A device and a method that improve decoding characteristics of an LDPC decoder to which SPA where the equation for the computation of messages is approximated and the number of messages are reduced is applied. A received LDPC code is decoded by repeating the passing of messages between a plurality of check nodes and a plurality of bit nodes corresponding to a check matrix, and messages sent from one of the check nodes to one of the bit nodes out of messages sent from the one of bit nodes to the one of check nodes are weighted at the one of bit nodes so that the longer ago the messages are computed at the one of check nodes, the less influential they become.

In recent years, error correction technology has been widely used in wireless, cable, and recording systems. The combination of Low Density Parity Check Codes (LDPC) and its decoding method, the Sum-Product Algorithm (SPA hereinafter) has very good decoding characteristics and is expected to be an excellent error correction code for the next generation. At the sending side, an encoder generates a check matrix H, which is later described, and a generator matrix G (kxn matrix; k: Information length, n: code word length) is derived (GHT=0 (T denotes transposition matrix). The encoder then receives a message (m1, m2 . . . , mk) of an information length k, generates a code word (c1, c2, . . . , cn) from (m1, m2, . . . , mk) G using the generator matrix G (where (c1, c2, . . . , cn)HT=0), and modulates and sends the generated code word. A decoder receives the modulated signal via a channel and demodulates it. The decoder then subjects the demodulated result to an iterative decoding by SPA and provides an estimated result (corresponding to the original (m1, m2, . . . , mk)). (Refer to Patent Document 1.) The gist of LDPC code and SPA decoding will be described.
LDPC code is a linear code defined by a sparse check matrix. The check matrix of an LDPC code can be expressed by a bipartite graph called the Turner graph. Let's assume that a check matrix H, which is an MxN matrix, is given. Nodes that constitute the Turner graph are constituted by N bit nodes and M check nodes. The bit nodes and the check nodes correspond to the column and row of the check matrix H respectively, and when the elements in row i and column j of the check matrix are 1, the jth bit node and the ith check node are connected.
For instance, when a check matrix H is as given by an equation (1), the Turner graph is as shown in FIG. 4.
                    H        =                  [                                                    1111000000                                                                    1000111000                                                                    1000000111                                              ]                                    (        1        )
Each bit node represents the received bit (each symbol of the code word) and each check node represents a parity check constraint (condition) among the bit nodes (the symbols) to which it is connected. In the aforementioned check matrix H, for a message of code word length 10 (m1, . . . , m10), a check node 1 corresponds to m1+m2+m3+m4=0, a check node 2 to m1+m5+m6+m7=0, and a check node 3 to m1+m8+m9+m10=0 as a parity check condition.
In SPA, decoding is performed by sending/receiving a message over a Turner graph constituted by a check matrix defining an LDPC code. A round of message passing between connected bit node and check node is called one iteration.
In order to obtain good decoding characteristics, multiple iterations are needed. A message Qnm from a bit node n to a check node m out of messages that are passed between the nodes is given by an equation (2). Further, a message Rmn from the check node m to the bit node n is given by an equation (3). Note that an estimate is provided according to a calculation result code of the message Qnm at the bit node after multiple iterations (depending on whether the code is positive or negative, 0 or 1).
                              Q                      n                                                                          m                          =                              ln                                      [                                                                    p                    n                                                                          (                    1                    )                                                                                p                    n                                                                          (                    0                    )                                                              ]                                +                      (                                          ∑                                                      m                    ′                                    ∈                                      μ                                                              (                      n                      )                                                                                R                                                      m                    ′                                                      n                                                      )                    -                      R                          m                                                                                n                                                          (        2        )
Note that μ(n) of m′εμ(n) in (ΣRm′n), the summing operation of Rm′n about m′, in the equation (2) represents a set of check nodes adjacent to the bit node n. In other words, it is a set of row numbers obtaining 1 in an nth column of the check matrix H, and in the case of the check matrix H of the equation (1), μ(1)={1,2,3}, and μ(2)={1}.
Further, in the equation (2), ln [pn(1)/pn(0)] is an input LLR (Log Likelihood Ratio). Note that ln [pn(1)/pn(0)] represents the same thing as (ln [P(yn¦xn=0)/P(yn¦xn=1)]), which is described later.
                              R                      m                                                                          n                          =                              Φ                          -              1                                                      {                                          Φ                                                  (                                                            ∑                                                                        n                          ′                                                ∈                                                  v                                                                                (                            m                            )                                                                                Q                                                                        n                          ′                                                                        m                                                                              )                                            -                              Φ                                                  (                                      Q                                          n                                                                                m                                                        )                                                      }                    *                      (                          sign                                                                                (                                  Q                                      n                                                                                m                                                  )                            *                                                ∏                                                            n                      ′                                        ∈                                          v                                                                    (                        m                        )                                                                                sign                                                                                (                                          Q                                                                        n                          ′                                                                        m                                                              )                                                                        )                                                                        where                                :                                              (        3        )                                          Φ                                (            x            )                          =                  -                      log                                      (                              tanh                                                  (                                                            1                      2                                                            x                                    )                                            )                                                          (        4        )
(ΣQn′m), the summing operation of Qn′m about n′, and ν(m) of n′εν(m) in Πsign(Qn′m), the product operation of sign(Qn′m), in the equation (3) represent a set of bit nodes adjacent (connected) to the check node m. In other words, it is a set of column numbers obtaining 1 in an mth row of the check matrix H of the equation (1), and in the case of the check matrix H of the equation (1), ν(1)={1,2,3,4}.
When an LDPC decoder is realized, check node are conventionally divided into a plurality of groups and message computations are pipeline-processed. This group division is called "clustering" and the order of computation is called "scheduling."
FIG. 5 is a drawing showing how messages are passed when the LDPC code defined by the equation (1) is decoded in cluster size 1 (1 check node per 1 cluster). In FIG. 5, how messages are passed between the bit nodes and the check nodes in the case of the Turner graph shown in FIG. 4 (cluster size 1) is shown. In FIG. 5, the bit nodes are indicated by the circled numbers (indicating each bit node number), the check nodes by the boxed numbers (indicating each check node number), and the arrows from the nodes indicate the passing of messages as in FIG. 4.
Messages Q11, Q21, Q31, and Q41 are sent from bit nodes 1, 2, 3, 4 to the check node 1, and the check node 1 sends messages R11, R12, R13, and R14 to the bit nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Next, messages Q12, Q52, Q62, and Q72 are sent from the bit nodes 1, 5, 6, and 7 to the check node 2, and the check node 2 sends messages R21, R25, R26, and R27 to the bit nodes 1, 5, 6, and 7 respectively. Then, messages Q13, Q83, Q93, and Q103 are sent from the bit nodes 1, 8, 9, and 10 to the check node 3, and the check node 3 sends messages R31, R38, R39, and R310 to the bit nodes 1, 8, 9, and 10 respectively. The sequence of message passing described above constitutes one iteration.
The Turner graph in FIG. 4 does not include a loop. Here, loop means a circulating path that starts from a node.
When a Turner graph does not include any loop, SPA can compute an accurate posterior probability.
On the other hand, a Turner graph defined by a check matrix H of an equation (5) includes a loop of length 4 as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, arrows indicate the direction of each message between nodes.
                    H        =                  [                                                    111000                                                                    011100                                                                    000111                                              ]                                    (        5        )
In other words, as shown in FIG. 6, the path of the loop of length 4 is from a check node 1 to a bit node 3, from the bit node 3 to a check node 2, from the check node 2 to a bit node 2, and from the bit node 2 to the check node 1.
When a message goes around like this, an accurate posterior probability cannot be computed by the decoder, resulting in deteriorated decoding characteristics. It is known that the shorter the loop is, the worse decoding characteristics become (Non-Patent Document 1).
When an LDPC decoder is realized, a majority of the chip area is occupied by a register or memory for holding messages and interconnect paths for sending/receiving messages.
Accordingly, a method for reducing the number of messages by approximating the equation (2) by an equation (6) is proposed (Non-Patent Document 2).
                                          Q            n            ′                                          (            k            )                          =                                            Q              n              ′                                                  (                              k                -                1                            )                                +                                    ∑                                                m                  ′                                ∈                                  {                                                            S                                                                    (                        k                        )                                                              ⋂                                          μ                                                                    (                        n                        )                                                                              }                                                                                R                                                m                  ′                                                n                                                                        (        6        )
In the equation (6), Rmn refers to messages from a check node m to a bit node n and can be given by the equation (3).
Further, S(k) of m′ε{S(k)∩μ(n)} in (ΣRm′n), the summing operation of Rm′n about m′, is a set of check nodes included in the cluster being computed at a time k, μ(n) is a set of check nodes adjacent to the bit node n, and ∩ represents AND. Therefore, in the summing operation of Rm′n about m′, the messages Rm′n from a check node m′ that is included in both S(k) and μ(n) are summed, Q′n (k−1) at a previous time k−1 is added to the summed result, and Q′n(k), the message at the time k, is the result of this addition. The bit node n passes the same message Q′n(k) to the check node connected to the bit node n.
In the message computation process at the bit nodes, the messages Rmn from the check node m to the bit node n are computed for each cluster, and the computation results are added to Q′n.
The initial value Q′n(0) of Q′n(k) is the input (channel) LLR. LLR stands for Log Likelihood Ratio (ln[P(yn¦xn=0)/P(yn¦xn=1)]). Note that yI is the received symbol, xI is the transmitted symbol, nI is an additive white Gaussian channel for white Gaussian noise (yi=xi+ni), and binary-bipolar conversion (0→+1, 1→−1) is executed.
As a result of having the equation (6) approximate the equation (2), one bit node sends the same message to all the adjacent check nodes (all the check nodes connected to the bit node). Therefore, resources such as registers for holding messages and interconnect paths can be greatly reduced.
Further, as a result of having the equation (6) approximate the equation (2), the amount of the message computations can be reduced by 50 percent or more, compared to the equation (2). In other words, the computation speed and processing performance are improved.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2003-244109A
[Non-Patent Document 1]
D. J. C. MacKay, "Good error-correcting codes based on very sparse matrices," IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, vol. 45, pp 399-431 (1999)
[Non-Patent Document 2]
Yeo, E.; Pakzad, P.; Nikolic, B.; Anantharam, V., "High throughput low-density parity-check decoder architectures," Global Telecommunications Conference 2001, Volume: 5, 25-29 November 2001, pp 3019-3024

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Decoder device and decoding method and program


A liquid (L) sealed in a first mounting member (11) of an anti-vibration apparatus (10) contains a first liquid and a second liquid that are mutually insoluble, the second liquid having a higher vapor pressure and a lower weight percentage (weight %) included in the liquid than those of the first liquid. In the anti-vibration apparatus, the size of a generated abnormal noise can be reduced without complicating the structure and deteriorating a damping performance.

As this type of anti-vibration apparatus, hitherto, an anti-vibration apparatus having the following structure has been known. The apparatus includes a cylindrical first mounting member connected to one of a vibration generating portion and a generation receiving portion, a second mounting member connected to the other of the vibration generating portion and the vibration receiving portion, and a first rubber elastic body for elastically connecting the first and second mounting members to each other. Furthermore, an inner part of the first mounting member is divided into a primary liquid chamber and a secondary liquid chamber by a dividing member. The primary liquid chamber is configured such that a liquid is sealed therein making the first rubber elastic body part of the partition wall and an inner volume thereof is changed due to the deformation of the first rubber elastic body. The secondary liquid chamber is configured such that at least one part of the partition wall is formed in a deformable manner and the liquid is sealed therein. In addition, between an outer peripheral surface side of the dividing member and an inner peripheral surface side of the first mounting member, an orifice passage for linking the primary liquid chamber with the secondary liquid chamber is formed and the liquid is sealed in the primary liquid chamber and the secondary liquid chamber.
In the anti-vibration apparatus, hitherto, after a large vibration (load) has been input due to undulations of a road surface or the like and a liquid pressure of the primary liquid chamber has risen rapidly, for example, when the vibration is input in a reverse direction due to a rebound of the first rubber elastic body or the like, the primary liquid chamber may become a negative pressure. At this time, cavitation is generated in which a plurality of bubbles is produced in the liquid within the primary liquid chamber. Then, when the bubbles dissipate from the liquid along with an increase in the liquid pressure within the primary liquid chamber, a shock wave is generated. The shock wave is diffused to a metallic material such as the first mounting member or the like, which generates an abnormal noise.
As a means for preventing the occurrence of the abnormal noise, as described in Patent Document 1 described below, for example, there is a known structure in which a linking hole for linking the primary liquid chamber with the secondary liquid chamber is formed in the dividing member separately from the orifice passage and a valve is provided in the linking hole. In the apparatus having this structure, after the liquid pressure of the primary liquid chamber has risen rapidly, when a negative liquid pressure would be generated, due to the opening of the valve and the short-circuiting of the primary liquid chamber and the secondary liquid chamber, a decline in the liquid pressure of the primary liquid chamber is suppressed and the occurrence of the cavitation is prevented in advance.
[Patent Citation 1] JP-A 2003-148548


There is provided an air inlet structure of a laundry dryer. In the air inlet structure, a base defines an air inlet, a front cabinet is disposed in front of the base and defines a suction hole to pass ambient air into the base, a cooling fan is stably disposed in the base to suck the ambient air, a blower tube forms a flow passage for the ambient air, a blower cover is fixed to the base to connect the blower tube and the cooling fan, and an air guide is disposed between the base and the blower cover, the air guide having a shroud at a center portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laundry dryer and an air inlet structure thereof, and more particularly, to an air inlet structure of a laundry dryer, in which an ambient air is smoothly sucked into a condenser for a heat exchange with a high-temperature/damp circulation air, and then smoothly discharged from the dryer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a drum-type laundry dryer is a home appliance, in which a heat source such as an electric heater and a gas combustion device is used to heat air and the heated air is blown into a drum to evaporate the remaining moisture in laundry.
The drum-type laundry dryer may be classified into a condenser-type dryer and an exhaust-type dryer. The former is designed such that the air in the dryer is used to dry the laundry as it is circulated in the dryer. The latter is designed such that air introduced in the dryer is used to dry the laundry and then the air is discharged from the dryer.
The exhaust-type laundry dryer may also be classified into a gas-type dryer and an electric-type dryer, according to the type of heater that heats the introduced air. In the gas-type dryer, a heat includes a furnace in which a fuel gas burns, an igniter, and a flame sensor, such that the air introduced in the dryer can be heated by the heat generated at the furnace. The electric-type dryer uses an electric heater that has a heating coil to heat the air introduced in the dryer, such that the laundry can be dried by the electrically heated air.
The condenser-type laundry dryer includes a front cover, a suction hole defined at a lower portion of the front cover to pass ambient air therethrough, a base disposed inside the suction hole, a condenser mounted in the base, and a fan inside the suction hole. The base defines an air inlet that is connected with the suction hole, an air passage, such that ambient air can be introduced through the suction hole and the air inlet, for exchanging heat with circulation air in the dryer.
The condenser-type dryer requires a structure that can introduce the ambient air from the suction hole to the fan in a smooth and efficient manner.
Further, the condenser-type dryer requires a structure that can minimize fluid loss and noise that are caused by fluid friction during the introduction of the ambient air into the dryer.

Laundry dryer and an air inlet structure thereof


A myocardial infarction detection method and apparatus is described that includes a stiffness measurement step of measuring myocardial stiffness of a cardiac muscle of a subject, and a determination step of determining, based on the myocardial stiffness, whether or not infarction is present in the cardiac muscle.

Myocardial infarction is a kind of ischemic cardiopathy, and is a disease in which the blood flow in coronary arteries for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the cardiac muscle is lowered by occlusion, stenosis or the like, whereby the cardiac muscle is brought into an ischemic state, leading to necrosis. Conventional methods for detecting myocardial infarction have been made. For example, Japanese Patent Application JP-T-2002-522103 discloses a method of monitoring the heart by use of a device embedded in a patient and detecting myocardial infarction by use of a signal such as an electrogram signal.

Myocardial infarction detection method, apparatus, and medical device


The embodiments herein relate to a sheet production apparatus. A vessel is configured to hold a melt of a material and a cooling plate is disposed proximate the melt. This cooling plate configured to form a sheet of the material on the melt. A pump is used. In one instance, this pump includes a gas source and a conduit in fluid communication with the gas source. In another instance, this pump injects a gas into a melt. The gas can raise the melt or provide momentum to the melt.

Silicon wafers or sheets may be used in, for example, the integrated circuit or solar cell industry. Demand for solar cells continues to increase as the demand for renewable energy sources increases. The majority of solar cells are made from silicon wafers, such as single crystal silicon wafers. Currently, a major cost of a crystalline silicon solar cell is the wafer on which the solar cell is made. The efficiency of the solar cell, or the amount of power produced under standard illumination, is limited, in part, by the quality of this wafer. As the demand for solar cells increases, one goal of the solar cell industry is to lower the cost/power ratio. Any reduction in the cost of manufacturing a wafer without decreasing quality will lower the cost/power ratio and enable the wider availability of this clean energy technology.
The highest efficiency silicon solar cells may have an efficiency of greater than 20%. These are made using electronics-grade monocrystalline silicon wafers. Such wafers may be made by sawing thin slices from a monocrystalline silicon cylindrical boule grown using the Czochralski method. These slices may be less than 200 μm thick. To maintain single crystal growth, the boule must be grown slowly, such as less than 10 μm/s, from a crucible containing a melt. The subsequent sawing process leads to approximately 200 μm of kerf loss, or loss due to the width of a saw blade, per wafer. The cylindrical boule or wafer also may need to be squared off to make a square solar cell. Both the squaring and kerf losses lead to material waste and increased material costs. As solar cells become thinner, the percent of silicon waste per cut increases. Limits to ingot slicing technology may hinder the ability to obtain thinner solar cells.
Other solar cells are made using wafers sawed from polycrystalline silicon ingots. Polycrystalline silicon ingots may be grown faster than monocrystalline silicon. However, the quality of the resulting wafers is lower because there are more defects and grain boundaries, which results in lower efficiency solar cells. The sawing process for a polycrystalline silicon ingot is as inefficient as a monocrystalline silicon ingot or boule.
Yet another solution is to pull a thin ribbon of silicon vertically from a melt and then allow the pulled silicon to cool and solidify into a sheet. The pull rate of this method may be limited to less than approximately 18 mm/minute. The removed latent heat during cooling and solidifying of the silicon must be removed along the vertical ribbon. This results in a large temperature gradient along the ribbon. This temperature gradient stresses the crystalline silicon ribbon and may result in poor quality multi-grain silicon. The width and thickness of the ribbon also may be limited due to this temperature gradient. For example, the width may be limited to less than 80 mm and the thickness may be limited to 180 μm.
Producing sheets horizontally from a melt; may be less expensive than silicon sliced from an ingot and may eliminate kerf loss or loss due to squaring. Sheets produced horizontally from a melt also may be less expensive than a silicon ribbon pulled vertically from a melt. Furthermore, sheets produced horizontally from a melt may improve the crystal quality of the sheet compared to silicon ribbons pulled vertically or at an angle from a melt. A crystal growth method such as this that can reduce material costs would be a major enabling step to reduce the cost of silicon solar cells.
Horizontal ribbons of silicon that are physically pulled from a melt have been tested. In one method, a seed attached to a rod is inserted into the melt and the rod and resulting sheet are pulled at a low angle over the edge of the crucible. The angle, surface tension, and melt level are balanced to prevent the melt from spilling over the crucible. It is difficult, however, to initiate and control such a pulling process. First, the angle of inclination adjustment to balance gravity and surface tension of the meniscus formed at the crucible edge may be difficult. Second, a temperature gradient along the ribbon at the separation point between the sheet and the melt may cause dislocations in the crystal if the cooling plate is near this separation point. Third, inclining the sheet above the melt may result in stress at the freeze tip. This freeze tip may be where the sheet is thinnest and most fragile so dislocations or breaks in the sheet may occur. Fourth, a complex pulling apparatus may be needed to obtain the low angle.
Silicon used for electronics or solar cells may require high-quality silicon crystals. Solutes in the silicon feedstock, such as iron, have a negative effect on the solid state properties of the crystal. In one instance, minority carrier lifetime in devices made using such a sheet may be affected. Solutes also tend to segregate out of the crystal and can concentrate in the melt. This may lead to constitutional supercooling and dendritic growth. As the rate of solidification of the silicon increases, constitutional supercooling likewise may increase. Use of thermal gradients may create a convective flow in the melt and wash away any solutes from the freezing interface, but this also may cause thermal stress in the crystal. Thermal stress may lead to dislocations or defects.
Quartz may be used to surround the silicon melt in one embodiment. However, quartz may dissolve when in contact with this melt. Oxygen may be released into the melt and may form SiO, which results in oxygen in the silicon crystal that is formed. Oxygen may, for example, cause boron clustering in p-type solar cells and light-induced degradation (LID) of solar cell efficiency. Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved method of creating flows in the melt without thermal gradients and a method of creating flows in the melt while removing SiO.

Gas-lift pumps for flowing and purifying molten silicon

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


A continuously variable power-split transmission is provided and comprises an epicyclic module (14) having an input shaft (38) drivingly coupled to a primary motor (20). Three compound planets (52, 60, 62) are supported on a common planet carrier (54) and each engage respective sun gears (50, 56, 58). The transmission further comprises a continuously variable drive connection (16) between the primary motor and the planet carrier. A first sun gear (50) of the epicyclic module is disposed on the input shaft. A first power split output (80) is provided by an output side of the continuously variable drive connection. The second and third sun gears (56, 58) are connected to second and third power split outputs (64, 66) respectively. A downstream torque consumer (18) derives power selectively from one of the first, second and third outputs.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to continuously variable transmission (CVT) of the power-split type which include an epicyclic module and a continuously variable drive connection.
2. Description of Related Art
Continuously variable power split transmissions are known in the field of agricultural tractor transmissions. WO-2008/142524 discloses an example of such a transmission.

Continuously variable power-split vehicle transmission


Feed reservoir intended for retaining a molten metal and in particular a steel, which reservoir comprises a refractory bottom, refractory walls, at least one nozzle placed in the refractory bottom in order to feed at least one mold with molten metal, a refractory buffer having a buffer bottom and an approximately vertical partition defining a cavity, the buffer being arranged on the bottom of the reservoir in order, on the one hand, to receive a jet of molten metal coming from a ladle which is moved above said reservoir and, on the other hand, to ensure that said reservoir is separated into two spaces, a first space having at least one nozzle and a second space, the cavity of the buffer, confining the molten metal, which metal then flows out into the first space by spilling over the top of the partition, wherein the buffer, the partition of which defines the second space, is divided into two zones by a barrier, a zone receiving the jet of metal and a zone in which the metal rises, the latter zone being located on the opposite side from the first space with respect to the jet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a feed reservoir intended for retaining a molten metal and in particular a steel, the reservoir comprising a refractory bottom, refractory walls, at least one nozzle placed in the refractory bottom in order to feed at least one casting line with molten metal, a refractory buffer having a buffer bottom and an approximately vertical partition defining a cavity, the buffer being placed on the bottom of the reservoir in order, on the one hand to receive a jet of molten metal coming from a ladle which is moved above said reservoir and, on the other hand, to ensure that the contents of the reservoir are separated into two spaces, a first space having at least one nozzle and a second space, the cavity of the buffer, confining the molten metal, which metal then flows out into the first space by spilling over the top of the partition.
2. Related Art
The downstream production of a steel takes place in a sequence involving a pouring ladle which empties into a feed reservoir called a distributor or tundish, the feed reservoir delivering liquid metal to at least one casting mold.
The feed reservoir constitutes the transfer reactor between the pouring ladle and the casting mold.
The functions of the feed reservoir or tundish are:
to transfer the liquid metal from the pouring ladle to the casting mold, PA1 to distribute the liquid metal to the various casting lines and molds, PA1 to supply the molten metal to the mold or molds in a nonturbulent state, PA1 to carry out the casting operations in sequence, PA1 to eliminate, under certain conditions, the coarsest inclusions contained in the liquid metal by using, for example, linings or bubbling rails. PA1 the buffer has at least one partition part extending above the spillover level, PA1 the barrier ensures that the flow of metal passes from the zone receiving the jet of metal to the zone in which the metal rises, by means of at least one rise hole provided in said barrier, PA1 the rise hole provided in the barrier is located close to the buffer bottom, PA1 the buffer has at least one drain hole, PA1 the buffer is placed in contact with at least one wall of the reservoir so that the zone in which the metal rises is located on the opposite side from the first space having at least one nozzle, with respect to the jet of metal leaving the ladle, PA1 the buffer is composed of a separating partition, a bottom, and a barrier defining a C-shaped section, PA1 the buffer is composed of a separating partition, a bottom and a barrier, in two separate pieces, the separating partition forming an L-shaped section with the buffer bottom, PA1 the buffer is composed of a separating partition and a barrier, in two separate pieces, the separating partition having the shape of a plate. PA1 the jet coming from the ladle is moved, in the buffer, so as to orient it in a direction away from the first space having at least one nozzle, PA1 the jet is directed so that it rises approximately vertically, PA1 the metal is moved so that the wave generated by the rise is directed transversely, after spillover, toward the jet from the ladle in the direction of the first space.
The operation of the feed reservoir is improved by the use of a lining such as, for example, an impact slab or buffer placed on the bottom of the reservoir, vertically below a jet shroud tube located under the pouring ladle.
In general, the function of the buffer is firstly to reduce the turbulence of the jet of liquid metal coming from the pouring ladle and entering the reservoir by reducing the energy of the jet of liquid metal falling vertically into the reservoir.
In some cases, the buffer may limit short circuits, i.e. the periods after which the first fluid stream of metal leaves the reservoir and/or may increase the residence times, i.e. the periods during which fluid streams of metal are present in the reservoir.

Feed reservoir intended for retaining a molten metal, and in particular a steel


A device for operating a gearbox, which operating device comprises a operating rod, a shift finger connected to the operating rod, and at least two electric motors acting upon the operating rod, the rotors of the electric motors being arranged on the operating rod so that a first electric motor is adapted to moving the operating rod by linear movement in the axial direction of the operating rod along the axis (A) of the operating rod and thus controls the lateral travel of the shift finger, and a second electric motor is adapted to effecting rotary movement to turn the operating rod about the axis (A) of the operating rod and thus controls the longitudinal travel of shift finger, when the respective electric motors are energized.

A known practice in vehicles is to arrange in a gearbox situated between the vehicle's engine and its powered wheels a device for operating the gearbox, which operating device comprises an operating rod and a shift finger firmly connected to the operating rod. The various gears in the gearbox are engaged and disengaged by moving the shift finger between various specified gear positions. The shift finger is usually moved in a conventional manner along an H-shaped grid where the crossbar of the H corresponds to a neutral position of the gearbox and the arms of the H correspond to the various specified gear positions. The H usually has four to six arms extending at right angles to its crossbar. The fact that the vehicle may be equipped with more than one gearbox connected in series makes it possible for more than four to six gear positions to be reached despite a gearbox having only four to six gear positions. The shift finger is moved along the H-shaped grid by a first cylinder adapted to moving the operating rod and the shift finger connected to the operating rod in the direction of the crossbar when the gearbox is in a neutral position, by the cylinder effecting movements of the shift finger via a pneumatic duct system. In other words, this cylinder controls the shift finger's lateral travel. When the shift finger is positioned in the arm corresponding to the specified gear which is to be engaged, the linear movement along the crossbar is halted and a second cylinder is adapted to rotating the operating rod about its axis, usually by approximately 30° from a central position at which the shift finger is oriented at right angles to the plane of the H, so that the shift finger moves transverse to the direction of the operating rod to a position on one of the arms whereby the desired gear is engaged by the shift finger pushing a shaft situated along said arm, i.e. this cylinder controls the shift finger's longitudinal travel. The gears in the gearbox are thus engaged and disengaged. The two cylinders are usually powered pneumatically by the vehicle's ordinary compression system.
A problem with existing operating devices is that the air pressure in the vehicle's ordinary compression system varies in different situations, with the result that the control of the shift finger is not effected at exactly the same pressure each time. Moreover, pneumatic systems are difficult to regulate, since the air is compressed when it enters the cylinder before the cylinder's piston moves, thereby making it difficult to control the shift finger. It is therefore necessary to provide systems for monitoring and comparing the shift finger's existing position with its expected position in the H-shaped grid.

Arrangement for the control of a gear box


A box end wrench having a split binding ring mounted in an annular groove at internal angles of a box of a first box end thereof for stopping the wrench from escaping out of the bolt or nut to be turned with the first box end, and a plurality of smoothly curved raised Portions at internal angles of a box of a second box end thereof for stopping the wrench from escaping out of the bolt or nut to be turned with the second box end.

The present invention relates to box end wrenches, and more particularly to such a box end wrench which has stop means adapted for holding down the bolt or nut to be turned.
A box end of a box end wrench or ratchet box end wrench or a socket for socket wrench, has a plurality of internal angles (the number of the internal angles can be 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 or 20) by which the box end can be positively attached to the bolt or nut to be turned (see FIGS. 1 and 2). However, when the wrench is turned the box end of the wrench may slip from the bolt or nut, resulting in the bolt or the nut is not to turned positively. FIGS. 3 and 5 show a wrench having a spring-supported stop ball suspended above the box of the box end and adapted for stopping the wrench from escaping out of the bolt or nut to be turned. However, this arrangement is still not satisfactory in function, because the stop ball wears quickly with use, and the spring force of the spring which supports the stop ball tends to be surpassed by the turning for applied to the wrench. FIGS. 4 and 6 show a wrench having a sliding stop plate retractably suspended above the box of the box end and adapted for stopping the wrench from escaping out of the bolt or nut to be turned. However, the arrangement of the sliding stop plate limits the maximum turning angle of each turning step of the wrench.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wrench is provided having a split binding ring mounted in an annular groove at internal angles of a box of a box end thereof for stopping wrench from escaping out of the bolt or nut to be turned. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a wrench is provided having a plurality of smoothly curved raised portions at internal angles of a box of a second box end thereof for stopping the wrench from escaping out of the bolt or nut to be turned.

Box end wrench with stop means to hold down the bolt or nut to be turned


A method for defining measurement gaps and a wireless telecommunications system comprising at least one base station and at least one wireless terminal. In the data transfer between these two, measurement gaps are generated with one of the following measurement gap generation methods: puncturing the data being transmitted, halving the spreading factor, or buffering the data being transmitted onto higher protocol layers. In the method, measurement pattern parameters that set the locations of the gaps used for measurements in the time-slot frames and determine the measurement gap generation method are defined for the terminal and transmitted to the terminal through the base station. A uniform measurement gap is defined for the terminal, which comprises time-slots from two different time-slot frames so that the gaps in different time-slot frames are generated with a different measurement gap generation method.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to measuring inter-frequencies in a mobile telephone system employing frequency division duplex (FFD) and especially to defining measurement gaps generated for making said measurements in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Third-generation mobile telephone systems called UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) and IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telephone System), for instance, will use wideband code division multiple access technology, i.e. WCDMA technology, on the radio path. In a WCDMA system, all mobile stations in a cell use the same frequency between each other on the transmission link from the mobile station to the base station and correspondingly, the same frequency between each other on the transmission link from the base station to the mobile station. A WCDMA system can in mobile telephone systems be implemented either as frequency division duplex (FDD) or time division duplex (TDD).
In an FDD-type WCDMA system, the uplink direction (from the mobile station to the base station) and the downlink direction (from the base station to the mobile station) transmissions are independent of each other. Thus, the base stations need not be synchronized with respect to each other, either. It is, however, typical of CDMA systems that a downlink transmission is performed simultaneously from several base stations to one mobile station, which transmission the receiver of the mobile station is arranged to receive. This arrangement is called a soft handover, and to control it, the mobile station must perform various parameter measurements for both uplink and downlink connections. Corresponding measurements are also used in updating the location of a mobile station and in handovers between WCDMA and GSM systems.
The receiver of a mobile station is typically arranged to receive only one frequency at a time, which means that one set of receiving means is enough for the mobile station and there is no need to design antenna diversity to them, which is advantageous both in view of cost and making the structure of the mobile station simple. The mobile station can also be designed to comprise several receiving means (dual receiver), which usually include antenna diversity. This type of mobile station is, however, more expensive and complex to implement.
Thus, the parameter measurements described above can be performed in a typical one-receiver mobile station only when there is no transmission. This also applies to dual-receiver mobile stations when one set of transmission/reception means transmits on almost the same frequency as a second set of transmission/reception means performs measurements. In an FDD-type WCDMA system, the transmission is interrupted for a while by generating in a frame a gap during which transmission is interrupted. This is done by using what is known as compressed mode or slotted mode in which information normally transmitted in a 10-ms frame is transmitted in a shorter time. Since the same information is transmitted in a shorter time, a gap remains in the frame, during which measurements of the parameters described above can then be performed. Depending on the measurement situation and the transmitter properties, compressed mode is only used in uplink or downlink transmissions, or a combined uplink/downlink compressed mode can also be used.
In compressed mode, a gap can be generated into the transmission in at least three ways: by puncturing the data being transmitted, by halving the spreading factor, or by buffering the data being transmitted onto higher protocol layers for a while. One of the above compressed mode methods is signalled to the mobile station for use. Up to a third of the transmitted bits can be removed with the puncturing methods used in a WCDMA system, whereby a gap of up to five time-slots can in compressed mode be generated into a frame comprising 15 time-slots. A gap of this length is, however, often impossible to generate, because puncturing is also used to adapt data rates in an ordinary transmission, which means that this takes up a part of the puncturing capacity and the compressed mode gap becomes shorter than five time-slots. By halving the spreading factor, it is possible to double the data rate, and a gap of up to seven time-slots can be generated in a frame of 15 time-slots. In such a case, transmission power must be increased to keep the signal-to-interference ratio of the received signal substantially constant. Buffering data onto higher protocol layers is only possible with non-real-time connections, such as with packet data transmissions having low quality of service (QoS).
A problem with the above arrangement is that in most measurements, such as in handover measurements between UMTS and GSM, for instance, a longer measurement gap would be more advantageous than the gap of at most seven time-slots mentioned above. A longer gap can be generated by placing two gaps after each other so that the first gap is at the end of the first time-slot frame and the second gap is at the beginning of the next time-slot frame. When using the puncturing method, it is this way possible to generate a gap of at most 10 time-slots, but maximum puncturing is not always possible in compressed mode, due to a possible data rate adaptation. By halving the spreading factor, it is possible to generate a gap of up to 14 time-slots, but then the transmission rate must be increased during two frames, which causes interference to the transmissions of other mobile stations in the same cell and consequently, they, too, need to increase their transmission power to compensate for the interference. Buffering data onto higher layers cannot be used with real-time connections.

Defining measurement gaps in inter-frequency measurement


A class AB single-stage operational amplifier having input decoupler stages for voltage signals, a voltage repeater stage, biasing transistors and bias current generators for the input decoupler stages, and capacitors placed between the input decoupler stages and the voltage repeater stage so as to increase the phase margin.

The present invention refers to a class AB single-stage advanced operational amplifier.
The operating class of the operational amplifiers is defined according to the polarization of the active elements that supply power to the load and can be divided, among the various ones existing, into class A, in which the active elements always operate in a conduction zone and are polarized at about the center of it (for bipolar signals), class B, in which the active elements are polarized at the locking limit of the conduction zone, class AB, in which the active elements are weakly polarized within the conduction zone, and in class C, in which the active elements operate far from the conduction zone.
In particular, class AB has the characteristics of having reduced distortion for small signals, good operating efficiency, zero stand-by power and a low dissipation of the active elements, but with circuit architecture that provides for an input stage of the voltage decoupler type (source-follower for MOS technology, or emitter-follower for bipolar technology); it also has the problem of the doublet pole-zero introduced by such a stage that limits the band width available and considerably degrades the phase margin of the amplifier itself bringing it close to instability.
Class AB operational amplifiers are known that comprise an input stage of the voltage decoupler type (source follower for MOS technology, emitter follower for bipolar technology) and means for polarizing the amplifier itself, such as to introduce low frequency singularity capable of degrading the phase margin.
In view of the state of the technique described, the disclosed embodiment of the present invention provides an operational amplifier capable of reducing the effect of the doublet pole-zero introduced by the input stage.
A class AB single-stage operational amplifier is disclosed that includes a decoupler input stage for voltage signals, a voltage repeater stage, biasing means and means for the generation of bias current of the decoupler input stage, and a capacitive structure placed between the voltage decoupler stage and the voltage repeater stage so that the phase margin is increased.
In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein, a compensation technique can be made that is capable of reducing the effect of the pole-zero, thus increasing the phase margin of the operational amplifier, supplying a wider band width, and increasing, therefore, the stability of the system.

Class AB single-range advanced operational amplifier


A transmission angle adjusting device includes a first transmission device and a second transmission device disposed on the computer and the keyboard respectively. Each of the first and the second transmission devices has an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver and a transmission angle/direction adjusting device arranged between the transmitter and the computer (or the keyboard) or disposed between the receiver and the keyboard (or the computer). Since the transmission angle/direction adjusting device can adjust the transmission angle of the infrared transmitter, transmission signals from adjacently arranged transmission devices can be separated from each other in order to prevent interference.

The present invention relates to an infrared-transmission apparatus, and particular to an infrared-transmission apparatus for communicating between a computer and a keyboard.
A keyboard is an essential item of equipment for a computer application. However, conventional keyboards are always connected to the computer via a cable, and this will inevitably create inconvenience during operation.
Wireless keyboards have also been developed and divided into two categories, that is, radio frequency transmission and infrared transmission. The radio-frequency-transmission keyboards have a higher precision but a complicated structure is required. This will induce a higher cost in manufacturing and difficulty in assembling. There is also interference between the keyboards when several keyboards and computers are closely disposed together, such as in an office. The infrared-transmitted keyboards have the advantages of simple structure and low cost. However, the interference between the keyboards still can not be prevented.

Infrared-transmission apparatus having a transmission angle or direction adjustment device


A process is provided for the recovery of useful products, including fertilizers and nutritional supplements, from the organic matter and minerals contained in seawater and other brines. The dissolved organic carbon-based chemicals and suspended particulate carbon-based organic matter are co-precipitated together with the contained magnesium and/or calcium, along with incidental trace minerals, entrained water and water of hydration. An alkali base and/or alkaline earth base are added to the brine until a pH of 10.75 to 11.0 is achieved. The settled or non-dry filtered or centrifuged precipitate is utilized as a slurry and the supernatant brine is discarded.

This invention relates generally to the fields of chemical extraction, fertilizers and nutritional supplements and more specifically to a METHOD OF PRODUCING USEFUL PRODUCTS FROM SEAWATER AND SIMILAR MICROFLORA CONTAINING BRINES.
For thousands of years mankind has utilized the minerals and vegetable products of the oceans for both food and fertilizer.
Even to this day sea salt is prized for its trace mineral content and kelp products are used as both food and fertilizer in many parts of the world.
The present invention bonds both dissolved carbon-based organic chemicals and suspended carbon-based organic particles to hydroxide precipitates of marine minerals.
They are bonded ionically, mechanically, electrostatically or otherwise.
For the bulk of dissolved organic carbon in the ocean, chemical structure and basic biochemical parameters are largely unknown.
Fulvic acid which is ubiquitous at low concentrations in all parts of the ocean consists of many thousands of different organic substances of both marine derived and terragenous origin.
Not only are the compositions of these substances largely unknown, so are their physical properties.
It is known that some of these substances, especially exopolysaccharides, are capable of spontaneous polymerization with the production of jelly-like layers covering several square miles.
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, a substance produced by phytoplankton for osmotic control, is generated in such quantities that some of its decomposition products are considered to have a major effect on planetary weather. It is known to have a kosmotropic effect on water molecules.
Other of the dissolved organic substances organize water molecules into liquid and solid phase clathrates and quasiclathrates.
A new class of highly abundant, nonliving organic marine particles has recently been recognized.
These colloidal particles consist primarily of exopolymers released as exudates by phytoplankton and bacteria. These exopolymer particles have been found to be present in seawater ranging up to 5,000 particles per ml and varying in size from 3 to 100 nanometers.
They are characterized as containing large amounts of water which has been organized by the organic matter. It is postulated that this ability of dissolved and particulate organic matter in the oceans to organize and add structure to water molecules is, at least in part, responsible for the observable and measurable biological effects of the present invention on plant, animal and human life.
In the past, minerals have been extracted from seawater for fertilizer and nutritional supplementation or the organic content has been extracted separately for the same purpose.
To the best of the inventors knowledge, no one has previously, intentionally extracted the two together for the synergistic effect which they have in combination when used as a slurry.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,081 is a method of separating minerals from seawater which are suitable for use as fertilizers and animal feeds. It employs added proteinaceous materials to precipitate minerals as chelated complexes. The teaching of this patent is to add organic materials to a brine with the goal of forming a precipitate of metal proteinates.
The methods employed and precipitates obtained are of very different nature than those of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,606,839 employs methods similar to the current invention for the purpose of producing a pure sodium chloride product.
The patent shows no awareness of the valuable nature of the byproduct for the applications claimed by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,457 describes a method of evaporating seawater to dryness for application of the resultant solids as fertilizer.
This product very successfully increased crop yields but required application rates of 550 to 2,200 pounds of sea solids per acre.
The first paragraph of this patent states that it relates only to the inorganic salts contained in seawater.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,404,550 uses methods similar to the current invention but uses them for the purpose of extraction and purification of mineral salts from the waters of the Great Salt Lake.
One of its aims is the separation and exclusion of organic content from the final product. Testing of the present invention has demonstrated that purified minerals extracted from brines do not have the desired effects.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,419 uses methods similar to the current invention but differs in two very important respects. No mention is made of organic content and the mineral precipitates are dried. Testing of the current invention has shown that if the precipitates are dried they can no longer significantly stimulate plant growth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,533 uses methods similar to the current invention to recover useful products such as fertilizer, animal feed supplements and mineral salts from brines. It differs in two important respects. It makes no mention of the organic chemical constituents of the brine.
It requires the addition of a phosphorous source in order to have the claimed benefit as a fertilizer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,971 has the object of producing fertilizers from seawater containing "microelements and active organic substances".
This is accomplished by adding bivalent iron ions to the seawater so that the organic substances are co-precipitated with the iron hydroxides. It does not utilize the contained magnesium and calcium brine constituents as does the present invention. The patent claims 5% to 10% increased crop yields with application rates of 0.5 to 3 kg of dried solids per hectare.On this basis it is both less effective and less economical than the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,901 is a method for producing a liquor from seawater by achieving a 90% reduction of the original volume through evaporation.
Although the patent states that this Liquor, when diluted, will function as a fertilizer, its nature is very different from the liquor produced by the current invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,229 describes a method of producing magnesium fulvate from humus material. It involves digesting the humus in a solution of sodium hydroxide, then acidifying to precipitate humates followed by the addition of magnesium hydroxide to the supernatent in order to precipitate magnesium fulvate.
The current invention extracts magnesium fulvate from seawater in a single step by the addition of sodium hydroxide, which precipitates the contained magnesium as hydroxide that in turn precipitates the contained fulvates as magnesium fulvate.
These prior usages have not recognized the benefits, economies and synergies that can be achieved by using the magnesium and/or calcium constituents of the sea water and similar brines to co-precipitate and recover in usable form, the organic chemical and particulate organic content of said brines. Furthermore, they did not recognize that the resultant precipitates are most bioactive in slurry form. That they did not do so indicates that such usage is unobvious.

Method of producing useful products from seawater and similar microflora containing brines


A data processing system having a plurality of registers 10 and an arithmetic logic unit 20, 22, 24 includes program instruction words having a source register bit field Sn specifying one of the registers storing an input operand data word together with an input operand size flag indicating whether the input operand has an N-bit size or (N/2)-bit size together with a high/low location flag indicating which of the high order bit positions or low order bit positions stores the input operand if it is of the smaller size. It is preferred that the arithmetic logic unit is also able to perform parallel operation program instruction words operating independently upon (N/2)-bit input operand data words stored in respective halves of a register.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates to data processing systems having a plurality of registers for storing data words to be manipulated by an arithmetic logic unit operating under control of program instruction words.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to provide program instructions that specify whether an operation is to be performed on input operands contained in one register or an input operand contained in two registers but treated as a single input operand.

Input operand size and hi/low word selection control in data processing systems


A method for preparing a fuel cell system in a vehicle for starting, for which purpose a starting preparation routine is carried out after the vehicle has been shut down depending on a temperature limit value. In the method, in the event that the fuel cell had not reached its normal operating temperature during the previous operation and a temperature falls below the predetermined temperature limit value, the fuel cell system is operated until it has reached its normal operating temperature and after which the starting preparation routine is subsequently carried out.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a fuel cell system in a vehicle for starting, according to the type defined in more detail herein.
Fuel cell systems are known from the general prior art. They can be used, for example, in vehicles to provide electrical drive power. One of the problems of fuel cell systems lies in the formation of very pure water in the fuel cell system during operation. If temperatures fall below freezing point, which is unavoidable in vehicle applications in particular, the fuel cell system can freeze and cause problems when it is restarted, or it takes a very long time to start the fuel cell system. This is due to the fact that condensed and frozen moisture can block gas duct channels and/or valves, for example, and other components can be impaired in their function by the formation of ice.
To counteract this problem, it is known from the general prior art that in order to prepare a fuel cell system for a starting process, a starting preparation routine is performed when the fuel cell system is shut down in order to remove water and moisture from the fuel cell system. Typically, this involves flushing the fuel cell system with gas, which is conveyed, for example, by the air conveying device and/or a hydrogen recirculation blower or other type of blower. This blows moisture out of the fuel cell system, and any water separators and the like can be emptied and flushed in order to discharge as much moisture as possible here as well. Now, fuel cell systems are typically still very warm during shutdown and the subsequent switching off process, such that vapor may remain in the fuel cell system, which later condenses out and, if the temperatures then fall below freezing, can also lead to the problems described above.
In the further general prior art, it is therefore also known, as a supplement or alternative to the starting preparation routine described above, to perform a starting preparation routine when the fuel cell system is at a standstill. For this purpose, the fuel cell system is woken, for example, when the ambient temperature drops below a predefined limit value, in order to then perform the starting preparation routine and dry the system. In contrast to drying immediately after shutting down the fuel cell system, this starting preparation routine, which is often also referred to as conditioning or shutdown conditioning, has the advantage that condensed water can also be removed later. For this reason, it is also quite sensible to carry out both routines. Purely by way of example, reference can be made in this connection to DE 10 2016 116 214 A1.
DE 10 2013 017 543 A1 describes the classification of the load condition before shutting down the fuel cell system into different classes and then determines the time for the start-up preparation routine on the basis of these classes, such that, for example, in the case of very humid operation, drying is even stronger than in the case of less humid operation. All in all, this is still relatively complex.
Furthermore, a method is known from DE 10 2012 023 799 A1, in which the fuel cell system is not dried by means of flushing with air but primarily by negative pressure. This is also one of several possibilities known from the prior art.
The object of the present invention is now to specify an improved method for preparing a fuel cell system for starting in a vehicle, which ensures sufficient drying of the fuel cell system in every case.
In the starting preparation method according to the invention, in the event that the fuel cell had not reached its normal working temperature during a previous operation, and a current temperature falls below the predetermined temperature limit, the fuel cell system is first operated until it reaches its normal working temperature, wherein the starting preparation routine is subsequently performed. Thus, the method according to the invention simply requests temperatures, which is exceptionally simple and can be done very reliably with simple, robust and inexpensive sensors. In the event that the fuel cell system had reached its normal working temperature during operation, a conventional starting preparation method is started when a limit temperature is reached, as is known from the prior art. If the fuel cell system in the vehicle has not reached its normal operating temperature, either because it has only been moved over a short distance or because the ambient temperature was extremely low, then the fuel cell system is started first when the limit temperature is reached. It is then operated until it reaches its normal working temperature. This automatic operation of the fuel cell system when the vehicle is actually at a standstill then ensures that when the normal working temperature of the fuel cell system is reached, it is switched off from defined conditions without the need for complex sensor technology to record operating conditions such as humidity and the like. Subsequently, the starting preparation routine is then carried out starting from the renewed shutdown of the fuel cell system in this automatic operation, which has brought about the normal temperature of the fuel cell system.
A particularly favorable development of the idea is that the starting preparation routine takes place after the fuel cell system has cooled down again to the temperature limit value. This ensures that shutting down the fuel cell system after the normal operating temperature has been reached and the method according to the invention are practically identical in terms of the operating characteristics of the fuel cell system and the starting preparation routine, such that only a single procedure needs to be kept in place, and no complex sensor system with complex programmable values to be recorded, such as humidity, is required. Instead, simple and robust temperature sensors are sufficient to perform the starting preparation routine and, if required, the method according to the invention if the fuel cell system had not reached the normal working temperature in the previous operation.
The normal working temperature can be predetermined at values between, for example 60° C. and 70° C., preferably about 65° C., which corresponds to a usual working temperature for PEM fuel cells. The temperature limit value can be specified at, for example, about 5° C. to 10° C., preferably about 5° C. At such a temperature of about 5° C., which is measured inside the fuel cell system, and here preferably in the area of the stack, it can be assumed that the temperature will drop even further if necessary and that temperatures below freezing point will occur. The execution of a starting preparation routine from such a limit temperature of 5° C. is therefore reasonably efficient, on the one hand to cover all cases in which a potential freezing of the fuel cell system is imminent and, on the other hand, in those cases in which higher outside temperatures are present, to precisely avoid this energetic expenditure.
The starting preparation routine itself can be carried out, for example, in one of the ways known from the prior art, for example by flushing the fuel cell system with air and/or hydrogen, drying the fuel cell system by heating and/or negative pressure, or in similar known ways.
Further advantageous designs of the method according to the invention also become clear with reference to the exemplary embodiment, which is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.


A multi-function tool includes a utensil, a handle pivotally attached to the utensil, and a compass magnet mounted on the handle or utensil. The multi-function tool has a center of gravity, in at least one configuration, aligned with a convex side of the utensil to balance the multi-function tool. A sundial may be mounted on the multi-function tool. Geographical direction is determined by configuring the multi-function into a folded configuration in which the handle and utensil extend in generally the same direction from a hinge, balancing the multi-function tool upon the convex side of the eating utensil thereby permitting the compass magnet to cause a rotational orientation of the multi-function tool; and determining a geographical direction from the rotational orientation of the multi-function tool.

Outdoor adventurists may pack one or more survival items for a given outdoor trip. For example, an adventurist may pack a blade for cutting, a tent for providing shelter, matches or other fire starting items, and the like. Adventurists need to pack as few items as possible in order to reduce weight and volume of the total items being transported.
Certain items may have multiple utilizes in order to reduce weight and volume of items required for a given outdoor adventure. For example, a Swiss army knife is a favorite of outdoor adventurers and is a knife that includes multiple utility items such as blades, files, and eating utensil portions.
Outdoor adventurists are always looking for new manners in which to reduce the items needed for a given adventure.

Universal eating utensil having survival accessories


The present invention provides a slightly bendable nail file which has indicia in the form of a pictorial image. The file comprises a flexible foamed synthetic resin core sandwiched between paperboard panels, at least one of which is of a luminescent material. At least one paperboard panel has a layer of transparent grit bonded thereto. At least one paperboard panel also has an image formed thereon, the image being outwardly visible through the transparent grit. The second paperboard panel may optionally have a mirror coating. A sound chip, light emitting diode (LED), or image projector may optionally be imbedded in the foam core for enhanced audible and visual messaging.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flat, hand held files of the type generally employed for abrading finger nails and the like. More particularly, the invention comprises a file having indicia disposed thereon, with transparent grit or abrasive disposed over the indicia, with at least one of its two opposing sides having a luminescent surface. The indicia is revealed through the transparent grit. The file may be employed in conventional fashion while displaying the indicia without obstruction from the grit both in its original condition and after it has been employed for abrading. The luminescent surface provides a novel glow in the dark aspect to the file, providing both entertainment value and a convenient method of locating the file in a dimmed lighting situation. The invention is useful both in professional and consumer applications wherever cosmetic products and procedures are utilized.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Finger nail files are generally purely utilitarian devices intended for abrading finger nails. They generally comprise planar members having a rough surface suitable for abrading finger nails. Finger nail files are generally fabricated in one of two ways. The file may be formed from a stratum of metal, such as steel, which is scored or otherwise treated to have a roughened or abrasive surface.
While steel files are durable, they typically lack flexibility. Flexibility imparts an ability to conform to a body surface. Conformity enables a more even polishing to be achieved. Flexible finger nail files have been provided in the prior art by forming the file from parallel strata including a flexible core stratum and surrounding strata fabricated from materials suitable for carrying abrasive in the form of grit of predetermined fineness.
Flexible nail files or similar implements are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,459,987 and 4,534,138, issued to William E. Pangburn respectively on Jul. 17, 1984, and Aug. 13, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,483, issued to David Bray on May 22, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,981, issued to Dallas H. Stephens on Sep. 16, 1997, as well as in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,561, issued Aug. 6, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,637, issued May 5, 1992. U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,520, issued to Edwin F. Neckermann on Oct. 22, 1996, describes translucent or transparent grit. However, none of these patents shows or suggests use of indicia on a nail file, much less indicia revealed in or behind transparent or translucent grit, or incorporating a mirror into a nail file, these being characteristics of the present invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
The present invention provides a nail file displaying indicia on at least one broad face. In a preferred embodiment, at least one face displaying indicia also bears abrasive grit. The grit is transparent or translucent, so as to reveal the indicia below. Additionally, at least one of the two opposing faces of the nail file is formed of a luminescent, printable material. The face of the nail file therefore performs three functions, those of displaying indicia, emitting light and also bearing a roughened surface for abrading. The file may also incorporate a mirror or buffing and polishing grits on the side opposite that bearing abrasive grit. This feature enables consumers and cosmetologists to perform multiple cosmetic functions utilizing one apparatus.
Indicia may take any form, such as a flat pictorial image, holographic image or imprinted data. The data may convey messages relating to advertising, instructions, identity of the manufacturer, purpose, or characteristics of the file. A pictorial or holographic image, if provided, may convey a theme establishing a marketing identity, illustrating method of use, or merely suggesting a self-image appropriate for persuading consumers to purchase or use the file.
The file is preferably of the flexible type, so that it may conform to a finger nail or to a curved surface of any object being polished or abraded. The file is formed from a flexible synthetic resin core sandwiched by two paper or similar outer strata.
Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide an abrasive file which displays indicia.
A second object of the invention is to provide a luminescent surface as part of a file.
A further object of the invention is to display indicia from a surface bearing abrasive material.
It is another object of the invention that the file be flexible.
It is a further object of the invention to convey data or information on the abrasive face of a file.
Still another object of the invention is to provide transparent or translucent abrasive material on the file.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mirror as part of the file.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

Luminous nail file with revealed indicia, mirror and audible and visual output devices


A control device includes a load fuel quantity calculation unit, an allowable fuel quantity calculation unit, a flow rate low value selection unit, a basic drive quantity calculation unit, a fuel deviation calculation unit, and a correction unit. The load fuel quantity calculation unit determines a load fuel quantity based on a required output. The allowable fuel quantity calculation unit determines an allowable fuel quantity to protect a gas turbine. The flow rate low value selection unit selects a minimum fuel quantity from among the determined fuel quantities. The basic drive quantity calculation unit determines a basic drive quantity of an air intake quantity regulator. The fuel deviation calculation unit determines a fuel deviation between the allowable fuel quantity and the minimum fuel quantity. The correction value calculation unit determines a correction value corresponding to the fuel deviation which is then used to correct the basic drive quantity.

The gas turbine includes a compressor that compresses air to generate compressed air, a combustor that burns fuel in the compressed air to generate combustion gas, and a turbine that is driven by the combustion gas. The compressor has a compressor rotor that rotates around an axis, a compressor casing that rotatably covers the compressor rotor, and an inlet guide vane (IGV) that regulates an intake amount which is air that flows into the casing. A fuel line is connected to the combustor. This fuel line is provided with a fuel regulation valve that regulates a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the combustor.
In a case where an output of the gas turbine is increased or decreased, an opening degree of the fuel regulation valve is increased to increase the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the combustor. The opening degree of the fuel regulation valve is determined by, for example, an external load command or the like. The IGV opening degree is basically regulated to be gradually increased as the output of the gas turbine is increased.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-075578 describes a control method of the gas turbine described above. In this control method, the IGV opening degree is obtained by adding a first correction value and a second correction value to the basic IGV opening that is gradually increased as the output of the gas turbine is increased, and an opening command value indicating this IGV opening degree is sent to the IGV. The first correction value is a value determined according to a deviation between a temperature of exhaust gas exhausted from the gas turbine and an allowable temperature with respect to the temperature of the exhaust gas. The second correction value is a value determined according to a required output change rate, which is an amount of change in a required output per unit time when the required output for the gas turbine is increased. This second correction value is a value that increases as the required output change rate increases.

Device for controlling gas turbine, gas turbine facility, method for controlling gas turbine, and program for controlling gas turbine


Disclosed is a container having a novel structure for storing contact lenses by which biofilm formation can be prevented at a high cost efficiency and from which lenses can be easily taken out. A container for storing contact lenses wherein the inner face of a dish-shaped storage chamber in a case is entirely made of a radius of curvature which is a smooth face with no irregularity and shows a continuous change, the inner face entirely comprises a smooth face with a surface roughness of 60 nm or less, and the solution capacity of the dish-shaped storage chamber is set to 3.8 mL or more.

As one type of contact lens, there has been known multiple use contact lenses that are used repeatedly over several days. For example, this includes soft contact lenses which are not disposable (so-called throwaway), and soft contact lenses which are not thrown away in one day even among the disposable types, and the like. This kind of multiple use contact lenses are stored and kept in a storage container in a state immersed in storage solution when removed from the eyes at bed time, and the like.
Storage containers for holding this kind of multiple use contact lenses are typically constituted including a roughly dish shaped storage portion for storing the contact lenses in an immersed state in which storage solution is accumulated, and a lid member for covering the opening portion of the storage portion (e.g. see Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2000-281162)).
Then, this storage container, over a suitable period, for example every day, is used multiple times with repeated contact lens storage and removal. Because of that, with the storage container, there is a demand by users to be able to easily take out the contact lenses stored within the container.
To deal with that kind of demand, with storage containers of the conventional constitution, the inner surface of the container has a suitably rough surface to prevent sticking of the contact lenses to the inner surface. Also, for the same purpose, there were also items for which a polyhedron shape connected by a curved line extending in the longitudinal direction of the container inner surface was used.
Furthermore, there were many items for which a suitable guide irregularity was added to the inner surface of the container bottom to make it possible to easily pull up the contact lens toward the opening portion from the bottom portion of the storage portion while pressing the contact lens with a fingertip inserted from the opening portion of the storage portion. This guide irregularity is formed, for example, by a plurality of projections respectively extending radially toward the opening portion from the center of the bottom of the storage portion.
Meanwhile, in recent years, there are reports of an increase in eye diseases in contact lens users, and whether those are true or false and what the cause is are being studied.
Here, the inventors of the present invention, as a result of arduous research regarding the causes of disease in contact lens users, focused on the possibility that an improper storage state of multiple use contact lenses like those described above is one cause of these. Specifically, when the inventors of the present invention did testing regarding storage containers with the conventional constitution, we found the generation of biofilms on the inner surface of the storage portion. A biofilm means an aggregation of bacteria agglomerated together in a film state, and when a biofilm forms, the bacteria inside the biofilm are protected from antibacterial agents, so sterilization is difficult. Because of that, when a biofilm is formed in the inner surface of the storage portion, even when the inside of the storage portion is filled with an antibacterial storage solution, the bacteria protected by the biofilm adhere to the lenses, and thus it became clear that there is a risk of causing bacterial infection by this entering the eyeball.
Furthermore, this kind of contact lens storage container is typically sold as a set with storage solution, and when newly purchased when the storage solution runs out, it is assumed that the storage container will also be replaced and the new one used. However, there are many users who do not follow the assumed use method, and this is a cause of biofilms occurring relatively early, and is conjectured to be one factor in the increase in eye diseases in contact lens users in recent years.
In light of this, a number of storage containers have been proposed which have special processes or the like implemented to suppress the formation of biofilms, but all of them are difficult to put into practical use.
In specific terms, for example a contact lens storage container for which a polymer material containing an antimicrobial agent is formed is disclosed in Patent Document 2 (JP-A-2005-511427). However, the polymerization of an antimicrobial agent itself brings on higher costs, and also, there is the problem that further costs are incurred to sufficiently guarantee safety of the antimicrobial agent, so this is poor in terms of practical usability.
Also, in Patent Document 3 (JP-A-2002-526184) and in Patent Document 4 (JP-A-2002-6274) proposed is giving a photocatalytic function to the contact lens storage container. However, these methods also bring on high costs. In fact, the photocatalytic function is an item that exhibits an antibacterial effect under light, so it is in a form for which the storage portion inner surface is covered by a lid portion or the like, and with contact lens storage containers many of which are kept in a dark location such as indoors or inside a bag or the like, not enough light reaches the storage portion inner surface, and because of that it is difficult to exhibit a sufficient antibacterial effect.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2000-281162    Patent Document 2: JP-A-2005-511427    Patent Document 3: JP-A-2002-526184    Patent Document 4: JP-A-2002-6274


A computer-implemented method for prepaid card funding for sponsored purchases includes receiving a payment request for funding a sponsored purchase using a payment vehicle, deducting funds from a financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a negative balance, and loading additional funds into the financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a zero balance.

In a typical prepaid card purchase, the consumer must have a balance on the prepaid card equal to or greater than the cost of the item or service to be purchased. The balance on the prepaid card may be provided by the consumer transferring funds from another financial account or may be provided by a merchant, service provider, or other commercial entity as, for example, a promotion, a refund from a prior transaction, or as a form of payment for a transaction, etc. In some cases, the commercial entity may sponsor purchases by providing payment for goods or services used by employees, contractors, or affiliated companies. For example, a transportation company may provide fuel for delivery trucks or long-distance trucks, or a car manufacturer may provide free fuel for a limited time or a limited amount as a promotion to entice consumers to purchase or lease a vehicle. Such an arrangement may be desirable when the vehicle uses a type of fuel, such as hydrogen or compressed natural gas, that may be unfamiliar to consumers and/or which may be less widely available that conventional fuels such as gasoline or diesel. However, funding such purchases by loading an allotted purchase amount onto a prepaid card may lead to misuse of the funds if the employee, contractor, or affiliated company uses the card at a retailer other than the intended retailer, fails to use the card for the intended purchase, or uses the card for an unauthorized purchase. Thus, there is a need for a prepaid card solution that allows for funding of authorized purchases by employees, contractors, or affiliated companies at a specified retailer for a specified purchase and that ensures that the consumer's prepaid card can be used without requiring a particular positive balance at the time of the purchase.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of these above-referenced challenges.

Systems and methods for prepaid card funding for sponsored purchases


A dual sensor intruder alarm (DSIA) for detecting an intruder in a security zone monitored by the DSIA comprising: a PIR sensor; an additional sensor, and a controller that determines an operating difference between the ambient temperature and a normative surface temperature of an intruder in the security zone; wherein if the operating difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold difference, the controller determines whether an intruder is present in the security zone using signals from both the PIR sensor and the additional sensor and if the operating difference is less than the predetermined threshold difference, the controller uses signals from the additional sensor but not from the PIR sensor to determine presence of an intruder.

A conventional DSIA generally comprises a microwave (MW) sensor module, hereinafter a "MW module", having a microwave transmitter/receiver and a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. For the DSIA to generate an alarm indicating presence of an intruder in a region, hereinafter a "security zone", protected by the DSIA, generally signals from both the MW module and the PIR sensor must provide evidence of the presence of the intruder. Various algorithms for processing signals from the MW module and the PIR sensor are used for deciding if the signals warrant determining that an intruder has trespassed the security zone. The requirement of "dual detection" for an intruder alarm, as implemented in a DSIA, reduces a probability that the alarm will generate false alarms and improves the reliability of the intruder alarm.
The MW module of a DSIA generates a signal indicating presence of an intruder in a security zone protected by the DSIA responsive to the intruder's motion. The motion causes a Doppler shift in a microwave transmitted by the MW module that is reflected from the intruder back to the MW module. The MW module is usually band limited to a range of Doppler shifts typical of Doppler shifts generated by motion of a human being in the security zone. Therefore, for the MW module to indicate presence of an intruder in the security zone, the Doppler shift must correspond to a "radial" velocity of a body towards or away from the MW module in a range of velocities typical of human motion. In addition, usually the intensity of the reflected microwaves must be greater than a predetermined threshold intensity for the MW module to indicate presence of an intruder.
The PIR sensor of a DSIA usually comprises two (in a "dual" PIR sensor) or four (in a "quad" PIR sensor) IR sensing elements. The IR sensing elements are generally connected in pairs in such a way that the sensing elements of a pair provide opposite polarity signals responsive to IR energy incident on the sensor. The PIR sensor responds to IR energy that reaches the sensor from regions, referred to as "fingers", of the security zone, which are separated by narrow "dead regions". The PIR sensor does not respond to IR energy from the dead regions. An intruder moving in the security zone across the fingers causes the PIR to generate a signal having a frequency responsive to a speed with which the intruder moves across the fingers. Signals generated by the PIR sensor are usually band limited to a range of frequencies typical of frequencies generated by motion of an intruder across the fingers of the security zone.
For a signal provided by the PIR sensor to indicate presence of an intruder, the DSIA generally requires that the signal be greater then a predetermined threshold signal. However, the sensitivity of the PIR sensor decreases as the ambient temperature approaches typical surface temperatures of a human intruder. To maintain a substantially constant detection sensitivity of the PIR sensor for the presence of an intruder, the DSIA generally compensates for loss of sensitivity of the PIR sensor as the ambient temperature approaches a "normative" human surface temperature. Compensation is usually achieved by either changing a threshold signal of the PIR sensor or gain of an amplifier that amplifies signals provided by the PIR sensor responsive to the ambient temperature.
A sensor, sensitivity, e.g. PIR sensor sensitivity, refers to sensitivity of the sensor for generating a signal responsive to a stimulus to which the sensor is intended to generate a signal. Detection sensitivity of a sensor in a DSIA, e.g. PIR sensor detection sensitivity, refers to an overall sensitivity of the sensor for generating a signal that the DSIA determines indicates presence of an intruder. The detection sensitivity is a function of sensitivity of the sensor and various criteria, e.g. amplitude thresholds, that the DSIA requires of signals generated by the sensor in order to "accept" the signals as indicating presence of an intruder. Detection sensitivity of a sensor may be adjusted by adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor, adjusting components of the DSIA that operate on signals generated by the sensor and/or adjusting any of the various "acceptability" requirements. Sensitivity of the DSIA for intruder detection refers to an "overall" sensitivity of the DSIA for detecting an intruder.
It is noted that a person's typical surface temperatures can be different for different types of clothing worn by the person and for different regions of the person's body, and is generally different from the usual internal body temperature of a healthy human. Generally, a normative surface temperature for a PIR sensor is determined responsive to the climatic conditions and clothing worn by persons in an environment in which the PIR sensor is intended to operate.
PIR temperature compensation is generally provided for ambient temperatures for which a difference, hereinafter an "operating temperature difference", between the ambient temperature and the normative surface temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold temperature differential. For an operating temperature difference less than the threshold differential, compensation is not provided and as the ambient temperature approaches the normative temperature, sensitivity of the PIR sensor for the presence of an intruder generally approaches zero. The threshold differential is typically set at between about 1° C. and about 3° C.
The cessation of compensation at the threshold temperature differential reduces the probability that noise, such as for example thermal noise or RF noise, will cause the PIR sensor to generate an erroneous signal indicating the presence of an intruder and thereby the probability that the DSIA generates a false alarm. However, the cessation of compensation also generally results in a reduction in the sensitivity of the PIR sensor and thereby of the DSIA for the detection of an intruder as the ambient temperature of the protected zone approaches the normative surface temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,988 describes a DSIA in which a PIR threshold is adjusted responsive to temperature determined by a thermistor to maintain constant PIR sensor sensitivity. The DSIA also comprises a controller that adjusts the PIR threshold responsive to signals generated by the MW module and the MW module threshold responsive to PIR sensor signals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,308 describes a DSIA in which if a first one of two sensors in the DSIA continuously generates signals indicating presence of an intruder without confirmation by signals generated by the second sensor, the first sensor is assumed to be generating erroneous signals. The sensitivity of the second sensor is "stabilized" i.e. reduced, so as to reduce a statistical probability of a coincidence between random alarm signals generated by the two sensors generating a false alarm.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,473 describes a DSIA in which signals from a MW module and a PIR sensor undergo separate statistical analysis to determine if the signals indicate motion of an intruder, typical noise or faulty operation (i.e. trouble such as circuit failure or masking) of the either of the sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,318 describes a DSIA in which signals from a PIR sensor and a MW module are summed. The summed signal is compared to a threshold to determine whether or not an intruder is present in a zone protected by the DSIA. Signals from each of the sensors may be weighted by weighting factors prior to summing. "The weighting factors may be selected to customize the dual sensing intrusion device for optimal detection of an intruder in a given volume of space." The sum threshold may be determined to discriminate against the DSIA owner's pet.