An engraving system and method for engraving a pattern, such as an intermeshing pattern, using a plurality of engraving devices is disclosed. The engraving system and method sequences and engraves the plurality of engraving devices such that when the areas engraved by those devices meet, they provide a continuous engraved pattern. The system and method also includes an imaging system and method for imaging the engraved areas associated with the engraving heads so that the heads or signals driving the heads may be adjusted to further facilitate providing engraved areas which appear as if they had been engraved by a single engraving head when, for example, an engraved area of one head meets an engraved area of other head. Also disclosed is a method and system for sequencing and transmitting image data associated with an image to be engraved in order to accommodate any cylindrical offset or an angular displacement between, for example, two engraving heads that are positioned in a generally opposed relationship.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system and method for engraving using multiple engraving heads, and more particularly, to an engraver having multiple engraving heads for engraving a substantially continuous, intermeshed or blended engraving pattern using multiple engraving heads.
2. Description of Related Art
The electromechanical engraving of a gravure cylinder involves rotating a cylinder while actuating an engraving head, or engraving heads having a diamond stylus carried on an oscillating shaft. The stylus cuts or engraves cells, lines of cells or tracks into the surface of the cylinder to produce an engraved cylinder for use in a printing process. The engraved cylinder is normally used in a web-type gravure printing press for printing paper, plastic, metallic film material, or other printed material.
In engravers for engraving cylinders used for printing publications, such as magazines or the like, the engraver may include multiple engraving heads wherein each engraving head includes a diamond stylus. By providing multiple heads, each head may be used to engrave different portions of the cylinder wherein each portion of the cylinder engraved by a respective head may, by way of example, correspond to a different page of the publication.
The movement of the styli for performing the engraving operation is precisely controlled to ensure that the engraved cells, or lines of cells or tracks formed by each engraving head are located at the desired positions on the cylinder. However, the initial positioning of the engraving heads relative to each has historically been very labor intensive wherein a skilled worker manually adjusts the position of each engraving head prior to an engraving operation.
Because of the manual intervention and because he styli of each engraver head wears differently, varying copper hardness in the surface of the cylinder, and differences in engraving response, characteristics of each engraving head and the like, it was difficult to use two or more engraving heads to engrave a continuous pattern. The cells or areas engraved by the different heads would not match-up, thereby creating an undesirable seam in the cylinder which may subsequently cause a visible printing defect.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a system and method for enabling multiple or a plurality of heads to be used in engraving operations such that the heads can cooperate to engrave a continuous blended and/or intermeshed pattern.

Method and apparatus for engraving patterns with and without image feedback


Apparatus and associated methods for improving I/O performance in a computing system which includes one or more MPUs and one or more IOPs. I/O requests are queued by a requesting MPU in a memory shared with one or more IOPs. Each IOP is associated with a queue. Each IOP may continue processing queued I/O requests after completing processing on an earlier request. In addition, each MPU is associated with a queue shared with the IOPs. When an IOP completes processing of an I/O request, a completion message is added to the requesting MPU's queue and an interrupt is generated for that MPU. The MPU services all completion messages in its queue when the interrupt is processed. A threshold value is associated with each MPU queue. The threshold value indicates the minimum number of completed I/O requests required before an interrupt request is generated to the MPU. The threshold value for each MPU may be tuned to permit the computing system to balance the need for rapid I/O response time with the need for reduced interrupt overhead processing in the MPU. Various physical embodiments of the invention are disclosed wherein the queue is located in either a shared memory or in a register file. Additionally, various embodiments separate the queue used to store new I/O requests from the queue used to store completion messages while other embodiments merge the two queuing functions into a single queue where each entry contains an I/O request with a completion status field.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a computing system input/output (I/O) architecture wherein one or more main processors (MPUs) communicate with one or more I/O sub-processors (IOPs) to achieve high performance I/O throughput. More specifically, the invention relates to a an I/O system of reducing the overhead incurred in initiating an I/O request and in servicing interrupts associated with completed I/O requests.
2. Background of the Invention
It has long been a problem in the computing arts to maintain high performance I/O throughput to or from peripheral devices while reducing the wasteful overhead processing required to perform the I/O operations. In particular, in multi-user/multi-tasking computing environments, it is important that the I/O overhead be kept to a minimum to permit the main processor to service the needs of other users/tasks as one user/task generates I/O processing.
It is common that I/O peripheral devices are attached to a main processor through I/O controller circuits, I/O controller circuits manage the lower level details of operating a peripheral I/O device to relieve the main processor of this burden. For example, a seek operation on a rotating disk drive requires a significant number of lower level operations relating to servo motor controls, actuator controls, and various sense circuits to detect the proper positioning of the read/write head. When a specific requested operation is completed, the I/O controller circuit would perform the required low level operations, then interrupt the main processor to signify completion and await further instructions.
The speed of peripheral I/O devices has increased steadily over time. For example, rotating disk drive mass storage devices now rotate faster than earlier designs and store data more densely on the recording surface (magnetic or optical recording surfaces). The increased speed of peripheral devices tends to increase the frequency of interruption of the main processor for servicing interrupts indicating completion of I/O requests previously initiated by the main processor. To reduce the number of such interrupts of the main processor, I/O peripheral controller circuits have been designed with increased "intelligence" to reduce the number of interrupts of the main processor associated with completion of each 110 request.
Controller circuits which control I/O peripheral devices attached to a small computer system interface bus (referred to herein as SCSI) exemplify the evolution of "intelligence" in I/O peripheral device controllers. Early (so called "first generation") SCSI I/O peripheral device controller circuits required many low level commands to accomplish a single I/O operation. These early I/O peripheral device controller circuits typically interrupted the main processor following completion of each low level command. In SCSI bus control as performed by first generation SCSI control circuits, a single I/O request may include commands to arbitrate for the SCSI bus, commands to select the target device, commands to request the data transfer, commands to disconnect and reconnect the peripheral from the SCSI bus, and various commands to change the SCSI bus state in association with these other commands. Therefore, a single I/O request could require several low level I/O commands be generated to the I/O controller and would generate a corresponding plurality of interrupt requests to the main processor to indicate completion of the plurality of commands. In this first generation I/O architecture, the main processor and the I/O controller would operate synchronously, each waiting for the other to proceed to its next step. Second generation SCSI controller circuits introduced several multiphase commands which automatically sequenced through several of the states and low level operations required to complete a single I/O request. Fewer commands and corresponding interrupts (possibly as low as one) would be generated to the main processor for each I/O request processed. Many of these second generation I/O controller were capable of handling multiple I/O requests. Third generation SCSI controller circuits added various "scripting" functions to permit more complex command sequences, including some exception conditions, to be handled by the SCSI controller without the need for interrupting the main processor. These third generation devices were capable of continuing processing after generating an interrupt to the main processor. Most such designs could therefore handle multiple I/O requests at the same time.
Other types of I/O peripheral device controller circuits have evolved in ways similar to the SCSI controller circuits. More intelligence has been added to the controller circuits to reduce the number of interrupts of the main processor to nearly one for each I/O request initiated by the main processor. As a further example, network controller circuits (i.e. Ethernet or Token Ring LAN controller circuits) have similar "intelligence" in their designs to reduce the number of interrupts of the main processor. A single I/O request of such intelligent LAN controllers may generate a single interrupt request of the main processor despite the fact that several interim steps or lower level commands may be completed to satisfy the single I/O request.
These prior design improvements in peripheral device controller circuits have helped reduce the overhead processing requirements in the main processor. However, as processor power increases, so increases the demands for processing power within the application programs running on the main processor. Despite these improvements, it remains a problem to reduce the processing overhead required of the main processor to thereby improve the performance of the overall system.
In view of the above it is clear that a need exists for an I/O system architecture which further reduces the I/O overhead processing required of the main processor associated with completion of I/O requests.

Employing request queues and completion queues between main processors and I/O processors wherein a main processor is interrupted when a certain number of completion messages are present in its completion queue


An orthosis to be placed on the hand of a user, including a supporting member having the general shape of a horse saddle and having an inner flange and an outer flange, to be placed at the thumb-index commissure with the inner flange against the palm and the outer wing against the back surface of the hand, in order to enable a spacing to be maintained between the thumb and the index finger. The orthosis includes a strap to be placed around the hand and the supporting member so as to retain said supporting member such that the metacarpal bone of the thumb is trapped inside the orthosis between the strap and supporting member.

The present invention relates to an orthosis intended to be placed on the hand of a user, in particular to treat rhizarthrosis.
Rhizarthrosis—or arthrosis of the base of the thumb—is the wear of the cartilage of the joint at the base of the thumb, between the trapezius and the metacarpal bone. Aside from the pain it causes, this pathology can cause joint stiffness and deformation of the thumb, preventing the grasping of an object between the thumb and the index or other fingers. There is also a risk of luxation of the joint.
Orthopedic treatment of rhizarthrosis aims on the one hand to decrease pain, and on the other hand to prevent the loss of range of movement, i.e. the impossibility of moving the thumb away from the index finger.
Several types of orthoses of the hand used to treat rhizarthrosis are already known.
According to a first known embodiment, such an orthosis consists of a rigid piece made from a thermoformable material. The intervention of an orthotist is generally required to customize this piece. An orthosis of this type is therefore restrictive and expensive to produce. Furthermore, it cannot be easily adapted to wearing conditions, typically daytime wear and nighttime wear.
According to a second known embodiment, such an orthosis consists of a textile strap, possibly provided with stiffeners, that the user winds and fastens around his hand. This orthosis is generally difficult for the user to place alone. Furthermore, poor positioning can be detrimental to the orthopedic treatment.
Another hand orthosis to treat rhizarthrosis is proposed in document WO 2006/117808. The orthosis described in this document has a certain number of drawbacks.
First of all, it is fairly difficult to place, in particular when it involves positioning the additional band surrounding the finger, which is necessary to maintain the piece on which the thumb rests.
Furthermore, in order to obtain effective immobilization of the area of the lesion, this orthosis blocks other zones, whereas this is not directly necessary for the concerned pathology. This in particular involves the distal part of the thumb, the base of the long fingers, and an extended area around the joint of the wrist. This causes a significant limitation of the movements of the hand, which makes the orthosis fairly uncomfortable and impractical, and may dissuade some people from wearing it.


An interlocking adapter in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a current path, an electric load, a switch, and a controller. The controller turns on and off the switch in synchronization with a change of an alternating-current voltage received from an electric outlet of an electric apparatus in response to reception of an interlocking command signal from a working machine so as to supply a load current from the electric outlet to the electric load. The controller turns on and off the switch at a specified ratio of a time every ½ cycle of the alternating-current voltage.

The present disclosure relates to a technique for operating an electric apparatus in an interlocking manner with a working machine.
Japanese Patent No. 4955332 discloses an interlocking adapter configured to be attached to an electric outlet provided in a dust collector.
The interlocking adapter is configured to supply electric current to a resistor in the interlocking adapter from the electric outlet, in response to reception of an interlocking operation command transmitted from an electric power tool by a receiver of the interlocking adapter.
The interlocking adapter allows interlocking operation of the dust collector with the electric power tool without supply of an alternating current (AC) voltage from the dust collector to the electric power tool, and also eliminates wiring between the dust collector and the electric power tool.
The interlocking adapter further allows interlocking operation of an electric apparatus, such as a dust collector, with not only an AC-driven working machine, such as an electric power tool operated by an AC voltage, but also a battery-driven working machine.

Interlocking adapter, and method for operating electric apparatus in interlocking manner with working machine


Disclosed is a method for providing improved step coverage of contacts with conductive materials, and particularly metals. A conductive layer is deposited over an insulating layer, either before or after contact opening formation. After both conductive layer deposition and contact formation, a facet etch is performed to slope the conductive layer overlying the contact lip while depositing material from the conductive layer into the lower corner of the contact, where coverage has traditionally been poor. A second conductive layer may then be deposited into the contact to supplement coverage provided by the first conductive layer and the facet etch.

Multiple line and device levels in an integrated circuit are typically separated by insulating dielectric layers. Contact opening, more simply referred to as "contacts" are formed through the insulating layers to provide electrical contact between two or more conductive layers. The insulating layers must be grown or deposited to a minimum thickness. Too thin an insulating layer results in an intolerably high interlevel capacitance, which ties up otherwise available conduction carriers. Thus, as dimensions continue to be scaled down to the submicron level, the contact opening shrinks in size but the depth of the contact (through an insulating layer) must remain the same. In other words, the aspect ratio of contact openings increases as circuitry becomes more densely packed.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art conductive layer 3 deposited into a contact opening 4 to provide the interlevel electrical contact. It should be understood that FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view, omitting the backwall for simplicity, but that the contact 4 is ordinarily etched in the shape of a cylinder. Unfortunately, physical vapor deposition of the conductive layer 3, such as metal sputtering and evaporation, produces poor step coverage into narrow contact openings having high aspect ratios. During a metal sputter deposition, for example, metal builds quickly on a lip 5 of the contact 4. A lower corner 6 of the contact 4, in contrast, has very thin metal coverage. This thin layer is subject, during circuit operation, to high resistance and electromigration. Electromigration is the motion of metal ions in response to high density current flow, which can even further thin the metal coverage at a bottom 7 of the contact 4 by piling up the metal ions in some regions while forming voids elsewhere, leading to breakage of the metal layer and open circuits. Adding small amounts of copper (Cu) to aluminum films somewhat diminishes but cannot eliminate the effect of electromigration where poor step coverage produces excessively thin aluminum films.
Quick build-up of sputtered metal on the lip 5 of the contact 4, and the resultant poor step coverage, is produced in part and compounded by a shadow effect at a vertical sidewall 8. The faster deposition of metal on the contact lip 5 creates a bulge into the mouth of the contact 4, sheltering the lower portions and thus even further slowing down deposition in the lower corner 6 of the contact 4. Eventually, the metal may pinch off at the contact mouth before significant metal is deposited in the lower corner 6. Where the contact has an aspect ratio of 1.0 or greater (contact height is equal to or greater than the diameter of the opening) the deposited metal is especially susceptible to pinching off and closing the contact. Voids or "keyholes" are thus created in filling the contact.
One method of improving step coverage involves a process of sloping the sidewall of the contact, thus opening the contact in a tapered or cone shape. The minimum diameter of the bottom of the contact, however, is still limited by photolithographic resolution. Sloping the contact sidewall thus increases the total area occupied by the contact and reduces the allowable packing density. Such decreases in packing density are unacceptable in the face of current commercial requirements for the miniaturization of integrated circuits.
Conductive plugs, which completely fill the contact, have been implemented to eliminate the problem of voids and poor step coverage created by sputter-depositing metals into high aspect-ratio vertical contacts. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) must generally be used for this process, and tungsten (W) is most often the material used for the plug. Tungsten and the process required for its deposit, however, are expensive compared to conventional sputter-deposited metals.
Tungsten demonstrates higher sheet resistivity than aluminum or other conventional metal interconnects. Thus, tungsten plugs should be used in conduction with lower resistance metal runners, such as alumninum. Separate chambers are required for the metal runner depositions, and for the tungsten plug CVD after contact formation. An adhesion layer is required for efficient deposition into the contact, due to poor adhesion of CVD tungsten to insulating materials in which the contact is formed. On the other hand, poor adhesion may remain in other areas, such as the wafer backside, so that an unwanted tungsten film may delaminate and contaminate the chamber.
In order to use tungsten plugs in conduction with low-resistance metal runners, the tungsten should remain only in the contact, rather than over the entire wafer. If the CVD tungsten is blanket-deposited, a planarizing etchback of the tungtsten is necessary to remove the excess tungsten over the insulating layer prior to aluminum deposition, for example. The etchback requires both a sacrificial layer and an etch process with a 1:1 etch rate ratio for the sacrificial layer and the tungsten. Seeding and selective deposit also requires an etchback step if contacts of different depths are to be filled simulataneously. These requirements make tungsten plugs expensive and difficult to reliably construct. Depositing polysilicon plugs entails similar problems, including high sheet resistivity and the resultant need for additional process steps in providing metal lines over the polysilicon plugs. Additionally, polysilicon plugs often require doping to avoid high contact resistance with underlying doped materials.
It would thus be advantageous to find alternate methods of providing good step coverage into contacts, utilizing conductive materials with lower resistivity, such as aluminum. In this way, conductive runners may be formed simultaneously with the interlevel contact within the opening.
One method of completely filling contacts with aluminum or other metals having low resistance is through bias sputtering. However, the high temperatures associated with this process tend to cause undesirable effects, as is well-known in this art, such as damage to the single-crystal substrate, or formation of large aluminum-copper grains which are difficult to etch. On the other hand, conducting the process at lower temperatures has resulted in excessive electromigration.
Much attention has recently been paid to laser planarization of aluminum layers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,233, issued to Yu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,611, issued to Yu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,819, issued to Yu et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,780, issued to Sandhu et al., all disclose improved methods of laser planarization. An aluminum film is irradiated with a pulsed laser, heating the metal to a molten state which may flow and completely fill the contact. The metal layer naturally becomes planarized by this process. An anti-reflective coating, however, is required to efficiently transfer the laser energy to the aluminum, which would otherwise reflect over 80% of the laser energy impinged upon it. Additionally, a very small process window is available in which enough energy is transferred to melt the aluminum without evaporation or other damage to the wafer.
A need thus remains for an efficient method of filling contacts with good step coverage for forming interlevel electrical contact. Advantageously, such a method would also be compatible with conventional sputter deposition techniques, allowing for simultaneous provision of a metallization or interconnect level so as to minimize process steps and cost.

Facet etch for improved step coverage of integrated circuit contacts


The present invention relates to methodologies for the self-assembly of nanoparticles onto a release support that is capable of covalent integration into flexible free-standing films. Such films display usefull constitutive properties, such as permittivity, permeability, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and nonlinear optic properties. The type of property is dependant upon the type of nanoparticle incorporated into the compliant polymeric matrix. The compliant matrix may be any material that reacts with the components in the nanoparticle film and may be separated from the release substrate. The nanoparticles may be dispersed uniformly or spatially patterned throughout the self-assembled film.

Recent advances in technology have increased the demand for improved nanocomposite material processing with strict tolerances on processing parameters. For example, current integrated circuit technology already requires tolerances on processing dimensions on a submicron scale. Self-assembly approaches have been developed for the fabrication of very thin films of composite materials. These self-assembly processes, however, while highly advantageous, generally are limited with respect to the types of materials that can be deposited by a particular process, by costs and manufacturing facilities.
Presently, nanocomposite materials are manufactured in large manufacturing facilities that are expensive to build and to operate. For example, semiconductor device fabrication generally requires specialized microlithography and chemical etching equipment as well as extensive measures to avoid process contamination. Furthermore, the fabrication processes typically used to create electronic and electromechanical components involve harsh conditions, such as high temperatures and/or caustic chemicals. In addition, high temperatures also preclude fabrication on substrates such as flexible plastics, which offer widespread availability and lower costs.
Presently, there is a serious drawback associated with using polymer materials in the thin film due to their susceptibility to marring and scratching by physical contact with harder materials. Continuous marring and scratching result in impaired visibility and poor aesthetics, and often requires replacement of the plastic components.
Several techniques to improve the abrasion wear resistance of plastic substrates use coating solutions which may be spread onto the desired plastic substrates by dip, spray, spin, or flow techniques. The resulting coatings generally offer significant improvement of abrasion-resistance, but generally exhibit flow marks on the surface and an uneven coating thickness distribution that may cause undesirable optical aberrations.
Other techniques for forming abrasion-resistant coatings involve spin dip, spray or flow methods to form abrasion resistant coatings on smooth surfaces such as optical elements in spectacle lenses. The build-up of the coating material at the outer edge of the lens, however, can cause optical aberration. These techniques are even less satisfactory when they are used to coat irregular surfaces. Moreover, the application of many of the prior abrasion resistance coatings require thermally activated initiators so the plastic substrates must be exposed to elevated temperature in order to fully develop the physical properties of the coating and to remove the solvents. Such high temperature processing may significantly degrade the quality of the plastic, through the incorporation of residual stresses.
Vapor deposition techniques for coating application have also been employed. The technique typically involves the vapor deposition of a top layer of silicon dioxide onto an intermediate layer of an acrylate-type polymer that has, in turn, been coated onto a polycarbonate substrate. This evaporative technique of applying a layer of silicon dioxide, however, is often undesirable for several reasons, including (i) insufficient bond strength between the silicon dioxide layer and the underlying polymer layer, (ii) the resulting non-uniform surface is often characterized by pinholes, pits, and other imperfections, (iii) the difficulty to obtain uniformly thick coatings on curved or irregular or large-size substrates, (iv) the significant degradation of the plastic due to its exposure to high temperature, and (v) the spalling and cracking that occurs when the film thickness is increased beyond approximately 0.5 micrometer.
Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide methodologies to lessen the disadvantages associated with the fabrication of nanocomposite materials.

Rapidly self-assembled thin films and functional decals


A steel cord (1) for the reinforcement of elastomers, especially for the reinforcement of breaker layers in a tire, said steel cord comprising two strands of at least two filaments (11, 12) each, said strands being twisted around each other and forming helicoids of a same pitch, the filaments (11) of the first strand having a pitch differing from the pitch of said helicoids and having a value of more than 300 mm, the filaments (12) of the second strand having the same pitch as said helocoids and being twisted in the same sense as said helicoids, all the filaments of both of said strands having a diameter between 0.08 and 0.45 mm, wherein the diameter of the filaments of one of said strands is at least 0.02 mm greater than the diameter of the filaments of the other of said strands. Preferably the diameter of the filaments (12) of said second strand is at least 0.02 mm greater than the diameter of the filaments (11) of said first strand.

The invention relates to a steel cord for the reinforcement of elastomers, comprising two strands of at least two filaments each so as to form an m+n -structure, where m is the number of filaments of the first strand and n the number of filaments of the second strand, m and n being greater than or equal to two.
The steel cord according to the invention is particularly suitable for use as a reinforcement of rubber articles such as tires, and more particularly for use as a reinforcement of breaker layers in a tire.
Steel cords for use as a reinforcement of breaker layers in a tire conveniently comprise steel filaments having a diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.60mm, preferably between 0.15 and 0.45 mm. A conventional steel composition for such steel cords is a carbon content above 0.65 %, preferably above 0.80 %, e.g. 0.83 % or 0.85 %, a manganese content between 0.40 and 0.70 %, a silicon content between 0.15 and 0.30 %, and maximum sulphur and phosphorus contents of 0.03 %. However, the invention is not limited to such a steel composition. Other elements such as chromium, nickel or boron may also be added. The steel cord usually has a rubber adherable layer such as a copper, zinc, or brass alloy.
The state of the art of steel cords for reinforcement of elastomers, and more particularly for reinforcement of a breaker layer of a tire provides several different constructions.
Among these constructions the n.times.1 -constructions occupy a special place. These are constructions with n filaments twisted together with the same twist pitch and in the same twist sense, n is an integer number between 3 and 5. The problem with these constructions is that they have a central void where rubber cannot penetrate during vulcanisation and where moisture may easily enter and cause corrosion.
A solution to this problem has been given by the open n.times.1 -constructions. These are constructions where one or more filaments are kept apart from each other by giving them a specified preformation during the twisting process. However, this preformation must exceed a certain limit in order to avoid closing the steel cord when this is put under tension during the vulcanisation process. The problem is then that too high a preformation may cause an irregular cord aspect and instability.
In addition to the n.times.1 -constructions the 2+2 -construction which is disclosed in US-A-4,408,444 has been widely used in the tire manufacturing industry too. This cord has the advantage of having full rubber penetration whether brought under tension or not, but has the drawbacks of a poor fatigue limit and a still too great cord diameter. As a consequence this cord is less suitable when a high fatigue performance is required or when a thin rubber ply is a priority.

Steel cord with improved fatigue strength


A tape drive having a reel release sensing procedure and system is provided. In one example, the tape drive includes a motor coupled to a reel driver for driving a reel of a storage device, a sensor for detecting movement associated with the reel driver, and a controller. The controller operates to activate the motor to rotate the reel driver prior to coupling the tape to a drive leader. The controller further determines if the reel driver moved in response to activating the motor based on a signal from the sensor, and causes the tape to be loaded into the drive if the reel moved (or moved more than a predetermined amount/distance). For example, the controller may determine the reel is released if the reel driver moved in response to activating the motor and is not released otherwise.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to storage media drives and removable storage media devices, and in one example, to a storage media drive having a reel lock release sensing system and method.
2. Related Art
Magnetic tape cartridges have been used to conveniently and efficiently store and handle magnetic recording media for tape drives. One type of tape cartridge consists of a substantially rectangular exterior cartridge housing and a single reel containing a magnetic tape positioned within the housing. The cartridge housing includes an upper housing section and a lower housing section that substantially enclose the magnetic tape, which includes a cartridge leader. The cartridge leader becomes exposed through an opening in the cartridge housing during insertion of the cartridge into the tape drive. The tape drive is then able to engage and retrieve the tape from the cartridge for recording and/or playback.
The reel includes a hub, one or more flanges, and a plurality of teeth that are exposed through an access opening in the lower housing section. A reel driver (sometimes referred to as a drive clutch) on the tape drive engages the teeth in order to rotate the reel and load the tape (i.e., unwind the tape) into the drive. Typically, a spring within the cartridge housing biases the reel toward the opening in the lower housing section. During engagement between the reel driver and the teeth, the tape drive exerts a force against the reel, urging the reel toward the upper housing section, thereby partially compressing the spring to promote a secure engagement between the drive clutch and the reel. The tape drive then rotates the reel and guides the tape across a data transducer that reads data from and/or writes data to the tape.
A cartridge further typically includes at least one reel lock mechanism to prevent the reel from rotating when not positioned within a tape drive receiver, thereby securing the media within the cartridge housing until the one or more reel locks are released or disengaged within the media drive. For example, a typical DLT tape cartridge includes two reel lock mechanisms, both of which are released when in a media drive to enable the tape drive to load the media. Damage to the tape drive, the cartridge, or both may results if one or more of the reel locks fails to release properly when the cartridge is inserted into the tape drive and an attempt is made to load the media. For example, the tape drive leader integrity may be compromised if the reel locks are not properly released when attempting to load the media.

Cartridge reel lock release sensing systems and methods


A cap having a top wall and at least one circumferentially extending sidewall having an inner surface with internal threads therealong and a terminating bottom edge of the sidewall defining an open end opposite to the top wall. The terminating edge is provided with an inwardly extending locking lug for engaging with an outwardly extending tab on a threadable neck of a container. The cap may be of double wall construction with an outer wall and an inner wall spaced therefrom wherein the threadable connections for the neck of a container are on the inner surface of the inner wall and the locking lug is on the terminating edge of the outer wall. A window is also provided along the terminating edge of the outer wall, the window being in visible alignment with the locking tab.

This invention relates to safety closures for use on containers to prevent easy access to the contents therein by particularly small children and more particularly relates to a safety closure having an internal locking lug for engagement with outwardly extending locking tabs on the neck of a container.
Various types of locking mechanisms are known for securing closures or caps onto containers which are used for medicines and/or toxic substances. The primary objective of such locking mechanisms is to prevent young children from removing the closure from the container and thereby being exposed to the medicines or toxic substances therein. There are a number of safety disclosures taught in the prior art for the specific use of preventing easy removal by small children with access to the containers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,153 teaches a safety closure which teaches a cap with an internal threaded wall portion with downwardly protruding lugs on the lower edge of the wall for mating relation with a lug recess on a container neck whereby continued rotation of the cap leads the lug into the recess thereby releasibly locking the cap upon the container neck and unlocking is accomplished by applying an inward squeezing force to the cap or portion of the cap to flex the lug outwards to disengage the lugs from the lug recess. However, in many of these prior art references teaching internal locking lugs, the user is unable to observe a lock/unlock function. And, in many cases, because of the inability to see the locking and unlocking functions of the cap with the neck of the container, the cap may not be rotated sufficiently to place the locking lug and locking recess or tab in a locking position.

Safety closure having an internal locking lug


A method associated with the selection of tubulars for hydrocarbon production is described based upon evaluating the performance limits of threaded connections. Constituents of an evaluation group of threaded connections are determined and then a first group of the connections is evaluated via model analysis over a range of conditions. Then, physical testing on a first group of threaded connections in the evaluation group is conducted over that range of conditions. Once modeled, the results from the physical testing and the modeling analysis of the first group are compared to assess a characteristic performance factor for the first group. A second group of threaded connections are determined and the assessed performance factor from the first group is applied to a second group, and the performance limits of the second group are defined over the range of conditions based on this characteristic performance factor, without requiring testing the second group.

The production of hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, has been performed for numerous years. To produce these hydrocarbons, a production system may utilize various devices, such as tubular members, within a well. Typically, the tubular members are placed within the wellbore to provide structural support, zonal isolation, and allow for communication between subterranean formations and surface facilities. That is, the tubular members may provide flow paths for formation fluids, such as hydrocarbons, within the wellbore and to facilities located at the surface. As these tubular members are individual sections of pipes, two or more tubular members may be joined together by threaded connections or welds to provide this functionality within a well.
For the threaded connections, two distinct classifications are utilized, which are API (American Petroleum Institute) and premium connections. API connections typically rely on entrapment of thread compound in the helical thread paths to provide sealability. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,301 and 5,212,885. Alternatively, premium connections typically rely on a metal-to-metal seal formed by the threaded connections to provide sealability. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,487. These metal-to-metal seals are integral to the design of the connectors of the tubular members.
Regardless of the classification, threaded connections in a wellbore are generally designed to maintain structural integrity and sealability performance during the life of the well for various environmental and safety reasons. For example, sealability is one performance characteristic of the threaded connection that describes how pressurized reservoir or injection fluids are contained within the tubular member. Sealability performance of the threaded connections is affected by, among other things, the fluids being transported, temperature, pressure, tensile and compressive loads, bending, surface finish, thread compound, base material properties, connection geometry, make-up torque and other factors. Also, the threaded connections are exposed to different conditions during make-up, during placement into the wellbore, and/or during production and injection cyclic loading. As such, sealability is one performance measure that may be assessed during evaluation of the threaded connections formed by different tubular members.
Various methods may be utilized to assess the performance of the threaded connections. One method for evaluating performance of a threaded connection is to physically test the threaded connection under possible conditions expected during its lifetime. For this method, an understanding of anticipated field operations should be considered to provide performance results that accurately reflect the environment that the threaded connection is likely to experience. Because of the complexity, physical testing is expensive and time consuming, often taking several months to complete with costs of several hundred thousands of dollars.
A second method for evaluating performance of a threaded connection may include finite element analysis (FEA). FEA may assess the contact characteristics of connection features (i.e. the metal-to-metal seals, threads, etc.) as well as the stress-strain response of the threaded connection under varying load conditions. While the FEA method is generally inexpensive and not time consuming, assessing threaded connection performance based solely on computational criteria may be misleading. For instance, the FEA method does not capture micro-mechanisms, such as surface interactions during make-up. In some evaluations, a false positive is achieved, indicating that the computational criteria are met for a specific load, but subsequent physical testing indicates that the threaded connection does not achieve the predicted performance. In other evaluations, physical testing may reveal adequate performance, while the computational criteria of the FEA method were not satisfied. Finally, while FEA may be used to assess stress-strain response, it may not be used to explicitly assess the impact of certain parameters, such as thread compound and surface finish, on performance. As such, while using a FEA only method to evaluate threaded connection performance reduces the amount of time and cost to identify candidate threaded connections for a given application, the individual threaded connections are generally each physically tested to ensure adequate performance.
A third method for evaluating performance of a threaded connection is to use FEA in combination with limited physical testing. See Hilbert et al., "Evaluation of Premium Threaded Connections Using Finite-Element Analysis and Full-Scale Testing," SPE 23904 (1992). This method utilizes a standardized test program to verify the integrity of the threaded connections. A result from this type of evaluation is typically valid for any application (i.e., not specific to an individual well or loading condition). However, extrapolating the results from one test program of one connection geometry (i.e., diameter and wall thickness) to a different geometry is challenging and problematic. In addition, the cost associated with performance assessment of geometrically similar threaded connections is high.
An example of this method includes the commercial use of an FEA criteria to evaluate sealability in the United States in 2004. In this use, the sealability criteria were developed from comparisons of seal versus leak behavior exhibited during physical testing with behavior predicted by FEA. The FEA criteria were then applied to FEA results from subsequent connection evaluations to assess load and pressure combinations at which adequate sealability performance was expected. These results were then placed into a database and used to make commercial decisions about equipment purchases.
Further, although the approach described above has typically been used for the evaluation of individual threaded connections, it was also applied in 2004 to the evaluation of connection groups in the United States. In this application, physical testing was performed on threaded connections at the geometric extremes of a group. The FEA results were utilized for commercial purposes to aid in interpolation of sealability between these extremes for other threaded connections. These results were then placed into a database and used to make commercial decisions about equipment purchases.
Limitations of the prior evaluation methods include (1) the lack the proper scalability for the individual threaded connections; and (2) the expense or time consumed by the methods. Also, threaded connections contained in the evaluation group were not selected based on any criteria to ensure that their individual performance limits should be similar to other threaded connections in the group. As such, the need exists for a method for evaluating a group of threaded connections with the specificity of physical testing, simplicity of FEA testing, and clarity of performance limits that account for the various factors governing connection performance.
Other related material may be found in at least U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0178847; U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,220; U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,598; U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,524; U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,368; U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,487; U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,079; U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,871; U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,888; U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,301; U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,885; U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,579; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,001.

Method and system for evaluating groups of threaded connections


Multi-station web handling apparatus having a pair of nip rolls at each station, where at least one of the rolls of each pair of nip rolls is deformed at the nip and having a print-to-print and/or cut-to-print image registration system and method that prevents image mis-register errors from occurring, as opposed to attempting to correct mis-register errors after they have occurred and have been sensed. Each of the stations includes a driven nip roll positioned upstream of and closely adjacent to the nip of the pair of nip rolls of the station. The rolls are driven at the same speed as the pairs of nip rolls at the stations are driven.

The present invention relates to web handling apparatus having a system and method for controlling the print-to-print or cut-to-print registration of a series of regularly spaced, repeated images, printed on a moving web, as the web moves through a plurality of spaced apart stations that perform web handling operations, such as printing, cutting and the like, with respect to the images on the moving web. More particularly, the present invention relates to a print-to-print and/or cut-to-print registration system and method that may be used with a variety of web handling apparatus including especially a multi-station, web fed rotogravure printing press.
Gravure printing has been used for years and is recognized as being particularly useful for printing high quality, multi-colored images, such as found on commercial packaging, advertisements and the like, at relatively high speeds. In such multi-colored printing, images are printed in one color on a moving web at a first printing station and then the web passes through a drier section before proceeding to a second printing station where a second color is printed on the images. This printing and drying sequence is repeated at the various printing stations comprising the web-fed rotogravure printing press until a final, full color image is achieved. Some presses include a web cutting station as the last station in the press.
High quality multi-colored printing on web-fed rotogravure printing presses requires the maintenance of close registration between the adjacent images on the web. Failure to obtain this registration may result in a fuzzy or blurred image.
Even though the stations, including the printing stations, in rotogravure printing presses are mechanically linked so that the nipped rolls at each station are driven at the same speed, mis-register, as a practical matter, is a continuing problem with web-fed rotogravure printing presses. The art has long sought a simple, relatively inexpensive solution to image mis-register problems in rotogravure printing presses.
The previous systems used to minimize image mis-register in web fed rotogravure printing presses sought to sense errors in the relative positions of the images and then take steps to correct the sensed position errors as quickly as practicable. In other words, prior print-to-print and/or cut-to-print registration systems did not attempt to avoid mis-register of the images, but rather only sought to correct any mis-register after it had occurred and had been sensed.
Typically the prior systems sensed mis-register by sensing the relative positions of a series of marks printed on a side marginal edge of the moving web. This sensing required the use of spaced apart sensors positioned along the moving web as it passed through the printing press. The sensed information is analyzed (generally by a computer), and the system then attempts to make corrections to the web speed or the tension on the web to seek to bring the images on the web back into registration.
The prior systems, presently in use by the art, tend to be relatively expensive, not only in terms of the equipment that is needed to sense the mis-register and control the web, but also due to the cost of the side marginal edge of the web, that is needed for printing the information to be sensed, since generally this edge must be discarded after printing. Further, when a different image is to be printed on a press, the sensors must be repositioned at the same time as the rolls in the press are changed. This adds to the press set up time. Moreover, the presently used systems, even those employing state of the art equipment, still do not avoid some image mis-register. A typical example of such mis-register, that heretofore had to be tolerated by the art, is 0.06 inch.
In 1973, one of the inventors herein, John R. Martin, postulated six rules for controlling image registration on a moving web. According to these rules, print-to-print or cut-to-print registration is maintainable: (1) if all web drive points are non-slip; (2) if the web is uniform within spans; (3) if the web in any span is not subject to any intermediate forces; (4) if "gains" with respect to the web are reasonable; (5) if all drive points have a constant relative speed; and (6) if the web path between nips is constant. The last rule, rule 6, can be satisfied where all the drive and idler rolls are permanently located if the tension of the web entering the first printing station is constant. While the theoretical basis for these Martin rules was and remains sound, manufacturing a web-fed rotogravure printing press that will satisfy the requirements of these rules has not heretofore been possible.

Wen handling apparatus having improved image registration system and method


A wide band phased array antenna includes a radio frequency reflector hav a focal axis, and first and second sides and an m number of transverse electromagnetic transmission carriers, where each of the carriers includes a first conductor which generally transects the focal axis of the reflector and is electrically connected to a first side of the reflector, and a second conductor electrically connected to a second side of the reflector, where m is a positive integer. The RF reflector is located between the first and second conductors for guiding the beam.

The present invention relates to the field of antennas, and more particularly, to a phased array antenna employing an electromagnetic reflector and multiple transverse electromagnetic feeds each having a center conductor which generally transects the focal axis of the reflector.
A phased array antenna generally consists of a group of radio frequency energy radiating elements placed in close proximity to each other so that they provide the collective capability to steer an RF beam. The elements may range in size from miniature dipoles to huge parabolic dishes used in radio telescopes, depending on the desired operational characteristics of the antenna. The elements typically are arranged in a regular pattern with a spacing of one-half the wavelength of the RF energy to be received or transmitted by the antenna. If the elements are very close together, they will degrade each other's performance unless special precautions are taken. If they are far apart compared to the wavelength of interest, they cease acting collectively. The amplitude and phase of the input power to each element preferably are established to optimize the beam width, angle of maximum scan, side lobe level, and location of nulls in the radiation pattern of the antenna. The use of a phased array antenna permits the achievement of desirable applications such as the steering of the beam with simple elements with little intrinsic capability.
During the past several years there has been growing interest in developing wide band phased array antennas having a bandwidth of a decade or more. Conventional wide band phased array antenna systems use several antennas, where each antenna contributes a portion of the total operating bandwidth. However, the use of multiple antennas requires significant space, which is a limited resource on board ships or on the tops of buildings, where many antennas are located. Therefore, a need exists for a wide band phased array antenna system which overcomes the aforementioned limitations.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,178, "ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR RADIATING MULTIPLE PLANAR BEAMS," describes an antenna system for simultaneously radiating a plurality of planar beams into a region of space. The system includes a cylindrical radio frequency (RF) reflector having a focal axis, and includes feed horns which are oriented perpendicular to the focal axis of the reflector. However, this type of antenna uses feed horns which generate RF signals at a relatively narrow bandwidth. The beam from this antenna can only be steered in perpendicular direction with respect to the focal axis of the reflector in an elevation plane.

Wide band tem fed phased array reflector antenna

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


A motor-vehicle has a storage compartment defined by a floor, walls, and a seat of the vehicle and provided with a cargo restraint system having an upright main rod and a mount holding the rod in the compartment for rotation about an upright main axis and including a retractor for rotationally urging the rod in one direction and for inhibiting rotation of the rod in the opposite direction under predetermined circumstances. An elongate flexible web has an inner end attached to the rod and an outer end and an outer rod fixed to the outer end of the web has a lower end engageable in any seat of an array of seats spaced from each other on the floor that releasably secure the outer rod to the floor at the respective seat in an upright position.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,520 a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment provided with pair of passenger seats and a luggage compartment behind the seats having a floor has a cargo-restraining apparatus provided with a support defining a horizontal pivot axis at the floor in the luggage compartment immediately behind the seats. A rigid panel has an inner edge pivoted at the pivot axis on the support and an outer edge and has oppositely directed faces extending between the edges.
The panel is movable between an erect position in which it is substantially vertical with its outer edge level with upper ends of the seats and a recumbent position lying on the floor with one of its faces directed upward and forming a cargo-support surface in the luggage compartment. An elongated housing on the panel normally contains a flexible retaining sheet that is extensible from the housing to restrain cargo in the luggage compartment.
In the system of German utility model 7,634,005a net is wound like a window shade about a rod that is provided on one of the window posts slightly behind the seat backs of the vehicle with its axis vertical. The net can be pulled out and strung across the space above the seat backs and attached at the opposite window post to restrain cargo or pets behind the seats. So that any object that is propelled forward against the net, for instance during a sudden stop or collision, is arrested, the net is dimensioned such that it is pulled all the way out when connected to the opposite window post. Thus even if an object does engage it, the net cannot be pulled any farther out and will therefore effectively stop the object.
Another system described in German utility model 7,734,063 has a net carried on a horizontally extending rod fixed to the seat backs. Such a net is pulled up to close the space behind the seats and prevent any cargo therein from coming over the seats during a sudden stop or collision. Such a system must be built to fit exactly in the particular vehicle and is not suitable for use as a retrofit. Furthermore, as in above-mentioned DE-GM 7,634,005, it serves merely as a shield for the vehicle passengers and does not restrain the cargo against shifting around in the cargo space behind the seats.


A recording medium has a base and an ink receiving layer, in which the ink receiving layer contains colloidal silica, a zirconium compound, an ammonium salt, and hydroxycarboxylic acid and 90% or more of the colloidal silica contained in the ink receiving layer exists in a region of 0 nm or more and 300 nm or less in the depth direction from the outermost surface of the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a recording medium for use in an ink jet recording method and the like, a recording medium having a porous ink receiving layer containing inorganic particles on a base is known. In such a porous ink receiving layer, when the number of voids is large, the refractive index of the ink receiving layer is low. Therefore, there is a tendency for the reflectivity on the surface of the ink receiving layer to decrease, and thus the glossiness of the recording medium decreases. Then, as a method of improving the glossiness of the recording medium, a method of providing a gloss layer containing colloidal silica on the outermost surface of the recording medium is known. A reason why the glossiness of the recording medium improves as a result of the recording medium containing the colloidal silica is as follows. The colloidal silica is likely to take a configuration in which the colloidal silica is densely packed when the ink receiving layer is formed as compared with other inorganic particles. Therefore, since the number of voids, which lead to a decrease in glossiness, decreases, the glossiness becomes high. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-152777 describes a recording medium having a gloss imparting layer containing the colloidal silica.


A method and apparatus for determining spatial distribution of a complex radio frequency (RF) of both transmit field and receive sensitivity a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes estimation of the absolute phase of transmit field using a reference transmit coil or array coils with minimal absolute phase. The method and apparatus include estimation of complex receive sensitivity of a transceiver coil using the complex transmit field of the transceiver coil or array coils.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important modern medical imaging modalities to generate high-resolution anatomical and functional images. It has far less risk of side effects than most other imaging modalities such as radioscopy with x-rays or computed tomography because patient and medical personal are not subjected to ionizing radiation exposure in the procedure. The use of MRI has grown very fast. Every year, more than 30 million MRI scans are performed in the United States; more than 60 million MRI scans are performed worldwide. Doctors often recommend MRI for the diagnoses of various diseases, such as tumors, strokes, heart problems, and spine disease. A high-quality scan is important for maximizing diagnostic sensitivity and making the right diagnosis. Generally, a high quality image requires high signal to noise ratio (SNR), high contrast to noise ratio (CNR) between normal and pathological tissues, low levels of artifact, and reasonable and acceptable spatial-temporal resolution.
Before the commencement of each magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) or MRI scan, it is common practice to adjust the strength of the transmit field and/or the receiver sensitivity to ensure that the RF excitation and reception have the optimal frequency, strength and duration to evoke the desired MRS or MRI signals. This does not necessarily mean that the expected RF transmit field will be produced uniformly throughout a cross section and/or a volume of the object being imaged, or that the resulting MRS or MRI signals will be received uniformly from all locations. Transmit RF field produced by most transmit coils as loaded by the object being imaged is not homogeneous, and the receiver sensitivity of most receiver coils is similarly not homogeneous. This is particularly true of imperfect coil configuration, such as surface coil and phase array coils. Even if the transmit and receiver coil fields are homogeneous for free space (i.e., the unloaded space or space in the absence of the object), wave behavior and penetration of the RF field into the subject may give rise to non-uniform transmit field and receiver sensitivity throughout the region of interest. This is known as the subject loading effect, and this effect becomes pronounced at higher static B0 magnetic fields such as at static magnetic field of about 3.0 Tesla or higher. Even at lower static magnetic fields, the subject loading effect may be non-negligible. Moreover, the incorrect calibration of the RF pulse amplitude, instability or drift of the RF amplifier or other RF electronics, can lead to non-uniform transmit field. Also, mutual inductance between a transmit coil and a receiver coil may cause further inhomogeneities in the transmit and receive fields.
In order to obtain a detectable MRS or MRI signal, the object being imaged (also referred to herein as "object" or "subject") must be exposed to a static basic magnetic field (usually known as the B0 field) which is as homogeneous as possible. While the magnetic resonance images are being recorded, the basic magnetic field has fast-switched gradient fields superimposed on it for spatial encoding, which are generated by gradient coils. Moreover, using radio-frequency (RF) antennas, RF pulses near Lamour frequency are radiated into the objected being imaged. RF transmit field of a transmit coil is normally designated as B1+. Using these RF pulses, the nuclear spins of the atoms in the object being imaged are excited such that the atoms are deflected by a so-called "excitation flip angle" from their equilibrium position parallel to the basic magnetic field B0. The nuclear spins then precess around the direction of the basic magnetic field B0. The magnetic resonance signals generated in this manner are recorded by RF receiver coil. The receiver coil may be either the same coil which was used to generate the RF pulses (i.e., a transceiver coil) or a separate receive-only coil. The magnetic resonance images of the object are generated based on the received magnetic resonance signals. The MRS or MRI signal is picked up by a receiver coil. RF field of a receiver coil is normally designated as B1−. The acquired measurements are digitized and stored as complex numerical values in a "k-space" data. An associated MR image can be reconstructed from the k-space data, for example, by an inverse 2D or 3D fast Fourier transform (FFT) from raw data, which are collected in the spatial frequency domain (the "k-space"). The k-space data usually includes multiple lines acquired with different phase encoding. Each line is digitized by collecting a number of samples. A set of k-space data is converted to an MR image by means of Fourier transformation. Each image point in the magnetic resonance image is assigned to a small body volume known as a "voxel" and each brightness or intensity value of the images points is linked to the signal amplitude of the magnetic resonance signal received from this voxel.
In order to reach the optimal MRI image quality, trade-offs among (a) scan time, (b) spatial or temporal resolution and (c) signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), have to be made by the developments and applications of MRI techniques. SNR and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) are fundamental metric of quality and performance in MRI. The improvement of SNR and CNR are major challenge in MRI system. The lowest SNR and CNR become the limiting factor in scan time or resolution. RF coils are an essential part of the system, functioning as a transmitter or receiver of RF signal. RF fields generated from the RF coils are one of major factors that determine the SNR and CNR. Understanding and estimation of RF field is important in the design and application of MRI system. For example, one of major drawback of MRI is long scan times compared to other imaging modalities. The long scan time of MR imaging is uncomfortable for patients. Additionally, it introduces the potential for motion-related artifacts (especially in critically ill patients), enhance possibility of repeated scans, and increases cost. Over the last decade, parallel imaging technique is employed in nearly every clinical MRI scan to reduce scan time and enable fast data collection. The acceleration factors can reach two- to threefold in routine clinical practice. The shortened scan time can be used to improve patient compliance (particularly for sick patients), to enhance the spatial resolution or increase the volumetric coverage, and reduce the cost of MRI exams.
The quality of images acquired with parallel imaging techniques, including parallel transmit and parallel receive, strongly rely on the transmit field of a transmit coil and the receiver sensitivity of a receiver coil. The accurate estimation of the transmit field and the receiver sensitivity directly influence the performance of the parallel imaging techniques.
The complex transmit field B1+ of RF transmit coils, including magnitude and absolute phase of transmit field B1+, is important for many aspects of MRI scanning.
The spatial information of complex transmit field B1+ of RF transmit coils is important for the following applications such as: (1) coil design and RF safety; (2) transmit shimming and/or parallel transmit; and (3) inhomogeneity correction; (4) quantitative MRI or MRS; (5) simultaneous multi-slice imaging; and (6) exploration of new contrast and biomarker, such as in vivo conductivity. Since the electric conductivity and the regional specific absorption ratio (SAR) depend on the frequency of the applied RF field, we can calculate the electric conductivity and the regional SAR via the absolute phase of transmit field. SAR is a major safety concern in high-field RF coil designs and MRI exams. The transmit field generated by each coil or element includes both magnitude and phase. The absolute phase of the complex transmit field of the coil or element is important input for transmit shimming and/or parallel transmit so that we can adjust the currents of each coil or element create uniform transmit field. The non-uniform transmit field leads to not only signal intensity inhomogeneity but also contrast inhomogeneity because both signal intensity and contrast associate with the flip angles generated by the transmit field. The inhomogeneity of both signal intensity and contrast strongly influence visual and quantitative analyses of MR images. Both RF shimming and parallel transmit have been developed to correct the inhomogeneity. The electric property is estimated by absolute phase of transmit field B1+.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,229,074 B2 to Tobias Ratko Voigt et al. disclosed that local specific SAR was based on an electric property and the mass density of a segmented geometry of an object. In Phys. Med. Biol. 1991; 36:723-734, Haacke et al. discloses that EPT was estimated by quantitative MRI method. In Magn. Reson. Med. 2011; 66:456-466, Voigt T et al. discloses a method for quantitative conductivity and permittivity imaging of the human brain using EPT. Finally, the absolute phase of transmit field can be used to estimate the conductivity by Maxwell's equations. The accuracy and precision of absolute phase of transmit coil directly relate with those of the estimated conductivity. Therefore, the estimation of complex transmit field is very important for MRI techniques and their applications.
Various methods have been developed to estimate the magnitude of transmit field B1+. However, the estimation of its absolute phase of transmit field has been unsolved problem for a decade. Any few methods in image domain have been developed to approximately estimate the absolute phase of a transceiver coil and a multiple transmit coils. Most recently, the absolute phase of a transceiver coil can be estimated using multiple sequences and the superposition principle of electromagnetic field. These methods mentioned above estimate absolute phase of the complex transmit field of a transmit coil through approximation methods or existing coil (such as volume coil, virtual coil or one coil element of coil array) as a reference coil. These methods introduce a big error in the estimation of the absolute phase. So far it is not general method to estimate the absolute phase of the transmit field of a transmit coil accurately.
Estimating complex (e.g., absolute phase and magnitude) RF field (or RF receiver sensitivity) B1− of a receiver coil is important for various stages of the MRI procedure: (1) coil design; (2) parallel transmit; (3) parallel image reconstruction including magnitude image and/or phase image; (4) the combination of MRI or MRS signals from each element of multiple receivers; (5) exploration of new contrast and biomarker, such as susceptibility-weighted imaging, susceptibility tensor imaging, in vivo conductivity; (6) quantitative MRI and MRS, such as quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), temperature and encode flow velocity.
The major two challenge for estimating the complex B1− of a receiver coil are (1) that the complex B1− should be determined in vivo because the various characteristic of subject being images strongly influence the accuracy of complex B1−; and (2) other various factors (such as proton density of nuclear spins and transmit field) always entangle with the receiver sensitivity to contribute to the complex MRI or MRS signals. It is very difficult to separate these factors to estimate the complex B1− accurately. Various methods have been developed to estimate complex B1− from k-space domain, image domain and electromagnetic field. Most methods based on the signal intensity in image domain focus on the estimation of magnitude of the receiver sensitivity. These methods apply a virtual coil or body coil as a reference coil to estimate the coil sensitivity. But the absolute phase of a virtual coil or body coil is not uniform. This greatly creates the big error in estimating the coil sensitivity using the non-uniform absolute phase of the virtual coil or body coil. These methods are not accurate for both magnitude and phase of B1− because the effect of in vivo subject being image is ignorable. Additionally, the estimation of complex B1− in k-space domain are based on the assumption that the complex B1− changes smoothly and slowly, which is mainly determined by the low spatial components frequency of k-space data. Actually, the image contrast of subject being images is determined by the low spatial components frequency of k-space data. Therefore, the low spatial components frequency of k-space data always includes mix information from transmit field, receiver sensitivity and image contrast. It is very difficult to separate these contributions for determining the complex receiver sensitivity. So far the accurate estimation of the complex receiver sensitivity is unsolved problem in MRI and MRS system.

Systems and methods for estimating complex radiofrequency fields in a magnetic resonance imaging


The invention relates to a flexible pipe comprising an axis and a tubular innermost sealing sheath surrounding said axis, said innermost sealing sheath being surrounded by at least one outer armoring layer. The innermost sealing sheath has an inner side which is the side of the innermost sealing sheath comprising said axis. On the inner side of said innermost sealing sheath the flexible pipe comprises at least one carcass comprising a plurality of annular armoring members.

Flexible pipes of the present type are well known in the art in particular for offshore transportation of fluids. Such pipes comprise usually an inner liner also often called an innermost sealing sheath or an inner sheath, which forms a barrier against the outflow of the fluid which is conveyed through the pipe, and one or more armoring layers on the outer side of the inner liner (outer armoring layer(s)). An outer sheath may be provided with the object of forming a barrier against the ingress of fluids from the pipe surroundings to the armor layers.
Typical unbonded flexible pipes are e.g. disclosed in WO0161232A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,114 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,799.
In order to have sufficient strength, in particular to prevent the collapse of the innermost sealing sheath, the flexible pipe often comprise an armor layer located inside the space defined by the innermost sealing sheath. Such carcass layer or layers are normally referred to as a carcass.
The flexible pipes are often unbonded pipes. The term "unbonded" means in this text that at least two of the layers including the armoring layers and polymer layers are not bonded to each other. In practice the known pipe normally comprises at least two armoring layers located outside the innermost sealing sheath. The armoring layers are not bonded to each other directly or indirectly via other layers along the pipe. Thereby the pipe becomes bendable and sufficiently flexible to roll up for transportation. The outer armor layer or layers located outside the innermost sealing sheath are normally referred to as pressure armor, tensile armor or balanced pressure and tensile armor.
The above-mentioned type of flexible pipes is used, among other things, for off shore as well as some on-shore applications for the transport of fluids and gases. Flexible pipes can e.g. be used for the transportation of fluids where very high or varying water pressures exist along the longitudinal axis of the pipe, such as riser pipes which extend from the seabed up to an installation on or near the surface of the sea, pipes for transportation of liquid and gases between installations, pipes which are located at great depths on the seabed, or between installations near the surface of the sea.
In traditional flexible pipes, such as steel based flexible pipes i.e. where the armoring layers are mainly of steel, the armoring layers are in the form of helically wound profiles or wires, where the individual layers may be wound with different winding angles relative to the pipe axis in order to take up the forces caused by internal and external pressure as well as forces acting at the ends of the pipe and shear forces from the surrounding water. The carcass is typically wound from preformed or folded stainless steel strips.
A pipe of the above type will for many applications need to fulfill a number of requirements. First of all the pipe should have high mechanical strength to withstand the enormous forces it will be subjected to during transportation, laying down and in operation. The internal pressure (from inside of the pipe and outwards) and the external pressure (from outside of the pipe) are very high and may vary considerably along the length of the pipe. If the pipe resistance against the internal pressure is too low the internal pressure may ultimately result in that the pipe is damaged e.g. by upheaval buckling and/or burst of the flexible pipe. If the pipe resistance against the external pressure is too low the external pressure may ultimately result in deformation and/or Birdcaging of the flexible pipe and/or collapse of the innermost sealing sheath which is acting as the primary barrier towards outflow of a fluid transported in the flexible pipe. Simultaneously the flexible pipe may be subjected to highly corrosive fluids and chemical resistance may be needed. Furthermore, it is important that the weight of the pipe is kept sufficiently low as a too high weight may render certain use impossible. Furthermore the weight may also influence production and deployment costs.
In general flexible pipes are expected to have a lifetime of 20 years in operation.
The object of the invention is to provide a flexible pipe which pipe can be provided in long length with a desired strength and strength profile along its length and which pipe can be manufactured in a cost effective manner.
The present invention provides a novel flexible pipe and a method for its production which meet this object. The flexible pipe of the invention and embodiments thereof has shown to have a large number of advantages which will be clear from the following description.

Flexible pipe and a method of producing a flexible pipe


A method for inhibiting the use of dual tones over an established voice channel of a telecommunications network. The method inhibits a call tone by removing at least one frequency selected from a group of frequencies used for in-band signaling. The method may also determine a time for inhibiting the call tone.

The present invention relates to the communication of signaling information across a telecommunications network, such as the public switched telephone network.
In telecommunications systems, signaling performs three basic functions; namely (1) supervising functions, (2) alerting functions, and (3) addressing functions. Signaling for supervising functions monitors the status of a transmission line or circuit to determine its state (i.e., whether it is busy, idle, requesting service, etc.). Voltage levels, tones or data bits for example, are used for supervising function signals. Signaling for alerting functions is used, for example, to indicate the arrival of an incoming call with e.g., bells, buzzers, tones, strobes, lights, etc. Signaling for addressing functions is used to route signals over the network with, for example, dial pulses, tone pulses, and data packets.
Today, most signaling is carried out xe2x80x9cin-bandxe2x80x9d (i.e., it goes along and occupies the same circuits as those which carry voice conversations). Such in-band signaling is usually carried out with multifrequeny or single frequency signals. Unfortunately, many toll calls are not completed because the called phone does not pick up or is busy. Consequently, the circuit time used in signaling, which is substantial and expensive, becomes wasteful. Out-of-band signaling (such as signaling system 7, or xe2x80x9cSS7xe2x80x9d) uses circuit(s) separate from voice circuits, for signaling functions.
Although one skilled in the art understands the station equipment and transmission facilities used by Regional Bell Operating Companies (or xe2x80x9cRBOCsxe2x80x9d), a brief overview of such station equipment and transmission facilities is provided below for the reader""s convenience.
FIG. 1 illustrates the use of transmission facilities by various types of services. As shown in FIG. 1, a number of geographically remote central switching offices 120 are coupled via xe2x80x9ctrunksxe2x80x9d 114 and interoffice transmission facilities 118. Various entities, such as residences 102, businesses 104, and private branch exchanges (or xe2x80x9cPBXsxe2x80x9d) 106 are coupled with a central switching office 120 via xe2x80x9clinesxe2x80x9d 110, 112 and xe2x80x9cloop transmission facilitiesxe2x80x9d 108.
Thus, a loop transmission facility (or xe2x80x9csubscriber loopxe2x80x9d) 108 connects telecommunication equipment at a customer premises (e.g., a residence, business, etc.) with an associated central switching office 120. The loop transmission facility 108 is typically on the order of a few miles and usually includes paired copper wire. Interoffice transmission facilities 118, or trunks, connect different central switching offices 120. Interoffice transmission facilities 118 range from less than one mile to thousands of miles.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the connection of two pieces of terminal equipment at customer premises served by separate central offices. Terminal equipment X 202 (such as a telephone or modem for example) is coupled with central office A 206, via loop 208. Similarly, terminal equipment Y 204 is coupled with central office B 210, via loop 212. Central office A 206 is coupled with central office B 210 via trunk lines 214. If all of the trunk lines 214 are busy, central offices A and B, 206 and 210, respectively, may be coupled via trunks 216 and 220 and tandem office C 218.
The flow diagram of FIGS. 3a through 3d illustrates steps involved with initiating a call from terminal equipment X 202 to terminal equipment Y 204, processing the call, and terminating the call, in a system using xe2x80x9cin-bandxe2x80x9d signaling. For the purposes of the following discussion, it will be assumed that the terminal equipment X 202 and Y 204 are telephones. However, the terminal equipment X 202 and Y 204 may be other types of equipment, such as a modem for example.
FIG. 3a shows actions taken at the telephone X 202 and the central office A 206 in initiating the call. First, as shown step 302, when the handset of telephone 202 is lifted, it sends an off-hook signal to the central office A 206 via loop 208. At central office A 206, a change from on-hook to off-hook status is detected. More specifically, when the telephone X 202 is taken off-hook, a circuit is established and the central office A 206 detects a DC current flowing through the established circuit. As shown in step 304, this change in status is interpreted as a request for service. Next, as shown in step 306, assuming that an originating register is available to accept and store the digits to be dialed by telephone X 202, the central office A 206 connects a dial tone signal to the telephone X 202 via loop 208. Line side equipment 234, such as an analog line unit (or xe2x80x9cALUxe2x80x9d) or a digital line unit (or xe2x80x9cDLUxe2x80x9d) for example, provides the dial tone signal. As shown in step 308 a number is then dialed at telephone X 202. In response, as shown in steps 310 and 312, once the first digit of the number is recognized, the dial tone is disconnected and the numbers are stored in the originating register.
FIG. 3b shows actions taken at the central office A 206 in processing the call. First, as shown in step 314, control equipment at central office A 206 translates the dialed number. The control equipment performs this translation with a dual tone multiple frequency decoder (or DTMF) receiver which is discussed in more detail below. As shown in step 316, by examining the leading digits (e.g., the first three digits) of the dialed number, the control equipment determines whether the call is to another central office (i.e., an xe2x80x9cinter-officexe2x80x9d all) or to a subscriber serviced by the same central office (i.e., an intra-office call). In this example, it is assumed that the call is to telephone Y 204 which is served by a separate central office; namely, central office B 210. Next, as shown in step 318, routing information stored in the system indicates which paths (or xe2x80x9ctrunk groupsxe2x80x9d) are appropriate and translates the desired paths to representations of physical locations of terminations of the trunks. As shown in step 320, if the call is billable, an automatic message accounting (or xe2x80x9cAMAxe2x80x9d) register is requested to enable the telephone service provider to bill the appropriate parties. Next, as shown in step 322, the call information is transferred to an outpulsing register and the originating register is released. Then, as shown in step 324, the control equipment at central office A 206 begins scanning outgoing trunks to find an idle trunk to central office B 210.
If an idle trunk is found, as indicated in step 326, the call be transmitted directly from central office A 206 to central office B 210 via a free trunk 214. If, on the other hand, all trunks 214 from central office A 206 to central office B 210 are busy, then outgoing trunks 216 to tandem switching office C 218 are scanned such that the call may be routed from central office A 206 to central office B 210 via tandem switching office C 218.
FIG. 3c illustrates the actions taken to advance the call to the terminating central office; namely central office B 210. First, as shown in step 328, the idle trunk found in step 326 is seized. In response, as shown in steps 330 and 336, at central office B 210, an incoming register of a switch is seized and control equipment sends a ready signal back to central office A to indicate that the seized incoming register is ready to receive address information. In the meantime, as shown in step 332, at central office A 206, the line of telephone X 202 is connected, via the loop 208 and a switching network within central office A 206, to the seized trunk. In addition, as shown in step 334, control equipment at central office A 206 scans the outgoing trunk for the ready signal.
As shown in steps 338 and 340, when the ready signal sent by central office B 210 is received and detected by central office A 206, the call information is communicated from the outpulsing register of central office A to the seized incoming register of central office B 210. Next, as shown in step 342, before the last digit of the dialed number is sent, the control equipment at central office A 206 checks to see if telephone X 202 is still off-hook. If telephone X 202 is on-hook, the call is abandoned and the control equipment at central office A will terminate the call processing sequence and release associated equipment and circuits (e.g., seized registers, trunks, etc.). If, on the other hand, telephone X 202 is still off-hook, as shown in steps 344 and 346, the last digit of the dialed number is transmitted from the outpulsing register of central office A 206 to the incoming register at central office B 210 and the outpulsing register of central office A 206 is released.
FIG. 3d illustrates the actions taken to complete the call. First, as shown in step 350, the digits of the called number stored in the incoming register of the central office B 210 are translated to a physical location of the termination of the loop 212 of telephone Y 204 at central office B 210. Next, as shown in step 352, the status of the loop 212 of telephone Y 204 is checked to determine whether it is idle or busy. If the loop 212 is busy (i.e., telephone Y 204 is off-hook), a busy signal is returned to telephone X 202 via the switching network of central office B 210, trunk 214, the switching network of central office A 206, and loop 208. However, for purposes of this example, it is assumed that the loop 212 of the telephone Y 204 is idle (i.e., telephone Y is on-hook). In such a case, the incoming trunk 214 is coupled with the loop 212 of telephone Y 204 via the switching network of central office B 210. Next, as shown in steps 356, 358, and 360, a ringing register in central office B 210 is seized, the incoming register which stored the dialed number is released, and a ring signal is enabled. The ring is generated by the control equipment. As shown in steps 362 and 364, the ring signal causes an audible ring to be transmitted to telephone X 202 (via the switching network of central office B 210, trunk 214, the switching network of central office A 206, and loop 208) and causes telephone Y 204 to ring (via loop 212). Control equipment at central office B 210 monitors the status of the telephone Y 204. If the handset of the telephone Y 204 is taken off-hook (see step 366) the ringing signal is disabled. The conversation then begins. Further, as shown in step 368, answer supervision, used to record answer or connect time for billable calls, is provided by control equipment at central office A 206.
As shown in step 370, control equipment at central office A 206 monitors the outgoing trunk 214 for disconnect. The call is terminated if either telephone X 202 or telephone Y 204 is hung up, i.e., if its handset is placed on-hook. If the calling party, i.e., telephone X 202, hangs up first, the connection is released (see step 374), and disconnect supervision is sent to central office B 210. The trunk is then idled when central office B returns on-hook supervision. If, on the other hand, the called party, i.e., telephone Y 204, hangs up first, a timed release period of 10 to 11 seconds is initiated. Finally, as shown in steps 372 and 374, upon the expiration of this timed release period, the connection is released.
The above example describes an inter-office call. An intra-office call is handled similarly except that an idle trunk line is not needed. Basically, for intra-office calls, steps 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 342, 344, and 346 are not performed. Moreover, steps 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 364, 366, and 372 are all performed at central office A.
To reiterate, the above described flow diagram of FIGS. 3a through 3d illustrates the steps involved with initiating a call from terminal equipment X 202 to terminal equipment Y 204, processing the call, and terminating the call, in a system using xe2x80x9cin-bandxe2x80x9d signaling. Many present day inter-office networks now use out-of-band signaling such as SS7 signaling to xe2x80x9cset upxe2x80x9d (or establish) and tear down (or terminate) a call. SS7 is used to send messages between remote switching equipment. SS7 is advantageous because it uses separate circuits for signaling and voice data. To reiterate, in the previous systems, the same circuit was used for both signaling and voice data. Such previous systems were disadvantageous because if a circuit was being used for signaling, it could not be used for voice. On the other hand, with SS7, voice trunks are only used when a connection is established.
FIG. 4 illustrates the process of setting up (or establishing) a call 400 in a communications system using SS7. First, as shown in step 402, a caller goes off-hook. Again, the off-hook status of the loop is assumed by the central office based on a DC current through the loop, and the central office returns a dial tone signal to the caller. Next, as shown in step 404, the caller dials digits which causes pulses or DTMF signals to be sent to the central office.
For the purposes of describing the present invention, it will be assumed that the dialed digits will be represented by DTMF signals. As shown in FIG. 5, Each of the digits 0 through 9, as well as the star xe2x80x9c*xe2x80x9d the an the pound sign xe2x80x9c#xe2x80x9d, are represented by a pairing of one of four (4) low frequencies (697, 770, 852, or 941 Hz) with one of three (3) high frequencies (1209, 1336, or 1477 Hz). Since such signaling is xe2x80x9cin-bandxe2x80x9d, and since the frequencies are within the range of human voice, the digits are represented by a paired low and high frequency to avoid having the human voice inadvertently imitating or xe2x80x9cfalsingxe2x80x9d one of the DTMF signals. Next, as shown in step 406, the dialed digits are received and decoded by equipment at the central office. Such equipment may include a standard DTMF decoder such as a model M-8870 DTMF Receiver sold by Teltone.
Next, as shown in step 408, if available, a signaling trunk to the destination office is seized based on a routing table and the decoded dialed digits. As shown in steps 410, 412, and 414, if the dialed equipment is off-hook (i.e., if the line is busy), (i) the destination office signals the central office that the line is busy and (ii) the central office provides busy signal ones to the caller. On the other hand, as shown in steps 410, 416, and 418, if the dialed equipment is not off-hook, (i) the destination office provides ring to the called equipment, (ii) the destination office signals the central office that the line is free, and (iii) the central office provides a ring signal to the caller.
Next, as shown in steps 420 and 422, if the called equipment has gone off-hook, i.e., if the called equipment answers the ring, a connection is established; that is, a voice circuit is seized. If, on the other hand, the called equipment has not gone off-hook, the ringing continues until the attempted call is terminated (not shown).
In both systems using in-band signaling and systems using out-of-band signaling, once a voice channel is established, present telephone networks do not control the use of call tones such as DTMF tones. This has a number of disadvantages. First, many end-users have integrated voice response units (or xe2x80x9cIVRUsxe2x80x9d) which provide a hierarchical voice menu prompting the other party for call tone entries. For example, an insurance company may use an IVRU to query a caller for their insurance number, claim number, etc. A mail order catalog company may use an IVRU to query a caller for an item number, a quantity number, and a credit card number. The telephone network cannot prevent children from placing unauthorized orders or prevent others from unauthorized access in such systems xe2x80x94the responsibility lies with the end user using an IVRU. This leads to non-uniform protection for callers interacting with such IVRUS.
Second, dial pulse users can abuse the phone system if the telephone network cannot control call tones once a call is set up. More specifically, dial pulse users pay a lower usage fee for their telephone service than touch-tone users. Many telephones may be switched between a pulse output and a dial tone output. Some dial pulse users use the pulse mode of their phone to set-up a call (i.e., dial a number) and then switch their telephone to dial tone output to interact with IVRUs or to send data. Telephone networks are therefore deprived of the revenue reflected in the difference between dial pulse and touch tone rates. This may lead to increased costs for non-abusive telephone users. Moreover, dial pulse calls take more time to process. Such additional switch processing time does not generate any additional revenue for the telephone companyxe2x80x94in fact, if the call is not completed, no revenue is generated at all since billing does not start. Accordingly, the telephone networks would like to have more people use touch tone, and to have pulse tone users switch over to touch tone service.
Finally, telephone networks are designed for voice use and tolls are formulated assuming voice usexe2x80x94they are not designed for data transmission, via e.g., call tones. Thus, using call tones for in-band signaling once the voice channel is established may put increased demands on telephone networks without generating revenue commensurate with those increased demands. Again, this may lead to the need to increase the rates of all subscribers; not just those using call tone signals after a voice channel is established.
In view of the foregoing, a method is needed, for example, to: (i) prevent children from placing unauthorized orders or prevent others from unauthorized access via IRVUs; (ii) prevent dial pulse users from abusing the phone system; and (iii) permit telephone networks to generate revenue commensurate with increased demands due to the use of call tones for in-band signaling once the voice channel is established.
The present invention obviates the aforementioned problems by providing a method for inhibiting the use of dual tones over an established voice channel. The present invention does so by inhibiting at least one call tone by removing at least one frequency selected from a group consisting of 697 Hz, 770 Hz, 852 Hz, 941 Hz, 1209 Hz, 1336 Hz, 1477 Hz, and 1633 Hz. One or more other frequencies used for in-band signaling may also be filtered out. This may be done with a notch filter or a DSP for example. Such filtering is applied continuously, periodically, or intermittently.
Alternatively, at least one frequency selected from a group consisting of 697 Hz, 770 Hz, 852 Hz, and 941 Hz is removed and at least one frequency selected from a group consisting of 1209 Hz, 1336 Hz, 1477 Hz, and 1633 Hz is removed.
In each of the above methods, the present invention may determine a time for inhibiting the call tone(s). This step may be done by (a) determining when a call has been set up, (b) determining when dialing is complete and waiting a predetermined period of time, (c) receiving dialed digits, counting the dialed digits received to form a number, and determining when the number of received dialed digits exceeds a predetermined number, or (d) determining when a voice is present on a voice circuit.

Method of controlling telecommunications signalling

Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.