A grip factor estimating apparatus includes a steering torque detecting unit M1, and an assist torque detecting unit M2. When a self-aligning torque estimating unit M6 estimates self-aligning torque generated in front wheels on the basis of detection result of the detecting unit, the quantity of influence of longitudinal force on self-aligning torque is removed on the basis of longitudinal force acting on the front wheels and estimated by a longitudinal force estimating unit M15 and a front wheel slip angle estimated by a front wheel slip angle estimating unit M9y. A grip factor estimating unit M12 estimates the grip factor of the front wheels on the basis of change in self-aligning torque in accordance with the side force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for estimating the grip factor of wheels and particularly to an apparatus for estimating the grip factor indicating the grip level of wheels in the front of a vehicle in a lateral direction. The invention also relates to a vehicle motion control apparatus equipped with the grip factor estimating apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an apparatus for detecting and judging the state variable of a vehicle and controlling braking force of wheels independently to retain the stability of the vehicle. For example, this type apparatus has been disclosed in JP-A-6-099800. According to the document JP-A-6-099800, a target value of yaw rate is formed on the basis of vehicle velocity and steering angle, so that a judgment is made on the basis of a time derived function of deviation from the actual value of yaw rate as to whether the vehicle is in a state having a tendency to over-steering or a tendency to under-steering. In the case of over-steering, braking slip of front wheels in the outside of turning is increased, that is, braking force of front wheels in the outside of turning is increased. In the case of under-steering, braking slip of rear wheels in the inside of turning is increased. On the other hand, an apparatus for setting a target value of front wheel velocity difference, lateral acceleration or yaw rate on the basis of steering angle and vehicle velocity and controlling a brake and/or engine output has been disclosed in JP-A-62-146754.
Moreover, a variable rudder angle ratio steering apparatus for vehicle to prevent excessive steering of a steering wheel has been disclosed in JP-A-11-099956. An index of lateral force activity ratio or lateral G activity ratio is used in the apparatus. That is, according to the apparatus described in the document JP-A-11-099956, the friction coefficient μ of a road surface is first estimated so that the lateral force activity ratio is calculated. Because cornering power Cp of tires decreases as the friction coefficient μ of the road surface decreases, rack shaft counterforce received from the road surface in a certain rudder angle decreases in accordance with the friction coefficient μ of the road surface. Accordingly, the document JP-A-11-099956 has described that, when the front wheel rudder angle and the rack shaft counterforce are measured actually, the friction coefficient μ of the road surface can be estimated on the basis of comparison between the rack shaft counterforce actually measured relative to the front wheel rudder angle and reference rack shaft counterforce set as an inner model in advance. Moreover, an equivalent friction circle is set on the basis of the friction coefficient μ of the road surface and part of friction force used by longitudinal force is subtracted from the friction force to calculate maximum generated lateral force to thereby define the ratio of currently generated lateral force to the maximum generated lateral force as the lateral force activity ratio. Or the document JP-A-11-099956 has described that a lateral G sensor is provided so that the lateral G activity ratio can be calculated on the basis of lateral G detected by the lateral G sensor.
Because friction between the road surface and each tire is limited, it is necessary not only to control the yawing motion of the vehicle, that is, the posture of the vehicle on a surface on which the vehicle is running, but also to reduce the velocity of the vehicle so that the turning radius intended by the driver can be retained when the vehicle reaches a friction limit and gets into an excessive under-steering state. In the apparatus described in a document "AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING HANDBOOK, First Volume, for BASIC & THEORY, issued on Feb. 1, 1990 by Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc., c. f. pp 179-180" which will hereinafter referred to as "AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING HANDBOOK", the behavior of the vehicle is however judged after each tire reaches a friction limit. For this reason, there is apprehension that cornering force will be reduced to promote under-steering when the velocity of the vehicle is reduced in the condition that each tire reaches a friction limit. Moreover, in the actual control system, there is a dead zone incapable of being controlled. For this reason, the aforementioned control is executed after the behavior of the vehicle occurs to a certain degree.
Moreover, as the curve shape of the road is formed into a clothoid curve, when the driver intends to trace the curve of the road, the steering wheel will be rotated with a gradual increasing amount. Accordingly, when the velocity of approach to the curve is high, side force generated in the wheels does not balance with centrifugal force so that the vehicle shows a tendency to swelling on the outside of the curve. In such a case, the apparatus described in the document "AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING HANDBOOK" or in JP-A-62-146754 will operate to control the motion of the vehicle. However, as the control starts at the cornering limit, there is a possibility that the vehicle velocity cannot be reduced sufficiently by the control. There is a possibility that swelling on the outside of the curve cannot be prevented by only the aforementioned control.
Incidentally, in the document "AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING HANDBOOK", the state in which each tire rolls while sideslipping with a slip angle α has been explained as shown in FIG. 2.
That is, in FIG. 2, the tread surface of the tire represented by the broken line touches the road surface at a front end of a contacting surface including a point A and moves to a point B in the direction of movement of the tire while adhering to the road surface. The tread surface of tire begins to slip at the point of time when flow stress based on lateral shear deformation becomes equal to friction force. The tread surface of the tire is departed from the road surface at a rear end including a point C and restored to its original state. On this occasion, force Fy (side force) generated in the contacting surface as a whole is given as the product of the lateral deformed area (hatched in FIG. 2) of the tread portion and the lateral elastic constant of the tread portion per unit area. As shown in FIG. 2, a point of application of side force Fy is located in the rear (left in FIG. 2) far by en (pneumatic trail) from a point O just under the center line of the tire. Accordingly, moment Fy·en in this case is self-aligning torque (Tsa) which acts to reduce the lateral slip angle α.
Next, the case where tires are attached to the vehicle will be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is a graph obtained by simplifying FIG. 2. In steering the wheels of the vehicle, a caster angle is generally formed so that a caster trail ec is provided in order to make it easy to return the steering wheel. Accordingly, the landing point of each wheel is a point O′, so that the moment to restore the steering wheel is Fy·(en+ec).
When the lateral grip state of the tire is reduced to enlarge the slip region, the tread portion is laterally deformed from a figure ABC to a figure ADC in FIG. 3. As a result, the point of application of side force Fy moves forward (from a point H to a point J in FIG. 3) in the direction of the movement of the vehicle. That is, the pneumatic trail en is reduced. Accordingly, even if the same side force Fy is applied, the pneumatic trail en is increased and the self-aligning torque Tsa is increased when the adhesive region is large and the slip region is small (that is, when the lateral grip of the tire is high). On the other hand, the pneumatic trail en is reduced and the self-aligning torque Tsa is reduced when the lateral grip of the tire is lost and the slip region is large.
As described above, when attention is paid to change in pneumatic trail en, the lateral grip factor of the tire can be detected. Because change in pneumatic trail en is expressed in self-aligning torque Tsa, the grip factor indicating the grip level of lateral grip of wheels in the front of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as grip factor) can be estimated on the basis of the self-aligning torque Tsa. Alternatively, the grip factor can be also estimated on the basis of the allowance of side force relative to the road surface friction as will be described later.
The grip factor is different from the lateral force activity ratio or lateral G activity ratio disclosed in JP-A-11-099956 as follows. In the apparatus described in JP-A-11-099956, the maximum lateral force which can be generated in the road surface is calculated on the basis of the friction coefficient μ of the road surface. The friction coefficient μ of the road surface is estimated on the basis of dependency of cornering power Cp (defined as a value of side force at a slip angle of 1 deg.) on the friction coefficient μ of the road surface. The cornering power Cp is however affected not only by the friction coefficient μ of the road surface but also by the shape of the contacting surface of the tire (the length and width of the contacting surface), the elasticity of tread rubber, and so on. When, for example, water is interposed in the tread surface or the elasticity of tread rubber changes according to the abrasion of the tire and the temperature, the cornering power Cp varies even in the case where the friction coefficient μ of the road surface is kept constant. As described above, in the technique described in JP-A-11-099956, there is no consideration about tire characteristic of each wheel.

Wheel grip factor estimating apparatus and vehicle motion control apparatus


An optical route design system and method are described that can effectively calculate and display for a user how much margin there is in a design of an optical span. Basically, the optical route design system has a processor capable of determining whether a design of an optical span is an operable optical span and also capable of performing a margin analysis on the operable optical span to determine how much change the operable optical span can tolerate before the operable optical span becomes an inoperable optical span. The optical route design system also includes a display capable of presenting the results of the margin analysis to a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the optical field and, in particular, to an optical route design system and method capable of determining how much margin there is in a design of an optical span.
2. Description of Related Art
In the fiber optic field, one of the more significant design challenges today involves the development of a new optical route design tool that can effectively simulate and test the design of an optical span (optical fiber transmission path). Traditional optical route design tools often have a user specify an "unallocated margin" that is to be incorporated into the design of an optical span. The "unallocated margin" is intended as a "safety factor" to ensure that a later built real optical span has enough "margin" or "robustness" so that it can properly operate even after fiber cuts are repaired or other changes are made which can impact the total loss or distance of the fiber optic transmission path.
The traditional optical route design tools specify the "unallocated margin" in terms of additional attenuation that is a part of each segment of fiber optic cable that make-up the total fiber optic transmission path. However, the additional attenuation of "unallocated margin" is imaginary, in that it does not exist in the real optical span unless future activities of some sort add attenuation to the real optical span. As such, the use of "unallocated margin" in designing an optical span can be problematical for at least two reasons: 1) there is always the issue of whether or not the specified "unallocated margin" is enough, not enough, or too much; and 2) the specifying of additional attenuation that is not really there affects the results of the simulation which could lead to inaccurate or misleading designs. In other words, traditional optical route design tools require the user to specify the amount of "unallocated margin" that is to be used in the design of an optical span which can result in the installation of a failure prone optical span or an under-utilized optical span. Accordingly, there is and has been a need for an optical route design system and method than can effectively calculate and tell a user how much margin there is in a design of an optical span instead of requiring the user estimate to for themselves how much margin there should be in an optical span. These needs and other needs are satisfied by the optical route design system and method of the present invention.

Optical route design system and method for analyzing the performance of an optical fiber transmission path


A fingerprint detection control circuit, a fingerprint detection control method and a display device. The fingerprint detection control circuit includes a sensing circuitry, a resetting circuitry, a control circuitry and a conversion circuitry. The control circuitry provides a switch control signal to a control end of the resetting circuitry under the control of a first control signal. The resetting circuitry provides a resetting voltage to a conversion control end under the control of a potential at its control end. The conversion circuitry converts a photovoltage signal into a corresponding current signal under the control of a potential at the conversion control end when a first voltage end is electrically connected to a first signal output end, and outputs the current signal via the first signal output end.

Recently, along with the rapid development of the technology, mobile products with a biometric identification function has gradually emerged in our lives and work. Due to such a feature as unique identity, a fingerprint identification technology has attracted more and more attentions. However, a conventional optical fingerprint detection control circuitry has a short period of validity for fingerprint identification.

Fingerprint detection control circuit, fingerprint detection control method and display device

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A structural fuel cell includes a first and a second electrically conductive electrode plate each comprised of a porous, open-cell material. A proton conductive membrane is disposed between the first and second plates, and a skin encloses the electrode plates and membrane. The structural fuel cell is fabricated from high strength materials, and the porous, open-cell material of the electrode plates may comprise a metal foam, a honeycomb structure, or other such expanded structure. The skin may comprise a composite material such as a reinforced polymer. In some instances, the combination of the electrode plates, membrane and skin has a flexural strength between 1-100 MPa, or a flexural stiffness between 0.1-10 GPa.

Fuel cells are electrical devices in which the controlled oxidation of a fuel, in a chemical reaction, produces a flow of electrical energy. A typical fuel cell includes a first and a second electrode assemblies which are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. One of the electrode assemblies is configured and operative to deliver a fuel to the cell and the other electrode assembly is configured to deliver an oxidizer to the cell. In a typical fuel cell, one component of the oxidative chemical reaction, such as a proton from the fuel, diffuses through the membrane to react with another component of the reaction mixture such as oxygen or the like. The membrane does not allow for the passage of electrons therethrough; therefore, in order for the reaction to be completed, electron flow must take place from one electrode to the other through an external circuit, and it is this flow of current which is driven by the chemical reaction and comprises the power generated by the fuel cell. In many applications, a plurality of such cells are stacked together in an electrically interconnected relationship so as to provide appropriate levels of voltage and power.
Fuel cells are silent in operation and capable of reliably delivering power for so long as fuel is supplied thereto. As such, fuel cells have many diverse applications. In many instances, fuel cells are used in mobile applications for powering propulsion systems, communication systems, monitoring systems, and specialized electronics. In many instances, space and/or weight burden is at a premium in such applications and such size and weight constraints have limited the utility and practicality of particular fuel cell based systems. As will be described in detail hereinbelow, the present invention recognizes that by the appropriate selection of materials, fuel cells may be manufactured which combine very good structural properties such as strength and stiffness together with good power generating capability. Such fuel cells may be used to form structural elements of systems in which they are incorporated and hence are referred to herein as "structural fuel cells." Such structural fuel cells may be employed as body panels, supports, struts, frame members or other such components of vehicles. Likewise, structural fuel cells may be utilized to form housings, containers, fuel tanks and other structures used in conjunction with particular equipment. As will be explained hereinbelow, through the appropriate selection of materials and configurations, structural fuel cells may be optimized to provide appropriate combinations of properties such as strength, stiffness and the like in conjunction with good electrical operational efficiencies.

Structural fuel cells and components thereof

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A circuit arrangement for adaptive white-compression of video signals of a color television apparatus, particularly of a HDTV picture signal generator, which has a signal minimum detector circuit (4, 5, 6) in each color channel. Input color signals (R, G, B) as well as a compressed color signal are applied to these detector circuits, while the smaller of the two input signals can be derived from their outputs. The compressed color signals are generated by digitally controlled multiplier circuits (14, 15, 16). The digital control signal for these multiplier circuits is generated by controlling an up/down counter (24) by a digitized steering signal derived from the video output signals by line-sequential measurement and comparison with a threshold value reference signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for adaptive white-compression of video signals of a color television apparatus, particularly of a picture signal generator, with each color channel including a signal minimum detector circuit having input for receiving a color signal and a compressed color signal derived therefrom, and an output for furnishing a color output signal which is the smaller of its two input signals, each color channel further comprising a multiplier circuit having a signal input for receiving a color signal and a control input for receiving a control signal derived from the color output signals of the minimum detector circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a circuit arrangement is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,373. In this circuit arrangement, the video signals as well as the control signals are processed as analog signals. However, particularly in HDTV picture signal generators, such as HDTV color television cameras or HDTV film scanners, this may lead to visible errors or to inaccuracies in the display of color pictures.

Circuit arrangement for accurately adjusting each color channel of a picture signal generator using digital control signals


Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for ensuring coherency between queries and data definition frameworks used to describe and access data. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of processing queries requesting data accessed using a data definition framework in a computerized environment. The method includes receiving a query from a requesting entity, wherein the query is configured to access data via a data definition framework referenced in the query and determining whether the data definition framework is current. If the data definition framework referenced in the query is not current and has been replaced by a different data definition framework then the query may be run against the data using the data definition framework referenced in the query and the requesting entity may be notified of the different data definition framework. Alternatively, the requesting entity may be notified of the different data definition framework without running the query.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing and more particularly to ensuring coherency between queries and data definition frameworks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Databases are computerized information storage and retrieval systems. A relational database management system is a computer database management system (DBMS) that uses relational techniques for storing and retrieving data.
Regardless of the particular architecture, in a DBMS, a requesting entity (e.g., an application, the operating system or a user) demands access to a specified database by issuing a database access request. Such requests may include, for instance, simple catalog lookup requests or transactions and combinations of transactions that operate to read, change and add specified records in the database. These requests are made using high-level query languages such as the Structured Query Language (SQL). Illustratively, SQL is used to make interactive queries for getting information from and updating a database such as International Business Machines' (IBM) DB2, Microsoft's SQL Server, and database products from Oracle, Sybase, and Computer Associates. The term "query" denominates a set of commands for retrieving data from a stored database. Queries take the form of a command language that lets programmers and programs select, insert, update, find out the location of data, and so forth.
One of the issues faced by data mining and database query applications, in general, is their close relationship with a given data definition framework (e.g., a relational database schema) which describes a particular arrangement of data. Data definition frameworks include database metadata such as tables and columns, and XML documents such as schemas and data type definitions (DTD). This close relationship with a given data definition framework makes it difficult to support a requesting entity as changes are made to the corresponding underlying data definition framework. In particular, queries that are premised upon an outdated version of a data definition framework may no longer return intended results, or may simply return an error.
Therefore, what is needed is a method for ensuring coherency between queries premised upon a particular data definition framework and the data definition framework currently overlying the data to be accessed.

Method of synchronizing distributed but interconnected data repositories

International Business Machines Corporation


We propose overhear-based transmitting control system in WLANs to improve performance of 802.11 wireless LANs. The main idea of this scheme is that when the transmission of a node fails, one of neighboring nodes with better channel quality retransmits the lost frame in substitution. To do so, every node should maintain overhear table to buffer the transmitted packets that is not yet acknowledged. We also present algorithms to retransmit lost packets, to maintain the overhear table and to compensate for the retransmission of packets of other nodes. The performance of this scheme is evaluated via simulations in terms of MPDU size and average path loss. It shows that in environments where the packet is likely to be lost more, the throughput gain of our proposed scheme performs better.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Overhear-based transmitting control system for improving performance of 802.11 WLANs. The main idea of this scheme is that when the transmission of a node fails, one of neighbor nodes with better channel condition transmits the lost frame as well as the own data using MPDU aggregation scheme. To do so, every node should manage overhear table to buffer the transmitted packets that is not yet acknowledged. We also present algorithms to retransmit lost packets, to maintain the overhear table and to compensate for the retransmission of packets of other nodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
IEEE 802.11 standard supports two different MAC protocols. One is DCF and the other is PCF. In DCF, when stations face the failure of transmission, they retransmit the collided packets according to binary exponential backoff rules. Backoff rule is that each station delays to transmit the packets for a time period which is chosen uniformly from the range of 0 to its contention window size (CW). After each successful data transmission, the window size is set to CWmin, which denotes the prespecified minimum contention window. This makes the delay of transmission by each station and the throughput performance of the 802.11 WLAN poor according to the number of retransmission increases. Because retransmission of failed data allows other stations to lose their channel access chances and increases the number of MAC/PHY overheads.
To exploit the improvement using physical layer multirate capability, researchers have proposed various protocols. At the network layer, some channel state aware routing schemes have been studied to improve the end-to-end throughput by taking into account the channel condition as one of the route selection metrics. However, due to the long latency of route updates and the high control overhead, these schemes cannot quickly react to dynamic channel condition and can not achieve high bandwidth utilization. At the MAC layer, many schemes have been proposed to exploit the multirate capability. The basic idea of these schemes is to let the sender select a proper transmission rate according to the history of the successful transmissions or to let the receiver sense the channel condition before the transmission and notify the sender via a control packet (e.g., the clear-to-send (CTS) packet). However, these schemes only utilize the data rate of the direct link between the sender and the receiver. In many cases, data may be delivered much faster through multiple links that have high channel quality than through the direct link with the same transmission rate.
Hao Zho and Shihong Zou designed a novel relay-enabled DCF protocol, called rDCF, to exploit the physical layer multirate capability. According to the channel condition, data can be transmitted with different rates and some data packets may be delivered faster through a relay node than through the direct link if the direct link has low quality and low rate. The basic protocol of rDCF is proposed to help the sender, the relay node, and the receiver coordinate to decide what data rate to use and whether to use a relay node. However, rDCF are insufficient to decrease the number of MAC/PHY overheads because it did not consider the aggregated data scheme. And it does not consider the throughput gain of the relay-enabled DCF protocol when every station has the same physical layer rate. Finally, rDCF is possible in assuming whenever every station can do the triangle handshake with any stations.

Overhear-based transmitting control system in WLANS

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A process for removing organic compounds from a brine solution permits processing of that solution in a chlor-alkali electrochemical cell. A brine solution containing a mixture of nonvolatile organic compounds is introduced into a tank with a selected volume of acid and is heated to boiling. Nonvolatile organic compounds in the solution are decomposed such that they become volatile compounds, which are removed by distillation from the tank or by additional subsequent steam distillation. The resulting brine solution has a final total organic compound (TOC) level sufficiently low to render its suitable for use in a membrane, diaphragm or other type of chlor-alkali electrochemical cell.

Chloropicrin is commonly employed as an agricultural fumigant and in other applications. Conventional methods of chloropicrin production are inefficient, wasteful and unduly expensive. The production process generates a brine waste stream featuring a concentration of approximately 25% sodium chloride and a total organic carbon level (TOC) of approximately 100 ppm. Not only must the brine waste stream be disposed of, a fresh supply of sodium chloride must be acquired and used for continued manufacture of chloropicrin.
Ideally, it would be desirable to recover sodium chloride from the brine waste stream in order to use it for the continued production of chloropicrin. However, the presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the waste stream has, until now, prevented the successful recovery of NaCl from the brine. The high level of such compounds present in the stream interferes with standard membrane and diaphragm-type chlor-alkali electrolytic cells and does not allow such cells to successfully process sodium chloride in the brine solution.

System and process for removing total organic carbons from a brine waste stream


A marine power generation apparatus is provided for generating power from an ocean current. The apparatus includes a turbine operable to generate power when within an ocean current. The turbine includes a pair of turbine blade assemblies each having a hub, a set of turbine spokes, stays or blades extending radially from the hub; and a circumferential ring extending around and connected to an outer periphery of the set of turbine spokes, stays or blades. The pair of turbine blade assemblies is mounted for same-direction rotation when placed in an ocean current and each being coupled with a common turbine shaft or a turbine shaft assembly. In addition, the turbine shaft is coupled along a shared axis with a rotor or an electrical generator. Means is also provided for anchoring the power generation means relative to a floor of the ocean and in alignment with the ocean current.

Power generation from renewable energy sources has long been proposed as an eventual replacement or, at the very least, supplement for power generation from non-renewable energy sources. However, capturing energy from renewable sources has presented considerable challenges with the result that exploitation of such sources has been minimal. Ocean currents have been viewed as a possible renewable energy source, but few solutions for capturing such energy have been forthcoming, and fewer still that would be viable on a commercial scale.
An aim of the present invention is to provide a marine power generation apparatus which alleviates one or more of the problems of the prior art, or to provide the public with a useful or commercial choice. Other aims of the invention may become apparent from the following description.
It is to be understood that, if prior art is referred to herein, this reference does not necessarily constitute an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.
Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use indicates otherwise.


An improved nuclear fission reactor of the continuous fueling type involves determining an asymptotic equilibrium state for the nuclear fission reactor and providing the reactor with a moderator-to-fuel ratio that is optimally moderated for the asymptotic equilibrium state of the nuclear fission reactor; the fuel-to-moderator ratio allowing the nuclear fission reactor to be substantially continuously operated in an optimally moderated state.

Continuous fueling nuclear fission reactors differ from conventional nuclear fission reactors in that the fuel source (i.e., a fissionable material that may include any of the known fissionable isotopes, such as, but not limited to, U-235, U-233, or Pu-239, or may also contain fertile isotopes, such as, for example, U-238 or Th-232, that convert to fissile materials upon residence in an operating reactor core) is continuously provided to the reactor. In conventional or periodically fueled types, the reactor is initially provided with a fuel source or "load." The reactor is then operated until the fuel load is depleted, at which point the reactor must be shut down and refueled. One type of continuous fueling reactor is the so-called pebble bed reactor, which takes its name from the pebble-like configuration of the fuel elements comprising the fuel source or load. The fuel source of a pebble bed reactor comprises a plurality of spherical elements or "pebbles," each of which is about the size of a tennis ball. Each pebble is made up of a large number of much smaller coated fuel particles or kernels dispersed in a graphite matrix within the pebble.
A typical pebble bed reactor comprises a core formed by a plurality of the generally spherically shaped fuel elements or pebbles. The pebbles comprising the core are typically contained in a graphite reflector. A coolant, typically gaseous helium, is caused to flow through the pebble core and the graphite reflector. The pebble bed reactor is designed so that it is continuously replenished with fuel during operation. To date, three different types of continuous refueling systems have been used or proposed. In the first type of system, spent fuel pebbles are continuously extracted from the core and replaced with new fuel pebbles. The spent pebbles are usually extracted from the bottom of the core, whereas the new pebbles are provided to the top of the core. Thus, as the reactor is operated, fresh fuel pebbles located at the top of the core move steadily downward through the core as they are "burned," ultimately being removed from the bottom of the core as spent fuel pebbles.
The second type of system is similar to the first, except the pebbles removed from the bottom of the core are recycled to the top of the core, whereupon they intermix with fresh fuel pebbles that are also provided to the top of the core. This type of system may also be provided with a depletion detection system for detecting when the pebbles extracted from the core have become depleted to the extent where it is no longer desirable to recycle them. The depleted pebbles are then removed from the recycle loop.
The third type of system differs from the first two in that no fuel is ever removed from it. In this case, as fuel is depleted, fresh fuel is added on top in order to maintain a critical core. The active portion of the core gradually moves upward until there is no longer room in the reactor core vat for additional fresh fuel.
Continuous fueling reactors, such as pebble bed reactors, are advantageous in that they provide a high-temperature heat supply with a high degree of fuel burn-up. The high-temperature heat supply provided by such pebble bed reactors may be useful in its own right and also allows for electricity generation at high thermal efficiencies. Pebble bed reactors are also considerably safer in operation compared with reactors that are periodically fueled. The construction of the fuel pebbles used in pebble bed reactors also present advantages in terms of unwanted proliferation of fissionable material.

Optimally moderated nuclear fission reactor and fuel source therefor


Two pairs of regulating means, that is, the first stopper and the second stopper, which regulate a rotary angle range of the magnet holder when the first stopper and the second stopper come into contact with the stopper of the arm integrally fixed to the magnet holder, are provided in the body which is a fixing member, and the rotary angle range of the magnet holder regulated by one pair of stoppers is made to be different from the rotary angle range of the magnet holder regulated by the other pair of stoppers. Due to the foregoing, when the expensive body is made to be a common part and a plurality of types of inexpensive arms are manufactured, the fuel level gauge can be provided, an increase in the manufacturing cost of which is suppressed, which can cope with rotary angle ranges of the plurality of types of arms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid level detector for detecting a level of a liquid stored in a container. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-contact type liquid level detector in which a magnetoelectric conversion element is used.
2. Description of the Related Art
This type liquid level detector is used, for example, for monitoring the amount of fuel accommodated in a fuel tank of an automobile.
For example, this type liquid level detector includes: a float which floats on liquid, the level of which is an object to be measured; a magnet holder for holding a magnet and having a hole portion; an arm for connecting the float with the magnet holder so that a vertical motion of the float can be converted into a rotary motion of the magnet holder; a main body portion having a shaft portion, for pivotally holding the magnet holder so that the magnet holder can be freely rotated around the shaft portion when the shaft portion is engaged in the hole portion; and a magnetoelectric conversion element fixed to the main body portion so that the magnetoelectric conversion element can cross a magnetic flux of the magnet, wherein a rotary angle of the magnet holder, that is, a liquid level is detected when a magnetic flux density of the magnet, which crosses the magnetoelectric conversion element, is detected by the magnetoelectric conversion element (Refer to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-206959).
In general, this type liquid level detector includes a regulating means for regulating a rotary angle range of the arm. Usually, a pair of regulating means are provided on both end sides of the rotary angle range of the arm. This regulating means includes a main body portion for pivotally holding a magnet holder and having a magnetoelectric conversion element. In the conventional liquid level detector described above, a flange for preventing the arm from coming out fulfills this function.
In this connection, the profile of a container, to which the liquid level detector is attached, varies, that is, the profile of a fuel tank of an automobile varies. Further, the range of fluctuation of a liquid level to be detected varies, that is, the range of fluctuation of a liquid level is changed from a state in which the fuel tank is filled with petrol to a state in which the fuel tank is empty.
In the liquid level detector, in order to cope with a plurality of types of ranges of liquid level detection, at least one of the arm length, that is, the radius of gyration of the float and the rotary angle range of the arm is adjusted.
Recently, the profile of a fuel tank of an automobile has become complicated. Therefore, the selection of the radius of gyration of the float is restricted. For the above reason, mainly, the rotary angle range of the arm is appropriately set according to the fluctuation range of the liquid level to be detected.
In other words, it becomes necessary to provide many types of main body portions in which a position where the regulating means for regulating a rotary angle range of the arm is arranged is changed.
In general, the main body portion is made of resin, and the pair of regulating means described above are molded integrally with the main body portion. Accordingly, in order to set the regulating means at a plurality of positions, it becomes necessary to manufacture a plurality of molds for molding the main body portion. Due to the foregoing, problems are caused in which the manufacturing cost of the liquid level detector is increased.


A caption service menu display apparatus and method. When a different caption delivery system is adopted for a digital stream, the caption menu is classified into an EIA 608 menu and an EIA 708 menu. Regardless of the caption transmission medium, the caption service menu is displayed based on the caption delivery system of the actual stream.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a caption display apparatus and method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for displaying a different caption service menu depending on a type of a caption service input from a digital receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, most broadcast content provided to TVs include a caption. There are two classes of captions: an open caption and a closed caption. An open caption is a subtitle and is displayed on a TV screen upon transmission from a broadcast station, and the viewer does not have the option of turning-off an open caption. A closed caption is a hidden caption and is displayed on a TV screen only when the TV has a caption receive function. For example, an open caption is an onscreen description of information such as staff profile, song title, singer, Civil Defense training notice, and Korean subtitle for rental videos, which is displayed to the viewer regardless of the viewer's intention. On the other hand, a closed caption is available to a viewer who wants to obtain dialogue or additional information associated with a program. Especially, the closed captioning function can display dialogue of a television program or subtitles of a video on the screen to aid a language study or hearing-impaired people.
Caption broadcasting has conformed to a TV broadcast transmission of the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) but various transmission systems have been adopted with the advent of digital TVs.
The caption services are provided through diverse transmission media such as terrestrial broadcasting or cable satellites, and the provided caption services are different from each other. While the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) 608 caption has been provided only to NTSC TVs, the digital broadcasting also transmits the EIA 608 caption. Accordingly, it is required to separate a caption service menu for each channel.
Caption data for a digital TV is contained and delivered in a user data region of a bit stream.
The user data region consists of a channel carrying NTSC caption data in line 21 of an NTSC signal or Digital Television Closed-Captioning (DTVCC) caption data. The NTSC caption data conforms to the EIA 608 standard, and the DTVCC caption data conforms to the EIA 708 standard.
The EIA 708 caption service alone is not always input as an input data stream of a digital caption data processing system in a specific broadcast, but the EIA 608 caption service may be provided. For example, in cable and satellite digital broadcasting, only the EIA 708 caption data can be input, or both the EIA 708 caption data CC1, CC2, . . . , Service 1, Service 2, . . . and the EIA 608 caption data CC1, CC2, CC2 and CC4 can be input together.
In the above situation, the digital caption service system displays an EIA 708 caption service menu as shown in FIG. 2A when a user selects the caption service menu.
Since the digital caption data processing system displays the caption service menu relating to the EIA 708 in FIG. 2A without regard to whether the input caption is the EIA 708 caption or the EIA 608 caption, the user cannot correctly learn which caption service is provided.
In view of the related art, a need arises to display a caption service menu discriminated for a user's convenience even when the EIA 708 caption or the EIA 608 is input.

Caption service menu display apparatus and method


A grip of a writing material is formed by providing a plurality of flange-like on a surface of a middle shaft portion of a shaft cylinder and in parallel across an axis of the shaft cylinder, the plurality of flange-like projections projecting in a radial direction of the shaft cylinder, and integrally covering the flange-like projections with a cylindrical cover in a closable manner so that spaces are formed inside the cover. When a user grips the grip of the writing material with his or her fingers, the pressure allows the cover to be borne by the adjacent flange-like projections, while moving air inside the spaces to deform the cover. The deformation absorbs the pressure from the fingers. Further, the adjacent flange-like projections limits the deformation of the cover, thus enabling the initial positional relationship of the fingers to be maintained. The user can thus use the writing material for a long time.

The present invention relates to a grip of a writing material which is installed near the tip of a shaft cylinder of the writing material and which can reduce the burden on user's fingers for a prolonged use of the writing material.
Some conventional writing materials include a cylindrical grip installed near the tip of shaft cylinder of the writing material which cylindrical grip consisting of an elastic material having concaves and convexes formed on its surface. The purpose of using the cylindrical grip is to reduce burdens on a user's fingers and to prevent the fingers from slipping readily on the shaft cylinder owing to moisture such as sweat, when the writing material is used for a long hours.
With the cylindrical grip consisting of the elastic material such as rubber and simply having concaves and convexes formed on its surface, even if the moisture of sweat on the fingers resulting from the long use of the writing material adheres to a surface of the grip, the user's fingers are locked on the concaves and convexes on the surface. Consequently, the writing material can be reliably gripped. However, if the cylindrical grip consisting of the elastic material such as rubber is thin, it is not readily deformed. When such writing material is used for a long time, pressure from the fingers is unlikely to be absorbed. Consequently, the long use of the writing material imposes burdens on the fingers, for example, makes the fingers numb, just as in the case of the direct gripping of the shaft cylinder of the writing material. In contrast, a thicker grip exerts a stronger force of restitution in response to the pressure from the fingers when the writing material is gripped. When the writing material is kept gripped for a long time against the force of restitution of the grip, the fingers must exert a stronger force than they otherwise need to do. This fatigues the user and thus imposes excessive burdens on the user.
Thus, the grips of writing materials just described below have been proposed which are elastic and which absorb the pressure from the fingers while being readily deformed during writing, thus avoiding imposing excessive burdens on the user.
For example, the grip installed near the tip of shaft cylinder of the writing material comprising a soft elastic member such as soft rubber or thermoplastic elastomer has been proposed. In this case, the pressure from the user's fingers during writing or the like is easily absorbed by deformation of the grip. However, since the soft elastic member such as soft rubber or thermoplastic elastomer is likely to be deformed, if it is installed in the shaft cylinder of the writing material, the pressure from the user's fingers during writing significantly deforms the writing material in the axial direction of the shaft cylinder. This readily shifts the positions of the fingers optimum for gripping the writing material. The user must thus frequently re-grip the writing material.
The grip of the writing material comprising a cylindrical shape memory resin in which silicone oil or other gel substance is sealed has been proposed. In this case, the pressure exerted during writing markedly deforms the grip in the axial direction of the shaft cylinder, thus readily shifting the original positions of the fingers optimum for the user, as in the case in which the grip is composed of the soft elastic member such as soft rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. Consequently, the user cannot reliably grip the writing material and must re-grip the wiring material many times during long writing. Furthermore, the grip requires a firm sealing structure that prevents the leakage of silicone oil or other gel material sealed in the grip. This makes the structure of the grip complicated and requires much attention to be paid to the material of the grip. As a result, manufacturing costs increase sharply.
Moreover, the grip of the writing material having a rib formed on an inner wall surface of a cylinder of a soft material and extending in the axial direction of the shaft cylinder, to create cavities inside areas against which the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger abut has been proposed. In this case, deformation of the cavities absorbs the pressure from the fingers acting in the radial direction of the shaft cylinder when the writing material is gripped. However, when the user's fingers are positioned on the rib, which abuts against the surface of the shaft cylinder, the rib is pivoted along the circumference of the shaft cylinder depending on the magnitude of a force exerted by the user's fingers. Consequently, deformation of the grip is not uniform and it is possible that the user cannot reliably grip the writing material with the user fingers placed at desired positions.
Furthermore, the grip formed like cylinders having an inner peripheral surface fitted on an outer peripheral surface of a gripped area of the shaft cylinder, a plurality of a hollow portions formed in a peripheral wall of the cylinder so as to penetrate the cylinder in its axial direction and arranged along a circumference of the shaft cylinder and a ventilation passage formed at an end of the grip to allow the communication between the hollow portions and the exterior has been proposed. In this case, air moves freely to and from the exterior through the ventilation passage. Accordingly, even if the user exerts a force on the grip with his or her fingers during writing, the hollow portions can be readily deformed to absorb the pressure. However, the plurality of hollow portions, arranged in parallel along the circumference of the shaft cylinder, are separated from one another by a support portion. Thus, in the hollow portions, air can flow easily in the axial direction of the shaft cylinder but not along the circumference of the shaft cylinder. As a result, the support portion, which separates the hollow portions from one another, repels the pressure from the user's fingers. This makes deformation of the grip nonuniform as previously described. In particular, since the hollow portions are formed in the axial direction of the axial shaft, the positions of the user's fingers are likely to be shifted downward during use. Thus, when the user keeps on writing for a long hours, the user cannot reliably grip the writing material and thus exerts an unnecessary force. This results in excessive burdens on the user's fingers.
A problem with the prior art is that during writing, notably during long writing, the user cannot grip the writing material at the optimum positions. It is thus an object of the present invention to allow the grip of the writing material to be optimally deformed with respect to the positions of the user's fingers, at which the writing material is directly gripped, and in response to the pressure from the fingers or the like and remain in the deformed state.


A hydrostatic drive system (1) has a load-sensing pump (2) with an adjustable discharge volume and at least one consumer connected to the pump (2). The discharge volume of the pump (2) can be set by a discharge volume control device (6) that sets the delivery pressure of the pump available in a delivery line (4) of the pump (2) so that it is higher by a pilot control pressure difference than the load pressure of the consumer. The discharge volume control device (6) can be actuated by an electronic control device (7) functionally connected with a sensor device (9) for measuring the load pressure of the consumer and with a sensor device (8) for measuring the delivery pressure available in the delivery line (4). A circulation device (15) is associated with the delivery line (4) to control the connection of the delivery line (4) with a reservoir (3).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hydrostatic drive system having a load-sensing pump with an adjustable discharge volume and at least one consumer connected to the pump. The discharge volume of the pump can be set by means of a discharge volume control device that sets the delivery pressure available in a delivery line of the pump so that it is higher by a pilot control pressure difference than the load pressure of the consumer.
2. Technical Considerations
Load-sensing drive systems are used in mobile work machines, for example in construction equipment in the form of excavators, as well as in industrial trucks. A drive system is described in DE 196 15 593 A1. In that case, the discharge volume control device of the pump has a load-sensing control valve. The load-sensing control valve is actuated by the highest load pressure of the consumers being actuated and by a spring (the bias of which is equal to a pilot control pressure difference) toward an increase of the delivery flow of the pump, and by the delivery pressure delivered by the pump toward a reduction of the delivery output. The pump thereby delivers an output having a delivery pressure that is higher by the pilot control pressure difference exerted by the spring than the highest load pressure of the actuated consumers. With a drive system of this type, the consumers can be operated independently of the load at a speed of movement that is specified by the opening width of a control valve.
In the drive system described in DE 196 15 593 A1, the discharge volume control device of the pump is hydraulically controlled by the load-sensing control valve. For the measurement and transmission of the highest load pressure of the consumers to the load-sensing flow control valve, load pressure signal lines are necessary. This entails a great deal of construction effort and the signal lines are prone to leaks, which result in inaccuracies of the output flow control of the pump. The load pressure signal lines are also subject to the effects of temperature, which lead to variations of the load pressure and, thus, to inaccuracies in the control of the output flow of the pump. On mobile work machines, in particular on excavators, the load pressure signal lines can be of a significant length. As a result of which, the transmission of the load pressure of the consumer to the load-sensing flow control valve takes a long time and, thus, the movement of the consumer has a long reaction time as a result of the delayed regulation of the output flow of the pump.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a hydrostatic drive system of the general type described above but that makes possible an improved reaction of the consumers with little construction effort.


The method, device, terminal equipment and storage medium of sharing personal information are provided. The method includes: acquiring the personal information sharing instruction; acquiring personal information to be shared according to the user attribute of the user targeted by the personal information sharing instruction; generating two at least sharing ways according to the personal information; displaying the selection page of the at least two sharing ways, and determining the sharing way based on a selection instruction from the terminal user.

With the rapid development of the Internet technology, the Internet application in the terminal has also been developed unprecedentedly, and a user can share personal information of some other users whom they are interested in by using the Internet application in the terminal.
When a user browses a personal homepage of a user in an Internet application, and is interested in personal information of the user and wants to share the personal homepage to friends, relevant software can only generate a specific sharing way for the user to share without further interactivity.

Method, terminal equipment and storage medium of sharing user information

Beijing Microlive Vision Technology Co., Ltd


A system and method are provided for adaptively accessing information in a vehicle under test, in a manner to avoid malfunctions associated with accessing the information. A data acquisition device is provided for accessing and retrieving diagnostic data from the vehicle. A memory unit is provided including listing of malfunctioning vehicles, as well as information associated with each of vehicle. At least one service mode request is communicated to the vehicle to identify characteristic information and characteristic features of the vehicle, which information is compared to stored vehicle characteristic information, to determine if the vehicle conforms to any of the listed vehicles, subject to malfunction. If not, additional service requests are communicated to the vehicle. If the vehicle conforms to one or more of the listed vehicles additional service request(s) are modified to remove service requests, or portions thereof, that are associated with the malfunction.

The present invention relates to vehicle diagnostic systems and methods, and, more particularly, to devices and methods for adaptively accessing vehicle diagnostic information in a manner to avoid engine specific anomalies.
Since the 1980's, major automobile manufacturers have installed electronic control units (ECU) in vehicles being produced. ECU's generally function to monitor various vehicle conditions and recognize malfunctions or trouble conditions, which may be recorded in the vehicle ECU. Technicians servicing the vehicles have used scan tools, or other equipment that enables them to access the ECU to download vehicle diagnostic trouble codes (DTC's) that would identify the malfunctions or trouble conditions detected by and stored in the ECU.
Since the 1980's, the sophistication of the vehicle ECU's, scan tools and other equipment used to access information in the ECU's has become more sophisticated. The vehicle information accessible by or through the ECU has expanded to include a variety of different types of information, e.g., live information and/or stored information from various vehicle components. Moreover, the processing capability of the ECU, as well as the scan tool, have expanded to allow the technician to more specifically identify vehicle defects by accessing and comparing information received from the vehicle, using sophisticated databases that may be stored or distributed within the ECU, the scan tool, and remote locations, e.g., websites accessible by the scan tool itself, or in association with a digital computing device, such as a computer or cellphone.
In order to facilitate the use of common equipment and communication techniques for accessing information on different vehicles, vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) utilize one of approximately five different signal protocols for communicating information and commands to or from the ECU. Contemporary scan tools and similar devices commonly connect to the ECU through a vehicle diagnostic port, and operate to poll the ECU, by sequencing through each of the different protocols until the ECU response to one of the protocols. The scan tool will then communicate with the ECU in the identified protocol to request information from the ECU and other vehicle systems.
While the above described ECU interface system generally works well and is a reliable way to access information from the vehicle ECU, anomalies occasionally arise in relation to particular engines. For example, it has been found that certain Ford® vehicles equipped with 7.3 L diesel engines will stall if certain diagnostic information is requested from the vehicle ECU while the vehicle is running, e.g. engines and related electronic controls for the engine are understood to have been produced by Navistar International (engine code T444D) during 1994-2003. This can create a safety condition, particular as that vehicle may be used to tow excessive loads. Since the functionality of hydraulic power assisted braking (Hydro Boost) systems and steering systems are generally dependent upon the engine being operational, a sudden engine stall can be problematical. While OEMs generally take steps to ensure that power and fluid remains available in the event of such a stall, the stored power and fluid under pressure may be very limited, e.g., to power assisted brake applications, which may be insufficient to avoid a dangerous and potentially fatal condition.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and technique for modifying the manner in which a scan tool, or other diagnostic device, communicates with a vehicle ECU to determine if the vehicle under test is subject to causing an operational anomaly in response to a standard information requests to the vehicle ECU. If so, the present invention functions to modify the information requests in such a manner to be able to avoid the anomaly, i.e., by omitting or modifying the information request that has been found to trigger the anomaly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Methods and apparatus for noise removal from seismic data. In one embodiment, a seismic data set comprising a plurality of traces is received, and noise metrics for the seismic data set are computed using a set of time and depth windows. The seismic data set is scanned to determine a first set of groups. Each group in the first set comprises at least a first minimum number of neighboring traces for which at least one of the noise metrics is outside a predefined specification. Noise attenuation is applied to the traces in the first set of groups. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.

In the oil and gas industry, geophysical prospecting is commonly used to aid in the search for and evaluation of subterranean formations. Geophysical prospecting techniques yield knowledge of the subsurface structure of the earth, which is useful for finding and extracting valuable mineral resources, particularly hydrocarbon deposits such as oil and natural gas.
One technique of geophysical prospecting is a seismic survey. In a seismic survey, an acoustic wave, referred to as a seismic signal, is generated by one or more seismic energy sources. Terrestrial seismic energy sources may include, for example, shots of buried dynamite or seismic air guns. Marine seismic energy sources may include, for example, air guns, water guns, or marine vibrators.
The seismic signal propagates into the geological strata of the earth and reflects off sub-surface features, referred to as seismic reflectors, which present varying acoustic impedances. Such seismic reflectors are typically interfaces between subterranean formations having different elastic properties which lead to differences in acoustic impedance at the interfaces.
The reflected waves may be received by multiple seismic sensors, referred to as receivers. Land seismic sensors may include, for example, geophones, while marine seismic sensors may include, for example, geophones and hydrophones. Each sensor is configured to convert the wave information to electrical signals, referred to as seismic data. In a typical configuration, the sensors may be configured in a two-dimensional (2D) array such that three-dimensional (3D) seismic data (seismic volumes) may be obtained. The seismic data may be recorded and subsequently processed to yield information relating to the geologic structure and properties of the subterranean formations and their potential hydrocarbon content.
One challenge in processing the seismic data to obtain useful information about the geological structure is due to the presence of noise in the seismic data. The noise generally includes both incoherent and coherent noise (often in the form of multiples). The attenuation of incoherent and coherent noise in seismic data is one of the most labor-intensive and challenging aspects of seismic data processing.
Note that the figures provided herewith are not necessarily to scale. They are provided for purposes of illustration to ease in the understanding of the presently-disclosed invention.

Methods and apparatus for automated noise removal from seismic data


A device for guiding a pivoting mass about an axis. A first support is fixed and a second support forms or supports the pivoting mass. The device is includes a first and second flexible leaf oriented in the same direction when the device is at rest, and an intermediate leaf having a rigidity notably greater than the flexible leaves and connecting the first flexible leaf to the second, the device including a first fixed link formed by the first support and a first end of the first leaf, a second fixed link formed by a second end of the first leaf and by a first end of the intermediate leaf, a third fixed link formed by a second end of the intermediate leaf and by a first end of the second leaf and a fourth fixed link formed by at least one second end of the second leaf, wherein the first and/or the fourth link is arranged substantially between the second and the third link in the direction when the device is at rest.

Flexible guides with a virtual pivot allow to substantially improve horological resonators. The simplest ones are cross-spring pivots, composed of two guide devices with straight leaves that intersect, in general perpendicularly. These two leaves can be either three-dimensional in two different planes, or two-dimensional in the same plane and are thus as if they were welded at their point of intersection.
It is possible to optimise a three-dimensional cross-spring pivot for an oscillator, to try to make it isochronous with a rate independent of its orientation in the field of gravity, in particular in two ways (independently, or the two together):                choosing the position of the intersection of the leaves with respect to their setting to have a rate independent of the positions;        choosing the angle between the leaves to be isochronous and have a rate independent of the amplitude.
However, the use of such devices does not allow to achieve perfect deflection of the leaves. Indeed, obtaining a virtual axis sufficiently stable during the pivoting for the rotary movement of the mass to be perfectly periodic is not achieved. The return torque is not exactly linear, which causes an anisochronism according to the amplitude of the mass.
Moreover, the centre of mass of the mechanism moves too much, and also causes an anisochronism caused by its orientation with respect to gravity.

Device for guiding pivotally and horological resonator mechanism for a pivoting mass


An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feeding unit which feeds a sheet-shaped recording medium, an image forming unit which forms a toner image on the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit, a fixing unit which fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit on the recording medium, a stacking unit which stacks the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit, a temperature sensor which detects the surface temperature of the recording mediums stacked on the stacking unit and a control unit which determines, according to the printing information of the recording medium, whether or not to feed a new recording medium from the paper feeding unit when the surface temperature of the recording mediums detected by the temperature sensor is above a threshold temperature.

An image forming apparatus is known which conveys a sheet-shaped recording medium (hereinafter collectively referred to as 'sheet') while forming an image on the sheet. The image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit for forming a visible image (toner image) with a toner and a fixer for fixing the toner image on a sheet with heat and pressure. The image forming apparatus comprises a paper discharging tray for overlapping and stacking a plurality of sheets on which a toner image is fixed. However, if the temperature or the stack pressure of the plurality of sheets stacked on the paper discharging tray is increased, then the state of the toner is changed, which may result in the poor quality of images.


An apparatus and method for cutting and threading a sheet of material is described. The apparatus can facilitate the transfer of a sheet from a sheet forming machine to a processing machine, and can halt the feeding of sheet material to the processing machine. When the processing machine is ready to receive more sheet material, the apparatus cuts the sheet and feeds the newly formed sheet to the processing machine.

In manufacturing products from sheet material, it is necessary to process the sheet after it is formed. Sheet materials include, for example, paper webs, webs of synthetic fibers and nonwoven webs, as well as polymer sheets such as plastics and elastomers. For webs made of fibrous material, the web must be transferred from the machine used to form the web to a machine which will process the web into a more useful product. The processing machine is frequently a winding reel, but may also be, for example, an apparatus for segmenting the web into portions, for treating the web with additives, for folding or stitching the web, or for bonding the web to another substance.
While the sheet formation is usually a continuous process, the processing of the sheet may or may not be continuous. The processing may be a batch process having a distinct beginning and ending. The processing may be designed as a continuous process, but may be subject to more frequent interruptions than the sheet formation. In the case of winding webs of fibrous material, an initial edge of the web may be attached to a core or mandrel, after which the web can be wound around this initial edge. Once the winding has produced a roll of the desired size, the roll must be separated from the web issuing from the sheet former. A new initial edge from the sheet can then be used to begin a new roll once the edge is threaded to the winder.
The separation of the web can be performed manually by a user impacting the sheet as it passes between the forming machine and the processing machine. The initial edge formed can be fed to another processor, or another initial edge may be formed by impacting or slicing the sheet again. Manual breaking and threading is especially difficult for fibrous webs which are heavy and strong and which have large widths, nor are they useful at high sustained operating speeds.
For sheets of fibrous web material, conventional threading procedures involve the adjustment of the size of the web as it is formed. A more narrow portion of the sheet is formed to function as a leader. This leader is easier to handle than a full-width sheet and can be threaded to the processing machine. The width of the sheet is then expanded to full size by adjusting the formation process. This adds undesirable complexity to the process, as both the processing machine and the forming machine must be adjusted, increasing the likelihood of operator error and machine malfunction.
It is thus desirable to provide an apparatus that will separate a formed sheet from a processed sheet, create a new edge from the formed sheet, and feed the new edge to a processing apparatus. It would be especially useful if this apparatus could function automatically, with minimal involvement by the operator, and if the apparatus could dispense any waste material into a desired area.

Auto sheet threading and cutting device and method


The present invention relates to a device for forming a pattern on a surface of a fruiting vegetable and, more particularly, to a device which can be mounted on an immature fruiting vegetable without a separate fixing device, changes the shape thereof as the fruiting vegetable grows, and is capable of engraving a predetermined pattern on a surface of the immature fruiting vegetable so as to be clearly identified. A device for forming a pattern on a surface of a fruiting vegetable according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a member made of plastic, of an annular shape without a cut portion, having an inner surface and an outer surface, an opening defined by the inner surface, and a pattern formed on the inner surface of the member, wherein the member includes a first folded portion and a second folded portion; the inner surface of the member includes a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface that face each other due to the first folding portion and the second folding portion; the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface can be mounted on the surface of the fruiting vegetable by pressing both surfaces of the immature fruiting vegetable arranged on the opening by elasticity formed by the first folded portion and the second folded portion; and the shape of the member changes so as to correspond to the surface shape of the fruiting vegetable as the fruiting vegetable grows.

As awareness of the importance of an origin and distributor of agricultural products has increased, an attempt to differentiate a fruit or vegetable from other products has been made by imprinting a trademark or specific character on the fruit or vegetable to sell the fruit or vegetable.
In particular, various attempts have been made to arouse purchasing needs of a consumer and promote sales by forming a fruit in a certain form instead of the original form of the fruit or by imprinting a characteristic or picture such as "pass" or "luck" on a surface of the fruit.
Among the various attempts, there is a method of permanently marking characteristics or a picture such as a trademark, a producer, or a commemorative message on a fruit. Specifically, there is a method of attaching a sticker with a shape indicating a certain mark on a fruit during growth of the fruit and blocking light from being incident on the attached portion of the fruit to allow a mark with a shape corresponding to the shape of the sticker to be formed by discoloration of a surface of the fruit. However, in the above method, the sticker should be attached in accordance with a proper growth stage of the fruit, and it takes a considerable amount of time to discolor the fruit. In addition, after the sticker is attached, the attached state of the sticker is loosened due to the growth of the fruit and a wind or heavy rain, resulting in a problem in that a large amount of fruits are in a defective printed state in which a clear characteristic or figure is not obtained due to loosening of the attached state. Furthermore, the above method may have an effect of marking a character in the case of a fruit having a clear skin color such as an apple or a watermelon but may not obtain a particular effect of forming a characteristic due to light blockage in the case of a pear or a persimmon.
As another method, there is a method of forming a character or figure on a surface of a fruit by injuring a skin of the fruit in a process of producing the fruit. However, when a fruit is produced by injuring a surface thereof, since a surface of a growing fruit should be scratched, high accuracy is required. Thus, work efficiency is considerably lowered, and a wound is recovered as the fruit grows, resulting in a problem in that the character or figure may not be recognizable frequently.

Device for forming pattern on surface of fruiting vegetables


Voltage regulators often have coupled output inductors because coupled output inductors provide improvements in cost and efficiency. Coupled inductors are often used in multi-phase voltage regulators. Feedback control of voltage regulators often requires accurate and responsive sensing of output current. Provided is a technique for accurately sensing the magnitude of output current in coupled inductors. An RC circuit (comprising a resistor and capacitor in series) is connected in parallel with the coupled inductor. The inductor has a leakage inductance Lk and a DC (ohmic) resistance of DCR. The resistor and capacitor are selected such that an RC time constant is equal to an L/R time constant of Lk/DCR. With the matching time constants, a sum of voltages on the capacitors is accurately proportional to a sum of currents flowing in the output inductors. Also provided is a technique for sensing current when an uncoupled center tap inductor is present.

Voltage regulators (VRs) and DC-to-DC converters are widely used for providing electrical power for computer processors and telecommunications electronics. Many voltage regulators include circuits for measuring output current and voltage so that feedback control of the voltage regulator is possible. One method for feedback control is adaptive voltage positioning (AVP), in which the output voltage is controlled in response to the output current. AVP is particularly well suited for use in microprocessor voltage regulators and voltage regulators for memory and graphics-processing circuits. AVP typically requires accurate and high speed sensing of output current.
One method for accurate and high speed output current sensing is known as direct current resistance (DCR) sensing. DCR sensing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,160. FIG. 1 illustrates a buck regulator circuit employing DCR current sensing. Top and bottom switches Q1 Q2 are alternately switched and provide current pulses to output inductor Lo. Output filtering capacitor Co is connected in parallel with the load, as well known in the art. Output inductor Lo has an ideal, zero-resistance self-inductance L in series with a DC (ohmic) resistance RL. The DCR current sensing method requires a capacitor C and resistor Rc connected in parallel with the output inductor Lo. Voltage across the capacitor C is provided to a voltage buffer B. The capacitor C and resistor Rc are selected so that the RC time constant matches the L/RL time constant of the output inductor Lo. With the capacitor C and resistor Rc selected in this way, the voltage across the capacitor C is accurately proportional to the voltage across the DC resistance RL of the inductor, and, hence, the current flowing through the output inductor Lo. The voltage buffer B produces a voltage (the "current sense voltage") that is proportional to the current flowing through the output inductor Lo. The output of the voltage buffer B is therefore accurately proportional to the current flowing through the output inductor Lo. The current sense voltage can be used for overload protection control, AVP or other feedback-based methods for controlling the operation of the buck regulator. A significant advantage of the DCR sensing technique is that it does not require a current sensing resistor, which dissipates energy. Hence, DCR sensing significantly improves the energy efficiency of the VR circuit.
The buck regulator of FIG. 1 has a single output inductor Lo. It is relatively simple to apply the DCR output current sensing technique to a voltage regulator circuit having a single output inductor. However, many new voltage regulator circuits, such as multi-phase buck regulators, and other more complicated resonant or quasi-resonant circuits, have coupled output inductors. Coupled output inductors tend to allow a reduction in the capacitance of output capacitor Co and therefore a reduction in cost. Also, coupled output inductors tend to improve transient performance and efficiency. For these reasons, coupled output inductors are increasingly used.
In the art, there is no known method for applying the DCR current sensing technique to coupled inductors. DCR current sensing is presently incompatible with coupled inductors. If a DCR current sensing circuit is connected to a coupled inductor, the capacitor voltage waveform will have a different shape than the inductor current waveform. Consequently, it is difficult to implement AVP (and other forms of feedback control that require accurate current sensing) in VRs that have coupled output inductors. Hence, circuit designers presently must choose between the benefits of DCR or the benefits of coupled output inductors.
It would be an advance in the arts of voltage regulators, current sensing circuits, and feedback control for VRs to provide a DCR current sensing technique compatible with coupled inductors. A DCR current sensing technique compatible with coupled inductors could extend the benefits of DCR current sensing to multiphase buck regulators and other regulators having coupled output inductors.

Current sensing in multiple coupled inductors by time constant matching to leakage inductance

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.


A gearbox actuator comprising a selector shaft 2 which is arranged in a housing and is driven by a drive. A shift finger 3 and disengaging shaped elements 4 used to actuate gearshift rails are arranged on the selector shaft, and jibs for 12-15 supporting and guiding the gearshift rails are arranged on the housing. The gearbox actuator 1 comprises the central selector shaft 2 mounted in bearing elements 19 and comprises a shift finger 3 and two disengaging shaped elements 4 arranged in the center thereof, at a distance corresponding to the width of a channel. Preferably, the selector shaft 2 is driven by a brushless motor 5 by means of a double planetary stage 6 and a toothed segment 7 which engages a toothed wheel 16 that is preferably positioned in a housing element 17. A preferably second brushless motor 8 drives a sliding element 37 by means of spindle 9, the sliding element displacing the shift finger 3 and the disengaging shaped elements 4 on the selector shaft 2.

This invention relates to a gearbox actuator with a selector shaft, arranged in a housing and driven by a drive upon which are attached a shift finger and disengaging shaped elements that operate the gearshift rails.
Usually, the gearshift rails of a gearbox actuator are made of sheet metal and are placed in bearings on both their ends. One problem consists in the following—in case of larger or longer gears, the gearshift rails are subjected to a relatively softly bending bearing.

Gearbox actuator comprising a bearing for the gearshift rails

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


A multiple layer wraparound sleeve having a heat shrinkable backing layer and at least one functional layer has the functional layer as a discrete sheet which is connected to one end of the backing layer, and is of at least sufficient length that, when the sleeve is wrapped around the pipe or other substrate at least twice, the functional layer sheet wraps around the substrate first with its ends overlapping and the backing layer wraps around the functional layer sheet with its ends overlapping. This allows wrappings of reduced thickness to be employed without problems of voids occurring between the functional layer and the substrate.

Multiple layer wraparound heat shrinkable sleeves have been used for many years for sealing and protecting pipes, cables and the like. Such sleeves consist usually of a layer of crosslinked plastic sheet which is dimensionally heat unstable in one direction, on top of which is coated or laminated one or more layers of functional material. The direction of shrinkage is such that, when the sleeve is wrapped around an article, such as a pipe joint or a cable, the sleeve will, upon heating, decrease in circumference in relation to said object until it conforms tightly to the shape and profile of said object. By "functional material" is meant, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, a material which performs a function which the heat unstable sheet cannot adequately perform on its own. Most commonly a single functional material layer is used, and consists of a heat-activable polymer composition, such as a hot melt adhesive or a mastic sealant. The term "heat activable" refers to the fact that, upon heating to a moderate temperature a beneficial change in properties occurs, which will promote the function of said layer. In the case of a so-called "hot melt adhesive", the functional layer converts from what is essentially a solid, non-tacky state to what is essentially a fluid, tacky state, thus allowing it to fill in surface irregularities and form an adequate bond to the surface. In the case of a so-called "mastic sealant", the functional layer is converted from a soft gummy material which does not readily flow under the influence of gravity, to a flowable liquid which will fill in surface irregularities. Upon cooling, both types of functional material layer revert to the state they were in prior to heating. By "moderate temperatures" is meant a temperature which is not so high as to deteriorate the heat shrinkable layer, the functional material layer itself, or the substrate upon which the sleeve is being applied. Of course other types of functional material layers may be used, such as materials which crosslink at the shrinkage temperature, materials which are electrically conductive, and the like.
The heat shrinkable layer is most usually a sheet of olefinic polymer, such as polyethylene or a copolymer thereof, which has been crosslinked to render it non-melting and subsequently stretched and cooled in the stretched condition. If the temperature of the sheet is subsequently raised to or above the crystalline melting temperature of the main component material, the sheet will recover to the dimensions which it had prior to stretching.
While the design wherein the multiple layers are laminated on top of one another has provided acceptable products for many applications, it also has certain disadvantages. This is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein is shown a known form of wraparound sleeve 11 comprising a longitudinally heat-shrinkable backing 12, a layer of heat activable sealant or mastic 13 coated thereon, a bare area 14 and a stripe of hold down adhesive 16, as known from, for example Tailor et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,468. In use the sleeve 11 is wrapped around a pipe 17 and heat is applied firstly to weld an overlap end 12a of the backing at the bare area 14 to an underlap end 12b and secondly to make the layer 13 flowable and shrink down the backing 12 so that hoop stress compresses the flowable layer 13 tightly onto the surface of the pipe 17. One particular problem is that where the sleeve 11 overlaps itself there is a void 18 which must fill up during installation if a proper seal is to be achieved. This void is equal in thickness to the total thickness of the layers 12 and 13 of the laminated sleeve, as shown in FIG. 1. If absolutely no extra sealant 13 flows in to this void, it cannot be completely filled. A proper seal requires that additional sealant 13 move into the area where the void 18 had been. The higher the viscosity of the sealant 13, the more difficult this is to achieve. The presence of the heat shrinkable component 12b within this overlap region also makes it more difficult. For one thing, the heat shrinkable component 12b will not melt or flow. For another thing, the heat shrinkable layer 12 is free to recover fully in this area, with a corresponding increase in thickness which exacerbates the problem.
Commercially available systems most typically address the underlap void problem by using a sealant layer 13 which is at least as thick, and preferably at least 1.5 times as thick as the stretched heat shrinkable layer 12. Further, the sealants are most preferably formulated to give a very low viscosity at the temperatures obtained during installation. The former approach results in sleeves which are often much thicker than would otherwise be required, which means that they are more expensive, and require more heating and more time to shrink down than would otherwise be required. The latter approach limits the formulation of the sealants, confining them to relatively low molecular weights with correspondingly limited physical properties.
Another limitation of the known sleeves is that the layers must be capable of being laminated such that they will not delaminate when the sleeve is rolled or unrolled. This obviously requires that the two layers adhere to one another, but additionally this adhesion must be developed at processing temperatures which will not cause the sheet to shrink. These limitations make it difficult to apply layers of functional material which must be processed at very high temperatures, and generally limit the choices to those which form a good bond to the heat shrinkable backing.

Multi-layer wraparound heat shrink sleeve


A protective device for a support assembly for a thermocouple adapted for immersion into a molten metal bath to measure the temperature in the bath includes an elongated exterior protective tubular shield, preferably metallic. An interior spacing member is contained within or otherwise affixed to the shield. The spacing member may be in inset from the lower end of the shield to accommodate insertion of an end of a cardboard tube into the annular space between the pole and the shield. A thermocouple for measuring temperatures in a molten metal bath is affixed to the hollow cardboard tube. The shield may be provided with threaded holes, preferably also extending through the spacing member, to receive set screws so that the shield may be fixed at a desired location along the length of the pole.

This invention relates to measurement of temperatures in molten metal baths. More specifically the invention relates to a protective assembly for a support pole system for a temperature measuring thermocouple particularly adapted for use in molten metals.
Thermocouples or similar immersible temperature measuring devices are conventionally immersed in a molten metal bath in a metal processing vessel in order to measure the temperature and to control the process conditions such as the heat being supplied. It is desirable that such immersible thermocouple support poles are protected from excessive heat in order to extend the functional service life of signal carrying wires contained therein. Such molten metal containing vessels are used, for example, in refining of steel, iron, aluminum, copper, brass or bronze. It is also important that the support assemblies be easy to use and economical.
It is conventional to use cardboard tubes attached to the thermocouples to protect a hollow metal pole wherein insulated electrical wires, connected by means of appropriate electrical connectors to the immersible thermocouple, are concealed. Excessive exposure to heat significantly shortens the life of the thermocouple support assemblies. Operating conditions are typically are in the 2600.degree. F. range in a foundry and 3100.degree. F. in a steel shop.
Cardboard protective tubes are expendable but create undesirable air and metal pollution. Over a period of time, such tubes also add an undesirable expense to the metal processing procedure. Thus, a need has existed for improved heat-shielded support systems for both single use and reusable thermocouples.

Shield for molten metal immersible thermocouple support pole


An MSC receives a request from a mobile station to originate a call to a directory number that corresponds to another mobile station. The MSC sends a query that includes the directory number to an off-board translation center (OTC). The OTC determines from the directory number whether the call can be transcoder-free and, if so, provides a response with a transcoder-free indication. If the response includes a transcoder-free indication, the MSC selects a transcoder-free communication path for the call.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications and, more particularly, to methods and systems for selective call routing for transcoder free operation.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile stations often transmit and receive voice and other media in a compressed digital format in order to reduce bandwidth. In particular, a mobile station may receive voice or other media from the user, digitize it, compress the digital signals in accordance with various algorithms, and then transmit the voice or other media in the compressed digital format. A mobile station that receives media in the compressed digital format decodes it in order to obtain the original signal. Mobile stations typically include vocoders to convert the voice or other media between analog and compressed digital formats. A number of different compressed digital formats are commonly used. One example is the Enhanced Variable Rate Codec (EVRC) format, which supports voice transmission at a data rate of about 8 kilobits per second (Kbps). The EVRC format is described in the standard "Enhanced Variable Rated Codec, Speech Service Option 3 for Wideband Spread Spectrum Digital Systems," TIA/EIA/IS-127 (published January 1997), which is incorporated herein by reference.
In contrast, circuit-switched telephone networks, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), typically carry voice or media in an uncompressed digital format, such as a pulse code modulation (PCM) format. For example, in a typical PCM format, a voice signal is sampled at a rate of 8000 times a second and digitized with an 8-bit resolution, resulting in a 64 Kbps signal. Trunks used in the PSTN are often able to carry many of these 64 Kbps signals at a time, in separate channels. For example, a T-1 trunk is able to carry 24 of these 64 Kbps channels.
Because of the differences between these digital formats, wireless telecommunications systems often use transcoders to convert between the compressed digital formats used by mobile stations and the PCM format used by circuit-switched telephone networks. Using transcoders can result in inefficiencies, however. For example, if a call involves two mobile stations, then the voice or other media exchanged in the call may be transcoded twice. One transcoder may convert the media from the transmitting mobile station to PCM format for transmission through the PSTN, and another transcoder may convert the media from the PCM format to the compressed media format for transmission to the receiving mobile station. Using transcoders "in tandem" in this way is often undesirable because each transcoder can add delay to the transmission and can degrade the quality of the voice or other media.
To address these concerns, various proposals have been made to provide "transcoder free operation" (TrFO) in calls between mobile stations. In a transcoder-free call, no transcoders are present in the communication path. Thus, the two mobile stations exchange media during the call using a common compressed digital format, without transcoding. One such approach is described in 3rd Generation Partnership Project, "Out of band transcoder control," 3GPP TS 23.153 v5.6.0 (September 2003), which is incorporated herein by reference. In this approach, the media, in the common compressed digit format, is transported through a packet-switched network between media gateways that are controlled by media gateway controllers. Before a call between two mobile stations is established, the media gateway controllers use out-of-band signaling to select a common compressed digital format, i.e., to negotiate a codec that both mobile stations will use for the call. During the call, the mobile stations exchange media, using the common compressed digital format, via the media gateways and the packet-switched network.
One difficulty with this TrFO approach, however, is that it requires "next generation" network elements, such as media gateways and media gateway controllers that may not be present in "legacy," e.g., IS-41 based, wireless networks. Many wireless service providers are in the process of upgrading their networks to include such next generation network elements to allow for TrFO functionality. However, this upgrade process is likely to occur in a piecemeal fashion over the course of many years, with different service areas being upgraded at different times. As a result, "next generation" and "legacy" network elements are likely to co-exist for quite some time. This means that a mobile station could be served by either a legacy MSC or a next-generation MSC, i.e., one with access to a media gateway, depending on the wireless service provider and/or on where the mobile station is operating. Accordingly, there is a need to provide transcoder free operation in wireless networks that include both legacy and next-generation network elements.

Method and system for selective call routing for transcoder free operation