A video image storage, processing, and distribution system is provided with a processing and a distribution subsystem. The processing subsystem comprises at least one high performance video signal input device, one recording format independent hierarchy of storage, at least one recording format and resolution independent video data processor, and a high performance digital data recorder. The distribution subsystem comprises an archive library of recording format independent high performance digital tapes and instrument data players, a recording format independent hierarchy of staging storage, at least one recording format independent video distribution control processor, and a RF signal generation subsystem. The hierarchical storage of the processing subsystem comprises a first level of high performance random access mass storage amenable to large volume storage and high performance file transfers, and a second level of high performance random access storage amenable to high performance byte manipulations. The hierarchical staging storage comprises a first level of high performance random access storage amenable to high performance file transfers. Together, these elements cooperate to store, process, and distribute a high volume of video data on demand.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of video image storage, processing and distribution. More specifically, the present invention relates to video recording formats, and video image storage, processing, and distribution system architectures.
2. Art Background
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art video image storage, processing, and distribution system. Video images are stored on video tapes 11a. Film images and video images stored on incompatible format tapes are converted to using a film and video conversion subsystem 14. To process video images 10, video signals are generated from video tape players 12 or the conversion subsystem 14 for a video image processing subsystem 16. The video images go through various editing, color correction, noise reduction, and processing steps. The processed video images are then output to a output video recorder 18, and stored onto video tapes 11b. To distribute video images 20, video tapes 11c are played using video players 22, generating video signals for a data compression engine 24. The video signal data are compressed. The compressed video data are in turn provided to a RF signal generation subsystem 26. The output RF signals are then distributed to various video receivers.
Typically, all video image processing as well as distribution equipment is designed to operate in conjunction with a particular video signal recording format. With the advance of video technology and its increased popularity, there has been a proliferation of video recording formats throughout the world. From the 1/2 inch VHS and Beta formats at one end of the analog spectrum to the 19 mm D1 (CCIR601) and HDVS (SMPTE240 m) formats at the other end of the digital spectrum, there are over a dozen video recording formats used in the industry. As a result, video processing and distribution equipment manufacturers are burdened with manufacturing multiple models for the recording formats they elected to support. Thus, it is desirable to have a video processing and distribution system architecture that can be easily adapted to different video recording formats.
Additionally, while each of the recording formats is different, they all share one thing in common in that formatting data are embedded and intermixed with the video image data. The formatting data must be processed in conjunction with the video image data, thereby increasing processing and distribution time. With the advent of high performance video processing and distribution applications, such as on-demand cable television and on-demand direct satellite broadcast, the additional processing and distribution time has become increasingly undesirable. Thus, it is also desirable to have a video processing and distribution system architecture that can improve processing and distribution performance.
The advent of ISO and ANSI standards for instrument and digital data, ANSI ID-1 and ISO/ANSI DD-1, which have no formatting data embedded and intermixed with the instrument and digital data, provides a new opportunity for achieving improvement in video processing and distribution performance. It is further desirable to have a video processing and distribution system architecture that exploits these standards.
As will be disclosed, the present invention provides a high performance video processing and distribution system architecture that uses recording format independent hierarchical storages and processors, achieving the above described desired results for enhanced performance.

Video storage, processing, and distribution system using recording format independent hierarchical storages and processors


A communication system includes: a plurality of lanes; a plurality of transmission circuits respectively outputting data to the lanes in accordance with a transmission clock; and a plurality of reception circuits respectively receiving data from the lanes, each reception circuit includes: a clock data recovery circuit extracting own clock information from received data: a clock information switch circuit selecting either one of the own clock information of the reception circuit or another own clock information of an another reception circuit; a phase shifter generating a phase adjusted clock from a common reception clock source in accordance with clock information selected by the clock information switch circuit; and an input circuit taking in transmitted data in accordance with the adjusted clock, and the clock information switch circuit selects the own clock information in a normal operation and selects the another own clock information in an eye-opening measurement operation.

Signals are transmitted between LSI chips, between a plurality of circuit blocks within a casing, and between casings. A data signal transmission rate is demanded to be increased.
The performance of components configuring a computer and other information processing devices has improved considerably. For example, performances of a memory, a processor, and a switch LSI have improved. In order to improve the performance of a system, it is necessary to improve the signal transmission rate between these components or elements as well as improving the performance of the components. For example, in order to improve the performance of a computer (server), it is effective to improve the signal transmission rate between a memory, such as an SRAM and a DRAM, and a processor. In addition to a server, it is effective to improve the data rate in signal transmission and reception inside and outside a device as the performance of an information processing device, such as a communication infrastructure-specific device is improved.
In a communication system having improved the data rate, after converting parallel data into serial data, the transmission side outputs the data to a transmission line as one-bit data in accordance with a transmission clock. The reception side recovers a reception clock corresponding to the transmission clock from the received data and takes in data at optimum timing. Because of this, the reception side has a circuit configured to perform clock data recovery (CDR) to recover the reception clock from the received data and a phase shifter configured to adjust the phase of the clock. A circuit that performs CDR is referred to as a CRU (Clock Recovery Unit). The CRU and the phase shifter are circuits whose circuit scale is large.
Further, in high-rate data communication, it is important to receive data in a stable manner and on the reception side, deterioration of received data signal is measured. The quality of the received data signal on the reception side is normally represented by an eye-opening, and therefore, an eye-opening monitoring function to perform eye-opening measurement is provided on the reception side and the eye-opening measurement is performed at the time of initialization and whenever necessary.
As described above, an attempt is made to improve the data rate in serial communication, however, it is difficult to improve the data rate greatly. Because of this, a communication system has been examined, which improves the data communication rate by providing a plurality of lanes through which communication is performed at a data rate resembling the above-mentioned data rate and by performing parallel data communication. In this communication system, the communication rate, which is the data rate of each lane multiplied by the number of lanes, is obtained, and therefore, the communication rate improves greatly.
This communication system has a communication path having a plurality of transmission lines (lanes), a transmitter having a plurality of transmission circuits, and a receiver having a plurality of reception circuits. As to the clock of the communication system, there are two cases: a case where clock sources having similar oscillation frequencies are provided in the transmitter and the receiver, respectively; and a case where a clock transmission line is provided separately from that of data, and a clock is transmitted from the transmitter and the receiver recovers the received clock. In either case, when the clock rate is high, a deviation of phase between lanes cannot be ignored, and therefore, the CRU is provided in each of the plurality of reception circuits. In the following explanation, a communication system is explained as an example, in which clock sources having similar oscillation frequencies are provided in the transmitter and the receiver, respectively.
Further, the communication system having a plurality of lanes is also required to measure the quality of the received data signal in each of the plurality of reception circuits in the case where the communication rate of each lane is high, and therefore, the eye-opening monitoring function is provided in each of the plurality of reception circuits. However, in order to implement the eye-opening monitoring function, it is necessary to separately provide an eye-opening monitoring circuit resembling the CRU for implementing the CDR function or a phase shifter of the CRU. If the CRU and the circuit having implemented the eye-opening monitoring function are provided in each of the plurality of reception circuits, there is such a problem that the circuit (hardware) scale increases.

Communication system, receiver, and eye-opening measuring method


An engine control system comprises a first factor calculating module that calculates a first factor based on intake cam position (ICAM), exhaust cam position (ECAM), engine speed (RPM) and first calibration factors. A second factor calculating module calculates a second factor based on ICAM, ECAM, RPM and second calibration factors. A residual gas fraction (RGF) estimating module estimates a RGF value based on the first factor adjusted for altitude and said second factor. A method comprises calculating a first factor based on intake cam position (ICAM), exhaust cam position (ECAM), engine speed (RPM) and first calibration factors; calculating a second factor based on ICAM, ECAM, RPM and second calibration factors; and estimating a residual gas fraction (RGF) value based on the first factor adjusted for altitude and said second factor. At least one engine operating parameter is adjusted based on the RGF value.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Residual gas is the burned air/fuel mixture that remains in a cylinder after a combustion event in a spark-ignited gasoline internal combustion engine. The amount of residual gas has a significant effect on emissions, performance, combustion stability, and volumetric efficiency.
Residual gas affects the combustion process in spark-ignition engines through its influence on charge mass, dilution, temperature and flame speed. These effects may be important for optimizing engine idle stability, fuel economy and NOx emission. Current residual gas estimation strategies are inaccurate and unable to adjust for different altitudes.

Systems and methods for estimating residual gas fraction for internal combustion engines using altitude compensation


Shorts are detected in terminals fed current by a driver connected to the terminals. To detect terminal-to-ground shorts, at least one virtual driver is connected to the driver for processing an output of the driver, and a detector detects if a short has occurred, based on an output of the virtual driver, by detecting when an output of the virtual driver exceeds a first threshold. If the detector detects that the output of the virtual driver has exceeded the first threshold, this indicates a terminal-to-ground short. To detect terminal-to-terminals shorts, a detector detects when an output of the driver drops below a second threshold. If the detector detects that the output of the driver has dropped below the second threshold, this indicates a terminal-to-terminal short. Shorts may be detected in terminals in one or more write heads. The driver, virtual driver, and detector may be included in a preamplifier. Detecting shorts in this manner avoids the loss of data without impeding performance of the write driver.

This invention relates generally to a system and method for detecting terminal shorts. More specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for detecting a terminal-to-terminal short and/or a terminal-to-ground short in a write head.
In conventional rotating disk data storage devices, one or more read/write heads, typically magneto resistive and inductive heads, respectively, including positive and negative terminals, are used to write data on and read data from an associated disk media surface. Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 1 in which a disk assembly 100 is connected to a host system, a memory, e.g., a RAM 160, and a CPU 170 via an interface adaptor 150. The host system supplies control signals and data to be written to the disk assembly 100 and receives read data from the disk assembly 100 via the interface adaptor 150. The CPU 170 controls, e.g., basic disk drive functions, based on information stored in the RAM 160.
The disk assembly 100 includes a preamplifier 30 supplied voltage by a positive voltage supply and connected to the heads 20 via flexible attachments 25. The preamplifier 30 receives from an associated channel device 40 both data signals to be written onto a disk 10 during a write operation, as well as control signals used to specify the individual read/write head 20 to be selected for a read or write operation. Data is supplied to the channel device 40 via a controller 50 connected to the interface adaptor 150. The preamplifier 30 also typically supplies analog data signals read from the head 20 to the associated channel device 40. A spindle motor 80 rotates the disks 10 under the control of a spindle motor controller 90. An actuator motor, e.g., a voice coil motor 60, moves the heads 20 to tracks at different radial positions on the disks 10 under the control of a position system 70 in response to control signals from the channel device 40.
The manufacture of disk drive assemblies is becoming more complex as additional read/write heads and corresponding additional disks are being included. Chances for assembly error are high since the heads and flexible attachments are often supplied by multiple sources in an effort to meet critical production quotas and schedules. Defects can occur during assembly due to, e.g., soldering across terminals, bent flexible attachments, etc. These defects can result in terminal-to-terminal shorts that can result in lost data or can cause terminal-to-ground shorts that can cause excessive currents that can damage the sensitive read/write heads as well as the preamplifier and will also result in lost data. Disk drive yield and manufacturing expenses can be improved if circuits for detecting head assembly defects can be included in the preamplifier.
Fault detection devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,404 discloses a motor driver fault detection circuit that measures a motor short-to-ground or short-to-supply voltage by directly monitoring the motor terminal voltages.
Devices are also known for detecting excessive currents in drivers when a short-to-ground occurs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,991 discloses a motor current sensing circuit that includes a mirrored H-bridge driver that mirrors current from the actual driver. Current is sensed by measuring the voltage across a resistor that takes the place of the motor in the mirrored driver. U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,404 describes a method for over current detection in an H-bridge motor driver. This circuit senses a differential voltage across a resistor in series between a positive supply and an H-bridge driver.
If conventional designs such as these were employed for sensing a short-to-ground in a write head, a high current output from the positive voltage supply connected to the driver might cause the driver to saturate, though the current may not be due to a short but may, instead, be merely a high write current. Thus, using such designs may impede driver performance.
There is thus a need for a technique for detecting write head terminal-to-terminal shorts and terminal-to-ground shorts to avoid the loss of data, without impeding the performance of a write head driver.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a system and method for detecting write head terminal-to-ground shorts and terminal-to-terminal shorts that will avoid the loss of data without impeding the performance of the write head driver.
According to exemplary embodiment, these and other objects are met by a system and method for detecting shorts in terminals fed current by a driver connected to the terminals.
According to a first embodiment, at least one virtual driver is connected to the driver for processing an output of the driver. A detector detects if a short has occurred, based on an output of the virtual driver. For this purpose, the detector detects when an output of the virtual driver exceeds a first threshold. If the detector detects that the output of the virtual driver has exceeded the first threshold, this indicates a terminal-to-ground short. The shorts may be detected in terminals in one or more write heads. The driver, virtual driver, and detector may be included in a preamplifier. Detecting shorts in this manner avoids saturation of the driver due to high write current and avoids the loss of data.
According to a second embodiment, a detector detects if a short has occurred, based on an output of the driver. For this purpose, the detector detects when an output of the driver drops below a second threshold. If the detector detects that the output of the driver has dropped below the second threshold, this indicates a terminal-to-terminal short. These shorts may be detected in terminals in one or more write heads. The driver and detector may be included in a preamplifier. Detecting shorts in this manner avoids the loss of data.

System and method for terminal short detection

Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics, U.S.A., Inc


An improved battery design which utilizes the cover of the container as a mold to simultaneously create a plurality of solid cast electrical circuits, including external terminals, all without welded connections. The battery cover includes a plurality of plate strap mold wells or mold wells which receive molten lead. Adjacent plate strap mold wells are separated by a partition wall. An aperture is formed in the partition wall which allows molten lead to flow between adjacent plate strap mold wells and connect thereof. Terminal mold wells have terminal apertures through which molten lead flows to form an external terminal with the aid of a external terminal mold. A meltable sealant material is pre-applied to the plurality of mold wells and which becomes fluid upon introduction of molten lead. Upon cooling, the sealant material prevents migration of electrolyte between mold wells. The sealant material also prevents electrolyte and gasses from leaking out of the juncture between the external terminals and the battery cover. The sealant material further has the advantage of flowing into the fusion junctures between the plate lugs and the plate straps. The plate lugs may also be pre-coated when bright metal clean with a flux to prevent oxidation and a sealant to retain the flux. The flux retained by the sealant inhibits oxidation of the plate lugs. With this innovative method of battery manufacture, the battery is assembled and completely sealed in a matter of seconds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrochemical cells and specifically to lead acid storage batteries.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are five persistent engineering problems which have plagued the lead/acid storage battery industry since the inception of multi-cell batteries. The first problem has been defective intercell connections. Presently, intercell connections are made by welding together two plate strap upstanding lugs through a hole in a partition of a battery container. This welded connection is commonly known as a "through the partition" connection. One problem with this conventional "through the partition" connection is that the weld is susceptible to breakage. Broken connections will allow electrical arcing. An explosion may occur when electrical arcing ignites hydrogen and oxygen gasses which are naturally generated inside the battery.
Battery explosions are often serious and sometimes lethal. According to National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration statistics, 6,000 battery related injuries are treated annually in hospitals. Currently, a conventionally built 12 volt battery has five internal "through the partition" weld connections plus two external terminal weld connections. All of these weld connections have the potential to break, electrically arc, and cause an explosion.
The second problem relates to the seal at the intercell connections between adjacent plate strap mold wells. A good seal is important to prevent electrolyte from leaking from one cell to another. Electrolyte leakage can cause cells to electrically discharge and become electrically unbalanced.
The third problem of conventionally built batteries is electrolyte leakage in the area of the external terminals. In conventional construction, hollow external terminal bushings are pre-cast of lead and molded into the battery cover. After the battery cover is heat sealed to the battery container, internal posts extending from two end cells in the battery container--one positive and one negative--protrude through the two hollow external terminal bushings in the battery cover. The ends of the internal posts and the pre-cast external terminal bushings are connected together by a welding process. The hollow external terminal bushings molded into the cover are intended to seal the external terminal from electrolyte and gas leakage from the battery. The hollow external terminal bushing does provide some improvement over rubber gaskets, "O" rings, lock nuts, and other means used in the past to prevent electrolyte leakage. However, hollow external terminal bushings, besides being costly, are relatively fragile and depend on a good weld to the internal cell posts and are still prone to gas and electrolyte leakage.
The fourth problem is corrosion at the fusion juncture of the plate lugs to the plate straps. The corrosion is caused by acids and corrosive gasses attacking combinations of lead alloys used in the battery.
The fifth problem is the necessity of brushing plate lugs before entry into the molten plate strap. The brushing removes foreign material such as lead oxide residue left from the plate pasting operation and any lead oxide derived from the natural exposure to the atmosphere. Brushing also creates a bright metal appearance on the plate lug.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art to eliminate the bane of explosions due to weld failures. There is a further need to eliminate pre-molded external terminal bushings, pre-molded internal cell posts, and associated welding procedures for making external terminals. There is yet a further need to preclude acids and corrosive gasses from reaching the fusion juncture between the battery plates and straps. There is finally a need to eliminate the need to brush a battery plate plug before insertion into a molten plate strap.

Weldless battery using cover as mold to cast plate straps, through the partition connections and terminals


A system for using a separate fixed or massive object to prevent theft of a motorcycle, the system comprising a frame element including a hollow enclosure having a wall with an orifice therethrough; a reel rotatably mounted in the enclosure; a flexible electrically conductive sheathed cable with a proximal end wound onto the reel and a distal end with a male connector; a control mechanism having an alarm mechanism, a female connector, circuitry to connect the female connector to the proximal end of the cable, to detect presence or absence of continuity between the proximal end and distal end of the cable, and to cause the alarm mechanism to be activated when continuity between the proximal end and distal end of the cable is broken; a locking mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the male connector is prevented from being withdrawn from the female connector, and an unlocked configuration wherein the male connector is allowed to be withdrawn from the female connector; and a power source structured to provide electrical energy to the various components of the system as needed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to accessories for motorcycles and, more specifically without limitation, to security devices for motorcycles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Crime is a term used to describe an action taken by an individual that is forbidden by the laws of the political boundaries in which the action occurs. Legislative bodies that are elected or appointed by the population over which they preside, enact laws generally. These laws are created as a means by which people and property are protected from the actions of others. In the United States, for example, a person who steals a car has committed a crime commonly known as theft. Also, stealing another person's property is a criminal action in most of the world's countries.
The list of actions that are considered to be crimes is constantly being revised. There were times when it was considered to be a crime in some parts of the world to drive an automobile along a city's streets. Today, streets are the prescribed thoroughfares for motor vehicles. There were no laws against misuse of computer technology fifty years ago because the use of computers was limited to the scientific segment of the world's population. There are crimes, though, that continue to be addressed due to their prevalence.
One set of such crimes are those related to crimes against people or property. Crimes against people include assault, kidnapping, murder, and sexual attacks. Crimes against property, include arson, motor vehicle theft, vandalism, and burglary. Crimes against property comprise nearly ninety percent of the major crimes reported in the United States. Crimes against property are generally considered to be less serious than those against people, although both can carry stiff penalties that restrict the freedom of criminals for long periods of time.
Private citizens and owners of offices and buildings are aware of the criminal activity in their environs. Attempts are constantly being made to secure one's property from theft and destruction, as well as to protect one's person from harm. These preventative actions include locking doors and windows, installing security cameras, the creation of neighborhood watch programs, and the installation of security lighting in and around one's property.
One type of property that is a common object of theft is a motorcycle, primarily because the use thereof provides a popular mode of transportation and recreation, because they can be an expensive investment, and, with the necessary manpower or equipment, can be relatively easy to steal, particularly since an operator commonly parks the motorcycle while he temporarily wanders away from the vicinity of the parked motorcycle.
Various types of locking devices have been developed that can be used to immobilize a parked motorcycle. For example, such a device may include a chain or cable passed through one or both of the wheels of the motorcycle, or may have a chain or cable that can be looped around and through a frame member of the motorcycle and also looped around or through a stationary object located adjacent to the motorcycle.
Unfortunately, such locking devices are not as effective for preventing theft as desired. It is not unusual for a person with a propensity for stealing motorcycles to carry a pair of bolt cutters in his pickup. With one squeeze of the bolt cutter handles, the cable or chain of the locking device securing the parked motorcycle is severed. Then, it is a simple matter to physically roll or lift the motorcycle into the bed of a pickup, such as by using manpower, an inclined ramp, or a hydraulic hoist for example.
What is needed is a theft prevention system that automatically signals that theft of a parked motorcycle is in progress.


A device and method for detecting the presence or absence of a prokaryotic microorganism are provided, comprising the steps of identifying a protein, such as a microbial-specific protease that characterizes the presence of a specific prokaryotic microbe and thereby provides a marker for that microbe; detecting the protease that is a marker for the presence of a specific prokaryotic microbe by cleaving a substrate when the protease is present; and signaling the presence of that protease when cleavage has occurred. More specifically, the method comprises identifying at least one outer membrane protein or a secreted protein that is unique to a particular microbial pathogen such as for example Listeria monocytogenes and that is substrate specific.

Presently, the United States Department of Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) spend over half a billion dollars annually on meat, poultry, and fish inspections for bacterial contaminants. Broadly, the inspections are used to determine the cleanliness of the work area and to detect pathogenic microbes in foodstuffs. Ingestion of pathogenic microbes can result in food poisoning when the microbes are inadvertently packaged into supermarket goods. One example of a pathogenic microbe is Salmonella. Salmonella is a genus of gram-negative bacterium that is a major source of human foodborne illness worldwide. Up to 4 million cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in the United States alone. A number of different serotypes of pathogenic Salmonella are known, the most common of which are S. typhimurium and S. enteriditis. Typically, salmonellosis is treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotic resistant strains of Salmonella are emerging. Listeria and E. coli are also commonly occurring microbial contaminants. Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterium that is a common cause of gastroenteritis. Tests for E. coli are performed as an indication of fecal contamination of food and work areas.
The food industry has tended to test for food contamination at the production and wholesale level only. However, between the time a foodstuff is packaged and consumption occurs, a bacterial pathogen that was undetectable at the wholesale check can multiply and can thus become a health hazard. Contaminated food is increasing in importance for the producer. Bad publicity and product recalls cost the food industry millions of dollars each year.
Currently, the assay systems used at the wholesale and production level require specialized training and equipment, are time consuming, and are not very sensitive to the presence of small numbers of pathogenic bacteria. To assay for suspected bacterial contamination, a culture is obtained using a sample of the food or from the workplace that is suspected of being contaminated in order to increase the amount of detectable substance (suspected bacterial contaminant). Culturing may require up to 48 hours. Then, the cells grown in the culture are lysed to produce a lysate. Historically, assaying for pathogenic bacteria has been done using antibodies in an immunoassay for detecting bacterial proteins in the lysate. In recent years, some companies have used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods to replicate microbial genetic material for use in detection assays. The isolated genetic material is multiplied and identified in separate steps. The PCR detection system also requires hours rather than minutes to perform. Testing is performed at the time of or before shipping a product to the supermarket. A simple, sensitive, and rapid method for detecting food contamination is required both for testing at the wholesale level and at the retail level.
Detection devices are also needed at the retail level to protect the consumer. Testing apparatus useful at the wholesale level generally is not useful at the retail level for various reasons. First, most wholesale level tests require technical skills not often practiced by the typical consumer. Second, when a product remains on the shelf before purchase, contaminant levels can increase, especially if the temperature of the product is not appropriately controlled. During the time the food is in transit, bacterial growth can occur. Methods and devices for detecting microorganisms in food at the retail level have been set forth. While tests have been developed for the retail market, they have failed to be adopted. Colorimetric detectors of changes in ionic content, for example pH, of the liquid or material surrounding the food product have been used on or incorporated into retail packaging such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,746,616 and 5,053,339, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Antibodies have also been coupled to calorimetric labels for detection of contaminates such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,306,466 and 5,869,341, the disclosures of each of which are incorporate herein by reference. None of the aforementioned are sufficiently specific and sensitive to meet the needs of the current marketplace.
A means for specifically and sensitively detecting the presence or absence of at least one pathogenic microorganism in potentially contaminated food products at the retail level is needed.

Device for detecting bacterial contamination and method of use


An ophthalmic apparatus comprising a measuring device for inspecting or measuring a patient's eye, a moving device for moving the measuring device relative to the patient's eye, a designating device for designating an eye to be measured, photographing device capable of photographing a face including both eyes, first detecting device for detecting positional relationship between the measuring device and each of right and left eyes respectively based on an image signal from the photographing device, an alignment detecting device for detecting an alignment condition of the measuring device relative to the eye, and a leading device for leading the moving device so that the measuring device may be alined within the predetermined range relative to the eye based on results detected by the first detecting device and the alignment detecting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus for inspecting or measuring a patient's eyes and more particularly, to a mechanism for aligning the patient's eye with the apparatus so as to be the predetermined positional relationship
2. Description of Related Art
As an ophthalmic apparatus for inspecting or measuring a patient's eye, such apparatus as a refractive power measuring apparatus, a corneal shape measuring apparatus and the like are well known. This kind of apparatus needs an alignment adjustment which adjusts a position of a measuring part by moving it to vertical and lateral directions, as well as backward and forward directions, relative to the patient's eye.
Most of this kind of apparatus measures each eye one by one, and the alignment adjustment thereof is performed by observing one eye of the patient, which is to be measured by an operators with an observing device of high magnifications then moving the apparatus relative to the patient's eye.
However, a size of a face and a position of an eye of a patient differs with persons, therefore, in case of the alignment adjustment by using the observing device of high magnification, the patient's eye does not always come in observation sight simultaneously at the time of starting alignment. In such case, an operator not skilled in measuring takes much time to perform the alignment adjustment for the patient's eye.
In addition, although such apparatus that aligns a measuring part with a patient's eye automatically is proposed, the detecting range is small, therefore, the alignment adjustment which comes close to the patient's eye needs the operator's (or the examiner's) own operation.


A speaker enclosure having a substantially seamless rigid outer skin, a middle sound absorbing layer, and a substantially seamless inner skin results in a lightweight speaker having sound absorbing characteristics. The speaker enclosure is comprised of two basic parts, a box section and a baffle section where each of these sections include a rigid outer skin, the middle sound absorbing layer and a seamless inner skin and are made according to the same method. The outer skin is formed from a layer of sheet molding compound, the middle sound absorbing layer includes pieces of honeycomb material, and the inner skin is formed from a layer of sheet molding compound. The layers of material are placed into a mold and then cured through vacuum bagging and heating thereby producing a strong, lightweight speaker enclosure made of materials which attenuate the transmission and retransmission of errant sound waves in the enclosure thereby reducing distortion of the sound signal produced by the speaker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to speaker enclosures and, in particular, concerns a seamless speaker enclosure fabricated from lightweight, sound absorbing materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
Speaker enclosures are used in various applications ranging from home entertainment to music concerts. Conventional speaker enclosures are typically constructed from semi-rigid materials, such as plywood, and have a box-like shape. The front side of the speaker enclosure includes a baffle which has several openings in which the diaphragm portion of the speaker is positioned so that sound emanates from the speaker enclosure. A significant drawback of conventional speaker enclosures is weight. For example, large speakers used at music concerts typically require large speaker enclosures. Generally, large speaker enclosures have to support the weight of the large speakers, and consequently, can be very heavy. As a result, the heavier the speaker enclosure, the more difficult it is to move and support.
Another difficulty that results from constructing speaker enclosures from plywood is that these materials often degrade the sound performance of the speaker. In one aspect, most of the sound that is produced by the speaker should emanate outward from the diaphragm of the speaker away from the speaker enclosure. However, plywood has a tendency to vibrate in response to these inwardly travelling errant sound waves. These errant vibrations can result in distortion of the sound produced by the speakers, including a retransmission of resonant sound waves that tend to magnify unwanted frequencies. To reduce these vibrations, sound engineers have often placed materials inside of the speaker enclosure to dampen the errant sound waves and reduce vibrations. However, placing extraneous materials and objects inside the speaker enclosure results in degradation of the sound performance of the speaker.
One way of dealing with the weight and vibration problems is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,178, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The reference teaches forming a plurality of overlapping carbon fiber layers, at least one sound absorbing layer, and a plurality of fiberglass layers in a mold, wherein each layer is separately hand-laid into position. The formed layers are then cured using heat to thereby create a substantially seamless speaker enclosure having some vibration dampening properties. Unfortunately, the proposed labor intensive fabrication processes are expensive and time consuming, which results in high manufacturing costs. Moreover, speaker enclosure production is bottlenecked by the lengthy curing times required by the layers of materials used, thus drastically affecting part throughput, which also increases manufacturing costs.
Another problem associated with U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,178 is that the reference teaches the use of one or more interposed adhesive layers to bond the inner and outer layered materials to the sound absorbing layer. In some circumstances, the adhesive layers can be incompatible with the inner and outer layered materials. Even after curing, the one or more adhesive layers can form discontinuous bonding regions between the layers. Unfortunately, pockets of gaseous molecules may form in non-adhered regions, which may allow errant vibrations to occur during use. If errant vibrations are not properly attenuated or re-transmitted, then the sound absorbing performance of the speaker enclosure is degraded.
In addition, non-adhered regions may also degrade the seamless integrity of the speaker enclosure. When the seamless integrity of the speaker enclosure is compromised, the inner layers, outer layers, and sound absorbing layer can flex in relation to one another as a result of errant sound waves impinging upon the speaker enclosure walls. This can result in a greater vibration of the speaker enclosure and can increase the amount of errant sound waves escaping from the back and sides of the speaker enclosure.
From the foregoing, there currently exists a need for a more economical lightweight speaker enclosure that reduces distortion of sound signals produced by the speakers as a result of errant sound waves emanating from the speaker enclosure. To this end, there is a need for a speaker enclosure that is fabricated from strong lightweight materials that have sound absorbing qualities. Furthermore, an improved speaker enclosure should also comprise seamless structural characteristics so as to reduce unwanted vibrations and improved part throughput by reducing the mold lay-up times and part cure times.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A semiconductor memory device includes an address latch unit, a decoding circuit, and a precharge control unit. The address latch unit provides a latched address during an active operation interval and a precharge operation interval. The decoding circuit decodes an output of the address latch unit to provide a decoded signal to activate a word line arranged in a data storage area. The precharge control unit controls the decoded signal to be disabled during the precharge operation interval.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device; and, more particularly, to a decoder circuit for use in the semiconductor memory device.
As well-known in the art, a semiconductor memory device is a semiconductor device for storing data and outputting the stored data. The semiconductor memory device includes a data storage area in which a plurality of unit cells are disposed for storing data and an input/output area in which a data input/output circuit for outputting the data stored in the data storage area or delivering data from outside to the data storage area is arranged.
The input/output area is provided with a data input circuit, a data output circuit, an address input circuit, and a command input circuit. The data input circuit serves to convey data provided from outside to the data storage area in response to a write command, and the data output circuit is for outputting data from the data storage area to the outside in response to a read command. Further, the address input circuit is to accept an address to designate a position of data to be stored or outputted and output it in response to the write command and the read command. And, the command input circuit functions to control other circuits including the above circuits by analyzing the read command or write command, and the like applied thereto.
Meanwhile, the data storage area is provided with a plurality of banks, each having a plurality of unit cells corresponding to their respective addresses. In general, one bank has a multiplicity of cell blocks into which plural unit cells are grouped. In addition, the data storage area is provided with a decoding circuit which receives and decodes an address from the input/output area and selects a unit cell corresponding to the received address among the unit cells prepared in each bank.
For efficient decoding of a received address, the semiconductor memory device includes a pre-decoder and a main decoder. When an address is inputted, the pre-decoder decodes the inputted address once and thereafter the main decoder decodes an address signal decoded by the pre-decoder once again. The pre-decoder and main decoder are provided in each bank of the semiconductor memory device. Because the semiconductor memory device is provided with these decoders in each bank, it can perform a data access operation for each bank.
In the data access procedure of the semiconductor memory device, an address is first inputted. Then, a bank corresponding to the inputted address is selected and the inputted address is decoded by a pre-decoder prepared in the selected bank. Next, an output of the pre-decoder is decoded once more by a main decoder and data corresponding to the decoded result is accessed. Once the data has been accessed, a precharge operation is carried out. The precharge operation refers to an operation in which various circuits including the main decoder and the pre-decoder are reset to a precharge value for the next data access.
With the advance of technology, it is required that the semiconductor memory device consumes less power and accesses data more rapidly. There has been too much current consumption during the operation of the main decoder and the pre-decoder for data access. Therefore, a need has existed for a development of a scheme for reducing the current consumption.

Semiconductor memory device and its driving method


A device and process to roast green coffee beans using a combination of microwave, conduction, convection, infrared, and latent steam heating. The device is a sealed cartridge that is semi porous and is used in a conventional or purpose built microwave oven. The resultant coffee is more flavorful and uses ½ the energy that conventional roasters use.

Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in gourmet coffee products and the interest has not been limited to the purchase of coffee-based beverages from vendors who prepare the beverage on premise and purvey it to consumers over the counter. The desire is now for the ultimate in freshness and flavor and that is roasting the coffee on site at the coffee shop and or at home. Coffee roasting is a two-step process. The outside of a bean is covered with a husk which also follows a fold into the center of the bean. As it is roasted, the coffee bean expands and literally "pops" to shed the outer husk. If the bean is properly roasted, the center of the bean further expands and allows some of the internal husk to break free of the bean.
Currently coffee beans are roasted via two common methods and a third one that is less common. The common methods are convection and conduction. Convection uses a heated air steam to heat the bean and "float" it in an air stream to reduce burning; however, this heated air system also strips away through evaporation a large amount of the coffee oils that are vital components in the flavor of superior coffee. Conduction is the other roasting method and in this system only heat from the externally heated open metal drum is used to roast the bean through direct contact The conduction method rotates the drum for agitation to prevent scorching the coffee bean. The conduction system still uses air that is circulated in the drum to remove heat and smoke and results in loss of lighter coffee oils (and their flavor) just as in the convection system. The conduction system also prevents the controlled and easy transfer of the heat to penetrate the husk and cause the internal mass of the bean to quickly rise to a desired temperature. This causes moisture and oil within the bean to vaporize and expand, thereby applying pressure to the husk and resulting in the popping of the bean. The mass of the bean expands and the husk is freed from the bean. The other method of roasting beans is the use of steam as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,607, issued on Oct. 28, 1997 to Maki, et al. Roasting with superheated steam, however, tends to make the coffee much more sour. The steam process use a high-pressure vessel and high steam temperatures and pressures making this system potentially very dangerous for the home and commercial user. The steam system alone cannot provide the dark and very dark roasts that are desired by most of the coffee drinking public. Various embodiments of the invention use "latent" steam in combination with convection, conduction, infrared, and microwave heating to provide a full spectrum of roasting levels. Latent steam is a result of the water that is contained in the coffee beans (generally 10%-12% by weight) and is boiled out of the bean during the initial convection/conduction/microwave heating that is part of the roasting process. This latent steam is a contributor to making the coffee more "mellow," as in the steam-only process; but because it is part of the bean, it requires no separate boiler and due to the design of the cartridge is of low pressure and thereby is not a hazard.
Other problems with conductive, convection and steam roasting include a situation where a bean is roasted at too low of a temperature, the moisture build-up is sufficiently slowed as to allow the vapor to escape without building up sufficient pressure to pop the bean. When this occurs, the bean will be of smaller size than if proper roasting occurs and has a green grassy flavor. On the other hand, if a bean is roasted at too high of a temperature, the bean will be burned, i.e., overly caramelized, and taste will suffer. In some cases, high temperature roasting will result in a burning of the husk. As the husk serves as a moisture barrier to allow pressure to build up during roasting, the burning of the husk destroys the moisture barrier and allows the moisture to escape without building up sufficient pressure to pop the bean. The second stage of roasting occurs once the bean pops. Here, the heating of the oil within the bean results in chemical changes to roast the bean to the taste of a particular consumer. In many instances, continued roasting of the bean after popping causes a further expansion of the bean. To achieve optimum roasting, it is necessary that the beans be uniformly heated internally via microwaves and externally via conduction, convection and latent steam while not allowing any of the oils and essences that are components of the flavor to escape into the air prior to grinding. If the heating is not uniform, some of the beans may pop early in the roasting process and others, not at all. Consequently, uniform flavor cannot be obtained. Similarly, it is necessary that roasting temperature be properly controlled to assure proper flavor development which cannot occur if the roasting temperature is either too low or too high.
Other common problems with current coffee roasters is the issue of smoke and excessive aroma. The smoke and excessive aroma is dealt with on existing commercial roasters by the use of stack scrubbers and after burners, the problem is dealt with on home coffee roasters by there recommend use out doors. Other problems that the current roasters have is high energy cost per pound of beans either using gas or electricity. This is on the order of 50% higher than microwave driven roasting. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the above problems.


A stacked-type semiconductor device includes a first wiring substrate on which a semiconductor device element is mounted, a second wiring substrate stacked on the first wiring substrate through a plurality of electrode terminals which are electrically connected with the first wiring substrate, and a conductor supporting member disposed around the semiconductor device element, and connected with grounding wiring layers provided in the first and second wiring substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and, in particular, to a stacked-type semiconductor device having a three-dimensional structure in which a plurality of semiconductor devices and semiconductor device elements are stacked with each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with recent development of electronic devices, a demand for a semiconductor devices used in the electronic devices to be miniaturized, reduced in thickness, to have various functions, to have enhanced functions, to have an increased density, has been increasing.
In order to satisfy such a demand, a structure of a semiconductor package comes to be changed to a stacked-type semiconductor device having a three-dimensional structure in which a plurality of semiconductor devices or a plurality of semiconductor device elements are stacked with each other. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2001-223297 discloses a relevant art, in particular, in page 8 and FIG. 15 thereof.
Also along with recent development of electronic devices, influence of unnecessary electric waves such that a possibility that one electronic device malfunctions due to unnecessary electric waves generated by another electronic device may not actually be ignored in many cases. Therefore, electronic devices which satisfy the EMS (electromagnetic interference rule, which regulates radiation or propagation of electromagnetic noise (electric waves) for the purpose of eliminating influence of one electronic device on anther electronic device) come to be demanded.
In the stacked-type semiconductor device in which a plurality of semiconductor devices and semiconductor device elements are stacked with each other, in a case where a radio-frequency circuit device such as a radio-frequency analog signal processing semiconductor device is mounted in a mixed loading manner therein, it is necessary to control electromagnetic radiation (unnecessary radiation/radiating electromagnetic noise/electric wave noise) generated therefrom, to a level lowest possible.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-174204, especially, in pages 3–5 and FIG. 2 thereof, discloses one example of a stacked-type semiconductor device in the related art designed to solve such a problem of electromagnetic radiation. The specific configuration thereof is described next with reference to FIG. 9. In a stacked-type semiconductor device shown in FIG. 9, a radio-frequency circuit device 3 is mounted in a cavity part 2, also, a ground conductor is provided on a rear side of a first dielectric substrate 1 formed on a metal base 8, and a second dielectric substrate 5 having a radio-frequency circuit device 4 mounted thereon is stacked. Further, a metal cover 6 is provided for covering the second dielectric substrate 5 on the first dielectric substrate 1, an end of the metal cover is connected to via holes 7 provided in the first dielectric substrate 1, and the metal cover 6 is connected with the first dielectric substrate 1 with the use of conductive adhesive or such. The metal cover 6 electromagnetically shields the radio-frequency circuit device 4, and also, it seals the radio-frequency circuit device 4 and the radio-frequency circuit device 3 in an airtight manner.


A high pressure polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer comprises the steps of: A. Injecting a first feed comprising a chain transfer agent system (CTA system) and ethylene into a first autoclave reactor zone operating at polymerization conditions to produce a first zone reaction product, the CTA system of the first reactor zone having a transfer activity Z1; and B. (1) Transferring at least part of the first zone reaction product to a second reactor zone selected from a second autoclave reactor zone or a tubular reactor zone and operating at polymerization conditions, and, optionally, (2) freshly injecting, a second feed into the second reactor zone to produce a second zone reaction product, with the proviso that at least one of the first reactor zone product and the freshly injected feed comprises a CTA system with a transfer activity of Z2; and with the proviso that the ratio of Z1:Z2 is greater than 1.

There are many types of polyethylene made and sold today. One type, in particular, is made by various suppliers and sold in large quantities. This polyethylene is called high pressure, free radical polyethylene (usually called LDPE), and is usually made using a tubular reactor, or an autoclave reactor, or sometimes a combination. Sometimes polymer users blend LDPE with other polymers, such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), to try to modify properties, such as flowability, processability or density. However, there is a need for new LDPE polymers, which can have improved film optics, while maintaining other performance attributes.
Low density polyethylene resins with higher densities (greater than or equal to (≧) 926 kg/m3) are produced at reduced polymerization temperature and elevated pressure, in order to reduce the short chain branching frequency, and consequently to increase product density. Table A shows the kinetic data on the involved reaction steps, as derived by S. Goto et al; Journal of Applied Polymer Science: Applied Polymer Symposium, 36, 21-40, 1981 (Title: Computer model for commercial high pressure polyethylene reactor based on elementary reaction rates obtained experimentally) (Ref. No. 1). The temperature dependence is given by the activation energy. The higher the activation energy the more a certain reaction step will be promoted by higher temperature or reduced by lower temperatures. For polymer properties the ratio between the rate of a certain reaction step and the propagation rate is of importance.
TABLE ARate Constants of Elementary Reaction Ratesas Determined by Goto et al (Ref. No. 1)ReactionFrequencyActivation energy,Activation volume,stepfactorcal/molecm3/molePropagation5.63E+1110,520−19.7SCB5.63E12 13,030−23.5The property temperature dependence is expressed by the Δ Activation energy, so for SCB frequency in product: Δ Activation energy=13.03−10.52=2.51 kcal/mole.
When producing high pressure, medium density resins, low temperature conditions should be applied, in order to reduce short chain branching. With the kinetics of Goto et al., it has been found that a "930 kg/m3 density" can be produced by maintaining the average polymerization temperature at 205° C., for a reactor system operating at 2400 bar. This low average temperature can be achieved by lowering the control temperature in each zone of an autoclave process, and by lowering the control peak temperatures in a tubular reactor. The low control/peak temperatures needed for producing medium resins in a tubular reactor, result in significantly reduced heat transfer capability, and consequently, in significantly reduced conversion. For example, an average polymerization temperature of 175° C. for the first polymer fraction of a tubular reactor, where the polymerization is started at 150° C., leads to a sensible heat content of 50° C., needed to dissipate the heat of polymerization, and which, in turn, is equivalent to a conversion of only 4%.
The conversion of an autoclave tube reactor can be maintained at a much higher level, since this system depends to a larger extent on sensible heat content, which allows for a larger part of the polymer to be made at very low temperature conditions. However, an average polymerization temperature of 175° C. for the first polymer fraction of an autoclave reactor leads to a sensible heat content of 135° C., which is equivalent at adiabatic conditions to a conversion of only 10%.
Despite the significant lower conversion level, tubular medium density reactor products are still preferred in many blown film applications for the better optical film properties, due to a narrower molecular weight distribution. The molecular weight distribution of autoclave and autoclave/tube products is broadened by the increased long chain branching (LCB) frequency (due to the higher conversion and polymer concentration level), and the wide residence time distribution in the overall reactor system. In an autoclave system, some polymer molecules will stay, and continue to grow very long through the long chain branching mechanism, while other polymer molecules will stay and grow very short. The overall impact of the wide residence time distribution is broadening of the molecular weight distribution.
As discussed above, there is a need for narrow MWD polyethylene products, with improved optics, and which can be prepared at high conversion levels in autoclave or autoclave/tube reactor systems. These needs and others have been met by the following invention.

Polymerization process to make low density polyethylene


A system and method for balloon-assisted retraction technique for the purposes of retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments in connection with advanced surgeries such as microscopic or endoscopic surgeries. A balloon assembly comprising an introducer, a balloon, and a sheath is inserted either manually or with the aid of stereotactic techniques. An endoscope may be used to ensure the proper docking of the introducer assembly. The balloon is then inflated slowly to retract the tissues, in order to create a corridor with minimal invasion. The corridor is expanded and retained using a series of dilators and retractor. The retractor comprises ports through which endoscope and other surgical instruments may pass. Surgical operation is performed through the corridor. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of conventional retraction systems by providing better visualization and enhanced manual dexterity, as well as providing minimal invasion to allow a shorter recovery period.

Surgery involves a complex set of manual tasks with numerous limitations, such as a surgeon's vision and manual dexterity. Enhanced vision allows a surgeon to have a clear visual comprehension of the surgical field and manual dexterity includes a surgeon's ability to manipulate surgical instruments without unnecessary restrictions. To enhance a surgeon's vision, optimal visualization and illumination have been the driving goals behind the development of microscopic surgery and endoscopic surgery. Despite numerous advances in visualization and illumination, however, current microscopic surgery techniques still fail to be minimally invasive. Endoscopic surgery, on the other hand, in addition to being minimally invasive, provides enhanced visualization and better illumination. Current intracranial endoscopic surgery, however, still significantly limits a surgeon's ability to perform manual tasks once proper visualization and illumination are achieved.
Conventional retractor systems used in surgery include self-retaining blade retractors (e.g. Greenberg, Budde, Sugita, etc.), handheld brain ribbon, endoscopy sheaths, and microendoscopic discectomy retractor. Numerous limitations of these systems exist. For example, the self-retaining blade retractors cause excessive brain retraction, allow bleeding into field (rundown), brain swelling, as well as limited visualization and illumination. The handheld brain ribbon, in addition to having the above disadvantages, has the obvious disadvantage of requiring to be handheld, thereby reducing a surgeon's manual dexterity. Endoscopic instruments have limited utility, particularly when they are used in neurosurgical procedures. Currently available designs limit the working channel to several millimeters. This renders the surgeon to performing surgery with probe-like instruments, and thus, current neuroendoscopic intracranial neurosurgery techniques are limited to procedures with only holes or fenestrations.
Furthermore, a microendoscopic discectomy retractor can only be used for spine surgery and its dilators are not suited for other types of surgeries, such as brain surgery, because it can damage brain tissues.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method that overcomes the disadvantages of the current retractor systems, while providing enhanced illumination and visualization without sacrificing a surgeon's manual dexterity, such as the ability to manipulate surgical instruments.

System and method for balloon-assisted retraction tube


Migrating a process from a source system with a source operating system to a target system with a target operating system is provided, where the source and target systems or source and target operating system are incompatible. The migrating includes: employing an emulator at the target system to execute code associated with the process being migrated, the emulator performing: translating of system calls and runtime library calls for the source operating system to calls of the target operating system using a system call translator and runtime library translator; translating source application code associated with the process into binary target application code executable on the target system, using a compiler where the source application code has not been translated; and executing the translated binary target application code on the target system, and discontinuing emulation of the process at the target system once the executing begins.

It is well-known technology to interconnect computer systems using different hardware and different operating systems by using standardized network interfaces. Especially cloud environments may comprise manifold server machine architectures and operating systems (heterogeneous cloud environments).
Such server machines need to undergo regular maintenance or face other outages leading to server downtimes. To avoid this problem, some server machines offer zero downtime migration of virtual servers to another server machine. However, these solutions always require the target machine to be of the same architecture as the source machine.
In a heterogeneous cloud environment, at a point of time when a zero downtime migration must be carried out, no server machine of the same architecture as the source server machine may be available whereas a server machine of a different architecture, different architecture level or different hardware features installed may be available.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a mechanism for carrying out migration of applications in a heterogeneous cloud scenario where migrated applications perform natively or nearly natively on the target machine, thus offering the most possible flexibility.
Migration in the context of the invention may relate to live migration or non-live migration. Live migration means migrating a running process without interruptions. Non-live migration means that a running process is suspended on a source system, the state of the process is saved on the source system, the state of the process is transferred from the source system to a target system. After transferring the state of the process, the process is terminated on the source system and restarted on the target system.

Method and system for migration of processes in heterogeneous computing environments

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The WSAN simultaneous failures recovery method ranks each node based on the number of hops to a pre-designated root node in the network. The method identifies some nodes as cluster heads based on the number of their children in the recovery tree. The method assigns a recovery weight and a nearby cluster node to each node. Nearby cluster nodes serve as gateways to other nodes that belong to that cluster. The recovery weight is used to decide which node is better to move in order to achieve lower recovery cost. The recovery method uses the same on-going set of actors to restore connectivity. Simulation results have demonstrated that the recovery method can achieve low recovery cost per failed node in small and large networks. The results have also shown that clustering leads to lower recovery cost if the sub-network needs to re-establish links with the rest of the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless sensor-actor network (WSAN), and particularly to a WSAN simultaneous failures recovery method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless Sensor and Actor Networks (WSANs) have attracted a lot of interest in recent years. Their potential applications include search-and-rescue, forest fire detection and containment, battlefield reconnaissance, under-water surveillance, etc. In a WSAN, the area of interest is densely-populated with miniaturized battery-operated sensor nodes that are to probe their surroundings and send the collected data to more capable actor nodes for processing and putting forward an appropriate response.
For example, sensors can detect rising temperatures in some spots in a forest and inform mobile robots (actors) that correlate the sensors reports and conclude that the rising temperatures are caused by the outbreak of a fire. The robots would then coordinate among themselves to plan a response that may include moving to the affected location and spraying chemicals to extinguish the fire. Given the collaborative nature of the WSAN operation, inter-actor connectivity is essential. Obviously, coordination among actors cannot be performed in a partitioned network topology. Therefore, actors strive to sustain communication links among each other when they move.
However, the failure of one or multiple actors may partition the network into disjoint sub-networks. This may happen while responding to a harsh event, e.g., a fire, and would require a rapid recovery so that the event would not get out of hand and lead to disastrous consequences. Since WSANs operate unattended and the deployment of spare actors may take time, the recovery should be performed through network self-reconfiguration using existing resources. Recently, this problem has received a lot of attention, and multiple recovery solutions are proposed. However, these approaches are restricted to one failure at a time and do not handle simultaneous failures.
Thus, a WSAN simultaneous failures recovery method solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS


Tire pressure-indicating gauge is mounted at the center of a spoked wheel for a pneumatic tire to continuously monitor and display the tire's air pressure. The pneumatic tire is mounted on the rim of wheel, and pressurized air may be selectively introduced to, and captured within, the pneumatic tire via a common rim-mounted valve stem. Air pressure within the pneumatic tire is communicated to the pressure-indicating gauge via a hollow channel disposed within one of the spokes of the wheel, on the opposite side of the wheel from the valve stem. The pressure-indicating gauge is secured within a recess in the hub of the wheel in an air-tight fashion. The hollow air channel is preferably molded or cast into a spoke in such a manner that there is little or no outwardly visible physical difference between the various spokes of the wheel.

It is well known that improper automobile tire inflation causes accelerated and uneven tire wear, and increases the risk of tire blow outs which, in turn, presents a traffic safety hazard. Such problems can often be eliminated by monitoring of the tire's pressure and, accordingly, by inflating the tire to the proper pressure.
Many prior methods and apparatus for measuring automobile tire pressure are known. Such prior devices are generally of three types, namely: (1) a detached pressure gauge which may be temporarily connected to the valve stem of a non-moving tire for purposes of reading tire's pressure; (2) a remote-reading gauge system that has a pressure sensing device that constantly senses tire pressure in communication with a remote indicator (typically in the automobile's dashboard), which allows either constant or intermittent tire pressure monitoring from inside the automobile; and (3) a tire pressure gauge or indicator permanently attached to the tire's valve stem by which the tire pressure can be read directly when the tire is not moving.
Of the third type, prior pressure gauges that are arranged in permanent communication with a tire's valve stem typically either have the indicator component mounted at or near the valve stem, itself, or have the indicator component located at or near the center of the wheel. In the latter instance, there is typically a pneumatic conduit running between the valve stem and the indicator component.
There are several problems with prior devices in which the indicator component is mounted at the valve stem or near the valve stem (for example, mounted on the rim of the wheel). Such devices are inherently unbalanced, since there is typically nothing counterbalancing the eccentric weight of the off-center indicator component. In addition, because these prior devices are off-center (relative to the tire's and the automobile's axle), they must be designed to endure high centrifugal forces which may be encountered when the automobile moves and the wheel turns. Such high forces can be destructive to the device as well as to the automobile. In addition, in the event the device becomes detached from the valve stem while the automobile is in motion, the device may become a high velocity projectile and thus present a safety hazard. Additionally, because of the eccentricity of the load that these devices add to the tire, the automobile's tire may become unbalanced, thus presenting a safety problem and causing an uneven tire wear and an unsafe ride for the automobile's passengers. Also, in order to minimize the effects of the large eccentric load, such prior devices are typically designed to be very small—often too small for the gauge itself to be easily read by an operator.
In order to overcome some of the problems caused by eccentric loading of stem-mounted or wheel rim-mounted air pressure gauges, some prior devices have been designed having the pressure indicator component mounted at the center of the wheel, typically on the hub. In such prior devices a pneumatic conduit typically is removeably attached at one end to the tire's valve stem; and the other end is permanently attached to the pressure indicating gauge component. U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,395 is an example of this type of wheel-mounted pressure gauge.
Although such prior devices offer advantages over valve stem-mounted and wheel rim-mounted pressure gauges, such prior devices are still often unbalanced, owing principally to the eccentric load of the valve stem, itself and the conduit attached to it.
Another problem of such prior hub-mounted pressure gauges is that attachment of the gauge member is typically accomplished by the addition of bolts and nuts, which can add cost, weight and eccentric loads to the wheel system.
Another problem of such prior devices is that, in order to add air to the tire, either the conduit needs to be removed from the valve stem or, alternatively, the valve stem needs to be fitted with a special supplemental valve port.


A metering valve for a gas turbine engine fuel system includes a sleeve including first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth ports respectively axially spaced apart from one another. A spool is slidably received in the sleeve and includes first, second and third seal lands. The first seal land selectively connects the first and second ports to one another, and the third seal land selectively connects the third and fourth ports to one another and the fifth and sixth ports to one another.

This disclosure relates to a metering valve for a fuel metering system.
Gas turbine engines are known, and typically include a compressor compressing air and delivering it to a combustor. The compressed air is mixed with fuel in the combustor, combusted, and the products of combustion pass downstream over turbine rotors, driving the rotors to create power.
The metering valve provides metered flow to the combustor, provides position feedback to the full authority digital engine controller (FADEC), moves in response to a FADEC command, shuts fuel flow off in response to a FADEC command and provides pressure signals to various fuel system components.

Gas turbine engine fuel system metering valve

HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND SPACE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


A modularly-structured integrated services digital network (ISDN) communication system comprises a system processor that should be available for a real-time operating system and for a timesharing operating system. In order to enable continuous transitions of the system processor from one operating system into the other operating system, the task having the lowest priority (idle task) and a program subsystem having comparatively high priority in the real-time operating system (multitasking operating system) are fashioned as branch subsystems in which an assignment change from the addressing tables of the real-time operating system onto that of the timesharing operating system occur. The program subsystem with comparatively high priority which is fashioned as a branch subsystem assures that a certain minimum portion of the calculating capacity of the system processor is assigned to the timesharing operating system independently of the traffic load of the real-time operating system.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a modularly-constructed integrated services digital network (ISDN) communication system of the type having at least one switching unit comprising a switching network and to which apparatus networks can be connected via peripheral modules. The communication system has a memory-programmed system processor and comprises a real-time operating system for controlling program subsystem for controlling program subsystems provided for the execution of communication technology-associated functions and for the control of an idle task program subsystem that is fashioned as a branch subsystem for a transition to a subscriber operating system. It also has a system memory that comprises memory segments addressable via descriptors which has a system table memory that contains system table descriptors referring to memory segments of the real-time operating system and has a further system table memory that contains real-time interrupt descriptors for events pertaining to the real-time operating system and a module table memory that can be selected alternatively to the system table memory and that contains module table descriptors referring to memory segments of the subscriber operating system. The module table memory also contains communication descriptors referring to intercommunication segments of the real-time operating system; these communication descriptors can be interpreted identically with the system table descriptors contained in the system table memory and referring to the intercommunication segments and among which at least one code segment descriptor for access onto the code segment of the first branch subsystem, one status segment descriptor for access onto the status segment assigned in the real-time operating system to the branch subsystem, and one data segment descriptor for access onto an intercommunication data segment are located, this intermediately storing the input information required by each of the two operating systems given a transition to the respective other operating system.
The system has a further module table memory that can selected alternatively to the other system table memory and that contains TS interrupt descriptors for events pertaining to the subscriber operating system, and having control statements in the first branch subsystem that, given activation of the branch subsystem, trigger an assignment change of the system processor from the system table memory to the module table memory and, upon call-in of a status segment descriptor, subsequently effects a process change into the interrupt transition routine that is subsequently ended, control statements in the interrupt transition routine that, given activation of the interrupt transition routine and upon call-in of the communication status segment descriptor, initiates a process change into the first branch subsystem, further control statements in the branch subsystem that effect an allocation change of the system processor from the module table memories to the system table memories. The invention is particularly characterized in that a program subsystem having comparatively high priority is fashioned in the real-time operating system as a further or second branch subsystem, in that the second branch subsystem, given the respective arrival of a first periodic event, assumes a ready state in order to be assigned to the system processor in the real-time operating system for execution, that the further module table memory contains at least one interrupt descriptor for a second periodic event following the first periodic event, said at least one interrupt descriptor referring to the interrupt transition routine, that the further module table memory contains interrupt descriptors for events pertaining to the real-time operating system, said interrupt descriptors referring to an interrupt rescue routine in the subscriber operating system, and in that, following the assignment change of the system processor from the module table memories to the system table memories, the second branch subsystem assumes a dormant condition provided in the real-time operating system as a non-ready task condition.
The European patent application 0 333 123 basically discloses such a communication system that controls the communication system-associated operations and tasks with the assistance of a real-time operating system and additionally comprises a subscriber operating system that is coupled to the real-time operating system such that, first of all, the data and data applications administered by the real-time operating system can be prioritized over the access of the subscriber operating system and, secondly, the data applications conducted under the subscriber operating system can be inserted into the communication system without additional adaptation expense. Due to the implementation of a subscriber operating system, for example of the operating system XENIX, the communication system has therefore been lent a double function; it continues to handle the communication-oriented jobs and is additionally available for individual program development and data processing in the sense of a general data processing (DP) system.
A common processor device is provided in the known communication system for both operating systems, communication-oriented jobs to be handled in this common processor device under the administration of the real-time operating system and this common processor device being made available to the subscriber operating system in those times in which no functions related to communication technology are to be satisfied.
In order to enable a continuous transition between the two operating systems, certain descriptors constructed in accordance with the addressing mechanism of the system processor are identically fashioned for both operating systems. The actual program-oriented transition from the real-time operating system into the subscriber operating system occurs in a modified program subsystem of the real-time operating system. In order to assure that time-critical or real-time functions of the real-time operating system are handled with priority over all functions of the subscriber operating system, the idle task program subsystem of the real-time operating system in the known communication system is fashioned, so to speak, as a branch for a transition into the subscriber operating system. What this means is that a transition can occur only when the real-time operating system has activated its idle task program subsystem, i.e. when no jobs are pending.
The transition from the subscriber operating system back into the real-time operating system is then initiated by an event (interrupt) that is directed to the real-time operating system. In order to be able to transfer data from one operating system into the other, an intercommunication data segment is provided that exercises a "mailbox function". For example, events directed to the subscriber operating system must be intermediately stored in the intercommunication data segment while the real-time operating system is being worked off in order to then be capable of being processed by the subscriber operating system after a transfer thereinto.
In the known communication system, the processing capacity of the system processor being assigned to the subscriber operating system is essentially dependent upon how high the load on the communication system is as a result of communications technology-associated jobs. Therefore, no calculations can be made, nor can any particulars be provided regarding the time interval which processing of a respective program in the subscriber operating system will occupy.

Modularly structured integrated services digital network (ISDN) communication system


An improved process is disclosed for the isomerization of pentenes using a catalyst comprising a non-zeolitic molecular sieve. It is of particular interest to increase the proportion of olefins containing tertiary carbons in the product with low formation of undesirable by-products. Product olefins may be further processed to obtain methyl t-amyl ether, which enjoy high current interest as components for reformulated gasoline. Pentenes in raffinate from etherification may be returned to the isomerization process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved process for the conversion of hydrocarbons, and more specifically for the catalytic isomerization of olefinic hydrocarbons.
2. General Background
Olefinic hydrocarbons are feedstocks for a variety of commercially important addition reactions to yield fuels, polymers, oxygenates and other chemical products. The specific olefin isomer, considering the position of the double bond or the degree of branching of the hydrocarbon, may be important to the efficiency of the chemical reaction or to the properties of the product. The distribution of isomers in a mixture of olefinic hydrocarbons is rarely optimum for a specific application. It is often desirable to isomerize olefins to increase the output of the desired isomer.
Butenes are among the most useful of the olefinic hydrocarbons having more than one isomer. A high-octane gasoline component is produced from a mixture of butenes in many petroleum refineries principally by alkylation with isobutane; 2-butenes (cis- and trans-) generally are the most desirable isomers for this application. Secondary-butyl alcohol and methylethyl ketone, as well as butadiene, are other important derivatives of 2-butenes. Demand for 1-butene has been growing rapidly based on its use as a comonomer for linear low-density polyethylene and as a monomer in polybutene production. Isobutene finds application in such products as methyl methacrylate, polyisobutene and butyl rubber. The most important derivative influencing isobutene demand and butene isomer requirements, however, is methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) which is experiencing rapid growth in demand as a gasoline component.
Pentenes also are valuable olefinic feedstocks for fuel and chemical products. Isoprene, which may be produced by dehydrogenation of isopentene, is an important monomer in the production of elastomers. To an increasing extent, pentenes obtained from refinery cracking units are alkylated with isobutane to obtain a high-octane gasoline component. The principal influence on trends in isopentene demand and pentene isomer requirements, however, is the rapid growth in demand for methyl t-amyl ether (TAME) as a gasoline component. This derivative is of increasing interest as restrictions on gasoline olefins and volatility reduce the utility of pentenes as a gasoline component and as ethers and alcohols are needed for reformulated gasolines with higher oxygen content. This interest may extend to hexenes and higher olefins having tertiary carbons which could be reacted to yield high-octane ethers.
Olefin isomers rarely are obtained in a refinery or petrochemical product in a ratio matching product demand. In particular, there is a widespread need to increase the proportion of isobutene, isopentane and other tertiarycarbon olefins for production of MTBE, TAME and other ethers. Catalytic isomerization to alter the ratio of isomers is one solution to this need. Since ethers must be supplied at lower cost to find widespread use as a fuel product and since isomerization competes with increased feedstock processing as a source of desired isomers, an isomerization process must be efficient and relatively inexpensive. In one aspect, a catalytic isomerization process must recognize olefin reactivity: isobutene in particular readily forms oligomers which could require a reconversion step to yield monomer if produced in excess. The principal problem facing workers in the art therefore is to isomerize olefins to increase the concentration of the desired isomer while minimizing product losses to heavier or lighter products.
3. Related Art
Processes for the isomerization of olefinic hydrocarbons are widely known in the art. Many of these use catalysts comprising phosphate. U.S. Pat. No. 2,537,283 (Schaad), for example, teaches an isomerization process using an ammonium phosphate catalyst and discloses examples of butene and pentene isomerization. U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,801 (Holm et al.) discloses a method of preparing a catalyst comprising precipitated aluminum phosphate within a silica gel network and the use of this catalyst in the isomerization of butene-1 to butene-2. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,270,085 and 3,327,014 (Noddings et al.) teach an olefin isomerization process using a chromium-nickel phosphate catalyst, effective for isomerizing 1-butene and higher alpha-olefins. U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,343 (Mitsutani) reveals a process for double-bond transfer based on a catalyst of solid phosphoric acid on silica, and demonstrates effective results in isomerizing 1-butene to 2-butenes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,164 (Holm et al.) teaches skeletal isomerization of olefins to yield branched isomers using a catalyst containing aluminum phosphate and titanium compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,146 teaches isomerization of an aliphatic olefin, preferably 1-butene, with a catalyst consisting essentially of chromium and amorphous aluminum phosphate. None of the above references disclose the olefin-isomerization process using the non-zeolitic molecular sieve (NZMS) of the present invention.
The art also contains references to the related use of zeolitic molecular sieves. U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,564 (Tidwell et al.) teaches the isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butene using a zeolitic molecular sieve. U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,502 (Hayes et al.) discloses the isomerization of mono-olefins based on a catalyst comprising crystalline aluminosilicate in an alumina carrier with platinum-group and Group IV-A metallic components. U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,003 (Sobel) discloses the employment of a zeolite catalyst for butene isomerization. U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,832 (Butler et al.) teaches the use of a phosphorus-containing zeolite, in which the phosphorus has not been substituted for silicon or aluminum in the framework, for butene conversion. None of the above teach the use of NZMS for selective butene isomerization, and Butler et al. discloses high yields of heavier olefins from butenes at a range of temperatures with a phosphorus-containing zeolite.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,282 (Sikkenga) reveals a process for converting linear alkenes to isomerized alkenes using a crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve, with examples demonstrating the conversion of linear butenes to isobutene. U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,467 (Haag et al.), filed Mar. 6, 1991, teaches a combination of two-stage etherification followed by common fractionation and olefin isomerization; the isomerization is carried out over a medium-pore metallosilicate catalyst with a range of ZSMs and MCM-22 being disclosed. The isomerization of olefins using NZMS, containing tetrahedral aluminum, phosphorus and at least one other element, has not been disclosed in the above references.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,050 (Gaffney et al.), filed Dec. 28, 1990, discloses butene isomerization using a MgAPSO or SAPO molecular sieve at a temperature above 900.degree. F. U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,108 (Gaffney et al.), filed Mar. 6, 1991, teaches a combination process for producing TAME and/or TAA by reacting tertiary pentenes with methanol and/or water, distillation to separate reactants, and isomerization of C.sub.5 hydrocarbons with return of branched hydrocarbons to TAME/TAA production; preferred isomerization catalysts are SAPOs and MgAPSOs.
"Non-zeolitic molecular sieves" or "NZMSs" as referenced herein include the "SAPO" silicoaluminophosphates of U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871 (Lok et al.), the "FAPO" ferroaluminophosphates of U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,143 (Messina et al.), and the metal aluminophosphates of U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,029 (Wilson et al.) wherein the metal is at least one of Mn, Co, Zn and Mg. The application of NZMS-containing catalyst to the isomerization of a C.sub.8 aromatics stream is revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,650 (Pellet et al.). U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,138 teaches a process for isomerizing normal and slightly branched paraffins using a catalyst comprising SAPO molecular sieves. The use of MgAPSO compositions for hydrocarbon conversion is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,038. However, none of these references discloses or suggests the isomerization of olefins using a catalyst containing NZMS and having the absence of a hydrogenation promoter.

Pentene isomerization and etherification