Sending information to user equipment (UE) indicating which time slots are not for use by a downlink shared channel is provided. Downlink shared channel resources in shared channel time slots are allocated for UEs. The UEs are subsequently sent downlink shared channel data in the shared channel time slots and sent non-downlink shared channel data to UEs in non-shared channel time slots.

In UTRA (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access) TDD mode within 3GPP, both dedicated and shared channels are supported. Dedicated channels give a reserved resource to a user, in contrast to shared channels in which a pooled resource is dynamically shared amongst users. Dedicated channels are best suited to near constant bandwidth traffic, typically speech or streamed audio/video. Shared channels are more suited to bursty traffic, typically packet data services such as internet traffic.
In UTRA TDD mode, when a dedicated channel (DCH) is admitted, physical resources (channelisation codes and timeslots) are reserved for its exclusive use. This reservation is often called channel allocation. Two forms of channel allocation are employed:                fixed channel allocation (FCA)        dynamic channel allocation (DCA).
In FCA, the codes and timeslots for the DCH are selected at random from those available in the cell.
In DCA, the code and timeslot assignment is intelligent. The following classification of DCA schemes is known, for example from the publication by H. Haas and S. McLaughlin "A dynamic channel assignment algorithm for a Hybrid TDMA/CDMA-TDD interface using a novel TS-opposing technique" in IEEE J. Sel. Areas Comms. 19(10) 2001:                Traffic-adaptive channel allocation: based upon the traffic loading on neighbouring cells, a common pool of channels (codes and timeslots) is shared such that heavily loaded cells receive more channels. Adjusting the downlink-uplink timeslot division in a cell(s) may also be considered here. (note that if the division is not equal in every cell then UE-UE (remote station-remote station) and Node B-Node B (base station-base station) interference sources arise).        Re-use partitioning: this may be employed when an operator has a number of carriers which may be deployed in a re-use pattern.        Interference-based DCA: channels are assigned based upon interference power measurements at the Node B or the UE. These schemes match well to TD-CDMA which is typically interference limited, and they may be deployed in a decentralised architecture giving low algorithmic complexity.
DCA schemes may be either centralised or decentralised. A centralised algorithm would be located at the RNC (Radio Network Controller) and would exploit measurements made at a number of Node B's and UEs in its decision making. The impact of an admission in one cell on the performance of admitted connections in the same and other cells may be determined. Resources from a number of cells may be considered on a collective or pooled basis. Such an algorithm requires significant signalling, may be computationally complex, and may not scale as the number of cells under the RNC is increased.
A decentralised algorithm manages DCH admissions for a single cell (typically). It is located at the RNC, where admission is performed, and where measurements are available. The complexity is considerably reduced, and scaling considerations are easy to estimate (the total complexity for the RNC is proportional to the number of cells under the RNC).
DCA may also be used to reassign the resources of calls in progress to permit the admission of new calls, or to improve their QoS. For example, a voice user may be experiencing high interference in one timeslot, and the DCA algorithm may reassign the user to another timeslot which has lower interference levels.
Call Admission Control
DCA works very closely with Call Admission Control (CAC). Execution of a CAC algorithm is required when UEs are supported with some guarantees of quality of service. Users of 3GPP traffic class="Interactive" only expect to receive better service than other interactive users with lesser traffic handling priority, whilst users of 3GPP traffic class="background" have no expectations (this is truly best effort). However, users of 3GPP traffic class="conversational" or "streaming" have delay and bandwidth requirements. The CAC needs to balance the conflicting requirements of low blocking probability and low dropping probability. Dropping occurs when an ongoing call is prematurely terminated and is perceived by users as more objectionable than blocking (when the system does not allow a call to be initiated in the first place): the blocking probability is thus set higher than the dropping probability. The CAC maintains the loading on the network below a threshold level such that the dropping probability is acceptable.
Network loading may be measured in terms of:                number of UEs admitted (of each traffic class/quality of service parameters)        Node B interference (uplink)        Node B transmit power (downlink)
Interference is composed of two parts, intracell interference arising from transmissions to/from UEs attached to the same cell, and intercell interference arising from transmissions to/from UEs attached to other cells.
CAC is needed:                on new call attempts        on handovers        on channel reallocation initiated by DCA.
In the publication "D06: Conceptual studies on Radio Resource and Qos Management Algorithms" (available at web address http://www.arrows-ist.upc.es/publications/deliverables/Summary_Arrows-D06.pdf), a distinction is drawn between DCA and CAC. A first DCA algorithm described in this application maintains an ordered list of timeslots which should be considered when an admission is to be made (this could be a new call, a handover, or a reallocation). The CAC takes a timeslot from the top of this list and evaluates whether the addition of the UE into this timeslot would generate acceptable interference to existing calls. Additionally, a second DCA algorithm can identify calls for reallocation from one timeslot to another—for example, to improve speech quality. However, this publication does not enable dedicated and shared channels to coexist.
Coexistence of Dedicated and Shared Channels
Although the coexistence of dedicated channels (managed by DCA) and shared channels (managed by a radio scheduler) has not been addressed for 3GPP TDD, in the past, to the knowledge of the inventors hereof, clearly there are two possible methods of assigning the codes and timeslots to dedicated and shared channels:                segregation: slots are used exclusively by either dedicated or shared channels        mixing: slots support both dedicated and shared channels at the same time.
A discussion of a possible interference based DCA technique is included in 3GPP specification TR 25.922 (available from the website www.3gpp.org). The method is based upon interference measurements made by the UE and the Node B (timeslot Interference Signal Code Power or ISCP, i.e., intercell interference). The algorithm is decentralised and located at the RNC. The algorithm covers both slow DCA and fast DCA. Slow DCA involves adjustments to the DL/UL (downlink/uplink) split across cells. The DL/UL split is adjusted for each cell independently of other cells. Fast DCA allocates resources more rapidly. Code pooling and timeslot pooling are discussed (in code pooling a DCH is allocated a number of codes in the same timeslot, whilst in timeslot pooling a single code and multiple timeslots are used). Channel reallocation (intra-cell handover) can be triggered to cope with varying interference conditions, or to reduce fragmentation of codes and timeslots that a DCH uses. UE measurements to support DCA include ISCP, path loss measurements, link quality measurement and UE transmit power values.
In the publication "D06: Conceptual studies on Radio Resource and Qos Management Algorithms" referred to above and in the publication by M. Haardt et al., "The TD-CDMA based UTRA TDD Mode", IEEE J Sel Areas Comms 18(18), August 2000, the DCA algorithm generates a priority list of timeslots according to long and short term recording and statistical evaluation of interference, at the UE and the Node B. This is used by the CAC. The DCA algorithm described reallocates resources to minimise the number of timeslots used. However, these publications do not enable dedicated and shared channels to coexist.
In the publications by Berg, "Maintaining high capacity for centralised DCA with limited measurements and signalling", PIMRC 1999, and "Radio resource management in bunched personal communication systems", PhD Thesis, March 2002, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, a centralised DCA algorithm has been evaluated that exploits knowledge of the gain matrix (the matrix of path gains between UEs and Node B's) and the transmit power of each UE. The method ensures that all SIR targets are met, or the new call is not admitted. The first of these publications suggests ways to compensate for gaps in the gain matrix—by using values taken by other UEs in the same cell, or by setting a higher SIR target for the new admission than necessary and allowing the power control to adjust this during the call. A third method discards the gain matrix approach and instead admits the UE to the timeslot in which it measures the minimum interference. However, such gain matrix calculations are complex.
In the publication by I. Forkel et al., "Dynamic channel allocation in UMTS Terrestial Radio Access TDD systems", VTC 2001, the admission attempt is made into the DL and UL timeslots with the minimum interference. The admission is allowed if the interference levels in the two directions are below their respective threshold values (these can be service type dependent). A more advanced scheme allows the allocation for a voice call to be changed if the bit error rate (BER) exceeds a threshold for a given duration. The DCA scheme gives C/I gains over FCA but little voice capacity improvement. Furthermore, this publication does not enable dedicated and shared channels to coexist, and the DCA and CAC metrics are crude.
In the publication by I. Forkel & T. Kriengchaiyapruk, "Management of circuit and packet switched data in UMTS terrestrial radio access networks", 3G Wireless 2001, a 'timeslot scoring method' is applied where a timeslot is chosen at random from the set of timeslots whose interference falls below a threshold, and have sufficient capacity. In this technique, code pooling is used, otherwise the DCA and the CAC would be more complex and less reliable. However, this publication does not enable dedicated and shared channels to coexist.
From patent publication EP0817521, "Interference based dynamic channel assignment", it is known to use long and short term interference measurement lists on DL and UL. The algorithms are decentralised, on a per cell or per sector basis.
From patent publication EP0986928, "DCA method in a cellular radio communication network", it is known to maintain priority indices based upon periodic measurements of radio parameters. This publication is orientated to a frequency channel assignment. However, this publication does not enable dedicated and shared channels to coexist and its application to timeslot assignment is not clear.
In patent publication EP1063791, "CDMA communication method using a dynamic channel code assignment, and a base station performing the method", a channelisation code used by a UE is changed in response to interference measurements. However, this publication is restricted to a limited algorithm for an FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) system.
There are known a number of publications involving Call Admission Control for WCDMA, but these are generally oriented towards 3GPP FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) mode. In the publication by H. Holma & A. Toskala (editors), "W-CDMA for UMTS", John Wiley, 2000, an interference based algorithm is described for the FDD mode. On the uplink, the expected interference at the Node B after admission is compared to a threshold. The difficulty is in estimating how much additional interference is generated by the new admission. Two solutions are described, the derivative and integral methods which both exploit knowledge of the shape of the interference versus load curve I=1/(1−η) where η is the load). On the downlink the expected transmit power following admission is compared to a threshold. The increment in power is estimated by an open loop calculation. The downlink algorithm is applicable to the TDD mode. The uplink algorithm is not applicable to TDD mode since in TDD mode, the Node B detector eliminates most of the intracell interference (thus adding another user to a TDD cell will not increase the detected Node B interference in that cell).
In the publication by J. Lee & Y. Han, "Downlink admission control for multimedia services in WCDMA", IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC) 2002, a simple downlink method is described that uses a transmit power threshold value.
There are a number of papers where uplink CAC is based on Node B interference estimation. They differ in the method in which the interference increment is calculated, and also in whether the impact on the serving cell or on neighbouring cells is included too. The publication by Kim et al., "SIR-based call admission control by intercell interference prediction for DS-CDMA systems", IEEE Comms. Letters, 4 (1), 2000, extends the work of Z. Liu and M. E. Zarki in the publication "SIR-based call admission control for DS-CDMA systems", IEEE J. Sel. Areas Comms., 12, 1994 to base an algorithm on 'Residual Capacity', which expresses the number of calls which can be accepted in each cell following the admission of the user in question. The residual capacity is calculated for the intended serving cell and all the neighbours for which the UE is able to make pilot/beacon measurements of. If the residual capacity is greater than or equal to 1 for all cells, then the call is admitted. This method may be useful if the SIR needs of the UEs are the same and sufficient measurements are available to the algorithm. The complexity is moderate. However, this method is limited by the restriction of equal SIR needs and inappropriately includes intracell interference in its workings.
In the publication by N. Dimitrou & R. Tafazolli, "Quality of service for multimedia CDMA", IEEE Comms. Mag. July 2000, there is presented a simple uplink CAC algorithm based on an interference threshold, which can consider the impact on the local cell or on multiple cells. However, this algorithm is relatively inaccurate and unsophisticated.
In the publication by F. Gunnarsson et al., "Uplink admission control in WCDMA based on relative load estimates", International conference on comms. 2002, a formula is derived for the relative (uplink) load on a cell as a function of the SIR target of the service, the path gain between each UE and its serving site, and the path gain between the UE and the cell in question. The CAC algorithm calculates the new relative load in each cell which would follow an admission, and compares these values against a threshold. The relative load in cell j is:
            L      ^        j    =            ∑              i        =        1            M                                                      CTIR          i                                  g          ij                            g        ik            where                i is the mobile number, ranging from 1 to M, in the system,        CTIRi is the target value of the carrier to total interference ratio for mobile i at its serving site, k,        gij is the path gain from mobile i to cell j,        gik is the path gain from mobile i to its serving site, cell k.
A call is admitted provided the relative load is less than the threshold for each cell considered. The authors claim that measurements of path gain are more accurate than those of noise or interference at the Node B (as used in the publication by Kim et al., "SIR-based call admission control by intercell interference prediction for DS-CDMA systems", referred to above). If a mobile is too distant to be able to measure the beacon of a cell it is not included in the relative load calculation for that cell. Measurement load is minimised by relying upon initial measurements and thereafter those available at handover. Cell centre UEs offer few measurements (no handovers) but their interference contribution is less than those of cell edge UEs. The approach may be used for multiple services (the CTIR value is changed appropriately). This paper considers FDD where intracell interference cannot be cancelled and is not directly applicable to TDD for the serving cell.
Thus, although many different algorithms are known for channel allocation, these are not optimal for all conditions and systems. In particular, known channel allocation schemes are not ideally suited for communication systems comprising both shared and dedicated communication channels.
Hence, an improved system would be advantageous and in particular a system allowing increased flexibility, improved performance, improved utilisation of shared and dedicated channels and/or improved suitability of a range of communication systems including TDD communication systems would be advantageous.

Allocating resources for shared and non-shared downlink wireless resources


The invention provides a method and device for building one or more passive components into a chip scale package. The method includes the steps of selecting a passive component having a terminal pitch that is a multiple of the package ball pitch of a chip scale package and mounting the selected passive component terminals to ball sites of the package. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a single metal layer polyamide tape as the substrate of the package. Additional preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in which the terminal pitch multiple of the package ball pitch is one or two. Devices corresponding to the disclosed methods are also disclosed.

In use, integrated circuits (ICs) generally require electrical connections to a substrate to form a package providing electrical connections to additional electronic devices. In general, in a ball grid array (BGA), an approximately square package substrate is provided with solder balls for electrical connection to IC terminals or bonding pads. The package substrate may be composed of multiple layers of semiconductor, mask, and conductive materials depending upon the complexity of the electrical connections to be made. In practice, the more layers, the higher the manufacturing effort and expense.
IC dice may be packaged alone, but frequently an IC die is included on a package substrate along with one or more discrete passive components such as resistors, capacitors, and so forth. Including discrete passive components in an IC package typically adds significant development and manufacturing costs and design complexity to the packaging endeavor. This complexity is engendered by the need for engineering changes to the package to accommodate the interconnection of the components selected for a particular application. Generally, expenses and complexity are also increased by the necessity of using multiple layer substrates in order to make electrical connections among the various discrete component terminals, IC terminals, and ball sites of the substrate.
Methods and devices providing the capability of including discrete passive components in an IC chip scale package with reduced cost and a reduced need for engineering changes to the package would be desirable in the arts.

Device and method for including passive components in a chip scale package


A horizontal car wash implement for a vehicle laundering or finishing plant wherein a horizontal implement rotated by a hydraulic motor is mounted between the free ends of pivot arms carried by spaced vertical support columns on opposing sides of a vehicle wash lane. The car wash implement is mounted between the ends of a pair of spaced apart, parallel support arms and a counterweight is mounted to the ends of a second pair of spaced support arms. The counterweight support arms and the car wash implement support arms are adapted to pivotally mount to the vertical support columns. The counterweight support arms and the implement support arms are mechanically interconnected such that the support arms of the car wash implement and the counterweight pivotally move synchronously in opposing directions relative to one another on one side of the vertical support columns.

Counterweighted top brushes for carwash brushes and other implements are well-known in the prior art. In general, a typical top brush installation includes vertical support columns on opposing sides of a wash lane. The vertical columns provide pivot points for a pair of pivot arms. A brush is mounted between the arms at one end and a counterweight is mounted at the opposite end. Because both arms are one-piece structures, synchronized movement on the brush and the counterweight in opposite directions is inherent. This arrangement, however, can be problematic in car wash systems having limited availability of space.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,092, "Counterweighted Vehicle Laundry Top Brush and Position Control System", issued Feb. 3, 1998 shows a space-saving brush and counterweight arrangement wherein the top brush and the counterweights are carried by separate support arms and both sets of arms are on the same side of the pivot axis. The arms are mechanically connected by gears so that they move in opposite directions and in synchromism. Two separate counterweights are used, one on each arm and the brush support arms are slotted to permit the counterweights to pass through them on each side such that the counterweights cross below the brush.

Overhead brush support and counterweight


In some aspects of the invention, semiconductor unit can produce chips performing uniform parallel operation and a low-thermal-resistance. Aspects of the invention can include a plurality of small semiconductor chips of one and the same kind formed by use of an SiC substrate, which is a wide gap substrate are sandwiched between two conductive plates. In this manner, there can be provided a high-reliability semiconductor unit in which parallel operation of the semiconductor chips is uniformized so that breakdown caused by current concentration can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor unit having a plurality of semiconductor chips sandwiched between upper and lower conductive plates, and a semiconductor device using this semiconductor unit.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor device having a structure using Si-IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor produced by use of an Si semiconductor substrate) and SiC-Di (Diode produced by use of an SiC semiconductor substrate) as FWD (Free Wheeling Diode) has been developed recently as a semiconductor module for forming an inverter device or the like. This SiC-Di is a Schottky barrier diode which can exhibit a higher withstand voltage than that of a Schottky barrier diode produced by use of an Si semiconductor substrate and which can exhibit a lower switching loss than that of a pn diode. Incidentally, Si is silicon and SiC is silicon carbide.
FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are configuration views of a semiconductor device according to the background art, in which FIG. 5(a) is a view of arrangement in a casing and FIG. 5(b) is a sectional view of important part. This semiconductor device 500 is a semiconductor module formed from two Si-IGBT chips 66 and eight SiC-Di chips (SiC-diode chips) 68 which are free wheeling diodes. This semiconductor device 500 can form one upper or lower arm in an inverter.
In the semiconductor device 500, a conductive pattern-including insulating substrate 62 is joined onto a copper base plate 61, and a first conductive pattern 63, a second conductive pattern 64 and a third conductive pattern 65 are formed on the conductive pattern-including insulating substrate 62. The first conductive pattern 63 and collector electrodes 67 of the Si-IGBT chips 66, the second conductive
pattern 64 and cathode electrodes 69 of the SiC-Di chips 68 are joined respectively by solder or Ag paste not shown. Emitter electrodes 70 of the Si-IGBT chips 66 and anode electrodes 71 of the SiC-Di chips 68 are connected to the second conductive pattern 64 by aluminum wires 72. Gate pads 73 of the Si-IGBT chips 66 are connected to the third conductive pattern 65 by aluminum wires 74.
A collector terminal C, an emitter terminal E and a gate terminal G are joined to the first conductive pattern 63, the second conductive pattern 64 and the third conductive pattern 65 respectively.
A casing 75 in which the respective chips are housed is joined to the copper base plate 61 which is a heat radiator. For example, the casing 75 is filled with gel not shown while the respective terminals (the collector terminal C, the emitter terminal E and the gate terminal G) are exposed on this casing 75.
In FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), two Si-IGBT chips 66 and eight SiC-Di chips 68 are housed in the casing 75. Because crystallinity of the SiC semiconductor substrate is not always good, the size of one SiC-Di chip 68 is limited to about several mm square. For this reason, the semiconductor device 500 requires, for example, four SiC-Di chips 68 for one Si-IGBT chip 66. If occasion demands, a larger number of SiC-Di chips 68 are required.
In Japanese Patent No. 4254527 (also referred to herein as "Patent Literature 1"), there has been disclosed the fact that different kinds of elements connected in parallel are connected by conductive plates and sealed with a resin to form a semiconductor unit (referred to as unit package), and a plurality of such semiconductor units (unit packages) are used for forming a semiconductor module.
As described above, because an SiC semiconductor substrate includes a large number of crystal defects when it has a large area, the size (about several mm square as described above) of an SiC-Di chip 68 using the SiC semiconductor substrate is smaller than the size of a Di chip using Si. In a semiconductor module (semiconductor device 500) using SiC-Di chips 68 as shown in FIG. 5, it is therefore necessary to use a large number of SiC-Di chips 68 connected in parallel.
For this reason, in the semiconductor module (semiconductor device 500), the number of wires 72 used for connection increases, so that the number of processes increases and the cost increases. In the semiconductor module (semiconductor device 500), parallel operation of chips varies according to variations in length of the wires 72 so that some chip suffering from current concentration may be broken down to reduce reliability of the semiconductor module (semiconductor device 500). In addition, because the semiconductor module (semiconductor device 500) has a single-sided cooling structure, thermal resistance is high.
In Patent Literature 1, there has been not described the fact that one and the same kind of elements (e.g., SiC-Di chips or the like) are connected in parallel to form a semiconductor unit (unit package), and such semiconductor units are used for assembling a semiconductor device.

Semiconductor unit and semiconductor device using the same


A foil-type electric razor includes a coaxial motor and cutter. The coaxial relationship between the motor and the cutter permits a simplified suspension and drive assembly. The driven end of the cutter is supported and driven by a flexible drive shaft connected to the motor shaft. The opposite end of the cutter is supported for rotation by a flexible support shaft extending from the cutter to a bearing mounted accessory drive stud. Both the drive shaft and support shaft are constructed from coil springs. The coil spring shafts effectively combine the suspension, drive and support functions that in the prior art required multiple components. An optional nose hair trimmer may be driven by the flexible support shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electric razors, and more particularly to electric razors of the type incorporating a perforated stationary cutting foil and an internal, motor-driven blade.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stationary foil/rotating blade shavers are well known in the art. Typically, this type of electric razor has a rectangular bar-shaped body with the foil-cutter arranged along one edge of the body. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,894,912 and 5,014,428 are examples of this common configuration. A barrel shaped cutter includes blades arranged on its outside surface and rotates against the inside surface of a perforated arc shaped foil. Hairs passing through the perforations are sheared by passing blades. The position and orientation of the cutter relative to the bar-shaped body complicate application of rotational motion to the cutter. Typically, belts or gear drives are used to transmit rotational energy provided by an electric motor to one or the other end of the cutter. The delicacy and complexity of these drive arrangement complicates assembly and reduces the reliability of the typical prior art electric razor.
In addition, the typical prior art configuration makes it difficult to both transmit rotational energy to the blade and maintain an appropriate cutting interface between the inside surface of the foil and the blade. To achieve a clean shave, the contact pressure between the blade and the inside surface of the foil, i.e., at the cutting interface, must be consistent. The cutting interface is exposed to forces produced by the drive mechanism as well as force exerted on the foil by the user. These forces, which may be intermittent and variable, have a tendency to alter the relationship between the foil and the blade. The typical prior art electric razor incorporates complex mechanisms to regulate the xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d of the foil to the user""s face, while maintaining a proper cutting interface between the blade and the foil. Such mechanisms are difficult to assemble, expensive to manufacture and prone to malfunction.
If the cutting interface, i.e., the relationship between the inside surface of the foil and the rotating blade, is not sufficiently close, hairs protruding through the foil will be pulled instead of caught. Conversely, if the blade rubs on the inside surface of the foil with excessive force, heat will be generated and blades will wear prematurely.
A preferred embodiment of a motor-driven razor in accordance with the present invention re-aligns the motor and cutter on a common axis. This arrangement makes a simplified drive and suspension system possible. The cutter is resiliently mounted for rotation between a drive motor shaft and an accessory drive stud by flexible shafts. The flexible shafts are coil springs that permit the cutter to move off-axis in response to force transverse to the axis of rotation and spring back when the force is removed. The resiliently mounted cutter rotates against the inside surface of a resiliently mounted cutting foil. The cutting interface between the cutting foil inside surface and blades mounted to the cutter is maintained while the cutter and cutting foil are permitted to move in response to forces produced by normal use of the motor driven razor. The motor-driven razor may be equipped with an optional nose hair trimmer driven by the accessory drive stud.
The overall construction of a motor-driven razor in accordance with the present invention is dramatically simplified in comparison with the prior art. This simplified construction also reduces manufacturing costs. The realignment of components results in a more compact appliance that can be conveniently placed in a shirt pocket, for example. The resulting motor-driven razor is inexpensive, yet effective.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved motor-driven razor that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motor-driven razor of compact and efficient design.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motor-driven razor of reduced complexity and increased reliability.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A method of distributing electric current to electrical outlets, and a program to implement same, including the steps of supplying electric current to the electrical outlets not yet connected to an electronic device upon receipt of a distribution request from the electrical outlets; determining the instantaneous current intensity supplied to the electrical outlets; comparing the determined current intensity to a threshold referred to as the maximum threshold; and when the predetermined current intensity is greater than the maximum threshold, selecting an electrical outlet and terminating the supply of electric current to the selected electrical outlet. The steps of selection and termination being carried out while continuing the step of supplying electric current to the electrical outlets not yet connected to an electronic device upon receipt of a distribution request from the electrical outlets.

The invention relates to a method of distributing electric current to the electrical outlets, seat control devices ("Seat Actuation Controllers") and video screens ("In Flight Entertainment") of a transport vehicle such as a plane or a train.
Electrical outlets are usually designed to receive personal electronic devices ("Passenger Electronic Device"), such as a laptop, tablet, or music player.
Seat control devices ("Seat Actuation Controllers") and video screens ("In Flight Entertainment") have priority and their supply of electric current is never cut.
Currently, the distribution method used in many aircraft allows connecting personal electronic devices to all electrical outlets as long as the total electrical power consumed by all outlets in the cabin remains below a first threshold. When this threshold is reached, electrical outlets that are already in service remain in service, but the connection of additional personal electronic devices to the remaining electrical outlets not yet connected to an electronic device is not permitted. A passenger who wants to connect his electronic device after a certain period of travel time, for example after an hour's flight, therefore may no longer be able to receive power because a significant number of passengers have already plugged in their electronic devices so that the level of instantaneous electric current being distributed is significant. The existing distribution method therefore cannot provide electric current to all passengers, because only the electronic devices connected before the first threshold is reached are served. Beyond that point, requests for electric current are ignored.
The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide an alternative distribution method that distributes electrical power more equitably to all passengers.
In addition, if the electric power increases further after reaching the first threshold, either from increased consumption by electronic devices or from increased consumption of electrical power by the seat control devices and video screens, the electric current distribution is cut off across all electrical outlets of the cabin and the system resumes its cycle of authorization from the beginning.
Another goal of the invention is to reduce the number of such outage events for all passengers.
To this end, the invention relates to A method of distributing electric current from a power source to a plurality of electrical outlets in a transport vehicle, the method being implemented by a distribution system that comprises a central source of electric power and at least one set of distribution units, referred to as a column, comprising a plurality of local distribution units that are connected to each other and to the power source by a power line; each distribution unit being equipped with a control module and a plurality of electrical outlets capable of transmitting a distribution request to the control module when electronic devices are connected to said electrical outlets; wherein the method comprises the steps of:
a) reception of a distribution request from an electrical outlet not yet connected to an electronic device, called waiting electrical outlet;
b) supplying of electric current to said waiting electrical outlet;
c) determining the instantaneous electric current intensity supplied to all the electrical outlets already connected to an electronic device;
d) comparing the instantaneous current intensity determined in step c) to a threshold referred to as a maximum threshold SMoutlets, SMco;
e) if the current intensity determined in step c) is greater than said maximum threshold SMoutlets, SMcol,                computing the cumulative intensity of electric current supplied to each electric outlet already connected to an electronic device since the beginning of the step of supplying current to that electrical outlet;        selecting the electrical outlet that has supplied the highest cumulative intensity of electric current; and        terminating the supply of current to said selected electrical outlet.
According to certain particular embodiments, the method of distribution comprises one or more of the following characteristics:                each distribution unit is capable of distributing electric current to the seat control devices and the video screens, and wherein the maximum threshold varies according to the instantaneous consumption of said seat control devices and said video screens.        steps a) to d) are applied by the control module of a distribution unit solely to the electrical outlets of this distribution unit.        when the current intensity determined in step b) is less than said maximum threshold, the method returns to step a).        the method further comprises the following steps:
e) comparing the current intensity determined in step b) with a threshold referred to as the safety threshold, said safety threshold being greater than said maximum threshold;
if the current intensity determined in step b) is greater than said safety threshold,
f) selecting an electrical outlet and terminating the supply of electric current to said selected electrical outlet;
g) determining the current intensity supplied by the electrical outlets of said distribution unit;
h) comparing the current intensity determined in step g) to a threshold referred to as the hysteresis threshold, said hysteresis threshold being less than said maximum threshold;
if the current intensity determined in step g) is greater than said hysteresis threshold, repeating steps f) to h);
if the current intensity determined in step g) is less than said hysteresis threshold, the method returns to step b) of determining the current intensity supplied to the electrical outlets.                said method being implemented in a distribution system having a plurality of columns, each column comprising a plurality of distribution units connected to each other and to the power source by a power line; the method further comprises the following steps:        determining the instantaneous current intensity supplied to the electrical outlets of the distribution units of each column;        comparing the determined current intensity to a predetermined percentage of a column maximum threshold;        calculating a new maximum threshold specific to each column, in which the intensity of the current delivered to the electrical outlets of the distribution units is less than said predetermined percentage of said maximum threshold; said columns being referred to as columns with a surplus; and        calculating a new maximum threshold defined for all of the columns, in which the intensity of the current delivered to the electrical outlets of the distribution units is greater than said predetermined percentage of said maximum threshold; said columns being referred to as columns with a deficit;        implementing steps a) to d) of the distribution method according to claim 1, using said new maximum threshold specific to each column with a surplus, on the distribution units of each column with a surplus, and using said corresponding new maximum threshold defined for all of the columns with a deficit, on the distribution units of the columns with a deficit.        the step of calculating a new maximum threshold specific to each column with a surplus comprises, for each column with a surplus, the following steps:        calculating the difference between the maximum threshold and a current intensity factor for the electric current distributed to the electrical outlets of the distribution units of each column with a surplus; and        calculating the new maximum threshold specific to each column with a surplus, from said difference calculated for that column with a surplus,
and wherein the calculation of the new maximum threshold defined for all of the columns with a deficit is a function of the sum of said differences calculated for all columns with a surplus.
The method comprises the following steps:                calculating a new hysteresis threshold specific to each column with a surplus, from the new maximum threshold specific to each column with a surplus;        calculating a new hysteresis threshold defined for all the columns with a deficit, from the new maximum threshold defined for all the columns with a deficit.
The invention also concerns a computer program stored on an information storage medium, said program comprising instructions for implementing the distribution method according to any one of features mentioned above, when said program is executed by a computer system.
Referring to FIG. 1, the electric current distribution system 2 comprises a power source 4, a control unit 6 that is connected to the power source 4 by a power line 10, and a plurality of distribution units 8 serially connected to the control unit 6 by the power line 10. The set of distribution units 8 connected together form a column 11.
The power source 4, commonly called an EPDS ("Electrical Power Distribution System"), is capable of supplying the distribution units 8, commonly called an SPB ("Seat Power Box"), with a three-phase alternating current of 115 volts through the power line 10.
The control unit 6, commonly called an MCU ("Master Control Unit"), is also connected to the distribution units 8 by a communication line 12 generally called a "keyline". The control unit 6 is capable of transmitting a discrete signal to the distribution units 8 by means of the communication line 12. This discrete signal contains a unit maximum threshold SMSPB, a unit safety threshold SSSPB and a unit hysteresis threshold SHSPB.
The control unit 6 is capable of determining the cases in which electric current cannot be distributed to the electrical outlets 18, such as during takeoff and landing of the aircraft for example. In these cases, the control unit gives a zero value to the three thresholds transmitted to the distribution units 8 so that they no longer authorize the supply of electric current to the electrical outlets 18 that request it.
Each distribution unit 8 is able to supply power to the seat control devices 14, video screens 16 and electrical outlets 18 suitable for connecting personal electronic devices 20 such as laptops. To simplify FIG. 2, only one electrical outlet 18 and a rectangle representing a seat control device 14 or video screen 16 are shown. In reality, each distribution unit 8 comprises at least four electrical outlets 18, at least one seat control device 14 and at least one video screen 16.
Referring to FIG. 2, each distribution unit 8 further comprises a control module 22 which is connected to the communication line 12, and a power converter 24 which is connected on one end to the power line 10 and on the other end to the electrical outlets 18, to the seat control devices 14 and to the video screens 16 in order to supply them with electric power after the conversion thereof.
The control module 22 comprises a clock, a memory and a computing unit. It consists, for example, of a microcontroller. The control module 22 is connected to each electrical outlet 18 in order to receive therefrom a distribution request that is generated by each electrical outlet 18 after the physical introduction of a plug of an electronic device 20 therein.
In addition, a switch 26 is connected between each electrical outlet 18 and the converter 24. The opening and closing of the switches 26 is controlled by the control module 22.
A plurality of current sensors 28 are connected to the input of the seat control devices 14 and the video screens 16. The current sensors 30 are also connected to the input of each electrical outlet 18 and a current sensor 32 is connected to the input of the power converter 24. All of these current sensors 28, 30 and 32 are capable of delivering electric current measurements to the control module 22.
Alternatively, the distribution unit 8 does not comprise a current sensor 32 at the input to the converter 24. The amount of current consumed by the distribution unit 8 is then obtained by summing the currents measured by the current sensors 28 and 30. The current consumed by the electronic components of the distribution unit are thus ignored.
The method according to the invention can also be implemented in a distribution system 82 with a plurality of columns 11 as shown in FIG. 3. This distribution system 82 is similar to the one shown in FIG. 1. The components of the distribution system shown in FIG. 3 that are identical to the components of the distribution system shown in FIG. 1 have the same reference numerals and will not be described again.
In this distribution system 82, the power line 10 from the power source 4 is shunted in the control unit 6 to a plurality of power lines 10 to which the distribution units 8 are serially connected. Each set of distribution units 8 connected to the same power line 10 forms a column 11.
According to a first embodiment of the distribution method according to the invention, the communication line 12 is unidirectional, and the distribution method according to the invention is implemented by each control module 22 of each distribution unit 8 for the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution unit 8. The safety threshold, maximum threshold and hysteresis threshold are defined for the set of electrical outlets 18 of each distribution unit 8. They are called the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets, maximum threshold of the outlets SMoutlets, and hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, this distribution method begins with a step 40, in which the control module 22 reads on the communication line 12 the thresholds transmitted by the control unit 6.
During a step 42, the current sensors 28 determine the intensity of the instantaneous current consumed by all the seat control devices 14 and all the video screens 16 that are connected to the distribution unit 8.
Then, during a step 44, the control module 22 calculates a safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets, a maximum threshold of the outlets SMoutlets, and a hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets, using the following formulas:SSoutlets=SSPCB−ΣIIFE-SAC SMoutlets=SMPCB−ΣIIFE-SAC SHoutlets=SHPCB−ΣIIFE-SAC in which:                Σ IIFE-SAC is the instantaneous current consumed by all the seat control devices and video screens, determined in step 42, and        SSPCB, SMPCB, SHPCB respectively are a unit safety threshold, a unit maximum threshold and a unit hysteresis threshold; these thresholds were read in step 40.
When the control module 22 receives a request for distribution from an electric outlet 18 in a step 46, it first checks in step 48 that the value for the thresholds read in step 40 is not zero.
If the thresholds have a value of zero, the control module 22 controls the switch 26 in a step 50 so that it remains open and the electrical outlet 18 that made the distribution request does not receive electric current.
If the thresholds have a value different from zero, the control module 22 controls the switch 26 in a step 51 so that it is closed and the electrical outlet 18 that made the request receives electric current. The control module 22 records and totals the current supplied by the electrical outlet 18 in order to determine the cumulative intensity of the electric current delivered by this electrical outlet at any moment. Thus, the control module 22 stores and periodically updates the cumulative intensity of the electric current delivered by each electrical outlet 18 of the distribution unit 8.
The control module 22 then determines, in a step 52, the instantaneous current distributed by all electrical outlets 18 of the distribution unit 8 by summing all the current intensities measured by the current sensors 30.
In a step 54, the control module 22 checks whether the current intensity determined in step 52 is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold of the outlets SMoutlets. If this current intensity is below the maximum threshold of the outlets SMoutlets, the distribution method returns to step 40. If this current intensity is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold of the outlets SMoutlets, the control module 22 selects an electrical outlet 18 in a step 56. The selected electrical outlet 18 is the electrical outlet that has distributed the highest cumulative intensity of electric current since the beginning of the step 51 in which electric current was supplied to this electrical outlet 18.
In a step 58, the control module 22 controls the termination of the distribution of electric current to the selected electrical outlet 18 by controlling the switch 26 connected to the electrical outlet. The control module 22 stores the moment the electrical outlet 18 is disconnected and sets to zero the cumulative current supplied to the electrical outlet 18.
Steps 46-54 are repeated each time a passenger inserts a plug into an electrical outlet 18. The distribution of current achieved by the method according to the invention is therefore more fair, because passengers whose electronic devices 20 have not yet consumed current can still receive it even if they plug their electronic devices to the electrical outlets 18 belatedly. Indeed, a passenger who makes a request for distribution of electric current, even after an hour of flight, by plugging his electronic device into an electrical outlet 18 will still receive current except in extreme cases determined by the control unit 6, such as during takeoff and landing of the aircraft for example. In contrast, a passenger whose electronic device 20 has already consumed a lot of current since the beginning of his connection to an electrical outlet 18 will no longer receive current for a given time, as explained below.
To ensure that the current intensity distributed to the seat control devices 14, video screens 16 and electrical outlets 18 is always less than the power available in the power source 4, the distribution method according to the invention also comprises a step wherein the current intensity that is distributed to the electrical outlets 18 is compared to a safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets.
To this end, in a step 60, the control module 22 determines the instantaneous electric current supplied by the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution unit 8 after stopping distribution to the selected electrical outlet 18. This determination can be made either by adding the currents measured by the current sensors 30 or from the current intensity determined in step 52 from which the current delivered to the disconnected electrical outlet will be removed.
Then, in a step 62, the instantaneous current intensity supplied by all of the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution unit 8 as determined in step 60 is compared to the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets. If the current intensity determined in step 60 is less than the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets, the distribution method returns to step 40. If this current is greater than or equal to the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets, the control module 22 selects a new electrical outlet 18, in a step 64, for example according to the same criterion as in step 56, namely selecting the electrical outlet having the highest cumulative current intensity since the step 51 in which electric current was supplied to the electrical outlet 18.
In a step 66, the control module 22 stops the supply of electric current to the electrical outlet 18 selected in step 64, stores the moment the electrical outlet 18 is disconnected, and sets to zero the cumulative current intensity consumed by the electrical outlet 18.
In a step 68, the control module 22 determines the instantaneous electric current intensity supplied by the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution unit 8 after the supply of current to the selected electrical outlet 18 is stopped.
In a step 70, the current intensity determined in step 68 is compared to a hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets. The difference between the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets and the hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets corresponds to a hysteresis designed to guarantee the stability of the distribution method. The hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets is proportional to the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets. It is, for example, equal to 75% of the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets.
If the current intensity determined in step 68 is less than the hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets, the distribution method returns to step 40.
If this current intensity is greater than or equal to the hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets, the method returns to the step 64 of selecting an electrical outlet 18 and terminating the supply of electric current to the selected electrical outlet 18. Steps 64 to 70 are repeated and the power is cut off, outlet by outlet, until the instantaneous current delivered to all outlets 18 of the distribution unit is less than the hysteresis threshold of the outlets SHoutlets.
Alternatively, the selection criterion for an outlet in the steps 56 and 64 is the selection of an electrical outlet having the highest instantaneous consumption.
In another variant, the outlet selected in steps 56 and 64 is the electrical outlet that has been connected to an electronic device 20 for the longest duration. In this case, the step wherein distribution is requested 46 comprises a step to store the start time of the supply of current, and the steps 58 and 66 of terminating the supply of current to the selected outlet include resetting the supply start time to zero.
With reference to FIG. 6, the method further comprises a loop to distribute current to an electrical outlet 18 for which distribution was stopped, after a time called the relaxation time Trel.
Thus, if, during a step 72, the instantaneous current supplied by all of the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution unit 8 is less than the safety threshold of the outlets SSoutlets, and if, during a step 74, an electrical outlet 18 sends to the control module 22 a request for distribution, the control module 22 checks whether the period of time since the moment the supply to the electrical outlet 18 was terminated, which was stored in steps 58 or 66, is greater than the relaxation time Trel.
If so, the control module 22 orders the switch 26 mounted on the supply line of the electrical outlet 18 to close. After closing the switch 26, the control module 22 records and totals the current delivered by the electrical outlet 18 in order to be able to determine at any time the cumulative current intensity delivered by the electrical outlet. In addition, the new distribution request will actually not be taken into account unless the user removes the plug of the electronic device 20 from the electrical outlet 18 and reinserts it.
If not, the control module 22 leaves the switch 26 open, in a step 80.
The relaxation time Trel is not a constant value. It is calculated by the control module 22 for each outlet. The relaxation time Trel is, for example, a proportion or a affine function of the cumulative intensity of electric current consumed by the electrical outlet 18 for which distribution was stopped. The intensity of electric current consumed is cumulated since the beginning of the step of supplying current to that electrical outlet 18.
In the variant embodiment in which the electrical outlet 18 selected in steps 56 and 64 is the electrical outlet that has been connected to an electronic device 20 for the longest time, the control module 22 also stores in step 78 the time at which the electrical outlet 18 was connected.
The first embodiment of the invention has a drawback. If several passengers have their electronic devices connected to a single distribution unit, the supply of power will be terminated more quickly for these passengers than for a smaller number of other passengers connected to another distribution unit. The current not consumed by some distribution units is not distributed to other distribution units. The second embodiment of the invention partly overcomes this problem.
The second embodiment of the distribution method according to the invention is implemented in a distribution system 82 that has a plurality of columns 11 and a bidirectional communication line 12.
According to the second embodiment, the distribution method described in relation to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is implemented by the control unit 6 for all the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 of the column 11. The safety threshold, maximum threshold and hysteresis threshold are the thresholds defined for the set of electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 of each column 11, based on the safety threshold SS, maximum threshold SM and hysteresis threshold SH predefined for the entire cabin. These are called the column safety threshold SScol, column maximum threshold SMcol, and column hysteresis threshold SHcol.
The steps of the method are similar to those described in the first embodiment and will not be described again. Only the features specific to this embodiment are described below.
In this case, step 40 is replaced by a step in which each distribution unit 8 transmits to the control unit 6, via the communication line 12, the value of the instantaneous current supplied by each electrical outlet 18 as well as the value of the instantaneous current consumed by the seat control devices 14 and video screens 16.
In step 42, the control unit 6 determines the instantaneous current consumed by the seat control devices 14 and the video screens 16 that are connected to all distribution units 8 of the column 11.
In step 44, the column maximum threshold SMcol, the column safety threshold SScol, and the column hysteresis threshold SHcol are calculated for each column, based on predefined thresholds for the entire cabin according to the formulas below.SMcol=(SM/C)−IinstIFE-SAC SScol=(SS/C)−IinstIFE-SAC SHcol=(SH/C)−IinstIFE-SAC in which:                SS is the safety threshold predefined for the entire cabin,        SM is the maximum threshold predefined for the entire cabin,        SH is the hysteresis threshold predefined for the entire cabin,        IinstIFE-SAC the instantaneous electric current consumed by the seat control devices 14 and the video screens 16 that are connected to all of the distribution units 8 of each column 11,        C is the number of columns in the system.
In step 46, the distribution requests for an electrical outlet 18 are received by the control module 22 of each distribution unit and are transmitted to the control unit 6 by the communication line 10.
In steps 54, 62 and 70, the current intensity distributed to all the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 of the column 11 is compared to the maximum threshold of the column SMcol, the safety threshold of the column SScol, and the hysteresis threshold of the column SHcol which were calculated in step 44.
The electrical outlet selected in steps 56 and 64 is the electrical outlet that has the highest cumulative current intensity among all the electrical outlets of the distribution units 8 of the column 11.
The distribution method according to the second embodiment of the invention, implemented in a distribution system 82 having a plurality of columns 11, may comprise an improvement in which the column maximum threshold SMcol, the column safety threshold SScol and the column hysteresis threshold SHcol vary over time according to the instantaneous current demanded by the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 in each column, by reallocating electric current from a column where passengers have few electronic devices 20 plugged into the electrical outlets 18 to another column where the demand for electric current is greater.
To this end, in a step 90 shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 6 calculates the maximum threshold SMcol, the safety threshold SScol and the hysteresis threshold SHcol defined for each column 11 of the distribution system 82 from the following formulas:SMcol=SM/number of columnsSScol=SS/number of columnsSHcol=SH×B in which:                B is a predefined percentage, such as 75% for example,        SM, SS and SH respectively are the maximum threshold, the safety threshold and the hysteresis threshold defined for all the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution system 82.
In a step 92, the control unit 6 determines the instantaneous current intensity Iicol delivered to the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 of each column 11 by means of the current sensors mounted in the control unit 6 on each power line 10.
During a step 94, the control unit 6 compares the current intensity Iicol for each column measured in step 92 with the maximum threshold SMcol defined in step 90 for each column.
In a step 96, the control unit 6 looks for the number N of columns for which the current intensity Iicol determined in step 92 is greater than a predefined percentage A of the column maximum threshold SMcol. These columns are referred to hereafter as columns with a deficit 86 of electric current, meaning the columns for which the current intensity Iicol requested and distributed (as determined in step 92) exceeds or is only slightly below the column maximum threshold SMcol. The predetermined percentage A is, for example, between 80 and 99%, and is preferably equal to 95%. This percentage defines a margin to avoid instability from successive threshold changes. The columns for which the current intensity Iicol determined in step 92 is less than the predetermined percentage A of the maximum threshold of the column SMcol are hereafter referred to as columns with a surplus 88.
In a step 98, the control unit 6 checks whether the number N of columns with a deficit 86 is greater than 0.
If this number N is equal to 0, the method returns to the determination step 92. In this case, the instantaneous current intensity delivered to the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 of all the columns 11 is well below the maximum threshold SMcol, including the margin. No column maximum threshold is changed.
If this number N is greater than 0, the control unit 6 calculates in a step 100, for each column with a surplus 88, the margin that may be withdrawn from that column and the new maximum threshold NSMcolE specific to that column, using the following formulas:Margin withdrawn=SMcol−F×Ijcol NSMcolE=SMcol−Margin withdrawnin which:                F is a predetermined factor. It is for example between 101 and 120%, preferably equal to 105%.        Ijcol is the instantaneous current intensity delivered to the electrical outlets 18 of the distribution units 8 of the column j.        SMcol is the maximum threshold defined in step 90 for all columns.        Margin withdrawn is the difference in current intensity between the maximum threshold of the column and the instantaneous current intensity actually distributed in this column j;        NSMcolE is the new maximum threshold NSMcolE calculated for column j and specific thereto.
Then, in a step 102, the control unit 6 calculates the margin reallocated and the new maximum threshold NSMcolD defined for all columns with a deficit 86, using the following formula:
            Margin                                      reallocated        =                  Σ                                                  Margin                                                  withdrawn            N                  NS      M      colD        =                  S        M        col            +              Margin                                                  reallocated            In which:                Σ Margin withdrawn is the sum of the margins withdrawn that are calculated in step 100 for each column with a surplus 88; the summing is done on the margins        N is the number of columns with a deficit 86.        SMcol is the maximum threshold defined in step 90 for all columns.        NSMcolD the new maximum threshold defined for all columns with a deficit.
In a step 104, the control unit 6 calculates a new hysteresis threshold NSHcolE specific to each column with a surplus 88, from the new maximum threshold NSMcolE calculated for each column with a surplus 88, as well as a new hysteresis threshold NSHcolD defined for all columns with a deficit 86, from the new maximum threshold NSMcolD calculated for all columns with a deficit 86. To this end, each new hysteresis threshold NSHcolE, NSHcolD is a percentage of the new calculated maximum thresholds NSMcolE, NSMcolD.
In a step 106, the steps of the distribution method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are implemented, using the new maximum threshold NSMcolE and the new hysteresis threshold NSHcolE specific to each column with a surplus 88, on the distribution units 8 of the corresponding column with a surplus 88, and using the new maximum threshold NSMcolD and the new hysteresis threshold NSHcolD defined for all columns with a deficit 86, on the distribution units 8 of the columns with a deficit 86. Meanwhile, the safety threshold SScol remains unchanged.
Advantageously, the method described with reference to FIG. 7 allows dynamically varying the power thresholds from one column to another in order to distribute the maximum amount of power available at each moment to the maximum number of passengers who request electric current by connecting their electronic devices.
The invention also relates to a computer program stored on an information storage medium, said program comprising instructions for implementing the delivery method described above when this program is executed by a computer system.
The distribution method that allows changing the value of the maximum threshold and hysteresis threshold for each column 11 may be implemented independently of the distribution method shown in FIG. 3. In particular, it can be implemented with any other method of distributing electrical power in a distribution system 82 with a plurality of columns, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 3.
The step of selecting an electrical outlet chosen according to the criterion of choosing the electrical outlet having supplied the highest cumulative instantaneous current may be implemented in any distribution method comprising a step of selecting and terminating the distribution of current to an electrical outlet. This distribution method may be different from the method described in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5; it can be, for example, the distribution method described in EP 0870354 or the French patent application 1159422 filed on behalf of the applicant.

Method of distributing electrical power to electrical outlets in a transport vehicle and an associated computer program


When editing an image signal and a sound signal or these signals multiplexed using a conventional digital signal editing apparatus, it is necessary to provide a reproduction apparatus for reproducing an original signal and a recording apparatus for recording the signal edited. This significantly increases the size of the editing system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital signal editing apparatus and method which can preferably be employed when editing and displaying a moving image signal and an acoustic signal recorded on a storage medium which allows random access such as a magneto-optical disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows configuration of a digital signal editing system for editing at least one coded data string recorded on a storage medium which allows random access such as an optical disc.
A coded data constituting said coded data string recorded in a storage medium 31 is reproduced by a reproduction apparatus 32 whose reproduction timing is controlled by a control unit 33, and is displayed on a display unit 34. Whiles the data is displayed on the display unit 34, a portion to be edited is determined by an editor.
The control unit 33, after moving a read position of the storage medium 31 up to the portion to be edited, makes the reproduction apparatus 32 start reproduction of a signal. The control unit 33 also controls the recording timing of the recording apparatus 35. When the reproduction apparatus 32 starts reproduction of a signal, the signal is recorded on another recording medium 36 in the recording apparatus 35.
For this, the reproduction apparatus 32 and the recording apparatus 35 should be synchronized for operation. This synchronization is controlled by a signal from the control unit 33. Note that a signal transmitted from the reproduction apparatus 32 to the recording apparatus 35 is a coded signal which has been decoded or not. When a decoded signal is transmitted from the reproduction apparatus 32 to the recording apparatus 35, the reproduction apparatus 32 decodes by a decoder a coded data from the storage medium 31, so as to be transmitted to the recording apparatus 35, which receives the decoded signal and codes the signal, which is recorded on the storage medium 36.
FIG. 2 shows configuration of a digital signal editing system for carrying out a nonlinear edition. A data recorded on a storage recording medium 40 having a large capacity such as a magnetic tape is reproduced by a recording/reproduction apparatus 41 and read out to a storage unit 43 which allows random access such as a hard disc drive (HDD) connected to an editing unit 43. This storage unit 43 may be built in the editing unit 42. A data which is read out here is a coded data or an original signal such as an image/sound signal or the like according to the configuration of the editing system.
An editor, while checking the image/sound signal on a display unit 44, edits a data in the storage unit 43 by the editing unit 42 and records the edited data in the storage unit 40 by using the recording/reproduction apparatus 41. As this editing unit 42, a personal computer and a work station may be used. In such a case, the storage unit 43 may be an HDD or RAM connected to (or built in) the computer.
It is possible to increase the editing efficiency by reading a data into the storage unit 43 allowing random access, but it is necessary that a data be read from the storage medium 40 into the storage unit 43 and, after edition is complete, the data should be written back into the aforementioned storage medium 40. In the same way as the example of FIG. 1, the system of FIG. 2 requires a reproduction process and a recording process.
A typical editing operation using the editing system shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will be explained below with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3A shows a part of data D1 to be deleted and the data D0 preceding the deleted data is connected to the data D2 following the deleted data. This operation will be referred to as a skip edition.
FIG. 3B shows a data divided at point PA into a data part D0 and a data part D1, between which another data part D2 is inserted. This editing operation will be referred to as an insert edition.
FIG. 3C shows a data part D1 replaced by another data D3. This operation will be referred to as a replacement edition.
Recently, in a system for recording an image signal and a sound signal on a recording medium such as an optical disc and a magnetic tape and reproducing the signal on a display unit, or in a video conference system or a visual telephone system in which an image signal and a sound signal are transmitted from a transmission side via a predetermined transmission path so as to be displayed at a reception side, these image and sound signals, after A/D conversion, are often subjected to coding by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method for compressing a data amount.
Here, the MPEG is an abbreviation of a working group for moving image coding for storage, which belongs to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29 (International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission, Joint Technical Committee 1/Sub Committee 29). There are ISO11172 as the MPEG1 standard, and ISO13818 as the MPEG2 standard. In these international standards, there are ISO11172-1 and ISO13818-1 for system multiplexing; ISO11172-2 and ISO13818-2 for image coding; and ISO11172-3 and ISO13818-3 for sound coding.
In order to code an image with a high efficiency and to realize random access, the MPEG provides three coding types: I picture, B picture, and P picture. Here, the term xe2x80x98picturexe2x80x99 represents a coded screen (frame or field) constituting a moving image.
The I picture is a data for which coding is complete in the aforementioned screen and is coded independently of another screen. Consequently, the I picture is used as an entry point for random access and error recovery. However, if the frequency of the I picture becomes high, the coding efficiency is lowered.
The P picture means a mode for carrying out forward predictive coding and is predicted from an I picture or P picture which is temporally in the past. Consequently, in order to decode a P picture, it is necessary that the preceding I picture or P Picture have been decoded. By using the P picture, the coding efficiency is increased in comparison with a case when carrying out coding only using the I picture.
The B picture is an advanced step of the P picture and provides a mode for carrying out predictive coding in both directions, i.e., by using I pictures or P pictures of the past and the future, prediction is carried out in a forward direction, a backward direction, or in both directions. Consequently, in order to decode a B picture, the preceding and the following I picture or P picture should have been decoded. By introducing this B picture, the coding efficiency is significantly improved.
In general, an ordinary application employs the aforementioned I, B, and P pictures in combination so as to obtain random access and a high coding efficiency.
FIG. 4A shows an example of such combination. In this FIG. 4A, the aforementioned screens (pictures) are arranged in the display order. In this FIG. 4A, each of the arrows indicates a prediction direction. For example, when a B picture is to be decoded for display, the preceding and the following (temporally) I picture or P picture should be decoded prior to decoding the B picture.
More specifically, in a case when realizing the display order of the aforementioned FIG. 4A, in order to decode an image of the picture B5, at least pictures I0, P2, P4, and P6 should be decoded in advance. That is, the picture P2 is predicted from the picture I0; the picture P4 is predicted from the picture P2; the picture P6 is predicted from the picture P4; and the picture B5 is predicted from the pictures P4 and P6. Consequently, in order to decode the picture B5, the pictures I0, P2, P4, and P6 should be decoded in advance.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, these pictures are arranged in the coded stream in the order of I0, P2, B11, P4, B3, . . . In other words, the coded stream of pictures as shown in FIG. 4B is recorded on the recording medium. Consequently, when reproducing this recording medium for display an image on a display unit, the pictures are decoded from the coded stream reproduced from the recording medium and they are re-arranged as shown in FIG. 4A for display.
In the so-called CD and DVD (digital versatile disc) which have been normalized and introduced on market, an image is coded by the MPEG method having the aforementioned configuration and a sound is coded by the MPEG or AC-3 (ATSC standard DOC.A/52, Dec. 20, 1995) method. These data are time division multiplexed by the MPEG system specification and recorded on the disc.
When the editing system as shown in FIG. 1 is used for editing an image signal and a sound signal or these signals which have bee multiplexed, it is necessary to provide a reproduction apparatus for reproducing an original signal and a recording apparatus for recording a signal after edition, increasing the size of the entire system.
For example, if it is assumed to carry out edition using a storage medium containing an image signal which has been coded by the aforementioned MPEG method, in order to increase the coding efficiency, the MPEG usually includes a predictive coding mode (i.e., including B pictures and P pictures). Consequently, when carrying out on frame basis, firstly a coded data is read out to be decoded and an image signal obtained is edited and coded again, after which the signal is recorded in a storage medium, thus requiring a large editing system. Moreover, two storage media are required: one containing an original signal coded and the other for recording a data after edition.
Furthermore, in such an editing system, a signal edited is recorded again on another storage medium, which requires a time almost identical to the length of the image edited during edition.
Moreover, in the nonlinear edition as carried out in the editing system shown in FIG. 2, a data is transferred from a storage medium to a storage unit within a editing apparatus and the data after edition is again written into the storage medium, which requires a time for transfer and a storage unit of large capacity for keeping this data.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a digital signal editing apparatus and method which does not require data re-recording after edition and enables to realize an editing system of small size and reduce a time required for edition.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, in the digital signal editing apparatus according to the present invention, read-out by read-out means is controlled by control means according to a reproduction information on a reproduction interval of a coded data, and this read-out coded data is decoded by decoding means so as to output an edited decoded data string.
Moreover, according to the digital signal editing method according to the present invention, in order to achieve the aforementioned object, a plurality of coded data are read out from a storage medium allowing random access, according to the aforementioned reproduction information on a reproduction interval of the coded data, and the read-out coded data are L decoded so as to be continuous temporally and made into an edited decoded data string.

Apparatus and method for performing an editing operation on data read-out from a storage medium which allows random access

Abstract: According to the present invention, a read-out unit 2 reads out I pictures, B pictures, P pictures, and a reproduction information on a reproduction interval of this coded data from a storage medium 1 allowing random access. A storage unit 3 stores the reproduction information read out from the storage medium 1 by the read-out unit 2. A control unit 3 controls read-out of the read-out unit 2 according to the aforementioned reproduction information from the storage unit 3. A decoding unit 5 decodes the coded data which have been read out by the read-out unit 2 controlled by the control unit 4, in such a manner that the data are temporally continuous and outputs an edited decoded data string.


A carrier assembly is mounted on the spaced frame members of a tractor for movably supporting a fifth wheel assembly thereon. An integral one piece slide rail is secured to each of the frame members and has a plurality of individual rack sections separately welded to a U-shaped member of the slide rail. Each of the rack sections contain a plurality of spaced teeth. The teeth extend into a channel formed in mounting brackets of a carriage assembly of the fifth wheel to slidably mount the carriage assembly on the carrier assembly. A leg of the U-shaped member extends into a channel formed in the carriage assembly and is engaged by a set bolt to adjust the carriage assembly for various frame widths. A pair of stop assemblies are adjustably movably mounted across the ends of the slide rails of the carrier assembly. A pair of adjustable plungers secure the carriage assembly in a fixed position on the carrier assembly.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to fifth wheel assemblies for coupling semi-trailers to tractors. More particularly, the invention relates to a carrier assembly which is mounted on the vehicle frame for movably supporting the fifth wheel supporting carriage. Even more particularly, the invention relates to such a carrier assembly which is adjustable for various width tractor frames and which facilitates positioning and replacement of the carriage on the trailer.
2. Background Information
Large highway freight trailers are usually coupled to a tractor by a fifth wheel assembly may include a top plate and a side bracket or carriage assembly having a locking device which engages the slide bracket in a selected position. The fifth wheel top plate is mounted on the carriage assembly which is movably adjustably mounted on a carrier assembly which is secured to the tractor frame.
These slide plates or carrier assemblies are usually custom made to fit a particular type of tractor due to the size of the tractor frame. For certain applications it is necessary to adjust the position of the carriage assembly on the carrier assembly in order for the locking mechanism to be compatible with the location of the trailer king pin to provide a desired weight distribution on the rear suspension of the tractor. Likewise, this position affects the turning radius that can be achieved between the tractor and trailer. This adjustment of the carrier and carriage assemblies with respect to each other and to the tractor frame is relatively complicated and expensive due to the welding and unwelding of various parts.
Carrier assemblies have various stop plates welded across the ends of the carrier to limit the position of the carriage assembly to prevent excessive movement of the carriage on the carrier assembly resulting in a dangerous turning radius and undesirable weight distribution on the tractor rear wheels. Heretofore, these stop members were welded into position and required breaking of the weld and rewelding the stop plate in a newly desired position, especially when replacing the slide plate assembly for maintenance or adaptability for use with a different trailer.
Another problem with existing fifth wheel assemblies and in particular the carrier assembly therefor, is that the racks along which the carriage assembly is movably mounted and subsequently positioned by a pair of opposed plungers or other retention mechanism, are usually single linear lengths of a rack which require replacement of the entire rack should one of the teeth become damaged. This is an expensive procedure requiring numerous welds to be broken in order to remove the rack and then rewelded along the entire length once the new rack is put in place. Likewise, the cost of the new rack is expensive for replacing only one or several broken teeth.
Still another problem with existing carrier assemblies is the unequal weight distribution of the carriage and slide plate on the carrier assembly resulting in increased maintenance problems.
Another problem with existing fifth wheel assemblies is that the spring biased plungers which secure a carriage assembly in a fixed position on a carrier assembly, may require replacement in order to match a particular width trailer frame. This is expensive and undesirable. Furthermore, over time, the biasing force of the plunger biasing springs will weaken due to wear, temperature and the harsh environment in which they are located, which could cause premature release of the plungers from the carrier rails.
Thus, the need exists for an improved carrier assembly for movably supporting a carriage assembly thereon of a tractor fifth wheel to eliminate problems with prior art carrier assemblies.
The present invention provides a carrier assembly for movably supporting a fifth wheel assembly of a tractor trailer combination which is readily adjustably mounted on the spaced frame members of a tractor by a plurality of bolts along the length of the frame mounting angle.
Another aspect of the invention provides a carrier assembly having adjustable stop members at opposed ends of the carrier which can be slidably adjusted easily along the length of the carrier in order to properly position the carriage assembly thereon, and which can be easily removed to permit replacement of the carriage and the slide plate assemblies.
Still another feature of the invention is the forming of the carrier assembly slide rails as integral one piece members having a U-shaped portion on which the rack is welded whereby each of the slide rails is easily mounted on the tractor frame member and is able to receive and distribute the weight of the carrier in a more efficient and effective manner.
A further aspect of the invention is forming the racks on the slide rails of a plurality of rack segments, each segment being secured to the slide rail by a pair of welds, whereby only a single segment need by replaced should one or more of the teeth be damaged avoiding the heretofore required replacement of the entire rack.
A feature of the improved carrier assembly is the adjustability of the mounting brackets for the stop members enabling them to be mounted on tractor frame members of various spacings replacing the heretofore single piece stop members that are welded on the space frame members.
Another aspect of the invention is providing locking plungers for securing the carriage assembly in a fixed position on the carrier assembly which are adjustable in length to compensate for different width trailer frames and to ensure a constant spring tensioning force for maintaining the plunger teeth in engagement with the teeth on the carrier assembly rails to prevent premature release.
The foregoing advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

Carrier assembly for movably supporting a fifth wheel assembly


A self-service beverage distribution system includes a piping network with refrigerated tubing for transporting beverages, such as beer, from at least one source to at least one output. A drinker purchases a magnetic card which represents a predetermined quantity of beer, and which specifies which beer sources the drinker can have access to. A flow meter measures how much beer the drinker dispenses, and the quantity of beer represented on the card is decreased accordingly.

The ingestion of alcohol has been a favorite pastime of America since our founding fathers floated over from Europe. Back then, it was well documented that our newly founded liberty did not mix well with our drinks. Alcohol's temporary effects of physical and mental impairment was surely the source of many altercations during our colonial period. One of the first laws was against drinking alcohol on church day. (Then, as is now, this day is Sunday).
Since then, the governmental control of alcohol distribution has expanded. Many laws have been passed, and revoked as in prohibition. The existing laws attempt to define the responsibility of a person who serves alcoholic beverages . . . such as a bartender. These laws have held that the server is responsible for the actions of the drinker. This implies that the server must monitor the state of the drinker, from his age at the door to his ability to balance on a bar stool.
As these are the laws, alcohol servers have established their own guidelines to prevent individuals from drinking more than they can handle. The server is forced to define an acceptable volume of alcohol per person, and then implement a system which ensures no more than this volume is delivered to the drinker. In this manner, liability is reduced by sacrificing personal judgement for rules. This is typically the unhearty job of the bartender.
Unfortunately, this monitoring system is detrimental to the drinker. Not only is he forced to drink by someone elses guidelines, he must often endure crowded areas around a bar, long waits and warm beer. Our bar bound ancestors would heartily disapprove.
The responsibility of the server is an issue which will, no doubt, be long debated in our court system. The following invention allows the server to separate the duties of beer distribution and liability by automating the beer distribution process. Beer drinking has entered the modern age.

Card-controlled beverage distribution system


An apparatus for high-pressure waterjet assisted machining includes a drive motor, spindle and rotary cutting tool with cutting inserts. The apparatus further includes a high-pressure intensifier pump providing cutting fluid at a pressure greater than 50,000 psi. A cutting fluid conduit system in the rotary cutting tool includes a main flow channel, a distribution manifold, a plurality of radially extending feed channels and a plurality of cooperating nozzles for delivering fluid behind the cutting inserts. The cutting fluid then passes through one or more apertures in the inserts into an interface defined by the inserts of the cutting tool and a chip being cut from the workpiece.

During metal machining, energy is primarily consumed in the formation and movement of the chip being cut from the workpiece. As such, it should be appreciated that the primary concerns for the efficient and economical machining of a workpiece are related to the rate of chip removal and the length of the service life of the tool being employed. As the rate of chip removal or cutting increases, more heat is generated and the operating temperature of the cutting tool also increases. This increase in temperature may become sufficient to adversely effect the service life of the cutting tool. Accordingly, the overall efficiency of the machining operation is uniquely dependent upon the quick and effective removal of heat, particularly at the tool/chip interface.
In order to achieve effective heat removal, it has been recognized for many years to utilize cutting fluids that not only provide direct cooling but also lubrication for friction reduction and less heat generation. The rate of flow and the direction of application of the cutting fluid are important.
At present, the most common approach utilized to provide a coolant/lubricant to the cutting zone is to provide a flood of fluid directed over the back of the chip. In this manner, heat generated during the contact of the tool with the workpiece is extracted via the chip. Unfortunately, at higher speeds (e.g. over 400 sfpm), it has been shown that cutting fluids applied in this manner lose their effectiveness as coolants. This may be attributed to the greater rate of heat generation due to higher speed machining, the inability of the cutting fluid to reach the cutting tool/chip interface region to be cooled and/or the tendency for faster motion of the chip and workpiece to carry the fluid away from the cutting zone. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the flood of fluid approach, now commonly practiced in the art, significantly limits machining speeds. Thus, if speed of machining is to be increased, a new approach needs to be developed.
A number of attempts have recently been made to achieve this end and improve cooling and lubrication to allow effective higher speed machining. In what is believed to be the most effective approach to date, a remote nozzle directs a waterjet pressurized up to 40,000 psi toward the tool/chip interface (see FIG. 1). This approach is disclosed in the article "Metal Machining with High-Pressure Water-Jet Cooling Assistance - A New Possibility", from the publication Journal of Engineering for Industry, Feb. 1989, volume 111, pages 7-12.
While this approach has achieved promising results, it still suffers from a number of drawbacks. Specifically, at still higher speeds of operation, a remote waterjet is simply not able to direct a stream with sufficient pressure and accuracy so as to fully penetrate into the interface formed between the cutting tool and the chip. Accordingly, this high heat zone does not receive sufficient cooling or lubrication and the rotary cutting tool temperature rises to a level that adversely effects service life. Cutting performance is also adversely affected. Specifically, it should be appreciated that as the rotary cutting tool undergoes wear, chip control by the tool is adversely affected. This serves to adversely effect dimensional accuracy and surface quality. Accordingly, a need is identified for an improved high speed machining apparatus and method.

Apparatus and method of high-pressure waterjet assisted cooling/lubrication in machining

University of Kentucky Research Foundation


Ambience signal components are obtained from source audio signals, matrix-decoded signal components are obtained from the source audio signals, and the ambience signal components are controllably combined with the matrix-decoded signal components. Obtaining ambience signal components may include applying at least one decorrelation filter sequence. The same decorrelation filter sequence may be applied to each of the input audio signals or, alternatively, a different decorrelation filter sequence may be applied to each of the input audio signals.

Creating multichannel audio material from either standard matrix encoded two-channel stereophonic material (in which the channels are often designated "Lt" and "Rt") or non-matrix encoded two-channel stereophonic material (in which the channels are often designated "Lo" and "Ro") is enhanced by the derivation of surround channels. However, the role of the surround channels for each signal type (matrix and non-matrix encoded material) is quite different. For non-matrix encoded material, using the surround channels to emphasize the ambience of the original material often produces audibly-pleasing results. However, for matrix-encoded material it is desirable to recreate or approximate the original surround channels' panned sound images. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an arrangement that automatically processes the surround channels in the most appropriate way, regardless of the input type (either non-matrix or matrix encoded), without the need for the listener to select a decoding mode.
Currently there are many techniques for upmixing two channels to multiple channels. Such techniques range from simple fixed or passive matrix decoders to active matrix decoders as well as ambience extraction techniques for surround channel derivation. More recently, frequency domain ambience extraction techniques for deriving the surround channels (see, for example, reference 1) have shown promise for creating enjoyable multichannel experiences. However, such techniques do not re-render surround channel images from matrix encoded (LtRt) material because they are primarily designed for non-matrix encoded (LoRo) material. Alternatively, passive and active matrix decoders do a reasonably good job of isolating surround-panned images for matrix-encoded material. However, ambience extraction techniques provide better performance for non-matrix encoded material than does matrix decoding.
With the current generation of upmixers the listener is often required to switch the upmixing system to select the one that best matches the input audio material. It is therefore an object of the present invention to create surround channel signals that are audibly pleasing for both matrix and non-matrix encoded material without any requirement for a user to switch between decoding modes of operation.

Hybrid derivation of surround sound audio channels by controllably combining ambience and matrix-decoded signal components

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation