An apparatus for controlling a switched reluctance machine changes the operating modes between a single-phase operating mode, and a multi-phase operating mode. The switched reluctance motor includes a rotatable rotor, a stator, and a plurality of stator windings defining a corresponding plurality of machine phases. When in the multi-phase mode, all of the plurality of stator windings corresponding to the plurality of machine phases are energized. When in the single-phase mode, stator windings corresponding to a single, selected machine phase are energized. The apparatus includes a logic circuit for sensing a speed of the rotor and generating a speed signal in response thereto, and a comparator circuit. The comparator circuit is responsive to the generated speed signal and is operative for changing the operating mode of the motor from the multi-phase mode to the single-phase mode when the rotor speed reaches a first predetermined level, and for changing the operating mode of the machine from the single-phase mode to the multi-phase mode when the rotor speed reaches a second predetermined level that is less than the first predetermined level. The first and second levels are offset and define a hysteresis operating band to prevent undesirable oscillation or "hunting" between the single-phase mode, and the multi-phase mode. In the single-phase mode, the current reference used for the energized stator windings associated with the selected machine phase is higher, than the corresponding current reference in the multi-phase mode.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a system for controlling a switch-reluctance (SR) motor, and more particularly, to a system for particularly controlling the operation of an SR motor between a multi-phase mode and a reduced phase operating mode.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Switched reluctance (SR) machines have been the subject of increased investigation due to their many advantages, which makes them suitable for use in a wide variety of situations. An SR machine operates on the basis of varying reluctance in its several magnetic circuits. In particular, such machines are generally doubly salient motors--that is, they have teeth or poles on both the stator and the rotor. The stator teeth have windings which form machine phases of the motor. In a common configuration, stator windings on diametrically opposite poles are connected in series to form one machine phase.
When a stator phase is energized, the closest rotor pole pair is attracted towards the stator pole pair having the energized stator winding, thus minimizing the reluctance of the magnetic path. By energizing consecutive stator windings (i.e., machine phases) in succession, in a cyclical fashion, it is possible to develop torque, and thus rotation of the rotor in either a clockwise, or counter-clockwise direction.
As further background, the inductance of a stator winding associated with a stator pole pair varies as a function of rotor position. Specifically, the inductance varies from a lower level, when a rotor pole is unaligned with a corresponding stator pole, to an upper or maximum level when the rotor pole and stator pole are in alignment. Thus, when the rotor pole rotates and sweeps past a stator pole, the inductance of the stator winding varies through lower-upper-lower inductance levels. This inductance-versus-rotor position characteristic is particularly relevant for controlled operation of the motor. Specifically, current flowing through the stator winding must be switched on prior to (i.e., advanced), and maintained during the rising inductance period to develop positive torque. Since positive phase current during the decreasing inductance interval produces a negative or breaking torque, the phase current must be switched off before this interval occurs to avoid generating negative torque. Accordingly, rotor position sensing is an integral part of a closed-loop variable-reluctance motor drive system so as to appropriately control torque generation.
Further, such motors may be operated in a multi-phase mode of operation, which is desirable when a relatively large load is driven by the motor. However, in some instances, the motor may be operated for a period of time in a low load condition (e.g., no load, or lightly loaded--hereinafter a "Low Load Condition") . When this occurs, the speed of the motor may rise rapidly. Conventional control methods and devices have continued to operate the motor in a multi-phase mode in this low load condition (i.e., all of the machine phases being sequentially energized to effect rotor rotation). This mode of operation, however, is less than optimally efficient. Particularly, since only a low load is being driven, energizing current in each of the multiple phases goes to a low level, which, for SR motors, may generate less torque per unit current than when energized at a higher current level.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved system for controlling a switched reluctance machine that minimizes or eliminates one or more of the problems as set forth above.

System for controlling operation of a switched reluctance motor between multi-phase operating mode and a reduced phase operating mode


A sodium chloride filler for resin-based simulated stone products is disclosed, as well as a simulated stone product including the sodium chloride filler, and a method of preparing same. The product includes a resin base, a catalyst capable of polymerizing the resin and particulate sodium chloride. Pigments and other fillers may be included to yield special aesthetic effects. The method of the invention comprises the steps of mixing a quantity of the resin with catalyst and particulate sodium chloride, and perhaps pigment and other fillers. Two sodium chloride filler particle size ranges are preferred. Finally, the mixture is transferred to a mold, the mold having been coated with a gel coat, and/or a coat of resin with an alternative filler, in preparation for receiving the mixture. A kit including the foregoing ingredients and instructions for combining same is also within the scope of the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to filled synthetic resin compositions, and more specifically to a simulated stone product for use as a basic building material for fabricating all manner of manufactured items, and a method for preparing same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Simulated stone products first appeared commercially in the mid 1950's. See A. G. Winfield, "Cultured Stones: Decorative Embedments in Plastic"; SPE Journal, vol. 22; August, 1966, pp. 36-39, published by the Society of Plastics Engineers, discussing early formulations of these products. Today, as then, several basic ingredients are combined in various ways to yield products resembling marble, onyx, granite and the like. These ingredients generally include a curable synthetic resinous liquid base, a catalyst for curing the resinous base and a particulate solid filler. Aesthetically pleasing veinated and variegated patterns are achieved by adding pigments to the foregoing.
Resins commonly employed include those of the polyester and epoxy varieties, although urethane, styrene, acrylic and cementitious resins have also been used. Clear and translucent resins are particularly preferred. Examples of resin use in the art, including the required catalysts and curing processes, are representatively discussed in references such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,067 issued to Schafer in 1968 disclosing an early filled simulated onyx product. Or note U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,752 issued to Cann in 1982 which discloses a product having aesthetically pleasing pigmented patterns and a method of preparing same. Another such product is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,954 issued to Hurd in 1987. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,177 issued to Munoz, et al. in 1984 which discloses a laminated product, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,257 issued to Baskin in 1990 disclosing a simulated stone having inclusions resembling stone chips.
The foregoing references also disclose a great variety of fillers that have been used in combination with resins in producing simulated stone products. These include alumina trihydrate, aluminum silicate, antimony oxide, boracite, borax, calcium carbonate, frit, diatomaceous earth, glass flour, gypsum, illite, marble dust, onyx flour, quartz flour, sand, silica flour, talc powder and titanium dioxide. Of these, alumina trihydrate is the modernly preferred filler for onyx-type products, partly for its superior appearance when mixed with resin, and partly for its superior fire retardance. Alumina trihydrate, when combined with other fillers, is also useful in enhancing the appearance and fire retardance of other simulated stones such as marble, granite and the like. However, alumina trihydrate is relatively expensive, as are most of the aesthetically acceptable alternative fillers.
Further, products made with alumina trihydrate often vary in color from batch to batch, causing difficulty in matching individual items to one another. And whiteness, a highlysought quality in simulated stone fillers, is not always optimum with alumina trihydrate; undesirable gray, yellow and almond tints present recurring problems.
Thus, it appears that a need exists for a very low cost filler yielding a superior and consistent appearance when mixed with resin. This filler should also lend fire retardance to the product and present a minimal health hazard in the work environment.


A bridge and pier structure are disclosed for extending over a waterway, wherein the pier structure includes a chamber filled with air or other buoyant material such that a buoyancy force is produced. The chamber is sized and filled such that the buoyancy force offsets at least eighty or ninety percent of the weight of the bridge that is supported by the pier. The pier structure includes a footing portion that is embedded into the bed of the waterway, and an optional piling extends downwardly from the footing to engage more stable strata. In an embodiment of the invention, the pier includes a relatively large upper portion that defines the buoyant chambers, and a relatively narrow portion that extends down to the footing portion of the pier. In an embodiment, a bumper assembly is disposed about the pier, to protect the pier and provide a platform for other activities.

The present invention is in the field of bridge construction and, more particularly, to support structures for over-water bridges. The engineering challenges involved in designing and constructing large bridge structures, such as suspension bridges and cable stayed bridges are legion. The bridge structure must have sufficient strength to support itself, the design live loads such as traffic, while also withstanding environmental loads including, for example, wind and other dynamic fluid loads, potential seismic loads, and the like. Typically the bridge structure will be designed to provide both the requisite rigidity to react certain design loads, and a certain amount of flexibility to endure other design loads without catastrophic failure. Moreover, the bridge structure is generally intended to be a permanent structure, and therefore must be designed to maintain its strength and stability over time.
Of course, bridges are often built over bodies of water, and rely on support structures that extend into the body of water, and to and into the bed beneath the body of water. Such supports, which may comprise caissons and piers, for example, that extend generally from the bed, out of the water to the bridge deck.
Designing suitable support structures for use in estuarial bodies of water having relatively poorly defined sedimentary layers that include significant quantities of fine particles can be very difficult. The support structure generally must provide a very stable support that will transmit very large reaction forces to the ground, while also being flexible enough to withstand loads relating to large episodic events such seismic events, but must do so in a sedimentary environment that is not conducive to reacting such loads.


An apparatus and method for selecting and outputting test patterns and internal signals during various SHBI modes of operation. The apparatus may include multiple input/output (I/O) pins, one or more functional blocks, a Self-Heat Burn-In (SHBI) state machine that is coupled to the I/O pins and the one or more functional blocks, and a logic selector circuitry that is coupled to the SHBI state machine and the one or more functional blocks. The SHBI state machine may provide to the I/O pins with first one or more test patterns during a first SHBI mode of operation, and to provide the one or more functional blocks with second one or more test patterns during a second SHBI mode of operation. The logic selector circuitry is configured to select and output the first one or more test patterns to stress the I/O pins during the first SHBI mode of operation, and to select and output internal signals of the one more functional blocks during the second SHBI mode of operation.

Integrated circuit devices such as processors, input/output controller hub (ICH), and so forth, are typically manufactured in the form of dice or "chips." During the manufacture or post manufacture of such devices, various testing operations may be performed on such devices.
For example, a burn-in operation may be performed to stress a device under test (DUT) in order to determine whether the DUT will fail under certain relatively extreme conditions such as at elevated temperatures and voltages. In some instances, such an operation may be performed by placing the DUT onto a burn-in board and coupling the DUT to drivers such that the DUT is run at relatively high voltage and temperature. In such operations, the temperature of the DUT can be elevated by toggling greater than 80% of the nodes of the DUT. Note that throughout the following description the terms "burn-in operation" and "high volume manufacturing (HVM) operation" will be used interchangeably and are, therefore, synonymous.
In contrast to a burn-in or HVM operation, a debug or debugging operation is performed in order to determine why an integrated circuit device is not behaving as designed or in accordance with simulation results. That is, any mismatch between silicon (i.e., circuit device embodied in a chip) and simulation may be best understood through the debugging process. A debugging operation is typically performed by providing predetermined signal patterns to various parts of the integrated circuit device and monitoring the internal signals of the device during the debugging operation.
In a conventional debugging operation, the DUT is placed onto an automated tester equipment (ATE) that probes the internal signals generated by the DUT during the debugging operation. However, before placing the DUT onto the ATE, engineering changes to the actual physical form of the DUT must first be performed. The engineering changes are typically accomplished by forming probe pads on the metal lines of the DUT. Once the engineering changes have been made, the DUT can be placed into the ATE. After placing the DUT on the ATE, probes that are coupled to an oscilloscope are coupled to the probe pads. Internal signals that are generated during the debugging operations may then be sampled through the probe pads. Unfortunately, performing conventional debugging operations tends to be expensive and can take up to weeks or even months to complete, depending on the complexity of the issue.

Apparatuses and methods for outputting signals during self-heat burn-in modes of operation


Methods and apparatus are provided for modifying a pulse width modulation signal controlling a voltage source inverter. The method comprises the steps of determining a duty cycle of the signal, clipping the duty cycle when a modulation index is greater than a minimum modulation index and less than a maximum modulation index, clipping the duty cycle when the modulation index is greater than or equal to the maximum modulation index, and transmitting the duty cycle to the voltage source inverter. The minimum modulation index indicates a distortion range.

A variety of controllers are used to control vehicle systems. One example of a vehicle-based controller is an inverter controller. The inverter controller is used to control the vehicle traction drive and numerous other vehicle systems. When using the inverter controller in vehicle systems, it is desirable to minimize current and torque pulsations, particularly at high speeds.
Discontinuous Pulse Width Modulation (DPWM) methods are commonly employed in inverter controllers to control the fundamental output voltage component of three-phase voltage source inverters. These three-phase voltage source inverters may in turn be used to control the phase currents of three-phase Alternating Current (AC) motors. DPWM methods reduce inverter losses in comparison to continuous Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) methods, such as sinusoidal or space vector modulation.
In general, a PWM signal has a modulation index that defines the amplitude of the fundamental output voltage component produced by the three-phase voltage source inverter. This modulation index is often defined in terms of a maximum fundamental output voltage that can be produced by the three-phase voltage source inverter. The modulation index (Mi) is given as:
      M    i    =            V      1      *                      2        π                          V        dc            where Vdc is the Direct Current (DC) voltage provided to the three-phase voltage source inverter and V1* is a commanded amplitude of the fundamental output voltage component.
Most PWM methods used with voltage source inverters are susceptible to voltage distortion due to practical limitations of the voltage source inverter, such as inverter lockout time and minimum pulse width constraints. These practical limitations are typically non-linear effects that manifest as finite and controllable minimum and maximum pulse widths. Either inverter switch, for a phase leg, of the voltage source inverter can be indefinitely held "ON" to create discrete values of pulse widths with duty cycles of zero and one, respectively. During some operating conditions, typically at high values of Mi, the commanded duty cycles for a particular phase leg have a pulse width between the minimum and maximum achievable pulse widths and the corresponding discrete values of zero and one. The non-linear effects produce unachievable regions that occur for each phase of the voltage source inverter (e.g., four times per fundamental cycle).
In the unachievable regions, the inverter control is typically set to clamp the duty cycles at either the maximum pulse width or to one of the voltage rails in a continuously "ON" condition. Analogously, the inverter control may also be set to clamp the duty cycle at either the minimum pulse width or to a lower voltage rail. Either of these conventional settings alters the output fundamental voltage component produced by the voltage source inverter, and the input-output voltage relationship of the modulation index (Mi) becomes non-linear.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method of controlling a fundamental output voltage component of voltage source inverters that maintains an input-output voltage linearity relationship. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a controller that controls a fundamental output voltage component of a voltage source inverter while maintaining an input-output voltage linearity relationship. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Method and apparatus for controlling voltage linearity of voltage source inverters


A print medium supplying device, includes a frame, a mounting plate to mount a print medium, an elevating unit to move upward and downward the mounting plate within the frame, and an elastic unit which comprises an installation unit disposed to one of the frame and the mounting plate, a coupling unit coupled to an other of the frame and the mounting plate, and a spring unit provided between the installation unit and the coupling unit to elastically weaken a falling motion of the mounting plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a print medium supplying device and an image forming apparatus having the same, and more particularly, to a print medium supplying device and an image forming apparatus to reduce a falling impact of a mounting plate on which a print medium is mounted when the print medium supplying device is in a mounting position and is separated from the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a print medium supplying device is employed in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile, etc., and picks up a print medium mounted inside thereof, one by one, to be supplied to the image forming apparatus. The print medium supplying device may be classified according to a print medium mounting capacity such as a print medium supplying device having the print medium mounting capacity within several hundred sheets of print media, and a print medium supplying device of high capacity having the print medium mounting capacity of approximate 2,000 sheets of print media.
Referring to FIG. 1, a related art print medium supplying device includes a frame 11 accommodating a print medium 1 therein, and a mounting plate 13 disposed within the frame 11 to move upward and downward. The print medium 1 is mounted on the mounting plate 13. The mounting plate 13 is driven by a driving force supplied from a driving source (not illustrated) provided in an image forming apparatus, and an elevating unit 15. The elevating unit 15 includes first and second pulleys 16 and 17 distantly disposed in a vertical direction of the frame 11, and a timing belt 19 to wind around the first and second pulleys 16 and 17. The first pulley 16 receives the driving force supplied from the driving source through a shaft 16a and a coupler (not illustrated) provided on a same axis to rotate the timing belt 19. The mounting plate 13 is disposed proximate to the timing belt 19 to move upward and downward depending on a driving direction of the timing belt 19. Accordingly, the print medium 1 can be smoothly supplied by adjusting a height of the mounting plate 13 according to a number of the print media 1 mounted on the mounting plate 13.
If the print medium supplying device is detached from the image forming apparatus to additionally mount the print medium 1, the coupler is separated so that the driving force transmitted from the driving source to the shaft 16a can be intercepted. Accordingly, the first and second pulleys 16 and 17 rotate free, and the mounting plate 13 falls free by its own weight. Accordingly, the print medium supplying device may be damaged, and noises may be generated.
The related art print medium supplying device further includes a gear 21 provided coaxially with the first pulley 16, and a gear oil damper 23 engaged to the gear 21 to prevent the mounting plate 13 from falling free. Accordingly, when the coupler is separated, the mounting plate 13 falls down while the first pulley 16 rotates in a low speed, thereby relieving the problem related to the free falling of the mounting plate 13.
However, in the related art print medium supplying device as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the weight on the mounting plate 13 and a height of a central point of the weight thereon vary according to a number of the print media 1 mounted on the mounting plate 13, it is difficult to design the gear oil damper 23 to be appropriate for such various conditions.
Accordingly, the gear oil damper 23 is designed based on a condition that there is no print medium 1 mounted on the mounting plate 13.
However, if the gear oil damper 23 is designed under this condition, a buffering action corresponding to the gear oil damper 23 is weakened. Accordingly, if the print medium supplying device is detached from the image forming apparatus while a considerable number of print media 1 are mounted on the mounting plate 13, the print medium supplying device may be damaged, and noises may be generated.

Print medium supplying device and image forming apparatus having the same


A reliable long-life subfractional horsepower electric motor comprising stator and rotor assemblies The stator assembly includes injection molded thermoplastic end housings and plastic bearing inserts shrink fitted into the end housings. The rotor assembly includes a shaft with a special ground finish that affords a long service life and the bearing material includes solid lubricant that coats the shaft to make it corrosion resistant thereby allowing the shaft to be made of inexpensive material such as plain carbon steel. The disclosed motor construction affords a significant reduction in the number of parts and production procedures as compared to prior art long-life motors to effect a significant reduction in manufacturing cost.

The invention relates to improvements in subfractional horsepower long-life electric motors.
Subfractional horsepower electric motors manufactured for long-life service are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,053,425. A typical application of such motors is for air circulation in refrigeration apparatus. Generally, such motors include bearing lubrication systems which provide for self-recirculation of a small quantity of oil to ensure a long service life and high reliability. It is critical in this type of motor that the original supply of oil be confined in a zone which is perfectly leak-proof because any leakage, however small, will eventually lead to premature failure of the motor. The oil circuitry may include an oil reservoir, a wick and oil grooves on a shaft or bearing to produce a supply of lubricant along the length of the bearing Typically, this oil supply and recirculation circuitry involves a number of parts and labor content that add to the cost of the motor In cold environments, the viscosity of the oil can make it difficult to ensure full lubrication so that premature failure of the bearing and therefore the motor may occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,828 illustrates an electric motor construction in which the end housings are injection molded plastic parts attached to a stack of stator laminations with tie rods running through the stack.


A method for operating a relay node during a handoff from a first controller to a second controller includes receiving a first instruction from the first controller to discontinue using a first set of wireless backhaul link resources allocated to the relay node by the first controller and to temporarily use a second set of wireless backhaul link resources dedicated by the second controller. The method also includes receiving a second instruction from the second controller to discontinue using the second set of wireless backhaul link resources and to begin using a third set of wireless backhaul link resources allocated to the relay node by the second controller.

Within the context of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release 10, Relay Nodes (RNs) are standardized. Generally, RNs are network nodes that communicate with an enhanced NodeB (eNB), which may also be commonly referred to as a communications controller, a base station, a NodeB, a controller, and the like, through a wireless link referred to as a Un link or a wireless backhaul, which may be in-band or out-of-band. To a User Equipment (UE), which may also be commonly referred to as a mobile station, terminal, subscriber, user, and the like, the RNs may appear as eNBs. The RNs are considered to be tools to improve, e.g., the coverage area of high data rate communications, group mobility, temporary network deployment, the cell-edge throughput, and/or to provide coverage in new areas.
Typically, there may be two types of RNs: fixed RNs and mobile RNs (mRNs). As their names imply, a fixed RN may be deployed in a fixed location and serve UEs operating within its operating area, while a mRN may be deployed in a mobile location and serve UEs operating with its moving operating area. The UEs operating within the moving operating area of the mRN may be moving along with the mRN or moved into the moving operating area of the mRN.

System and method for wireless link configuration


An anti-allergic pharmaceutical composition for nasal topical administration comprising an IgE antibody production inhibitor as an active ingredient, which is effective and safe in its nasal topical administration.

Allergic reactions include four types of reactions, i.e., types I, II, III and IV. The type I (immediate-type, anaphylactic) allergic reaction is triggered by the reaction-relating-factor immunoglobulin E (hereinafter abbreviated as an IgE antibody). The reaction steps can be divided roughly into the following three steps. The first step is a sensitization step involving IgE antibody production and binding of the resulting IgE antibodies to mast cells or basophils. The second step involves degranulation of the mast cells or basophils and release of chemical mediators. The third steps involves onset of effects of the released chemical mediators on the target organs. Thus, the type I allergic reaction against foreign antigens leads to onset of symptoms through the above reaction steps.
Only symptomatic treatments by inhibiting the above second and/or third reaction steps have been carried out to treat allergic diseases. That is, the treatments are carried out by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators accompanying the degranulation and/or by inhibiting allergic reactions induced by the released chemical mediators. These symptomatic treatments have been known to be effective not only in systemic administration of anti-allergic agents but also in their topical administration to the nose, etc. However, the effects of the treatments are limited because the treatments do not inhibit IgE antibody production which is the basic first step of the type I allergic reaction.
As fundamental remedies against the type I allergic reaction, medicaments inhibiting the above first step, namely IgE antibody production inhibitors, are being developed. Examples of such inhibitors include {2-4-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenylcarbamoyl!ethyl}dimethylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate (suplatast tosilate, hereinafter sometimes referred to as Compound A), and ethyl 2,6-bis-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-pyridine-4-carboxylate (hereinafter sometimes referred to as CS-1433). Anti-allergic effects in their systemic administration, namely oral administration, etc., have been reported (JP-A 59-167564, New Current, Vol. 3, No. 26 (1992) etc. for Compound A; Japanese Journal of Allergology, Vol. 36, No. 8 (1987) etc. for CS-1433). Regarding ophthalmic topical administration of Compound A, etc., anti-allergic effects of eye-dropping, etc., of Compound A are reported (EP-A-624,367, etc.).
However, because the mechanisms of nasal topical IgE antibody production are not clear, there is no report on effects of nasally topically administered drugs applicable to nasal topical membrane allergic reaction.
As described above, there is no satisfactory anti-allergic pharmaceutical compositions that are effective and safe in nasal topical administration. The object of the present invention is to provide an excellent anti-allergic pharmaceutical composition for nasal topical use.

Remedy for allergic diseases in the region of the nose


A cell sorting apparatus includes a flow channel through which fluid including cells flows, an electric-field application section capable of applying an electric field having a gradient in a direction different from the flowing direction of the fluid at a first position on the flow channel in accordance with a cell sorting signal requesting an operation to sort the cells, and a flow splitting section configured to split the cells changing their flowing directions due to a dielectrophoretic force caused by application of the electric field at a second position on the downstream side of the first position on the flow channel.

The present disclosure relates to a cell sorting apparatus for sorting target cells, a cell sorting chip implementing the apparatus and a cell sorting method for the apparatus.
As apparatus for sorting cells, a fluorescent flow cytometer and a cell sorter are known. In these apparatus for sorting cells, the cells are kept on an air-liquid interface at a spout by surrounding fluid under proper vibration conditions generally including an exit flowing velocity of several m/s and a vibration frequency of several tens of kHz. At the same time, electric charge is also given to the cells. The cells each fly as a liquid drop in air, to which a static electric field is applied, in a direction according to the amount of the electric charge given thereto. Finally, the cells are sorted in a cell sorting container provided outside the flow channel.
For relatively high flowing velocities such as the one cited above, this technology is useful. In a flow cytometer with relatively low flowing velocities or a dielectric cytometer, however, it is difficult to satisfy a liquid-drop conversion condition and a discharging condition. Thus, it is desirable to rather provide a configuration in which a sorting operation is carried out on cells in a flow channel including branch flow channels and, at a later stage, the cells are held.
As a cell sorting mechanism in a flow channel, there has been proposed a method in accordance with which, for example, a piezo device or the like is used for changing the flowing direction of fluid in order to indirectly driving cells included in the fluid. However, the responsiveness of this mechanical device has a value in the order of about several milliseconds. Thus, if the responsiveness of a pressure wave in the flow channel is taken into consideration, this cell sorting mechanism provides a limited cell sorting speed.
As a method for directly driving cells, on the other hand, there has been proposed a dielectrophoretic-force method. A typical document such as JP-T-2003-507739 (refer to, among others, FIGS. 1 and 2) (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses the dielectrophoretic-force method in accordance with which a difference in dielectrophoretic force between cells flowing through a flow channel provided with embedded electrodes and a difference in sinking velocity between the cells are used to sort the cells into a plurality of cell groups having cell types different from each other.

Cell sorting apparatus, cell sorting chip and cell sorting method


A flex circuit for connection to a moving device. The flex circuit includes a connections tab configured to present first and second pluralities of electrical conductors for electrically coupling to the moving device. First and second flex circuit paths extend from the connections tab and having separate distal ends, and include the first and second pluralities of electrical conductors, respectively. The first and second flex circuit paths are configured at their distal ends to present the first and second pluralities of electrical conductors, respectively, for electrical coupling to a circuit board.

The present invention relates generally to flexible circuits configured for attachment to a moving device, and more particularly, to flexible circuits that provide two or more conductor trace paths with separate termini from localized connection points on the moving device.
The conventional method for flex circuit design for magnetic tape heads is one unitary flex cable per read and write head module, with a single connector at the distal end of the flex cable for connection to a circuit board. When an odd number of head modules are used in the head assembly, for example a three module head assembly configured as writer-reader-writer head modules, problems may occur with the conventional method if more flex cables are disposed on one side of the head actuator as compared to the other side. For example, using a conventional flex cable design with an odd number of head modules, having more flex cables disposed on one side of the head actuator as compared to the other side may create mechanical and electrical asymmetry issues with respect to unbalanced mechanical stress on the head actuator as the tape heads are moved.
A proposed solution may be to use two separate flex cables for one of the odd number of head modules. For example, to have one flex cable electrically connected to one half the channels of the head module be disposed on one side of the module, and another separate flex cable connected to the other half of the channels be disposed on the other side of the module. However, this proposed solution in fact adds complexity to the head module design due to the requirement to provide two flex cable bonding sites on the head module in a typically space-constrained area. As technology advances moved towards doubling or tripling of the number of channels per head, design complexities related to space requirements, cable and trace routing, cable flex bias, etc., will likely increase.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a roof cladding element, which roof cladding element has been manufactured of profiled plate material and which roof cladding elements are adjacently and in succession mountable such that the edges of a roof cladding element will be placed a distance overlapping with the edges of adjacent roof cladding elements. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing roof cladding elements in which method a plate material in strip form is formed into profiled roof cladding element strip with a forming device and in which method a finished formed roof cladding element strip is cut with a cutting device at even intervals into roof cladding elements. Characteristic to a roof cladding element in accordance with the invention is the fact that to at least one corner of a roof cladding element a recess reaching at least partly under the lower surface of the part of the roof cladding element surrounding the corner has been formed. Characteristic to the method in accordance with the invention is the fact that to at least one corner of the roof cladding element a recess reaching at least partly under the lower surface of the part of the roof cladding element surrounding the corner is formed with a forming device.

Most usually a profiled roof cladding mountable of roof cladding plates is made of roof cladding plates covering the roof from the ridge to the eaves. The roof cladding plates needed in building of a cladding in this way are ordered from a reseller of profiled roof cladding, for example, who delivers the roof cladding plates cut in accordance with the parameters of the roof of the building. Today a profiled roof cladding may also be manufactured of roof cladding elements of standard measures, which are available in stock. This kind of a profiled roof cladding is mounted by attaching roof cladding elements adjacently and in succession to the attaching construction of the roof such that a uniform profiled roof cladding corresponding functionally and in appearance to the cladding manufactured in earlier mentioned method is achieved.
A precondition for functionality of a profiled roof cladding mountable of roof cladding elements is the fact that the edges of roof cladding elements are placed overlapping in longitudinal and transverse directions as requires the shape of the cladding, among other things. Since the roof cladding elements are mounted as said there appears to be four plate layers one on the other at the junction point of the edges, one on the other, of roof cladding elements that are placed adjacently and in succession (that is at the corners of roof cladding elements) and in other connection points of the edges there are only two layers. This is why there is a difference in thickness between the corners and the other edges that are overlapping, and therefore between overlapping edges there appears to be gaps. The gaps worsen tightness and make the cladding non-uniform in appearance. To solve this problem a roof cladding element has been designed from one lower corner of which and from diagonally with that placed other upper corner of which pieces are cut (that will say so called notching has been carried out), and such there will not be four plate layers of cladding one on the other at the roof cladding element corners. This kind of a roof cladding element has been presented in the international patent application document WO9916985.
By means of notching disadvantages caused by the four overlapping plate layers are prevented. However, cutting of corners causes many other problems. Notching will leave waste, which increases material and manufacturing costs and hence worsens the profitability of manufacturing. The notching causes points of non-continuance in the plate material strip to be formed which points cause problems in manufacturing process of the product as well as ready points of notching may be damaged during transportation. In addition, due to notching there will appear sharp corners and edges in the product, which easily cause various accidents at work while handling and mounting roof cladding elements. In addition, the notching requires additional devices in manufacturing process of roof cladding elements, which devices make it more expensive and more vulnerable for various production disturbances than conventional methods. Furthermore, the cladding constructed of notched roof cladding elements is more easily thought to be more vulnerable for leaking of running water than the cladding constructed of unnotched roof cladding elements.
The purpose of the invention is to provide a roof cladding element, with the use of which the earlier mentioned disadvantages related to present roof cladding elements are eliminated. Especially, the purpose of the invention is to provide a roof cladding element, with the use of which the disadvantages due to four overlapping plate layers are eliminated but by means of which the notching of roof cladding elements and problems due to it are eliminated. In addition, the purpose of the invention is to provide a roof cladding element which may be attached to other roof cladding elements and the attaching construction of cladding long-lasting and reliably but with less separate attaching elements and with less mounting work with regard to those than earlier. Furthermore, the purpose of the invention is also to provide a method for manufacturing a roof cladding element in accordance with claim 1.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Roof cladding element and method for manufacturing roof cladding elements


A computer-implemented method for detecting landmark pairs in a pair of images is provided. The method includes receiving a pair of images, sampling the pair of images to generate reduced-resolution pairs of images, identifying features in the reduced-resolution pairs of images, matching the features in the image pairs, using the matched features in an increased resolution pair of images as guides for feature matching, and through iteratively guiding feature matching, identifying landmarks in the full-resolution pair of images.

The field of the invention relates generally to automatic verification of deformable image registration.
Deformable image registration (DIR) is a technology used in conjunction with advanced radiotherapy techniques (e.g., adaptive radiotherapy) and other clinical tasks (e.g., target definition, automatic segmentation, motion estimation, dose accumulation, and treatment response evaluation). DIR algorithms compute tissue deformation by minimizing one or more of (a) image intensity differences, (b) irregularities of deformations, and (c) boundary mismatches of delineated structures. DIR accuracy, which is the correspondence of matching points between images under DIR, is often inadequate and largely dependent on the operator, the DIR algorithm, the implementation, and image quality. Frequently, DIR workflow (e.g., pre-DIR rigid registration, uses of region-of-interest) and parameters are manually adjusted repetitively on a trial-and-error basis before a "reasonable" result (e.g., visually acceptable) can be attained. Due to the manual inputs and visual assessments incorporated into DIR workflows, absolute accuracy may not be quantitatively assessable. Typically, the DIR algorithms quantitatively using benchmark datasets before accuracy can be assessed and before the DIR parameters can be understood and optimized by the operators.
Existing DIR evaluation methods can be classified into various categories. One method includes analyzing image intensity and deformation vector field (DVF) to assess DIR accuracy indirectly. Image intensity based metrics include the sum of squared intensity difference (SSD), mutual information (MI) and cross-correlation (CC). DVF based metrics include Jacobian, stress, inverse consistency, transverse consistency, smoothness, divergence, unbalanced stress energy. Because none of these metrics are directly related to DIR accuracy, methods based on these metrics cannot give a quantitative assessment of DIR errors (in term of mm), would fail in many cases, and cannot be trusted to support clinical decisions. Another method includes using digital phantoms with artificially generated deformation, or physical phantoms with known deformation. These methods may test the absolute DIR accuracy, but only on phantom images. The measured DIR errors for any DIR algorithm are not generalizable to patient images because the patient deformation is not known, and much more irregular and complex than the artificially generated and usually very smooth deformation. A third method includes using manually selected landmarks and manually delineated structure contours to compute a target registration error (TRE), contour displacement, or a volume overlapping ratio.
To compute a Target Registration Error (TRE) on manually selected landmarks is commonly known as the only reliable way to test DIR accuracy on a patient image dataset. However, the manual landmark selection process is very labor intensive if a relatively large number of landmarks are to be selected. For example, a lung DIR evaluation framework including a total of 6762 landmarks manually registered over the set of five thorax 4DCT image datasets requires over of 60 hours of labor. Furthermore, manually selecting landmarks can be subjective and biased. For example, human observers select the most visually apparent landmark points, e.g., the bifurcation points, in a lung CT image. However, such bifurcation points usually have very strong image gradients and therefore DIR algorithms would be naturally more accurate at such points than at image voxels with minimal image gradient. A TRE evaluated at these biasedly selected landmarks might be underestimated.
Some methods detect the landmarks automatically in CT image pairs. In one example, a method including SIFT (Scale Invariant Feature Transform) detection and matching methods yields detections of 64 landmarks per lung. On average four landmarks (or 6%) require rejection after manual verification. In another example, a method including SIFT feature detection and matching methods is used to verify the results of DIR. Between the radiation therapy simulation CT and cone-beam CT for head-neck cancer patients, on average 50 to 250 landmarks may be detected per case. The average accuracy of this landmark pair matching is 96.5% with 50% of the detected landmark pairs directed to bony structures. In another example, a method to detect SIFT features in 2D cine MRIs and compute tissue motion may track the local groups of SIFT features. In yet another example, DIR benchmark datasets of 47 pairs of temporal thoracic CT scans, 100 landmark pairs per case, may include using a customized automatic landmark detection method followed by automatic block-matching based landmark matching and manual confirmation. The method includes evaluation of the manual confirmation process, however, provides no indication as to the accuracy of the automatic feature matching prior to manual confirmation.
Current SIFT feature detection and matching methods are not mature enough to be a viable solution for automatic verification of DIR results on arbitrary patient dataset due to two correlated problems: (a) inability to detect larger number of features and (b) inability to accomplish higher feature pair matching accuracy. A density of 64 landmarks per lung, as 1 to 2 landmarks per axial slice, is inadequate to assess DIR accuracy in whole lung. Despite a high rate of feature detection and matching procedures with a matching accuracy of 94%, SIFT feature detection and matching methods cannot be fully trusted as an automatic DIR verification procedure.
The two issues are rooted in a single problem—inaccuracy in feature pair matching. A lower threshold value in the SIFT detection methods may be employed to detect tens of thousands of SIFT features in a standard size CT volume. The standard SIFT feature pair matching method, based on the feature descriptor similarity measurement, is however not optimized to accurately match the feature pairs among such a large number of features. There exists a need to accurately detect large numbers of feature pairs (e.g., landmark pairs).

Systems and methods for detecting landmark pairs in images

The Curators of The University of Missouri


The present invention generally relates to a processing system and method for coalescing instruction data to efficiently detect data hazards between instructions of a computer program. In architecture, the system of the present invention utilizes a plurality of pipelines, coalescing circuitry, and hazard detection circuitry. Each of the pipelines receives and processes instructions of a computer program, and the coalescing circuitry receives a plurality of register identifiers from the pipelines. Each of the register identifiers identifies one of a plurality of registers, and the coalescing circuitry combines the plurality of register identifiers into a single register identifier such that the single register identifier identifies each of the registers identified by the register identifiers received by the coalescing circuitry. The hazard detection circuitry then compares the single register identifier with other information received by the hazard detection circuitry to detect whether a particular type of data hazard exists. Due to the combining steps of the coalescing circuitry, the number of compares by the hazard detection circuitry required to detect data hazards can be reduced, and the circuitry and complexity of implementing the hazard detection circuitry can be reduced, as well.

The present invention generally relates to data processing techniques and, in particular, to a system and method for producing data indicative of data hazards between instructions of a computer program and for coalescing the data to minimize the circuitry and complexity required to detect the data hazards.
To increase the performance of many processors, pipeline processing has been developed. In pipeline processing, a processor is equipped with at least one pipeline that can simultaneously process multiple instructions. Therefore, execution of one instruction in the pipeline may be commenced before the results of execution of a preceding instruction in the pipeline are available, and as a result, errors from data dependency hazards are possible.
A data dependency exists when one instruction to be executed by a pipeline utilizes data produced via execution of another instruction, and the data dependency creates a data dependency hazard when the data produced by the other instruction is not yet available for use by the one instruction. For example, a later instruction, when executed, may utilize data that is produced by execution of an earlier instruction (e.g., a later add instruction may utilize data that is retrieved by an earlier load instruction). If the later instruction executes before the data from execution of the earlier instruction is available, then the later instruction utilizes incorrect data, resulting in a data dependency error. Accordingly, a data dependency hazard exists between the two instructions, until the data utilized by the later instruction is available or until the data dependency error occurs.
Needless to say, it is important to detect data dependency hazards so that data dependency errors can be prevented. However, circuitry for detecting data dependency hazards is often complex and often utilizes a relatively large amount of area within a processor. This is especially true in superscalar processors, which include a plurality of pipelines that simultaneously execute instructions. In this regard, an instruction in one pipeline may not only have a dependency with another instruction in the same pipeline but may also have a dependency with another instruction in another pipeline. Therefore, to adequately check for data dependency hazards, a first instruction in one pipeline should be compared with each instruction in each pipeline that could share a data dependency hazard with the first instruction. Consequently, as the number of pipelines within a processor increases, the circuitry and complexity required to detect data dependencies that define data dependency hazards increase dramatically.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for an efficient processing system with minimal complexity and circuitry for detecting data hazards between instructions of a computer program.
The present invention overcomes the inadequacies and deficiencies of the prior art as discussed hereinbefore. Generally, the present invention provides a processing system and method for coalescing instruction data to efficiently detect data hazards between instructions of a computer program.
In architecture, the system of the present invention utilizes a plurality of pipelines, coalescing circuitry, and hazard detection circuitry. Each of the pipelines receives and processes instructions of a computer program, and the coalescing circuitry receives a plurality of register identifiers from the pipelines. Each of the register identifiers identifies one of a plurality of registers, and the coalescing circuitry combines the plurality of register identifiers into a single register identifier such that the single register identifier identifies each of the registers identified by the register identifiers received by the coalescing circuitry. The hazard detection circuitry then compares the single register identifier with other information received by the hazard detection circuitry to detect whether a particular type of data hazard exists. Due to the combining steps of the coalescing circuitry, the number of compares by the hazard detection circuitry required to detect data hazards can be reduced, and the circuitry and complexity of implementing the hazard detection circuitry can be reduced, as well.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, decoders are coupled to the pipelines, and the coalescing circuitry is coupled to the pipelines via the decoders. Each of the decoders receives and decodes one of the register identifiers transmitted by one of the pipelines.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, an attribute interface is coupled to one of the pipelines and receives attribute data. The attribute interface then controls, based on the attribute data, the value of at least one of the bits in one of the register identifiers transmitted by one of the pipelines. The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for detecting data hazards in a computer system. The method can be broadly conceptualized by the following steps: processing instructions of a computer program; receiving a first register identifier associated with one of the instructions, the first register identifier having a plurality of bits corresponding respectively with a plurality of registers such that each of the registers respectively corresponds with at least one of the bits of the first register identifier; receiving a second register identifier associated with another of the instructions, the second register identifier having a plurality of bits corresponding respectively with the plurality of registers such that each of the registers respectively corresponds with at least one of the bits of the first register identifier; asserting, in the first register identifier, one of the bits corresponding with one of the registers to be identified by the first register identifier; deasserting each of the bits of the first register identifier corresponding with any of the registers other than the one register to be identified by the first register identifier; asserting, in the second register identifier, one of the bits corresponding with one of the registers to be identified by the second register identifier; deasserting each of the bits of the second register identifier corresponding with any of the registers other than the one register to be identified by the second register identifier; combining the first register identifier with the second register identifier; producing a third register identifier in response to the combining step, the third register identifier identifying the registers identified by the first and second register identifiers; comparing the third register identifier to another register identifier; and detecting a data hazard based on the comparing step.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims.

System and method for coalescing data utilized to detect data hazards


The invention concerns a method for the determination of an azimuth angle for servicing purposes (αw) of a wind power plant with a machinery housing that is rotatable on a tower through an azimuth angle (α) and a rotor that is rotatable on a machinery housing through a rotor angle (δ) such that a plurality of combinations of rotor angles (δ) and azimuth angles (α) is adjusted, that are determined at the rotor subject to the influence of a turbulent wind field, which is effecting torques, for the adjusted combinations of rotor angles (δ) and azimuth angles (α) and the associated azimuth angle (α), a torque envelope of the torque-azimuth angle associations is determined, surrounding areas (U(α)) with comparable sector sizes of the azimuth angle (α) are generated and associated magnitude values of the torque envelope are determined, a surrounding area (U(αw)) with magnitude-wise smaller torque envelope values than the neighboring surrounding areas is selected and the azimuth angle for servicing purposes (αw) is determined within the selected surrounding area (U(aw)).

This invention claims priority from German application DE 10 2010 011 549.5, filed Mar. 15, 2010, and the contents of that application are incorporation herein in their entirety.
The invention concerns a method for the determination of an azimuth angle for servicing purposes of a wind power plant and a method for the servicing of a wind power plant as well as a wind power plant for the implementation of one of the servicing procedures.
Wind power plants should be maintained regularly. Beyond that, damaged wind power plants have to be repaired, for example because of lightning strikes or similar. It can be necessary, in particular if the servicing or a repair concerns the drive train of the wind power plant, to lock the rotor during the repair so that the mechanics can work safely. Such locking is in particular necessary in the case when a rotor bearing is damaged and repair work is performed in that location. Also during the replacing of parts of the transmission, the generator or similar in the machinery housing, the rotor has to be necessarily locked during the servicing work. In a known manner the machinery housing is aligned along with the rotor in the direction of the wind and the rotor blades are placed in feathered position and the rotor is then locked.
Disadvantageous in the context of the known servicing procedures is however the appearance of relatively large torques at the rotor in the case of changing directions of the wind. In particular in the case of servicing work that is difficult to estimate in duration, such as in the case of the replacing of rotor bearings or the disassembly of a transmission, the servicing state has to be verified taking into consideration a once-a-year-gust, wherein torques on the order of three times the nominal torque can occur.

Method of servicing wind power plant using azimuth angle


An approach is provided for using one or more identification parameters of terminals associated with a communication session to initiate another communication session among the terminals. A communication platform determines one or more identification parameters associated with one or more terminals participating in at least one communication session. The communication platform further causes, at least in part, an initiation of at least one other communication session among the one or more terminals based, at least in part, on the one or more identification parameters.

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. Such network services include the ability to share information between devices. However, the ability to use such network services to share information requires configuring the devices or applications executed on the devices with usernames and passwords. The ability to use such network services also may require defining groups or circles of users that share common attributes and that will have access to the same level of information access. Accordingly, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges regarding permitting the sharing of information in a user-friendly way.

Method and apparatus for communication session-based initiation of networked terminals


An Ethernet switch which includes a plurality of medium access control (MAC) interface logic circuits each coupled to an associated output port operative to perform serial-to-parallel conversion for frames being received from an associated output port and parallel-to-serial conversion for frames being transferred to an associated output port and other interfacing functions. The switch has an internal bus, a buffer memory coupled to each of the MAC interface logic circuits at one end and to the internal bus at another end, a switch central processor coupled to the internal bus and a multi-channel Direct Memory Access (DMA) Controller coupled to the internal bus and to the switch central processor, operative to transfer incoming frames to an external memory and to transfer frames stored temporarily in external memory to their destination in accordance with instructions from the switch central processor. An external memory controller is coupled to the DMA Controller and to an external memory port. An expansion bus interface logic circuit is coupled to said DMA Controller and to an expansion bus port. The switch central processor performs frame address handling and controls transfer of incoming frames to their destination.

Ethernet networks can be split and isolated into multiple "segments" with frames between segments selectively forwarded as required to maintain communication between devices on different segments. The device responsible for forwarding the frames between segments is known as an Ethernet switch. Traditionally such switches were implemented using only hardware with all forwarding decisions and processing being made using hard-wired logic to obtain the necessary level of performance. This has been an expensive and inflexible method of realizing a frame switching device. In addition, the frame switching algorithms employed had to be quite simple and unsophisticated due to the need to implement them in hardware. Finally, it was necessary to make use of a separate CPU (in addition to the frame switching hardware) in order to initialize, manage and maintain the switch, and allow human system managers to communicate with it, which also increased the cost and development time of Ethernet frame switches.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved Ethernet frame switch. It is a further object of the invention to provide a an Ethernet frame switch of reduced cost and complexity. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an Ethernet frame switch that allows modification of the switching processes without replacement of the hardware.


A coaxial cable with a Plug comprises a coaxial cable (1) in which an outer conductor (103) is provided around a center conductor (101) with an insulator (102) interposed therebetween and a plug (2) having a center contact (201) electrically connected to the center conductor (101) via a center conductor connecting member (203) and an outer contact (202) electrically connected to the outer conductor (103) via an outer conductor connecting member (204). The center contact (201) and the outer contact (202) rotate about an axis (RX) perpendicular to the axis (201X) of the center contact while maintaining the electrical connection between the center contact (201) and the center conductor (101) and the electrical connection between the outer contact (202) and the outer conductor (103).

Heretofore, in general, for a data transfer cable, there has been known a coaxial cable provided with an external conductor, for example, such as a netted copper wire allowing an insulator to intervene around a copper core wire (herein after referred to as a central conductor). At this time, the external conductor is cylindrically provided around the central conductor, and has an advantage of shutting off a noise. Hence, the coaxial cable is widely used as a cable of transferring a high frequency signal such as a television signal.
Further, when the coaxial cable is connected to the television antenna and receiver, the coaxial cable with a plug is used, which is provided with a plug having a central contact electrically connected to the central conductor of the coaxial cable and an external contact electrically connected to the external conductor. At this time, in the coaxial cable with a plug, as shown in FIG. 21(a), there are a straight type in which the axial direction 201X of the central contact 201 and the pulling direction 1X of the coaxial cable 1 are in parallel, and as shown in FIG. 21(b), a right angle type in which the axial direction 201X of the central contact 201 and the pulling direction 1X of the coaxial cable 1 make a right angle.
In the case of the coaxial cable with a plug of the straight type, for example, when it is connected to a receiving terminal of the television located at a wall surface at home and the like, a bulging out from the wall surface of the coaxial cable 1 becomes large. Hence, the bulged portion catches legs and the like, thereby causing a high risk of falling down or the cable being pulled out. Further, in case the receiving terminal of the television is, for example, located at the backside of furniture, a space in consideration of the bulged portion of the coaxial cable 1 has to be secured since the coaxial cable is severed when applied with an unnatural force and bent.
In the meantime, in the case of the coaxial cable with a plug of the right angle type, since the axial direction 201X of the central contact 201 and the pulling direction 1X of the coaxial cable 1 makes a right angle, when connected to the wall surface, the bulge of the coaxial cable 1 is small, so that a narrow space behind furniture and the like does not cause hindrance.
However, in such a coaxial cable with a plug, since the positional relation between the axial direction 201X of the central contact 201 and the pulling direction 1X of the coaxial cable 1 is fixed, either of the straight type or the right angle type has to be selected according to an application and a usage place. Hence, for example, due to a housing-moving and a change of design, the situation where, for example, the straight type coaxial cable with a plug becomes difficult to use occurs, the coaxial cable with a plug of the right angle type has to be newly purchased. That is, in the conventional coaxial cable with a plug, there has been a problem that a degree of freedom of adaptability to the application and the usage place is low.
Consequently, an object of the present invention is to provide a coaxial cable with a plug, which has no such a defect of the coaxial cable with a plug and is high in a degree of freedom of adaptability to the application and the usage place.


A rotation angle detection device has a magnetism detection unit, a magnetic flux generation unit for applying magnetic flux to the magnetism detection unit, and a magnetic flux alteration unit provided for the magnetic flux generation unit. The magnetic flux generation unit is rotated relatively to the magnetism detection unit. A relative rotation angle between the magnetism detection unit and the magnetic flux generation unit is detected based on a density of the magnetic flux passing through the magnetism detection unit. The magnetic flux alteration unit alters a distribution of the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generation unit, to compensate a deviation of the distribution of the magnetic flux.

Generally, referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a rotation angle detection device is provided with a magnetism detection unit J1 (e.g., Hall element embedded in Hall IC) disposed at a rotation axis (named Z-axis), a magnetic flux supply magnet J2 which has a semi-cylinder shape and applies magnetic flux to the magnetism detection unit J1, and a magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 which has a semi-cylinder shape and attracts the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 by the magnetic flux supply magnet J2.
The magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2, which construct a magnetic flux generation unit, are fixed to the diametrically inner surface of a cylinder-shaped yoke J4. The magnetism detection unit J1 is surrounded by the magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2.
When the relative rotation angle between the magnetic flux generation unit and the magnetism detection unit J1 varies, the density of the magnetic flux orthogonal to the magnetic detection surface of the magnetism detection unit J1 varies (referring to FIG. 2). The magnetism detection unit J1 outputs signals responding to the density of the magnetic flux orthogonal to the magnetic detection surface thereof.
According to the output signals from the magnetism detection unit J1, the rotation angle detection device detects the relative rotation angle between two members where the magnetic flux generation unit (including magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and magnetic flux supply magnet J2) and the magnetism detection unit J1 are respectively fixed, for example, referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,000, JP-2-122205A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,781, U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,502 and US-2004/0189288A1.
However, in this case, influences of a magnetic member (e.g., yoke J4) supporting the magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2, a magnetic member at the vicinity of the rotation angle detection device, and the like may cause a bias (deviation) in the distribution of the magnetic flux, which is applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 by the magnetic-flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 6B, in the case where the Z-axis-direction left ends of the magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2 are justified to that of the yoke 14, the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generation unit leaks to the Z-axis-direction right side (of magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and magnetic flux supply magnet J2) where no magnet is arranged. That is, there exists a magnetic flux leaking portion α at the Z-axis-direction right portion of the yoke J4.
Therefore, the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 by the Z-axis-direction right ends of the magnetic flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2 is abated. As a result, referring to FIG. 6C, the top of the distribution of the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 deviates (in Z-axis direction) to the opposite side to the magnetic flux leaking portion α.
Therefore, in the case where the arrangement position of the magnetism detection unit J1 deviates in the Z-axis direction, the density of the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 will significantly vary. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the arrangement position of the magnetism detection unit J1 deviates in the range "A" in the Z-axis direction, the density of the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 will vary in the large range "B".
Because the density of the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 will significantly vary responding to the Z-axis-direction arrangement error, the absolute accuracy of the rotation angle detection device is deteriorated.
When the design alteration of a part of the rotation angle detection device is required because of a mounting restriction (in vehicle, for example) or an purpose for cost reduction, the Z-axis-direction centers of the magnetic-flux attraction magnet J3 and the magnetic flux supply magnet J2 are to deviate from the magnetism detection unit J1 when being viewed in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the top of the distribution of the magnetic flux applied to the magnetism detection unit J1 deviates in the Z-axis direction.
For the sake of the malfunction restriction, it is necessary for the design of the rotation angle detection device to be significantly altered. Therefore, the cost is greatly increased due to the specification variation.

Rotation angle detection device having magnetic flux alteration unit


There is provided a method of providing vehicle support. The method includes receiving diagnostic data from the onboard vehicle computer. The diagnostic data is received by an automotive diagnostic tool and is then communicated to a prior experience database having information related to diagnostic solutions associated with combinations of diagnostic data. The prior experience database is arranged to match the received diagnostic data to possible diagnostic solutions. The diagnostic solutions are then prioritized in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to the previous combinations of diagnostic data stored in the prior experience database. The possible diagnostic solution associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data is identified as the most likely solution. Vehicle components associated with the most likely solution are then identified. The diagnostic tool is subsequently configured to log diagnostic data related to the vehicle components associated with the most likely solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicle support systems and more specifically to a method of providing a vehicular diagnostic evaluation based on an analysis of vehicle operation data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many of today's vehicles include a wide range of systems and components that perform various operations while the vehicle is in use. Over time, repeated use of the vehicle may cause failure of individual systems or components. As such, most vehicles are equipped with an onboard diagnostic computer in communication with the various systems and components included on the vehicle. The onboard computer may monitor the operation of the systems and components by logging diagnostic data generated during use of the vehicle. Although the onboard diagnostic computers may log data generated in response to operation of the vehicle, the diagnostic computer may not be capable of analyzing the data to identify the ultimate failure source plaguing the particular vehicle.
As such several diagnostic and support tools have been developed with the aim of providing the owner of the vehicle with vehicular diagnostic information. For instance, several handheld diagnostic tools have been designed to offer the owner of the vehicle a means of accessing and retrieving the diagnostic data logged by the onboard diagnostic computer. Once the diagnostic data is retrieved, it may be analyzed to determine a failure source.
In some instances, the diagnostic data logged by the onboard diagnostic computer includes a failure code generated by the vehicle's systems and components when a particular system or component is failing or is about to fail. The failure code may be associated with a particular system or component that is failing. Therefore, by retrieving the failure code, the particular system or component may be identified and treated.
However, given the complex nature of today's vehicles, several failure codes may be generated at any given time. In other words, the failure of one particular system or component may cause other systems or components to operate incorrectly. As such, the source of all the failure codes may trace back to one failure source. The invention disclosed in patent application Ser. No. 11/823,757, entitled Automotive Diagnostic and Remedial Process, is directed to a diagnostic system for determining a likely failure source for a particular combination of failure codes. The likely failure source is determined by matching the particular combination of failure codes generated by the test vehicle with combinations of failure codes in a prior experience database. The prior experience database includes various combinations of failure codes associated with likely failure sources. The failure source associated with the combination of failure codes in the prior experience database having the highest number of failure codes in common with the particular combination of failure codes obtained from the onboard diagnostic computer may be considered the likely failure source.
The identified likely failure source provides the owner of the vehicle with valuable diagnostic information. However, additional information may be required before the vehicle can be completely repaired. For instance, confirmation that the likely failure source is the actual failure source may be required. Furthermore, information regarding the extent of the failure may also be needed in order to provide the most cost effective repair.
As is apparent from the foregoing, there exists a need in the art for a method of retrieving and analyzing vehicular diagnostic information in order to more readily identify a failure source. The present invention addresses this particular need, as will be discussed in more detail below.


Disclosed is a semiconductor laser. The semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor chip that includes an active layer and emits radiation in a main radiating direction. The active layer is structured in a direction perpendicular to the main radiating direction to reduce heating of the semiconductor chip by spontaneously emitted radiation, and the active layer has the form of a mesa that comprises side walls that form a resonator in such a way as to reduce the spontaneous emission in the active layer in a direction perpendicular to the main radiating direction.

The efficiency and output power of semiconductor lasers are crucially limited by the heat arising as a result of radiative and non-radiative recombinations of the injected charge carriers.
In order to improve the heat dissipation, optoelectronic components are often provided with a heat sink. In this case, the temperature increase ΔT in the active zone is given by ΔT=Rth·Pv, where Rth is the thermal resistance between the active zone and the heat sink and Pv is the power loss. A temperature increase generally brings about a lower amplification in the case of a semiconductor laser. In order to reduce such a temperature increase which is disadvantageous for the efficiency of the semiconductor laser, it is advantageous to reduce the thermal resistance Rth or the power loss Pv.
By way of example, Kusznetsov et. Al., IEEE Journ. Sel. Topics in Quantum Electronics 5 (3), 561 (1999) discloses improving the thermal linking of the heat sink to the active zone by removal of a substrate that is typically arranged between the active zone and the heat sink. The thermal resistance Rth and the temperature increase ΔT are thereby reduced.
The power loss Pv arising within the active layer is crucially determined by the non-radiative recombination of charge carriers by means of defects or by means of Auger processes, and by radiative recombinations of charge carriers by spontaneous emission. A high recombination rate leads to a short lifetime of the induced charge carriers and thus to a high laser threshold, a low efficiency and output power. It is desirable, therefore, to minimise these types of recombination of charge carriers. The non-radiative recombination of charge carriers by means of defects can be influenced by the quality of the epitaxy. By contrast, the non-radiative recombination of charge carriers by means of Auger processes is difficult to influence.
The spontaneous emission of radiation can be influenced by structures of the order of magnitude of the light wavelength, for example by microresonators or photonic crystals. A detailed presentation of the mode of operation and the methods for production of photonic crystals is contained in the document T. F. Krauss, R. M. De La Rue, Prog. Quant. Electr. 23 (1999) 51-96, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The influencing of the spontaneous emission by a microresonator is disclosed in the document Y. Hanamaki, H. Akiyama, Y. Shiraki, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 14 (1999) 797-803. U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,880 describes reducing the laser threshold of a surface-emitting semiconductor laser by means of reducing the coupling-out of spontaneously emitted radiation.
Furthermore, WO 98/43329 discloses a vertically emitting laser in which the radiation emitted spontaneously or in stimulated fashion from a first volume region of an active medium in a transverse direction is utilised for pumping a second volume region surrounding the first volume region.

Semiconductor laser with reduced heat loss


A system for operating a pair of microprocessors with independent system clocks while at the same time providing synchronization by a common interrupt signal, and in which the system clocks are cross-monitored to thereby provide Fail-Safe operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed herein broadly relates to microprocessor clock systems, and more particularly to a cross-monitored pair of clocks for operating a pair of microprocessors with Fail-Safe operation.
2. Description of Related Art
Fail-Safe operation of data processing systems is of paramount importance when such systems are employed for aircraft navigation and flight control. Commonly, aircraft applications require redundant systems as a means for cross-checking the navigation and/or flight control output. In those situations in which a pair of processors operate on the same input data, the intended output data of each of the processors should be identical, thereby verifying the integrity of the output data. If, of course, the output data of the independent processing systems are different, a failure is generally detected and a warning given to the pilot. This is so, since the pilot cannot determine which processor system is providing the "correct" output data.
Commonly, navigation and/or flight control systems generally employ a microprocessor for executing a fixed set of instructions requiring a fixed number of input clock cycles to execute these instructions. The total number of clock cycles to execute the fixed set of instructions is sometimes referred to as a frame. In order to provide independent redundancy, generally associated with each microprocessor is an independent system clock signal provided by a clock generator, commonly employing a high frequency oscillator.
When employing a pair of microprocessors, each having associated therewith an independent oscillator and a frame interrupt signal for reading output data, it is of paramount importance that the oscillator and the interrupt frame frequency be substantially identical and be provided by precision oscillators and/or clock generators. Even so, component degradation and/or environmentally induced variation in the frequency outputs thereof must be monitored in order to detect whether or not the microprocessors are operating in unison so that the output data can be relied upon. Thus, there is a need for a cross-monitored clock-pair system for Fail-Safe monitoring the clocking operation of the microprocessors, while at the same time maintaining independence.

Cross-monitored pair of clocks for processor fail-safe operation


A collapsible container consists of three parts: a rigid top rim, a flexible center band, and a rigid base. This combination of sections allows the container to easily collapse to about one-third of its original height. The container is also quite stable when expanded and is self-supporting. In various embodiments of the invention, for example, the upper rim may be expandable, the base may include holes or mesh to serve as a colander or strainer, or the base may be configured as a tube to function as a funnel.

Large kitchen items such as bowls and colanders can be difficult to store. They can take up to an inordinate amount of space in a kitchen cabinet or drawer, making it cumbersome to retrieve the item and replace it when finished.
In some instances, others have created collapsible containers to reduce the storage space required. But existing collapsible containers have several drawbacks. Some collapsible containers are made of a single material, generally a type of plastic, with multiple pleats. The design makes them very hard to expand and collapse because the material is relatively stiff and a substantial force is required. In some instances, collapsible strainers have been formed entirely from a flexible material. This design allows the item to be readily flattened, but because the material is so flexible it is not self-supporting and will just collapse when placed on a surface. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved collapsible container and strainer that can be easily collapsed and expanded and that is fully self-supporting on a surface.


Provided is a method for forming inkjet images, which imparts sufficient visibility and good laundering fastness to a white inkjet image formed on fabric. The method is to form white inkjet images on fabric by inkjet recording using a white inkjet ink containing hollow polymer microparticles as a white pigment, and has the steps of performing a plurality of printings superimposingly on fabric by inkjet recording, performing preliminary heating and fixing at least one time during performing the plurality of printings superimposingly, and performing main heating and fixing after the final printing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming white inkjet images of excellent visibility on fabric.
2. Description of the Related Art
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is well known as a white pigment with good hiding power, but titanium dioxide is also heavy, with a specific gravity of about 4.2. Consequently, when it is used as a pigment for a white inkjet ink, the pigment settles when the ink is allowed to stand for an extended period. Preventing this ink settling is difficult, and up to now it has been impossible to achieve adequate dispersion stability with an ink containing titanium dioxide.
Ink clogging and improper discharge can occur if the pigment in an ink settles in the ink passage within an inkjet head. Also, since titanium dioxide is a ceramic, it is extremely hard and accelerates wear to the nozzle portions of an inkjet head.
In view of this, it has been proposed that hollow polymer microparticles be used instead of titanium dioxide as the pigment for a white inkjet ink (Japanese Patent No. 2,619,677 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-103995). Hollow polymer microparticles have a specific gravity of close to 1 and therefore are not prone to settling, which solves the problem of ink clogging caused by the settling of pigment.
Nevertheless, even if a white inkjet ink containing hollow polymer microparticles as a white pigment is used, when a printed image is formed by a conventional ink-jet recording method on a dark-colored fabric, such as black T-shirt fabric, the visibility of the printed image is extremely poor because the ink penetrates into the fabric far more than into paper or a film.
In addition, an image printed on fabric needs to have good laundering fastness, but here again the required characteristics cannot be achieved with a conventional inkjet recording method.

Method and apparatus for forming white inkjet images on fabric


A connector terminal of a medical electrical lead or adapter includes a strut member supporting at least one electrical contact element and at least one seal zone element, which is positioned adjacent to the contact element.

A host of medical devices include a connector bore into which a connector terminal of an electrical lead, or catheter, is inserted in order to make electrical connection with the device so as to form a medical system. Each insulated conductor, extending within a body of the lead, couples a lead electrode and or other electrically activated sensor to an electrical contact element formed on the connector terminal, and each contact element is engaged by a contact within the device connector bore when the connector is fully inserted within the bore.
Each electrical connection, between contact and contact element, within the bore must be isolated from another, and from the environment outside the bore, so that the connector terminal typically includes sealing rings positioned in between each contact element and at a distal end of the connector. The sealing rings deform upon insertion of the connector terminal into the bore and sealingly engage one or more internal surfaces of the bore when the connector terminal is fully inserted. Connector terminals conforming to IS-1 and DF-1 pacemaker industry standards are examples of connector terminals including sealing rings.
In an alternative configuration, sealing rings are included within a device connector bore rather than on the connector terminal; the rings within the bore sealingly engage one or more surfaces, or seal zones, on the connector terminal. It is desirable that connector terminals, for mating with such connector bores, be dimensionally stable both acutely and chronically so that both contact elements and seal zones are properly engaged with connector bore contacts and sealing rings, respectively, when the connector terminal is first fully inserted into the bore and then over the life of the coupling between the device and the lead.


A lock device (10) is used with a flat key (K) having asymmetric opposite edges (3, 4). The lock device (10) includes a key rotor (14) which is configured to have distances from a central axis line (O2) of the key (K) to abutment points of the edges (3, 4) against the tumbler (32a-32c) respectively, and the distances are set so as to equal each other such that the non-reversible key is capable of reversible use in an inserted state of the key (K) into a key insertion hole (23).

A lock device has conventionally been provided on door panels together with a door lock mechanism in vehicles such as automobiles, for example. The same lock devices have also been provided in a steering column, a fuel filler opening and the like of the vehicles. A single key is co-used for these lock devices in the vehicles as well known in the art.
Differing from reversible keys, the key of the above-described type sometimes has opposite edges of a key body or shank formed into asymmetric shapes as described above. When locking and unlocking are carried out with the asymmetric key, a user needs to insert the key into a key-insertion hole of the lock device with a correct orientation. More specifically, when the key is inserted with an incorrect orientation and forced to be turned in a half inserted state, there is a possibility that the key may be deformed or broken, or the rotor side of the lock device may be broken, for example. (See Patent Document 1 regarding the reversible keys and asymmetric keys.)

Lock kit and key rotor housed in rotor case