The present invention is related to a method for forming a structure that contains alternating first and second ferromagnetic layers of different material compositions. A substrate containing a supporting matrix with at least one open pore and a conductive base layer is first formed. Electroplating of the substrate is then carried out in an electroplating solution that contains at least one ferromagnetic metal element and one or more additional, different metal elements. A pulsed current with alternating high and low potentials is applied to the conductive base layer of the substrate structure to thereby form alternating ferromagnetic layers of different material compositions in the open pore of the supporting matrix.

Metal nanowires have been conventionally formed by a bottom-up ECD or electroplating through mask process, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. Specifically, a substrate structure comprising a supporting matrix 100 with one or more open pores 104 and a conductive base layer 102 is first provided, as shown in FIG. 1A. Each of the open pores 104 extends through the supporting matrix 100 onto the conductive base layer 102. An ECD or electroplating process is then carried out to deposit a metal material 106 over the conductive base layer 102 and to fill the open pores 104, as shown in FIG. 1B. After the open pores 104 are completely filled with the metal material 106, the ECD process is terminated, followed by selective removal of the supporting matrix 100, thereby forming free-standing metal nanowires 106, as shown in FIG. 1C. FIG. 2 is a picture of multiple metal nanowires formed by such a conventional bottom-up ECD process.
The conventional bottom-up ECD process as described hereinabove has also been used for forming compositionally modulated structures that comprise alternating layers of ferromagnetic materials and nonmagnetic materials, such as Co/Cu, Co/Ru, Co/Au, Ni/Cu, NiCo/Cu, NiFe/Cu, CoFe/Cu, FeCoNi/Cu, etc. Such compositionally modulated ferromagnetic-nonmagnetic structures are particularly useful in giant magnetoresistance (GMR) applications, which require alternating layers of ferromagnetic and non-magnetic materials.
However, the conventional bottom-up electrodeposition of the above ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic layered structures relies on the large difference between the reversible potentials of the ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic materials. In most cases, the nonmagnetic elements, such as Cu and Au, are much more noble than the ferromagnetic elements, such as Fe, Ni and Co. In other words, the nonmagnetic elements are electrodeposited at a much less negative potential than the ferromagnetic elements. In addition, the nonmagnetic and ferromagnetic elements do not interact with each other during electrodeposition. Therefore, an electrolyte with a small amount of nonmagnetic elements and an excess amount of ferromagnetic elements is generally used to form the ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic layered structures. At a relatively low negative potential, pure elemental nonmagnetic material is electrochemically deposited, while the ferromagnetic elements are not deposited. At a relatively high negative potential, both the nonmagnetic and the ferromagnetic elements are electrochemically deposited. Due to the small amount of nonmagnetic species available in the solution, the ferromagnetic elements are deposited at a much faster rate than the nonmagnetic elements, thereby resulting in a deposited layer with ferromagnetic characteristics.
The conventional bottom-up ECD process has never been used for forming compositionally modulated structures that comprise alternative layers of different ferromagnetic materials, which have very close reversible potentials and which may interact with each other during electrodeposition.

Formation of nanostructures comprising compositionally modulated ferromagnetic layers by pulsed ECD

International Business Machines Corporation


A control unit activates a power supply circuit when an input voltage becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold value. The control unit brings a switch into a conductive state when the input voltage becomes equal to or greater than a second threshold value and brings the switch into a non-conductive state when the input voltage becomes equal to or less than a third threshold value. The control unit deactivates the power supply circuit when the input voltage becomes equal to or less than a fourth threshold value. Based on the number of times that the input voltage becomes equal to or greater than the second threshold value after the power supply circuit is activated, the control unit further enables a latch function for holding the power supply circuit in a deactivated state.

In recent years, it has been considered to apply a modular multilevel converter (MMC) to a self-excited reactive power compensation apparatus such as a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), a direct-current (DC) power transmission system such as a back to back (BTB) system, a motor drive inverter, and the like (for example, see WO2007/025828 (PTL 1)).
The MMC is configured with a plurality of unit converters connected in series. A unit converter includes a main circuit that includes a switching element and a DC capacitor. The unit converter causes the switching element to perform a switching operation to thereby output the voltage across the DC capacitor to an output terminal. As a switching element, a semiconductor switching element such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) capable of controlling conduction/non-conduction is generally used.

TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION


A system and method for optimizing performance of an artificial lift system are provided. The optimization process can be performed automatically by a controller configured to receive optimization parameters from the user and information regarding the performance of the system. The optimization process adjusts the pumping speed of the system in response to measured rod load and a position of the downhole pump or surface pumping unit. More particularly, the optimization process can increase or decrease the pump speed of the system in response to the measured rod load at a reference position relative to a reference rod load at the reference position. The reference load and position can be selected to indicate pump inefficiencies. For example, the target reference load and position can indicate fluid pounding if the measured rod load at the reference position is greater than the reference rod load at the reference position.

Artificial lifting systems for pumping downhole fluids, such as crude oil or water, from a production well to the surface have been widely used in the oil and gas industry. Known artificial lifting systems include reciprocating rod pumps, electric submersible pumps (ESPs), gas lift systems, progressive cavity pumps (PCPs), and hydraulic pumps.
By way of background, reciprocating rod pumps typically comprise a sucker rod string connected to a subsurface pump, and a driving system coupled to the sucker rod for driving the sucker rod in a reciprocating motion for pumping downhole fluids to surface. For example, traditional pumpjacks or horsehead pumps comprise a prime mover, such as an electric motor or gas engine, which drives the gears of a transmission configured to provide the desired drive ratio. The transmission drives a pair of cranks, and the cranks in turn raise and lower one end of a beam having a "horse head" on the other end thereof. A steel cable, i.e., a bridle, connects the horse head to a downhole pump via a rod string comprising a polished rod and a string of sucker rods. The reciprocating movements of the horse head at surface drive the downhole pump via the rod string, reciprocating the pump between a retracted position and an extended position to pump the downhole fluids to surface. The distance between the retracted position and the extended position is referred to as a "stroke length", and the reciprocation of the downhole pump from the retracted position to the extended position or vice versa is called a "stroke". A "stroke cycle" can refer to the reciprocation of the pump from the retracted position to the extended position and back to the retracted position. A stroke may be a downstroke, wherein the downhole downhole pump is reset from the extended position to the retracted position, or an upstroke, wherein the downhole pump is actuated uphole from the retracted position to the extended position for lifting a fluid column thereabove to the surface.
Reciprocating downhole pumps typically comprise a pump plunger connected to the rod string and situated within a tubular barrel. The pump plunger has a one-way travelling valve and the barrel has a one-way standing valve. The barrel is anchored in the wellbore and the pump plunger reciprocates within the barrel to produce wellbore fluids to surface. Specifically, beginning with the downhole pump in the retracted position, the pump plunger is pulled uphole toward the extended position by the rod string and the standing valve is opened by the negative pressure created in the pump barrel, while the travelling valve is closed. Wellbore fluids are permitted to enter the barrel via the standing valve. After the plunger reaches the top of the stroke, it begins the downstroke, wherein the standing valve is closed by the positive pressure created within the barrel and the travelling valve is opened. The fluid collected in the barrel passes through the travelling valve as the plunger progresses downhole. After reaching the bottom of its stroke, the plunger once again reciprocates upwards, the standing valve is opened, and the travelling valve is closed. The fluid accumulated above the travelling valve is then lifted by the plunger towards surface while new wellbore fluids fill the barrel. In this manner, fluids from the wellbore are lifted to surface by the downhole pump.
The operating characteristics of artificial lifting systems determine its economic efficiency, including its production capacity and operating costs. For example, rod pumps having longer pump strokes require a slower pumping speed for a given production rate, and therefore result in lower rod string stress and reduced power consumption.
Ideal pumping occurs when the inflow rate of fluid into the well is equal to the pumping rate, with the downhole pump being fully submerged in fluids for the duration of the pump stroke, thus allowing complete filling of the downhole pump during every stroke cycle. In other words, ideal pumping occurs when the fluid level in the wellbore is maintained at or above the top of the downhole pump during operation.
While stroke length and pumping speed are critical operating parameters in determining the overall efficiency of the artificial lift system, the productivity of lift systems are also impacted by the characteristics of the reservoir formation and its fluids, as well as the oft-changing wellbore conditions during production. As discussed above, nominal pumping occurs when the inflow rate of the downhole pump is equal to the pumping rate, with the downhole pump being fully submerged in fluid to allow complete filling of the downhole pump on each stroke. Such complete fillage of the pump is best achieved with a sufficiently slow pump rate to permit the pump barrel to fully fill during each upstroke. Conversely, it is desirable to lift the fluid column on the upstroke as quickly as possible in order to maximize production, and further to stroke the pump downward as quickly as possible, allowing filling of the downhole pump and production of wellbore fluids to surface at the fastest rate possible. Problems arise, however, where the reservoir is incapable of supplying production fluids at a rate that is sufficient to meet or exceed the rate at which the pump fills with fluid—a phenomenon known as "pumping-off". Pump-off conditions reduces pump efficiency and wastes energy. Further, in situations where the pump barrel has only partially filled, the pump plunger moves quickly during the portion of the downstroke where there is no fluid resistance in the barrel and then slows dramatically when it suddenly contacts the fluid on its downstroke, resulting in a hammering effect that can travel up the rod string—a phenomenon known as "pounding". Pounding is detrimental to the pump system as it causes extreme stresses on the pump and rod string, for example buckling of the rod string and lateral impact of the rod string against the wellbore casing, and can result in premature failure of components of the pumping system.
The detection and control of changing reservoir characteristics during the operating life of the well can improve the efficiency and operational lifespan of artificial lift systems. To date, the incorporation of a variety of sensors and control devices have enabled the automated monitoring of detailed well data and adjustment of pumping systems to a degree in response. However, such automated systems still require an operator's intervention to adjust the operational parameters of the pumping system. Unfortunately, although pump-off controllers are well known, typical intervention in response to the detection of pump-off conditions or fluid pounding involves shutting the pump off for a period of time, rendering the well 'shut-in' or 'idle'. The well remains 'shut-in' until wellbore conditions are such that production can commence again, i.e. when the bottomhole pressure is sufficient to raise the fluid level in the well to a level above the uppermost point of travel for the downhole pump. Shutting-in a well is undesirable as it significantly decreases the time during which the pump is producing resulting in lost revenue, increases costs, and presents the risk of portions of the well and artificial lift system freezing, which further complicates the resumption of pumping operations.
There remains a need for improved systems for optimizing the operation and control of artificial lift systems to reduce fluid pounding and pump-off while maximizing production. It is desirable that such systems automatically and dynamically adapt or adjust to fluctuating reservoir conditions, in real-time and without manual intervention by an operator, thereby ensuring that the system is operating at the fastest rate possible, without resulting in pump-off or fluid pounding on the downstroke.

Apparatus and methods for optimizing control of artificial lifting systems


A tire assembly with integrated electronic components includes a tire structure and an integrated electronics assembly, which preferably includes at least a radio frequency (RF) device and a multi-frequency antenna that enables wireless communication in at least first and second resonant frequency bands. Such multi-frequency antenna further comprises at least first and second antenna wires connected to the RF device, thus facilitating the transmission of RF signals which may include information such as tire identification information or measured condition information such as tire temperature, pressure, and other characteristics. The first and second antenna wires preferably function together as at least two dipole antennas, for example, two half-wave dipole antennas, or one half-wave dipole antenna and one three-half-wave dipole antenna. A two-wire configuration may be more readily implemented and also designed to reduce strains concentrated at the connection point(s) between the RF device and the antenna wires.

The incorporation of electronic devices with pneumatic tire structures yields many practical advantages. Tire electronics may include sensors and other components for relaying tire identification parameters and also for obtaining information regarding various physical parameters of a tire, such as temperature, pressure, number of tire revolutions, vehicle speed, etc. Such performance information may become useful in tire monitoring and warning systems, and may even potentially be employed with feedback systems to regulate proper tire pressure levels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,984 (Frey et al.) discloses a tire monitoring system and method that is capable of determining such information as tire deflection, tire speed, and number of tire revolutions. Another example of a tire electronics system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,484 (Snyder), which concerns an abnormal tire condition warning system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,486 (Wing et al.) also relates to tire electronics, and more particularly discloses an exemplary revolution counter for use in conjunction with automotive and truck tires. Examples of aspects of tire pressure monitoring systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,004,271 (Haven et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,857 (Gandhi), U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,196 (Loewe), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,444 (Loewe et al.).
Yet another potential capability offered by electronics systems integrated with tire structures corresponds to asset tracking and performance characterization for commercial vehicular applications. Commercial truck fleets, aviation crafts and earthmover/mining vehicles are all viable industries that could utilize the benefits of tire electronic systems and related information transmission. Tire sensors can determine the distance each tire in a vehicle has traveled and thus aid in maintenance planning for such commercial systems. Vehicle location and performance can be optimized for more expensive applications such as those concerning equipment. Entire fleets of vehicles could be tracked using RF tag transmission, exemplary aspects of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,447 (Ghaem et al.).
Since electronics assemblies within a tire typically relay information in a wireless fashion, such assemblies must often include a radio frequency (RF) device outfitted with one or more antennas. An example of an antenna for use with transponder type devices in a tire monitoring environment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,845 (Myatt.) The frequency at which such RF device preferably operates (and the corresponding frequency at which the antenna preferably resonates) varies depending on geographic location. This is due in part to the fact that RF regulations and standards are not globally homogeneous. Authorized operational frequencies, duty cycles, power levels, etc. of an RF device often differ among continents and/or countries. As such, it may be desirable for a single electronics assembly and corresponding antenna to effectively transmit and receive RF signal information at multiple frequencies of interest.
Other design features besides electrical performance characteristics may be of importance to electronics assemblies and antennas used specifically in a tire environment. Such components are provided relative to a location that is constantly moving and flexing, thus subjecting the components to excessive heat as well as tension and other dynamic forces. Such forces may yield a potential for damaging the electronics assemblies and associated antenna structure. A particular example of such undesirable damage corresponds to an antenna being separated from its associated electronic assembly and/or RF device. As such, electronic devices and corresponding antenna structures for use within a tire may be designed with practicality and mechanical robustness in mind.
The disclosures of all of the foregoing United States patents are hereby fully incorporated into this application for all purposes by reference thereto. While various tire electronics systems and antenna structures therefor have been developed, no design has emerged that generally encompasses all of the desired characteristics as hereafter presented in accordance with the subject technology.

Tire electronics assembly having a multi-frequency antenna


An apparatus and method for quickly retrieving and outputting assemblies or subassemblies similar to a target assembly or subassembly for similar determination are provided. Data concerning assemblies, and the subassemblies and parts contained in the assemblies is retrieved from a product structure data storage device; hierarchical structures of the assemblies and subassemblies are detected; similarity is calculated for all the combinations of the assemblies and subassemblies based on the detected hierarchical structures; and the hierarchical structures of the assemblies and subassemblies and similarity for each combination of assemblies and subassemblies are stored in a similar data storage device. When a target assembly or subassembly for similarity determination is inputted via an input device, assemblies or subassemblies similar to the target assembly or subassembly are retrieved from the similar data storage device, and the retrieved assemblies and subassemblies are displayed on a display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for searching for assemblies or subassemblies similar to a designated assembly or subassembly composed of a plurality of parts.
2. Background Art
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-195036 A (1999) proposes a method for retrieving data concerning units with an identical part number stored in a plurality of bases.
In the method proposed by JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-186888 A, parts are classified in advance depending on their types, and parts having compatible specifications are retrieved.
In the method proposed by JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-184861 A (1999), part specification values are stored in advance in a vector form, and a part having a similar vector of the specification value is retrieved among certain parts.
Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-41534 A proposes a method for retrieving data concerning similar units stored in a plurality of bases.
Patent Document 1: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-195036 A (1999)
Patent Document 2: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-186888 A
Patent Document 3: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-184861 A (1999)
Patent Document 4: Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-41534 A

Apparatus and method for searching data for a similar article


A static frequency divider circuit includes a first and second latch that are interconnected by a series path circuit and by a feedback path circuit. Each of the latches includes a reading BALLSACKbranch and a latching branch. The series path circuit includes a push-pull current driver to speed state transitions between the latching branch of the first latch and the reading branch of the second latch. Similarly, feedback path circuit includes a push-pull current driver to speed state transitions between the latching branch of the second latch and the reading branch of the first latch.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to static frequency divider circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
A static frequency divider usually refers to a frequency divider consisting of two latches connected in series with a feedback path connected between. A commonly used static frequency divider 10 circuit structure is illustrated in FIG. 1. Its configuration and operation are readily understood by those skilled in the art. The divider 10 includes a first (or master) latch 12 and a second (or slave) latch 14 that are interconnected by both a series path and a feedback path. The first and second latches 12 and 14 are implemented as current mode logic (CML) D-type latches. CML is preferred because it offers fully differential routing of signal paths.
The first latch 12 includes a reading (or track) branch 16 and a latching (or latch) branch 18 as well as a double emitter-follower circuit 30(1). Similarly, the second latch 14 includes a reading (track) branch 20 and a latching (latch) branch 22 and double emitter-follower circuit 30(2). The reading and latching branches are each formed from a pair of transistors (for example, M3/M4 and M5/M6) with common collector connected load resistors (for example, R1 and R2) and positive parallel feedback from the emitter followed circuits 30. Each of the first and second latches 12 and 14 further include a steering branch 21 coupled to both the reading and latching branches and operable responsive to clock signals to steer current through either of the reading or latching branches. The steering branch is also formed from a pair of transistors (for example, M1/M2) whose collectors are connected to the coupled emitters of the paired transistors for the reading and latching branches.
For each latch, the differential circuit inputs are provided at the base terminals of the pair of transistors for the reading branch and the differential circuit outputs are provided at the emitter terminals of a pair of transistors in each of the double emitter-follower circuits 30 connected to the latching branch. The differential clock input to each latch is provided at the base terminals of the pair of transistors for the steering branch.
The connection of the two CML D-type latches in series (differential output to input) with inverted clock signals applied to the differential clock inputs (in the steering branches 21) forms a master-slave D-type flip-flop circuit of known configuration. A ½ frequency divider is then formed from this master-slave flip-flop configuration by connecting the differential outputs of the slave flip-flop to the differential inputs of the master flip-flop.
The double emitter-follower circuits 30(1) and 30(2), each composed of transistors A, B, C and D, are provided within each latch 12 and 14 to improve the operating speed of the divider 10. More specifically, transistors A and C are connected in a cascade emitter-follower fashion as a first emitter-follower and transistors B and D are connected in a cascade emitter-follower fashion as a second emitter-follower. With respect to the differential series path, the first emitter follower circuit using transistors A and C interconnects the first and second BALLSACK latches such that the output(bar) of the first latch 12 (at the emitter of transistor C) is connected to the input of the second latch 14 while the second emitter follower circuit using transistors B and D interconnects the first and second latches such that the output of the first latch (at the emitter of transistor D) is connected to the input(bar) of the second latch. With this first and second latch 12 and 14 negative differential series path interconnection implementation, the differential feedback path must be positive. So, in the differential feedback path, the first emitter follower circuit using transistors A and C interconnects the second and first latches 14 and 12 such that the output(bar) of the second latch (at the emitter of transistor C) is connected to the input(bar) of the first latch while the second emitter follower circuit using transistors B and D interconnects the second and first latches such that the output of the second latch (at the emitter of transistor D) is connected to the input of the first latch.
While the included double emitter-follower circuits 30 assist with enhancing the operating speed of the divider 10, it is still not fast enough and stable enough to operate at some microwave speeds. As the operating frequency of the divider 10 increases, difficulties arise with respect to the operation of transistors C and D. More specifically, the issue of transistor breakdown voltage is an important concern in high speed circuits that are designed with advanced process technologies such as SiGe. With a transition frequency approaching or above 100 GHz, the base-emitter voltages for the transistors will not scale down with the desired shrinking size of those transistors. Take, for example, the transistors C and D in FIG. 1 which will see, at least, 2*Vbe across their collectors and emitters. Suppose the BVceo (breakdown voltage) is 1.7V for these transistors and that Vbe for these transistors is 0.85V. In this case, then 2*Vbe is 1.7V. Operating these transistors at or a little bit above BVceo is possible in some cases, but is not preferred for ensuring proper transistor operation over an extended period of time. Still further, in the double emitter-follower circuits used in FIG. 1, it is very difficult in that operating environment to optimize the sizes of transistors A, B, C and D to get the highest possible operation.
Accordingly, a need exists for a static frequency divider that addresses the foregoing problems, and other problems, and further which can provide for improved operation at microwave frequencies.

Static frequency divider for microwave applications


A sports belt, particularly a baseball belt, which includes from one end to the other a buckle, a buckle tab portion, a loop, an elongated belt mid-portion which is preferably adjustable and a tail tab portion. The tail tab portion and the buckle tab portion are each constructed from a single piece of injection molded synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material. The tail tab portion is injection molded with a slot between two connecting tabs into which is slid a terminal end of the mid-portion of the belt which is stitched and/or adhesively bonded thereto. The buckle tab portion is defined by central and opposite end portions with intermediate portions of lesser thickness therebetween about which the buckle tab portion can be folded to unite thereto a buckle and a looped portion of the elastic belt mid-portion.

The invention is directed to a belt, and specifically to a baseball belt which presently is manufactured from numerous pieces which must be individually manufactured and united to each other by time-consuming operations which do not ensure consist belt quality. Such a sports belt includes a tail tab portion normally formed from leather which has first and second opposite terminal end portions, the latter of which is slit to define a slot or gap into which is inserted a first terminal end portion of an elongated adjustable belt mid portion which is normally constructed from elastic material. A second terminal end portion of the belt terminal end portion of the belt mid portion is passed through a loop and folded upon itself and the latter loop is in turn secured to a belt buckle by another web of leather material which is folded upon itself with the folded portions being stitched to both secure the buckle to the adjacent loop and also secure a separate belt retaining loop in position to receive the first terminal end portion of the tail tab portion. The buckle, buckle tab portion and the loop of the latter are thus assembled and united in a very time-consuming fashion.

Belt including an extensible mid-portion and buckle and tail tab portions formed of injection molded synthetic plastic material


A magnetostrictive sensing instrument comprises a probe including a tube having a near end and a distal end. A magnetostrictive wire is in the tube. An adaptor at the tube near end includes a probe circuit comprising a drive circuit for the magnetostrictive wire, a pickup sensor, a preamplifier and a memory circuit storing calibration parameters for the probe. An instrument housing includes a control circuit. A connector is operatively disposed between the instrument housing and the adaptor and comprises electrical conductors for connecting the control circuit to the probe circuit.

Process control systems require the accurate measurement of process variables. Typically, a primary element senses the value of a process variable and a transmitter develops an output having a value that varies as a function of the process variable. For example, a level transmitter includes a primary element for sensing level and a circuit for developing an electrical signal proportional to or representing sensed level.
Knowledge of level in industrial process tanks or vessels has long been required for safe and cost-effective operation of plants. Many technologies exist for making level measurements. These include magnetostrictive, capacitance, ultrasonic and microwave radar, to name a few.
One form of process instrument is of the intrusive type in which the primary element is in direct contact with the process fluid for sensing level. A magnetostrictive transmitter is an example of an intrusive type level measurement instrument. A magnetostrictive transmitter has a probe including a magnetostrictive wire maintained under tension in a tube. The probe extends into the process vessel. A magnetic float is movable proximate the probe and floats atop the fluid in the vessel. An electrical pulse is transmitted on the magnetostrictive wire. The electrical pulse interacts with the magnetic field of the float, which creates a torque on the wire to produce a torsional force on the wire, thus initiating a torsional wave that propagates along the wire at the speed of sound. This is known as the Wiedemann effect. Typically, a pickup sensor is positioned at one end of the wire to sense the torsional wave on the wire. The elapsed time is measured between the launch of the electrical pulse and the signal from the pickup sensor. The distance between the magnet and the pickup sensor is calculated from the measured elapsed time multiplied by the speed of the torsional wave, representing level.
The signal from the pickup sensor is a relatively low level signal. Thus, the transmitter must generally be mounted as close as possible to the probe. Typically, the probe is an integral component of the magnetostrictive transmitter and they are assembled and tested together during manufacturing.
Advantageously, the transmitter would be removable from the probe and also be remote mountable. In fact, it would be advantageous to replace a transmitter, if necessary, without removing the probe from the process vessel. However, the flexibility to remove the transmitter from the probe runs the risk that calibration of the system will be corrupted when the transmitter is not placed on the probe for which it was originally calibrated. The calibration is typically stored in the transmitter and accounts for variations in the performance of the probe. When the probe and the transmitter are always inseparable, calibration is not an issue. Allowing the transmitter to be removed from the probe runs the risk of poor performance because of the incorrect calibration.
The performance of the system is also dependent on how far the transmitter's amplifiers are separated from the pickup sensor of the probe. The magnetostrictive sensor generates very small signals that can be corrupted by electromagnetic interference. This issue is made worse by spacing the circuitry further from the pickup sensor.
This application is directed to improvements which allow a transmitter to be removable and/or remote mountable.

Removable magnetostrictive probe with automatic calibration


A sliding door unit has a mounting frame and an active door panel mounted in and capable of sliding relative to the mounting frame. The active door panel has a face including a panel portion and a glazing portion. The glazing portion comprises less than 65% of a surface area of the face.

Builders and contractors often include sliding door assemblies as part of the construction of homes and businesses for permitting ingress or egress from a building. FIG. 1 shows a typical sliding door 10. Each door panel 11 includes a narrow frame 12 with a significant area of glazing 13.
Sliding doors 10 are often used for ingress and egress to a patio or deck. Sliding doors 10 often provide the benefit of functioning as a large window when closed. Sliding doors 10 may also be preferred to hinged doors because sliding doors require less clearance into a room than a hinged door because the door panels 11 do not swing into the room while being opened.
The most common sliding doors 10 have a fixed panel 14 and an active panel 15. These panels 14, 15 are positioned within a mounting frame 16 to be parallel and offset from each other. This allows the active panel 15 to bypass the fixed panel 14 as the active panel slides between a closed position and an open position.
Sliding doors 10 typically include locking hardware (not shown) and handles 17 that are distinct from the hardware used on hinged door panels because the locking hardware of the sliding door assembly must prevent separation of the active panel 15 from the mounting frame 16 in a direction along the plane of the door panel instead of in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face of the door panel. One drawback of using dedicated handles and locking hardware for sliding doors 10 is that the hardware may not be as readily available through typical retail outlets as other knobs, levers, or thumb-turn hardware used on hinged doors.
FIG. 2 shows a typical hinged door 20. Even when glazed, hinged door panels 22 include a significantly wider stile portion 24 than the frame 12 of the conventional sliding door panels 11 shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the glazing portion 25 of the hinged door panel 22 is a significantly lower percentage of the surface area of the face of the hinged door panel 22 then found in typical sliding door panels 11 (FIG. 1). This glazing difference results in a distinct appearance for each type of door panel. A hinged door panel 22 also typically includes apertures (not shown) for a cylindrical latch and a cylindrical deadbolt extending into the free edge of the door panel. A hinged door panel 22 often also includes a first bore intersecting the latch aperture for use by a knob or lever 26 on either side. A second bore is provided through the face of the hinged door panel 22 to intersect the deadbolt aperture for use by a key cylinder 28 or thumb turn.
In addition to differences in the availability of the panel and hardware components themselves, the differences between typical hinged doors and typical sliding doors leads pre-hung hinged doors to be made by different manufacturers than sliding door units.
The present disclosure describes a sliding door unit, and components therefore, that allow for increased options for the consumer by integrating aspects of typical sliding doors with aspects of typical hinged doors.

Sliding door unit and components for the same


The present invention ensures explosion-proof performance without increasing the capacity for supplying nitrogen-enriched air in an aircraft fuel system having a ventilation function. An aircraft fuel system includes: fuel tanks; an NEA supply system; a left ventilation channel extending from a ventilation duct to a fuselage and leading into the tanks; and a right ventilation channel extending from a ventilation duct to the fuselage and leading into the tanks. The tank leading to the channel and the tank leading to the channel are separated by a central wall. The tanks communicate with each other through a fuel path, which allows, of fuel and gas, only the fuel to pass through, and float valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aircraft fuel system equipped with a fuel tank to which nitrogen-enriched air richer in nitrogen than the air is supplied.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a flying aircraft, as the fuel tank is filled with vaporized fuel, it is necessary to prevent the fuel tank from exploding in events such as lightning strikes on the tank or wiring short-circuit. In this connection, an explosion-proof system has been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,188). This system supplies the fuel tank with nitrogen-enriched air (hereinafter, NEA), which is higher in nitrogen concentration and lower in oxygen concentration than the air, with bleed air from the engine serving as a gas source.
The outside air pressure changes during ascent and descent of an aircraft. During that time, it is necessary to avoid the fuel tank being subjected to an excessive pressure due to the differential pressure between the outside air pressure and the internal pressure of the fuel tank. It is also necessary to take the air into the fuel tank in an amount corresponding to the volume of the fuel consumed during the flight. For this purpose, the fuel tank has a ventilation function which achieves a balance between the outside air pressure and the tank internal pressure by means of a ventilation channel leading to the outside air.
As the ventilation channel, a left ventilation channel extending in the length direction of the left main wing and a right ventilation channel extending in the length direction of the right main wing are provided. These left ventilation channel and right ventilation channel are each provided with a ventilation port which leads into the fuel tanks in the respective channels.
Here, both the left ventilation channel and the right ventilation channel communicate with the inside of an inner tank located in the fuselage. This arrangement can develop a cross-flow phenomenon of the air blowing through from the left ventilation channel to the right ventilation channel, or from the right ventilation channel to the left ventilation channel.
As the air in cross-flow is supplied into the fuel tank, the NEA supplied in the fuel tank decreases in nitrogen concentration and increases in oxygen concentration.
Increasing the NEA supply capacity to avoid this situation requires a larger amount of bleed air, which increases the amount of air taken into the engine and degrades the fuel efficiency.
Based on the above-described problem, the object of the present invention is to ensure explosion-proof performance without increasing the NEA supply capacity in an aircraft fuel system having a ventilation function.


A semi-drying method of a washing machine, and a ventilating structure and a control apparatus for the same. In the semi-drying method, the dehydration and disentanglement of cloth are repeated plural times, and a washing tub is rotated at a designated dehydration speed for a time longer than that of the conventional dehydrating operation so as to minimize the jamming of the cloth into water pores of the washing tub, thereby increasing the dehydration degree of the cloth compared to the conventional dehydrating operation, removing offensive odors from the cloth, preventing damage to the cloth, allowing a user to select the duration of a semi-drying operation and to see the state of the semi-drying operation, and ventilating the washing tub during the semi-drying operation to improve the dehydration degree of the cloth.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a conventional fully automatic washing machine.
The fully automatic washing machine shown in FIG. 1 comprises a cabinet 2 provided with a door 1 installed on the upper surface thereof, an outer tub 4 supported by a damper 3 inside the cabinet 2, an inner tub 6 rotatably installed inside the outer tub 4 and provided with a plurality of water pores 6a, an actuating unit 8 installed below the outer tub 4 for rotating the inner tub 6, a water supply device 10 for supplying wash water to the outer tub 4 and the inner tub 6, and a drain device 12 for discharging the wash water, supplied to the outer tub 4 and the inner tub 6, to the outside.
Further, a detergent box 14 for storing detergent to be supplied together with the wash water in a washing operation, and a control apparatus 16 for controlling the overall operation of the washing machine are installed in the cabinet 2. Further, a heater (not shown) for heating the wash water supplied to the outer tub 4 and the inner tub 2 is installed in the outer tub 4.
Generally, a washing method of the above-described washing machine sequentially comprises a washing operation for removing dirt from cloth, a rinsing operation for rinsing the cloth with clean wash water, a dehydrating operation for removing moisture from the cloth, and the above operations can be selectively performed according to user's selection.
Hereinafter, the washing method of the washing machine sequentially comprising the washing, rinsing and dehydrating operations will be described.
First, when cloth is put into the inner tub 6 and the washing machine is operated, wash water and detergent are supplied to the outer tub 4 and the inner tub 6, and the inner tub 6 is rotated by the actuating unit 8. Then, the cloth is washed by the chemical action of the detergent, the current of the wash water, and the friction between the cloth and the inner tub 6. Then, the contaminated wash water is discharged to the outside through the drain device 12. Thereby, the washing operation is terminated.
Thereafter, the wash water is supplied again to the outer tub 4 and the inner tub 6, and rinses the cloth placed in the inner tub 6 by the rotation of the inner tub 6, and the contaminated wash water is discharged to the outside through the drain device 12. The above rinsing operation is repeated plural times.
After the rinsing operation is repeated plural times, the inner tub 6 is rotated at a high speed of 1,000˜3,000 rpm for 3 minutes to 5 minutes to dehydrate the cloth by means of centrifugal force. The water obtained by the dehydration of the cloth is discharged to the outside through the drain device 12. Thereby, the dehydrating operation is terminated.
After a process from the washing operation to the dehydrating operation is terminated, the cloth, which is still wet, is taken out of the inner tub 6 and naturally dried.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a conventional drum washing machine having a drying device 30 for completely drying cloth. Other components of the washing machine of FIG. 2 except for the drying device 30 are similar to those of the fully automatic washing machine of FIG. 1, and thus a detailed description of the components will be omitted and only the drying device 30 will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the drying device 30 includes a drying duct 32 connected to an outer tub 40 for guiding the circulation of air into an inner tub 42, a drying heater 34 for heating the air circulated through the drying duct 32 to generate hot wind, and a drying fan 36 for forcibly supplying the hot wind of the drying duct 32 to the inside of the outer tub 40.
After the dehydrating operation is terminated, the drum washing machine having the above drying device 30 performs a drying operation, in which the cloth in the inner tub 42 is dried using the drying device 30 in a short period of time.
In the washing methods of the above-described conventional washing machines, since the inner tub 6 or 42 is rotated from the beginning at a predetermined high hydration speed in the dehydrating operation so as to remove a large quantity of moisture from the cloth in a short period of time, the cloth is jammed into the water pores 6a of the inner tub 6 or 42 by centrifugal force, and is entangled. Accordingly, when the cloth is naturally dried after the dehydrating operation, it takes a long time and great labor to disentangle the cloth and to separate the cloth into individual pieces. Further, since the cloth is severely wrinkled due to the high-speed centrifugal dehydration, post-treatment, such as ironing after the dehydrating operation, is required.
Since the cloth still contains a large quantity of moisture even after the dehydrating operation and thus must be dried for a long period of time after the cloth is taken out of the washing machine, the drying of the cloth is restricted by weather and time. When the inner tub 6 or 42 is rotated for a long time in the dehydrating operation, the dehydration degree of the cloth is increased, thereby allowing the natural drying time to be decreased but severely damaging the cloth.
As shown in FIG. 2, the drying device 30 serves to conveniently dry the cloth in the washing machine, but increases the production cost of the washing machine. Further, since it takes approximately 2˜3 hours to dry the cloth using the drying device 30, the drying device 30 increases the energy consumption rate. Moreover, since the cloth is dried by hot wind in a closed space inside the washing machine, the cloth has offensive odors and is easily damaged.

Semi-dry method of washing machine and the ventilating structure, control apparatus for the same


The present invention concerns a runflat device for a tubeless mounted assembly for a motor vehicle and an assembly incorporating said device. A device of the invention comprises an asymmetrical one-piece type rim comprising a drop center with two lateral walls and a tire cover mounted on the rim, the device being designed to be mounted in the drop center and comprising:                a support ring divided into independent ring sectors having two lateral faces; and        an annular clamping belt adapted to be mounted on and to bear on a radially inner bearing zone of one lateral face of the ring to wedge each ring sector in the drop center;

With one-piece rims, known runflat devices are generally constituted by a support ring which is clamped around a wheel rim inside a tire. That ring is formed either as a single piece with relatively flexible sides which may be continuous, or it may be a split flexible piece (i.e. from which a slice has been removed), or it may be formed from at least two rigid pieces each in the form of a circular arc or sector.
In the past, in order to mount the split ring or ring sectors in a clamped configuration around the rim, a rigid assembly and clamping fastener was used between the two free ends of the split ring or between the facing ends of the ring sectors, for example a fastener of the nut-and-bolt type. However, experience has shown that such fasteners can constitute the weak link in runflat devices (fatigue phenomena, for example).
The Assignee's European patent document EP-A-1 153 769 proposes a runflat device that can overcome the problems caused by such assembly and clamping fasteners. That device comprises a support ring for mounting on an asymmetrical one-piece type wheel rim having a drop center and an axially inner rim flange and an axially out rim flange, said ring being produced in at least two independent sectors, each having radially inner and outer zones, and is such that each sector is fixed to the rim at its radially inner zone using a screw or a clamping belt which surrounds the outer lateral flanges of the ring sectors. More precisely, the radially inner zone of each ring sector terminates in an arcuate sole which is designed to bear against the bottom of the drop center and which is formed by two lateral flanges, an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner flange being received in a lateral groove defined by the drop center while the outer flange, which matches the profile of the drop center, cooperates with means for fixing the ring sector on the rim.

Runflat device for a motor vehicle, and a mounted assembly incorporating it

Abstract: and in which the device is such that the belt comprises means for exerting a lateral clamping force and a radial clamping force on the bearing zone so that said belt clamps said ring sectors against one of said lateral walls and against said drop center, bearing on the other lateral wall.


A magnetic field sensor comprises a substrate and a moving part which is displaced when subjected to a Laplace force. There is a gauge for measuring the displacement of the moving part. There is a suspended lever that is rotationally displaced about an axis of rotation at right angles to the direction of displacement of the moving part. The lever is connected to the moving part to transmit displacement of the moving part to the lever to cause rotation of the lever about the axis of rotation. The lever is also connected to a first part of the gauge. The sensor comprises a hinge that connects the lever to the substrate. The hinge allows the rotation of the lever about its axis of rotation and is rigid to allow for a lever arm effect. The second part of the gauge is fixed with no degree of freedom to the substrate.

The magnetic field sensors with Laplace force can be used to measure a component of the Earth's magnetic field or a component of a magnetic field generated by an electrical conductor or another magnetic field source.
The expression "component of the magnetic field" designates the amplitude of the orthogonal projection of the magnetic field on a measurement axis of the sensor.
Known sensors comprise:
a substrate extending essentially in a plane called substrate plane,
at least one electrical conductor suitable for an electrical current to flow through, this electrical conductor comprising a moving part, suspended over the substrate, suitable for being displaced in a direction of displacement when it is subjected to a Laplace force,
mechanical links mechanically connecting this moving part to the substrate and electrically connecting the moving part to current power supply contact blocks arranged on the substrate,
at least one gauge suitable for measuring a physical quantity representative of the amplitude of the displacement of the moving part, this gauge comprising at least one first and one second parts,
a suspended lever that can be rotationally displaced about an axis of rotation at right angles to the direction of displacement of the moving part, this lever comprising a first and a second attachment points, the first attachment point being mechanically connected to the moving part to drive the lever in rotation about the axis of rotation in response to a displacement of the moving part, and the second attachment point being directly mechanically connected to the first part of the gauge.
For example, such sensors are described in the following papers A1 and A2:    A1: V. Beroulle et al., "Monolithic piezoresistive CMOS magnetic field sensors", Sensors and actuators A, vol 103, pages 23-32, 2003,    A2: A. L. Herrera-May et al., "A resonant magnetic field microsensor with high quality factor at atmospheric pressure", J. Micromechanical Microengineering, 19 (2009) 015016.
Prior art is also known from:
U.S. Pat. No. 7,642,692 B1, and
US 2006/076947.
It is desirable to optimize these sensors, notably to enhance their sensitivity or set their bandwidth. However, in practice, this task proves particularly difficult to carry out. This point is illustrated by the following few examples.
To increase the sensitivity of the sensor described in the paper A1 or A2, moving the electrical conductor on which the Laplace force is exerted away from the gauge by increasing the length of the lever could be envisaged. In effect, increasing the length of the lever makes it possible to increase the force which is exerted on the gauge, and therefore increase the sensitivity of the sensor. However, increasing the length of the lever alters the resonance frequency of the lever. Now, the electrical conductors of the sensors of the papers A1 and A2 have to be powered with an alternating current whose frequency is chosen to be equal to the mechanical resonance frequency of the lever. Consequently, increasing the length of the lever results in working at frequencies which can be located outside the desired working frequency range. For example, the lower the working frequency, the more sensitive the sensor is to mechanical vibrations. Furthermore, in the case of the papers A1 and A2, the gauges are integrated on the lever. In these conditions, for the gauges to be able to measure a strain variation, the lever has to be deformable. In effect, if it is not deformable, the gauges do not measure any signals. Consequently, since the lever is deformable, there is no mechanical lever arm effect to be directly profited from by increasing the length of the lever. To obtain this effect, the lever would have to be rigid.
In the known sensors, if a given bandwidth is desired for the sensor, it is also necessary to adjust the length of the lever and/or the stiffness of the mechanical links. In the same way as what has been stated above, these modifications also necessarily alter the sensitivity of the sensor, which is not desired.
Finally, in the known sensors, it is also possible to envisage reducing the stiffness of the mechanical links to increase the amplitude of the displacement of the moving part of the electrical conductor. However, yet again, such a modification cannot be made without altering other aspects of the operation of the sensor such as its resonance frequency.

Sensor for magnetic fields with Laplace force

Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives


A safe drive support system includes a memory unit for storing road-map data including a safe driving area data, a present location detecting unit for detecting a present location of the vehicle, a determining unit for determining as to whether the present location of the vehicle is in the safe driving area according to a detection result by the present location detecting unit, and limiting unit for limiting driving torque or starting torque of the vehicle in the area according to a determination result by the determining unit. In the safe driving area, the limiting operation is carried out by, for example, setting the gear position of start to the second position so as to prevent the vehicle from starting suddenly. An operational angle of a throttle valve is limited at a predetermined angle to limit the output of the engine to suppress an excess speed when an accelerator is stepped on strongly.

The present invention relates to a system for supporting safe driving as automatically controlling various conditions of a vehicle such as an automobile. The present invention, in particular, relates to a safe driving support system that performs in cooperation with a navigation system of the vehicle that guides a driver according to a selected route from a present location of the vehicle to a destination.
Recently, a navigation system has come into wide use. The navigation system comprises means for storing road-map data, means for detecting a present location of a vehicle by a GPS, a beacon, various bearing sensors or the like. The navigation system searches a route from the detected present location of the vehicle to the destination with reference to the road-map data and displays the determined route together with a map near around on a display screen so as to guide a driver.
The road-map data includes road data that indicates coordinates of main intersections of roads, types of the roads and width of the roads and coordinate data of facilities near around, rail ways, rivers or the like. Accordingly, the map near around displayed on a display screen of the navigation system shows the main intersections, buildings, stations or the like that may be landmarks for the driver as driving the vehicle along the determined route.
However, the road-map data stored in the conventional navigation system fails to include a data on an area, such as a house complex region, an apartment building complex region, a school zone or the like where there are many pedestrians and therefore safe driving should be performed. The area is referred to a safe driving area hereinbelow.
Safe driving with special attentiveness is required in the safe driving area because of the many pedestrians. The conventional navigation system includes no data on the safe driving area so that the navigation system fails to determine as to whether the present location or position of the vehicle is in the area or not. It is therefore not possible to display any guidance on the display screen to direct the driver to keep the safe driving.
Some drivers may have an ability to determine that the present location is in the safe driving area according to the map information displayed on the screen. It, however, depends on the driver's judgment or driving skill to do the actual safe driving of preventing sudden start and sudden acceleration as considering or regarding an accidental appearance of a pedestrian. There is no means in the vehicle for actively preventing the sudden start and sudden acceleration in the safe driving area.


A region growing apparatus using multi-core includes a plurality of cores, each core including an operation controller configured to perform an operation for region growing of a 2D pixel region or 3D pixel region and an inner memory configured to store a queue associated with a seed pixel as a target of the operation; and a shared memory connected to the plurality of cores over a network and shared by the plurality of cores.

1 Field
Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a region growing, and more particularly, to using multiple cores that are connected over a network and perform operations related to region growing in parallel.
2 Description of the Related Art
Region growing is an image segmentation method. It is also referred to as "seeded region growing" due to a characteristic of a region grown from a seed pixel.
The use of region growing is increasing, from two-dimensional (2D) images to three-dimensional (3D) volumetric images. For example, region growing is used to extract a region of interest for processing a specific area of a 2D image, or to extract a target object from a surveillance image. In medical imaging, region growing is utilized to extract an organ or a lesion of interest by setting a particular 3D pixel (also referred to as a "voxel") as a seed pixel (or voxel) in a 3D volumetric image captured by a computerized axial tomography (CAT).
Region growing is carried out by iteratively calculating property values of neighborhoods of a seed pixel or voxel, and including the neighborhood in a region containing the seed pixel, based on the calculated property values.

Region growing apparatus and method using multi-core

SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION