The present invention provides a method of allocating communication resources in a communication system. The method includes retrieving from the communication system the present communication system resource allocation (402); identifying for a tuning cell allocated communication resources which do not satisfy the allocation criteria (410); identifying candidate communication resources within the communication system which satisfy the allocation criteria (416); allocating the candidate communication resources to the cell (424); repeating these steps for each cell marked for retuning (404) and downloading the new communication system resource allocation to the communication system (406).

Communication systems, and particularly cellular communication systems, are well known. Cellular communication systems, as is known, consist of individual cell sites, each equipped to communicate with mobile communication units located within the cell site. Communication in a cell site is conducted over a communication resource, often referred to as a communication channel, which may consist of a pair of radio frequencies which are used by the mobile communication unit to transmit and receive information with the cell site transceiver. Several of the communication resources may be dedicated to particular functions such as two-way transmission of control information. The total number of communication resources, however, are limited.
In planning cellular radiotelephone systems there is a never ending tension among maximizing system capacity, providing Carrier-to-Interference (C/I) immunity, meeting cell-to-cell hand-off topography, and etc. This is due primarily to the scarce radio spectrum available. To increase capacity, the limited number of communication resources are repeatedly reused at different cell sites throughout the cellular communication system. However, higher resource reuse adversely affects C/I and may not be possible because of hand-off criteria. Thus the system operator is left with the very difficult task of allocating resources to the cells in the most efficient way possible. This task, however, is very labor intensive and iterative at best. Once resources are allocated within a system, tuning of the system to reduce the effects of interfering resources or adding/removing resources from cells to balance capacity is often not performed even though system performance suggests that it should be.
Therefore, a need exists for a method of allocating and reallocating communication resources to cells of a communication system which accounts for the various criteria which must be satisfied within the system without consuming an inordinate amount of time and resources.

Method of allocating communication resources in a communication system


A device consisting of a low-RPM motor wherein the motor spins a flat disk, a peg is attached to the disk, a stationary spring armature wherein the peg can activate the stationary spring armature as the disk rotates, and a tube containing beads in a fluid positioned in a top plate wherein the spring armature can contact the tube. This device can further include a soft closed-cell foam top mounted on the top plate wherein the tube is inserted and maintained by the foam in such a way as to allow for slight motion of the tube induced by the contact by the spring armature.

The present invention relates to automated devices for maintaining an even dispersion of solid phase extraction beads in small volume tubes.
Beads are used in an ever increasing number of applications including separation, detection, and nanotechnology research. For biological assays or for target concentration, a capture molecule such as, but not limited to, an antibody or oligonucleotide is immobilized on the beads, and the modified beads are used to capture the target from a sample fluid. Effective dispersion of the beads is important both during the immobilization procedure and during the target capture reaction. The beads are usually a polymer, metal colloid, glass, or magnetic material.
Solid-phase extraction has become popular as a laboratory tool for bio-separation and target pre-concentration. Beads packed into columns are used for initial sample cleanup prior to analysis using gas chromatography and GC-MS, HPLC, and LC-MS systems. In addition to bench-top applications, solid phase extraction columns have been incorporated into microfluidics-format portable devices as well as larger, automated, high throughput systems for bio-separations in clinical chemistry, pharmaceutical bio-analysis, forensics, drug discovery, and analytical biochemistry.
Recently, single tube techniques based on free-standing suspensions of beads have been introduced; these are especially useful for quickly and efficiently capturing specific or random nucleic acid fragments in low volume tubes. Bead-based technologies of this type replace more labor intensive precipitation reactions and eliminate the use of phenols and other toxic chemicals.
Although the introduction of free-standing bead suspensions has produced a significant decrease in the time and effort required for solid phase extractions, the suggested procedures are still far from automated. It is desirable to eliminate as many manual steps as possible in order to minimize the time and labor, to enhance reproducibility, and to integrate the processes into automated sensors and reactors.
Several attributes are desirable in this type of automated device. First, it can be able to maintain an even dispersion of beads in solution, in order to maximize exposure of the bead surface area to components in solution. Second, it can continuously mix the beads for extended time periods in order to avoid gradients in solution, while avoiding the formation of droplets or bubbles in solution. Third, the device can have the capability of performing this agitation at a wide variety of temperatures. Fourth, the device can operate in a manner that provides reproducible results. Fifth, the device can be able to handle multiple samples simultaneously. Finally, the device can incorporate a mechanism for pelleting the beads (if possible), so that the supernatant can be removed from the reaction chamber.
During both attachment of the capture molecules and the use of the beads to bind the target(s), even dispersion of the beads is desirable so that there is maximum exposure of the bead surface to the solution. The formation of bubbles within the liquid or droplets on the inside walls of the tube is undesirable because it either causes decreased immobilization of the capture molecule or results in decreased exposure of the target to the capture molecule on the beads.
The current method of achieving even bead dispersion is to manually hold the tube in one hand and tap gently on the outside of the tube with the tip of the fingers of the other hand, or to place the tube in a vortex mixer. This method is limiting in several ways: First, the method requires a person to be present to actively tap the tube or hold it in a vortex mixer. This means that, for dispersion to be maintained, that person must continuously tap the tube. Usually, instead of doing this for extended periods of time, the person will return during the course of an experiment to disperse the beads once every few minutes. The result is that the beads do not remain uniformly dispersed throughout the experiment, but rather settle and are re-dispersed multiple times. Second, the method only allows one PCR tube at a time to undergo bead dispersion, even though multiple tubes may be needed for an experiment. Third, the method may cause the formation of unwanted bubbles or droplets. Fourth, the method is inconsistent between implementations. This means that results of an experiment that relies on even bead dispersion may be affected by the different degrees of dispersion delivered to different samples.
Another method of keeping beads dispersed is to agitate the tube containing the beads on some sort of electrical shaking device. This method eliminates the need for a person to continuously be present, but the method is limited in that it causes the formation of droplets and air bubbles which may interfere with binding. When agitation is finished, the tube containing the beads may need to be centrifuged to cause any droplets to settle. This requires a power source for the centrifuge, and it requires a separate piece of equipment (the centrifuge). Also, for single tubes, counterbalancing of the centrifuge might be required.
Using magnetic beads provides for simple isolation of the beads using a magnet whereas the nonmagnetic beads are usually captured by gravity sedimentation, centrifugation, or filtration. Once the beads are concentrated into a tightly packed pellet, the remaining supernatant may be removed or saved, depending on the objective of the operation. The nonmagnetic beads may take longer to separate from the sample fluids and the operations may be technically time consuming or inefficient, especially for high viscosity samples or very small beads.
A current method for settling magnetic beads is to hold the tube containing the beads upright over a magnet. This method is limited because it requires the presence of a separate piece of equipment (a strong magnet) and because the operator may be required to hold the tube for extended periods until the beads settle (e.g. because conical tubes will not sit upright and the bottom of the tube must be in close proximity to the magnet for the desired effect).
Another method of separating magnetic beads involves the use of a magnetic stand specifically designed for the purpose which usually places the magnet alongside the tube to produce a shorter path length. The beads are held on the side of the tube while the operator withdraws the fluid. This method is limited in that it requires a separate piece of equipment (the magnetic stand).

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


A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an autonomous driving vehicle system.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 8,527,199 describes a vehicle system which performs autonomous driving of a vehicle. The vehicle system controls the vehicle using any one of an autonomous driving mode, a partial autonomous driving mode, and a non-autonomous driving mode.
On the other hand, in the vehicle system of the related art, it is considered that a driver performs switching among the three modes using a switch or the like. In this case, the driver operates the switch when the temporary intervention of the driver is required while the vehicle is controlled in the autonomous driving mode, and the driver needs to operate the switch in switching from the partial autonomous driving mode or the non-autonomous driving mode to the autonomous driving mode after the intervention ends. For this reason, the driver may feel burdened.


A non-transitory storage medium stores a program for: obtaining first to fourth positional information and first and second image information from a storage, displaying a first image indicated by the obtained first image information and a second image indicated by the obtained second image information; receiving selection of one of the first image and the second image displayed on a display, based on an operation of an operation device; and when selection of the first image is received, transmitting information including the first positional information and the second positional information, as cutting-position information indicating cutting positions in a tape, and when selection of the second image is received, transmitting information including the third positional information and the fourth positional information as the cutting-position information.

The following disclosure relates to a non-transitory storage medium storing a program readable by a computer of one of a label printer and an operation terminal, to a label creating method, and to the label printer.
There is known a label (a sticking tag) which is used by being separated from a sheet (i.e., a mount sheet) of a tape including a plurality of tags continuous to each other. The label includes a label portion (a character describing portion) and a sticking portion (an attachment portion). An image and/or characters such as a bar code is printed on the label portion. The sticking portion is used for attaching the label portion to an adherend (e.g., a product). When a user uses the label, the sticking portion coupled to the label portion is attached to the adherend in a state in which the image and/or the characters are in a desired orientation with respect to the adherend.

Non-transitory storage medium storing program readable by label printer or operation terminal, label creating method, and the label printer


A method for preparing a thermosetting foam, such as polyisocyanurate or polyurethane foam, includes introducing polyol and isocyanate to a screw of an extruder and mixing in the extruder screw. Catalyst is then added and mixed with the already formed mixture in the extruder screw. This mixture is extruded onto a conveyor and foamed on the conveyor. Finely divided carbon black, dispersing agent and/or surfactant may be mixed with polyol before introducing to the screw of the extruder or carbon black may be dispersed in polyol in the extruder and a polyol premix made before the remainder of the polyol is added. Foam cell size is decreased when extruder speed is increased. The foaming agent, which is preferably HCFC or water, may be mixed with one of the components, preferably the polyol, before introducing to the screw of the extruder. The mixture is cooled before extruding onto a conveyor to delay the foaming step until the mixture is outside the extruder. A carbon black dispersion may also be made, for future use. The process described may be used for making foam boards or bunstock.

Polymer foams, such as polyisocyanurate and polyurethane foams have not previously been able to be produced using an extruder, as the foaming material "firms" in the extruder and blocks the equipment.
Richie, U.S. Pat. No. 3,466,705, describes apparatus for extruding foamable thermoplastic material, such as polystyrene, preferably in tubular form. Richie discloses that the apparatus can be used for thermosetting materials, such as polyurethanes, but that steam or hot water would have a damaging effect and therefore are not used. A foam-augmenting gas such as freon is used as the foaming agent. Richie uses an expansion space of transverse cross-sectional area which increases in size gradually in the direction of travel of the extruded product.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the invention, as described below.

Method for extruding foamable polymer material


An automated hand tool sharpening and cleaning system for sharpening the two opposed cutting edges of domestic, industrial, sport, or hobby hand tool like a knife blade is provided by the invention. The apparatus comprises a six-axis robotic arm, a pneumatic gripper, a vision sensor camera for profiling the blade edges, a robotic controller, and sequentially-arranged grinding, coarse sharpening, fine sharpening, and buffing rotating wheel assemblies used to grind, sharpen, and buff or polish the cutting edges of the knife blade. The blade cutting edges are profiled by the camera image that is processed by associated software to define the blade by multiple points defined along its edge, followed by a set of algorithms that are used to clean up any discrepancies in the profile data. The resulting corrected profile data is then translated into a set of machine control commands fed to the robotic arm and pneumatic gripper via the robot controller for manipulating the knife blade edges via the robotic arm with respect to each of the grinding, coarse sharpening, fine sharpening, and buffing/polishing wheels and an associated wash station for remove bits of metal and other residue resulting from the sharpened knife blade.

A knife represents a hand-held cutting tool with a cutting edge or blade. It may also have a handle. Originally made from rock, bone, flint, or obsidian, knife blades today are typically fashioned from iron, steel, ceramics, or titanium.
While knives may be used as a weapon, they are more commonly employed by people as useful tools in food preparation, dining, meat processing, hunting, construction, work projects, and hobbies for cutting or slicing an object. Many different types and designs of knives are known, but most of them share the trait of one or two sharpened blade edges.
But, over time, these sharpened edges of the knife blade will become dull or damaged. Blades are damaged due to compressive force arising from the user pressing the knife blade cutting edge into a hard object like bone, ice, a hard cutting board, or other hard object, or simply by repetitive use. The knife blade may also become bent from sideways pressure applied against the blade. Both of these forces tend to roll the knife blade's cutting edge due to the ductile characteristic of the metal material used in the blade. Moreover, tougher or abrasive materials will cause the blade to become dull more quickly.
Dull blades do not cut as easily or precisely, and can create a danger to the end user by requiring greater hand force to make a cut. Moreover, dulled blades can include burrs or ragged edges with regions along the cutting surface that are out of alignment with each other. Such misaligned blades can damage the material being cut, or produce an inferior cut by tearing or sawing the material being cut as opposed to a smooth, clean cut.
Therefore, such dulled knife blades must be periodically sharpened. This is typically a process in which the knife blade is manually ground against a hard, rough surface like a stone, or a soft surface containing hard particles. Metal can be removed from the knife blade in order to form a new edge along the blade. Typically, a grinding wheel or a whetstone is used. These sharpening stones come in varying grit degrees from very coarse to very fine, and can be described as hard or soft depending upon whether the grit comes free of the stone during the grinding operation. Ceramic hones are also commonly used, especially when fine grit size is desired. Coated hones with an abrasive diamond-based surface provide yet another option. Mineral oil often is used during the grinding application to separate the loosened grinding particles from the knife blade edge to prevent damage to the blade.
However, grinding constitutes a precise manual operation in which the angle of the cutting edge of the blade must match the angle of the whetstone or grinding wheel surface. The smaller the angle between the blade and stone, the sharper the knife will be, but at the same time, less side force is required to damage the knife blade by bending the cutting edge over or even chipping it off. The edge angle represents the angle between the blade and the stone. For symmetrical double-ground, wedge-shaped knife blades, the angle from one edge to the other edge of the blade will be twice the edge angle.
The cutting edges of the knife blade may also be straightened by a hand-held sharpening steel. The sharpening steel constitutes a hardened cylindrical, triangular or other shaped rod having a small diameter. This sharpening steel may have a smooth, polished exterior surface, or may be somewhat abrasive. It may also feature slight ridges or ribs running along the length of the rod. A butcher steel constitutes a round file with teeth running the long way, although it may also be smooth. As the knife blade with its cutting edge is swiped along the sharpening steel, the steel will exert high localized pressure against the cutting edge to straighten the turned edges of the cutting edge back into proper alignment. Unlike grinding, such steeling process does not usually remove metal from the blade edge.
Knives used by barbers are often manually stropped after steeling in order to polish the sharpened cutting edge. This is often done with a leather strap impregnated with an abrasive compound like chromium (III) oxide particles. This operation does not remove any metal material from the blade edge, but produces a very sharp edge.
While steeling represents a less aggressive form of sharpening than grinding, it still is important to swipe the knife's blade at a proper angle with respect to the sharpening steel. Moreover, the two cutting edges of the knife must be swiped the same number of times against the steel or else the cutting edge will be pushed again out of alignment. U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,394 issued to Juranitch in 1976 for a hand-held finishing sharpener includes fold-out wings that act like sharpening steels accompanied by a handle that provides a visual guide for maintaining the proper angle of the knife's cutting edge along the wings. This may make it slightly easier for the user to estimate the proper angle for the knife blade sharpening operation.
A manually-operated knife sharpening device referred to as a MOUSETRAP STEEL sharpener that is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,934,110 and 5,655,959 issued to Juranitch provides another example. It constitutes a bench-top mounted, vertical base member having a vertical slot partially bisecting the base member from its top edge. Pivotably mounted to the base member are two counterweights having equal masses. A pair of upwardly curved sharpening steels is connected to the upper and inner ends of the counterweights and extend toward each other in a crossed relationship, intersecting at and along the slot. As a knife blade is pushed down through the slot, it engages the sharpening steels at this intersection point and pushes the steels inwardly, sharpening the opposing cutting edges of the knife blade simultaneously as the knife blade is swiped along the sharpening steels. A pivotably-mounted wiper wing under the influence of its own counterweight polishes the sharpened blade. A pair of cams that are eccentrically mounted to the base member act to arrest the lateral movement of the steels during the knife sharpening operation, as well as to define the downward resting point of the counterweights when the sharpening steels are in their standby position when the knife blade is disengaged. See also U.S. Pat. No. 9,545,703 issued to Juranitch et al. and U.S. Ser. No. 15/610,169.
However, these cams must be carefully adjusted in their eccentric positions along the base member prior to the knife sharpening operation to define how high or low the crossed intersection point of the steels will be situated over the slot. A higher position requires greater force applied to the knife blade during the sharpening operation resulting in this higher intersection point of the steels producing a less-sharp cutting angle along the knife blade. A lower intersection position on the other hand requires less force applied to the knife blade during the sharpening operation resulting in a sharper cutting angle produced by the steels along the knife blade. Thus, the MOUSETRAP STEEL sharpener requires the user to know in advance the angle of the cutting edges that must be produced along the sharpened knife blade, and to precisely adjust in advance the cams' positions to achieve this desired angle. This requires skill and patience by the user. Yet over time, the significant weight of the heavy, 20-ounce counterweights will cause the cams to move from their intended position, thereby making repeated sharpening of knives with the same cutting edge angle impossible without further precise adjustment of the position of the cams. Furthermore, the large number of parts mounted to the base member and the bolts and nuts used to mount them also produce environments for bacterial growth which makes it difficult to keep the device clean and sanitary.
A key advantage of this MOUSETRAP STEEL sharpener is that the criss-crossed sharpening steels act to sharpen both sides of the knife blade cutting edge simultaneously, so there is no need to swipe each side of the blade along a sharpening steel the same number of times to avoid blade damage. But, the criss-crossed sharpening steels act against the blade cutting edges in a manner that is approximate to the proper angle of the cutting edges, which may in some cases lead to suboptimal knife blade edge sharpening.
Moreover, the manual sharpening of knives can be time-consuming and require skill and diligence by the end user of the sharpening device. This can be a problem in particular for industrial operations like meat processing lines where large numbers of knives are used and dulled during the course of a day.
Thus, Razor Edge Systems has also commercialized a motorized "Heavy Duty System" knife blade sharpener that is used to manually restore a sharp cutting edge to a knife blade. It comprises a hollow grinder is used by the human operator to remove excess metal from the sides of the knife blade. By drawing the blade back and forth tip to handle between the two contra-rotating grinding wheels, the hollow grinder thins out the blade. Next, the knife is clamped by the operator into a D-ring clamping device that will provide the angle and control needed for further sharpening of the knife blade. The Edger features a rotating coarse sharpening wheel and a rotating fine sharpening wheel that are used by the operator sequentially to produce or restore the cutting edge back onto the knife blade. The coarse sharpening wheel on the Edger is used first to prepare the edge creating the correct angle. The fine sharpening wheel is then used to remove the burr created by the coarse wheel, thereby creating a sharp edge. Finally, a rotating buffer wheel removes any remaining pieces of metal from the knife blade, and smoothes the edge to remove any furrows (grooves) left behind by the Edger wheels. While the D-ring clamp facilitates the operator's manipulation of the knife blade across the Edger and buffer wheels, this is still a manually-operated procedure that requires the operator to follow the set procedure in order to produce a sharp edge. This includes proper orientation of the knife blade inside the D-ring clamp, proper alignment of the D-ring clamp with respect to the Edger and buffer wheels, and uncoupling of the D-ring clamp from the Heavy Duty System to flip the knife blade over 180 degrees during and between each of the coarse sharpening, fine sharpening, and buffing operations, which takes time and can lead to misalignment of the knife blade with respect to the rotating wheels. If improperly carried out, this Heavy Duty System will not properly sharpen the cutting edges of the knife's blade.
It is therefore easy to damage the cutting edge of the knife blade further if the sharpening exercise is performed poorly. Thus, most knife users need to send out their dulled knives to a professional sharpening service, or to replace the knife with a new knife. This can be time-consuming and expensive.
While electric knife sharpeners are available in the market, they can damage the knife blade edges if improperly used. Thus, efforts have been made to automate the knife sharpening process. But, it is not easy to replicate by a machine a process that inherently relies upon human judgment.
Robotic arms are known within the manufacturing industry. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,277,282 issued to Tanaka discloses an ultrasonic trimming apparatus designed to cut flexible material. An ultrasonic oscillator is supported by the end portion of an articulated robot arm with a cutter blade supported in turn by the ultrasonic oscillator. The cutter blade is ultrasonically vibrated by the ultrasonic oscillator to trim the material in accordance with a pre-stored pattern.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,459 issued to Stocker et al. describes a workplace inspection and handling system. A three-axis robotic system picks up a disk-shaped wafer like a semiconductor chip from an inspection station and places it at a second station for edge grinding of the chip. Multiple sliding members operating in different orthogonal directions are responsible for moving the robotic arm along the x-y-z axes. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,130 issued to Stocker.
Robotic systems have also been applied within the industry to the sharpening of knife blades. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,465 issued to Gross illustrates a grinding machine for sharpening (honing) knife blades. The sharpening station comprises a conventional arrangement of two contra-rotating grinding wheels operated by an electric drive motor. A robot having a manipulator and pneumatic gripper movable in six possible translatory and rotational degrees of spatial freedom picks up and moves the knife blade with respect to the grinding station. The knife blade is then drawn by the manipulator and gripper through the contra-rotating grinding wheels applying a constant force on the blade throughout the sharpening operation. The blade edge is ground in accordance with a pre-loaded data set represented by machine-independent neutral data that defines the blade in its three dimensions. The knife is then removed from the blade grinding machine and mounted within a measuring system that uses mechanical probes operated by a CNC-controlled system to sample the sharpened blade for its actual three-dimensional shape. By comparing the actual data set for the sharpened blade shape against the pre-loaded data set for the ideal blade shape, any difference determines whether the knife needs to be returned to the grinding station for further sharpening to produce a blade edge meeting the shape specifications for the knife.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,079,284 issued to Christenson et al. discloses an automated knife sharpening and cleaning system in which a gripper operated in three dimensions by three different axial drive assemblies picks up the knife and moves to the grinding station. The profile of the knife is sensed by sensors so that the grinding station can be adjusted according to the feedback provided by the sensors regarding the profile of the knife, and the position of the knife adjusted within the three-dimensional space. Once the knife blade is properly sharpened by the grinding assembly, the gripper assembly removes the knife and returns it to a storage tote.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,493 issued to Lane describes a system for estimating the cutting condition of a double-ground knife blade using a light, camera, and mirror to detect and compare the opposite cutting edges of the knife blade. The mirror allows the upper and lower blade bevel imager to be detected simultaneously by the camera.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,915,766 issued to Kolchin discloses another automated sharpening system in which the knife is manually placed in a holder with the cutting edge of the blade exposed. A sensor is configured to detect any burrs existing along the edge of the knife blade. An abrader set at the proper angle with respect to the knife blade edge then is moved along the blade edge to sharpen only those portions of the blade where the burrs exist.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,758,084 issued to Knecht et al. describes an apparatus for grinding hand knives comprising a CNC-operated gripper mechanism and a series of rotating, grinding, deburring, and polishing wheels. The knife is picked up by the gripper mechanism. A sensor measures the contour of the knife blade cutting edge which is then compared against stored data for the ideal profile for that knife blade. The gripper mechanism then moves the knife blade so that only those portions of the blade edge exhibiting imperfections are passed along the rotating, grinding, deburring, and polishing wheels for sharpening.
U.S. Published Application 2017/0087690 filed by Vogel et al. discloses an automated system for conditioning knife blades. A gripper assembly for the knife comprises one or more clamp arms for moving along x, y, and z axes, and rotatable in the roll direction, pitch direction, and yaw direction. A first measuring device constituting two lasers emits laser light beams for measuring the width and thickness of the knife blade along its length. The resulting data points are stored. A second measuring device constituting a light and a lens assembly then obtains images of the knife blade to measure the same thickness and width. These data points are then combined with the first set of data points to create a current edge profile for the knife blade. This current edge profile is then modified to obtain a modified edge profile. The gripper assembly manipulates the knife blade with respect to rotating grinder, buffer, and polishing wheels to sharpen the knife blade edge and restore it to its ideal state.
However, all of these prior art systems are very complicated in their structure and moving parts. It would therefore be beneficial to provide an automated hand tool sharpening and cleaning system that uses a robotic arm instead of a conventional CNC manipulation system in combination with a camera and associated software that creates an image of the blade or other working surface of the hand tool to profile it with the resulting data used to create machine control commands for the robotic arm to properly manipulate the hand tool blade or working surface with respect to a series of rotating, grinding, sharpening, and polishing wheels to appropriately sharpen its edge substantially along its entire length. The robotic arm can also be used to properly manipulate the sharpened blade or working surface inside a wash station to remove bits of metal and other residue resulting from the sharpening operation, and clean, scrub, and sanitize the hand tool for use in a domestic, industrial, sport, or hobby operation.

Robotic hand tool sharpening and cleaning apparatus


A bisphosphite of the formula I

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bisphosphites and their metal complexes, and the preparation and the use of the bisphosphites as ligands in catalytic reactions.
2. Description of the Background
The reaction between olefin compounds, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to form aldehyde product having one more carbon atom than the carbon atom content of the starting olefin is known as hydroformylation (the oxo process). The catalysts used in these reactions are frequently compounds of transition metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, in particular compounds of rhodium and of cobalt. In comparison with catalysis using cobalt compounds, hydroformylation using rhodium compounds generally offers the advantage of higher selectivity and is thus usually more economical. In rhodium-catalyst hydroformylation, use is usually made of complexes comprising rhodium and preferably trivalent phosphorus compounds as ligands. Examples of known ligands are compounds from the classes of the phosphines, phosphites and phosphonites. A good review of the hydroformylation of olefins may be found in B. CORNILS, W. A. HERRMANN, xe2x80x9cApplied Homogeneous Catalysis with Organometallic Compoundsxe2x80x9d Vol. 1and2, VCH, Weinheim, New York, 1996.
Each catalyst system (cobalt or rhodium) has its specific advantages. For this reason, different catalyst systems may be used depending on the starting material and target product, as the following examples show. When rhodium and triphenylphosphine are employed, xcex1-olefins can be hydroformylated at relatively low pressures. An excess of triphenylphosphine is generally used as phosphorus-containing ligand, and a high ligand/rhodium ratio is necessary to increase the selectivity of the reaction to the commercially desired n-aldehyde product.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,109 and 4,879,416 describe bisphosphine ligands and their use in the hydroformylation of olefins at low synthesis gas pressures. Particularly in the hydroformylation of propane, ligands of this type achieve high activities and high n/i selectivities. WO 95/30680 discloses bidentate phosphine ligands and their use in catalysis, including hydroformylation reactions. Ferrocene-bridged bisphosphines are described as ligands for hydroformylation reactions in, for example, the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,169,861, 4,201,714 and 4,193,943.
The disadvantage of bidentate phosphine ligands is the relatively high cost of preparing them. It is therefore often not economically viable to use such systems in industrial processes.
Rhodium-monophosphite complexes are suitable catalysts for the hydroformylation of branched olefins having internal double bonds, but the selectivity to terminally hydroformylated compounds is low. EP 0 155 508 discloses the use of bisarylene-substituted monophosphites in the rhodium-catalyst hydroformylation of sterically hindered olefins, e.g. isobutene.
Rhodium-bisphosphite complexes catalyze the hydroformylation of linear olefins having terminal and internal double bonds, forming predominantly terminally hyroformylated products, while branched olefins having internal double bonds are reacted to only a small extent. On coordination to a transition metal center, these phosphites provide catalysts having increased activity, but the operating life of these catalysts systems is unsatisfactory because of, inter alia, the hydrolysis sensitivity of the phosphite ligands. Considerable improvements have been achieved by use of substituted bisaryl diols as starting materials for the phosphite ligands, as described in EP 0 214 622 and EP 0 472 071. According to the literature, the rhodium complexes of these ligands are extremely active hydroformylation catalysts for a-olefins. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,668,651, 4,748,261 and 4,885,401 describe polyphosphite ligands by means of which c-olefins and also 2-butene can be converted highly selectively to the terminally hydroformylated products. Bidentate ligands of this type have also been used for the hydroformylation of butadiene (U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,996).
Although the bisphosphites mentioned are very good complexing ligands for rhodium hydroformylation catalysts, the need continues to exist for bisphosphites of improved effectiveness.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a bisphosphite ligand for the preparation of olefin hydroformylation catalysts of improved effectiveness.
Briefly, this object and other objects of the present invention as hereinafter will become more readily apparent can be attained by a bisphosphite of the formula I:
wherein:
R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each hydrogen, an aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon or heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, F, Cl, Br, I, xe2x80x94CF3, xe2x80x94OR7, xe2x80x94COR7, xe2x80x94CO2R7, xe2x80x94CO2M, xe2x80x94SR7, xe2x80x94SOR7, xe2x80x94SO3R7, xe2x80x94SO3M, xe2x80x94SO2NR7R8, NR7R8, Nxe2x95x90CR7R8, NH2, where R1 to R4 are identical or different and may be covalently linked to one another;
R7 and R8 are each hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, and may be identical or different;
M is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or phosphonium ion;
Q is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon or heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms; and in open-chain structural elements, one or more methylene groups may be replaced by oxygen and/or sulfur and/or NR1 and/or NH and/or one or more CH groups may be replaced by nitrogen.
W and X are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon, heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms which may be identical or different or covalently linked to one another.
In formula I above, in any given embodiment of the bisphosphite compound, two of the radicals R1 to R4 in the formula I may be benzofused, i.e. R1 and R2, R2 and R3 or R3 and R4 may be linked to one another via an aromatic ring. It is thus possible to prepare three isomers which can be used either separately or together as a ligand system. The bisphosphite of formula I can therefore also be in the forms illustrated by formulae II, III and IV as follows:
The definitions of radicals R1 to R6 correspond to the definitions of R1 to R4 defined for formula I. It is possible for these radicals to be once again covalently linked to one another or benzofused.
Specific embodiments of the bisphosphites of the invention are bisphosphites of the formulae V, VI and VII as follows:
wherein W and X are each substituted or unsubstituted an aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon, heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, X and W may be identical or different or may be covalently linked to one another and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 and Q are as defined above, provided that when the phosphite oxygens linked to W and X are each linked to an aromatic ring then they are not linked to the same aromatic ring.
R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15 and R16 are each hydrogen or an aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon, heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, F, Cl, Br, I, xe2x80x94CF3, xe2x80x94OR25, xe2x80x94COR25, xe2x80x94CO2R25, xe2x80x94CO2M, xe2x80x94SR25, xe2x80x94SO2R25, xe2x80x94SOR25, xe2x80x94SO3R25, xe2x80x94SO3M, xe2x80x94SO2NR25R26, NR25R26, Nxe2x95x90CR25R26, NH2, where R9 to R16 are identical or different and may be covalently linked to one another.
M is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or phosphonium ion.
R25 and R26 may be identical or different and may each be hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms.
Examples of Q are bivalent hydrocarbon radicals, which may be aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic or aliphatic-aromatic or heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic bivalent radicals. Any ring system present may in turn be substituted by the abovementioned hydrocarbon radicals. In open-chain structural elements, one or more methylene groups may be replaced by oxygen and/or sulfur and/or NR1 and/or NH and/or one or more CH groups may be replaced by nitrogen.
Q is preferably a bivalent radical containing aromatic groups. Q may be, for example, a phenylene radical, a naphthalene radical, a bivalent bisarylene radical or a bivalent radical of diphenyl ether. Furthermore, Q may have the structure xe2x80x94Arxe2x80x94Zxe2x80x94Arxe2x80x94. Here, Ar is a monocyclic or oligocyclic bivalent aromatic radical. Z is either a direct bond or a substituted or unsubstituted methylene group xe2x80x94CR27R28xe2x80x94, where R27 and R28 are hydrogen and/or aliphatic and/or aromatic radicals which have from 1 to 25 carbon atoms and may also contain heteroatoms. Furthermore, the radicals R27 and R28 may be linked to form one or more rings, i.e. be covalently bound.
Among the bisphosphites of the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII, particularly preferred are those compounds in which radical Q is a hydrocarbon radical (bisarylene radical) of the formula VIII
where
R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23 and R24 are each hydrogen, an aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, heterocyclic, aliphatic-heterocyclic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, F, Cl, Br, I, xe2x80x94CF3, xe2x80x94OR25, xe2x80x94COR25, xe2x80x94CO2R25, xe2x80x94CO2M, xe2x80x94SR25, xe2x80x94SO2R25, xe2x80x94SOR25, xe2x80x94SO3R25, xe2x80x94SO3M, xe2x80x94SO2NR25R26, NR25R26, Nxe2x95x90CR25R26, NH2, where R17 to R24 are identical or different and may be covalently linked to one another;
R25 and R26 are each hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms;
M is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or phosphonium ion, where the positions a and b are linkage points of this substituent in the structural element Oxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94O in the compounds of the formulae I to VII.
The present invention also provides bisphosphite-metal complexes comprising a metal of transition Group 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements and one or more bisphosphites of the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. The substituents (R1-R26, Q, X, W) of these bisphosphites are as defined above.
Representative examples of ligands of the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII according to the present invention are presented below, which compounds should not be taken to limit or restrict the scope of the present invention.
The bisphosphites of the invention can be prepared by a sequence of reactions of phosphorus halides with alcohols or xcex1-hydroxyarylcarboxylic acids in which the halogen atoms on the phosphorus are replaced by oxygen groups. The fundamental procedure is illustrated by a route to compounds of the formula V:
1) A xcex1-hydroxyarylcarboxylic acid is reacted with a phosphorus trihalide, preferably phosphorus chloride, in the presence of a base to form the intermediate A.
2) A phosphorus trihalide, preferably phosphorus trichloride, is reacted with a diol or two molar equivalents of alcohol to form a monohalophosphite (intermediate B).
3) A hydroxyl-substituted phosphite (intermediate C) is obtained from the intermediate B by reaction of the intermediate with a diol (HOxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94OH).
4) The desired bisphosphite is obtained from the reaction of intermediate A with product C.
The synthetic route is only one of many, but demonstrates the fundamental procedure. An alternative route is, for example, the reaction of intermediate A with the diol component and subsequent reaction with B to give the desired product.
Since the diols used and their downstream products are frequently solid, the reactions are generally conducted in solvents. Suitable solvents are aprotic solvents which react neither with the diols nor with the phosphorus compounds and include tetrahydrofaran, diethyl ether and aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene.
The reaction of phosphorus halides with alcohols forms hydrogen halide which is sequestered by means of added bases. Examples of bases used for this purpose include tertiary amines such as triethylamine. It is sometimes also useful to convert the alcohols into metal alkoxides, for example, by reaction with sodium hydride or butyllithium, prior to the reaction.
The novel bisphosphites of the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII are suitable building blocks for the preparation of complexes with metals of transition Groups 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Periodic Table of the Elements. These complexes, especially those of metals of transition group 8, can be used as catalysts for carbonylation reactions or hydroformylation reactions, e.g. for the hydroformylation of C2-C25-olefins. The ligands have a high hydrolysis stability. Particularly when using rhodium as catalyst metal, high catalytic activities are obtained in hydroformylation reactions. Because of their high molecular weight, the bisphosphites of the invention have a low volatility. They can therefore easily be separated from the less volatile reaction products. They are sufficiently readily soluble in customary organic solvents.
The invention also provides for the use of the bisphosphites or the bisphosphite-metal complexes in processes for the hydroformylation of olefins, preferably those having from 2 to 25 carbon atoms, to form the corresponding aldehydes.
Metals which are preferably used for preparing the catalytically active metal complexes of the bisphosphites of the invention include rhodium, cobalt, platinum and ruthenium. The active catalyst is formed under reaction conditions from the ligand according to the invention and the metal. The ligands of the invention can be added in free form to the reaction mixture. It is also possible to use a transition metal complex comprising one of the abovementioned bisphosphite ligands as precursor for the actual catalytically active complex. The hydroformylation process can be conducted at stoichiometric amounts of metal to bisphosphite or using an excess of free bisphosphite ligands relative to metal containing reactant (e.g. from 1:1 to 200:1).
It is also possible for mixtures of various ligands, both bisphosphites according to the invention, including the isomers of the formulae II to IV, and also other suitable phosphorus-containing ligands, to be present in combination as free ligand components.
Suitable additional ligands present in the reaction mixture include phosphines, phosphites, phosphonites and phosphinites. Specific examples of such ligands are:
Phosphines: triphenylphosphine, tris(p-tolyl)phosphine, tris(m-tolyl)phosphine, tris(o-tolyl)phosphine, tris(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphine, tris(p-dimethylamino-phenyl)phosphine, tricyclohexylphosphine, tricyclopentylphosphine, triethylphosphine, tri-(1-naphthyl)phosphine, tribenzylphosphine, tri-n-butylphosphine, tri-t-butylphosphine.
Phosphites: trimethylphosphite, triethylphosphite, tri-n-propyl phosphite, tri-i-propylphosphite, tri-n-butylphosphite, tri-i-butyl phosphite, tri-t-butylphosphite, tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphite, triphenylphosphite, tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)phosphite, tris(2-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl)phosphite, tris(2-t-butyl-4-methylphenyl)phosphite, tris(p-cresyl) phosphite. In addition, sterically hindered phosphite ligands as described, inter alia, in EP 155 508, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,668,651; 4,748,261; 4,769,498; 4,774,361; 4,835,299; 4,885,401, 5,059,710; 5,113,022; 5,179,055; 5,260,491; 5,264,616; 5,288,918 and 5,360,938, EP 472 071, EP 518 241 and WO 97/20795 are also suitable ligands.
Phosphonites: methyldiethoxyphosphine, phenyldimethoxyphosphine, phenyldiphenoxyphosphine, 2-phenoxy-2H-dibenz[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphorin and their derivatives in which the hydrogen atoms are wholly or partly replaced by alkyl and/or aryl radicals or halogen atoms, and ligands as are described in WO 98 43935, JP 09-268152 and DE 198 10 794 and in the German patent applications DE 199 54 721 and DE 199 54 510.
Customary phosphinite ligands are described, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,344, WO 95 06627, U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,938 or JP 07082281. Examples include diphenyl(phenoxy)phosphine and its derivatives in which the hydrogen atoms are wholly or partly replaced by alkyl and/or aryl radicals or halogen atoms, diphenyl(methoxy)phosphine and diphenyl(ethoxy)phosphine. In general, from 1 to 500 mol, preferably from 1 to 200 mol, more preferably from 3 to 50 mol, of the ligand of the invention are used per mole of Group VIII transition metal. Fresh ligand can be added to the reaction at any point in time in order to keep the concentration of free ligand constant. The catalytic transition metal-bisphosphite complexes of the invention can be synthesized before use. However, the catalytically active complexes are generally formed in situ in the reaction medium from a catalyst precursor and the present bisphosphite ligand.
Precursors of the present catalyst include salts and complexes of transition metals. Suitable examples include rhodium carbonyls, rhodium nitrate, rhodium chloride, Rh(CO)2(acac) (acac=acetylacetonate), rhodium acetate, rhodium octanoate and rhodium nonanoate.
The concentration of the metal in the reaction mixture is in the range from 1 ppm to 1000 ppm, preferably in the range from 5 ppm to 300 ppm.
The hydroformylation reactions conducted using the bisphosphites of the invention or the corresponding metal complexes can be conducted by known methods as described, for example, in J. FALBE, xe2x80x9cNew Syntheses with Carbon Monoxidexe2x80x9d, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, page 95 ff., (1980).
The reaction temperatures for a hydroformylation process using the bisphosphites of the invention or bisphosphite metal complexes as catalyst are in the range from 40xc2x0 C. to 180xc2x0 C., preferably from 75xc2x0 C. to 140xc2x0 C. The pressure under which the hydroformylation occurs ranges from 1-300 bar of synthesis gas, preferably 15-64 bar. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2/CO) in the synthesis gas ranges from 10/1 to 1/10, preferably from 1/1 to 2/1.
The catalyst or ligand is homogeneously dissolved in the hydroformylation mixture comprising starting material (olefins) and products (aldehydes, alcohols, high boilers formed in the process). It is possible, if desired, to use an additional solvent.
The starting materials for the hydroformylation are monoolefins or mixtures of monoolefins having from 2 to 25 carbon atoms and a terminal or internal Cxe2x80x94C double bond. The olefins can be linear, branched or cyclic and may also have a plurality of olefinically unsaturated groups. Suitable examples include propene, 1-butene, cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene, isobutene, butadiene, mixtures of C4-olefins, 1- or 2-pentene, 2-methyl-1-butene, 2-methyl-2-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-, 2- or 3-hexene, the C6-olefin mixtures formed in the dimerization of propene (dipropene), 1-heptene, heptenes, 2- or 3-methyl-1-hexene, 1-octene, octenes, 2-methylheptenes, 3-methylheptenes, 5-methyl-2-heptene, 6-methyl-2-heptene, 2-ethyl-1-hexene, the isomeric C8-olefin mixtures formed in the dimerization of butenes (dibutene), 1-nonene, nonenes, 2- or 3-methyloctenes, the C9-olefin mixtures formed in the trimerization of propene (tripropene), decenes, 2-ethyl-1-octene, dodecenes, the C12-olefin mixture formed in the tetramerization of propene or the trimerization of butenes (tetrapropene or tributene), tetradecene, hexadecenes, the C16-olefin mixtures formed in the tetramerization of butenes (tetrabutene) and also olefin mixtures prepared by co-oligomerization of olefins having different numbers of carbon atoms preferably from 2 to 4), if desired after fractional distillation to separate them into fractions having the same number of carbon atoms or a similar number of carbon atoms. It is likewise possible to use olefins or olefin mixtures produced by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and also olefins which are obtained by oligomerization of ethene or can be produced via methathesis reactions or telomerization reactions.
Preferred starting materials include propene, 1-butene, 2-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, dimers and trimers of butene (dibutene, di-n-butene, diisobutene, tributene) and xcex1-olefins in general.
The hydroformylation reaction can be conducted continuously or batchwise. Examples of industrial apparatuses are stirred vessels, bubble columns, jet reactors, tube reactors and loop reactors, which may be cascaded and/or provided with internals.
The reaction can be conducted in a single step or in a plurality of steps. The aldehyde compounds formed and the catalyst can be separated by a conventional method such as fractionation. This can, for example, be carried out industrially by means of a distillation, by means of a falling film evaporator or by means of a thin film evaporator. This is particularly applicable when the catalyst is separated as a solution in a high-boiling solvent from the lower-boiling product. The catalyst solution which has been separated can be used for further hydroformylation. When using lower olefins, e.g. propene, butene, pentene, it is also possible for the products to be discharged from the reactor in gaseous form.
Having generally described this invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified.

Bisphosphite compounds and their metal complexes

Abstract: A bisphosphite of the formula I

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each hydrogen, an aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon or heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic group having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, F, Cl, Br, I, xe2x80x94CF3, xe2x80x94OR7, xe2x80x94COR7, xe2x80x94CO2R7, xe2x80x94CO2M, xe2x80x94SR7, xe2x80x94SO2R7, xe2x80x94SOR7, xe2x80x94SO3R7, xe2x80x94SO3M, xe2x80x94CO2NR7R8, NR7R8, Nxe2x95x90CR7R8, NH2, where R1 to R4 are identical or different and may be covalently linked to one another;

Abstract: Q is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon, heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms where HO-Q-OH is a diol;

Abstract: W and X are each a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alicyclic, aliphatic-alicyclic, aromatic, aromaticxe2x80x94aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon, heterocyclic or aliphatic-heterocyclic radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms which may be identical or different or covalently linked to one another, provided that when the phosphite oxygens linked to W and X are each linked to an aromatic ring, then they are linked to different aromatic rings,

Abstract: metal complexes thereof, and a method for the hydroformylation of olefins.


An implantable occlusion and tissue ingrowth resistant fluid interface is provided with a housing, an orifice and a catheter port. The housing is formed from at least one biocompatible material and is configured without sharp edges or corners. The housing at least partially defines an internal housing cavity. The orifice member at least partially defines an orifice between the internal housing cavity and an exterior of the housing. The orifice has an elongated transverse cross-section configured with a length that is at least four times its maximum width. The catheter port is located on the housing and is configured to couple with a catheter such that the internal housing cavity is in fluid communication with a lumen of the catheter when the catheter is coupled to the catheter port. Embodiments having a moving cylinder, a rotor, and non-chemical surface modifications, as well as methods of use are also disclosed.

One application of the occlusion resistant catheters disclosed herein is in shunting systems for cerebral-spinal fluid for use in treating hydrocephalus. Conventional shunting systems used for this purpose typically include three components: a ventricular catheter portion; a peritoneal catheter portion; and a valve located between the two catheter portions. The catheter portions typically are formed from a flexible synthetic polymer such as silicone rubber. A proximal end of the ventricular catheter portion is configured for insertion in a cerebral ventricle. A distal end of the peritoneal catheter portion is configured for insertion in a body cavity, or in some cases configured to drain fluid outside of the body. In many cases it would be preferable that all three components be implanted subcutaneously and left in place for many years.
The purpose of the shunting systems when treating hydrocephalus is to affect periodic drainage of excess cerebral-spinal fluid from the cerebral ventricle. The cerebral ventricle that is typically drained is ventricle III. The cerebral-spinal fluid is drained from the cerebral ventricle in order to maintain proper endro-cranial tension or pressure at normal physiological values.
Conventional shunting systems for treating hydrocephalus suffer from occlusion of the fluid path through the shunt, typically at the inlet in the proximal end of the ventricular catheter portion and/or at the outlet in the distal end of the peritoneal catheter portion. Many attempts have been made to design clog resistant tips and orifices, however most have not met with much success. Blockage in the fluid path typically occurs as a result of tissue ingrowth and/or protein buildup in and around these orifices, often the result of the deposition of filaments of fibrin. Such blockage will often render the shunting systems useless in less than two years after implantation, requiring frequent replacement of the shunt. Such replacement procedures can be expensive, uncomfortable for the patient, and expose the patient to unnecessary complications associated with the procedures.
Further information relating to the treatment of hydrocephalus with conventional shunting systems may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,816 to Labianca and U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,068 to Koullick et al.
What is needed and is not provided by the prior art are implantable shunting systems that can be used in the treatment of hydrocephalus, and in other medical applications such as hemodialysis, without occlusion and tissue ingrowth.

Occlusion resistant catheter and method of use


A receptacle for surrounding an article such as a pot containing a plant which is protective and decorative. A precut sheet having a central element and elongated strips radiating therefore is placed in a container having a floor and side walls. In one form of the invention, the central element is forced against the floor of the container by a retaining element which also urges the strips into an upright condition against the side walls of the container. Preferably, the strips are elevated to a height sufficient to protectively encompass the plant contained in the pot.

The present invention relates to an improvement made to receptacles used in numerous sectors for displaying, decorating and even protecting various products, such as pot plants in particular. In the description which follows, the invention will be described for such an application and the receptacle in accordance with the invention designated by the expression "pot cover", but it is obvious that this is not limiting and that the invention also covers all types of recipients or containers which can contain various objects, such as, for example, baskets for displaying food products (bread, fruits, etc.).
Moreover, the invention will be described for a receptacle comprising a base of circular shape, but without leaving the scope of the invention production may be envisaged of receptacles which can have a rectangular or any other shaped base, in a similar manner.
To date, in order to display, decorate and even protect pot plants, various solutions are used by florists, the more widespread solutions consisting in:
surrounding the pot with a "sleeve" consisting of a folded tube, in particular made of paper or plastic; PA1 arranging the pot in a container (cover), which is flexible or rigid, possibly decorated and which has dimensions greater than those of the said pot; PA1 surrounding the pot with a decorated sheet, of circular shape and which, in general, has been precut. PA1 the said plane sheet is in the form of a precut blank comprising a central zone whose dimensions correspond to the base of the receptacle to be produced and, extending from this central zone, radiating strips, separated from one another, whose total surface area is at least equal to the developed surface area of the volume surrounded by the said receptacle after forming; PA1 the said sheet is based on a substance, which is possibly recycled and/or recyclable, such as card, sheets of plastic (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.) or equivalent materials having a thickness and physical strength such that the lateral strips cannot deform under their own weight when they are oriented vertically or practically vertically; PA1 forming of the said sheet is achieved by compressing it in its central part, which brings about the lifting up of the radiating strips which come together edge to edge, with possible overlap, the folded-up strips and the flat bottom being held in this position.
The plant thus displayed is possibly wrapped using a plane sheet: (paper or film in particular) whose edges are securely fastened (stapling, bonding, etc.) after positioning around the article.
Although commonly used, these solutions do not, however, give complete satisfaction.
Indeed, if the articles comprising a pleated wall (and having the shape of an open tube surrounding only the periphery of the pot or possibly the shape of a cover comprising a bottom) allow a use for pots of different diameters, the presence of pleats leads to a deformation of the motifs which may be printed on the surface (decoration, text).
The covers comprising a smooth peripheral surface have, themselves, the drawback of only being able to be used for one and the same type of pot.
Moreover, all the solutions proposed to date are either not leaktight (in the case of the peripheral sleeve) or leaktight (cover surrounding the base and the lateral wall of the pot), and do not allow a choice between one or other of these possibilities, whereas it is desirable to have a perfectly leaktight receptacle during transport of the pot and it is very often desirable for the moistening water to be able to flow out when the plant is unwrapped.
Finally, apart from the receptacles of the "pleated sleeve" type which are very elastic and do not take up much storage space, the other types of pot covers, although they are stackable to a certain extent, occupy a significant volume.
Thus, there has been found, and this is the subject of the present invention, a novel type of receptacle which allows these drawbacks to be overcome, which can not only be stored flat and be formed only at the moment of its use (thus facilitating transport and storage of the empty receptacles) but may be printed on the surface with any type of motifs which are not deformed during forming of the said receptacle, and may be produced from a very wide range of raw materials, especially recycled and/or recyclable materials.
Moreover, when the receptacle in accordance with the invention is intended for pot plants, it can be used for pots having different dimensions and, in a preferential embodiment, be used either in leaktight form or non-leaktight form, at the choice of the user.

Receptacle which can be used for displaying, decorating and even protecting various articles, such as pot plants in particular


An interface that connects a conventional auto alarm with the audio system of that auto, specifically to the amplifier for the sub-woofer(s), which is connected to low frequency producing speaker(s). Woofer and Sub-woofer bass frequencies are capable of penetrating objects, such as buildings, that high frequency cannot. This sound supplements other alarm signals to increase the chance of alarm status notification. The interface includes a sound generator for producing low frequency signals for output to an external amplifier; an adjustable gain is provided to adjust output levels.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to alarm systems, and more particularly to an alarm system interface that connects with a high fidelity audio system to provide penetrating bass frequency output. The invention is also related to the general field of products that are designed to get the attention of the hearing impaired. These supplemental bass frequencies can be noticed at times when the high frequency output of an alarm siren is blocked by walls or other obstructions, and can be felt or heard by those whose hearing does not register higher frequency sounds.
2. Description of Prior Art
Alarm systems are known in the art as are audio systems. A typical alarm system is installed for the purpose of securing a defined area from unauthorized intrusion or trespass. The area that is secured will usually comprise a closed area, such as a specified room within a building, or an entire building or house. In the case of automobile alarm systems the secured area protected typically comprises the interior of the automobile but may also extend to unauthorized tampering with the exterior of the automobile.
High fidelity stereo systems and components are known in the art. A typical automobile audio system will comprise a head unit which is the in dash tape deck or Compact disk or radio or all three in one. In any case the audio system sends a signal to an amplifier and then sends a amplified signal to the speakers. In fact, High Fidelity stereo speakers can create so much bass that some states have enacted laws to govern how loud these audio systems can be played. See:
"Shake, Rattle And Roar; Thunder In The Distance? No, It's A `Boom Car` Coming." (Cars with huge stereo systems). Time, Mar. 6, 1989 v133 p52(1). PA0 "Muffling The Boom Cars."(states ban car stereos that can be heard more than 50 feet away). Time, Jan. 29, 1990 v135 p63(1).
Many home and automobile alarms rely on high frequency exterior sirens to alert others of an alarm condition. However, by comparison, no known alarm system uses low bass frequencies to alert others to an alarm condition. While high frequency sounds are muffled or stopped by objects and walls, low frequency sounds consist of a more penetrating energy and can continue audibly through walls and buildings.
There have been several devices designed to get the attention of the hearing impaired in situations where a person of normal hearing abilities would be alerted by the sound of an audible alarm. Some examples are wrist bands that vibrate like a beeper/pager. Others are lights that flash or bed vibrators. All of these "attention getters" can be connected to a phone/fax, fire alarm, or door bell so that they will be activated by these devices. The current invention and preferred embodiment does the same, with the exception that it uses the bass producing ability of a hi-fidelity home or auto stereo system to gain attention. Hearing impaired persons often have the unique ability to "feel" or "sense" pressure waves or bass waves almost like a fifth sense. This is especially true when that individual is also blind. Over time this sensitivity can become highly developed.
Alarm systems known in the art do many things including the use of motion sensors that sense when a person penetrates an invisible barrier. The motion sensors in these systems may trigger either an exterior horn or a voice synthesizer to warn away intruders through exterior speakers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,217, Nvkerk: issued May 26, 1992 discloses an alarm system which remotely senses the presence of a person in the proximity of the protected vehicle and issues an audible warning to move away. This disclosure includes the use of audio speakers to notify the alarm owner if any intrusions were made but says nothing of using bass speakers for audible notification of the alarm being tripped. No prior art has been found that includes an alarm system performing the functions of the present invention.


A control system is provided. The control system includes a state management unit configured to control state information indicating a state of a communication terminal and a control unit configured to, when a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal communicate, determine whether content data should be transmitted from the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal and whether content data should be transmitted from the second communication terminal to the first communication terminal based on a set of the state information indicating the state of the first communication terminal and the state information indicating the state of the second communication terminal controlled by the state management unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system, a communication system, a control method, and a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, along with, for example, a request for reducing the cost and time of travel of people, a communication system which provides calls and conferences over the communication network of the Internet or a dedicated line or the like have become popular. In this kind of communication system, when communications between communication terminals are started, content data such as image data and audio data is sent and received, and thus, the communications between the sites are realized.
Further, a communication system is used in a reception desk work. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a remote reception desk system in which, in the case where an interactive service is provided for a plurality of reception desks by using a video phone, it is possible to switch the reception desk that is connected to the video phone.
However, according to a conventional communication system, when communication between communication terminals is started, content data transmission is started in both directions simultaneously. In other words, there is a problem in that a start timing of content data transmission from a first communication terminal to a second communication terminal cannot be different from a start timing of content data transmission from the second communication terminal to the first communication terminal.

Control system, communication system, control method, and recording medium


A structure for supporting a hydraulic cylinder that controls pivoting of a rear axle in a forklift. The rear axle is supported pivotally to the body. The hydraulic cylinder connects the rear axle to the body. Two hydraulic oil chambers are defined in the hydraulic cylinder. Movement of hydraulic oil between the oil chambers is selectively permitted and prohibited to selectively permit and prohibit pivoting of the rear axle. The body includes a pair of side frame members located on the sides of the body and a pair of cross frame members connected to the side frame members. The rear axle is located under the cross frame members. One end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected to the cross frame members by an upper joint. An upper pin, which is part of the upper joint, is directly supported by the cross frame members. Accordingly, an exclusive bracket for coupling the hydraulic cylinder to the body is not necessary. This simplifies the structure for coupling the hydraulic cylinder to the body.

The present invention relates to a structure for supporting fluid pressure cylinders that are used to control pivoting of axles with respect to vehicle bodies.
A forklift includes a body, a rear axle supported by the body, and rear wheels mounted on the rear axle. Typically, the rear axle is pivotally supported with respect to the body. Thus, the axle pivots with respect to the body to constantly maintain traction between each wheel and the ground surface even when the forklift travels along bumpy surfaces. However, the pivotal structure of the axle may reduce the driving stability of the forklift. For example, the forklift's center of gravity may be raised due to the load being carried. In such state, if the forklift is steered in a sudden manner when changing direction, centrifugal force acting laterally on the forklift (lateral acceleration) may tilt the forklift body. Accordingly, an axle locking apparatus has been proposed to stabilize the forklift under such circumstances. The apparatus restricts the pivoting of the axle with respect to the body when a detected yaw acceleration or lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined value.
As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus includes a hydraulic cylinder 22, which is located between a body 20 and a rear axle 21. The cylinder has two hydraulic oil chambers that are connected to each other by a passage. An electromagnetic valve 23 is arranged in the passage. The electromagnetic valve 23 closes the passage to stop the movement of hydraulic oil between the two oil chambers. This locks the hydraulic cylinder 22 and prohibits pivoting of the rear axle 21 with respect to the body 20. To permit pivoting of the rear axle 21 relative to the body 20, the electromagnetic valve 23 opens the passage. This allows movement of hydraulic oil between the two oil chambers and thus unlocks the hydraulic cylinder 22.
An upper bracket 24 is welded to the body 20 to support the hydraulic cylinder 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper bracket 24 has a base plate 27 and a pair of parallel support plates 28 fixed to the base plate 27. An upper pin 25 is supported by the support plates 28 and is parallel to the pivoting axis of the rear axle 21. The hydraulic cylinder 22 has a cylinder tube. An upper anchor 26 having a bore is defined at the top portion of the cylinder tube. The upper anchor 26 is held between the support plates 28 with the upper pin 25 extending through the anchor bore. Accordingly, the hydraulic cylinder 22 is pivotally connected to the body 20.
As shown in FIG. 4, a lower bracket 30 is fixed to the rear axle 21. A lower pin 29 is supported by the bracket 30 and is parallel to the pivoting axis of the rear axle 21. A lower anchor 26 having a bore is defined at the bottom portion of the cylinder tube. The lower pin 29 extends through the bore of the lower anchor 26. This pivotally connects the hydraulic cylinder 22 to the rear axle 21.
The upper bracket 24 is produced exclusively to connect the hydraulic cylinder 22 to the body 20. However, the employment of the single-purpose bracket 24 not only increases the number of components required to support the hydraulic cylinder 22 but also complicates the structure for coupling the hydraulic cylinder 22 to the body 20. Thus, the employment of the bracket 24 results in additional tasks during production of the forklift and thus lowers efficiency.

Structure for supporting fluid pressure cylinders used to control pivoting of vehicle axles

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


The latch holding a sprinkler head valve in a closed position is released by a temperature responsive controller. The temperature responsive controller controls actuation of an explosive detonator which in turn fractures a frangible member forming a part of said latch whereby a rapid response is provided.

Temperature responsive sprinkler heads are well known. Such sprinker heads suffer from a number of objections. One such objection is the slow response time associated with the melting of a fusable alloy. Another problem associated with prior art sprinkler heads is the "cold sink" affect which slows down the response time of a temperature responsive disk or the like. The present invention is directed to a solution of a problem of providing a more rapid reponse sprinkler head which is extremely sensitive, reliable, and durable.


An object of the invention is to provide a surface mount type crystal oscillator in which a probe can be easily brought into contact with a crystal inspection terminal. The surface mount type crystal oscillator is such that a crystal piece and an IC chip are housed within a container main body having a bottom wall and frame wall formed with laminated ceramics, and a communication terminal is provided on an outer side surface of the container main body. The communication terminal is provided so as to span from the outer side surface of the bottom wall to the outer bottom surface of the outer wall, the communication terminal is made the crystal inspection terminal, and the crystal piece and the IC chip are arranged in parallel on the inner bottom surface within the container main body.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a surface mount type crystal oscillator (hereunder, referred to as a "surface mount oscillator"), and in particular, to a communication terminal (such as a crystal inspection terminal and a writing terminal) of a surface mount oscillator with reduced height.
2. Background of the Invention
A surface mount oscillator, because of its small size and light weight, is used particularly in portable electronic devices as a source of frequency reference or time reference. As an example of this, there has been proposed a surface mount oscillator for an electronic card that includes, for example, a SIM (subscriber identity module) card in which a crystal piece and an IC chip are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction.
3. Prior Art
FIG. 3 is a drawing for describing a conventional example of a surface mount oscillator, wherein FIG. 3A is a broken sectional [sectional] view, and FIG. 3B is a plan view with a metal cover removed.
A surface mount oscillator of the conventional example is such that a crystal piece 2 and an IC chip 3 are housed within a concave section of a container main body 1 with a frame wall 1b laminated on a bottom wall 1a made of a ceramic material, and a metallic cover 4 covers them to thereby seal-enclose them therein. The container main body 1 is of a sectionally concave shape, and is made of laminated ceramics having a rectangular shape in plan view. On the inner bottom surface 1d of the container main body 1, there are provided a pair of crystal retention terminals 5 and circuit terminals 6 of the IC chip 3, and on the outer bottom surface 1f thereof, there are provided mount terminals 7 that correspond to a set substrate to be equipped together with other electronic components.
Here the crystal piece 2 is of a rectangular shape in plan view, and is AT cut for example. Moreover, on both principle surfaces of the crystal piece 2, there is provided an excitation electrode 8, and lead-out electrodes 9 extends out from both sides of one lengthwise end section thereof. The both sides of the one end section of the crystal piece 2, from which the lead-out electrodes 9 extend out, are fixed to the crystal retention terminals 5 by means of an electrically conductive adhesive agent 10. The IC chip 3 has an integrated amplifier and the like that configure an oscillating circuit, and is arranged on the inner bottom surface 1d of the container main body 1 so as to be adjacent to and horizontally parallel with the crystal piece 2. Moreover, it is flip-chip bonded using bumps 11, and respective IC terminals (not shown in the drawing) provided on the circuit forming surface are electrically connected to the circuit terminals 6 provided on the inner bottom surface 1d.
The crystal terminals among the IC terminals are electrically connected to the crystal retention terminals 5, and a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, an output terminal, an AFC terminal, and the like among the IC terminals are electrically connected, via end surface electrodes 7a, which are formed by means of through-hole processing, to the mount terminals 7. The metallic cover 4 is joined onto a seam ring 12 provided on an opening end surface 1e of the container main body 1, by means of seam welding for example. The seam ring 12 is made of a metallic body or a thick metallic film.
In such a conventional surface mount oscillator, the crystal piece 2 and the IC chip 3 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction on the inner bottom surface 1d of the container main body 1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the height thereof, compared to one in which the IC chip 3 is arranged under, that is to say, arranged vertically-superimposed under the lower surface of the crystal piece 2, both sides of one end section of which are fixed on an inner wall step section as shown in FIG. 4 for example. As a result, it is suitable as a surface mount oscillator to be built-in in a thin electronic device or even in an electronic card.
Incidentally, in a case where the crystal piece 2 and the IC chip 3 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction on the inner bottom surface 1d, the height of the container main body 1 may be approximately 0.3 mm and the thickness of the metallic cover 4 may be 70 μm; and in a case where the seam ring 12 provided on the opening end surface 1e of the container main body 1 is a metallic body (120 μm), the total height may be approximately 0.5 μm; and moreover in a case where the seam ring 12 is a thick metallic film (film thickness 10 to 20 μm), the height may be approximately 0.4 mm.
On the other hand, in a case where the crystal piece 2 and the IC chip 3 are arranged vertically superimposed, the height of the container main body 1 is 0.55 mm. Moreover, with the thickness of the seam ring 12 (metallic body: thickness 120 μm) and the metallic cover 4 (thickness 70 μm), the total height thereof is approximately 0.75 mm. Therefore, in a case where the crystal piece 2 and the IC chip 3 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, the height of the entire oscillator can be reduced. (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H09-83248, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-13650)


A test structure and method of its manufacture are presented for use in metrology measurements of a sample pattern. The test structure comprises a test pattern comprising a portion of the sample pattern including at least one selected feature and a blocking layer at least partially covering regions of the test structure adjacent to the at least one selected region.

Microelectronic devices are widely used and are becoming smaller in dimensions, as well as more complex. Manufacturing of such microelectronic devices requires process control using inspection and metrology applied to patterns on substrates (e.g. wafer substrates), as well as identify defects in such patterns. Generally, the structure's properties (geometry and material composition) can be determined by analyzing the optical response of the structure at different wavelengths, different polarization states and/or different directions.
Accurate characterization of the geometrical and material properties of microelectronic devices becomes increasingly challenging, as the critical dimensions become ever smaller and the patterns become more complex. Optical scatterometry (including spectral reflectometry and spectral ellipsometry, etc.) is an extremely effective method for obtaining information on the geometry and material properties of such structures. In this method, broadband light is shone on a sample and collected after being returned from it. By analyzing the returned light of different wavelengths and polarization components of the incident light, incident at different directions, it is possible to obtain information about the structure/sample. Commonly, optical scatterometry is applied to test structures comprised of a repeating array of identical elements, e.g. grating.
Metrology is commonly used to identify specific attributes of the measured structure, such as geometric parameters or material characteristics, and typically utilize spectral measurements. The accuracy by which these parameters can be measured is directly determined by their effect on the measured spectra.
All multiple patterning applications (involving pitch splitting/division) create arrays of lines-and-spaces with overlay appearance as a difference between lines and spaces that are located at the same level (same material and same layer), actually creating multiple critical dimensions (CDs) per period. Such multiple patterning applications include the Litho-Etch-Litho-Etch (LELE) technique, and the Spacer Assisted Double Patterning (SADP) technique. Double Patterning (DP) can create a line CD and two different space CDs for SADP, and up to four different CDs for case of LELE.

Test structure for use in metrology measurements of patterns


A processor determines whether to generate a first entry, based on whether a second entry is in a storage, for each conditional expression included in retrieval expressions. The first entry includes, in association with a first identifier, a first path included in the conditional expression. The second entry includes, a second path identical to the first path in association with a second identifier. The processor determines whether to generate a third entry based on whether a fourth entry is in the storage. The third entry includes a first set and a fifth identifier in association with a third identifier. The first set is included in the conditional expression and includes a first value and a first operator. The fifth identifier is the first identifier or the second identifier. The fourth entry includes a second set identical to the first set and the fifth identifier in association with a fourth identifier.

As an existing retrieval system, a large-scale retrieval system is known with which plural clients are coupled and which accepts input of retrieval requests often including long retrieval expressions consisting of plural conditional expressions and always executes the retrieval expressions in a multiplex manner. Such a system may not perform another process while performing a process corresponding to the retrieval request for data on which data retrieval is to be performed. Accordingly, when a new retrieval request is input from a client while the retrieval system is performing a process for retrieval, a process corresponding to the new retrieval request may be delayed until the currently performed process ends.
Retrieval expressions which are input to the retrieval system from different clients and which are to be processed simultaneously by the retrieval system often include identical conditional expressions. In the existing retrieval system, when identical retrieval requests are input in this way, a meaningless process of repeating identical retrieval processes is performed and thus a retrieval time extends in proportion to the total number of conditional expressions which include redundant conditional expressions, thereby delaying the process. Conditional expressions may be redundant not only when identical conditional expressions are included in different retrieval expressions but also when identical conditional expressions are included in a single retrieval expression.
Expressions (1-1) to (1-3) represent examples of plural retrieval expressions. Here, A, B, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, and E3 respectively represent conditional expressions.Retrieval Expression_1=(A and B and C1) OR (A and B and C2) OR (A and B and C3)  (1-1)Retrieval Expression_2=(A and B and D1) OR (A and B and D2) OR (A and B and D3)  (1-2)Retrieval Expression_3=(A and B and E1) OR (A and B and E2) OR (A and B and E3)  (1-3)
Identical conditional expressions A and B are present in Expressions (1-1) to (1-3). Not only that, the conditional expressions A and B appear three times in Expression (1-1).
To address the problem of redundant conditional expressions, a ride-sharing retrieval method of collectively processing plural retrieval expressions has been proposed. The ride-sharing retrieval is one instance of a "multiple instruction stream, single data stream (MISD)" architecture for enhancing the performance on multiplex processing of retrieval expressions. In the ride-sharing retrieval, plural retrieval expressions received for a predetermined time are merged to perform the retrievals. Therefore, a data reference time for the plural merged retrieval processes becomes 1, thus the processing efficiency may be enhanced.
A related technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-222194.
In an existing retrieval system, when a specific record is extracted from similar data sets, extraction conditions thereof are complicatedly described and thus retrieval conditions may be often highly complicated. In the retrieval system using the ride-sharing retrieval method, since the data reference time for plural retrieval processes may become 1 by merging data reference regarding identical conditional expressions included in the plural retrieval expressions received for a predetermined time to perform the retrievals, thereby enhancing the processing efficiency.
However, in the retrieval system using the ride-sharing retrieval method, the total number of conditional expressions, which are elements of the retrieval expressions, is not changed even when the retrieval expressions are merged. Accordingly, an evaluation time of conditional expressions is not changed before and after the merging. That is, for identical conditional expressions, the data reference time may become efficient but the evaluation time of the conditional expressions does not become efficient in some cases.

Retrieval control method and retrieval server


There is described a buck-boost converter comprising: a voltage source; an inductor, wherein a first terminal of the inductor is switchably connected to the voltage source; and a plurality of capacitors switchably connected to a second terminal of the inductor, wherein a respective plurality of output voltages are formed across the plurality of capacitors, further comprising: an error determination means, for determining an error in each of the plurality of voltages, an inner control loop adapted to switchably connect one of the plurality of capacitors to the second terminal of the inductor in dependence on the determined errors; and an outer control loop adapted to control switching between buck mode and boost mode in dependence upon the determined errors.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an efficient power management method and apparatus for providing multiple supply voltages from a single voltage source.
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern fourth generation wireless handset solutions, there is an expectation that a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) will generate an array of voltages of different values for powering various blocks, including for example digital cores, inputs/outputs, analogue circuits and power amplification stages. These blocks will have different voltage requirements. The voltages will be required to be generated from a single lithium ion cell having a terminal voltage with a typical value between 2.6V and 5.5V.
In order to provide this a so-called H-bridge buck-boost topology, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is typically provided.
With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a voltage generation stage 100. A voltage source 110, typically a battery, provides an input voltage on line 112. Switching control elements consist of a buck section 104 formed by switches 102 and 103, and a boost section 109 formed by switches 105 and 106. Capacitor 107 is a capacitive storage element and inductor 108 is an inductive storage element. The voltage source 110 has an exemplary voltage supply of 2.5V. Supply stage 100 has to switch between buck and boost modes to control an output voltage on line 114.
In boost mode, the voltage source 110, typically a battery, has a value which is lower than a desired voltage at the output 114. In buck mode the voltage source 110 has a value which is higher than a desired voltage at the output 114.
A problem with the topology such as illustrated in FIG. 1 is that a separate voltage generation stage 100 must be used for each voltage required to be generated. That is, a voltage generation stage is dedicated to generating one voltage and, and when n voltages are required n voltage generation stages 100 are required. Thus the entire circuit of FIG. 1 must be replicated for each required voltage. This results in a number of buck-boost circuits, and in particular an associated proliferation of inductors. This adds to cost, takes up space, and generates interference.
In order to overcome these problems, in the prior art there has been proposed approaches to improve power management ICs. These approaches include: the provision of on-chip inductors; switched capacitor solutions; and multi-winding transformers.
It has been more recently proposed, in UK patent application number 0808873.4 (Nujira Limited) filed 15 May 2008, to provide a voltage generation apparatus comprising: a voltage source; an inductor, wherein a first terminal of the inductor is switchably connected to the voltage source; and a plurality of capacitors switchably connected to a second terminal of the inductor, wherein a respective plurality of voltages are formed across the plurality of capacitors. Thus using a single inductor, a single set of buck switches, a single set of boost switches, and n capacitors, n supply voltages can be generated.
It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved power management arrangement for the provision of multiple voltage levels for such an arrangement.