A chord detecting device has memories for storing note data and a first chord of a first section in a bar, and a tonality data supplier. A chord in a second section of the bar is detected according to note data at the beginning of the second section of the bar, the tonality data and the first chord. The chord detecting device further includes a temporary chord detecting device for detecting the temporary chord at a beginning of the first section, and a fixed chord detecting device for detecting a fixed chord at the beginning of the second section. The temporary chord is detected by a fixed chord of a section immediately before, the tonality data and note data at the beginning of the first section, and the fixed chord is detected by note data within the first section, the tonality data and the temporary chord. An automatic accompaniment device includes the chord detecting device and an accompaniment device for generating accompaniment tones based on the temporary chord.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an art to obtain chords or the like by analyzing playing data, more particularly to improvement of an art to obtain more precise chord data and to an automatic accompaniment device for automatic accompaniment based on the obtained chord data.
2. Prior art
In general, in automatic accompaniment devices provided in electronic musical instruments, a keyboard is divided into two parts, a left side and a right side. A player uses the left side of the keyboard for designating a chord with his left hand, and the right side thereof for playing a melody.
Since this type automatic accompaniment device enables the player to designate any desired chord, his favorite accompaniment can be performed. In the case where a complex melody is played in the right side with both hands, however, chords cannot be designated with his left hand in the left side, resulting in an impossible situation of the accompaniment playing. At the same time, if the player makes a miss-touch of the chord designation, the chord decided immediately before is held because a new chord can't be decided based on a combination of the miss-touched keys. Also, chord detection in which chord is detected based on actual playing without any chord designation has been proposed. Furthermore, Japanese patent publication hei 2-52277 discloses that a tonality of music to be played is inputted at the beginning of playing and a chord is decided based on the tonality and on one tone pitch of a melody.
In the above mentioned prior art, Japanese patent publication hei 2-52277 has the disadvantage that the decided chord is inaccurate, because the chord is decided based on only one tone pitch and the tonality.

Chord detecting device and automatic accompaniment device


An automatic speech recognizer only responsive to acoustic speech utterances is activated only in response to acoustic energy having a spectrum associated with the speech utterances and at least one facial characteristic associated with the speech utterances. In one embodiment, a speaker must be looking directly into a video camera and the voices and facial characteristics of plural speakers must be matched to enable activation of the automatic speech recognizer.

Currently available speech recognition systems determine the beginning and end of utterances by responding to the presence and absence of only acoustic energy having a spectrum associated with the utterances. If a microphone associated with the speech recognition system is in an acoustically noisy environment including, for example, speakers other than the speaker whose voice is to be recognized or activated machinery, including telephones (particularly ringing telephones), the noise limits the system performance. Such speech recognition systems attempt to correlate the acoustic noise with words it has learned for a particular speaker, resulting in the speech recognition system producing an output that is unrelated to any utterance of the speaker whose voice is to be recognized. In addition, the speech recognition system may respond to the acoustic noise in a manner having an adverse effect on its speech learning capabilities.
We are aware that the prior art has considered the problems associated with an acoustically noisy environment by detecting acoustic energy and facial characteristics of a speaker whose voice is to be recognized. For example, Maekawa et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,257, and Stork et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,858, disclose voice recognition systems that respond to acoustic energy of a speaker, as well as facial characteristics associated with utterances by the speaker. In Maekawa et al., lip movement is detected by a visual system including a light source and light detector. The system includes a speech period detector which derives a speech period signal by detecting the strength and duration of the movement of the speaker's lips. The system also includes a voice recognition system and an overall judgment section which determines the content of an utterance based on the acoustic energy in the utterance and movement of the lips of the speaker. In Stork et al., lip, nose and chin movement are detected by a video camera. Output signals of a spectrum analyzer responsive to acoustic energy and a position vector generator responsive to the video camera supply signals to a speech classifier trained to recognize a limited set of speech utterances based on the output signals of the spectrum analyzer and position vector generator.
In both Maekawa et al. and Stork et al., complete speech recognition is performed in parallel to image recognition. Consequently, the speech recognition processes of these prior art devices would appear to be somewhat slow and complex, as well as require a significant amount of power, such that the devices do not appear to be particularly well-suited as remote control devices for controlling equipment.

Speech activity detection using acoustic and facial characteristics in an automatic speech recognition system


The present invention is a system and method for transmitting proprietary parameters in a telecommunications network conforming to the ISUP Standard. The method includes the steps of identifying proprietary parameters to be transmitted as part of an ISUP signaling message that includes a network specific Generic Digits parameter and encapsulating those parameters within the network specific Generic Digits parameter.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for network switching, and more particularly to efficient routing of communication paths in a telecommunications system.
2. Related Art
A conventional Common Channel Signaling (CCS) telecommunications network comprises three basic components: Customer Premises Equipments (CPEs; for example, a private branch exchange (PBX)), communications busses (also known as links; for example, telephone lines) and nodes (for example, switches). The switches are used to selectively connect the CPEs via the links. A CCS network is characterized by the separation of signaling links and traffic links. Switches in a CCS network establish traffic links between CPEs by exchanging signaling messages via signaling links that specify tasks to be performed on the traffic links. The format of these signaling messages is typically specified by a standard.
One such standard is the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP) standard, referred to hereinafter as "the standard" or "the ISUP standard." The North American ISUP standard is presented in a document entitled "American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP), ANSI T1.113 (1995)," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The international ISUP standard is also presented in a document entitled "ITU-T Recommendation Q.763 Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP), Formats and Codes."
The standard specifies a set of signaling messages that a network must support in order to comply with the standard. Each of these signaling messages must be accompanied by one or more parameters; these parameters are also defined by the standard. The standard also provides for several "spare" parameters. Spare parameters are of two types. Under the ANSI ISUP standard, these two types are referred to as "reserved" and "network specific." Under the ITU ISUP standard, a country can develop a country-specific ISUP standard; under such a standard, the "network specific" parameters are generally referred to "country specific."
Reserved spare parameters are those that are not currently defined by the standard, but that may be defined by the standard at some future time. Network service providers are free to use the network specific spare parameters to transmit proprietary data to implement proprietary services to supplement those provided by the standard. A service provider will typically offer many proprietary services, and thus will require many spare parameters to implement those services. When a service provider exhausts the network specific spare parameters, he has little recourse but to employ some of the reserved spare parameters.
However, if a service provider employs a reserved spare parameter to implement a proprietary feature, and subsequently redefines that spare parameter, the service provider will no longer be in compliance with the standard. In order to comply with the new standard, the service provider must redefine the proprietary feature to use a different spare parameter. To implement such a parameter change, a service provider must change the call processing software in its network switches. This is an expensive and time-consuming task. Further, if the newly-selected spare parameter is a reserved spare parameter, it may subsequently be re-assigned. Thus, this solution is not a permanent one. Further, a service provider may require more spare parameters than are available.
What is needed, therefore, is a method for transmitting proprietary data that is independent of the reserved spare parameter data structure specified by the standard.

Encapsulation of proprietary protocol information conforming to the ITU-T recommendation Q.763 ISUP standard


Systems and methods for developing and utilizing a contactability profile are disclosed. Contact information may be managed by receiving activity data associated with an entity, processing the received activity data, generating at least one contactability profile associated with the entity based upon a result of the processing, and storing the generated contactability profile.

Effective communication is a key component to maintaining a successful business or other type of organization. In many industries, the ability to communicate with customers, consumers, or other companies is of great importance. For example, lenders must be capable of maintaining contact with borrowers, manufacturers must be capable of maintaining contact with suppliers, and shipping companies must be capable of making deliveries that require confirmation, such as a signature of the receiving party.
As a result, considerable effort is put into providing effective communication options and capabilities. For example, many businesses are now capable of communicating using a variety of channels, including traditional methods such as telephone, personal visit, or letter, as well as newer channels such as email, Internet (e.g., Internet relay chat ("IRC"), instant messaging ("IM")), or mobile text-messaging (e.g., a short message service ("SMS")).
Nevertheless, it has been estimated that companies spend millions of dollars per year in wasted time and resources related to unsuccessful contact attempts. Therefore, a need exists for methods and systems that increase the efficiency and reliability of contacts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for developing and utilizing a contactability profile


A hood covers an internal combustion engine on the rear of a grass mowing machine. The hood has a top surface with a plurality of air intake openings recessed below the top surface, and an integral air duct. The integral air duct extends over the engine between the air intake openings and an air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler adjacent the rear of the grass mowing machine. The air intake openings closest to the air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler are dimensioned to limit the air intake velocity and prevent buildup of debris on screens or grilles over the openings.

Conventional hoods or shrouds on large grass mowing machines, tractors and similar off-road or agricultural vehicles typically enclose an engine, cooling system, and other vehicle components. Such vehicles commonly utilize liquid cooled internal combustion engines which generate heat during their operation. Liquid-cooled engine employ pressurized coolant circulated through the engine to absorb heat. The heated coolant is subsequently passed through a heat exchanger such as a radiator to dissipate heat from the coolant to the atmosphere, after which the coolant is recirculated to the engine for further engine cooling. As the coolant is passed through the heat exchanger, air flows through the heat exchanger to absorb heat and carry it out into the atmosphere. Air is commonly drawn or propelled through the radiator and/or oil cooler by use of a fan.
The capacity of a cooling system in such a vehicle depends on many factors including the velocity and volume of air flowing through the heat exchanger, as well as the distribution of the air flow over the available heat exchange surface of the radiator and/or oil cooler. The surface area of the air intake on the hood of such a vehicle may be as large as six square feet or more. These vehicles may be used for cutting grass or other vegetation, so the air used to cool the radiator is frequently contaminated with dust, grass clippings and similar debris. Typically, such vehicles will include grilles or screens on their hoods to reduce debris present in the cooling air while allowing the air to pass into the area enclosed by the hood to cool the engine by interaction with the radiator and/or oil cooler. However, debris may accumulate on and around the outer surface of the grille or screen, clogging the intake and restricting the air flow.
In these vehicles, debris tends to build up rapidly and accumulate first on those areas of a grille or screen where air flows at the highest velocity. Air velocity at some areas of a grille or screen may be substantially higher than the velocity at other areas. For a grille or screen on or above the top surface of a vehicle hood, areas of the grille or screen that are relatively close to the air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler may have air flow velocities several times higher than areas further away from the air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler. For example, the air velocity may be as high as 20,000 mm/second at air intake openings near the air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler, and less than 1000 mm/second at air intake openings furthest from the radiator and/or oil cooler. If enough debris accumulates to block the portion of the grille or screen with the highest air velocity, the effective air intake area is reduced. As a result, the vehicle's engine may not be cooled as efficiently or quietly.
Hoods or shrouds for large grass mowing machines, tractors and similar vehicles may be made from a combination of sheet steel, plastic and perforated screens or grilles. For example, the hood for the 1600 Turbo Wide-Area Mower manufactured by Deere & Company of Moline, Ill. includes sheet steel panels and a perforated screen providing an intake area that draws air from the top and sides of the machine over the hood. Some vehicles also may include a baffle to prevent the air supply from being heated by the engine as the air is drawn to and passed through the radiator and/or oil cooler. Some hoods may be relatively heavy (weighing as much as 200 pounds or more), expensive to build and assemble, and provide inefficient air flow.
A hood or shroud for a large grass mowing machine, tractor or similar vehicle is needed that has reduced weight and cost. A hood or shroud is needed for such a vehicle that provides improved air flow efficiency. A hood or shroud is needed that can provide a supply of cooling air to an engine for a large grass mowing machine, tractor, or similar vehicle without the flow being interrupted or compromised due to blockages of the grille or screen caused by dust, grass clippings or similar debris. An air intake for a hood on a large grass mowing machine, tractor or similar vehicle is needed that can provide more uniform and even air flow velocity across different areas of a grille or screen. A hood for a large grass mowing machine, tractor or similar vehicle is needed that includes an air intake that provides more uniform air flow while minimizing engine noise escaping from the engine compartment.


In managing multiple versions of triggers, a database system creates a first version of a trigger to apply a first set of actions in response to a first triggering event. The database system also creates a second version of the trigger to apply a second set of actions to the database object in response to a second triggering event. Upon receiving a command to set the current version of the trigger to the second version, the database system sets the second version as the current version of the trigger. When the triggering event of the trigger occurs, the database system determines that the second version is the current version of the trigger, retrieves the second set of actions in the second version, and executes the second set of actions.

In a database system, a trigger defines a set of actions that are executed when a delete, insert, or update operation occurs on a specified table or view. When such an operation is executed, the trigger is said to be "activated". Triggers are usually defined and activated along with referential constraints and check constraints to enforce data integrity rules. For example, before inserting into an employee table, the new data such as employee's birth date and social security number should be validated and after the insert is done, corresponding rows should be added to the employee tax and salary tables.
Because triggers move the business rule application logic into the database system, managing triggers becomes an important task for the database administrators. Similar to applications, logic can be changed and new actions may be needed in triggers. To do so, the existing trigger must be deleted or "dropped", and then the trigger must be recreated with the changed or new actions. Dropping a trigger requires an invalidation process, including invalidating statements that cause the trigger to be activated that may still be stored in memory, making the changing of triggers inefficient. Further, the dropping of a trigger with the intent to change the definition and "redefine it" will affect the trigger activation time. Thus, if multiple triggers are defined on a table for the same triggering event, they are activated in the order in which they were defined. If a trigger in a middle of the order is dropped and recreated, then this recreated trigger will be placed at the end of the order instead of its original place.

Multiple versions of triggers in a database system

International Business Machines Corporation


A charge coupled device and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The charge coupled device has a transfer electrode portion having a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode having an end portion partially overlapping an end portion of the first gate electrode, and a third gate electrode having one end portion partially overlapping the other end portion of the first gate electrode and the other end portion thereof partially overlapping the other end portion of the second gate electrode. The charge coupled device also has a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under the first, second and third gate electrodes, which includes a first potential area formed in the semiconductor substrate under the second gate electrode and a second potential area formed in the semiconductor substrate under the third gate electrode. The charge coupled device further has a clock portion which includes a first clock terminal connected to the first and third gate electrodes, and a second clock terminal connected to the second gate electrode. This charge coupled device may prevent unnecessary local potential barriers or wells produced by a misalignment, and thus may provide increased charge transfer efficiency.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor, and more particularly, to a charge coupled device which enables charge transfer and a manufacturing method therefor.
A charge coupled device (CCD), as a kind of charge transfer device, is a dynamic device which transfers charge via a predetermined path according to clock pulses applied to a gate electrode. The CCD is constituted of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors of which the gates are connected to one another in series.
The CCD having the characteristic of charge transfer via a predetermined path is widely used as an image device which is combined with a group of photo-diodes arranged in parallel to the CCD in order to sense an optical signal. The CCD also finds its use in various fields of analog and digital signal processing, using its ability of charge accumulation and transfer.
The first CCD suggested by Bell and Smith in 1969 includes an insulation layer and gate electrodes arranged to constitute a MOS capacitor on a semiconductor substrate. This simple planar arrangement of gate electrodes makes it difficult to control the shapes of a potential well under the gate electrodes. Therefore, a structure has been suggested in which a gate electrodes are isolated from one another while being partially overlapped with each other. The structure which has been most widely used is composed of a plurality of gate electrodes formed on a semiconductor substrate having insulation layers formed therebetween, and charge transfer areas formed under the gate electrodes.
Charge-coupled devices are divided into a pseudo 2-phase CCD, a 3-phase CCD, and a 4-phase CCD according to a driving method, and the structural configurations of the CCDs are modified in accordance with their driving methods. Especially, the pseudo 2-phase CCD uses simple driving pulses despite its low capacity of charge transfer as compared with other configurations, thus it is widely used as a horizontal charge transfer device of a CCD-type image device requiring high speed operation.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional charge coupled device.
The conventional charge coupled device has first gate electrodes 16 spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, second gate electrodes 18 positioned between each first gate electrode 16, and potential areas 14 formed under the second gate electrodes 18. A first clock terminal .phi.1 is connected to a first gate electrode 16 and a second gate electrode 18 which form a unit transfer group, and a second clock terminal .phi.2 is connected to a first gate electrode 16 and a second gate electrode 18 which form another unit transfer group.
The potential areas 14 are formed by ion implantation using the first gate electrodes 16 as a mask, and thus are aligned with the first gate electrodes 16. In addition, the potential areas 14 form potential wells in a charge transferring direction.
Mutually opposite clock signals are applied to the first and second clock terminals .phi.1 and .phi.2.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a semiconductor substrate, reference numeral 12 denotes a buried channel for a buried CCD, and reference numeral 20 denotes an interlayer insulation layer.
FIG. 2 is a potential distribution diagram explaining the migration of charge of the charge coupled device of FIG. 1.
Charge stored in a potential well in the left side of FIG. 2 migrates to the right when a clock pulse is applied to the first and second clock terminals .phi.1 and .phi.2. In FIG. 2, an arrow indicates the direction of charge transfer.
The aforementioned pseudo 2-phase CCD of FIG. 1 has limits in reducing the length of charge transfer groups due to the application of a single clock pulse to two gate electrodes. That is, a reduction in the length of a unit gate electrode is limited due to resolution limitation during photolithography.
When as many transfer groups as possible are needed in an area of a given unit length as in a horizontal charge coupled device of a CCD-type image device, the above limits emerge as a serious problem. To avoid this problem, a method has been suggested in which a single gate electrode is used as a unit transfer group by forming a potential area below only half the area of each gate electrode, as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view for explaining another conventional charge coupled device.
The charge coupled device of FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG. 2 in terms of the arrangement of the first and second gate electrodes 16 and 18. However, a potential area 15 is formed under each of the first and second gate electrodes 16 and 18. Furthermore, a single gate electrode is connected to each of the clock terminals .phi.1 and .phi.2.
Therefore, according to the charge coupled device of FIG. 3, the size of the area reserved for the charge coupled device can be reduced by at least half of the area of the charge coupled device of FIG. 1. That is, assuming that the sizes of horizontal charge transfer devices of a CCD-type image device are the same, the case of FIG. 3 can secure twice as many transfer groups as compared with the case of FIG. 1.
Meanwhile, in the case of the charge coupled device of FIG. 3, in order to form the potential area 15, ion implantation should be performed after an ion implantation mask is formed using photolithography. In this case, it is impossible to align each potential area 15 with each of the gate electrodes 16 and 18. Thus, there is a likelihood that an unnecessary local potential barrier or well is formed due to the misalignment of a potential area and a gate electrode at a gate electrode boundary, thereby lowering charge transfer efficiency.


An assembly including a processor socket having a cut region. The assemble further including a probe board having a repeater positioned in alignment with the cut region. The repeater is to receive at least a first signal. The repeater is to tap the first signal. The tapped first signal is to be transmitted to a first device. The repeater is also to reinject the first signal, and the reinjected first signal to be transmitted to a processor.

At the lower bus speeds of today's processors, the current methodology to gain observe-ability of the bus signals is to install a probe interposer assembly 102 between the processor socket 104 and the motherboard socket 106, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The interposer assembly is typically wired to "tap-off" a small amount of energy from each bus signal such that the actual bus is minimally perturbed and may operate normally at full speed. The small amount of energy which gets "tapped off" for each signal in the interposer assembly is routed by cable 108 to components which recover those signals and allow them to be conditioned to make them coherent for purposes of analyzing what is happening on the bus when failures occur.
Improvements in the bus observe-ability/probing methodology are desired in view of the higher bus speeds in development today, which "break" the current "tap-off" bus observe-ability/probing methodology.

Method and apparatus to probe bus signals using repeaters


A computer system is disclosed including a printed circuit board (PCB) including a plurality of traces, at least one processor mounted to the PCB to couple to some of the plurality of traces, a heterogeneous memory channel including a plurality of sockets coupled to a memory channel bus of the PCB, and a memory controller coupled between the at least one processor and the heterogeneous memory channel. The heterogeneous memory channel includes a plurality of sockets coupled to a memory channel bus of the PCB. The plurality of sockets are configured to receive a plurality of different types of memory modules. The memory controller may be a programmable heterogeneous memory controller to flexibly adapt to the memory channel bus to control access to each of the different types of memory modules in the heterogeneous memory channel.

A computing system may have a homogeneous main memory with one type of memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) integrated circuits (ICs).
DRAM ICs retain data information by storing a certain amount of charge on a capacitor in each memory cell to store a logical one or alternatively, a logical zero. Over time, and because of read operations, the stored charge on the capacitor dissipates, in a process often referred to as leaking off. To preserve the stored charge on a DRAM capacitor, and thus maintain the ability of the DRAM to hold its memory contents, the stored charge in the memory cell may be increased through refresh cycles, which sometimes are performed periodically. A refresh cycle consumes power.

Programmable heterogeneous memory controllers for main memory with different memory modules


A replaceable sleeve having a working surface is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a carrier. The sleeve includes an inner polymeric layer, a reinforcing layer overlying the inner layer, an intermediate polymeric layer overlying the reinforcing layer, and an outer polymeric layer. The sleeve may include a cushion layer between the intermediate layer and the outer layer. The layers comprising the sleeve are formed around a support and then cured simultaneously in a single step. The resulting sleeve may be used in printing operations or in other applications such as coating, embossing, laminating, calendering and the like.

The present invention relates to a replaceable sleeve which may be readily mounted onto a cylindrical carrier, and more particularly, to a replaceable sleeve comprising a multilayer reinforced composite which may be cured in a single vulcanizing step.
Rubber-covered cylindrical rollers are widely used in industry for a number of applications, particularly for web or sheet handling and processing applications such as the embossing, calendering, laminating, printing and coating of paper, film, foil, and other materials. In addition to their use in web processing equipment, such rubber-covered rollers are often employed in conveyors and various office machines. Such rollers are typically comprised of a cylindrical (metal) core or other support with an outer covering of rubber, elastomer, or polymer material. However, after extended use, the covering on the rollers wears down and must be resurfaced or replaced. This typically requires that the rollers be sent to an outside source where the old surface is ground down and a new surface is applied. This is inconvenient and expensive as it requires that the processing equipment be shut down while the roller is being resurfaced or that the end user stock additional replacement rollers. Even in the latter instance, the rollers must be eventually sent out for resurfacing.
Cylindrical rollers are widely used in the printing industry. For example, printing rollers or sleeves are used in the flexographic printing industry for providing a mountable surface for flexographic printing plates. In a typical flexographic printing press, the sleeve is mounted onto a printing cylinder using pressurized air to expand the sleeve, and the printing plates are then attached to the outer surface of the sleeve.
While thin metal sleeves for use on printing cylinders have been employed in the past, more recently, printing sleeves have been developed which are comprised of polymeric materials. For example, printing sleeves are known which include laminated polymeric layers reinforced with a woven or nonwoven fabric layer. Such sleeves provide an advantage over metal rollers in that they are readily expandable for mounting on a cylinder, are seamless, and provide good structural integrity for printing operations without the damage and safety limitations of thin metal sleeves. However, such sleeves are typically expensive and slow to fabricate as each component must be formed and cured separately and then assembled or formed into a composite. Further, many polymeric printing sleeves in use require specific polymers and/or cure temperatures, which restricts the choice of materials or properties of the finished sleeve surface which may be desired for different printing applications.
Accordingly, there is still a need in the art for a replaceable sleeve which is readily mountable on a cylinder or other carrier, which may be fabricated quickly and easily, and which may be used in a wide variety of applications including printing applications as well as web or sheet handling or and/or processing applications and the like.


A spot search device includes a device communication unit, a search unit, a generator unit, and a spot search unit. The device communication unit communicates with a server device on a network. The search unit searches over information on the network with the use of the device communication unit. The generator unit generates a genre regarding information on a spot included in a search history of the search unit. The spot search unit searches, over the information on the network, for information on one or more spots around a route of a vehicle, according to the genre generated by the generator unit, with the use of the search unit. The device communication unit transmits the information on the one or more spots around the route, together with information on the route, to an onboard navigation device installed on the vehicle.

The technology relates mainly to an onboard navigation device to be installed in a vehicle.
Onboard navigation devices are basically installed in vehicles for use. For example, in response to an input of a destination, an onboard navigation device searches for a route to the destination, and guides a vehicle along the route searched. Reference can be made to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2006-275736.

Onboard navigation device and spot search device for use with the onboard navigation device


A gas turbine power plant has coolant injected into the combustors in order to reduce the level of nitrogen oxide produced by the combustion of natural gas fuel and/or oil. A control system controls injection of coolant into the combustors in order to reduce NOx emissions, while improving turbine cycle efficiency and avoiding the possibility of over-injection of coolant to the point of flame-out in the combustor. PID controllers are used to provide percentage error bias in the control system, whereby adjustment of coolant injection follows turbine load in a manner that increases turbine efficiency.

The combustion of natural gas fuels and oil in the combustor of a gas turbine power plant is known to produce undesirable levels of nitrogen oxide emissions. In order to reduce the level of NOx emissions, coolant, such as steam or water, is injected into the combustor. As is commonly known, steam or water which is injected into a combustor reduces the temperature of natural gas fuel and oil as it combusts and burns and, as a result, the combustion process produces less NOx.
Systems are known, such as that disclosed in Martens et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,362, for controlling the flow of steam and water into a combustor in order to reduce the emissions of NOx in the gas turbine exhaust. Martens recognizes the problem that over-injection of steam or water, beyond that which is necessary to achieve a desired level of NOx emissions, results in an unnecessary increase in mass flow throughout the turbine and decreases the cycle efficiency. Therefore, it is desirable to properly limit the flow of coolant into the combustors, without sacrificing the necessary reductions in NOx emissions, in order to run the power plant at high efficiency.
Generally, sensors are located in the turbine exhaust stack for measuring the amount of NOx produced. It is desirable to use the output of the NOx sensor as a parameter for input into the control systems employed to control the flow of steam and water into the combustor. However, sensors are unreliable due to the fact that in some circumstances they completely fail to operate.
Thus, in order to account for the unreliability of the NOx sensors, steam or water flow into the combustor is scheduled as a function of the turbine load. This function, known as a standard load versus flow curve, is determined from emissions tests actually conducted on the operational unit, or one similar. During field testing, based on a predetermined NOx set point, the flow rate of steam or water which actually produces NOx emissions at the desired NOx set point is plotted as a function of the turbine load. Accordingly, during actual operating conditions, the steam flow set point which is necessary to produce a desired set point level of NOx emissions at a specific turbine load is determined from the standard load versus flow curve. The parameters from this curve can then be used in a system for controlling the flow of coolant into the combustor.
However, changes in environmental conditions, i.e. ambient temperature in the area of the combustor, as well as the turbine operating conditions, such as the position of the inlet guide vanes, affect this standard load versus flow curve. These variables influence the amount of steam flow which is actually necessary to produce a desired NOx emissions level. Since these variables are not taken into account when the standard load versus flow curve is generated, this curve has a certain amount of error built into it. In order to account for this error, the actual NOx level measured by the sensor is used as a parameter in the control system to adjust the standard curve. However, as discussed below, this adjustment may be limited due to the fact that sensors are known to fail completely under some conditions.
During actual operating conditions at a specific turbine load, in order to produce the desired set point level of NOx, the steam flow set point is determined from the standard load versus flow curve. At the start of the control cycle, valves inject steam or water into the turbine combustors at this set point flow rate. However, due to the error in the standard curve, the actual level of NOx produced and measured by the sensor will most likely vary from the NOx set point. Thus, the control system must account for this error such that the valves inject more or less steam, as compared to the steam flow set point, to bring the NOx level measured by the sensor to the NOx set point.
Devices are known which may be used in coolant injection control systems for measuring the error attributable to the variable conditions associated with the standard load versus flow curve. One such device is a summer as disclosed in Martens. The measured error is used to adjust the steam flow set point derived from the standard load versus flow curve, in order to account for the variables which affect that curve.
For example, FIG. 1 shows an adjusted standard load versus flow curve representative of that which would be produced using a summing device in accordance with the prior art. The dashed lines represent the adjusted steam flow set points. As can be seen, summing devices provide the error in a discrete amount, wherein the magnitude of the error is the same at all points on the curve. Thus, such a device provides for straight line bias of the control system.
However, a problem has been recognized in that the use of devices which provide for straight line bias control in coolant injection systems is inefficient in some circumstances and may damage the gas turbine. As shown in FIG. 1, where a control system employs straight line bias control devices, the amount of error which the system measures, and thus the range of error within which the system operates, is the same When the turbine is at low load as it is when it is at high load. Thus, where the measured NOx level exceeds the NOx set point, the adjustment above the steam flow set point in order to account for the error will be the same, whether operating at high load or low turbine load. At high turbine load, the additional amount of steam flow may be only a small percentage increase above the steam flow set point. However, at low turbine loads, the additional amount of steam flow may be a large percentage increase above the relatively low steam flow set point. Where the control system responds to such an increase at low load conditions, the valves inject coolant at a level which may be beyond that which is necessary to reduce the amount of NOx emissions, thus reducing the turbine cycle efficiency. It is also possible that the over-injection of coolant may result in flame-out of the combustor, resulting in malfunctioning of the turbine and possible damage.
The problem created by the use of straight line bias control devices in the fluid injection system is compounded in the case where more than one gas turbine is connected to a single emissions stack, where the stack has only one NOx sensor for the plurality of gas turbines. For example, where two gas turbines are connected to a single stack, during start-up conditions where it is common for both turbines to be on line with only one turbine having steam injection at the time, the unit with steam injection in operation will be adjusting its steam flow based upon a combined NOx level from both units and the possibility of over-injection is increased. Also, where two gas turbines are connected to a single stack and both are on line, but each is operating at a different load, straight line bias of the control system, using a summation of the control variables, results in fighting between the units.
Therefore, there is a need for a system for automatic control of the flow of coolant into the combustors of a gas turbine power plant in order to reduce NOx emissions levels, wherein the control system employs devices which provide for a percentage bias of the system parameters. The present invention provides a system which satisfies this need.


This invention relates to polyurethane-forming foundry binder systems and foundry mixes which comprise a foundry aggregate, said foundry binder system, and a liquid amine curing catalyst. The binder system comprises a polyol component containing a polyether polyol and a monomeric glycol, and an organic polyisocyanate component. The foundry mixes are used to prepare foundry shapes made from foundry mixes by a no-bake process.

In the foundry industry, one of the processes used for making metal parts is sand casting. In sand casting, disposable foundry shapes (usually characterized as molds and cores) are made by shaping and curing a foundry mix which is a mixture of sand and an organic or inorganic binder.
One of the processes used in sand casting for making molds and cores is the no-bake process. In this process, a foundry aggregate, binder, and liquid curing catalyst are mixed and compacted to produce a cured mold and/or core. In the no-bake process, it is important to formulate a foundry mix which will provide sufficient worktime to allow shaping. Worktime is the time between when mixing begins and when the mixture can no longer be effectively shaped to fill a mold or core.
A binder commonly used in the no-bake process is a polyurethane binder derived by curing a polyurethane-forming binder with a liquid tertiary amine catalyst. Such polyurethane-forming binders used in the no-bake process, have proven satisfactory for casting such metals as iron or steel which are normally cast at temperatures exceeding about 1370.degree. C. They are also useful in the casting of light-weight metals, such as aluminum, which have melting points of less than 815.degree. C.
The polyurethane-forming binder usually consists of a phenolic resin component and polyisocyanate component which are mixed with sand prior to compacting and curing. Both the phenolic resin component and polyisocyanate component generally contain a substantial amount of organic solvent which can be obnoxious to smell and can create stress for the environment such as smoke when the binder is cured. Because of this, there is an interest in developing binders which do not require the use of organic solvents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,287 discloses no-bake foundry mixes where the binder comprises (a) polyether polyol having a hydroxyl number between 200-600 and a viscosity of 100-1000 centipoise at 25.degree. C., (b) an organic polyisocyanate component, and (c) a liquid tertiary amine catalyst, preferably a bicyclic tertiary amine.


A method of separating a sub-combat unit from a protective canister. The method comprises the steps of discharging the sub-combat unit from the protective canister by causing a displacement of a driving sabot within the protective canister. The driving sabot is displaced by an elevated gas pressure generated by the combustion of a gas-generating pyrotechnical charge. The displacement of the sabot imparts a trajectory to the sub-combat unit. The displaceable driving sabot is prevented, by arrest means interconnected between the driving sabot and the canister, from accompanying the sub-combat unit in its new trajectory. A division of the protective canister into a plurality of parts is caused. The division ensures a change in at least one of the trajectory and the velocity of the parts of the canister.

The characterizing feature of the sub-combat unit described in the above referenced patent is that it is provided with a pivotally disposed target identification and triggering sensor and with one or more similarly outwardly pivotal aerodynamic surfaces. Together, the sensors and the aerodynamic surfaces provide, in their flip-out positions, the sub-combat unit with a suitably balanced retarding area which imparts to the unit the predetermined fall speed and rotation which make it possible for the sensors to scan the relevant target area for targets to be combatted.
Publications SE-A0-8903473-0 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,849 to Axinger and SE-A0-9001227-9 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,294 to Vesa further describe variations of flip-out aerodynamic surfaces intended for sub-combat units of the type contemplated here. The aerodynamic surfaces may also consist of parachutes.
As will be apparent from the above disclosure and in greater detail from the above-mentioned references, the sub-combat units are provided with a plurality of flip-out parts which, during the launching process from the carrier or vehicle body, must be protected from damage. At the same time, the pre-planned scanning of the target area requires that the flip-out of these parts take place exactly as pre-planned.
A further problem which must be solved is that, since each carrier body contains several sub-combat units, systems must be integrated in the design which give the different sub-combat units a desired spread and ensure that launched parts do not collide with one another in the air after launching.
Launching of the sub-combat units from the carrier body is most simply put into effect using a powder charge which, rearwardly in the flight direction of the carrier body, forces out all sub-combat units as one single unit. This launching thus implies a certain desirable simultaneous retardation of the movement of the sub-combat units in the flight direction, but this necessitates that the more sensitive parts of the sub-combat units must be protected from damage. Moreover, the different sub-combat units must thus be separated before their aerodynamic surfaces and sensors can be flipped out.
The separation between the different sub-combat units can be effected in that these are retarded to different degrees after being launched so that the sub-combat unit which was originally placed most forwardly in the carrier body is retarded least. The retardation is progressively increased on those sub-combat units which were placed further rearwardly in the carrier body.
Once the desired retardation has taken place, the sub-combat units must be released from these specific retarder devices before carrier surfaces and sensors can be flipped out. If the carrier body or vehicle has been rotation-stabilized, rotation brakes may also be included. The problem inherent in protecting the sub-combat units during the launching phase and the requirement of having access, during the specific separation phase, to retarder devices connected to the sub-combat units is solved by surrounding the sub-combat units with specific protective canisters. The retarder devices and possibly rotation brakes may be secured to the protective canister. Also, the sub-combat units are, in their turn, discharged from the protective canister once the desired retardation in respect of both rotation and flight speed has been completed.
The protective canister can then simultaneously be utilized for holding the aerodynamic surfaces and the sensors in the inwardly folded state. This implies that the aerodynamic surfaces and the sensors will be flipped out as soon as the sub-combat unit has left its protective canister. Discharge of the sub-combat unit from the protective canister must, however, be affected in such a manner that no parts are damaged. At the same time, it must be ensured that the now activated sub-combat unit runs no risk of colliding with its own former protective canister or corresponding canisters from other sub-combat units.
The present invention therefore relates to a method and an apparatus intended to solve the above-described specific problems. Accordingly, the present invention entails a method of discharging sub-combat units from their protective canisters without sensors and aerodynamic surfaces being damaged. At the same time, the mutually separated canisters and sub-combat units are given different fall trajectories and fall speeds. The different trajectories and speeds eliminate the risk of collision between the sub-combat units and the canisters. The present invention also includes an apparatus designed in accordance with the above-described method.
According to the present invention, the sub-combat unit is designed in accordance with the above-disclosed general guidelines. Thus upon departed from the vehicle or carrier body enclosed in its protective canister the sub-combat unit is in turn discharged out of the protective canister by a driving sabot or ram disposed between the bottom of the canister and the sub-combat unit and displaceable towards the open end of the canister. Behind the sabot or ram, an elevated gas pressure is generated by combustion of a gas-generating pyrotechnical charge which is initiated at the point in time of discharge of the sub-combat unit. According to the present invention, the protective canister must further be provided with arrest means which rapidly retard the driving sabot as soon as the sabot has imparted the desired discharged velocity to the sub-combat unit, so that the driving sabot does not accompany the sub-combat unit in its new trajectory. The arrest or braking means suitably consist of initially folded brake bands which are stretched on displacement of the driving sabot when the brake bands are fully stretched, they impart to the now empty protective canister a tumbling motion. According to one development of the present invention, the jerk generated on activation of the arrest means can then be utilized to cause the protective canister to divide into several parts. In a preferred embodiment, the stretching of the brake bands causes a division of the protective canister. The division of the canister further ensures that the sub-combat unit and canister parts achieve different fall speeds. This division can be effected in that the protective canister is made from several parts which are joined together in such a manner that there are natural indications of fracture between the parts.


A semiconductor light emitting device is combined with a wavelength converting material. The semiconductor light emitting device is configured to emit first light of a first peak wavelength. The wavelength converting material is configured to absorb at least a portion of the first light and emit second light of a second peak wavelength. In some embodiments, the first wavelength converting material is (Ba1-xSrx)2-y-0.5zSi5N8-zOz:Euy2+ where 0.2<x<0.3, (Ba1-xCax)2-y-0.5zSi5N8-zOz:Euy2+ where 0.01<x<0.2, or M2Si5-aAaN8-aOa:Eu2+ where M=Sr, Ba, Ca; A=Al, B, Ga, Sc; and 0.01<a<0.2.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to wavelength-converted light emitting devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Light emitting devices including light emitting diodes are well known solid state devices that can generate light having a peak wavelength in a specific region of the light spectrum. LEDs are typically used as illuminators, indicators, and displays. LEDs based on the III-nitride materials system have been developed that can efficiently emit light in a relatively narrow band around a peak wavelength in the blue to UV range of the spectrum. Since blue-UV light has a higher photo energy relative to other colors of visible light, such light generated by III-nitride LEDs can be readily converted to produce light having a longer wavelength. It is well known in the art that light having a first peak wavelength ("primary light") can be converted into light having a longer peak wavelength ("secondary light") using a process known as luminescence. The luminescence process involves absorbing the primary light by a photoluminescent phosphor material, which excites the atoms of the phosphor material, and emits the secondary light. The peak wavelength and the band of wavelengths around it (in short wavelength) of the secondary light will depend on the phosphor material. The type of phosphor material can be chosen to yield secondary light having a particular peak wavelength. Needed in the art are wavelength-converting materials such as phosphors that efficiently convert light in desired wavelength ranges and can withstand the operating temperatures of III-nitride light emitting devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,946 to Bogner et al. describes, in the abstract, "[a] light source [that] uses a yellow to red emitting phosphor with a host lattice of the nitridosilicate type MxSiyNz:Eu, wherein M is at least one of an alkaline earth metal chosen from the group Ca, Sr, Ba and wherein z=⅔x+ 4/3y." EP 1 433 831 A1 to Tamaki et al., describes, in the abstract a "nitride phosphor . . . represented by the general formula LXMYN((2/3)X+(4/3)Y):R or LXMYOZN((2/3)X+(4/3)Y−(2/3)Z):R (wherein L is at least one or more selected from the Group II Elements consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn, M is at least one or more selected from the Group IV Elements in which Si is essential among C, Si and Ge, and R is at least one or more selected from the rare earth elements in which Eu is essential among Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er and Lu.)"

Phosphor converted light emitting device


A sound reproduction screen includes: at least one cell including a vibrator which receives and is vibrated by an ultrasonic signal carrying an audible signal, and a medium which has nonlinear response characteristics with respect to a vibration of the vibrator; and a screen containing the at least one cell which is distributed in a matrix structure, wherein the vibrator of the cell includes an elastic body that is vibrated by the ultrasonic signal and reflects the audible signal separated from the ultrasonic signal according to the nonlinear response characteristics of the medium, and an asymmetrical body that is connected with the elastic body and vibrates in the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to demodulating a modulated ultrasonic signal to output an audible signal and playing an original audible signal, and more particularly, to a sound reproduction screen which receives an ultrasonic signal that is modulated to include an audible signal and demodulates the ultrasonic signal via a cell structure having nonlinearity.
2. Description of Related Art
An ultrasonic signal is a sound wave that has a frequency above 20 kHz, which is higher than a frequency of an audible signal. Generally, an ultrasonic signal as described above may not be perceived by humans, but may be modulated and transmitted including an audible signal. In this case, the range of an audible signal is extended in comparison to a general audible signal, and the directivity of a corresponding signal is also improved. Accordingly, an ultrasonic signal as described above is being utilized for various types of ultrasonic speakers.
Since a conventional ultrasonic speaker modulates an audible signal onto an ultrasonic signal and utilizes the modulated ultrasonic signal, the conventional ultrasonic speaker may transmit the modulated ultrasonic signal farther than a loudspeaker outputting a general audible signal and may also improve the directivity of a signal. Also, the conventional ultrasonic speaker operates in such a manner that, as modulated ultrasonic signals are passing through a medium such as air, audible signals from the modulated ultrasonic signals, demodulated due to nonlinear response characteristics of the medium, are output at a certain point. However, since the power of audible signals output at the point is a portion of the power of audible signals carried in ultrasonic signals, the conventional ultrasonic speaker must have a larger output than general loudspeakers. Accordingly, a listener is exposed to a sound field where ultrasonic signals are very powerful and those ultrasonic signals may cause physical harm. In this aspect, users have not readily utilized ultrasonic speakers as a sound source for listening and have utilized general loudspeakers that output frequency signals in an audible frequency band.
Accordingly, the present invention suggests a sound reproduction screen which utilizes a method of transmitting audible signals using ultrasonic signals and also demodulates modulated ultrasonic signals to output audible signals, and a new cell structure included in the sound reproduction screen.

Screen for playing audible signals by demodulating ultrasonic signals having the audible signals


In a PLL circuit including a VCO having a plurality of oscillation frequency bands, a TDC circuit calculates a phase difference between a predetermined reference signal from a fixed frequency divider and a PLL frequency-divided signal from a variable frequency divider. The TDC circuit detects the amount of time by which the phase of the PLL frequency-divided signal leads or lags with respect to that of the reference signal in one cycle of the reference signal, thereby detecting which of the signals has a higher frequency and which has a lower frequency. Therefore, for each oscillation frequency band, the frequency comparison is completed in one cycle of the reference signal, allowing an oscillation frequency band selection circuit to detect an optimum oscillation frequency band corresponding to a predetermined PLL output frequency in a short time.

The present invention relates to a PLL (phase locked loop) circuit which includes a VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) having a plurality of oscillation frequency bands and multiplies the frequency of an input signal into a desired value to output the obtained desired value, and relates to a technique for effectively reducing the time required to detect, from the plurality of oscillation frequency bands, an optimum oscillation frequency band corresponding to a predetermined PLL oscillation frequency.
A PLL circuit is typically a circuit which compares the phases of two signals (i.e., a reference signal fref as a standard of comparison and a PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv obtained by dividing the output frequency of a VCO which oscillates at a frequency corresponding to an input voltage) and varies the control voltage Vt for the VCO in accordance with the magnitude of the phase difference to thereby output a desired oscillation frequency.
For example, a CS tuner (a communication satellite broadcasting receiver), in which the intermediate frequency widely ranges from 950 MHz to 2600 MHz, needs a PLL capable of wideband oscillation. However, with a single VCO, accomplishing such wideband oscillation is difficult, because very high frequency conversion gain is required. Therefore, a method is typically adopted, in which a VCO having a plurality of oscillation frequency bands is used, and switching among the VCO's oscillation frequency bands is done according to a PLL output frequency, thereby achieving wideband oscillation.
A method described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-7433 has been proposed as a method for selecting an optimum oscillation frequency band from a plurality of oscillation frequency bands. This conventional method and configuration will be described below.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating the minimum configuration of a conventional PLL circuit including a VCO having a plurality of oscillation frequency bands. In FIG. 16, a crystal oscillation signal 16 generated by a crystal oscillator 1 is input to a fixed frequency divider 2, in which the frequency of the crystal oscillation signal 16 is divided by a frequency divisor number. The output signal resulting from the frequency division is a reference signal 11 (fref) in the PLL.
A PLL output signal 14 (fout), which is the output signal of the VCO 10, is output as the output signal of the PLL circuit, while the frequency of the PLL output signal 14 is divided by a frequency divisor number by a variable frequency divider 7 in a later stage, thereby producing a PLL frequency-divided signal 15 (fdiv).
The frequency divisor number N of the variable frequency divider 7, which is determined by the reference signal's frequency and the PLL output signal's frequency, satisfies the following equation.(PLL output signal's frequency)=reference signal's frequency×N
A phase comparator 5 compares the phase of the input reference signal 11 and that of the input PLL frequency-divided signal 15 and outputs digital phase error signals UP 17 and DOWN 18. According to the digital phase error signals output from the phase comparator 5, a charge pump 6 in the subsequent stage outputs an analog phase difference signal 19 corresponding to the phase difference between the reference signal 11 and the PLL frequency-divided signal 15.
Then, a loop filter 9 in the subsequent stage integrates the input analog phase difference signal 19, thereby producing a phase control signal. This phase control signal becomes a VCO control voltage 20 (Vt), and the PLL output signal 14 corresponding to this control voltage Vt is output from the VCO.
The oscillation frequency bands of a VCO typically have characteristics shown in FIG. 17. As stated above, it is difficult to cover a wide oscillation frequency band by a single band, and a method is thus generally adopted in which a plurality of narrow oscillation frequency bands are superimposed to cover a wide oscillation frequency range.
It is found from FIG. 17 that bands applicable to a predetermined PLL output frequency, i.e., the VCO oscillation frequency, are limited. For example, in FIG. 17, when the PLL circuit is made to oscillate at a frequency F1, no bands except for bands B2 and B3 allow the oscillation at the frequency F1. In addition, since the VCO's oscillation frequency characteristics inevitably change due to disturbances such as temperature variations and voltage variations, the PLL output frequency and a band to be used cannot be determined in advance in a one-to-one correspondence. It is thus necessary to detect an optimum band corresponding to a PLL output frequency each time the PLL circuit is used. This band detection is performed by an oscillation frequency band selection circuit 8. The oscillation frequency band selection circuit 8 compares a count number 21 counted for the reference signal 11 for a specified period of time by a first counter 3, which counts the number of rising edges of the reference signal 11, with a count number 22 counted for the PLL frequency-divided signal 15 for the same period of time by a second counter 4, which counts the number of rising edges of the PLL frequency-divided signal 15. If the count number 22 for the PLL frequency-divided signal 15 is greater than the count number 21 for the reference signal 11, this means that the oscillation frequency in the currently selected band is higher than the predetermined PLL output signal frequency. Thus, a band one oscillation frequency range lower is reselected, and the same frequency comparison is performed. Conversely, if the count number 22 for the PLL frequency-divided signal 15 is smaller than the count number 21 for the reference signal 11, this means that the oscillation frequency in the currently selected band is lower than the predetermined PLL output signal frequency. Thus, a band one oscillation frequency range higher is reselected, and the same frequency comparison is performed. By repeating this frequency comparison, the band closest to the predetermined PLL output signal frequency is finally detected and selected.
During band detection, the VCO control voltage 20 (Vt) is always set to the value of VCO power supply voltage×½(VDDVCO/2) for each band, so that after the completion of the band detection, even if the VCO's oscillation frequency characteristics vary due to disturbances such as temperature variations and voltage variations, a situation in which frequency oscillation using the detected band becomes impossible is prevented as much as possible by comparing the reference frequency with the oscillation frequency obtained in each band when Vt=VDDVCO/2. The foregoing is the operation principle of the PLL circuit according to the conventional technique which includes the VCO having a plurality of oscillation frequency bands.
In this manner, in the conventional method and configuration described above, the frequency counters count, for a specified period of time, the frequency of the reference signal fref in the PLL circuit and the frequency of the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv, which is obtained by dividing the frequency of a PLL output signal output from the VCO with the variable frequency divider, and these count numbers are compared to determine which is greater and which is smaller. If the comparison result shows that the count number for the reference signal fref is greater than the count number for the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv, a band one oscillation frequency range higher is selected, and, on the other hand, if the comparison result shows that the count number for the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv is greater than the count number for the reference signal fref, a band one oscillation frequency range lower is selected. Thereafter, the frequency counters again count the frequency of the reference signal fref and the frequency of the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv, and a transition to the band one oscillation frequency range higher or lower is made. By repeating this, an oscillation frequency band, in which the frequency count difference between the reference signal fref and the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv is minimum, is finally detected, and this oscillation frequency band is the optimum oscillation frequency band corresponding to the PLL output frequency.
Nevertheless, the conventional configuration and method, in which the frequency counters count the rising edges of the reference signal fref and of the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv for a specified period of time, have a problem with a lower accuracy count. Specifically, if there is a rising-edge phase difference between the reference signal fref and the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv at the time of the start of counting, a maximum error of 1 will occur in the difference between the count numbers for these signals after the specified period of time, and hence the frequency difference between the reference signal fref and the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv cannot be measured accurately. There is also a problem in that in order to measure the frequency difference accurately, the time in which the counting for the reference signal fref and the PLL frequency-divided signal fdiv is performed must be increased. This problem becomes more serious, as the frequency difference between adjacent bands becomes small.
If the oscillation band detection time is shortened, it is possible to reduce lockup time, which is the time required for the PLL circuit to operate stably at a predetermined frequency from the time at which the PLL circuit starts oscillating. Naturally, the shorter the oscillation band detection time is, the higher the performance of the PLL circuit is. On the other hand, if the oscillation band detection time is increased to improve the accuracy in detecting the optimum oscillation band, a reduction in analog lockup time, caused by the use of an oscillation frequency band unsuitable for the predetermined PLL oscillation frequency, and an increase in the number of frequency components other than the desired frequency are prevented, which also leads to an improvement in the performance of the PLL circuit. That is, there is a trade-off between the oscillation band detection time and the oscillation band detection accuracy.

Phase locked loop circuit and wireless communication system


A method for displacing acid gas constituents from natural gas to acid gas removal installations equipped with Claus installations with free capacities utilizes a portion of the acid gas which is removed from a first flow of natural gas containing acid gas. The acid gas removed from the first flow of natural gas is fed to at least one other acid gas removal installation, whereby this feeding results in the acid gas removed from the first flow of natural gas being mixed with at least one second flow of natural gas with which it is transported to at least one other acid gas removal installation.

The invention relates to a process for shifting sour gas portions within a natural gas network. The process can be used for natural gas types that contain not only useful substances, such as methane, higher hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon monoxide impurities, such as hydrogen sulphide, organic sulphur components, e.g. mercaptanes, and carbon oxysulphide, but also carbon dioxide and water vapour in different portions.
As a rule, the sulphur components contained in the raw natural gas have to be removed to obtain a residual content of only a few ppm to permit further industrial utilization of the natural gas. The removal of hydrogen sulphide, mercaptanes, carbon dioxide and other sour gas constituents from industrial gases is generally performed with the aid of chemically acting absorbents, such as amino solutions, alkali salt solutions, etc. or physically acting, chemically non-active absorbents, such as Selexol, propylene carbonate, N-methyl pyrrolidone, Morphysorb, methanol, etc. in loop systems, the physically acting absorbents (as opposed to chemical scrubbing agents) being capable of removing organic sulphur components. In this process, the carbon dioxide contained in the gas is removed partially, totally or only in a portion as little as possible, depending on the requirements and specifications.
Normally, the sour gas from the absorbent regeneration unit is further processed to sulphur in a Claus plant. In this connection, the separation capacity of the sour gas absorption unit and the related processing capacity of the Claus plant impose restrictions on the quantity of sour gas that can be absorbed from the natural gas and this consequently also applies to the throughput of natural gas that can be purified by absorption.
Plants of this type exist in large numbers and at various locations. It is often a problem that the sour gas content varies during the exploitation of natural gas resources, in particular that the said content increases. Any increase in the sour gas content of the natural gas at the same rate of exploitation would thus lead to an overload of the sour gas separation unit and of the Claus plant as well. Hence, the natural gas production rate would have to be decreased or the existing plants would have to be retrofitted with the necessary, expensive equipment, so that the respective other plant simultaneously would have free capacities in the event of smaller sour gas portions or lower production rates.
There has been a keen interest for a long time already in finding an efficient facility for the shifting of sour gas contained in natural gas from the overloaded sour gas separation units and related Claus plant to such separation units with Claus plant that have free capacities in order to operate all units involved at their maximum natural gas capacity.
The aim of the invention, therefore, is to provide a process that permits a simple and efficient shifting of sour gas portions in the natural gas to such sour gas separation units with Claus plant that have free/free capacities.

Method for displacing acid gas constituents inside a natural gas network


An apparatus includes at least one processing unit configured to execute a virtual network appliance and a virtual machine. The virtual network appliance includes a virtual NIC driver configured to transfer packets to and from a physical port of the apparatus. The virtual network appliance also includes an internal network interface configured to transfer the packets to and from the virtual machine through a hypervisor. The virtual network appliance further includes an aggregator configured to transfer the packets between the virtual NIC driver and the internal network interface.

Computing networks have expanded the utility of computing systems through their ability to exchange resources and information among one another. For example, computing networks have been implemented as distributed control systems (DCSs) that control dynamically changing industrial processes, such as manufacturing processes or other processes whose parameters may change on an ongoing basis according to various conditions. Implementation of a DCS in a computing network is often beneficial because control elements and sensor elements of the DCS are often configured in remote locations relative to one another. Sensor elements generally refer to those devices that measure parameters of a process, whereas control elements generally refer to those devices that manipulate various parameters of the process.
DCSs often require a relatively high level of reliability due to the critical nature of the industrial processes that these DCSs may control. For example, a DCS may be used to control a chemical processing plant that processes volatile or otherwise dangerous chemicals, which if not controlled properly could result in catastrophic damage to the chemical processing plant or the surrounding environment. The reliability of DCSs also extends to the ability to obtain information about a process and control the process in a real-time manner. The real-time processing capability of a DCS is generally referred to as determinism and generally relates to its ability to continually receive and process data associated with a process in a consistent and timely manner.

Virtual fault tolerant ethernet appliance and method of operation


An improved storage system includes a plurality of individual storage units enclosed in a secured perimeter with security gates for entry and exit. Each individual storage unit has a door, an alarm and a locking mechanism. Each door has a sensor which senses whether that door is open or closed. Each locking mechanism has a sensor which senses whether that locking mechanism is locked or unlocked. The sensors are in electrical communication with a computer. Each locking mechanism has a motor for moving between locked and unlocked, the motor controlled by the computer. Access control units are located near the security gates in electrical communication with the computer. The computer device reviews information from the access control unit and opens and closes the security gate, locks and unlocks the locking mechanisms, turns on and off the alarms, and determines the open and closed status of each door in response to the information.

Self-storage facilities are well known in the art and generally comprise a plurality of individual storage units disposed within a secured perimeter for the purpose of safeguarding/storing articles. In a typical arrangement, each storage unit includes a storage compartment disposed within a garage or shed-like structure for receiving goods/articles therewithin, a door member for accessing the interior of the storage compartment, and a locking mechanism for fastening the door member in a closed position to securely maintain the contents of the storage compartment when unattended. As is required, the customer will provide, or the facility will sell or give each customer their own lock with associated key for securing the locking mechanism.
The secured perimeter typically includes a fence or barrier surrounding the storage facility having at least one access point such as an automated gate for exiting and entering, wherein gate access is restricted to only those individuals having proper clearance or authorization to enter the storage facility so as to deter theft and/or vandalism. The storage units are usually offered for rent for various periods of time such that a person in need of short or long term storage may simply lease one or more storage units until such time that they are able to transfer or otherwise dispose of the stored goods.
Self storage facilities are old in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,448 entitled "Security System for Roll Down Doors" which issued on Apr. 11, 2000 to Lanigan et al. shows a roll down door solenoid lock suitable for use in such facilities.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,333 entitled "Locking Assembly" which issued on Feb. 24, 1998 to Turvey discloses a lock for a rolling gate using a solenoid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,544 entitled "Wireless Access System" which issued on Aug. 10, 1999 to Gonzales et al. provides wireless access through multiple doors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,038 entitled "Remote Controlled Mechanical Chain Barrier" which issued on Feb. 16, 1999 to Gompertz et al. shows a remote controlled gate with a solenoid lock.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,660 entitled "Automated Storage System" which issued on Aug. 31, 1999 to McCarty et al. shows a self storage facility having kiosks available for users to undertake self storage transactions without the need for an attendant.
While the self-storage facilities of the prior art do accomplish the goal of providing temporary storage space to people in need thereof, there are several significant disadvantages which precipitate the need for the present invention.
First, if a customer falls behind in payments, that customer often is able to access their individual storage until an attendant or accounting software changes the access rights to the gate for that particular customer. However, even after the access code is deleted, the customer can often still obtain access to the facility via a friend or simply "tailgating" a legitimate user with a valid code through the gate. Once inside, the delinquent customer will have access to the individual unit, particularly if he or she provided their own lock and the facility attendant has not put an additional lock on the unit manually, in the parlance of the profession, adding an overlock to the individual unit.
Thus, there is a need in the self storage industry for a system which allows a remote facility to allow or disallow access to a particular storage unit without the need for an on site attendant as well as additional protection for attended facilities. Such an automatic overlock system would facilitate payments, and may be combined with a kiosk which allows a tenant to lease or pay rent at any time thereby reducing the number of man hours needed for staffing and allowing managerial personnel to focus on increasing business rather than servicing existing or new clients.
The present invention meets these needs.


A framework composition windmill includes a cylindrical tower and a wind power dynamic component positioned at the top end of the tower. The wind power dynamic component includes a wind-driven rotor and an STS energy exchange coupling element which includes an annular mechanical moving module and an annular stationary electronic module. The stationary electronic module is installed on a support structure, and the mechanical moving module is connected to, and driven by the wind-driven rotor, rotating relative to the stationary electronic module. The wind-driven rotor includes at least two blades and a flexible bow-shaped framework; each of the blades being installed on and supported by the bow-shaped framework and vertically connected at bowstring end of the bow-shaped framework. With this wind power dynamic component, the speed of the rotor can be automatically adjusted to match the speed of the energy exchanger and to obtain optimal efficiency.

Wind power is one of ideal green energies. It is inexhaustible, particularly in the case of generating electricity. The primary working principle of electricity generation through wind power is to utilize wind power to drive wind-driven rotors, such as the blades of a windmill, which then in turn drive the rotation of an electrical generator, thereby transforming the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Although the principle of electricity generation through wind power is extremely simple, its application in actual processes is very limited. Current statistical data shows that, even in a relatively developed wind power generating country such as the United States, wind power generation only makes up for a very small proportion of the total amount of electricity generated. The most significant reason for this is that wind power is an extremely unstable energy source. For example, the 65-kilowatt wind power generation equipment used in California's Altamont Pass, a concentrated wind power site in the United States, have 48-foot diameter rotors and a designed wind speed of 35 mph. Their average cost per kilowatt hour is approximately US$0.05. If, however, this wind power generation equipment were installed in any other region, there would be changes in the triangular relationship between the decreased effective wind speed, the cost effectiveness, and the wind speed. If it is used in an area of distribution type wind power, the technical and economic instruction standards would decrease to a level that would make it difficult to meet the consumer's needs. When wind power device being used in the Xilin pasture lands of Inner Mongolia, for example, the average wind speed in July each year drops to 6.3 mph, and the original 65 kilowatt power rating equipment drops to 0.4 kilowatts. Actually, in the areas with the richest wind power resources in China, the average annual wind speed is only 10 mph. Because China is a country with limited wind power resources, the existing wind power generation equipment described above are not suited in this region.
In summary, the main reason that wind power generation cannot be commercially adopted over a large area is that the design parameters for each wind power generation device are determined according to general environmental conditions. These parameters often are based on the installation environment of the wind power generation equipment—i.e., the wind power resources—and the equipment are designed with a predetermined objective after undergoing a great deal of aerodynamics testing. For these reasons, when the wind power generation equipment leaves the factory, its design parameters cannot be randomly adjusted in accordance with the actual working conditions or, if they can, the range of adjustment is extremely narrow. Because the parameters of wind power resources cannot be fixed, the design parameters of wind power generation equipment cannot always be matched with the wind power resource conditions even through meticulous design. When the conditions are not matched, the power generation efficiency is extremely low. For example, manufacturers usually design small-size wind power generation equipment for a wind speed of greater than 11 m/s, but the average wind speed in actual operating environments of small-size wind power machinery can only reach 3˜5 m/s. For this reason, the actual power output often can only reach one tenth of the rated power output.
In addition, the more advanced wind power generation equipment currently available in the world use the type of propeller rotor or axial flow rotor used in aerospace technology. Testing has shown that propeller rotors and axial flow type rotors operate optimally under conditions of high-speed airflow. In general, the diameter of an airplane propeller rotor does not exceed 3 meters, but the power output can reach 600˜3,000 kilowatts. Although the diameter of a helicopter rotor is somewhat bigger, the operating speed of its blade tip position generally reaches over Mach 0.5. Therefore, use of these types of aerospace technology application propeller rotor structures in wind power generation areas with lower wind speeds (general operating wind speeds of only about 5˜10 m/s) is far out of the aerodynamically appropriate range of usage for a propeller rotor. Also, it is very difficult, to lower the manufacturing costs. With its high manufacturing & usage costs and low wind power efficiency, its technological targets make it very difficult for wide distribution of wind power resources and for the products to reach a viable usage level. This type of wind power generation equipment, therefore, can only be used at a wind power generation site with relatively rich wind power resources. Essentially, the application of propeller rotor technology in the realm of wind power generation has been a misleading direction in its technological development. Not only is it disadvantageous to the utilization of wind power resources, but also it has prevented other technological advancement from establishing a large user base.
The earliest human use of wind power stems from popular windmills. People used windmills for irrigation and milling, basically turning wind power into mechanical energy, such as the widely known Dutch windmills. In order to increase the wind power conversion efficiency of windmills, these locally used windmills needed to be designed and installed in accordance with the local wind conditions, and they needed to be individually adjusted so as to achieve the highest wind power/mechanical power conversion efficiency. Individual adjustment methods, however, were not suited to large-scale production of windmills, and the additional adjustment increased the manufacturing and usage costs of the windmills. Even more importantly, once a windmill is installed, its structure is fixed, and it is no longer adjustable. In keeping with the electrical energy demands of modern man, people began to use windmills to generate electricity. Because these popular windmills could not be randomly adjusted according to the wind conditions during operation, their conversion efficiency was similarly compromised. Current use of windmills to generate electricity, therefore, is not fully developed and widely adopted.
Under general conditions, windmills or the propellers in wind power device inventions all increase the torque of the wind power rotors by increasing the diameter. When a wind power rotor with an excessively large diameter encounters strong winds, however, the propeller blades can be easily damaged. Materials such as high strength carbon fibre materials are usually used to manufacture the blades of current wind power generation devices, and the manufacturing costs are extremely high as a result.


A control system for controlling a quantity of blood in a blood reservoir (10) of a perfusion system supplied by a venous line (V), wherein a pump (20) circulates blood from the blood reservoir (10) through an outgoing line (A), comprises a venous flow sensor (22) to measure a venous blood flow rate, an outlet flow sensor (24) to measure an outgoing blood flow rate, and a controller to control the pump (20) to prevent the outgoing blood flow rate from exceeding the venous blood flow rate. Thereby, a decrease of blood in the blood reservoir (10) can be arrested.

Extracorporeal perfusion is a process in which blood from a patient is circulated outside the patient's body and re-oxygenated to be returned to the patient. More specifically, venous (oxygen-reduced) blood which has been removed from a patient via a venous line is oxygenated by exposure to an oxygenation gas in an oxygenator for supply via an arterial line back to the patient as arterial blood.
The properties of the blood drawn from a patient may vary during perfusion. In particular, the flow rate and/or amounts of blood collected from a patient may vary. In order to maintain steady flow conditions in the oxygenator and/or through to other components, venous blood is collected in a blood reservoir, or venous reservoir, from where the blood is then drawn for subsequent processing (e.g., to undergo oxygenation in the oxygenator). Likewise, demand for blood from the reservoir varies.
The blood supply into the blood reservoir may vary constantly, and so the blood level in the blood reservoir may momentarily sink to levels that may be hazardous to a patient. For instance, too low a blood level in the blood reservoir may result in air bubbles being drawn into the blood. Such air bubbles may present a hazard if the blood is to be returned to the patient.
Blood reservoirs may conventionally comprise a blood level sensor. If the level of blood is too low, a signal is provided to an operator (e.g. a member of a surgical team operating on a patient) to stop the blood circulation away from the reservoir.
The present invention seeks to provide improved means for reducing the risks associated with a low blood level in a blood reservoir.


A rotary electric switch 1 comprises a base 2 having a rotary actuator 3 mounted thereon, the base 2 including a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart substrate layers 6, 7. Each layer 6, 7 has a first surface 9, 10 which faces the other substrate layer 7, 6 and a second surface 11, 12 which faces away from the other substrate layer 7, 6, the first surface 9, 10 of each layer having an electrically conducting contact 13, 14, 16 provided thereon. At least one of the substrate layers 6, 7 is deformable towards the other so as to effect an electrical connection between the contacts 13, 14, 16 on the two layers 6, 7, and the rotary actuator 3 includes a projection 21 which engages against the second surface 11 of said deformable substrate layer 6 so as to press it towards the other layer 7 in the immediate vicinity of the projection 21. In this way, rotation of the rotary actuator 3 moves the projection 21 relative to the substrates 6, 7 and hence varies the point of electrical connection between the contacts 13, 14, 16.

The present invention relates to a rotary electrical switch, preferably for use in a rotary encoder.
Electrical switches are well known, but typically suffer from the disadvantage that they are not adequately sealed from the outside environment and, in particular, do not provide satisfactory protection against the ingress of water. For example, known rotary switches generally comprise an actuator that is required to come into direct contact with electrical contacts in order affect switching states, but said requirement for direct contact makes it difficult to satisfactorily seal the circuitry of the switch from the environment. Furthermore, known electrical switches comprise a domed-shaped conductive contact mounted onto a circuit layer, which, when depressed, makes contact with a further conductive contact mounted within it, on the same circuit layer. Such switches are typically overlaid by a sheet or membrane of some kind such that the actuator does not come into direct contact with the conductive dome. However, these overlays are generally not sealing.


A circuit and method for generating a signal is disclosed. The circuit includes a set of wide tuning LC tanks, a set of core transistors cross coupled to the set of wide tuning LC tanks, and a combining network coupled to the set of wide tuning LC tanks and the set of core transistors. The combining network further includes a set of inputs connected to the set of wide tuning LC tanks and the set of core transistors, a set of coupling transistors connected to the set of inputs, a set of source inductors connected to the set of coupling transistors, a coupling capacitor connected to the set of source inductors, a load resistor connected to the coupling capacitor. The combining network combines the set of inputs and the signal is delivered to the load resistor as a fourth order harmonic.

Electro-magnetic waves in the millimeter and sub-millimeter wave frequency range, from 100 to 1000 GHz, are being utilized in fast-scan rotational spectroscopy for detection and identification of gas molecules. This technique is used for monitoring indoor air quality, gas leaks, human breath, and others for a wide variety of medical, security, and safety applications. Advances of the high frequency capability of CMOS have made it possible to consider CMOS as an affordable means for implementing the electronics for these spectroscopy systems, in which a signal generation circuit operating at 100 GHz and higher with an ultra-wide frequency tuning range, approximately 50%, is a key component. The rotational spectroscopy application is particularly well suited for CMOS implementation because it requires only a few micro-watt of transmitted power to avoid the saturation of molecules. This is significantly different from communication or radar applications in which high transmitted power is needed.
Recently, numerous millimeter-wave CMOS signal generation circuits/LC oscillators have been reported. These circuits are categorized into three groups based on their focus. The first group generates signals at frequencies as high as possible. For example, a 300-GHz fundamental mode VCO in 65-nm CMOS demonstrated that the fundamental oscillation frequency of an oscillator approaches the fmax of technology. By employing a frequency multiplication technique in conjunction with an oscillator, signals are generated beyond fmax. As another example, 553-GHz signal was generated by using a 4-push technique in 45-nm CMOS. The second group increases the tuning range while minimizing phase noise degradation. For example, a 57.5-90.1 GHz oscillator with a 44% tuning range was achieved by using a magnetically-tuned multi-mode technique. The third group is focused on increasing the output power. For example, a 283-to-296-GHz VCO in 65-nm CMOS with 0.76 mW peak output power has been demonstrated. Using a triple-push technique, the output power of this CMOS signal generation circuit is significantly improved near the sub-millimeter wave frequencies.
However, all reported wide tuning millimeter wave CMOS signal generation circuits with a frequency tuning range larger than 20% operate below 90 GHz. At 100 GHz, the tuning range has been limited to less than 11%, which is far below the desired range. Therefore, there is a need in the art to dramatically increase the tuning range of signal generation circuits with output frequency greater than 100 GHz. There is a need in the art for a CMOS signal generation circuit having an approximately 50% frequency tuning range without a frequency gap.

Quadrature LC VCO with passive coupling and phase combining network

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