A laminated filter comprising a plurality of resonator electrodes, an inter-resonator coupling capacitor electrode for coupling adjacent resonators, and two input/output coupling capacitor electrodes for coupling input/output terminals and the resonator electrodes. This provides a capacitor electrode for electrically connecting one side of the input/output terminals with a portion of the input/output coupling capacitor electrode, wherein the input/output coupling capacitor electrode and the capacitor electrode are a parallel circuit. This structure forms a parallel resonance circuit in the input/output terminal, to provide an additional attenuation pole besides an attenuation pole formed by electromagnetic coupling between the resonators and an inter-resonator capacitance, thereby realizing a laminated filter of a high attenuation. With this structure, a duplexer can be made using a plurality of the filters of this invention without requiring a phase-shifting circuit.

The present invention relates to a laminated filter and a duplexer used mainly for a radio frequency device such as a portable telephone and the like, and a mobile communication apparatus using the same.
A laminated filter of the prior art generally comprises dielectric layers 1401a, 1401b, 1401c, 1401d and 1401e, resonator electrodes 1402a and 1402b, load capacitor electrodes 1403a and 1403b, an inter-resonator coupling capacitor electrode 1404, input/output coupling capacitor electrodes 1405a and 1405b, and shielding electrodes 1406a and 1406b, as shown in FIG. 14A.
Ends of the electrodes 1402a and 1402b, and the electrodes 1406a and 1406b are connected to a grounding terminal electrode 1408a provided on a side surface of a dielectric, and, ends of the electrodes 1403a and 1403b, and the electrodes 1406a and 1406b are connected to a grounding terminal electrode 1408b on another side surface of the dielectric. The electrode 1405a is connected to an input/output terminal electrode 1407a provided on a side surface of the dielectric, and the electrode 1405b is connected to another input/output terminal electrode 1407b provided on another side surface of the dielectric. The electrodes 1408a and 1408b are grounded to constitute a structure.
Each of the electrodes in the above-described laminated filter functions as a stripline in a microwave band for which this laminated filter is used, since the electrodes are formed in the dielectric. Therefore, an equivalent circuit of this laminated filter is represented by FIG. 14B in the microwave band. In FIG. 14B, inductors 1613 and 1615, respectively, represent inductance components of the electrodes 1403a and 1403b. An inductor 1606 represents an inductance component of the electrode 1404. Furthermore, inductors 1603 and 1609 represent inductance components of the electrodes 1405a and 1405b, respectively.
In the above structure, the electrodes 1402a and 1402b act as quarter-wave resonators, since they are grounded at one end. Moreover, because the electrode 1404 and the electrodes 1402a and 1402b, as well as the electrodes 1405a and 1405b and the electrodes 1402a and 1402b compose parallel plate capacitors between them, they provide capacitive couplings between input/output terminals and the resonators, and also between the resonators. Furthermore, an attenuation pole (a frequency at which an impedance between the input/output terminals increases) can be formed in a transmission characteristic with an electromagnetic coupling obtained by adjusting widths of and a space between the electrodes 1402a and 1402b, and a capacitance obtained by adjusting the parallel plate capacitors formed between the electrodes 1404, and 1402a and 1402b.
As a result, the attenuation pole is formed at one side of a pass band 1701 in the transmission characteristic between the input/output terminals, as shown in FIG. 14C, thereby serving as a band-pass filter having an attenuation band 1702 in vicinity of the pass band 1701.
In addition, a duplexer of the prior art comprises a receiving filter 1501, a transmission filter 1502, and a phase-shifting circuit 1503, as shown in FIG. 15, and one end of the receiving filter 1501 serves as a receiving terminal 1510, and one end of the transmission filter 1502 as a transmission terminal 1511.
The phase-shifting circuit 1503 comprises an inductor 1504, another inductor 1505, a capacitor 1506, a capacitor 1507, and another capacitor 1508. In the duplexer, the capacitor 1506, the inductor 1504, and the capacitor 1507 are designed to become equivalent to a transmission line, which is approximately one quarter of a wavelength at a pass band frequency of the transmission filter 1502. The capacitor 1507, the inductor 1505, and the capacitor 1508 are also designed to become equivalent to a transmission line, which is approximately one quarter of a wavelength at a pass band frequency of the receiving filter 1501.
Of a transmission signal input from the transmission terminal 1511, only a signal component having the pass band frequency passes through the transmission filter 1502, and it is fed to the phase-shifting circuit 1503. The receiving filter 1501, as observed from a common terminal 1509, shows high impedance in this case, and thereby the transmission signal is output from the common terminal 1509 without flowing into a path toward the receiving filter 1501. On the other hand, a receiving signal input from the common terminal 1509 is fed to the phase-shifting circuit 1503. However, the signal is input only to the receiving filter 1501 without flowing into a path toward the transmission filter 1502, since an impedance as observed from the common terminal 1509 toward the transmission filter 1502 side is high in this case, and therefore the signal is output to the receiving terminal 1510 only after a signal component having the pass band frequency of the receiving filter 1501 passes through.
Consequently, the transmission signal input from the transmission terminal 1511 is output from the common terminal 1509 via the phase-shifting circuit 1503 without being influenced by the receiving filter 1501. The receiving signal input from the common terminal 1509 is also output to the receiving terminal 1510 via the phase-shifting circuit 1503 without being influenced by the transmission filter 1502. Hence, the device functions as a duplexer.
The laminated type filter of the prior art had a problem that it needs to increase a number of resonators in order to gain a magnitude of attenuation, thereby resulting in a large size and an increase of an insertion loss in the pass band.
Moreover, the duplexer of the prior art also had a problem in that it needs a phase-shifting circuit consisting of an inductor and a capacitor of chip components, thereby requiring a large area of mounting surface.
The present invention is intended to address the above problems, and it aims at realizing a laminated filter having a low insertion loss and a high attenuation with a simple structure, and a duplexer of a small size with a small number of components.
In a laminated filter having a plurality of resonator electrodes, an inter-resonator coupling capacitor electrode for coupling between adjacent resonators, and two input/output coupling capacitor electrodes for coupling between input/output terminals and resonator electrodes, the present invention is to provide a capacitor electrode for electrically connecting one side of the input/output terminals with a portion of the input/output coupling capacitor electrode, wherein the input/output coupling capacitor electrode and the capacitor electrode comprise a parallel circuit.
This composition forms a parallel resonance circuit in one of the input/output terminals, and provides an additional attenuation pole besides another attenuation pole formed with an electromagnetic coupling between the resonators and an inter-resonator capacitance, thereby realizing the laminated filter of a high magnitude of attenuation with the same shape as that of the prior art.
Moreover, in a laminated filter having a pass band in a first band, and an attenuation band in a second band, there is provided a parallel circuit as described above at one side of the input/output terminals, whereby an attenuation pole formed by the parallel circuit is set in the vicinity of the second band. Furthermore, in a laminated filter having an attenuation band in the first band and a pass band in a second band, there is provided a parallel circuit as described above at one side of the input/output terminals, whereby an attenuation pole formed by the parallel circuit is set in the vicinity of the first band. A duplexer of the present invention is composed by connecting these two laminated filters at the input/output terminals where the parallel circuits are provided, and using the connected point as a common terminal.
With the described structure, the duplexer can be realized without using a phase-shifting circuit, since majority of a signal component passing through either one of the laminated filters is input to the common terminal because the parallel circuit of the other laminated filter provides a high impedance.

Laminated filter, duplexer, and mobile communication apparatus using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An oil and gas well drilling system is provided that includes a torque drive system having an output shaft and a drill string rotated by the torque drive system. An instrumented internal blowout preventer valve is connected between the torque drive system output shaft and the drill string. The valve includes a valve housing, and one or more measurement devices mounted to the valve housing for measuring desired drill string drilling parameters during an oil and gas well drilling operation.

Current methods of measuring and observing drilling parameters in an oil and gas well system during a drilling operation, such as drill string weight, torque, vibration, speed of rotation and internal pressure are generally indirect, meaning that they are measured at a point conveniently accessible but not necessarily located on the actual drill sting.
For example, the drill string weight is often indirectly measured by measuring the pull on a cable of a hoisting system, which raises and lowers the drill string. This type of measurement is inaccurate due to frictional forces associated with the cable, the sheaves, and the measurement device attached to the cable.
The drill string torque is difficult to measure since it is often difficult to measure the torque output of the torque driving system, which rotates or drives the drill string. For example, typically, the drill string is either rotated with a large mechanical drive called a rotary table or directly by a large motor called a top drive. The torque output of each of these drive systems cannot be easily measured and most often is either calculated from the current going to the drive motor when a top drive is used, or by measuring the tension of a drive chain which drives the rotary table when a rotary table is used. Both of these methods are very inaccurate and subject to outside influences that can cause the readings to be inconsistent, such as stray electrical currents through the drive motor when a top drive is used, or wear of the measured mechanical devices when a rotary table is used.
Another drilling parameter that is difficult to measure is vibration. Vibration of the drill string is very damaging to its components especially to the drill bit at the end of the drill string, which drills a well bore.
Various methods have been proposed to solve the above described problems with the measuring of drilling parameters during a drilling operation, including installing various instrumented pins onto components of the hoisting system or the torque drive system. Other more direct approaches have been tried with limited success. For example, some have installed a load sensor at the top of the derrick for measuring pull of the hoisting system on the derrick. These are commonly referred to as crown block weight sensors.
Various other devices have been developed for directly measuring torque and vibration on the drill string. For example, one such device for use with a rotary table includes a plate that attaches to the top of the rotary table between the table and a drive bushing, referred to as the kelly drive bushing. However, currently more and more oil and gas well drilling systems are using top drive drilling systems instead of rotary tables, rending this approach less desirable and possibly obsolete.
Others have tried to make special instrumented subs that screw directly into the drill string. One such device is large and bulky and does not fit into existing top drive systems. These devices provide the accuracy desired in the measure of the drilling parameters, but compromise the drilling equipment due to their size and shape. In addition, these devices require redesign of the torque drive system to accommodate them.
Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus and method for accurately measuring drilling parameters during a drilling operation that does not require modification of the torque drive system to which it attaches.

Instrumented internal blowout preventer valve for measuring drill string drilling parameters


A method, an apparatus, and a system for processing a service flow, which belong to the field of communications. Correspondence between a service application attribute and a service application identifier is preconfigured on an NSP board so that after a service flow carrying the service application attribute is received, the service application identifier of the service flow may be determined, which service application corresponding to a service flow may be known according to the service application identifier corresponding to the service flow, and when a plurality of service applications is deployed on an NSP at the same time, a service flow can be correctly sent to a virtual machine of a corresponding service application for service processing.

Currently, communication networks tend to become more and more intelligent, and service diversity becomes an important characteristic of a communication network. However, service diversity is a huge challenge for a switch device or a routing device in a current network. In one aspect, service application procedures or service logic processing of a switch device and a routing device is complicated. In another aspect, it is difficult to take advantages of a switch device and a routing device because of a variety of service applications.
A Network Service Platform (NSP) board may be connected to an Access Router (AR) or a switch to dedicatedly process various service applications such as a security service, server integration, and an application acceleration service. At the same time, an NSP has an independent hardware system and software system and can conveniently process one or more service applications.
A router or a switch may be connected to one or more NSP boards. The router or the switch includes at least a main control board, a local area network (LAN) line card, or a wide area network (WAN) line card, and a backend board, and the router or the switch is connected to the NSP board through the backend board. The main control board includes a microprocessor unit (MPU) and a switching unit (also called switching fabric). The switching unit is responsible for data exchange between the router or the switch and the NSP board. Traffic processed by a service application on the NSP is forwarded from the LAN line card or the WAN line card on the router or the switch through a switching unit. Currently, three typical service flow forwarding modes mainly exist, that is, a host mode, a mirror mode, and a redirection mode.
In a host mode, a service application on an NSP directly provides a service (such as a local email server or a voice call controller) for a user, and a destination Internet Protocol (IP) or a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a service flow sent by a user terminal is an IP address or a MAC address of a virtual machine that is responsible for processing the service application of the service flow and is on an NSP board. The service flow is forwarded by a LAN or a WAN line card on a router or a switch to the NSP through a switching unit, and then service traffic of the user terminal is processed by the virtual machine on the NSP.
In a mirror mode, a service application that can be processed on an NSP, such as a traffic statistics application or a virus detection application, is invisible to a user terminal. That is, a destination IP or a MAC address of service traffic of the user terminal is not an IP or MAC address of a virtual machine that is responsible for processing a service application of the service flow and is on an NSP board. A service flow sent by the user terminal requires a LAN line card or a WAN line card on a router or a switch to make a copy of service traffic and send the copy to the NSP through a switching unit, and the virtual machine on the NSP processes the copied service traffic of the user terminal.
In a redirection mode, being similar to the mirror mode, a service application that can be processed on an NSP, such as a firewall, is also invisible to a user terminal. That is, a destination IP or a MAC address of service traffic of the user terminal is not an IP or MAC address of a virtual machine that is responsible for processing a service application of the service flow and is on an NSP board. A service flow sent by the user terminal is redirected and sent by a LAN line card or a WAN line card on a router or a switch through a switching unit to the NSP, and then the virtual machine on the NSP processes the service traffic and then sends the service traffic to an original destination address through the switching unit after the processing is completed.
In the mirror mode and the redirection mode of service flow forwarding, the destination IP or the MAC address sent by the user terminal is not the IP or MAC address of the virtual machine that is responsible for processing the service application of the service flow and is on the NSP board. Therefore, when the NSP needs to process a plurality of service applications, the virtual machine on the NSP needs to monitor all packets on a network adapter. That is, a virtual machine service application receives traffic of other services in addition to traffic of a service application processed by the virtual machine. Therefore, service flows among different service applications cannot be isolated.

Method, apparatus, and system for processing service flow


A method and apparatus may be provided to allow for the enablement or disablement of a computer remotely for servicing or other reasons. The computer may be enabled remotely by one or more circuits that may simulate a system switch turn on or turn off event.

The present disclosure relates to computer systems and to methods and apparatuses for remotely bringing a computer/server out of a standby or sleep state. For serviceability and other reasons, it may be convenient to be able to wake up a computer from a location that may be remote from the physical location of the computer. For example, it may convenient to be able to turn on a computer, such as a server computer, from a remote servicing or diagnostics facility. Additionally, for security or energy conservation uses, it may be convenient to be able to cycle computers on or off remotely to enable or disable access to such computers as required by security or energy conservation needs.
Many computers today include a super I/O circuit. A Super I/O controller (peripheral controller) maybe considered a single chip that, much like the system chipset, contains peripheral support circuits that perform many of the functions that used to take several pieces of hardware in the past. The Super I/O chip typically is responsible for controlling the slower-speed, mundane peripherals found in every PC. Since these devices have been mostly standardized, they are virtually the same on every PC and it is easier to integrate these into a commodity chip instead of worrying about them for each motherboard design. However, newer super I/O devices may not allow for remote power cycling from all states of the machine.
This may be particularly inconvenient where a service event has been required and a technician may have forgotten to reset the power to the computer properly, thereby rendering the computer unusable. The technician may have departed the site and be many miles or states away. This may result in a very inconvenient and expensive situation for the servicing entity and for the computer user. The present disclosure may address one or more of the above issues.

Method and apparatus for power management event wake up

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes a gas sack that can be inflated with gas to protect an occupant, a gas generator for generating the gas provided for inflating the gas sack, and an additional cooling device comprising an openable reservoir for storing a coolant. The reservoir is opened when the gas sack is inflated, so that the coolant for cooling the gas used to inflate the gas sack can come into contact with the gas. The cooling device comprises a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant.

The application relates to an airbag module for a motor vehicle. DE 196 02 695 C2 (incorporated by reference herein) discloses a gas generator having a cooling device that has a reservoir, for storing a cooling liquid, in the form of a cooling pouch made from a durable plastic film, that is damaged by hot gases provided by the gas generator and thereby releases the coolant contained therein to cool the gas generated by the gas generator.
It would be advantageous to provide a cooling device including a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant with an improved adaptability to a person to be protected and a respective accident situation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


When an error requiring a retry operation occurs, information concerning the error is stored every time. The information includes a sector number (or beginning sector number and number of sectors), the content of the command; a write or read designation, and the number of the times of error occurrence in the sector (or number of the times of retry operation), for example. In the case of recording information, like the prior art, information to be written which is stored in a buffer memory is held as is. Since the information concerning an error requiring a retry operation is stored, even though that error occurs repeatedly, a write and/or read operation of the next executable command to another track is executed without immediately switching to the retry operation. Thus, other commands are executed between the occurrence of the error requiring a retry operation and actual execution of the retry operation.

The present invention relates to an information recording and reproducing device having a disk recording medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of recording and reproducing information efficiently when an error which requires a retry operation occurs during random access to the information, and relates to an information recording and reproducing device which employs the method.
A hard disk drive is a typical example of an information recording and reproducing device which has a disk recording medium. The hard disk drive is an information recording and reproducing device which records information on a disk magnetic recording medium as magnetization reversals and reproduces information recorded as magnetization reversals by detecting magnetic flux changes. The access time, in which a recording and reproducing head of the information recording and reproducing device accesses to an arbitrary sector, comprises a seek time, in which a seek operation is executed, and rotational delay time, in which the systems waits for the target sector to come under the recording and reproducing head during rotation of the disk medium. It is important to decrease the access time in order to quickly record and reproduce information.
In order to decrease the access time, JP-A-08-329589 discloses a method of accumulating write or read commands in a command queue and sorting the command queue to minimize the rotational delay time of the disk when an error requiring a retry operation does not occur. However, in practice, even though an error occurs in writing or reading information and a retry operation (re-execution of the command) is required, it is important also to reduce the idle waiting time required for a retry operation to improve performance of the disk device.
As an another method to decrease the access time, JP-A-10-124262 discloses a method in which a marginal time which is available for a retry operation is estimated and retry parameters are selected according to the value of this marginal time if an error requiring a retry operation occurs. However, this method is merely an improvement of the above-described example of the conventional technology with regard to a method of setting retry parameters. Namely, for example, it becomes possible to select the number of retry times corresponding to the marginal time by this method.
Further, JP-A-05-325434 discloses a method in which sectors succeeding the error sector are read out and afterward the sector in which an error has occurred is re-read to decrease the rotational delay time, if an error requiring a retry operation occurs in a sector at the time of reading out information from two or more sectors of the hard disk drive.
Besides, JP-A-11-7706 discloses a method in which sectors succeeding the error sector are read out in precedence to decrease the processing time if an error requiring a retry operation occurs while reading out information from two or more sectors within one track in an optical disk device.
According to these methods, when an error requiring a retry operation occurs, the idle rotational delay time can be decreased by reading out successive sectors in precedence. Namely, these methods disclosed in known examples are effective at reading out information from two or more successive sectors on the same track.

Information recording and reproducing method and information recording and reproducing device

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.


Systems, methods, and apparatuses may be used to charge battery-powered devices using a charging device. Such battery-powered devices include the external portions of auditory prostheses or other medical devices. The charging device prioritizes the charging requirements of a number of batteries and transfers power to one or more batteries. The charging device also sends a signal to activate an indicator on each external portion.

Auditory prostheses, such as cochlear implants, include an implantable portion having a stimulating assembly and an external portion having speech processing hardware and software, as well as a battery. The battery provides power to the external portion so as to enable the appropriate signals to be sent to the implantable portion. As the battery discharges, it becomes necessary for a recipient to trade an external portion having little or no remaining power for an external portion having more power. Thus, it is desirable to have multiple external portions available to a prosthesis recipient, so a sufficient power supply is constantly available.

Medical device battery charging system and methods


A driver assistance system includes a sensor that detects objects and/or characteristics of objects in the surroundings of a motor vehicle, and an object recognition unit that evaluates data from the sensor to produce object information, and determines a confidence value indicating the probability of accuracy thereof. If the confidence value is greater than a minimum threshold but less than a predefined threshold, then the system displays the object information to the driver, who confirms or rejects it, e.g. by actuating or not actuating an operating element. Upon confirmation by the driver, the system begins or continues to perform a driver assistance function based on the object information. Upon rejection by the driver, the system does not perform or discontinues the driver assistance function based on the object information. If the confidence value exceeds the predefined threshold, then the system autonomously performs the driver assistance function.

Present-day motor vehicle technology includes several different types of known driver assistance systems, such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems that can autonomously or semi-autonomously control the acceleration and braking functions of a motor vehicle to follow a leading vehicle that travels ahead of the subject or ego vehicle. The typical behavior of such driver assistance systems includes a relatively small occurrence rate of erroneous reactions or omitted reactions to other traffic participants (such as other motor vehicles or pedestrians) or obstacles in the environment around the subject vehicle. With the increasing automation of the driving of motor vehicles, the proper detection and monitoring of other traffic participants, and avoiding the oversight or missing of such other traffic participants, are becoming especially more critical. Because the proper tuning or coordination of such systems involves a balancing between a reliable recognition (availability) and avoidance of erroneous reactions, this balanced tuning must favor the reliable recognition of objects especially in connection with automated or semi-automated driving in order to achieve greater safety and reliability. This, however, necessarily leads to an increased rate of erroneous reactions of the systems in borderline or marginal situations.
In present-day driver assistance systems, the monitoring and correction of erroneous reactions of the system is at least partially up to the human driver of the vehicle. For example, such systems allow the driver to override erroneous system reactions (for example an automated braking of the subject vehicle based on another vehicle that is driving ahead in a neighboring lane rather than the subject vehicle's own lane), by stepping on the gas pedal during the time of the erroneous system reaction (e.g. the erroneous automated braking). However, such "overpowering" of the automated or semi-automated control by the driver assistance system for the duration of the automated control occurrence is typically regarded as interfering and uncomfortable by the driver. Thus, it would be desirable to reduce such erroneous system reactions, or to simplify the driver's monitoring of the system reactions and/or to shorten the duration of the driver's overriding measures and/or to reduce the effort required of the driver's overriding measures.
A general method of the type mentioned above in the field of relevant art is known from the German Patent Publication DE 10 2008 002 576 A1, in which a sensor system locates objects and a driver assistance system calculates at least one plausibility measure (confidence value, reliability) on the basis of the location data thereof, for establishing the plausibility of the detected object data. Particularly, the plausibility value indicates the existence probability of the object and/or the probability of correct applicability of a particular object characteristic. In order to decide as to the existence of the object or the applicability of the object characteristic, a threshold value function is applied to the plausibility value. Thus, for example, all objects are regarded as real if their respective plausibility values lie above the threshold value of the threshold value function.
It has been found, however, that in this known method, erroneous system reactions of a driver assistance system are not avoided in all traffic situations, and therefore such erroneous system reactions must again be overpowered or overridden by the driver.
The German Patent Publication DE 100 48 102 A1 discloses a driver assistance system for supporting and relieving burden from a driver of a motor vehicle, in which the driver is included in the control in rarely occurring driving situations in the context of an ACC driver assistance system in traffic following operation, in that the relative target objects to be utilized for the speed regulation in the following operation are selected among the detected target objects dependent on their speed and dependent on the driver's manual operation of an operating element arranged in the vehicle. Particularly in this regard, target objects that are moving and classified as relevant target objects among the detected target objects are automatically used for the speed regulation, whereas stationary target objects are selected for the speed regulation only upon request by the vehicle driver, namely by the driver's operation of the operating element arranged in the vehicle. Thereby the system effectiveness of the driver assistance system shall be significantly improved and simultaneously the trust or confidence of the driver in the speed regulation all the way to a complete standstill of the vehicle is increased. However, erroneous system reactions cannot be avoided even in this known driver assistance system.
Furthermore, the German Patent Publication DE 10 2006 027 554 A1 discloses a vehicle with an ACC driver assistance system with which the speed of the vehicle is regulated and a motor or a braking system is activated dependent on a desired nominal value of acceleration. In such an ACC driver assistance system, the maximum achievable positive and negative acceleration values are limited. These limits can only be released or exceeded by an overriding by means of the driver's operation of the driving pedal (e.g. accelerator pedal) or the brake pedal, whereby however the driver assistance system is deactivated and thereafter must again be switched on. This is regarded as inconvenient and disadvantageous.
In order to give the driver of the vehicle a comfortable and simply operable possibility for correcting erroneous or interfering driving behaviors of the driver assistance system, this German Patent Publication DE 10 2006 027 554 A1 proposes to provide for the driver an operating element that communicates with the driver assistance system. Upon the driver's actuation of the operating element, at least one signal is produced, so that during the operation of the operating element, the driver assistance system changes the desired nominal acceleration value dependent on the signal produced by the operation of the operating element, and the motor and/or the brake system of the vehicle is actuated dependent on the changed desired nominal acceleration value.
Thereby a comfortably operable driver assistance system is presumably achieved, but even this known driver assistance system has the disadvantage, that upon the occurrence of erroneous system reactions the vehicle driver must still override such system reactions. Thereby, of course, the availability of such a driver assistance system is disadvantageously reduced.

Method of operating a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle


A door hinge apparatus having a coupling structure between a door and a cabinet, and a drum-type washing machine having the same. The drum type washing machine includes an inlet formed through the cabinet to allow laundry to be inserted or withdrawn therethrough, a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the inlet, and a hinge between the door and the cabinet. The hinge includes a cabinet bracket coupled to a front surface of the cabinet, a door bracket coupled to the door, a first moving unit coupled to the door bracket to allow the door to be pivoted with respect to the cabinet, and a second moving unit coupled to the cabinet bracket to allow the door to protrude forward from the cabinet and be substantially parallel and spaced from the cabinet. The door opens the inlet by moving forward by a predetermined distance or more from the cabinet and then pivoting, so that moisture in the drum is removed to some extent before the inlet is opened and the door can open without friction between the door and the cabinet.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a door hinge apparatus and a drum type washing machine having the same, and more particularly, to a door hinge apparatus having an improved coupling structure between a door and a cabinet, and a washing machine having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a washing machine is an apparatus that washes laundry by rotating a cylindrical drum containing laundry and wash water. The examples of the washing machine include a "front-load" drum type washing machine in which a drum is horizontally disposed and, as the drum rotates forward and backward with respect to a horizontal shaft, laundry is washed by being lifted upward along an inner circumferential surface of a drum and dropping, and a "top-load" vertical shaft washing machine in which a drum provided with a pulsator is vertically disposed in the drum and as the drum rotates forward and backward with respect to a vertical shaft, laundry is washed by water current generated by the pulsator.
The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet forming an external appearance, a cylindrical tub installed in the cabinet and configured to contain wash water, a drum rotatably installed in the tub to wash laundry, a driving motor disposed at a rear side of the tub to rotate the drum, and doors installed at a front side of the cabinet. The cabinet is provided on at least one portion thereof with an inlet communicating with the drum, and a door is configured to open and close the inlet.
After a washing operation is completed, the inlet is opened by pivoting the door. However, a large sized door has difficulty in completely opening. In addition, after a washing operation is completed, moisture in the drum is discharged only when a user opens the door. Accordingly, when laundry remains inside the washing machine for a long period of time, the laundry may smell or be damaged.

Door hinge apparatus and drum type washing machine having the same


Provided is a method and apparatus for processing control plane data to enable an evolve Node B (eNB) and a User Equipment (UE) to transmit and/or receive user plane data through a WLAN carrier when the user plane data is transmitted by adding a WLAN radio resource to an E-UTRAN carrier in a radio access network (RAN) level. Particularly, provided is a method for a UE to transmit and receive data, the method including: receiving, from an eNB, wireless local area network (WLAN) cell configuration information which is for transmitting and receiving data using a WLAN radio resource; performing WLAN association based on the WLAN cell configuration information; transmitting a WLAN access confirmation message to the eNB; and receiving, from the eNB through a higher layer signaling, tunnel configuration information which is for the UE to set up a tunnel with the eNB through the WLAN radio resource.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for processing control plane data to enable an evolve Node B (eNB) and a User Equipment (UE) to transmit and/or receive user plane data through a WLAN carrier when the user plane data is transmitted by adding a WLAN radio resource to an E-UTRAN carrier in a radio access network (RAN) level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As communication systems have developed, various wireless terminals have been introduced to consumers, such as companies and individuals. A current mobile communication system has been affiliated with third generation partnership project (3GPP), such as long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), and the like. Such communication system may be a high-speed and high-capacity communication system capable of transmitting and receiving various types of data, such as image data, wireless data, and the like, beyond providing a voice-based service. Accordingly, there has been a desire for developing technology that enables transmitting high-capacity data as fast as a wired communication network. In order to transmit high capacity data, a scheme using a plurality of cells for effectively transmitting data has been introduced, lately.
However, such a scheme has a drawback. For example, a base station has a limitation in providing a large capacity of data to a plurality of UEs using a limited amount of frequency resources. That is, when a predetermined business operator secures an exclusively usable frequency resource, a high cost is required.
A business operator or a predetermined communication system is incapable of exclusively using non-licensed frequency band. Such a non-licensed frequency band may be shared by a plurality of operators or communication systems. For example, a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology, which is represented by WiFi, provides a data transmission and reception service using a frequency resource in the non-licensed band.
Therefore, there is demand for developing a technology for enabling a mobile communication system to transmit and receive data to/from a terminal using a WLAN access point (AP) or the like. Particularly, there has been no detailed procedure or method introduced for enabling a base station to use both of a WLAN carrier and a base station carrier for transmitting and receiving data to/from a terminal. Also, there is need for developing a data transmission technology and detailed procedures for reusing existing WLAN nodes in providing a technology of aggregating LTE and WLAN.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using WLAN radio resources


A computing device fan mounting system includes a chassis, a fan housing, and a fan mount. The chassis includes a receiving opening. The fan housing defines a first opening and a second opening. The fan mount includes a first peg engaged with the first opening, a second peg engaged with the second opening, and a pin engaged with the receiving opening.

Computing devices such as set top boxes typically include a fan to cool components. The fan is secured to a chassis of the set top box. Specifically, the fan includes openings that are individually secured to a respective opening in the chassis, requiring several securing components that consume limited space in the set top box. Furthermore, as the fan rotates, the fan vibrates and transfers vibrations to the chassis.


Examples of the present disclosure may include methods, systems, and computer readable media with executable instructions. An example method for retrieving visual media can include receiving a text query associated with a target content. A first group of visual media is identified based on correspondence of metadata of the visual media with the text query, and keyframes from the first group of identified visual media are selected. The method further includes detecting instances of a content type in the selected keyframes, and grouping similar instances of the content type into clusters. The target content is associated with a cluster having a greatest quantity of similar instances.

The amount of visual media on the Internet is growing due to people sharing photos and video, and by commercial efforts in response to increasing speeds and bandwidth capabilities of the network. Internet data transfer speeds are increasing. WEB 2.0 applications that facilitate participatory information sharing such as social networking sites, blogs, social media, and others are growing in number. Image-based and video sharing websites, such as FLICKR® (Google, Inc.), PICASA® (Google, Inc.), YOUTUBE® (Google, Inc.), etc., are growing in popularity. All of these capabilities and developments are making online content-based image manipulations very useful. Since new visual media is being uploaded to the Internet all the time, ways to efficiently organize, index, and retrieve desired visual media is a constant and ever-growing challenge. Organizing visual media can be an enormous endeavor.
People are often the principal subject matter in visual media, such as photos, images, and video frames. The ability to find visual media of a particular person easily and quickly in a visual media dataset is highly desired. Searching for visual media including a particular person can have many applications. Visual media content is best evaluated visually. However, legacy search tools are often text based, originally designed to return text results, and more recently expanding into applications involving image searches. That is, the search input is limited to text, such as a person's name, a noun, or written description of the visual media being sought. Text-based searching alone can be imprecise with respect to visual media results since, for example, many people can have the same name which can return visual media of many different people. Users aren't typically interested in all results returned in response to a text search query (e.g., images of all people named "Bob Smith"), but rather some portion of returned images such as an image of the "Bob Smith" they know. Therefore, some ordering of visual media search results can be beneficial to a user.


A water-treating microbicide, containing an inorganic acid and a corrosion inhibitor, and further containing a carboxylic acid having 8 or less carbon atoms or any of alkali metal salts thereof. The present invention can provide a water-treating microbicide, water treatment method and water treatment apparatus exhibiting a high sterilization effect in a membrane separation device for seawater desalination, etc.

Membrane separation techniques are used in wide areas such as desalination of seawater and brackish water, production of medical and industrial pure water and ultrapure water, industrial wastewater treatment and food industry. In such membrane separation, the contamination of the separation device caused by microbes impairs the quality of the obtained permeating water, and furthermore promotes the growth of microbes on the membrane surface and the deposition of microbes and their metabolites on the membrane surface, to lower the permeability and separability of the membrane. To avoid these serious problems, various methods for sterilizing the membrane separation device are proposed, and generally, a microbicide is constantly or intermittently added to the feed liquid. As the microbicide, most generally a chlorine-based microbicide advantageous in view of price and operation is added to achieve a concentration of 0.1 to 50 ppm. Furthermore, an effective sterilization method, in which less expensive sulfuric acid is added to lower the pH of the liquid fed to the membrane separation device to 4 or less, is also developed (EP1031372A). As the piping of the membrane separation device, usually a corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel is used, but if the addition of sulfuric acid or the like raises the acidity, since the metal goes into the corrosion region of the Pourbaix diagram, the piping is liable to be corroded. In a state where the acidity is low, there are such problems that the sterilization frequency must be increased and that longer sterilization time is necessary for enhancing the sterilization effect.
It would therefore be advantageous to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing a water-treating microbicide and a water treatment method having a high sterilization effect.

Bactericide for use in water treatment, method for water treatment and apparatus for water treatment


A war game device comprising a playing board having a plurality of squares thereon, preferably ten squares long and thirteen squares wide. Playing pieces are provided to each player, the pieces representing a command post (one for each player), infantry battalions (three for each player), tank battalions (four for each player), and armored battalions (four for each player), for movement among the squares in the accordance with the call of a device and game instructions. The object of the game is for one player to "capture" the command post token of the other player, the command post token occupying a stationary position on the board and thus being unable to move to escape being captured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a board game device which combines the skill features of chess with the excitement of a game simulating military maneuvers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A number of board games have been available in the prior art, particularly those which move players' pieces to areas of the board in accordance with the call of a die and game instructions. For example, the game of Monopoly utilizes the movement of players' pieces along sequential squares formed adjacent the edges of the board. U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,249 to Brady discloses a board game which utilizes game pieces, dice and a "driving" track around the center of the board, the game board providing education for players in defensive driving skills in traffic situations.
What is desired is to provide a board game device which conveys a sense of military maneuvering which at the same time utilizing some of the movements associated with the game of chess.


An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a table. Wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.

The present invention relates to a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine. In particular, the invention relates to a third stage turbine nozzle airfoil profile.
In a gas turbine, many system requirements should be met at each stage of a gas turbine's flow path section to meet design goals. These design goals include, but are not limited to, overall improved efficiency and airfoil loading capability. For example, and in no way limiting of the invention, a blade of a compressor stator should achieve thermal and mechanical operating requirements for that particular stage. Further, for example, and in no way limiting of the invention, a turbine nozzle airfoil profile should achieve thermal and mechanical operating requirements for that particular stage. Airfoil points have been patented as demonstrated by Bielek et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,054 B1 on Jan. 7, 2003. The patent identified from 100-150 points per section with each section having a uniform spacing, a stagger angle vs. radius, a throat angle vs. radius and a camber vs. radius. The number of points defined is dependent upon the rate of change of curvature of the section. In other words, for areas with higher curvature more points are used to define that region.


Disclosed herein is a turn-fin condenser. The turn-fin condenser employs a turn-fin tube adhesively wound in a spiral shape around an outer surface of the tube in which refrigerant flows. The condenser comprises a coil type turn-fin tube 10 wound in a coil shape and fixed by inner and outer brackets 20 and 30 surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the coil type turn-fin tube, a motor 40 positioned in an inner space formed by the coil type turn-fin tube 10, a blowing fan 50 for taking ambient air in the coil type turn-fin tube 10 after being driven by the motor 40, and a tube wall 80 spirally wound with tube 11 extending out of the inner and outer brackets 20 and 30 at the rear side of the coil type turn-fin tube 10. The turn-fin condenser is easily manufactured and allows a greater quantity of air contact with turn-fins, thereby enhancing heat exchange efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turn-fin condenser, and more particularly to a coil type turn-fin condenser, which is easily manufactured and includes a structure allowing a greater quantity of air to contact with turn-fins, thereby enhancing heat exchange efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a condenser in an air conditioner is used for radiating heat from a high-temperature, high-pressure vapor phase refrigerant discharged from a compressor and then liquefying the vapor phase refrigerant with a high pressure. In recent years, all major industrialized nations have been intensifying regulations on energy efficiency. As a result, as a method for significantly enhancing a cooling efficiency and reducing energy consumption in the field of refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, a condenser using turn-fin tubes is mainly utilized instead of a heat exchanger having a wire-tube shape.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional turn-fin tube 1 includes a tube 1a in which the refrigerant flows, and turn-fins 1b attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tube 1a for promoting heat exchange between the refrigerant passing through the tube 1 and ambient air. The turn-fins 1b are wound in a spiral shape around the outer peripheral surface of the tube 1a to enlarge a contact area of ambient air. To achieve this, the turn-fins 1a are folded with an appropriate width and wound in the spiral shape adhesively around the outer peripheral surface of the tube 1a.
When the turn-fins 1b are adhesively wound around the tube 1a as described above, the turn-fins 1b can be more tightly adhered to the tube 1a, if necessary, by a brazing process to enhance thermal transfer efficiency.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a bending type condenser using the general turn-fin tube 1, in which the turn-fin tube 1 is primarily bent with a zigzag shape and then the primarily bent turn-fin tube is secondarily bent for the tube to overlap with itself up and down.
The turn-fin tube 1 is fixed by upper and lower brackets 2a and 2b and provided with a motor 4 at the rear side thereof. The motor 4 connects with a blowing fan 5 for taking ambient air between the outer surfaces of the turn-fin tube 1.
The turn-fin tube 1 is attached with a shield cover 6 at the front side of the turn-fin tubes 1. The shield cover 6 shields the rear side of the turn-fin tubes 1, thereby increasing a blowing pressure. Thus, ambient air is taken between the sides of the turn-fin tube 1 with a strong pressure and flows out of the rear side of the tube 1 provided with the blowing fan 5 after passing through the inside of the condenser.
However, there are problems in that since the bending type condenser is manufactured by bending the turn-fin tube 1 twice in order of the primary bending and the secondary bending, the manufacturing process is complicated, and that since both the motor 4 and the blowing fan 5 provided for air to pass between the turn-fin tubes 1 are protruded outwardly, a large mounting space is required.
Further, when ambient air taken by the blowing fan 5 passes through the outer surfaces of the turn-fin tube 1, air has a large contact area with the turn-fins 1b by the turn-fin tube 1 bent forward and rearward as well as up and down, but due to the air resistance of the overlapped structure having many folds, a reduced quantity of ambient air contacts the turn-fin 1b, thereby reducing the thermal exchange efficiency.


A method of washing an upflow filter between service runs employs a filter bed having a non-buoyant particulate filter layer through which influent to be filtered is directed in an upward direction, and through which liquid employed in the washing operation is directed in an upflow direction. A two-stage washing operation includes the steps of first directing a combination of air and liquid in an upflow direction through the filter layer with the velocity of the liquid being less than the minimum fluidization velocity of the filter layer, for disrupting only some floc retained in the filter layer during a previous service run, and thereafter directing only liquid in an upflow direction through the filter layer at a velocity less than the minimum fluidization velocity of the filter layer for removing disrupted floc from the filter layer while leaving some floc attached to said particulate media of the filter layer. The process most preferably is carried out with a filter bed including a coarse, particulate media flocculation layer for distributing the flow of influent and promoting flocculation.

Many different methods have been employed to backwash conventional downflow filters. In most of these methods the backwashing operation is carried out employing clean, filtered wash water in a direction counter to the direction of influent flow during the filtering or service runs.
Probably the most commonly accepted practice for backwashing a granular filter bed in a gravity filter is to supply a fluidizing flow of clean, filtered water in an upflow direction to expand the bed and carry away floc and particulate matter which has been collected in the bed during a previous service run. This washing method is often accompanied by a surface wash with rotary or fixed jets of water. In these prior art techniques it has been recognized that the velocity of the backwashing liquid should be sufficient to expand or fluidize the bed to provide adequate cleaning between service runs.
The prior art also suggests the use of air scouring to augment the cleaning of a filter bed. One such method employs simultaneous air and water flow at rates which are sufficiently high to fluidize the bed. These techniques often result in excessive media loss, resulting from the carrying away of media along with the floc during the backwashing operation.
One prior art technique of utilizing air scouring while minimizing media loss employs a two-stage process. In the first stage air scour alone is applied with no upflow of water in order to agitate and loosen the floc collected in the bed. During the second stage an upflow of water is provided at a sufficiently high rate to fluidize the entire bed, and thereby carry away the loosened floc and debris.
Another prior art technique, which is probably the least commercially applied in the United States, employs the combination of an air scour and a non-fluidizing upflow of water as the sole means to carry out the backwashing operation. Under optimum flow conditions there is an observable formation and collapse of air pockets, and the concomitant local movement of media, yielding maximum particle-to-particle collision and floc disruption with minimum media loss. This condition occurs when the velocity of the air and of the upflow water approximately fulfills the following relation developed by Amirtharajah, et.al.: ##EQU1## wherein "V" is the velocity of backwash liquid; V.sub.mf is the minimum fluidization velocity and Q.sub.a is the air scour rate in standard cubic feet per minute/sq.ft.
This system of employing an air scour and a non-fluidizing flow of water has been used primarily in European conventional downflow filter systems, in which the direction of water flow is reversed for cleaning, and the washing liquid is filtered or clean water. This latter system is operated for a sufficient length of time to completely clean the filter bed, as is evidenced by the clarity of the wash water and the return of the bed to substantially the clean filter bed headloss. Moreover, this approach has been practiced in European conventional downflow filters wherein the filter media is fine (i.e., having an effective size equal to a fraction of a millimeter). In the U.S., this approach has been primarily limited to wastewater applications with coarse media having an effective size greater than one millimeter wherein the incoming influent has a very high solids content and turbidities substantially in excess of 100 nephelometric turbidity units, (NTU). Moreover, in wastewater filtration, the washing liquid is filtered water.
Yet another known method for washing an upflow clarifier or roughing filter is employed in the Microfloc Trident system, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,286. This latter system employs a clarifier section that relies upon the use of a filter bed of buoyant (specific gravity less than 1), synthetic media, followed by a conventional downflow filter employing a non-buoyant media bed. The buoyant filter bed is cleaned between service runs by injecting air into the influent to cause the buoyant bed to fluidize and expand downwardly to release floc particles from the bed. Thereafter the injecting of air into the influent can be discontinued, and the continuous upward flow of influent continued to flush out the loosened floc from the bed. Although the '286 patent discloses only partially cleaning the filter bed between service runs, it discloses complete cleaning every fifth cleaning and it accomplishes this result in a bed of relatively expensive, and somewhat difficult to handle synthetic buoyant particles.

Systems and methods for clarifying liquids


A light-emitting device (10) includes a plurality of light-emitting areas (10a, 10b and 10c), and each of the light-emitting areas (10a, 10b and 10c) includes a first light-emitting block (3) and a second light-emitting block (4). Each respective first light-emitting blocks (3) include a plurality of first light-emitting elements (A1, A2, or A3), which are connected in series, and each respective second light-emitting blocks (4) include a plurality of second light-emitting elements (B1, B2, or B3), which are connected in series. The number of first light-emitting elements in each respective first light-emitting blocks (3) is the same with one another of the first light-emitting blocks (3), and the number of second light-emitting elements in each respective second light-emitting blocks (4) is the same with one another of the second light-emitting blocks (4).

In recent years, light-emitting diode elements (referred to as LED elements) have widely been used for a backlight of a color display, illumination or the like, because the LED elements are semi-conductor light-emitting elements and have a long service life and excellent driving characteristic, and further have a high light-emitting efficiency and bright light-emitting color.
In particular, recently, there are widely adopted light-emitting devices including LED elements that are electrically connected in series and driven by the voltage rectified from the AC voltage. The number of LED elements connected in series are switched, depending on a voltage level or current level of the voltage that is rectified from the AC voltage of an AC power source.
As a method for utilization of an illumination device, if a plurality of LED elements are connected in series, because a combination of LED elements has flexibility and a degree of freedom in shape, it is proposed to use the combination for an advertisement or decoration by deforming the combination (for reference, see PTL 1).
A conventional light-emitting device as disclosed in PTL 1 is described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.
The conventional light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting blocks C1 to C7. Each of the light-emitting blocks includes two to four LED elements which are connected in series. The light-emitting blocks C1 to C7 are arranged in any shape to display a character and so on.
An object of the conventional light-emitting device is to display information, such as a character, a sign in an advertisement and a decoration, by properly arranging a plurality of light-emitting blocks. The conventional light-emitting device discloses a structure with a changeable length of connecting light-emitting blocks that are connectable to a standard light-emitting block. However, it does not disclose a light-emitting area including a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element to be lit separately or together in accordance with a voltage value change due to an alternate current, a drive condition, light-emitting intensity and so on of the light-emitting blocks are not at all disclosed.


According to an aspect of a program method of a nonvolatile memory device, a first program operation for programming a first data stored in a first latch may be performed and a cache program signal may be input for inputting a second data to be programmed subsequently. When the cache program signal is input, a determination is made as to whether a first program verify operation is being performed, and if so, the verify operation is stopped, the second data is input, and the first program verify operation is restarted.

The present invention relates to an operation of a nonvolatile memory device and, more particularly, to a program method of a nonvolatile memory device, which can prevent collision between a cache program and an intelligent verify method.
Flash memory, i.e., nonvolatile memory is generally classified into NAND flash memory and NOR flash memory. NOR flash memory has a structure in which respective memory cells are connected to bit lines and word lines independently and therefore has an excellent random access time characteristic, whereas NAND flash memory has a structure in which a plurality of memory cells is connected in series and only one contact is required on a per cell-string basis and is therefore excellent in the degree of integration. Thus, the NAND structure is usually used in high-integrated flash memory.
A well-known NAND flash memory device includes a memory cell array, a row decoder, and a page buffer. The memory cell array is comprised of a plurality of word lines extending in rows, a plurality of bit lines extending in columns, and a plurality of cell strings, each corresponding to the bit lines.
A flash memory device employs a cache program scheme in order to increase the program speed. The cache program scheme is a method of receiving data to be programmed next time while a program is being performed, storing the received data in a latch of a page buffer, which is not used, and continuously programming the stored data after the program is completed.
If the cache program is performed, the data input speed can be increased since data to be programmed next time is received while a program is being performed. Further, the address input time can also be saved since a block address input when a program command is first issued is used without change and only column address information for a next program is input.
Cache data for the cache program is input to a cache latch of a page buffer. At this time, if cache data is already used before being input, data can be overlapped, resulting in operational error.
That is, if cache data is input to a cache latch while an operation such as an intelligent verify operation is being executed, data stored in the cache latch can be overlapped.
The intelligent verify operation is one of methods for programming data into a flash memory device and verifying the data. According to this method, if the entire bits are not passed and a preset number of fails occurs, a corresponding program is determined as program pass. In the intelligent verify method, fail bits can be modified through error correction, etc.
In general, when the intelligent verify method is performed, data of a main latch is transferred to a cache latch and a verify operation using the cache latch is performed.
Accordingly, while the intelligent verify method is being performed, data of the main latch is stored in the cache latch. At this time, if cache data for a cache program is input, the cache data can be input to the cache latch overlappingly with the stored data.

Program method of nonvolatile memory device


An electrode configuration and its method of manufacture. The electrode includes a pad of material having a first end, an opposite second end, a top surface and a conductive bottom surface. At least one fold line is provided in the pad of material between the first end and the second end. The pad of material is folded over along the fold lines to create a folded form. The folded form has a flap element that extends from one of the folds to the second end of the pad of material. The flap element enables a clip to attach to the pad of material without peeling the remainder of the pad of material from a person's skin.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to electrodes that are placed on the skin of a patient. More particularly, the present invention relates to the physical structure of such electrodes and the methods used to manufacture such electrodes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many types of medical equipment that gather and process electrical signals generated from within a patient's body. For instance, an electrocardiogram instrument detects electrical nerve impulses generated by the heart. Those detected impulses are then converted into a graphical representation so that the heart's nerve impulses can be viewed and analyzed by a doctor. Many other pieces of medical equipment exist that detect electrical impulses from other organs of the body, such as the brain, lungs and uterus.
In order for a piece of medical equipment to detect an electrical impulse from within the human body, some type of electrical lead must be attached between the medical equipment and the body. The electrical lead must mechanically attach to the body so that an electrical impulse generated within the body can be transmitted into the electrical lead and back to the medical equipment.
There are many types of electrical lead terminations that engage a patient's body and receive electrical impulses. Some of these prior art terminations are intrusive, in that they have an electrode lead that penetrates the skin or is introduced within an orifice of the body. However, for many types of medical testing, such as electrocardiograms, passive termination electrodes are used. A passive termination electrode is typically formed as a conductive pad. The conductive pad is glued, strapped or taped to the skin. The passive termination electrode detects electrical impulses through the skin without having to penetrate the skin. Such prior art passive termination electrodes are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,548 to Riazzi, entitled Biomedical Electrode Having A Secured One-Piece Conductive Terminal.
Passive termination electrodes that attach to the skin come in a wide assortment of sizes and configurations depending upon the intended application of the termination electrode. In many instances, the medical equipment that is connected to the termination electrodes, utilize wires with end clips. When such wires are used, the edge of the termination electrode is peeled up so that the end clip of the wire can clip onto the termination electrode. The weight of the end clip acts to peel the termination electrode away from the skin.
In many medical testing or monitoring procedures, multiple termination electrodes are attached to a patient's body. For instance, during an electrocardiogram, ten termination electrodes are commonly attached to a patient's chest and limbs. The positions of where the termination electrodes attach to the body are very specific. In order to obtain accurate data, each termination electrode must be attached to the body correctly and maintain proper contact to the skin throughout the duration of the test. However, during any test, it is unlikely that a patient will remain perfectly still. Rather, patents will move to some degree. As the patient moves, the raised edges of the termination electrodes tend to peel away from the skin. This is especially true if the termination electrode rubs against clothing or another part of the body as the patient moves.
Prior art termination electrodes are attached to the body and are then lifted along an edge to attach a wire with an end clip. During the course of testing, the raised edges of the termination electrodes tend to twist and peel away from the skin. This creates poor contact between the electrode and the skin, which leads to test failures.
A need therefore exists for an improved passive termination electrode that enables a wire with a clip termination to attach to the termination electrode without the need of partially peeling up any edge of the termination electrode. This need is met by the present invention device as it is described and claimed below.

Unitary biomedical electrode having an attachment flap and its associated method of manufacture


Disclosed herein is a process for producing a high strength aluminum-based alloy powder comprising mixing Al or Al alloy powder with an Al--T--X alloy powder, wherein T is at least one selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, W, Ca, Li, Mg and Si; X is at least one selected from the group consisting of Y, Nb, Hf, Ta, La, Ce, Sm, Nd, Zr and Ti or Mm; and mechanically alloying the formed powder mixture. The aluminum-based alloy powder is excellent in workability and reliability by virtue of its high strength stability in the temperature range of from room temperature to an elevated temperature, its excellent ductility in the same temperature range and its low thermal expansion coefficient in the same temperature range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a high strength Al-based alloy powder having excellent heat resistance. More particularly, it pertains to a process for producing an Al-based alloy powder which is produced by mechanical alloying (the MA method).
2. Description of the Prior Art An Al-based alloy having high strength and high heat resistance has heretofore been produced by the liquid quenching method. In particular, an Al-based alloy having the above-mentioned composition is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-275732. The Al-based alloy obtained by the liquid quenching method has an amorphous or fine crystalline structure and is an excellent alloy having high strength, high heat resistance and high corrosion resistance. There is also disclosed therein that the aforesaid alloy is obtained by direct mechanical alloying (MA method).
The Al-based alloy which is produced by the liquid quenching method or the mechanical alloying method as disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-275732 is an excellent alloy exhibiting high strength, high heat resistance and high corrosion resistance but still leaves some room for improvement with respect to strength, thermal expansion coefficient and ductility in the temperature range of from room temperature to an elevated temperature. These properties are particularly important in the case where the alloy powders obtained are compacted and made into a consolidated material by the use of existing powder metallurgical techniques.

Process for producing high strength aluminum-based alloy powder


In a method for determination of a surge limit warning (W) for a turbocompressor, or a warning of blade damage, at least two measurement signals (p1, p2; {tilde over (p)}1, {tilde over (p)}2), are determined, a periodicity value (W1; {tilde over (W)}1) is calculated from at least one of the measurement signals (p1, p2; {tilde over (p)}1, {tilde over (p)}2), indicating a measure for the occurrence of periodic signal level changes in the at least one measurement signal (p1, p2; {tilde over (p)}1, {tilde over (p)}2) for a predetermined first time offset (t1), a correlation value (W2; {tilde over (W)}2) is calculated from the at least two measurement signals (p1, p2; {tilde over (p)}1, {tilde over (p)}2), indicating a measure for the similarity of the at least two measurement signals (p1, p2; {tilde over (p)}1, {tilde over (p)}2) to one another for a predetermined second time offset (t2), and the surge limit warning (W) or the warning of blade damage (W) is determined from the periodicity value (W1; {tilde over (W)}1) and the correlation value (W2; {tilde over (W)}2). A method for operation of a gas turbine or of a turbomachine as well as a turbocompressor and a gas turbine have corresponding features.

The invention relates in general to the field of turbocompressors, such as are used in gas turbines (in particular as aircraft engines), for energy generation or in the chemical industry. In particular the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for timely identifying an incipient compressor surge during operation of a turbocompressor so that suitable countermeasures can be taken. The invention also relates to blade damage to a rotor of a turbomachine, such as a steam turbine or gas turbine. The gas turbine may be an aircraft engine or a stationary gas turbine, which have rotors in both the compressor and the turbine.
Turbocompressors generally have a stability limit which is dependent on their power characteristic. If this stability limit is inadvertently exceeded during operation of the turbocompressor (for example as a result of inlet disturbance, temperature changes or dirt), then severe non-stationary disturbances occur (rotating separation, surging), which can rapidly lead to destruction of the machine. When designing the turbocompressor, it is therefore normal to provide a sufficient margin between the operating line and the stability limit, with all disturbances which could reduce the surge limit margin being taken into account as the safety margin. However, a fixed safety margin such as this results in a considerable loss of operating range for the compressor with good efficiency.
In order to further improve the efficiency and/or the power density in modern designs, investigations have been carried out to determine how turbocompressors can be operated safely close to the stability limit. When an incipient surge occurs (when a predetermined minimum surge limit margin is infringed), it is known that the operating line of the compressor can fall rapidly, or the surge limit can be shifted. This may occur, for example, as a result of a blow-off valve being opened and/or as a result of adjustment of guide vanes, and/or as a result of a reduction in the fuel supply. Various approaches have been adopted in order to determine that the surge limit is being approached.
German Patent Document DE 693 25 375 T2 discloses a method for monitoring and controlling a compressor, in which pressure fluctuations within a compressor stage are measured, and their frequency components are analyzed. If at least one characteristic spike occurs in a frequency range which is dependent on the rotation speed and the number of blades, a warning signal is produced as a function of the shape of the at least one spike which has occurred. The warning signal may be used for closed-loop and open-loop control purposes, in order to avoid the incipient critical state by, for example, reducing the load or reducing the fuel injection rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,306 B1 discloses a control system for preventing flow separation in a turbocompressor. A mean value for the square of the amplitude of a relevant frequency range is calculated from a measurement signal that is determined by a pressure sensor. The mean value is normalized and compared with a threshold value. If the threshold value has been exceeded, either a blow-off valve is opened or the guide vane position is changed.
German Patent Document DE 694 11 950 T2 discloses a method for identification of a surging, in which the engine exhaust gas temperature and the engine compressor rotation speed are evaluated.
There is a need to further improve the known methods in terms of their reliability and/or the complexity required for sensor systems and signal processing.
One object of the invention is accordingly to provide a method for reliably identifying an incipient surging in a turbocompressor in good time, such that suitable measures can still be taken in order to avoid surging.
A further object of the invention aim is to identify blade damage to a rotor of a turbomachine as early as possible.
Another object of the preferred embodiments of the invention is to achieve this aim with as few additional sensors as possible, that is to say with as few sensors as possible which are not already provided in any case for the turbocompressor. Finally, still a further object of the preferred embodiments of the invention is to avoid complex computation operations, in order to achieve a rapid reaction rate (data processing in real time) with relatively little computation power.
According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a method for determination of a warning, by a method for operation of a gas turbine or of a turbomachine, by a turbocompressor and by a gas turbine as described herein.
The invention is based on the fundamental idea of identifying revolving disturbances which occur as the compressor stability limit is approached. In experiments in which the compressor was slowly choked as far as the surge limit, revolving disturbances such as these could be observed as a primary factor in the compressor instability. The speed of revolution in the annular space of the compressor is dependent on the compressor and, in some circumstances, also on the rotation speed. The disturbances may be both long-wave (modal) and short-wave (in the form of so-called spikes).
According to the invention, a combined criterion is provided for the warning. This criterion is composed firstly of a secondary criterion that the characteristic, periodic disturbance patterns occur considerably in the measurement signal of a temperature, pressure or flow velocity sensor, and secondly from the secondary criterion that the measurement signal from the first sensor is correlated with the measurement signal from a second sensor, which is arranged offset with respect to the first sensor in the circumferential direction of the turbocompressor or of the turbomachine. Further temperature, pressure or flow velocity sensors may be provided. The warning is produced as a function of the extent to which these two secondary criteria are satisfied.
The invention provides reliable early identification of surging and blade damage based on the identification of the stated characteristic signal structures, which occur when the operating point approaches the surge limit and in the event of blade damage. The instrumental complexity is low because the at least two sensors which are required are either already present for other reasons in normal compressors, or they can at least be added without difficulties. The computation complexity for determination of the two secondary criteria mentioned above is not particularly great either, in particular because no complex frequency analyses are required. The invention allows a rapid-response surge limit warning or a warning of blade damage to be emitted with relatively little computation power.
In the wording used in the present document, the expression "surging" should be regarded in the widest sense and, in addition to actual surging, also covers rotating flow separation (rotating stalling) in the compressor. The expression "surge limit warning" should accordingly be regarded as any warning signal providing information about incipient flow separation or surging in the compressor.
The at least two temperature, pressure or flow velocity sensors provided according to the invention are arranged offset with respect to one another in the circumferential direction of the turbocompressor or of the turbomachine. They may have a circumferential separation of 180° or else less, for example 90°, 60°, 45° or 30°. Even if more than two temperature, pressure or flow velocity sensors are provided, they do not necessarily need to be arranged with a standard circumferential separation. The at least two sensors are preferably located on a common axial plane of the turbocompressor or of the turbomachine. This may, for example, be the plane in front of the first rotor; however, other planes are likewise possible.
The at least two measurement signals determined according to the invention correspond to the output signals from in each case one of the temperature, pressure or flow velocity sensors. The expression "correspond" does not necessarily mean that they are identical; in fact, the output signal from a sensor may, for example, be scaled (multiplied by a constant or a variable factor) or shifted (added to a constant or variable value, for example in order to remove the mean value) or inverted (multiplied by −1 or formation of the reciprocal), in order to obtain the appropriate measurement signal from it. Furthermore, the measurement signals are preferably digital value sequences, which have been obtained by analog/digital conversion (and possibly further processing steps) from the analog sensor output signals.
According to the invention, a first time offset and a second time offset, respectively, are used for determination of the periodicity value and of the correlation value. In different embodiments of the invention, the first and/or the second time offset are constant (possibly as a function of the compressor type) or are dependent on the respective speed of revolution or other parameters (for example the compressor pressure). The invention is also not restricted to calculation of in each case only one periodicity value and correlation value; in fact, embodiments are also envisaged in which two or more of these values are always calculated and evaluated (typically with different time-offset values or for different measurement signals).
The steps in the method according to the invention are preferably carried out by a programmable device, for example a digital signal processor (DSP). However, implementations are also feasible with hard-wired digital logic or analog implementations. The sequence in which the method steps are enumerated in the claims should not be regarded as any restriction; in fact, these method steps may also be carried out in a different sequence, or entirely or partially in parallel or semi-parallel (interleaved with one another).
In preferred embodiments, the warning is emitted when the product of the periodicity value and of the correlation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In other embodiments, rather than forming the product, a different function is used which links the two stated values such that large periodic signal changes and/or a high signal correlation lead to the warning being emitted. The threshold value calculation can in further embodiments be carried out independently for the two values, with the warning preferably being emitted only when both threshold values are exceeded.
In order to calculate the periodicity value and/or the correlation value, the required measurement signals are preferably evaluated using a sliding window with a predetermined (fixed or dependent on the measurement values) window width. The window width governs the required computation complexity and can therefore also be varied depending on the available computation power. The sampling frequency for the sensors and for signal evaluation is in the order of magnitude of 1 kHz to 2 kHz in preferred refinements.
Provision is preferably made for the periodicity value to be calculated as the average value (scaled or not scaled) of the square error between in each case two measurement points, which are shifted by the first time offset with respect to one another, of one of the measurement signals. The evaluated measurement signal is in some embodiments previously subjected to removal of the mean value. In alternative embodiments, the magnitude difference or the cube of the magnitude difference is formed instead of the square error. A pure addition formation process may also be carried out, instead of calculation of the mean value, in alternative embodiments (particularly when the window width and/or the first time offset are/is constant). Overall, the periodicity value is intended to indicate the extent to which structures with strong periodic signal changes occur in the measurement signal.
In order to calculate the correlation value, the mean value of the product of in each case two measurement points, which are offset by the second time offset with respect to one another, of two different measurement signals is calculated in preferred embodiments. In this case as well, an addition process may be carried out in alternative embodiments rather than formation of the mean value, and a different function may be used rather than the product calculation. Overall, the correlation value is intended to indicate how accurately the two measurement signals under consideration match when they are shifted through the second time offset with respect to one another.
In some embodiments of the invention, the warning that is determined is just indicated to a pilot or to some other operator. Preferably, however, an operating parameter of the turbocompressor is changed in reaction to the surge limit warning in a method step which takes place automatically, in order to avoid a compressor surge. For example, a blow-off valve may be opened, or the stator blades of the turbocompressor may be adjusted.
If the turbocompressor is a component of a gas turbine, then the flow can also be stabilized when proximity to the surge limit is identified by thrust nozzle adjustment, blowing in or out, variable guide vane adjustment or fuel modulation, before the compressor becomes aerodynamically unstable.
The stated measures mean that it is possible to operate the gas turbine (for example the aircraft engine) closer to the surge limit in many operating conditions than would be possible with a static surge limit margin. This leads to improved efficiency and to improved fuel consumption characteristics (lower thrust-specific fuel consumption SFC). Even if this option is not exhausted, the operational reliability of the gas turbine is improved because disturbances which would lead to instability without regulation are identified in advance, and are overcome by increasing the surge limit margin in a controlled manner.
When a gas turbine (in particular an aircraft engine) is being newly developed using the invention, the improvements which can be achieved by the invention may be taken into account in order to design the new development for a higher turbine stage load, if required, and/or to optimize the required surge limit margin as a function of the requirement.
In preferred refinements, the turbomachine, the turbocompressor and the gas turbine are developed with features which correspond to the features described above or to the features mentioned in the dependent method claims.

Warning before pump limit or in case of blade failure on a turbomachine


A laser marking apparatus and method for marking the surface of a singulated article such as a semiconductor chip are described herein. Semiconductor chips are fed along inclined, parallel tracks to a laser marking field where they are subsequently marked by a laser beam. As the laser beam is marking chips associated with one track, chips associated with other tracks that have already been marked are replaced by unmarked chips. In this manner, the laser is continually being used to mark semiconductor chips without having to wait for unmarked chips to move to the marking location.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a laser marking technique and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for efficiently marking the surface of a singulated article such as a packaged semiconductor device using a laser, wherein the laser is substantially continually in use.
2. State of the Art
As the production rates of semiconductor devices (frequently referred to as "chips"), including packaged die, have increased, manufacturers of chips have searched for ways to quickly and efficiently mark their product. Typically, finished semiconductor devices are marked with the company name, a part or serial number, or other information such as lot number. As production rates continue to increase, however, current marking techniques may not efficiently meet the demand.
Typical conventional marking methods utilize a mechanical ink transferring device to stamp each individual semiconductor device or, at best, a pair of devices. Such an ink stamping apparatus is capable of marking approximately 2,500 semiconductor devices per hour or, if paired for marking, 5,000 per hour. These figures, while impressive, still present a significant bottleneck in the production cycle. In addition, ink stamping methods add an inherent lag time to the production cycle before product is shipped because of additional set-up time to achieve a good quality mark and additional cure time associated with ink drying. Moreover, mold release materials (such as carnuba wax or silicon) may cause the ink to not adhere to the plastic or ceramic package.
Manufacturing processes using such an ink stamping method generally include the ink stamping step just after post-encapsulation processing (if the package is to be marked) to allow for an extended (48 hour) drying or cure time without affecting the production rate. Such early marking may result, however, in the marking of chips which are later proven defective in a post-encapsulation burn-in cycle. Even if chips are ink-stamped at the end of the production cycle, curing (even if by UV rather than heat-induced) is necessary as a last step.
Another problem associated with ink stamping methods is that the quality (definition, consistency) of ink stamped marks may vary substantially over time. This variation may be dependent upon the pressure (force) applied by the stamp, the quantity of ink applied, variations in ink pigment and carrier (solvent) content, ambient temperature and humidity, and/or the condition (wear, ink residue) of the surface of the stamp. In any event, the character of a stamped mark may vary widely from chip to chip. Moreover, volatile solvents may present ventilation problems in a cleanroom environment.
As a result of the deficiencies associated with ink stamping, it has become increasingly popular to use a laser beam to mark the surface of a chip package. Unlike ink stamping, laser marking is fast, requires no curing time, and produces a consistently high-quality mark with minimal set-up time. In laser marking apparatuses, the laser beam basically burns a mark into the surface of the article of manufacture to produce a permanent mark, in contrast to inked marks, which may smear, degrade, fade or wear off. In the case of a packaged chip, the laser marking creates a different reflectivity from the rest of the package surface. Thus, by holding the chip at an angle to a light source, the information inscribed on the chip by the laser can easily be read.
Various machines and methods have been developed for marking a chip or other article of manufacture with a laser. As illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,077 to Tsuruta, a plurality of semiconductor devices is placed in a tubular holder and transported by a coextensive group of conveyor belts to a laser for marking. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,144 to Latta, Jr., electronic parts in the form of strips of lead frame supported components are conveyed to a laser marking station in magazines, unloaded, laser marked, and then reloaded into magazines. Likewise in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,025 to Carlson, a strip of electronic components is conveyed by drive wheels to and from a position where a laser beam inscribes various characters or other information on the component surfaces. None of the above-mentioned references, however, disclose conveying articles of manufacture along multiple, separate paths so that a single laser can be marking articles on one path while articles are moved into marking position along another path. Thus, the lasers in the above-mentioned documents are inactive for substantial periods while awaiting articles of manufacture to be moved into the marking position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,542 to Mills et al. discloses a laser marking apparatus for marking a cable. The apparatus sequentially moves laterally adjacent cables along a marking platen and selectively positions and operates a laterally translatable laser to mark a stationary cable portion while another cable portion is being moved. The device, however, is not capable of marking semiconductor devices or similar singulated articles of manufacture.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a marking apparatus and method thereof that efficiently utilizes the speed and accuracy of a laser to precisely and clearly mark singulated semiconductor devices. Moreover, it would be advantageous to develop a method and apparatus for marking the surface of a semiconductor device that can mark in excess of 10,000 chips per hour.

Method of efficiently laser marking singulated semiconductor devices