Described is a seaming machine for use with a container (22) and an end closure (28). The machine includes a seaming head (62) with multiple shaft assemblies (100) and a lifter table (60) located below the seaming head (62) and including multiple container stations. During use, the lifter table (60) and seaming head (62) rotate in unison about the centerline of a spindle (64). A single shaft assembly (100) is provided at each station to perform a two-step seaming operation on its corresponding container (22). In one embodiment, a seaming cam (66) is located above the seaming head (62) for moving first and second cam followers (116), (118) in the shaft assembly (100). In another embodiment, the cam followers (116) and (118) have a master/slave relationship dependent on which step of the seaming operation is being conducted. In another embodiment, a single piece plate (122) is used in a cover feed assembly (120) and provides end closures (28) to a make-up point (30).

Container seaming machines have been in use in the industry for many years. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a typical container closure operation consists of an infeed conveyor 20 that feeds a constant supply of evenly-spaced, open containers 22 (e.g., metal cans) to a seaming machine 24. Just prior to reaching the seaming machine 24, a cover feed assembly 26 places an end closure 28 over the container opening at a position referred to herein as the "make-up point" 30. The cover feed assembly 26 includes a rotating cover feed turret 32 that moves the end closures 28 along a predefined path. As shown in FIG. 15, the cover feed assembly 26 is formed from a number of separate parts including dual guide sections 34, 38 mounted on the underside of a machine plate 36 and secured with several small bolts (not shown). The end closures 28 are fed from a cover magazine 46 at a predefined rate.
The container 22 has a small outwardly extending flange 48 about its upper opening. The end closure 28 has a similar flange 50, called "curl". See FIGS. 17 and 15. After the container 22 receives an end closure 28, the combination enters the seaming machine 24 where one or more shaft assemblies 52 (see FIG. 2) fold the flanges 48 and 50 to form an air tight seam. Referring back to FIG. 1, a discharge turret 54 moves the sealed containers along a discharge conveyor 56 for further processing.
In more detail and referring to FIG. 2, the seaming machine 24 includes a lifter table 60 and a seaming head 62 connected to the table 60 via various supports (not shown). Both the lifter table 60 and seaming head 62 are rotatably connected to a central spindle 64 and are arranged to so rotate in unison at a predefined rate. An upper seaming cam 66 is provided above the seaming head 62, though, the cam 66 does not rotate (or at least not at the same speed as the head 62 and table 60). The lifter table 60 has multiple stations 68 that each support an individual container 22. In some embodiments, these stations include "lifters" 70 that physically lift the container 22 upward during the seaming process.
The seaming head 62 includes multiple shaft assemblies 52 outwardly spaced about the seaming cam 66. In FIG. 2, a single shaft assembly is shown for clarity of illustration only. In known machines, there may be anywhere from 1 to 18 shaft assemblies 52 spaced about the head 62. The shaft assemblies 52 provide the components necessary to form a folded seam between a container 22 and its corresponding lid 28. In one embodiment, the shaft assemblies each include an upright shaft 70 that transmits a rotary motion to a pair of rollers 72, 74 via a support block 76. The head assembly also includes multiple chucks 80, one at each container station 68.
Still referring to FIG. 2, during the closure process, an unjoined container 22 and end closure 28 are placed at a station 68 where they are held between a lifter 70 and a chuck 80. Because conventional lids 28 include concentric rings that surround slightly sunken circular areas, the chuck contacts the upper surface of the lid, supporting the chuck wall portion of the lid and providing as such an anvil to perform the seaming operation.
As stated above, the seaming head and lifter table are rotating about the centerline of the spindle 64 during the seaming process. This allows a constant flow of containers through the seaming machine without having to stop the assembly to load and unload the open and sealed containers, respectively. In addition, each container 22 is rotating about its own central axis as well. To close the joint, the rollers 72, 74 of the shaft assembly press the combined flanges 48, 50 against the chuck 80, causing them to deform into a desired shape. The rollers 72, 74 have profiled grooves at their outer circumference that bend the flanges in a specific manner, thus ensuring a perfect seam.
Referring to FIG. 3, prior art shaft assembly 52 includes an upright shaft 70 that is located between adjacent container stations. First and second rollers, 72 and 74, respectively, are connected to the shaft 70 via block 76. The first roller 72 is sized and shaped to effectuate an initial partial curling of a downstream container 82. The second roller 74 is sized and shaped to effectuate a final curling of an upstream container 84. Thus, the shaft assembly operates on two separate containers. The rollers 72 and 74 act on the containers from the stations located to each side of the shaft. Stated differently, a single container is sealed using two separate shaft assemblies. In another embodiment of a shaft assembly (not shown), a single shaft is used with a single roller, with two such shaft assemblies being provided for each station.
The rollers 72 and 74 accomplish their tasks by being pressed against the flanges while the container 22 is rotated about its longitudinally central axis. The position of the block 76 determines which roller will be engaged with a container. The block 76 is connected to the lower end of the shaft 70. Rotary motion is transmitted to the block 76 via first and second cam followers 86 and 88 that are located at the upper end of the shaft 70. See FIG. 2. The cam followers 86 and 88 follow the contours of the seaming cam 66 as the seaming head 62 and lifter table 60 rotate relative to the seaming cam 66. The first cam follower 86 controls the position of the first roller 72. The second cam follower 88 controls the position of the second roller 74.
The above arrangements, while adequate, have a number of disadvantages. The manufacturer must provide machines that are capable of having varying numbers of stations. Each change in the number of stations will require a separate, redesigned shaft assembly to adjust the roller arm length and roller pitch. Similarly, it is difficult and time-consuming for the customer to change the machine setup in this regard. In addition, the cover feed assembly is difficult to install. When changing from one end closure size to another, the entire assembly must be reconfigured and the three part cover guides precisely reset. This is time consuming and often requires special skills, tools, and knowledge.


A source coupled differential complementary Colpitts oscillator is described, which enables a differential oscillation and also can improve phase noise performance by source-coupling a complementary Colpitts oscillator using an inductor. A differential complementary Colpitts oscillator includes: a plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators and a source coupler which couples a source node of the plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators, enables the Colpitts oscillators to differentially oscillate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a source coupled differential complementary Colpitts oscillator which enables a differential oscillation and also can improve phase noise performance by source-coupling a complementary Colpitts oscillator using an inductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a complementary Colpitts oscillator using an N-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) and P-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) enables a self-biasing. Accordingly, the complementary Colpitts oscillator has a simple circuit structure, and the noise performance of the complementary Colpitts oscillator is superior to the negative-Gm differential oscillator.
However, the complementary Colpitts oscillator performs only a single-ended oscillation. Accordingly, the complementary Colpitts oscillator may not be applied to an integrated circuit which requires a differential oscillation. A Colpitts oscillator for a differential oscillation has been developed which induces differential oscillation by combining a plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators. In this instance, the oscillations are output from a plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a circuit of a Colpitts oscillator for a differential oscillation according to a related art.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the related art Colpitts oscillator for differential oscillation combines two complementary Colpitts oscillators using an NMOS and a PMOS semiconductors with a cross coupled transistor pair, thereby enabling the differential oscillation.
Specifically, the Colpitts oscillator for the differential oscillation of FIG. 1 cross combines an N-metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (N-MOSFET) and a P-metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (P-MOSFET) with an inverse complementary Colpitts oscillator, thereby inducing the differential oscillation. In this instance, the N-MOSFET and the P-MOSFET constitute a complementary Colpitts oscillator.
However, in the case of the related art Colpitts oscillator for differential oscillation, a number of inductors Ltank is increased to match the number of combined complementary Colpitts oscillators. Accordingly, a layout of the integrated circuit is expanded.
Also, in the case of the related art Colpitts oscillator for differential oscillation, a MOSFET operates in a linear mode in a comparatively greater oscillation swing. Accordingly, the quadrature (Q)-factor of a link control (LC) Tank circuit is reduced, and the phase noise performance deteriorates.
Therefore, a differential complementary Colpitts oscillator which enables a differential oscillation with low noise is highly needed.

Source coupled differential complementary colpitts oscillator


A wireless charging method includes searching one or more rechargeable electronic devices, receiving power service information from one or more searched electronic devices, determining whether the one or more searched electronic devices are rechargeable based on the received power service information, and if the one or more searched electronic devices are rechargeable, receiving power from the electronic devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless charging, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for performing wireless charging, to supply power, between electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wireless charging technique, which is a wireless power technique, refers to a technique which enables a battery of an electronic device to be automatically charged when the electronic device is put on a charging pad without connecting it to an additional charger. Generally, wireless electric toothbrushes and wireless electric shavers are charged using the wireless charging technique and this technique is well-known. The wireless charging technique applied to such products has attracted attention because it enhances waterproof functionality and improves portability due to a wired charger becoming unnecessary.
The wireless charging technique may be broadly categorized into an electromagnetic induction type which uses coils, a wireless power transmission type which converts electric energy into microwaves for transmission, and a resonance type which uses a resonance phenomenon.
The electromagnetic induction technique works by transmitting power between a primary coil and a secondary coil. When moving a magnet around a coil, a current is induced and electricity is generated. That is, a transmitter generates a magnetic field and a receiver generates energy on behalf of the magnet. The electromagnetic induction technique has the advantage of efficient high-energy transmission. The electromagnetic induction technique has been put to practical use in the greatest number of areas and has been applied to a variety of electronic devices.
The resonance technique works by wirelessly transmitting power using a resonance-type power transmission principle even though a device is away from a charger by a few meters. The resonance technique uses a physical concept in which, for example, if a tuning fork vibrates, a wine glass near the tuning fork also vibrates at the same frequency. In the resonance technique, power is wirelessly transmitted by resonating electromagnetic waves containing electric energy instead of resonating sound.
The wireless power transmission technique works by wirelessly transmitting power by radio frequency/microwave radiation. The wireless power transmission technique is a new concept in power transmission in which power energy is converted for transmission into microwaves which are advantageous for wireless transmission.
Many electronic devices utilizing one of the various power transmission techniques have come to market. However, a use range of the power transmission technique employed up to now is limited to certain electronic devices, such as wireless electric shavers or a wireless electric toothbrushes, having a short distance from their chargers. Recently, as wireless charging techniques have been increasing in demand even in electronic devices, such as mobile terminals, for which mobility is important, a technique for wirelessly charging electronic devices irrespective of their locations has been demanded.

Apparatus and method for performing wireless charging


An exposure control method and apparatus for a camera having a two-area divided brightness measurement system. A central light value is determined based on a central area brightness of a photographic scene, and a peripheral light value is determined based on a peripheral area brightness of the scene. After determining by comparison between the central and peripheral light values whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted, a correction coefficient specific to back-lighted scenes or that specific to front-lighted scenes is read from a memory. An exposure value suitable for a main subject is calculated according to the following equation:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure control method for a camera and an apparatus for the method.
2. Background Art
In the case of an ordinary negative film, even if a picture frame is not exactly taken at a proper exposure value, it is possible to correct the image by controlling print-exposure so as to make a reasonable print. However, in an instant camera using a self-developing film, it is impossible to correct exposure afterward. Therefore, it is very important for instant photography to expose the film at a proper value.
In view of this, an exposure control method, called mix-exposure method, is suggested, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,585 and JPB 5-14256, wherein an amount of flash light is always automatically projected even to a bright subject. In this method, a program shutter is controlled to obtain 80% of a necessary exposure amount from ambient light, while the flash light is added to make up for the remaining 20% of the proper exposure value, on the assumption that a proper exposure value (Ev) is determined in correspondence with a light value (Lv). According to the known method, even though the exposure value is calculated based on an average brightness, which is more or less affected by a background or subsidiary subjects, a satisfactory exposure of the main subject may be achieved in most cases, because the brightness of the main subject, mostly the nearest subject, is supplemented with the flash light.
Recently, cameras have been known that divide a photographic scene into several areas when measuring subject brightness. An exposure value is calculated based on respective brightness values of these area after weighting each value with an appropriate coefficient. At that time, it is determined from the divisional brightness values, whether the scene is front-lighted or back-lighted. If the scene is back-lighted, an optimum exposure value can be preferably determined based mainly on brightness values of those area which correspond to a main subject. In day-light synchronized photography, it is possible to obtain an almost satisfactory exposure with respect to both a main subject and a subsidiary subject by controlling shutter speed and aperture value based on a background brightness and illuminating a main subject with a supplementary flash light.
However, to determine an optimum exposure value in the divided brightness measurement with more accuracy, it is necessary to increase the number of divisional areas and weight the respective brightness values by using a complex calculation in accordance with the brightness distribution pattern. Even such a complex and expensive method is not always able to provide an optimum exposure of the main subject, because of wide variety of actual photographic scenes.
Also in the known mix-exposure method, since the mix rate of flash light to ambient light is determined based on an exposure value derived from an average brightness value of the whole area of the photographic scene, consequent photo-prints may contain under-exposed main subjects especially when the main subject is back-lighted or distant.
To achieve a reasonable exposure for any scene with a simpler and economic method, a camera has been known which adopts a photometric device having a central brightness measuring element and a peripheral brightness measuring element for measuring a central brightness from a central area of the scene and a peripheral brightness from a peripheral area. Because the main subject such as a human subject is very often located in the center area of the scene, the two-area divided brightness measuring method facilitates discrimination between front-lighted and back-lighted scenes, and permits controlling exposure mainly in accordance with the central brightness value.
However, since the central brightness value has a large effect on the exposure control especially for back-lighted scenes in this method, it is important to design the central brightness measuring element so as to pick up light from the main subject at a high probability. If the central brightness measuring element is too small, it tends to miss the main subject. If the central brightness measuring element is too large, it tends to cover beyond the main subject to a larger extent. In either case, an optimum exposure value could not be derived from the central brightness value.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an exposure control apparatus using the two-area divided brightness measurement which is able to determine an optimum exposure value for a main subject at a high probability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an exposure control method by which an optimum exposure value for a main subject can be determined for both front-lighted and back-lighted scenes without the need for complicated processing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an exposure control apparatus which achieves an accurate exposure control even when the speed of shutter blades unexpectedly changes.
To achieve the above objects in a method using a central photometric element for detecting a central light value from a central area of a photographic scene and a peripheral photometric element for detecting a peripheral light value from a peripheral area of the scene, the present invention suggests calculating an exposure value for controlling exposure amount according to the following equation:
Es=log2{1xe2x88x92(1xe2x88x92xcex1)2LVbxe2x88x92LVa}xe2x88x92log2xcex1+LVa
wherein Es represents the exposure value, LVa and LVb respectively represent the central and peripheral light values, and xcex1 represents a correction coefficient which is determined depending on whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted. The central photometric element preferably has a trapezoid shape.
In a mix-exposure method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a central exposure value is calculated from the central and peripheral light values using a specific equation and a first specific correction coefficient, and a peripheral exposure value is calculated from the central and peripheral light values using a second specific equation and a second correction coefficient.
The values of the first and second correction coefficients are determined depending on whether the scene is back-lighted or front-lighted, more preferably, depending also on subject distance. Thereafter, an exposure value effective for controlling a program shutter is determined based on the peripheral exposure value and a bias value added to the peripheral exposure value for biasing the effective exposure value toward under-exposure side. On the other hand, percentage or mix rate of flash light is determined based on a difference between the effective exposure value and the central exposure value when the scene is back-lighted. For front-lighted scenes, mix rate of flash light is determined based on a difference between the effective exposure value and the peripheral exposure value.
According to another preferred embodiment, one of shutter blades of the program shutter is provided with signal elements for monitoring rotational position of the shutter blade and/or moving speed of the shutter blade. By starting clocking when the number of pulses detected from the signal elements reaches a set value determined in accordance with a proper exposure value, and outputting a shutter close signal when a time period, which is also determined in accordance with the proper exposure value, has been clocked, the effect of change in shutter blade moving speed on the exposure amount is minimized.

Method and apparatus for controlling exposure of camera

Abstract: wherein Es represents the exposure value and xcex1 represents the correction coefficient.


A vehicle includes a semi-active suspension including suspension dampers controllably adjustable in accordance with electronic stability control commands and ride and handling commands. Vehicle steering response states, turning direction states and vehicle dynamics states are binary coded in respective state variables and suspension control calibrations are binary coded in calibration words. Integrity and security of state variables and calibration words are ensured in efficient binary digit resource allocation schemes.

Steering stability and performance of a vehicle are largely characterized by the vehicle's understeer and oversteer behavior. The vehicle is in an understeer condition if the vehicle yaw is less than the operator steering input, where turning the steering wheel more does not correct the understeer condition because the wheels are saturated. The vehicle is in an oversteer condition if the vehicle yaw is greater than the operator steering input. Surfaces such as wet or uneven pavement, ice, snow or gravel also present vehicle stability and handling challenges to the operator. Similarly, in a panic or emergency situation, such as during obstacle avoidance, an operator may react by applying too much steering or failing to counter-steer to bring the vehicle back to its intended path. In any of these cases, the actual vehicle steering path deviates from the intended steering path.
Vehicle stability controls have progressed from first generation systems based upon braking and traction control (braking and powertrain torque management) technologies to more recent systems including independent and coordinated controls of brake, powertrain, steering and suspension damping sub-systems. Typically, distributed control modules are employed to directly interface with respective actuators to effect the desired sub-system controls. Coordination and authority of such sub-system control may be handled by way of a supervisory control.
Braking and traction control sub-systems can effect understeer and oversteer stability enhancements. Such sub-systems rely on wheel speed, steering angle, vehicle speed, yaw rate and other considerations to reduce engine torque and apply vehicle braking to maintain the vehicle travel along the intended path.
Active front steering sub-systems can effect understeer and oversteer stability enhancements. Such sub-systems employ a steering actuator system that relies upon an operator intended steering input from a hand wheel sensor, vehicle speed, vehicle yaw rate and other considerations, and provides a correction to the operator steering input to cause the vehicle to more closely follow the vehicle operator's intended steering path to increase vehicle stability and improve vehicle handling.
Semi-active suspension systems are also incorporated into some modern vehicles and are generally characterized by dampers that are controlled to change the suspension characteristics of the vehicle based on road conditions, vehicle speed, yaw rate and other considerations. Variable fluid-based dampers are known having discrete damping states and continuously variable damping states which affect both jounce and rebound response of the suspension system. Variability in damping may be attained by variable orifice devices or controlled viscosity fluids (e.g., magnetorheological (MR) or electrorheological (ER)) within the damping device. Variable dampers are used predominantly to achieve low speed ride comfort and high speed handling enhancement (ride and handling). However, variable damping techniques are known to enhance vehicle stability in certain understeer and oversteer situations and may be implemented as part of an overall vehicle stability control.
Whether implemented independently, overlapped or integrated, braking, traction, steering and suspension-based stability enhancement sub-systems all rely upon certain common vehicle level parameters. And, vehicle dynamics information, including vehicle steering response (e.g., understeer, oversteer or neutral steer), vehicle turning direction (e.g., left or right) or combinations thereof, defining vehicle dynamics states is commonly employed across stability enhancing sub-systems. Effective stability control systems, therefore, benefit from integrity and flexibility of use of such vehicle dynamics information.
Systematic reuse of control components—both within a vehicle's control architecture and across vehicle platforms and applications—promotes low-cost, quick-to-market and widely available vehicle systems. Significant benefits result directly from the application development cost, time, validation, maintainability and flexibility advantages afforded by such common control assets. Therefore, it is desirable that a vehicle stability enhancement system be characterized by a high degree of control component availability and access to enable and promote reuse, maintainability, common validation and development, cost and time savings and multi-platform utilization.

Suspension control calibration integrity


Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of dicarboxylic monomers such as maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seeds to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with novel substantially biodegradable and substantially water soluble anionic polymers and derivatives thereof which have significant utility in agricultural applications, especially plant nutrition and related areas. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such polymers, as well as methods of synthesis and use thereof, wherein the preferred polymers have significant levels of anionic groups. The most preferred polymers of the invention include recurring polymeric subunits made up of dicarboxylic (e.g., maleic acid or anhydride, itaconic acid or anhydride, and other derivatives thereof) monomers. The polymers may be applied directly to the ground adjacent growing plants, complexed onto ions, applied directly to seeds, and/or mixed with or coated with phosphate-based fertilizers to provide improved plant nutrition products.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lignosulfonates, polyacrylates, polyaspartates and related compounds have become known to the art of agriculture as materials that facilitate nutrient absorption. All of them suffer from significant disadvantages, which decrease their utility in comparison to the art discussed herein and limit performance.
Lignosulfonates are a byproduct of paper pulping; they are derived from highly variable sources. They are subject to large, unpredictable variations in color, physical properties, and performance in application areas of interest for this invention.
Polyacrylates and polymers containing appreciable levels thereof can be prepared with good control over their composition and performance. They are stable to pH variations. However, polyacrylates have just one carboxylate per repeat unit and they suffer from a very significant limitation in use, namely that they are not biodegradable. As a result, their utility for addressing the problems remedied by the instant invention is low.
Polyaspartates are biodegradable, but are very expensive, and are not stable outside a relatively small pH range of about 7 to about 10. They usually have very high color, and incorporate amide groups, which causes difficulties in formulating them. Additionally, polyaspartates have just one carboxylate per repeat unit and are therefore not a part of the present invention.
Preparation of itaconic Acid homopolymers has been known to the art of polymer chemistry for an extended period of time. Several approaches to making it exist. One approach is by the direct polymerization of itaconic acid and/or its salts in aqueous or organic solutions under a wide range of conditions. Such reactions are described in the Journal of Organic Chemistry, Vol. 24, pg. 599 (1959) the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. Another approach is to begin with esters of itaconic acid, polymerize them under suitable conditions, and then hydrolyze the ester groups off in order to liberate polyitaconic acid. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,873, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additionally, a very good summary of many aspects of the prior art is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,592, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
It will thus be seen that the prior art fails to disclose or provide polymers which can be synthesized using a variety of monomers and techniques in order to yield end products which are substantially biodegradable, substantially water soluble, and have wide applicability for agricultural uses. Moreover, no prior art or combination of prior art discloses preparation of itaconic acid copolymers with one or more organic acids containing at least one olefinic bond and at least two carboxylic acid groups. Furthermore, while the prior art does disclose a variety of methods for making polyitaconic acid homopolymer, it fails to teach, disclose, or suggest the utility such materials unexpectedly have for a wide variety of agricultural uses.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Anionic polymers composed of dicarboxylic acids and uses thereof


A system and method are provided that use mobile collectors for accessing a wireless sensor network. In certain embodiments, one or more mobile collectors having mobility that is unpredictable to a wireless sensor network are deployed for use in accessing the wireless sensor network. Thus, rather than relying on an access technique having certainty designed therein with regard to the access of a wireless sensor network, certain embodiments utilize an access technique that relies on statistical probability for accessing the wireless sensor network. For instance, by deploying a plurality of mobile collectors that are operable for accessing a wireless sensor network, a statistical probability exists that at some point (or at various points in time) at least one of the mobile collectors will travel within range of the wireless sensor network to enable access thereof.

Recently, there has been considerable interest in non-traditional measurement systems, such as wireless sensor networks. Wireless sensor networks generally comprise a plurality of sensor nodes that are each operable to perform some measurement and communicate wirelessly. Sensor nodes are commonly equipped, for example, with sensor(s) (or "measurement devices"), local storage, a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), and wireless (e.g., radio) communication facilities. Such sensor nodes are typically small (e.g., include micro-sensors), and typically have short-range wireless communication capability.
Generally, the sensor nodes have one or more of the following characteristics: a) the nodes are desired to operate for extended periods of time on battery power; b) the nodes have limited computation, memory, and communication capability often due to power constraints; c) the nodes typically communicate using short-range wireless communication; d) the nodes are commonly installed in remote or other environments that preclude normal communication and control of the devices; and e) the nodes are often inexpensive. Sensor nodes are generally expected to be long-lived (deployed for years), untethered (both in terms of communication and power), and unattended (and so are capable of self-configuring and self-adapting). Wireless sensor networks often comprise a large number of sensor nodes that are deployed within a physical environment of interest, and such sensor nodes may measure aspects of the physical environment in great detail.
Sensor nodes may be deployed in a wireless sensor network in different ways. In one technique, ad-hoc deployment (e.g., random scattering) may be used, wherein sensor nodes are dropped with no particular plan or pre-defined arrangement. For example, initial deployment may involve dropping sensor nodes from an aircraft into an area of interest at random. The resulting wireless sensor network is referred to as an "ad-hoc" network (and is also sometimes referred to by other terms, such as "scatter nets" or "pico nets"). After being deployed in this ad-hoc manner, the sensor nodes interact with each other to establish a communication network among themselves. In another deployment technique, sensor nodes are specifically placed in desired locations, wherein the sensors may be precisely positioned relative to one another.
While individual sensor nodes may have limited functionality, the global behavior of the wireless sensor network can be quite complex. Thus, the functionality of the whole may be greater than the sum of its parts. This may be achieved, in part, through data fusion (i.e., the process of transforming and merging individual sensor readings into a high-level sensing result). That is, sensor nodes may both sense/measure a characteristic of their local environment and communicate locally with other local sensor nodes to construct semantically rich conclusions about that local environment.
Sensor nodes may have the capability of measuring at least one characteristic in their environment, such as detecting ambient conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, movement, sound, light, or the presence or absence of certain objects). Many potential applications of wireless sensor networks exist, including as examples physiological monitoring, environmental monitoring (e.g., monitoring air, water, soil, chemistry, etc.), condition-based maintenance, military surveillance, precision agriculture, geophysical monitoring, transportation, monitoring of business processes (e.g., factory instrumentation and inventory tracking), animal monitoring (e.g., detecting the presence of animals), habitat monitoring, and/or measuring various other types of events.
Typically, the primary resource constraint of nodes in sensor networks is energy. Because many sensor networks deploy sensor nodes that are battery powered and that can scavenge only a small amount of energy from their surroundings, limited battery power is one of the major hurdles in achieving desired longevity of network operation. Reducing power consumption in sensing and subsequent data collection has been a topic of extensive study. The primary energy consumer in most wireless network sensors is the wireless (e.g., radio) transmissions.
Wireless sensor networks may collect a tremendous amount of detailed measurement (or sensed) data about their local environment. Such data may be communicated to an application that is located remote from the wireless sensor network. In some cases, a local high-powered (or long-range) communication device (or "data collector") may be used to collect data from the sensors and relay that data to the application and/or to provide information from the application to the sensors.

System and method for using mobile collectors for accessing a wireless sensor network


According to an embodiment, a device includes a processor unit, a control unit, a setting unit, a writing unit, and an executing unit. The processor unit is configured to switch between secure and non-secure modes, read/write data from/to a memory unit, and write an OS execution image of a secure OS unit to the memory unit. The setting unit is configured to set a shared memory area allowing reading and writing in both modes and an execution module memory area allowing reading and writing in the secure mode but not allowing reading or writing in the non-secure mode with respect to the control unit. The writing unit is configured to write an execution module to be executed in the secure OS unit to the shared memory area. The executing unit is configured to execute the execution module that has been written to the execution module memory area.

Typically, in a system implemented as software, there used to be situations demanding prevention of confidential information such as keys from being analyzed or situations demanding prevention of the contents of operations from being altered. As a system capable of addressing such situations, a processor architecture has been proposed in which a main processor is equipped with two modes, namely, a secure mode and a non-secure mode; and computer programs that need to be prevented from attacks such as alteration or analysis are executed in the secure mode, while general-purpose computer programs are executed in the non-secure mode.
In this architecture, in the secure mode and the non-secure mode, separate operating systems (OS) are run as the operating software. That is, operations such as encrypting and decrypting of data are performed either in a secure OS unit that runs in the secure mode or in application software that runs in the secure OS unit. In contrast, general-purpose operations such as reading data from a secondary storage unit are performed either in a non-secure OS unit that runs in the non-secure mode or in application software that runs in the non-secure OS unit. Thus, in this configuration, operations are performed while switching between the secure mode and the non-secure mode as may be necessary.
Moreover, access control is performed with respect to a main memory. Hence, a memory area in the secure OS unit cannot be read or altered from the non-secure OS unit. As a result, even if the non-secure OS unit or an application program running in the non-secure OS unit has bugs (vulnerability) incorporated therein and if an attempt to intercept or alter the data in the secure OS unit or in an application program running in the secure OS unit is made from the software running in the non-secure mode with an improper use of the bugs; it becomes possible to prevent that attempt from succeeding. For that reason, it becomes possible to prevent attacks made to alter the operations that are to be protected or attacks made to obtain the data that is to be protected.
However, although a method was proposed in which the operating systems are separated and memory access from the non-secure mode to the secure mode is prevented, no technology was put into practice so as to prevent an unauthorized non-secure OS unit from being run or to protect data at the time when an application program running in the secure OS unit outputs the data to the outside of the main memory.

Information processing device and computer program product


A device for measuring mechanical changes includes at least one first resistor which is designed to convert a mechanical change into a change of its resistance value and at least one operational amplifier, wherein the at least first resistor and the operational amplifier are connected such that the at least first resistor serves as input resistance for the operational amplifier and the operational amplifier provides or can provide a measurement result at an output. The first resistor is for example a strain gauge that can be secured to a component.

It is already known from prior art to use strain gages (German acronym: DMS) for measuring mechanical changes of a component, for example. It is known from prior art to use strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge circuit in a connected manner. For example, in a full bridge one would use two opposing strain gauges each, whose resistance changes (due to mechanical changes) enter into the measurement result with a positive sign, and two opposing strain gauges each, whose resistance changes enter into the measurement result with a negative sign.
The inventor of the present invention recognized that such circuits are of limited use for various applications.


A generator is provided along a conduit that carries a man-made fluid flow. The generator generates electrical power that can be, e.g., used to charge a battery, rotate a reel, or to directly control a fluid flow control valve associated with the fluid flow. In the garden hose context, neither AC power nor frequent battery replacement is required because power from the generator can recharge the battery powering the valve and the reel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electricity generators and particularly to fluid-driven electricity generators.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of conduits to carry fluids therethrough is well known in the art. For example, water hoses can be connected to a faucet on the outside of a house, the faucet having a traditional manual spigot or valve for turning the water flow on and off. A user can thus selectively allow pressurized water pumped from a well or supplied by a municipal water company to flow through the hose.
However, because hoses often extend many yards from the faucet, it is inconvenient for a user to have to return to the faucet to turn the water flow on and off. Manual devices, such as spray guns, are widely used to regulate water flow at the distal end of the hose so that the flow can be turned off and on without repeatedly returning to the faucet. However, it is undesirable to leave water turned on at the source when the hose is no longer in use for a number of reasons. Continual water pressure along the length of the hose tends to form leakage paths at joints between multiple lengths of hose, at the joint between the nozzle and the nozzle attachment, and at the joint between the hose and the faucet.
Electrical devices have also been developed to regulate water flow in hoses. For example, an electrically controllable valve responsive to remote control can be placed between the faucet and the hose. A remote control can then be operated to actuate the valve. A detailed description of such a remote control can be found in U.S. Provisional Application 60/455,229, filed Mar. 13, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Generators have been proposed for generating electricity from a flow of water in a conduit such as a hose or pipe. Various reeling mechanisms for reels not connected to a residential power grid are also known in the art. However, these mechanisms do not offer satisfactory means for powering the reeling of a hose. For example, these mechanisms either necessitate that the entire reel be in motion (e.g., a wheeled reel pulled behind a tractor) or that the water pressure be maintained at high levels at all times during which an operator could desire to spool or unspool the hose from/onto the reel drum. Accordingly, these prior art reeling mechanisms do not allow the reeling of a hose to be powered in situations where is it desirable for the entire reel to be stationary or where constant high water pressure is undesirable in the hose.

Generator for powering a reel from a fluid flow


An electrode rod for treating a biological tissue is provided to properly carry out a surgical operation wherein a sufficient thermal shield is applied onto a core wire connected to an electrode at the root of the electrode. A heat resisting ceramic or polyimide non-metallic short tube 15 is loosely mounted onto the outer periphery of a small diameter metal core wire 14 (diameter, 0.7 mm or so) connected to an electromagnetic wave irradiating electrode 13 such that it covers the short tube at the root of the electrode 13. The short tube 15 is fixed by a heat resisting coating layer 16 made of tetrafluoroethylene or the like. A rod-shaped rigid metal core wire 14a having a relatively larger diameter is connected in a unified form to the small diameter metal core wire 14 and a heat resisting coating layer 16a is also applied onto the core wire 14a.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a biological tissue treating device, in which the treatment of the biological tissue, such as dissipation due to vaporization, incision, excision, coagulation and arresting of bleeding, is carried out in an electromagnetic field proximate to the tissue in the action of an electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic field emanating from the tip of an electrode for irradiating an electromagnetic field, and more specifically to an electrode rod for treating a biological tissue, which rod is equipped with such an electrode for irradiating an electromagnetic wave.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, as shown in FIG. 8, a biological tissue treating device equipped with an electromagnetic electrode includes a high frequency power supply 1 for generating a high frequency current having a radio frequency of, for example, 8 MHz–60 MHz in a wide band, and the high frequency current generated by the high frequency power supply 1 is supplied to an electromagnetic wave irradiating electrode 5 via an impedance matching unit 3 and a high frequency current cable 11.
The high frequency current cable 11 comprises a core wire 2 and a shield tube 6, which coaxially surrounds the core wire 2 via an insulating material. The proximal end of the core wire 2 is connected to terminal 7a for one electrode of the high frequency power supply 1 via the matching unit 3, and the proximal end of the shield tube 6 is connected to terminal 7b for the other electrode of the HF power supply 1 via both the matching unit 3 and a lead wire 7. The electromagnetic wave irradiating electrode 5 can be mounted at one end of a removable core wire 2a connected to the distal end of the core wire 2 via a socket 11a.
In FIG. 8, moreover, reference numerals 8, 9 and 10 mean a biological tissue, a local area thereof and a portion to be irradiated by the electromagnetic wave, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the conventional electrode rod for treating a biological tissue, which electrode rode includes an electromagnetic wave irradiating electrode 5 and a core wire 2a, is connected to a stainless steel electrode 5, and a heat resisting coating layer 12 is applied onto an conductor area extending from a flexible metal core wire 2a having a relatively small diameter to a rigid metal rod core wire 2b having a relatively large diameter. Since the electrode 5 is normally operated at an extremely high temperature (about 200° C.), the tip 12a of the insulation layer 12 is disposed away from the electrode 5 by a distance of several millimeters in order to avoid the burning up. Accordingly, such an exposed core wire 2a resides in the vicinity of the electrode 5 in the conventional electrode rod, and therefore the surface of such an exposed section becomes to be at a high temperature in the operation state. In this case, there is a possibility that a local portion other than that not to be treated in the biological tissue becomes into contact with the exposed section of the core wire, and then burns out, thus causing a disadvantage to be provided, since great skill is required in the operation of the electrode rod.

Electrode rod for treating biological tissue


An engine system is provided, including a controller which controls devices of an engine at a given engine speed so that, when a demanded engine load is a first load, a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air inside a cylinder (containing fresh air and burnt gas) to fuel is a first G/F and mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by flame-propagation, when the demanded load is a second load (<the first load), the G/F is a second G/F (>the first G/F) and an injection center-of-gravity is at a timing such that the entire mixture gas combusts by CI combustion, and when the demanded load is between the first and second loads, the G/F is at a third G/F (between the first and second G/Fs) and the injection center-of-gravity is at a later timing such that at least part of the mixture gas combusts by the CI combustion.

Compression ignition combustion (hereinafter, may simply be referred to as "CI combustion") improves the thermal efficiency of an engine. JP2012-215098A discloses an engine in which a mixture gas is combusted by the CI combustion, more accurately, by HCCI (Homogeneous Charged Compression Ignition) combustion when an engine load is low, and the mixture gas is combusted by SI (Spark Ignition) combustion using a spark plug when the engine load is high. This engine switches the combustion mode corresponding to the change in the engine load. Note that in the SI combustion, the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation after the ignition, and thus, the SI combustion is synonymous with flame propagation combustion in the following description.
Meanwhile, the present inventors conducted a diligent study on the HCCI combustion. As a result, it became apparent that main control factors of the HCCI combustion are the temperature of mixture gas inside a cylinder, and a mass ratio (G/F) of intake air including burnt gas inside the cylinder to fuel. Moreover, an ignition timing and a combustion period of the HCCI combustion can be controlled by an in-cylinder temperature (TIVC) at a close timing of an intake valve and the G/F being adjusted to be a target TIVC and a target G/F. Furthermore, according to the study, the present inventors found that the SI combustion is possible under certain conditions of the TIVC and the G/F, and the HCCI combustion is possible also under certain conditions of the TIVC and the G/F. Moreover, there is a large gap between the TIVC and the G/F at which the SI combustion is possible, and the TIVC and the G/F at which the HCCI combustion is possible.
Note that "SI combustion is possible" corresponds to a state where the combustion stability of the SI combustion meets a standard, and abnormal combustion can be reduced. For example, when the G/F is too high (i.e., too lean), the combustion stability of the SI combustion does not meet the standard. Moreover, when the TIVC is too high, the SI combustion is likely to cause abnormal combustion. Abnormal combustion of the SI combustion includes preignition and knocking. When the ignition timing is retarded to avoid abnormal combustion, the combustion stability does not meet the standard.
"HCCI combustion is possible" corresponds to a state where the combustion stability of the HCCI combustion meets a standard, and abnormal combustion can be reduced. For example, when the G/F is too low (i.e., too rich), the HCCI combustion is likely to cause abnormal combustion (e.g., overly rapid combustion). Moreover, also when the TIVC is too high, the HCCI combustion is likely to cause overly rapid combustion. When the TIVC is too low, the HCCI combustion causes misfiring and the combustion stability does not meet the standard.
Even if the combustion mode is to be switched between the HCCI combustion and the SI combustion corresponding to the change in the engine load as disclosed in JP2012-215098A, it is difficult to instantly change the G/F of the in-cylinder mixture gas to be at the G/F corresponding to the switching target combustion mode.


Sound source data is constituted by a 14-byte sound data area SA consisting of 28 samples of 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data and a sound parameter area PA consisting of loop information LP, filter information FL and a shift amount RA.. In encoding the sound source data, a CD-ROM XA encoder may be employed.. 4-bit ADPCM data is decoded by a BRR decoder 53, pitch-converted by a pitch conversion unit 54, and then processed with envelope transform by an envelope generator 58. After that, sound outputs of left and right channels outputted with the sound volume adjusted by volumes 60L, 60R, and 16-bit PCM data with the sound volume adjusted by a mixing volume 65, are added by an adder 62. Further, the sound data from the mixing volume 65, or an addition output produced by adding the sound data from the mixing volume 65 with the sound data from the volumes 60L, 60R, is reverberated by a reverberation processor 68. The sound data with the sound volume adjusted by a reverberation volume 69 and the sound data from the adder 62 are added.. The sound source data and the real sound data can be easily mixed in a single circuit.

This invention relates to a sound source data generating method employed for generating sound effects and background music (BGM), a recording medium in which information of such sound source data is recorded, and a sound source data processing device for generating sounds using the sound source data.
Conventionally, electronic musical instruments, game equipment and information processing devices, such as, personal computers, generate musical sounds and sound effects.
For generating the musical sounds or sound effects, signals like square wave signals, triangular wave signals and sine wave signals are supplied to plural preset frequency dividers with different frequency division ratios and duty ratios, and the individual sound source signals outputted from the frequency dividers, that is, so-called voices, are synthesized at a desired level.
For musical instruments, such as, piano and drum, the entire sound portion of a sound is divided into four sections, that is, attack, decay, sustain and release sections, so that the amplitude or the level of the signal in each section characteristically changes. To deal with the changes, so-called ADSR control is carried out to cause similar changes of the signal level of each voice.
In addition, for electronic musical instruments, a so-called FM sound source for frequency-modulating sine wave signals with sine wave signals of low frequency is known. Thus, various sound signals can be generated by fewer sound source data with modulation factors used as temporal functions.
It is to be noted that noise may be used as a sound source of sound effects.
Meanwhile, for executing a game program with game equipment or an information processing device like a personal computer, the start, stop and sound volume of sound effects and background music (BGM) to be generated are changed in real time in accordance with proceedings of the game program or operations of the game equipment and information processing device by a user.
The sound information for sound effects or BGM is adaptive differential PCM (so-called ADPCM) data which is produced by compressing digitally recorded various 16-bit digital data, then performing bit rate reduction of 4 bits or BRR encoding, and blocking the resulting data. The ADPCM data is sound data for fundamental waveform. That is, the game equipment and the information processing device are provided with a so-called PCM sound source using the sound source data for generating musical intervals with the read-out cycle of the sound source data in response to indicated musical intervals.
The sound source data in a case where 4-bit ADPCM data is used as sound information will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6.
This sound source data is constituted on the basis of a block having 9 bytes composed of 8 horizontal bits and 9 vertical bits. The block is constituted by a 1-byte header information area HA consisting of additional information of the sound source data and an 8-byte sound data area SA consisting of 16 samples of sound source data or so-called sound data.
The header information area HA is constituted by 1-bit block end information ED, 1-bit loop information LP, filter information FL used for decoding, and a 4-bit shift amount RA.
The block end information ED indicates whether the block is the last block of the sound source data or not. The loop information LP indicates whether the sound data of the block is to be looped or not. When 1 is raised for the loop information LP, the sound data is looped. When 0 is raised for the loop information LP, the data is not looped.
BRR encoding is performed when the sound source data for each block is generated. The filter information FL indicates information of a filter to be used for performing BRR decoding corresponding to BRR encoding. With this filter information FL, a fixed predictive filter which is optimum for each block, that is, a fixed predictive filter having least errors, is selected from plural fixed predictive filters.
The shift amount RA is a parameter for expanding a 4-bit value to a 16-bit value in BRR decoding.
The sound data area SA includes 16 samples of sound data SD.sub.AOL to SD.sub.B3H.
Meanwhile, since 1 block consists of 9 bytes in the conventional sound source data, it requires complex BRR decoding.
Also, among optical discs employed for optically recording and reproducing data, a CD-ROM using a compact disc (CD) which is a read-only optical disc as a read-only memory has been recently used as a recording medium for recording sound source data. Therefore, it is preferred that the sound source data is based on the standard of CD-ROM pictures and sound source data, that is, CD-ROM XA.
Although the sound source data in which 1 block consists of 9 bytes has a block length consisting of 16 samples of sound data, this block length is not based on the CD-ROM XA standard. Therefore, the predictive filter employed for BRR encoding for generating the conventional sound source data differs from a predictive filter employed for BRR encoding for generating the sound source data based on the CD-ROM XA standard. In addition, since the predictive filter corresponding to BRR encoding is employed in performing BRR decoding of the sound source data, the predictive filter for the sound source data based on the CD-ROM XA standard cannot be used for decoding the conventional sound source data.
Further, since the loop information in the header information area of the sound source data simply indicates whether the sound data is to be looped or not, the control for looping of the sound source data becomes complex.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sound source data generating method for generating sound source data based on the CD-ROM XA standard in which simple processing suffices for generating sounds, a recording medium for recording the sound source data generated by the sound source data generating method, and a sound source data processing device for generating sounds using the sound source data generated by the sound source data generating method.
Meanwhile, when the sound output synthesized by the conventional PCM sound source is used for sound effects during a game program, the sound output is outputted in most cases with an overlap with musical tunes like BGM. In this case, it is necessary to mix the sound output for the sound effects with the musical tunes like BGM for outputting. Since a sound signal outputted from other processing circuit than the PCM sound source is used as the sound signal to be mixed, mixing of the sound output with the sound signal is complex. Also, the circuit structure therefor is enlarged.
Thus, in view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sound data processing device which is capable of easily mixing the sound output synthesized from the sound source data with the sound signal.
According to the present invention, there is provided a sound source data generating method including the steps of: generating 14-byte sound information consisting of 28 samples of 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data; and generating 2-byte sound source parameters consisting of start information and end information of a looping section, predictive filter information expressing the type of an adaptive differential PCM predictive filter, and range information for expanding the 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data to 16-bit data, to generate 16-byte sound source data based on complete blocks from the 14-byte sound information and the 2-byte sound source parameters.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a recording medium having recorded therein 16-byte sound source data based on complete blocks, the 16-byte sound source data being constituted by 14-byte sound information consisting of 28 samples of 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data, and by 2-byte sound source parameters consisting of start information and end information of a looping section, predictive filter information expressing the type of an adaptive differential PCM predictive filter, and range information for expanding the 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data to 16-bit data.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a sound source data processing device including: memory means for storing therein 16-byte sound source data based on complete blocks which is constituted by 14-byte sound information consisting of 28 samples of 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data, and by 2-byte sound source parameters consisting of start information and end information of a looping section, predictive filter information expressing the type of an adaptive differential PCM predictive filter, and range information for expanding the 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data to 16-bit data; and decoding means for decoding the 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data in the block to 16-bit data using the predictive filter information and rate information of the sound source data based on blocks stored in the memory means.
The start information and the end information of the looping section are information indicating a start block and an end block respectively of a looping section composed of one or more blocks.
According to the present invention, there is provided a sound data processing device including: envelope means for providing an envelope for enclosing sound source data consisting of 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data and sound data which is 16-bit PCM data different from the sound source data; and sound output means for decoding the sound source data read out from the envelope means to perform pitch conversion and outputting sounds with a signal level controlled; and mixing means for mixing a sound output from the sound output means with the real sound data read out from the envelope means.
The sound data processing device according to the present invention further includes: second mixing means for mixing the real sound data with the sound output from the sound output means; and reverberation sound data mixing means for mixing sound data from the second mixing means, temporally shifted forward or backward, with the sound data from the mixing means.
In the present invention, the sound source data and the real sound data are enclosed in an envelope, and the 16-bit sound output generated from the sound source data which is the 4-bit adaptive differential PCM data and the 16-bit PCM data which is the real sound data different from the sound source data are arbitrarily mixed.
Also, in the present invention, the second mixing means is provided so that the sound data mixed by the second mixing means is temporally shifted and mixed with the sound data from the mixing means to generate the reverberation sound data.
In the present invention, since the sound information has a structure of 28 samples similar to that of CD-ROM XA, a predictive filter employed in the CD-ROM XA encoding device may be used for encoding the sound information. Also, as the block is set to 16 bytes, decoding may be easily carried out.
In addition, as the information indicating the start block and the end block of the looping section is provided in each block, looping of plural blocks may be performed.

Sound source data generation method, recording medium, and sound source data processing device


An electronic control unit case is disclosed, wherein a coil is provided on the top surface of a block housing control equipment for operating the same. The case protrudes a sidewall from the circumferential part of a plate portion thereof in which a bus bar is embeded and is secured onto the block with the sidewall resting at its end surface on the block while covering the coil. An electronic control unit is attached to the back surface of the plate portion, a through hole is formed in the plate portion in correspondence to the coil, and a terminal of the coil and a terminal portion of the bus bar are joined to each other in the through hole. In a plane which is parallel to the axis of the coil as well as to a plane in which a portion embeded in the plate portion of the bus bar extends, the terminal portion of the bus bar is bent twice or the terminal portion of the bus bar and the coil terminal are bent both once so that a point where the terminal portion of the bus bar and the coil terminal are joined to each other is offset from the portion embeded in the plate portion of the bus bar in a direction parallel to the coil axis or is further offset from a root portion of the coil terminal in the same direction as the portion embeded in the plate portion of the bus bar extends. Further, the through hole is formed to extend math a thin width in the same direction as said portion embeded in said plate portion of said bus bar extends.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic control unit case having one or more bus bars embeded therein to each of which the terminal of a coil for operating control equipment is connected.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In a known electronically controlled pressure adjusting device, valve domes are protruded from the top surface of a valve block containing control valves, and a case which contains coils fit on the valve domes and to which an electronic control unit is attached is secured to the valve block. Bus bars for connecting the coils to the electronic control unit are embeded in the case in the form of multiple layers, and terminals of the coil are joined to the bus bars in through holes which are formed in the case in correspondence to the coils. U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,318 to Staib et al. describes the configuration that the terminal portion of each bus bar which is joined to the terminal of each coil is bent to meander in a plane perpendicular to the coil axis in order to absorb a displacement which acts on the coils when the case is fixed to the valve block with the coils being fit on the valve domes.
In the aforementioned prior art device, the terminal portion of each bus bar which is joined to the coil terminal in the through hole is bent to meander in the plane perpendicular to the coil axis, and such meander of the terminal portion causes the size of the through hole to be enlarged. Thus, the cross-section of the case which can be utilized to arrange the bus bars is undesirably decreased. For this reason, in the case that the number of the bus bars arranged is to be increased, the layers through which the bus bars are arranged must be increased in number, thereby enlarging the thickness of the case. This unfavorably results in failing to meet a recent requirement that electronic control units be miniaturized and lightened.


An ear clasp headset includes a speaker capsule for transmitting sound to a user's ear, wherein the speaker capsule is capable of contacting an inner recess of the user's ear, a headset body operably coupled to the speaker capsule, wherein the headset body is capable of contacting an outer portion of the user's ear, and a headset tail operably coupled to the headset body, wherein the headset tail comprises a curved structure capable of flexing open and close for contacting a lower portion of the user's ear. Advantageously, the apparatus and method of the present invention provide a headset with improved comfort, stability, and fit in the user's ear.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to headsets containing earphones and, more particularly, to an "in-the-ear" type headset apparatus with improved wearing comfort and stability.
2. Description of Related Art
Telephone headsets are gaining popularity in and out of the workplace as more and more users either have jobs requiring that they spend a substantial amount of time on the telephone or users simply desire to listen or speak on the telephone with their hands free to perform other tasks.
One type of headset, which can incorporate one or two earphones for monaural or stereo listening, is known as an "in-the-ear" type headset, which employs earphones that fit into the cavum area, or entrance to a user's middle ear.
Hands-free headsets which are placed in the ear must adapt to a wide variety of ear shapes and sizes in order to fit a large percentage of users. Comfort, stability, and aesthetics are key elements that must be met in order for a headset to be acceptable to the end user. Unfortunately, previous headsets designed with consideration for both elements of comfort and stability have typically been burdened with a large form factor.
A conventional method for making an in-the-ear headset fit a wide variety of ear sizes comfortably has been to offer a foam cushion that slips over the earpiece to provide a larger profile to fill the ear. Another approach has been to offer a selection of incrementally-sized accessories which attach to the earpiece to allow for custom fitting to the user's ear. These previous methods have typically required that the output face of the earphone be forcefully maintained in the ear of the user to maintain stability. Consequently, a major disadvantage of these previous methods has been discomfort from the high contact forces against the ear. Another disadvantage has been the lack of stability in the ear after a period of time in which the earphone may become dislodged by the aggregate of movements by the user.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a headset apparatus that is comfortable, stable on the ear, universally fitting, and capable of user customization.


An electronic switching system (ESS) analyzes charge data automatically. The ESS comprises a generator for generating the charge data for a call; a recorder coupled with the generator for receiving the charge data from the generator and assembling a data block having a block header, a plurality of charge data and checksum value; a first memory for storing a multiplicity of the data blocks; an analyzer coupled with the first memory for checking the charge data of the data block to detect any erroneous charge data and search for a long call; a controller coupled with the analyzer for generating and transmitting a predetermined message for erroneous charge data to an operator and determining to verify the charge data for a subscriber of the long call; a verifier coupled with the generator for receiving from the generator and displaying the charge data; and a second memory coupled with the verifier for storing the verified charge data.

As is well known in the art, an electronic switching system (ESS) selectively connects two assigned subscribers so as to establish a communication line therebetween.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ESS 1 comprises a multiplicity of switching subsystems (SS's) 10 and an administration subsystem (AS) 20. In FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, it is provided only one SS 10 in the ESS 1. The SS 10 includes a call handling unit (CHU) 120 and a charge data generating unit (CGU) 110 to communicate information between two selected subscribers and generate charge data. The AS 20 coupled with the SS 10 controls all the operations and maintenance functions of the ESS 1, such as administering the charge data and the like. The AS 20 includes a charge data recording unit (CRU) 130, a disk unit (DKU) 140, a magnetic tape unit (MTU) 150, a charge data verifying unit (CVU) 160, and a verification database (VDB) 170.
When a call is terminated, predetermined details of the call, such as a type of call (e.g., long distance call), a type of subscriber (e.g., ISDN subscriber), a charge class (e.g., source charging), a source number, a destination number, a calling start time and a calling end time, are transferred from the CHU 120 to the CGU 110. The charge data for the call is generated to have a predetermined format and size based on the details of the call at the CGU 110 and transmitted to the CRU 130 of the AS 20.
And the transmitted charge data are assembled into a data block of a predetermined size (e.g., 1 Kbyte) at the CRU 130 to be recorded on the DKU 140 on a block-by-block basis. The data block includes a block header, a predetermined number of charge data and a checksum value. The recorded data blocks are transferred to the MTU 150 periodically with a predetermined time period or when the transfer of the charge data is requested.
A call billing for a subscriber is done based on the charge data stored at the MTU 150 and predetermined billing rates. It may occur that the subscriber argues his/her call billing. As the arguing subscriber requests charge data verifying process for his/her call, the subscriber is registered on the CGU 110 for charge data verification and then the charge data for the registered subscriber is transmitted from the CGU 110 to the CVU 160. The CVU 160 verifies the transmitted charge data, e.g., displays it on display and records it on the DB 170. And the charge data stored in the MTU 150 is analyzed to check whether or not there is any erroneous charge data.
However, in such an ESS 1, the CVU 160 is capable of verifying only the charge data whose verification is requested after the registration for the verification process. And also an error in the charge data is detected only after the charge data on the MTU 150 is analyzed. Consequently, it is desirable to analyze the charge data automatically (i.e., simultaneously with transferring the charge data from DKU 140 to the MTU 150) and use the analysis result to start the verification process or send an error message to an operator.
Hitherto, no prior art ESS is known to have such analyzing capabilities.

Electronic switching system capable of analyzing charge data automatically


A method is disclosed for converting color images to textured monochrome images such that image regions with similar luminance but different chrominance look different when converted to black-and-white to preserve color information therein. This texture-encoded color information can be extracted at a later time to reconstitute the original color image. The present method involves first converting the color image to a luminance-chrominance colorspace. The chrominance data is decomposed into 4 channels of chrominance. A wavelet transformation of the luminance channel is preformed. Scaled chrominance channels are then mapped to a number of wavelet sub-bands. Once mapped, the wavelet transform is inverted to generate textures proportional to the original colors of the color image having an amplitude proportional to the chroma of the original color. The black-and-white image is embedded with this texture information into the image's grayscale component. In order to retrieve the color image from the textured grayscale image, a wavelet transform regenerates the scaled chrominance channels mapped therein. Those wavelet sub-bands comprising embedded chroma are extracted and scaled to the size of the original image. The remaining sub-bands are inverted to produce the Y-image thereof. Separate images now exist in Y, Cr, and Cb. The recombination of the YCbCr images produce the colored image that was previously embedded into the grayscale components of the textured black-and-white image.

When color images are printed on black-and-white printing devices the color information contained in the original image has to be converted or otherwise mapped to black-and-white. This has to be achieved in a manner wherein sufficient color information comprising the color image is retained in the derivative black-and-white image such that the image itself is not lost in the recomposition. Since regions of different color having a similar lightness look about the same, subtle color differences in the original color image can be difficult to distinguish in the resultant black-and-white image. In some instances, this inability to distinguish color differences can compromise the content of the original picture and thereby compromise one's understanding of the resulting graphic or chart.
Colors are generally mapped to textures in order to impose some degree of differentiability other than the density of toner (luminance). Different colors should produce different textures which should be more readily discernible. Methods approach this problem by mapping colors to one or more texture patterns. Alternatively, only primary colors are mapped to texture patterns so that the combinations of primary colors end up being mapped to combinations of texture patterns.
As wavelet theory is important to an understanding of the subject matter of the present invention, the following additional background is provided.
It is well known from Fourier theory that a signal can be expressed as the sum of a, possibly infinite, series of sines and cosines. This sum is also referred to as a Fourier expansion. A disadvantage of a Fourier expansion is that it has only frequency resolution and no time resolution meaning that, although all the frequencies present in a signal might be determinable, one does not know when they are present. To overcome this problem, several solutions have been developed which are more or less able to represent a signal in the time and frequency domain at the same time.
The idea behind time-frequency joint representations is to cut the signal of interest into several parts and then analyze the parts separately. It is clear that analyzing a signal this way will give more information about the when and where of different frequency components, but it often leads to a fundamental problem as well: How to cut the signal? Herein lies the problem. Suppose that we want to know exactly all the frequency components present at a certain moment in time. This short time window is cut using a Dirac pulse (f(t)=1 at t=0 and f(t)=0 for all other t), then transform it to the frequency domain.
One problem is that cutting the signal corresponds to a convolution between the signal and the cutting window. Since convolution in the time domain is identical to multiplication in the frequency domain and since the Fourier transform of a Dirac pulse contains all possible frequencies then the frequency components of the signal begin to smear over the frequency axis. This is the opposite of the standard Fourier result as we now have time resolution but no frequency resolution whatsoever. The underlying principle of this problem is due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle which states, in part, that it is impossible to know the exact frequency and the exact time of occurrence of this frequency in a signal. As such, a signal can not be represented as a point in the time-frequency space.
The wavelet transform or wavelet analysis is one solution to overcome the shortcomings of a Fourier transform. In wavelet analysis, the use of a fully scalable modulated window helps resolve the signal-cutting problem because, as the window is shifted along the signal, the spectrum is calculated for every position. As this process is iterated with a slightly shorter (or longer) window for every cycle, a collection of time-frequency representations of the signal, all with different resolutions, a multi-resolution analysis results.
In the case of wavelets, one does not speak of time-frequency representations but rather time-scale representations, wherein scale is the opposite of frequency as used for Fourier transforms. The large scale is considered the big picture, while the small scales show the details. In a way, going from large scale to small scale is like zooming in on the details.

Method for embedding color image information into a black-and-white image


A method includes a step of supplying a first heated hydrocarbon-containing gas stream to a reactor. An oxygen-containing gas stream is separately supplied to the reactor to partially oxidize the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream. The oxygen-containing gas is optionally prepared by passing air through one or more membranes to increase the oxygen content. One or more of the desired liquid oxygenated hydrocarbons are condensed and/or separated from the resulting product stream. Non-hydrocarbon gases are selectively removed from the product stream to enrich the gaseous hydrocarbon fraction using a scrubber and/or a membrane. The remaining gaseous hydrocarbon products from the product stream are mixed with a fresh hydrocarbon-containing gas stream after one cycle of the reaction. Characteristically, the process uses at least one membrane to increase oxygen content of the oxygen containing gas and/or to remove non-hydrocarbon gases from the product stream as set forth above.

The current industrial practice for methanol production is a two-step reaction. The first step is the cleaning and reforming of methane (from natural gas) to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This is followed by a second step consisting of a reaction between carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solid catalyst to form methanol. This process is energy-intensive and uneconomical for all but very large scale methanol plants. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing oxygenated hydrocarbons (especially methanol). More specifically, the embodiments are for converting alkanes, such as methane, ethane, propane and butane, into alkyl oxygenates, and in particular, for direct oxidation (under partial oxidation conditions) of methane (e.g. from natural gas) to alcohols and additional oxygenated hydrocarbons.
Various other methods and apparatuses for converting methane into methanol are also known. It is known to carry out a vapor-phase reformation of methane into synthesis gas (mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) with its subsequent catalytic conversion into methanol, as disclosed, for example, in Karavaev M. M., Leonov B. E., et al "Technology of Synthetic Methanol", Moscow, "Chemistry" 1984, pages 72-125. However, in order to realize this process, highly sophisticated equipment is needed to satisfy the high requirements of gas purity. Large quantities of energy are also consumed to obtain the synthesis gas and for its purification, with a significant number of intermittent stages in the process. This complexity makes the process economically unviable for medium and small enterprises with the capacity less than 2,000 tons/day.
Russian Patent No. 2,162,460 includes a source of hydrocarbon-containing gas, a compressor and a heater for compression and heating of this gas, and an oxygen-containing gas with a compressor. It further includes successively arranged reactors with alternating mixing and reaction zones and means to supply the hydrocarbon-containing gas into a first mixing zone of the reactor and the oxygen-containing gas into each mixing zone, a recuperative heat exchanger for cooling of the reaction mixture, a cooler-condenser, a partial condenser for separation of waste gases and liquid products with a subsequent separation of methanol, a pipeline for supply of the waste gas into the initial hydrocarbon-containing gas, and a pipeline for supply of waste oxygen-containing products into the first mixing zone of the reactor. In this apparatus, however, fast withdrawal of heat from the highly exothermic oxidation reaction of the hydrocarbon-containing gas is not achievable because of the inherent limitations of the heat exchanger. This leads to the need for a reduction in the quantity of supplied oxygen-containing gas and, further, it reduces the degree of conversion of the hydrocarbon-containing gas. Moreover, even with the use of oxygen as an oxidizer, it is not possible to provide an efficient recirculation of the hydrocarbon-containing gas due to the rapid increase in the concentration of carbon oxides. A significant part of the supplied oxygen is wasted for oxidation of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, which additionally reduces the degree of conversion of the initial hydrocarbon-containing gas to useful products and provides a further overheating of the reaction mixture. As it is necessary to cool these components in the gas-liquid mixture to recover the liquid fraction followed by subsequent heating before returning to the reactor, much energy is wasted. Furthermore, these components are recompressed after each pass through the recycle compressor. Thus, the substantial elimination of non-hydrocarbon components provides an opportunity to reduce operational and capital expenditures.
A further method and apparatus for producing methanol is disclosed in the patent document RU 2,200,731, in which compressed heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and compressed oxygen-containing gas are introduced into mixing zones of successively arranged reactors, and the reaction is performed with a controlled heat pick-up by cooling of the reaction mixture with water condensate so that steam is obtained, and a degree of cooling of the reaction mixture is regulated by parameters of escaping steam, which is used in a liquid product rectification stage.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,179,843, 7,456,327, 7,578,981, 7,642,293 and 7,687,669, and Published US patent applications Nos. 20060204413, 20060223892, 200638283, 20070100005 and 20070166212, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe efficient and low-cost methods and apparatuses for the direct partial oxidation of methane to methanol without use of a catalyst. However, because recycle systems are suspect to accumulation of inert gases naturally occurring in the hydrocarbon-gas or in the oxygen containing gas, as well as product gases of the partial oxidation reaction, by selectively removing these fractions from the recycle system efficiencies can be significantly improved and oxygen consumption reduced.
It is observed that the methods and apparatuses can be used with minimal processing of on-shore gas and gas-condensate deposits, as well as integrated with any gas consumer, such as power plants, gas distributing and gas reducing stations, chemical production facilities, etc., or small methane producers (e.g. coal mines, oil production (flares), landfills, farms, etc.).
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved method and apparatus to permit for safe conversion of hydrocarbon-containing gas to liquids on off-shore rigs, and also for improved efficiencies and simplification to enable a closed cycle system for producing methanol and other oxygenated hydrocarbons.

Method and apparatus for providing oxygenated hydrocarbons


Radiating elements include a first and second dipole arms that extend along a first axis and that are configured to transmit RF signals in a first frequency band. The first dipole arm is configured to be more transparent to RF signals in a second frequency band than it is to RF signals in a third frequency band, and the second dipole arm is configured to be more transparent to RF signals in the third frequency band than it is to RF signals in the second frequency band. Related base station antennas are also provided.

The present invention generally relates to radio communications and, more particularly, to base station antennas for cellular communications systems.
Cellular communications systems are well known in the art. In a cellular communications system, a geographic area is divided into a series of regions that are referred to as "cells" which are served by respective base stations. The base station may include one or more antennas that are configured to provide two-way radio frequency ("RF") communications with mobile subscribers that are within the cell served by the base station. In many cases, each base station is divided into "sectors." In one common configuration, a hexagonally shaped cell is divided into three 120° sectors in the azimuth plane, and each sector is served by one or more base station antennas that have an azimuth Half Power Beamwidth (HPBW) of approximately 65°. Typically, the base station antennas are mounted on a tower or other raised structure, with the radiation patterns (also referred to herein as "antenna beams") that are generated by the base station antennas directed outwardly. Base station antennas are often implemented as linear or planar phased arrays of radiating elements.
In order to accommodate the increasing volume of cellular communications, cellular operators have added cellular service in a variety of new frequency bands. While in some cases it is possible to use a single linear array of so-called "wide-band" or "ultra wide-band" radiating elements to provide service in multiple frequency bands, in other cases it is necessary to use different linear arrays (or planar arrays) of radiating elements to support service in the different frequency bands.
As the number of frequency bands has proliferated, and increased sectorization has become more common (e.g., dividing a cell into six, nine or even twelve sectors), the number of base station antennas deployed at a typical base station has increased significantly. However, due to, for example, local zoning ordinances and/or weight and wind loading constraints for the antenna towers, there is often a limit as to the number of base station antennas that can be deployed at a given base station. In order to increase capacity without further increasing the number of base station antennas, so-called multi-band base station antennas have been introduced which include multiple linear arrays of radiating elements. One common multi-band base station antenna design includes one linear array of "low-band" radiating elements that are used to provide service in some or all of the 694-960 MHz frequency band and two linear arrays of "mid-band" radiating elements that are used to provide service in some or all of the 1427-2690 MHz frequency band. These linear arrays are mounted in side-by-side fashion. Another known multi-band base station antenna includes two linear arrays of low-band radiating elements and two linear arrays of mid-band radiating elements. There is also interest in deploying base station antennas that includes one or more linear arrays of "high-band" radiating elements that operate in higher frequency bands, such as the 3.3-4.2 GHz frequency band.

Multi-band base station antennas having broadband decoupling radiating elements and related radiating elements


A hand-operated pressing tool, which is suitable in particular for producing pipe connections, for pressing cable lugs, and/or for actuating cutting jaws, comprises a drive device arranged in a housing. The drive device is connected to an energy source. Furthermore, a start button, a display device, and a diagnostic connector are provided. The start button as well as the display device are arranged under a transparent housing cover. Preferably, the housing cover can be opened in order to reach the diagnostic connector.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to a hand-operated pressing tool which is suitable in particular for establishing pipe connections, pressing cable lugs, actuating cutting jaws, and the like.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Hand-operated pressing tools of the above type comprise a drive device arranged in a housing. Such a drive device is, e.g., a hydraulic drive device whose hydraulic pump is driven by an electric motor. The pressing tool further comprises a tool holder which serves, e.g., for taking up press jaws, cutting jaws and the like. With the aid of the drive device, the tool will then be operated. Such hand-operated tools comprise an energy source, wherein the energy supply takes place via a cable or an integrated energy source such as a rechargeable battery. To actuate the tools, i.e., for instance, to start the pressing process by which e.g. tube connections are pressed, there is further provided a start button. The latter is normally designed as an elastically or resiliently supported start button and not as a switch because a pressing process will be triggered by actuating the start button and, after finishing the pressing process, will be terminated preferably automatically. Normally, herein, the pressing process will be checked by indirect or direct measurement of the pressing force. Further, the housing often has a display device connected to it.
The display device usually comprises LED lights in different colors indicating e.g. the quality of the press connection which is indicative of malfunctions, the necessity of maintenance, or also the charging level of the rechargeable battery. Further, hand-operated pressing tools usually comprise a control device, such as e.g. a control board, for controlling the pressing process. The control device is used for controlling e.g. the electric motor and the like. Further, the control device can be employed for receiving and processing measurement data from pressure or displacement sensors, as well as for receiving a power or voltage intake of the electric motor. These data can be used for control as well as for checking the quality of the pressing and cutting process. Further still, for diagnosis, hand-operated pressing tools usually comprise a diagnostic connector. The control device, the start button, the display device and also the diagnostic connector have to be wired within the housing. The provision of cables or corresponding electric contacts is failure-prone and increases the manufacturing costs of the press tool.
It is an object of the disclosure to provide an improved hand-operated pressing tool wherein, particularly, the manufacturing costs are reduced while maintaining a high reliability.

Novopress GmbH Pressen Und Presswerkzeuge & Co. KG