An object is to provide a transmission belt which is restrained from being deteriorated in a high-temperature atmosphere, is excellent in softness in a low-temperature atmosphere, and is hardly worn away. To attain the object, the invention provides a transmission belt made of a rubber composition wherein the ratio by weight of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst type ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber, which is an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber obtained by polymerization in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, to a metallocene type ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber, which is an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber obtained by polymerization in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, is from 50/50 to 90/10.

As transmission belts, friction driving transmission belts such as a V belt and a V-ribbed belt, and other belts are known. These are widely used for automobiles, general industries, and others.
The transmission belts each have, for example, a rubber coat canvas for covering the surface, an adhesive rubber layer in which core lines such as filaments are embedded, and a compression rubber layer laminated on the adhesive rubber layer, and are each made mainly of a rubber composition.
In this sort of transmission belt, the following has widely been used hitherto as the rubber component of the rubber composition from the viewpoint of restraining a remarkable deterioration of the rubber in a high-temperature atmosphere and improving the softness of the rubber in a low-temperature atmosphere: natural rubber (NR), styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber, hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (H-NBR), alkylated chlorosulfonated polyethylene (ACSM), or the like.
In particular, ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber is relatively frequently used since the rubber is better in heat resistance and cold resistance than chloroprene rubber (for example, Patent Document 1).
However, conventional ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber is easily worn away; thus, the rubber has an aspect that the lifespan is shorter than that of chloroprene rubber. Furthermore, the transmission belt made of ethylene/α-olefin copolymer rubber has an aspect that the belt is lacking in softness in a driving test under a severe condition of a low temperature such as −40° C., and in other situations.
As described above, conventional transmission belts have problems that the belts are easily worn away and are not yet sufficient in softness in a low-temperature atmosphere.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-9-176402

Transmission belt and process for producing the same


In accordance with this invention, an air bearing slider has a mounting side which has a relieved portion formed by a stepped-contour or a tapered contour. The stepped-contour includes an adherent surface adjacent the rear face of the air bearing slider and a notch surface adjacent the front face of the air bearing slider. The notch surface is closer to the air bearing surface than the adherent surface. The tapered contour includes an adherent surface adjacent the rear face and a taper surface adjacent the front face such that the taper surface is at an angle to the adherent surface. The clearance provided by the relieved portion eliminates interference between the air bearing slider and the load beam surround portions which support the air bearing slider. Depth of the relieved portion of the air bearing slider can be altered easily during grinding for customized multiple drive designs without major retooling effort. To eliminate any potential contact between the corners of the adherent surface of the air bearing slider and the load beam surround portions, cutouts and/or etched regions are provided to the load beam surround portions adjacent to the adherent surface. The relieved portion of the air bearing slider can overlap the load beam surround portions such that the overlaps limit angular excursion of the air bearing slider when the air bearing slider is unloaded from the disk.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of information storage utilizing rigid disks, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for supporting read/write magnetic recording elements on a load beam having an integral flexure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Magnetic head suspensions using a unitary load beam with an integral flexure for supporting a read/write head are well known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,102 granted to Christianson discloses one such suspension. "Type 1650 Product Summary (Sep. 14, 1992)" published by Hutchinson Technology, Inc. of Hutchinson, Minn. also discloses another such suspension.
A prior art Hutchinson Technology Type 1650 suspension 100 (FIG. 1A) includes a lift rod 192 (shown in FIG. 1C), a load beam 101, and a flexure 110 supported by load beam surround portions 103 and 104. Flexure 110 is formed in load beam 101 by removing material to form slots 112, 114 and 116 and windows 122, 124, 126 and 128. Flexure 110 includes supports 132, 134, 136 and 138 which connect load beam surround portions 103 and 104 to roll elements 142 and 144 which in turn support an annular gimbal element 150. Gimbal element 150 is connected by pitch elements 152 and 154 to mounting pad 160 which supports a prior art air bearing slider 170 (FIG. 1B).
Air bearing slider 170 is a solid block with an air bearing side 171 and an opposing mounting side 172. Air bearing side 171 has a channel surface 175 separating a pair of rails 174A and 174B, each having a taper flat 176A and 176B adjacent front face 177. A magnetic read/write element 178 is mounted on a rear face 179 of air bearing slider 170. Mounting side 172 of air bearing slider 170 is a flat plane surface, which is illustrated in FIG. 1D.
When air bearing slider 170 is mounted on suspension 100, air bearing slider corners 184, 186 and 188 overlap load beam surround regions 103 and 104 (FIG. 1C). The overlaps are deliberately provided to act as limit stops during non-operational shock. Corner 180 of air bearing slider 170 may or may not be constrained by suspension 100 depending on how air bearing slider 170 is positioned when it is affixed to mounting pad 160. Referring to FIG. 1B, pitch (X-axis) and roll (Y-axis) angles are constrained to less than ten degrees in both directions by the limit stops at corners 184, 186 and 188. The stiffness of roll elements 142 and 144 and pitch elements 152 and 154 are kept high to constrain the Z-axis (see coordinate system 190 of FIG. 1B) motion of air bearing slider 170 during non-operational shock.
Previously, a separate flexure was required to support an air bearing slider. With the Type 1650 suspension, etching and forming are used to establish a clearance between the air bearing slider and the load beam surround portions in the following manner. Supports 132, 134, 136 and 138 slope out of the plane of load beam surround portions 103 and 104 so as to lift flexure 110 into a different plane. Roll elements 142 and 144 are supported by supports 132 and 134 (for roll element 142) and supports 136 and 138 (for roll element 144) in a plane at a distance t.sub.L =0.075 mm from the plane of load beam surround portions 103 and 104. Therefore, a nominal clearance C.sub.SL =0.075 mm is present between air bearing slider 170 and load beam surround portions 103 and 104 at air bearing slider corners 184, 186 and 188 shown in FIG. 1C.
Moreover, a portion of roll element 144 is etched away so that portion 144A (shown hatched in FIG. 1C) is thinner than portion 144B. For example, typical (but not absolute) dimensions used in the prior art are established by etching a load beam of thickness t.sub.L =0.075 mm down to a thickness t.sub.F =0.025 mm, results in a nominal clearance C.sub.AZ =t.sub.L -t.sub.F =0.050 mm between air bearing slider 170 and roll element 142A in the area 182 (FIGS. 1C and 1D and better shown in FIG. 1E). Roll element 142 is similar to roll element 144 and has portions 142A and 142B. Gimbal element 150 has the same thickness as portions 144A and 142A. The nominal clearances listed above are clearances with no load applied to air bearing slider 170.
Reduced thickness of flexure 110 increases the Z-axis compliance of air bearing slider 170 so that when air bearing slider 170 is loaded on the disk (flying above the surface of the disk on an air bearing), the suspension preload (typically 3 to 3.5 grams) reduces clearance C.sub.SL to less than 0.020 mm. Furthermore, clearance C.sub.AZ is reduced to less than 0.005 mm (due to compliance of flexure 110 in the Z-axis direction). With tolerances applied, interference can occur between roll element 142 and the edge of air bearing slider 170 in the region 182 (FIG. 1C). Any such interference moves the preload point forward relative to the center of pressure of air bearing surfaces of rails 174A and 174B, altering the flying characteristics of air bearing slider 170. In an extreme case, air bearing instability can result causing a head crash.
The interference problem (above) is further compounded by Z-axis shock loads. In the operating mode, if a shock occurs which loads suspension 100 towards the disk, the mass loading of suspension 100 results in a reduction in the clearance between air bearing slider 170 and load beam surround portions 103 and 104 (the effective mass of suspension 100 is approximately three times larger than the mass of air bearing slider 170). Impact at air bearing slider 170's corners 184, 186 and 188 can occur at shocks greater than 60 G's which can result in contact between a corner of air bearing surfaces 174A and 174B with the disk.
Interference problems can be reduced by increasing air bearing slider clearances C.sub.AZ and C.sub.SL. However, increased air bearing slider clearances require custom suspension design which in turn requires major retooling and expense.

Air bearing slider and head Gimbal assembly


A digital audio quality monitoring device uses a deep neural network (DNN) to provide accurate estimates of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from a limited set of features extracted from incoming audio. Some embodiments improve the SNR estimate accuracy by selecting a DNN model from a plurality of available models based on a codec used to compress/decompress the incoming audio. Each model has been trained on audio compressed/decompressed by a codec associated with the model, and the monitoring device selects the model associated with the codec used to compress/decompress the incoming audio. Other embodiments are also provided.

In telephone and computer audio communications and audio recordings, sound is represented as audio signals of electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic nature. Audio signals can be impaired by noise, such as environmental (background) noise or noise caused by packet loss in network transmission and/or by defects in communication lines or audio processing equipment for example. Therefore, audio signals are sometimes monitored to detect and possibly correct for noise. As an example, audio processing equipment used by organizations such as companies, public agencies, and others, may include audio quality monitoring devices to monitor telephone or computer audio interactions with customers in order to detect high noise levels and repair the audio signals or the audio processing equipment as needed to provide good customer service or meet other technical, business, or legal needs. For example, an organization may use customer voice for customer identification and authentication in order to prevent unauthorized access to customers' private data stored by the organization, e.g. credit card numbers, addresses, etc. Audio quality monitoring is important because customer identification and authentication may be unreliable if noise is high. Also, an organization may want to record customer interaction for use as evidence that the customer authorized credit card charges or ordered a particular product or requested or consented to a transaction or service, and such recordings may be subject to business or legal requirements with respect to audio quality. Other tasks requiring good audio quality include speech recognition (for speech-to-text conversion or other purposes), voice analytics, and others. Therefore, audio quality monitoring devices are an important component of many communication and recording systems.
Audio is often processed in digital form, and digital audio quality monitoring may require significant amounts of computer resources such as storage, communication bandwidth, and computing power. Further, computerized audio monitoring is not perfect because a computer cannot always distinguish between the audio signal and noise, and it is desirable to provide more reliable and accurate audio quality monitoring without requiring large amounts of computer resources.

Computerized monitoring of digital audio signals


An exemplary arrangement for securing the shaft of an exhaust-gas turbocharger includes a catch ring with a central opening and a radial projection on the shaft. The catch ring having an inner contour in the region of the central opening. The radial projection on the shaft is provided with an outer contour. The inner contour on the catch ring and the outer contour on the shaft are configured such that, during mounting of the shaft and of the turbine wheel connected thereto and in at least one specified angle position of the shaft with respect to the housing, the radially outwardly protruding projection on the shaft can be passed in an axial direction through the central opening of the housing element. The radially outwardly protruding projection abuts in the axial direction against the housing element in specified angle positions of the shaft with respect to the housing.

To increase the power of an internal combustion engine (combustion engine), nowadays it is known to use exhaust-gas turbochargers having a compressor, which supplies air for the combustion process to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust-gas turbine in the exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine. The supercharging of the internal combustion engine increases the amount of air and fuel in the combustion chambers (cylinders), and this can result in a significant increase in power of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust-gas turbocharger used for this purpose is normally composed of a rotor, including (e.g., comprising) a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel and the shaft bearing arrangement, the flow-guiding housing parts (compressor housing, turbine housing), and the bearing housing.
During full-load operation of the internal combustion engine, in the exhaust-gas turbocharger, very high circumferential speeds can be attained at the tip diameters of the turbine and compressor wheel. The maximum admissible rotor rotational speed of an exhaust-gas turbocharger is a function of the wheel size, the geometry and the strength values of the materials used. The rotating components can be subjected to very high centrifugal loads and therefore high material stresses. Defects in the material structure can under some circumstances lead to rupture of the compressor or turbine wheel, with in some cases severe consequences for the housing parts which surround the rotating components. The containment concept of an exhaust-gas turbocharger can basically be interpreted as meaning that all fragments are retained within the external housing and do not pose a risk to the surroundings of the supercharger.
In the event a compressor fails as a result of a compressor wheel breaking apart, the braking torque on the turbocharger rotor is eliminated, whereby the now freely driving turbine is accelerated to excessive rotational speeds, and fails when the natural rupture rotational speed is reached. With regard to the natural rupture of a radial turbine, a distinction is made between two types of rupture.
In the case of hub rupture, the entire hub body including the turbine blades disintegrates into multiple fragments, wherein the full rotational energy of the turbine is released instantaneously. The fragments which accelerate outward with high momentum cause considerable damage to the surrounding housing parts and, in the worst case, can even penetrate through said housing parts and thereby pose a risk to the surroundings of the turbocharger.
On the other hand, the turbine can be designed such that it fails through blade rupture. Here, the turbine blades fail in the root region to the hub body, while the wheel hub of the turbine wheel remains intact, continues to rotate and is braked only by friction against the surrounding housing part. Since, in the case of blade rupture, initially only the turbine blades are detached from the wheel hub, initially only the kinetic energy component of the blades is released to the surroundings. During the course of the run-down, the rest of the rotational energy, that is to say the component in the hub, is released to the housing by the stated friction.
In the case of blade rupture of a radial turbine at the natural rupture rotational speed thereof, there can be the problem that, after the blades are thrown off, residual energy remains in the non-rupturing hub body. Rupture tests have shown that, in the case of blade rupture, the shaft can fails and break apart, between the two radial bearings in the region of the axial bearing. In these situations, the turbine-side part of the shaft together with the hub body of the turbine wheel is no longer adequately secured in an axial direction by the axial bearing arranged at the compressor side of the rupture point, and can emerge from the turbocharger housing in the axial direction and pass into the gas outlet line. Here, the friction-welded connection between the shaft and the turbine hub body remains intact. By contrast, the compressor-side part of the shaft remains blocked in the compressor-side bearing point and does not follow the hub body of the turbine wheel and the shaft stub fastened thereto.
A freely rotating component in the gas outlet lines of the turbine is undesirable because this is uncontrollable and can cause damage to the exhaust lines.
EP 1353 041 A1 discloses an exhaust-gas turbocharger in which, on the shaft which is connected to the turbine wheel, there is arranged a means for axially securing the shaft and the turbine wheel connected thereto. In the event of rupture of the compressor wheel, the securing means prevents an axial movement of the shaft, and of the turbine wheel connected thereto, in the direction of the turbine. The securing means is for example, a circlip which is arranged in a groove in the shaft and which, in the installed state, together with housing parts, forms an axial stop for the shaft. The mounting and dismounting of a shaft secured in this manner in the event of maintenance work is cumbersome.


A containment vessel having a spiral plate heat exchanger, a central catalyst chamber packed with particulate catalyst, a central heater, a plenum providing conductive flow access for a hydrocarbon-air mixture to and from the containment vessel interior, and essential flow pathways interconnecting the plenum section, heat exchanger, catalyst chamber and central heater. The spiral plate heat exchanger, catalyst chamber, and heater assembly occupy successively smaller annular regions within the containment vessel.

This invention relates generally to catalytic oxidizers, and in particular, to an electric catalytic oxidizer for the treatment of hydrocarbon vapors from soil hydrocarbon-air vapor mixture extraction systems, and vapor from manufacturing processes.
Typically the most common application of such catalytic oxidizers is in the destruction of vapors extracted in situ from soils that have been contaminated with hydrocarbons, typically by a hydrocarbon leak from a storage tank. Such applications normally involve the clean-up of vapors contained in an air stream generated during clean-up of hydrocarbon spills, i.e. soil vapor extraction systems. The advantage of a catalytic combustion process is that it can be operated at a much lower temperature and lower hydrocarbon concentration than is possible with ordinary flame combustion. Many applications involve very low concentrations of hydrocarbon where catalytic combustion is efficient, while flame combustion is not practical.


A moisture sensitive optically nonlinear crystal is enclosed in a hermetically sealed elongated vacuum cell. The vacuum cell has an input window at one end and an output window at an opposite end providing optical access to the crystal by a laser beam. The windows are attached to the cell by cold-formed, indium-metal ram-seals. In an example of the cell in which the crystal is arranged to generate UV radiation from the laser beam, the output window is located at a sufficient distance from the crystal that the flux of UV radiation incident on the output window is below the damage threshold of the window for the UV radiation.

Optical components fabricated from optically nonlinear crystals are commonly employed for wavelength conversion in laser systems. A well-known example of wavelength conversion is the process of harmonic generation, wherein an appreciable fraction of the power contained in a beam of laser light having a particular wavelength and a corresponding fundamental optical frequency is shifted to a different wavelength, specifically a wavelength associated with an integer multiple or harmonic of the fundamental frequency, by propagating the beam through an appropriate crystal element. Through this process of harmonic generation, a laser system otherwise capable of directly producing only infrared (IR) light may generate visible or even ultraviolet (UV) wavelength light through one or more cascaded harmonic conversion steps.
Preferred optically nonlinear materials for converting IR wavelengths to visible wavelengths, or visible wavelengths to UV wavelengths, include synthetic crystals such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and its isomorphs as well as various crystalline borate compounds including beta-barium borate (BBO), lithium triborate (LBO), cesium borate (CBO) and cesium lithium borate (CLBO). A characteristic common to these particular materials is that all are water-soluble, and in general they are hygroscopic, especially CBO and CLBO.
Hygroscopic materials absorb and retain water present in the surrounding atmosphere. This can be quite problematic for a high-precision optical component made from a hygroscopic material.
The optical quality of polished surfaces of a hygroscopic crystal tends to degrade with extended exposure to water vapor due to gradual dissolution at the surfaces as water is taken up by the material. Such degradation is commonly characterized by a loss of transparency associated with increased scatter from a roughened surface or, in extreme cases, with distortion of the surface figure. Such effects generally degrade both the conversion efficiency and the frequency-converted laser beam quality obtainable from a degraded harmonic conversion crystal.
One well-known means of protecting polished surfaces of an optical component made from a hygroscopic material is to maintain the component temperature higher than the temperature of its immediate surroundings. This approach can be quite effective but has the drawback of requiring the presence of a controlled heat source and the need to provide power to the heat source
Another means of protecting polished crystalline surfaces is coating the surfaces with a transparent, water-impermeable barrier coating. However, such coatings are frequently associated with other problems, particularly for coatings dense and thick enough to provide an effective barrier. Edge-chipping, cracking, or crazing can often be observed to occur in such barrier coatings as a result of temperature cycling. In addition, such coatings may also degrade or be damaged more quickly than bulk materials, particularly as a result of extended exposure to intense laser light.
Yet another means of protecting a hygroscopic optical component from deterioration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,273. Here, the component is contained within a hermetically sealed cell, optically accessible via windows sealed to cell, and arranged to be free from water vapor or other sources of contamination. This provides that the component is protected not only from exposure to water vapor, but from exposure to other contaminants such as dust and organic vapors. Such a cell can be directly installed within a laser system. The interior of such a cell is preferably evacuated and arranged to remain gas-free during operation, or evacuated then back-filled with a dry, inert atmosphere. In either case robust and reliable window seals are required for the cell.
Prior-art vacuum-tight window sealing techniques can be problematic for a variety of reasons. Mechanical methods tend to rely upon bulky, flanged window retaining structures that apply and maintain compressive forces sufficient to deform a sealing gasket situated between a window and a mating surface. Brazing or soldering techniques not only require selective metallization of window surfaces but also involve highly elevated temperatures unlikely to be tolerated by a delicate optical component situated in close proximity to a seal. Adhesives such as cured epoxies can be used to attach and seal windows but are prone to out-gassing, particularly during curing but also over extended time periods. Out-gassing products can contaminate the component enclosed in the cell.
Yet another problem may be encountered in damage to windows of an enclosure from exposure to laser radiation. This is a problem in particular when the cell contains a crystal that is generating ultraviolet radiation.
There is a need for a cell for enclosing an environmentally sensitive optically nonlinear crystal that minimizes contamination of the crystal by construction materials of the cell.


An optical pulse tester includes: an OTDR measurer configured to execute an OTDR function of measuring a time distribution of a power of return light of an optical pulse input to an optical fiber; a display configured to display an OTDR measurement screen indicating information on execution of the OTDR function; and a controller configured to control the OTDR measurer and the display. The controller displays, on the OTDR measurement screen, a menu for allowing an operating person to call an auxiliary function for measurement of the optical fiber, and displays, on the OTDR measurement screen, a sub-screen indicating information on execution of the auxiliary function called by the operating person.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an optical pulse tester.
2. Description of the Related Art
In optical communication systems configured to perform, e.g., data communication with optical signals, optical fibers are used as media for transmitting the optical signals. In, e.g., laying, transferring, and maintenance of the optical fiber, the length of the optical fiber and loss and reflection at a connection portion of the optical fiber are evaluated, for example. Optical pulse testers (OTDRs: Optical Time Domain Reflectometers) are used as measuring instruments. The optical pulse tester emits, as measurement light, an optical pulse to a measurement target optical fiber connected to an optical connector. The optical pulse tester measures, in a time domain, the power of return light (backscattered light and/or Fresnel reflection light) returning to an input end. Moreover, the optical pulse tester displays measurement results, and analyzes the measurement results, for example.
The return light such as backscattered light returns to an input side in a delay time proportional to the distance from a reflection point. The return light forms a characteristic waveform at, e.g., a welded point, a connector connection point, a branching point, a bending point, and a cutting point of the optical fiber. Thus, an event at the optical fiber is detected from the waveform of the power of the return light, the event including, e.g., the welded point, the connector connection point, the branching point, the bending point, and the cutting point. Then, the distance to the event (the position of the event) is measured.
Of optical pulse testers in practical use, an optical pulse tester has various auxiliary functions in addition to the original OTDR function of analyzing the time distribution of the power of the return light. Examples of the auxiliary functions include a stabilized light source function, a visible light source function, an optical power meter function, and a fiber end face inspection function.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a menu system of a typical optical pulse tester having a plurality of auxiliary functions. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the typical optical pulse tester, menu items for calling the function of "OTDR measurement," a "stabilized light source," a "visible light source," an "optical power meter," or "end face inspection" are displayed as a top screen.
For example, when the "OTDR measurement" is selected, an OTDR measurement screen is displayed. When the "stabilized light source" is selected, a screen for light emission of a light source is displayed. When the "optical power meter" is selected, a screen indicating an input optical power is displayed. A user can select, from the top screen, a menu item of a function corresponding to a measurement purpose to cause the optical pulse tester to execute a desired function.
Examples of documents on this field include JP-A-09-145538.

YOKOGAWA METERS & INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION


Methods and systems for improving efficiency of direct cache access (DCA) are provided. According to one embodiment, a DCA control is defined by a network Input/Output (I/O) device for an I/O device queue corresponding to a central processing unit (CPU) of a host processor. A part of an incoming packet is configured by the DCA control to be copied to a cache of the CPU. The incoming packet is parsed by the network I/O device based on one or more of packet analysis, packet protocol, header format and payload data information. The parsed incoming packet is transferred from an I/O device queue of the network I/O device to a host queue of a host memory that is operatively coupled with the host processor. The specified part of the parsed incoming packet is copied by a host controller to the cache of the CPU based on the DCA control.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to network traffic processing and memory access. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to direct cache access (DCA) for directing traffic from Network Input/Output (I/O) devices directly to processor caches.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical computer system includes a host processor, a host memory, and a host cache. In existing technologies, memory access has increasingly become the performance bottleneck due to the speed discrepancy between CPU and memory. A central processing unit (CPU) cache is a cache used by the CPU of a computing device to reduce the average time to access memory, also commonly referred to as Latency. Data located in cache memory may be accessed in much less time than that located in the host memory as the cache stores relevant data closer to the CPU, which is sufficient to locate the source of incoming data or packets. Thus, a central processing unit (CPU) with a cache memory needs to spend far less time waiting for instructions and operands to be fetched and/or stored.
While a host processor executes application programs that require access to data, the host cache temporarily holds data for use by the processor such that when the host processor needs to read from or write to a location in main memory, it first checks whether a copy of that data is present in the host cache. If so, the processor immediately reads from or writes to the cache, which is much faster than reading from or writing to main memory/host memory.
Direct cache access may be used to avoid system bandwidth overload and bandwidth restrictions by placing the data directly into the processor's cache before, instead of, or in parallel with placing the data into system memory. Direct cache access (DCA) is information processing system protocol that permits data from an input/output (I/O) device to be placed into a corresponding cache based on protocol aware applications.
Even with the advent of DCA, existing solutions are still not able to optimize the amount of data that should be transferred and written into the CPU cache. If less than optimal data is transferred into the CPU cache, cache misses result in memory access penalties. Similarly, if more than needed data is transferred into CPU cache, other relevant data may be evicted from the cache, thereby causing a cache miss and resulting memory access penalties. The current systems and communication techniques therefore result in inefficiencies with respect to performance and speed.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved DCA schemes.

Direct cache access for network input/output devices


A media downlink transmission control method and a related device, the method including receiving a remote media reception message sent by an authorized terminal, where the remote media reception message includes a target user identifier, determining a first target media stream based on the remote media reception message, and sending the first target media stream to a destination terminal corresponding to the target user identifier.

A mission critical service is a media transmission service used for public security application and general commercial application, for example, in a public security system. The mission critical service supports i-to-N group communication. In one group communication, transmission of media data may be controlled by an authorized user such as a dispatcher. The dispatcher is a user who has a special permission, and may be a group member of one or more groups, or may be a superuser. In the prior art, there is only a mechanism in which an authorized user controls sending of uplink media data by a group user, and there is no mechanism in which the authorized user controls receiving of downlink media data by the group user. For example, the authorized user can control a particular group user to send target media data to a media control server, but cannot control one or more specific group users to receive the target media data. In an existing technical solution, pertinence and flexibility of the authorized user's control over media data transmission are relatively poor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Media downlink transmission control method and related device


The present invention provides improved electrochromic layers, which comprise polymeric matrices with electrochromic solutions interspersed therein. Varying an electrical potential difference across a layer of the invention results in reversible variation in the transmittance of light across the layer because of electrochemical processes in the electrochromic solution of the layer. The invention further provides electrochromic devices, in which the electrochromic layers of the invention provide reversibly variable transmittance to light, and various apparatus in which the devices of the invention provide light-filtering or light-color modulation. Such apparatus include windows, including those for use inside and on the outside walls of buildings and in sunroofs for automobiles, and variable reflectance mirrors, especially rearview mirrors for automobiles.

The term electrochromic is broad and encompasses within it various media, such as, for example, solution-phase, surface-confined, electro-deposition, or combinations thereof, which undergo a change in transmittance to light, and a concomitant change in color, when an electrical potential difference is imposed across the electrochromic media in a device.
There has been a great deal of research on surface-confined electrochromic media where the layers changing their transmittance to light are thin films deposited on the transparent electrodes within an electrochromic device. In these devices, an anodic electrochromic layer and a cathodic electrochromic layer are separate and distinct, and are electrically connected by a conductive electrolyte. Either thin film may be stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric forms of transition metal oxides, such as for example tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, nickel oxide, rhodium oxide, iridium oxide, niobium oxide, vanadium oxide, titanium dioxide, and combinations thereof. These electrochromic solid films are typically paired with an auxiliary redox system, which may be another metal oxide, or may be a solution phase, a surface-confined polymer film, or an electro-deposited polymer film species (all of which are described in detail hereinbelow)
These surface-confined thin films may also be a polymeric layer such as polyanaline, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,955, entitled "Electrically Conductive Polymer Composition, Method of Making Same and Device Incorporating Same" to N. Leventis et al. teaches an electrically conductive polymer with a porous structure having an electrochromic compound coated on the surfaces of the pores of the structure.
The electrochromic media may comprise an electro-deposition-type materials such as, for example, metal, metal oxides and heptyl viologen bromide in water.
Finally, the electrochromic media may include a solution-phase system. Solution-phase electrochromic devices and various circuitry and applications thereof are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,108, entitled "Single-Compartment, Self-Erasing, Solution-Phase Electro-optic Devices Solutions for Use Therein, and Uses Thereof", issued Feb. 20, 1990 to H. J. Byker; Canadian Patent No. 1,300,945, entitled "Automatic Rearview Mirror System for Automotive Vehicles", issued May 5, 1992 to J. H. Bechtel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,799, entitled "Variable Reflectance Motor Vehicle Mirror", issued Jul. 7, 1992 to H. J. Byker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,787, entitled "Electro-Optic Device", issued Apr. 13, 1993 to H. J. Byker et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,778, entitled "Control System For Automatic Rearview Mirrors", issued Apr. 20, 1993 to J. H. Bechtel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,693, entitled "Tinted Solution-Phase Electrochromic Mirrors", issued Jan. 11, 1994 to D. A. Theiste et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,380, entitled "UV-Stabilized Compositions and Methods", issued Jan. 18, 1994 to H. J. Byker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,077, entitled "Variable Reflectance Mirror", issued Jan. 25, 1994 to H. J. Byker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,077, entitled "Variable Reflectance Mirror", issued Jan. 25, 1994 to H. J. Byker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,376, entitled "Bipyridinium Salt Solutions", issued Mar. 15, 1994 to H. J. Byker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,448, entitled "Electrochromic Devices with Bipyridinium Salt Solutions", issued Aug. 9, 1994 to H. J. Byker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,407, entitled "Automatic Rearview Mirror Incorporating Light Pipe", issued Jan. 18, 1995 to F. T. Bauer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,397, entitled "Outside Automatic Rearview Mirror for Automotive Vehicles", issued Sep. 5, 1995 to W. L. Tonar; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,822, entitled "Electronic Control System", issued Sep. 19, 1995 to J. H. Bechtel et al. Each of these patents is commonly assigned with the present invention and the disclosures of each, including the references contained therein, are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. Additionally, the following references by others are also incorporated herein in their entirety by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,806,229 and 3,451,741; European Patent Application Publication Nos. 0 012 419, 0 430 684, 0 430 686, 0 435 689 and 0 552 012; and Non-emissive Electrooptic Displays, Kmetz and von Willisen, eds., Plenum Press, New York, N.Y., USA (1976), and especially the chapter therein by Chang, "Electrochromic and Electrochemichromic Materials and Phenomena," at pp. 155-196.
In typical solution-phase electrochromic devices, and particularly devices which are single-compartment and self-erasing, a solution is held as a thin layer in a compartment which is formed by two walls, at least one of which is transparent to light (electromagnetic radiation of wavelength in the visible range), and spacers or sealant which separate the two walls and form the periphery of the compartment. The inner sides, those which face each other, of the two walls are each coated with an electrode layer which is in contact with the solution. An electrode layer functions as an electrode in contact with the solution and is a layer of a material which is electronically conducting. The electrode layer on at least one of the walls is transparent to light, because, as indicated above, at least one of the walls is transparent to light. Transparent electrode layers may be made of tin oxide, tin-doped indium oxide, indium tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, fluorine-doped zinc oxide, gold, cadmium stannate, ruthenium oxide, or the like, as known in the art. One of the walls and, consequently, one of the electrode layers may be non-transparent. For example, a non-transparent electrode layer might be a reflecting layer, a layer which reflects light, and may be made of a metal, semiconductor material, or the like which may or may not be specularly reflecting.
The layer of solution or other type of medium between the walls of an electrochromic device is sometimes referred to as an "electrochromic layer."
When a sufficient potential difference is applied between the electrode layers across the solution of such a device, the transmittance of the solution changes at least one wavelength in the visible range and, as a consequence, the solution changes color, becoming darker or clearer. Typically, the solution in such a device will be clear or slightly colored (tinted) in its zero-potential, equilibrium state and will be darkened through electrochemical reaction(s) when a potential difference is applied. If the device is a solution-phase electrochromic device, the electrochromic compounds (those which have a change in transmittance in the visible wavelength range upon electrochemical oxidation (anodic electrochromic compound) or reduction (cathodic electrochromic compound) are in solution and remain in solution without precipitation upon oxidation or reduction in operation of the device.
In a single-compartment device, at least one anodic electrochromic compound and at least one cathodic electrochromic compound are together in the same compartment and are able to diffuse throughout the entire compartment (e.g., layer between the electrode layers).
In the case of a single-compartment device, self-erasing occurs, when there is no potential difference between the electrode layers, as oxidized anodic compound and reduced cathodic compound react with one another by electron transfer and both return to their zero-potential equilibrium states. However, an electrochromic device need not have both the anodic and cathodic electrochromic compounds in the solution. One compound in solution may be paired with a surface-confined material or an electro-deposited material.
Solutions of variable transmittance in solution-phase electrochromic devices may comprise components in addition to solvent and electrochromic compounds. Such components may include inert, current-carrying electrolyte(s), thickening agents (such as, for example, non-cross-linked polymers like polymethylmethacrylate), tinting agents and UV-stabilizing agents. UV-stabilizing agents inhibit degradation of components of an electrochromic layer upon exposure of the layer to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The '108 Patent, among others, describes certain advantages realized by thickening or gelling solutions used in single-compartment, self-erasing, solution-phase electrochromic devices. One of the problems associated with such devices is that of segregation. When operated continuously for long periods of time, the oxidized form of the anodic and reduced form of the cathodic electrochromic materials in such devices tend to segregate. Gelling or thickening the solutions of the electrochromic device reduces the component of segregation that is due to natural convection of the electrochromic medium, thereby reducing the extent of segregation and its undesirable effects, such as uneven coloring or clearing.
Thickening or gelling the solution in electrochromic devices also creates the advantages of slower spreading of solution, restricted shattering and easier clean-up in the case of breakage of the device.
Electrochromic solutions gelled or thickened through the use of materials, such as colloidal silica or acrylic fibers, which do not involve covalent cross-linking of polymer chains, have been described. See Manos, U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,741; Shelepin et al., USSR Patent Publication No. 566,863; and the '108 Patent.
Thickened or gelled electrochromic solutions in the art suffer from a number of shortcomings that have restricted or prevented the practical application of electrochromic devices to provide variable transmittance or variable reflectance in a number of contexts. Perhaps the most important of these contexts is apparatus, such as windows or large outside rearview motor vehicle mirrors, where devices with solution layers of large area, more than about 0.1 m on a side, are oriented nearly vertically (i.e., nearly parallel to the lines of force of the gravitational field of the Earth) or are otherwise subjected to conditions which entail significant hydrostatic pressure and concomitant large forces pushing outwardly from the solution against the walls of the device. Thus, in these large area apparatus, hydrostatic pressure makes solution-phase electrochromic devices susceptible to breakage, for example due to rupture of seals holding walls of the electrochromic device together. Even when there is not breakage, the hydrostatic pressure causes bowing out of the walls of the electrochromic device, which results in non-uniform thickness in the solution layer and undesirably non-uniform coloring and clearing during operation of the device.
Solutions thickened by prior art methods, although thickened to the point of reducing flow, are not "free-standing" or permanent gels (see Sperling, Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., 2nd ed. (1992)). In free-standing (permanent) gels, solution is interspersed and entrapped in a polymer matrix and continues to function as a solution. Because solutions thickened by prior art methods (e.g., Shelepin et al., supra; '108 Patent) are not free-standing gels, the fluid in them is not entrapped in a polymer matrix and, consequently, still exerts undesirable hydrostatic pressure and concomitant device-breaking or device-distorting forces in large area devices.
However, the use of free-standing (permanent) gels to create a workable electrochromic device is not trivial. To create a free-standing gel some amount of polymerization and/or crosslinking is necessary and, generally when polymerization and/or crosslinking takes place, the volume of the crosslinked polymer is smaller than the pre-crosslinked monomers. This polymerization and crosslinking can take place substantially simultaneously in an electrochromic device, i.e., in situ polymerization. However, there are limitations with in situ polymerization. To obtain a free-standing gel through in situ polymerization, some of the monomers must have a functionality greater than two. If polymerization and crosslinking takes place in the device, there is a significant amount of shrinkage in the polymer solution. This shrinkage causes the solid polymer to crack, craze and form voids, all of which adversely affects the usefulness of the final device. Furthermore, the detrimental effects will sometimes not be noticed for some time since polymerization and crosslinking can occur over a period of weeks. If, on the other hand, only polymerization, and no crosslinking takes place, a "free standing" polymer will not form and hydrostatic pressure will build up and adversely affect the operability of the final device. Therefore, it is important to have sufficient polymerization and crosslinking to create a free-standing gel while avoiding a significant amount of shrinkage.
This polymerization and/or crosslinking can be initiated by chemical-, thermal- or UV-type initiators. A common method of UV curing can be accomplished by adding a constituent that, when exposed to UV light, will form a radical to initiate polymerization and/or crosslinking. Difficulties arise with UV curing because not all the radicals are consumed to initiate a reaction and/or self-react and are therefore present in the device after "final cure" of the polymer gel. These radicals may also be later induced into their reactive state by subsequent UV radiation experienced by a typical electrochromic device during its lifetime. As more reactive species are produced, further polymerization and/or crosslinking will occur thereby changing the gel properties and further degrading the gel. This is especially true in UV stabilized devices which utilize UV absorbing materials. In addition, the electrochromic materials may interfere with light absorption or initiation and may inhibit or retard the polymerization process. Thus UV curing is not presently preferred.
An electrochromic solution gelled or thickened with the use of a covalently cross-linked polymer matrix of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone-co-N,N'-methylbisacrylamide and used in providing color to an electrochromic device has been described. Tsutsumi et. al., J. Polymer Sci. A, 30, 1725-1729 (1992).
It would clearly be desirable, then, to provide, as media of reversibly variable transmittance for electrochromic devices, electrochromic layers that behave as free-standing gels and that, as such, do not flow at perceptible rates and do not "weep" or exude liquid (leak fluid by syneresis, see Sperling, supra) but retain functional characteristics of a solution allowing for diffusion of electrochromic species. It would be especially desirable if such a layer would adhere to the electrode layers on the walls of such a device to further counteract separation of the electrode layers and walls. Further, it would be desirable if such a layer would be tough and rubbery and behave similarly to the lamination layer in laminated safety glass. Such electrochromic layers would substantially eliminate problems presented by hydrostatic pressure and the concomitant forces when solutions, and even conventionally thickened solutions, are used to provide variable transmittance in electrochromic devices. Finally, it would be desirable if such a layer would not shrink to such an extent that the usefulness of the final device is compromised.
However, electrochromic layers which would have such favorable structural, flow and electrode-layer-adherence properties would be chemically complex. Consequently it is not straightforward to provide such an electrochromic layer that retains other characteristics that are important for practical applications of media of reversibly variable transmittance in electrochromic devices, especially such devices which are desirably solution-phase, single-compartment and self-erasing.
These other characteristics, which are necessary or important for practical applications of electrochromic layers, include, without limitation, the following. Such a layer, particularly in applications such as automobile mirrors or automobile or airplane windows, should not shrink significantly when polymerized and/or crosslinked, separate into solid and fluid phases, weep, or sag when subjected to vibration. Weeping and sagging should also be avoided in other applications, such as interior or exterior building windows. The electrochromic layer should not be hazy or cloudy. The compositions, which are part of the electrochromic layer and afford the layer its favorable structural, flow and adherence characteristics, must not be involved in undesirable interactions with other components of the layer. For example, the cycle life of the layer should not be seriously degraded by constituents of the polymer matrix. This is very important in the field of electrochromics where even small impurities can significantly influence the successful operation of a device. Also, if an initiator or a catalyst is employed in making a polymer that is part of the layer, the initiator or catalyst should not undergo reactions with electrochromic compounds in the layer, in their zero-potential equilibrium or electrochemically activated (reduced or oxidized) states. If a polymer is part of the electrochromic layer and involved in an interaction with the electrode layers that causes the electrochromic layer to adhere to the electrode layers, the polymer should not significantly interfere with the function of the electrode layer in electron transfer to or from electrochromic species in the layer. The compositions which provide the desirable structural, flow and adherence characteristics to the electrochromic layer should not cause the layer to be so unstable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that the layer cannot be made sufficiently stable by other measures, such as addition of UV-stabilizing agents to the solution in the layer. The compositions which provide the desirable structural, flow and adherence characteristics to the electrochromic layer should not interfere with the coloring and clearing times of a device to an extent that would render use of the device impractical. The compositions which provide the desirable structural, flow and adherence characteristics to the electrochromic layer should not significantly complicate construction or assembly of an electrochromic device in which the layer provides reversibly variable transmittance. Thus, for example, it would be desirable to be able to fill a device with all components of an electrochromic layer, including those that afford the favorable structural, flow and adherence characteristics, before the layer loses its ability to flow. Finally, the reactions to provide an electrochromic layer its favorable structural, flow and adherence properties should be completed soon after the reactions are started. For example it is undesirable to have significant polymer formation continuing in an electrochromic layer inside a device for more than a few days, because the layer may shrink with time or the performance characteristics (e.g., color in the clear state, coloring and clearing times, uniformity of coloring) of the layer and the device that includes the layer would then undesirably change over time.
The present invention fills a need in the art for an electrochromic layer which has the advantageous structural, flow and electrode-layer-adherence properties described above for use of the layer to provide variable transmittance or reflectance in a large-area electrochromic device and, at the same time, has other characteristics which make the layer acceptable for practical applications in single-compartment, self-erasing electrochromic devices that also function as solution-phase devices.

Electrochromic layer and devices comprising same


One exemplary embodiment of this disclosure relates to a method of forming an engine component. The method includes forming an engine component having an internal passageway, the internal passageway formed with an initial dimension. The method further includes establishing a flow of machining fluid within the internal passageway, the machining fluid changing the initial dimension.

Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. During operation, air is pressurized in the compressor section and is mixed with fuel and burned in the combustor section to generate hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases are communicated through the turbine section, which extracts energy from the hot combustion gases to power the compressor section and other gas turbine engine loads.
Both the compressor and turbine sections may include alternating arrays of rotating blades and stationary vanes that extend into the core flow path of the gas turbine engine. Engine components, such as turbine blades and vanes, are known to be cooled by routing a cooling fluid within one or more internal passageways.
In some examples, the internal passageways are in communication with a plurality of showerhead holes configured to create a showerhead film, which protects the component from the relatively hot gases flowing within the core flow path. The internal passageways may further be provided in a serpentine shape, including a turn section between adjacent, parallel legs. Internal passageways may include turbulators, such as trip strips, for creating turbulence within the passageways, which increases cooling effectiveness.


Filtration of water to provide cleansed water, using an assembly that monitors the volume of water cleansed and back-flushes the filtration media based on that volume. The assembly includes a control valve that monitors the amount of water that has been processed, controls the addition of water and oxygen to the assembly, and thus affects the overall operation of the assembly.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for filtering water in general, and to an apparatus and process for removing contaminants such as iron, manganese and sulfur, from water, such as well water.
Many households and commercial facilities use well water as their source of water, either drinking water, cooling water, make-up water, or for other residential or industrial uses. Well water commonly contains naturally occurring mineral contaminants, such as iron, sulfur, copper, and manganese. These contaminants affect the odors and taste of the water, and may also stain plumbing fixtures and corrode pipes.
Mineral contaminants are commonly removed from water by entraining air (which includes oxygen) in the raw water and passing the aerated water through a bed of particulate such as calcium carbonate or dolomite to raise the pH level of the water and facilitate precipitation of the undesirable minerals. The dissolved oxygen in the water, in particular, enhances the oxidation of soluble iron II to insoluble iron III. Air is often added to the raw water, usually during a back wash cycle, by passing the water through a pipe section of decreasing cross-sectional area with an air inlet known as a venturi nozzle. The increased pH water may then be passed through one or more filter media to remove the precipitated contaminants.
What is desired is an improved water filtration system, one which supplies the oxygen for the necessary aeration of the raw water to produce satisfactory oxidation of the unwanted minerals without reducing available water pressure and which is not susceptible to clogging or degradation due to water flow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,596 to Hellenbrand et al. provides one design. This patent describes an apparatus for removing mineral contaminants from water which has an aeration tank connected to a supply of water, an inlet for admitting the water to the aeration tank and an outlet for discharging water. A diffuser is connected to the aeration tank inlet and has a plurality of apertures which permit the diffusion of the contaminated water into an airhead within the aeration tank. A controller controls a source of compressed air to permit oxygen to be supplied independently of the water supply to the interior of the aeration tank for recharging the aeration tank with oxygen. A bed of calcium carbonate chips may be positioned inside the aeration tank beneath the spray of contaminated water. A pick-up tube has an open end located above the bed of calcium carbonate chips and is connected to the outlet of the aeration tank. A filter tank has an inlet connected to the pick-up tube of the aeration tank and an outlet adapted to be connected to a water supply line. The system has a distributor tube connected to the outlet of the filter tank with an opening within the multimedia filter bed, so that the oxygenated water may be drawn through the multimedia filter bed so that a significant portion of the contaminants may be removed from the water and the filtered water may be supplied to the outlet of the filter tank. The system has a multimedia filter bed positioned within the filter tank which has a plurality of filtration layers.
There is always room for alternate designs.

Assembly for removing mineral contaminants


A method of propagating changes in a design model identifies a change to a changed element, creates steps to carry out the change, creates additional steps based on the change and on relationships between the changed element and other elements in the design model, and executes the steps to alter the model in a manner that reflects the change. The steps may be created in a manner that depends on other steps that have been created. A system for regenerating a design model comprises a model element, a step propagator, and a step executor. The step propagator receives a first step that represents changes in the model element, and produces a second step that represents other changes in the model element that are dependent on the first step, and the step executor executes the first and second steps.

This invention relates to generation and regeneration of graphical elements in a computer-aided design system.
Computer systems that display graphical elements, such as computer-aided design (CAD) systems, need to manage the elements and display the elements properly as elements are added, deleted, moved, or modified. Management of graphical elements can be particularly difficult in three-dimensional design systems, and in situations in which the elements are linked to metadata. For instance, a designer working at a graphics terminal may be working on a full model of an object, but the terminal may only be displaying a portion of the model at any one time. At times, it may be necessary to regenerate the portion of the model on which the designer is working, or it may be necessary to regenerate a portion of the model to which the designer would like to move. It may also be necessary to regenerate elements that the user has changed and to propagate the changes to other elements that are associated with, or constrained by, the changed element. Before a portion of the model may be regenerated, the system must compute the location and appearance of graphical element in the model. Between regenerations, individual drawing elements can be altered without having to re-compute a large group of elements. But the ability to alter the display of a model with changes only to individual elements in the model ultimately is limited. In addition, it is helpful to provide a designer with multiple views of a three-dimensional model. In such a situation, if the designer makes changes to the model in one view, it may be necessary to reflect those changes in the other views.
It is desirable to increase the speed of the regeneration process, or alternatively, to decrease the time it takes to perform a regeneration. However, it is generally necessary that any changes that have occurred to a model since the last regeneration be taken into account in future regenerations and be reflected appropriately in all views. Thus, if the drawing model is a model of a house, a movement of a door or window by an architect working with the system should be reflected after the door or window has been moved, and should be reflected in a plan view, an elevation view, or in a three-dimensional view. At the same time, it is also desirable that the model properly reflect parametric constraints that have been placed on the model elements by the user or by the system. For example, if a user moves a wall, the system should also move any elements, such as windows or doors, located in the wall. Thus, an accurate yet speedy system for generating graphic elements is desirable.

Graphical object generation and regeneration


The present invention concerns a method for designing and manufacturing a snowmobile platform. The method entails designing and manufacturing a group of tunnel subassemblies, designing and manufacturing a group of engine cradle subassemblies, and designing and manufacturing a group of front suspension subassemblies. Next, one tunnel subassembly, one engine cradle subassembly, and one front suspension subassembly are selected from each respective group. Then, the tunnel subassembly is connected to the engine cradle subassembly at a rear portion thereof. Finally, the front suspension subassembly is connected to the engine cradle subassembly at a front portion thereof to create the snowmobile platform. The present invention also concerns a snowmobile platform constructed according to this method, which combines, among other elements, a tunnel subassembly, an engine cradle subassembly, and a front suspension subassembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns the construction of a snowmobile. More specifically, the present invention concerns, first, a method for the design, construction, and assembly of platform for a snowmobile and, second, the platform made according to that method.
2. Description of the Related Art
The basic platform for a conventional snowmobile includes three components, a tunnel at the rear of the snowmobile, an engine cradle connected at the front of the tunnel, and a front suspension connected to the engine cradle. The three components are integrally connected to form a unitary structure that is rigid enough to withstand the forces impingent thereupon during operation of the snowmobile.
In the conventional snowmobile, the tunnel is disposed above an endless track that propels the vehicle. The engine cradle is the structural portion of the platform that extends forwardly from the tunnel and supports the engine near the front of the vehicle. The front suspension is the structural component integrated as a part of the engine cradle, located to the sides of the engine cradle. The steering skis are suspended from the front suspension, which includes shock absorbers that dampen the forces encountered by the skis as the vehicle travels over either groomed or rough terrain.
FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of one conventional snowmobile platform 10. The tunnel 12 and the engine cradle 14 are depicted in this illustration. The tunnel 12 forms the rear portion of the platform 10 while the engine cradle 14 forms the forward portion of the platform 10.
The tunnel 12 is essentially an inverted, U-shaped element. The tunnel 12 has a top portion 16, a left side portion 18, and a right side portion 20. A left side foot board 22 extends outwardly from the left side portion 18 of the tunnel 12. A right side foot board (not shown) similarly extends outwardly from the right side portion 20 of the tunnel 12.
The rear end 24 of the engine cradle 14 is attached at the front end 26 of the tunnel 12. The engine cradle 14 includes a bottom pan 28, a left side wall 30, a right side wall 32, a front portion 34, and a rear portion 36. Together, the bottom pan 28, the left side wall 30, the right side wall 32, the front portion 34, and the rear portion 36 create a rigid structure onto which the engine for the snowmobile is secured. A structural upright 38 is connected adjacent to the rear portion 36 of the engine cradle 14. The upright 38 provides structural support for the handlebar used to steer the snowmobile.
The tunnel 12 includes openings 40 through the left side 18 and through the right side 20. A drive shaft (not shown) passes through the openings 40. The drive shaft operatively connects to the endless track positioned beneath the tunnel 12 to propel the vehicle. The drive shaft also operatively connects to the engine (not shown), which sits above the bottom pan 28 of the engine cradle 14. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, motive power is transferred from the engine to the endless track via the drive shaft. The opening 40 in the left side 30 of the engine cradle 14 is also illustrated in FIG. 1. A similar opening (not shown) also passes through the right side 32 of the engine cradle 14. The openings 40 in the engine cradle 14 and the openings 40 in the tunnel 12 lie in register with one another so that the drive shaft passes through all four of the openings when the tunnel 12 and the engine cradle 14 are assembled together.
FIG. 2 illustrates one possible embodiment of the front suspension 42 for a conventional snowmobile. While the details of the engine cradle 14 in FIG. 2 differ slightly from those illustrated in FIG. 1, those skilled in the art would appreciate readily that the front suspension 42 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be incorporated as a part of the platform 10 illustrated in FIG. 1.
The left-hand side of the front suspension 42 is shown in FIG. 2. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the right-hand side of the front suspension 42 is a mirror image of the left-hand side. The left-hand side of the front suspension 42 includes a ski leg 44 that is rotatably coupled to a lever arm 46. The lever arm 46, in turn, is pivotally connected to the engine cradle 14 via a structural pivot 48. The lever arm 46 pivots up and down as the snowmobile travels over the ground.
The forward end 50 of the lever arm 46 includes a bracket 52 that connects to the lower end 54 of a shock absorber 56. The upper end 58 of the shock absorber 56 connects to a bracket 60 that is, in turn, connected to the engine cradle 14 at a location 62 near a forward end thereof. The shock absorber 56 dampens the forces encountered by the ski 64 connected at the lower end of the ski leg 44.
As FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, the tunnel 12, the engine cradle 14, and the front suspension 42 are integrally assembled to create a rigid frame onto which the remaining elements of the snowmobile are attached.
In the construction of the conventional snowmobile platform 10, the width of the tunnel 12 and the width of the engine cradle 14 are selected as a function of the width of the endless track that propels the vehicle. While engine size typically varies from one model of snowmobile to another, the width of the endless track, and therefore the width of the tunnel 12 and the engine cradle 14, typically remains the same regardless of the size of the engine employed to propel the vehicle. This is because the width of the endless track typically remains the same for all types of snowmobiles.
There are several engine sizes typically incorporated into conventional snowmobiles, including 600 cc (cubic centimeters of displacement), 700 cc, and 800 cc varieties, for example. To accommodate each of these engine sizes, the front suspension 42 and the tunnel 12 of each platform differs from one vehicle to another. The front suspensions 42 differ between vehicle types to accommodate the variations in weight of the different engines. As a general rule, the larger the displacement volume, the heavier the engine. Therefore, the front suspension needs to be more robust. The tunnels 12 vary from one vehicle to another to accommodate different lengths of the endless track.
While the width of the endless track typically remains the same, the length of the endless track can vary from one snowmobile type to another. For a racing snowmobile, which is designed primarily for groomed surfaces, the endless track typically is shorter than the endless track incorporated into a mountain snowmobile, which is designed to operate in ungroomed (or powder) snow. Accordingly, the tunnel 12 for a racing snowmobile is generally shorter than the tunnel 12 for a mountain snowmobile. In addition, the weight of a racing snowmobile is of critical concern because unnecessary weight slows the vehicle, which is antithetical to racing.
Once the platform 10 for the vehicle is designed, the chassis for the snowmobile is designed around it. As with the platform 10, the chassis is designed to accommodate variation in the components of the vehicle.
To manufacture each new vehicle type, whether it is a racing snowmobile, a mountain snowmobile, or a hybrid variety, considerable engineering and manufacturing resources are required. Each new vehicle must be designed from the ground up. From an engineering standpoint, therefore, each new vehicle consumes a significant number of engineering hours because the platform 10 of the vehicle has to be designed from scratch. In addition, from a manufacturing standpoint, each new vehicle consumes a significant number of training hours, because the technicians responsible for assembling the vehicle must be trained to understand the construction of each new vehicle so that the vehicle may be assembled properly on the assembly line. The design and manufacture of a conventional snowmobile, therefore, is inherently inefficient both from a design and from a manufacturing standpoint, because there is a considerable duplication of effort for each new vehicle that is designed and manufactured.
Accordingly, the inefficient method of designing and manufacturing conventional snowmobiles cries out for a solution.
The prior art does not provide a solution for this inefficiency.

Method of assembling a modular snowmobile platform


The invention includes a method of synchronizing objects between first and second object stores. A synchronization manager in accordance with the invention maintains a reference store containing identifying data segments corresponding respectively to a plurality of objects that have previously been synchronized between the first and second object stores. An application program that maintains the first object store has associated interfaces that allow the synchronization manager to compare and manipulate objects. One such interface allows the synchronization manager to submit an identifying data segment associated with a particular object. In response, this interface returns a handle that corresponds to the submitted identifying data segment. Another interface accepts a handle that refers to an identifying data segment, and determines if the object corresponding to the identifying data segment has been changed in the first object store since the last synchronization. If it has, the synchronization manager takes steps to update the second object store. If, on the other hand, the object has changed in the second object store, application program interfaces allow the synchronization manager to update the object in the first object store. Objects are transferred through the synchronization manager in an arbitrary, application-specific format that is not determined or understood by the synchronization manager itself.

As electronic components have continued to become smaller and less expensive, laptop, handheld, and other portable computers have become more and more popular. Although a variety of applications can be used with such computers, personal information managers (PIMs) form an important category of application programs that are particularly suited for use with portable computers or other portable information devices.
To get the most benefit from a PIM on a portable device, it is very useful if the PIM information can be kept up to date with a PIM that a user uses in conjunction with his or her desktop computer. Many portable computers are designed to connect with a desktop and to exchange information. When compatible PIMs are used on a portable computer and a desktop computer, it is possible to use this connectivity to update the PIMs so that the latest updates made by a user on one PIM are also reflected in the other PIM. This is referred to as "synchronization."
There are many competing desktop PIM applications on the market today. Each of them uses very different data formats. It is imperatively important for a portable device to be able to synchronize its data with each of these PIM applications. This requires a flexible and extensible architecture such that a synchronization software module can be easily written for a particular PIM application.
In contrast to previous methods of synchronizing PIMs, the inventors have developed a versatile system that allows a PIM on a portable computer to be synchronized with a great variety of desktop PIMs. An important advantage of the invention is that neither PIM component is required to track changes. Rather, this is taken care of by software components that are independent of the PIMs. These independent components can be used in conjunction with a number of different PIMs or similar database programs. Another important advantage of the invention is that it makes no assumption on the format of the data that are transferred between two computers. Therefore, the developer of a synchronization module has the total freedom to use different data formats depending only on specifics of the particular PIM application.

Object synchronization between object stores on different computers


A method and apparatus for testing a network bootable device provides a bootmode signature on the device to indicate whether a production test is to be performed. If a production test is to be performed, then test software is downloaded over a network from a server to device memory and then executed. If the test is successful, the bootmode signature is updated so that subsequent production tests are not performed. If the production test is not to be performed, then end user software is downloaded from the server to the device and executed.

Due to the proliferation of computer software and services, an increasing trend in the computer industry has been to store software on a network and reduce the amount of software and data stored locally on a computer. This approach provides a consumer with access to a wide variety of software and also to the most recent versions of software without having to load the software from disks to each computer whenever an upgrade becomes available.
Some computers systems maintain only a minimum software configuration locally and download their remaining software from a server, including the end user operating system (OS) from a network. Otherwise known as a "network bootable device", such a system may be either a stand alone device, such as a computer terminal, or may be part of a larger device or system. Regardless of their specific implementation, network bootable devices generally share the common characteristic of a minimal software startup configuration which is supplemented by additional software provided by a server over a network or other communications link.
On-site post-production testing of network bootable devices has achieved great importance in the ensurance of product quality and reliability. Manufacturers expend a great amount of effort and expense on post-production testing prior to shipping to ensure that their products perform all of their intended functions without errors. The most robust post-production tests are "full production tests" which perform exhaustive checks of all product features. Some full production tests are performed by test application software downloaded to the device after the OS has been downloaded and is running. However, some device errors and failures can prevent the OS itself from running which precludes the use of test application software. Therefore, low level test software, in the form of a test OS, is often used. Several different approaches to low level post-production testing of network bootable devices at the manufacturing facility have been used in the past.
One approach for implementing low level production tests for network bootable devices involves temporarily installing a test ROM in the device, the test ROM already containing the code for a full production test. After startup, the full production test code provides a full production test on the device to be performed. After successful completion of the full production test, the temporary test ROM is replaced by the manufacturer with the end user ROM containing the standard startup code. This approach provides the benefit of a full production test while not occupying any space in the end user ROM. However, it is not without its disadvantages. First, the installation and removal of a test ROM increases production test costs over simply testing the end user configuration. Also, the use of a test ROM necessarily means that the tested configuration is different than the actual end user configuration. Whenever the test configuration differs from the actual end user configuration, the validity of the test is suspect. The most reliable type of production testing will test the device in its actual end user configuration. In addition, the prior approach does not allow field testing of the device, without first removing the end user ROM and temporarily installing a test ROM, which cannot be done by an end user.
As an alternative to actually installing a test ROM in the product, a "ROMulator" or ROM test jig may be used to "inject" production test code into the memory of the device so that a full production test may be performed. This approach eliminates the need to install a test ROM and therefore minimizes the likelihood that the device will be damaged or altered. However, a ROMulator or ROM test jig is usually very expensive and only allows the testing of one device per test jig. Moreover, the use of a ROMulator or ROM test jig has nearly the same testing uncertainty as a test ROM and still does not allow for field testing of the device.
Another approach for implementing low level production tests for network bootable devices involves embedding the production test code in non-volatile memory, typically in "OS ROMs". The test code resides concurrently with the OS and may be executed when necessary. This approach provides a full production test of the end user device configuration without the added costs associated with using a test ROM or ROMulator. Moreover, this approach allows the device to be field tested without changing the hardware configuration. However, this approach has several disadvantages. First, a full production test occupies valuable ROM space which instead could be used for the OS. Since the full production test code is not part of the operational software, and in most cases is only used once, the test code becomes "dead code" and the space occupied by the dead code in ROM becomes wasted space. In addition, once programmed into the device's ROM, the test code cannot be easily updated. Although flash ROMs may provide the capability to update the embedded test code, such an update is not easily performed in all cases.
As a compromise to a full production test, many network bootable devices include only a minimal production test embedded in the OS ROM. Although the OS ROM can be difficult to change, this approach provides a reasonably good test without using large amounts of ROM space, but still fails to provide a full production test.

Method and apparatus for testing network bootable devices


A self-spotting exercise apparatus is formed to include a pair of weight-bearing arms that are attached to a back frame assembly of the apparatus by a pair of double-hinge components. The double-hinge configuration provides a full range of motion for the weight-bearing arms with respect to the “fixed” apparatus itself. The opposing end terminations of the weight-bearing arms are configured to support weight plates (which may be changed out, as desired), with the weight-bearing arms also including a pair of handgrips for the user to hold as he/she moves the weight-bearing arms during an exercise routine. Self-spotting is provided by the use of a foot-activated motion bar, which is attached to a pair of vertical support posts that hold the distal ends of the extended arms when not in use.

There are many different types of exercise machines that allow an individual to work out with weight plates, usually in the form of a barbell apparatus. However, the range of motion is typically limited to a small range of up-and-down motion as an individual lays on a bench and raises/lowers their arms. Moreover, this type of apparatus requires the assistance of a spotter to help the individual grip the bar and begin an exercise routine, as well as guide the individual at the end of the session to return the bar to the included support rack. Serious injury may otherwise result if an individual attempted to use this apparatus without a spotter's assistance.
Other types of weight-based exercise practices may be considered as "self-spotting", such as performing an exercise routine by using free weights, such as a pair of dumbbells. Advantageously, working out with dumbbells allows an individual to move the weights through a range of motion that is limited only by the person's ability to move the dumbbell in various directions. However, in order to train using a variety of different weights, the individual needs to constantly switch out the specific dumbbell set being used.


A method of MDT measurement configuration triggering for a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises determining whether an event predefined in the mobile device occurs, and transmitting a message for indicating a network of the wireless communication system to configure a MDT measurement to the mobile device, to the network when the event occurs.

1. Field of the Invention
The application relates to a method utilized in a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method of MDT measurement configuration triggering in a wireless communication system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Coverage is something that a customer can easily notice through the terminal user interface (UI) (i.e. out-of-service area indication), and is a major criteria that a customer considers when comparing service provided by different operators. With the increase in data service provision, downlink throughput is also an important criterion by which many customers judge the performance of the network. Poor uplink coverage will impact user experience in terms of call setup failure/call drop/poor uplink voice quality.
Accordingly, it is very important for operators to be aware of the coverage/throughput their networks provide, and rigorous "drive tests" are performed to collect such information. However, what has to be taken account of is that the drive tests for network optimization purposes is costly and causes also additional CO2 emissions, so it is desirable to develop automated solutions, including involving UEs in the field, in 3GPP to reduce the operator costs for network deployment and operation. Therefore, minimization of drive tests (MDT) functionality involving measurement is performed or logged by UE to collect information in idle mode or connected mode, to reduce network maintenance costs for operators, ensure faster optimization cycle resulting in higher customer satisfaction and nonetheless help to reduce the carbon emission to protect the environment.
Note that, when a UE with MDT functionality receives a MDT measurement configuration message from a network (e.g. Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) in Long-Term Evolution (LTE), EPC, RNC or core network), the UE shall perform measurement logging for the purpose of MDT.
According to the specification of 3GPP TS 37.320, section 5.1.3, MDT procedure starts at the network side that chooses a public land mobile network (PLMN) with specific UE, a limited region within a PLMN (i.e. limited by a cell list, a TA list, a LA list or a RA list) without specific UE, a PLMN with specific UE, or a limited region within a PLMN with specific UE. However, the applicant notices that if network assign a PLMN without specific UE to do MDT measurement, it wastes wireless network resource and UE battery. In addition, if network assigns a region within a PLMN with/without specific UE, the network will not know issues outside the specific region.

Method of minimization of drive tests measurement configuration triggering


A solenoid valve, particularly for a hydraulic braking system of a motor vehicle, includes a valve sleeve in which a pole core is fixed and an armature is disposed in an axially displaceable manner. The armature includes at least one longitudinal groove in the outer shell surface thereof. A spring washer is configured to be braced between the armature and the pole core. The end face of the armature facing the pole core is configured to be at least substantially convex, and the end face of the pole core facing the armature is configured to be at least substantially concave. A braking system includes the solenoid valve.

The disclosure relates to a solenoid valve, particularly for an hydraulic braking system of a motor vehicle, having a valve sleeve, in which a pole core is fixed and an armature is arranged so that it is axially displaceable, wherein the armature comprises at least one longitudinal groove in the outer shell surface thereof, and wherein a disk spring is/can be braced between the armature and the pole core.
The disclosure further relates to a braking system, particularly for a motor vehicle, having at least one solenoid valve for controlling and/or regulating a pressure and/or a volumetric flow of a hydraulic medium of the braking system.
Solenoid valves and braking systems of the aforementioned type are known from the state of the art. Solenoid valves, which are designed as normally closed solenoid valves, are used, in particular, for safety-relevant brake applications, such as, for example, ABS or ESP systems (ABS=antilock braking system; ESP=electronic stability program). Such valves are capable of assuming at least two different hydraulic settings, for example open or closed, or they are also further adjustable through partial lifting between open and closed as so-called control valves. The closed position of the solenoid valve in the non-energized, i.e. unactuated state is usually ensured by way of a compression spring. A magnetic or electromagnetic actuator, which comprises an electromagnetic coil and magnetically active components in the solenoid valve, serves for switching or actuation of the solenoid valve. The components provided here in the valve are a pole core and an axially displaceable armature. On actuation, a pole core enclosed by the electromagnetic coil exerts a tensile force on the armature, in order to displace the latter axially, thereby exposing a valve opening. Such solenoid valves usually have a magnetic force characteristic such that the magnetic force increases very sharply (exponentially) as the working air gap diminishes, that is to say as the distance between the armature and the pole core diminishes. A known way of optimizing the magnetic force characteristic is to arrange a disk spring, which acts in parallel with the compression spring and which may be magnetizable, between the pole core and the armature. As the working air gap diminishes here, a radially running secondary flow occurs, the radial component of which no longer contributes to the axial force and allows only a shallow rise in the latter—despite the diminishing working air gap. It is thereby possible to exert a beneficial influence on the magnetic force, so that it approximates to the ideal state.
Providing the armature with at least one longitudinal groove, which serves to equalize the hydraulic pressure between the working air gap and the pressure chamber at the valve tip assigned to the armature, is also known. In hitherto known solenoid valves, however, the longitudinal groove means that at its outer circumference the spring disk does not bear fully on the end face of the armature facing the pole core. Particularly in the case of a disk spring having one or more radial recesses, the spring characteristic would depend overall on the rotational position of the disk spring relative to the armature. Furthermore, the longitudinal groove reduces the fatigue strength of the disk spring, since the material stress increases significantly due to the deformation introduced via the longitudinal groove.


An apparatus and method for remotely answering a door. The apparatus includes a switch, a telephone transmitter and an a telephone receiver positioned near the door. At least one telephone station is operable to place a telephone call to a remote telephone identified by a pre-determined telephone number. An interface detects actuation of the switch and signals the telephone station to place the telephone call in response to actuation of the switch and places the telephone transmitter and receiver in communication with the telephone to establish telephonic communication between the telephone transmitter and receiver and the remote telephone.

This invention relates to devices for remote answering of a door.
In present times, answering the call of someone at a door of a dwelling can present a security risk to an occupant of the dwelling. Opening the door can provide an opportunity for an intruder to force entry into the dwelling by overcoming the occupant opening the door.
To avoid opening the door when someone calls, devices have been provided to enable intercom communication between the person calling and the occupant of the dwelling. In apartments, for example it is known to employ a device which causes the occupant's telephone to sound a distinctive ring in response to a caller ringing a doorbell. The occupant can then press a key on the dial pad of the telephone and in response, the device actuates a door latch to allow the caller to enter. Thus, communication between the occupant of the dwelling and the caller is established.
However, when the occupant of the dwelling is not home, a person calling at the door may deduce that no one is home, if there is no answer from the intercom and, therefore, may decide to break in. Furthermore, if cleaning personnel attend the door or if a delivery is being made, such persons cannot gain access to the dwelling when there is no one in the dwelling to answer the door.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device which would allow a person in a remote location to converse with a caller at the door and to actuate a door latch to enable a person at the door to gain access to the dwelling. The present invention addresses this need.