. Reid Shelton et al., Polymer Letters, Vol. 9, pp. 173-178, 1971; T. Sato et al., Tetrahedron Lett., Vol. 21, pp. 3377-3380, 1980);
(b) Process which comprises reacting an optically active 3-hydroxybutyric acid with triethylorthoacetic acid to obtain an optically active 2-ethoxy-2,6-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4-one which is then thermally decomposed (A. Griesbeck et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, Vol. 70, pp. 1320-1325, 1987; R. Breitschuh et al., Chimia, Vol. 44, pp. 216-218, 1990); and
(c) Process which comprises reacting an optically active 3-hydroxybutyric acid ester with methanesulfonylchloride for mesylation of the hydroxy group, hydrolyzing the resulting ester, and then reacting with sodium carbonate for condensation cyclization (Y. Zhang et al., Macromolecules, Vol. 23, pp. 3206-3212, 1990).
As a process for the preparation of an optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone in the presence of the previously mentioned ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex there has been reported the following process:
(d) Process which comprises the asymmetric hydrogenation of 4-methylene-2-oxetanone (also referred to as "diketene") in an aprotic solvent such as methylene chloride and tetrahydrofuran in the presence of [RuCl[(S)- or (R)-BINAP (benzene)]Cl or Ru.sub.2 Cl.sub.4 [(S)- or (R)-BINAP].sub.2 (NEt.sub.3) [in which BINAP represents 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, and Et represents an ethyl group] as a catalyst (T. Ohta et al., J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Cmmun., 1725, 1992)
However, these processes have the following disadvantages. In other words, the process (a) requires the use of a special optically active amine as an optically resolving agent in an amount equimolecular with the starting compound. Further, the process (a) subsidiarily produces an undesirable enantiomer in an amount equimolecular with the desired product. Thus, the process (a) is wasteful and economically disadvantageous.
The processes (b) and (c) are disadvantageous in that the optically active 3-hydroxybutyric acid or ester thereof as starting compound can be hardly synthesized. In other words, it is necessary that an optically active poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester in which microorganisms propagate themselves be thermally decomposed or 4-methylene-2-oxetanone be converted to acetoacetic acid ester by alcoholysis reaction before asymmetric reduction. This requires many steps and thus complicates the operation.
The process (d) gives solutions to most of the foregoing problems of the processes (a) to (c) but still leave something to be desired. In other words, the process (d) is disadvantageous in that the catalyst used exhibits a low activity, prolonging the reaction time. Further, the resulting product has an optical purity as low as 70 to 92% e.e. As reported in JP-A-6-128245, JP-A-7-188201 and JP-A-7-206885, this process has been improved. However, because of its low catalytic activity, this process leaves something to be desired on an industrial basis.

Ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex, process for the preparation thereof and process for the preparation of optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone using same


A method for operating a device in which typically a very high current is generated when the device is turned on compared to the rated current, e.g. an analogue operated PTC heating device for a mobile device, such as a vehicle, is disclosed. In this method, the power on the device is increased in a defined limited manner or in a ramp-like manner in the connection phase to avoid a high current when the device is switched on.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for operating an electrical device in which a very high current is typically generated when the device is turned on compared to the rated current. In particular, the invention relates to an analogue operated PTC heating device, an electrical pump, an electric motor, a magnetic coil or the like for a mobile device, in particular a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A method is known for equipping mobile means, such as ships, rail vehicles, trucks, commercial vehicles, aircraft, spaceships and motor vehicles with heating devices which heat a flowing medium such as air. Such a device may be used in a vehicle interior heating system, an air heating system for window de-icing, a heating system for preheating the engine intake air, etc.
It is known to provide heating devices in the form of heating elements digitally operated via microprocessor control systems or without an electronic control system, for example on the basis of materials with a positive temperature coefficient of its resistance (PTC) or other heating elements, of metal for example, in which the elements have analogue operation and are switched on and off by means of mechanical relays. Heating elements may be provided in several stages which are switched on by a corresponding number of relays.
In such analogue operated PTC heating devices, a very high current, which may be equal to twice the rated current, flows when the device is switched on, i.e. in a connection phase whose length is of the order of a few seconds. This creates a current load for the power supply mains that is extraordinarily high, which may be considered disadvantageous.
Another problem in these types of devices is that there is no possibility of fault diagnosis, since switching takes place in stages, i.e. in unsteady conditions. Also, these systems involve the use of mechanical relays, causing switching noises. Service life is limited because of the switching cycles, and the operation incurs high costs because mechanical relays are expensive. The cost of wiring is also very high.
Heating systems without an electronic control system, i.e. analogue operated heating devices of the type described above are available on the market from a number of different suppliers.

Method for operating an electrical device


A tightening system can be used with a helmet or other wearable article. The tightening system can have a forehead strap that is space apart from a yoke, which can be configured to engage a back side of a wearer's head. A lace can extend between the forehead strap and the yoke and a tightening mechanism can be configured to adjust tension on the lace. One or more intermediate tenders can engage the lace in the gap between the forehead strap and the yoke so that the lace path between the forehead strap and the yoke is non-linear. The yoke can have a height adjustment mechanism. The tightening mechanism can be configured to provide a clicking sound during rotation in both the tightening direction and the loosening direction. The tightening mechanism can include a rotation limiter to prevent over-tightening and/or over-loosening of the tightening mechanism.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to tightening systems for use with a wearable article, such as a helmet or other headwear.
2. Description of the Related Art
Helmets are commonly used to provide protection to the head of a wearer, such as during sporting activities. A helmet that does not fit properly to the wearer's head can cause discomfort and can provide insufficient protection in some cases. For example, if a helmet is worn that is too large for the wearer's head, the helmet can shift positions during use and may even fall off. Helmets can be made of different sizes by using different sized shells and/or by using different amounts of padding in the helmet. Some helmets provide an air bladder or straps inside the helmet which can be used to adjust the size of the helmet. However, existing helmets suffer from various drawbacks. For example, some existing helmets do not provide sufficient adjustability to comfortably fit to a wide variety of head shapes and sizes. Some existing helmets apply pressure unevenly across the head of the wearer, which can cause discomfort.


A blend comprises at least 50 wt. % polylactic acid and at least 5 wt. % of polymer selected from one or more of: (i) ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer having an unsaturated ester comonomer content of at least about 30% based on the weight of the ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer; (ii) modified ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer; (iii) polyetheramide block copolymer; (iv) propylene/ethylene copolymer comprising at least about 12% and at most about 16% ethylene monomer content based on the weight of the propylene/ethylene copolymer; and (v) styrenic block copolymer. An article such as a tray, film, or sheet may comprise the blend.

The present invention relates to blends of polylactic acid and other polymers, and to articles comprising the blends.
Polylactic acid is a polymer that provides some environmental advantages because it is biodegradable and also may be manufactured from renewable-resource feedstock (e.g., corn). It may be desirable to enhance the heat seal strength, toughness, and/or other properties of compositions and articles comprising polylactic acid. It may also be desirable to maintain or provide acceptable optical properties (e.g., haze and/or gloss) of such compositions and articles.

Polymeric blend comprising polylactic acid


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to shutdown a library manager while the library system remains in a partially online state. A message module is included to send a suspend message to a host such that the host stops sending library manager commands, a shutdown module is included to shutdown a library manager while a data storage device remains coupled to the host in an online state, a startup module is included to restart the library manager in response to a completed library manager maintenance operation, and a resume module is included to send a resume message to the host that the library manager is available for library manager commands.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to shutting down library managers and more particularly relates to shutting down one or more library managers while maintaining a library system online.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, updating code in a hierarchical data storage system such as the International Business Machine ("IBM") 3494 Tape Library Dataserver is a disruptive process. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical library system 100. The system 100 may include one or more hosts 102, a device controller 104 in communication with a host 102, one or more library managers 106 in communication with the device controller 104, and one or more storage devices 108 in communication with the device controller 104, and the library managers 106.
A dual library manager system may be termed a Highly Available ("HA") library manager system where a first library manager 106a is a primary and a second library manager 106b is a backup that can quickly be brought online if the first library manager 106a fails. A library system 100 may include also a single library manager 106a and/or a single storage device 108. Alternatively, the system 100 includes an array of device controllers 104, library managers 106 and storage devices 108. A storage device 108 is typically a computer readable tape, a compact disk, a removable disk drive, or other storage device managed by a library manager 106. One skilled in the art will recognize other applicable library systems 100.
Currently, object code (also referred to as code) implementing the library manager 106 is typically not running when new code is activated or for other maintenance operations. To update the library manager code, the library manager 106 typically is taken offline and then shutdown. As used herein, offline refers to a state where the library system 100 is not accessible by a host 102. As used herein, shutdown refers to a state where code is not in a condition to be executed and the code and other device components may be modified, updated, or replaced. In a dual library manager system 100, the code can be updated or minor maintenance operations performed on a first offline library manager 106a. Then, the updated first library manager 106a can be brought online while a second library manager 106b is taken offline in a switchover process. This can be accomplished while storage devices 108 remain online in relation to the host 102.
Unfortunately, this switchover process is limited. Specifically the conventional switchover process does not allow for code updates of a single library manager system or for a dual library manager system 100 when both library managers need to be varied offline at the same time for a major code update or maintenance operation.
For single library manager systems or for systems with more than one library manager 100 where a code update requires all library managers to be varied offline at the same time, currently the whole library system 100 is taken offline with respect to a host 102. Taking the library system 100 offline can be a very time consuming process due to a possible long completion time of data transaction commands and library manager commands currently queued. While the library system 100 is being varied offline, the library system 100 is unavailable for new data transactions or library manager transactions. Scheduling several hours for a busy library system 100, such as an HA library system 100, to be offline may be a difficult task and may cause costly delays while the system 100 is unavailable.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method to shutdown library managers while maintaining the library system in a partially online state. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would greatly reduce the time required for a maintenance operation or code update, would allow major code updates or maintenance operations while the library system remains in a partially online state, and would maintain a host in a partially online state allowing data operations with previously mounted storage devices to continue. Also, after major code updates or maintenance operations are complete, the library is brought fully online and all normal operations resume.

Efficient firmware update for hierarchical data storage systems

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention cationic amphiphilic polyproline helices (CAPHs) compounds having increased hydrophobicity and cellular internalization as antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial compositions and methods of using the same are also provided.

The present invention relates generally to antimicrobial agents, and particularly to cationic amphiphilic polyproline helices as antimicrobial agents.
The emergence of drug resistant bacteria is a growing challenge to anti-infective therapy. Pathogens such as methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and VRSA), and resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanni have undermined most, and sometimes all, clinically usable antibacterial drugs. As new bacterial strains continue to evolve, the concomitant discovery of novel antibacterial agents has drastically lagged behind. Furthermore pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis and Brucella, classified as bioterrorism agents, pose an ongoing threat to security. The generation of new antibacterial agents with novel mechanisms of action, therefore, is of high importance.
Another challenge in the development of effective antibacterial agents arises from bacterial pathogens that have evolved to inhabit mammalian cells, such as phagocytic macrophages. Within these intracellular safe havens the bacteria reproduce and form a repository, causing recurrent infections. Such intracellular pathogenic bacteria include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella, Listeria, Legionella and Brucella. When localized within mammalian cells, bacteria are able to evade the host immune response as well as a number of antibiotic drugs. A significant subset of antibiotics, such as p-lactams and aminoglycosides, are unable to achieve therapeutic concentrations within the host cell due to poor cell permeability and/or efflux transporters. These difficulties have spurred efforts to target intracellular pathogens using delivery vehicles such as liposomes and nanoparticles containing antibiotics.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are evolutionarily conserved molecules produced widely by plants and animals to defend against microbes. The majority of AMPs exert their antibiotic effect by targeting the microbial cell membrane resulting in cell lysis. This mechanism of action is a major drawback for clinical use of AMPs due to host cell toxicity. However, a small class of non-membrane lytic AMPs have been identified that have a high proline content and an overall cationic charge due to high levels of arginine, such as bactenectin, PR-39, apidaecin, pyrrhocoricin and drosocin. These proline-rich AMPs (P-AMPs) predominantly target Gram negative bacteria, while having minimal effect on Gram positive strains. In some cases the intracellular targets of P-AMPs have been identified such as the heat shock protein DnaK. While P-AMPs are less toxic than membrane-lytic AMPs, as seen in their lack of hemolytic activity and safety in animal models, the majority do not enter mammalian cells, with a few exceptions.
The plasma membrane of cells presents a formidable barrier to the passage of a number of therapeutic agents and probes. The passive uptake of genes, polypeptides and particles into cells is prohibitive due to size constraints, although smaller oligonucleotides and peptides are also too hydrophilic to adequately cross the hydrophobic bilayer. (Dokka, S. et al. (2000) Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 44, 35-49; Juliano, R. (2007) Biochemical Society Transactions 35, 41-3.) The cell impermeable nature of these biopolymers and nanostructures serves to underscore the need to develop efficient strategies for their cellular uptake. A key feature to novel approaches is an understanding of the mechanism of cell penetration, so that better agents may be designed.
A number of different approaches have been taken to accomplish the delivery of therapeutic agents into cells. One recent approach has been the use of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) that are rich in basic amino acids. (Fischer, R. et al. (2005) Chem. BioChem. 6, 2126-42; Futaki, S. (2005) Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 57, 547-58; Vives, E. (2005) Journal of Controlled Release 109, 77-85.) CPPs have many advantageous features: generally low toxicity, high efficiency toward a variety of different cell lines, as well as the delivery of diverse cargo to intracellular targets reaching from proteins and oligonucleotides to magnetic nanoparticles. Two of the most well studied CPPs, derived from transcription factors, include the cationic domain of HIV-Tat (Tatp, GRKKRRQRRR)35 and the penetratin peptide from the Antennapedia homodomain. (Derossi, D. et al. (1994) Journal of Biological Chemistry 269, 10444-50; Derossi, D. et al. (1996) The Journal of Biological Chemistry 271, 18188-93; Prochiantz, A. (1996) Current Opinion in Neurobiology 6, 629-34.) Other short peptides used for membrane translocation include: cationic nuclear localization signal sequences, polylysine or polyarginine peptides, short peptides of alternating Arg and hydrophobic residues, peptides derived from the y-zein protein and other proline-rich sequences, and cationic moieties linked to scaffolds, such as peptoids, β-amino acid peptides, oligocarbamates, loligomers, dendrimers and biphenyls.
As can be seen, there is a need for effective antimicrobial agents, particularly those that can enter mammalian cells. While natural and synthetic peptides show promise as antimicrobial agents, it would desirable to have a peptide based antimicrobial agent that can enter mammalian cells by a number of different mechanisms, is toxic to microbes while sparing the host mammalian cell.

Dual-action, unnatural proline-rich peptides as antibiotic agents and methods thereof