An exemplary fan driving system includes a driving device and a MOSFET group. The driving device includes a first adjustable resistor connected between its first voltage signal input terminal and ground, and a second adjustable resistor connected between its second voltage signal input terminal and ground. The MOSFET group includes two N-type MOSFETs and two P-type MOSFETs. The first terminal of the fan is connected to an anode of D1 and a cathode of D3. The second terminal of the fan is connected to an anode of D2 and a cathode of D4. Cathodes of the D1 and D2 are configured to connect a supply voltage. Anodes of the D3 and D4 both are grounded. The fan driving system can effectively discharge off the residual current in the coil of the fan at the moment of the MOSFET group being switched off.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to electrical driving systems and driving current switching in such driving systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Referring to FIG. 10, this shows a conventional fan driving system 10 adapted to drive a fan 101. The driving system 10 and fan 101 are used in a computer. The fan driving system 10 includes a driving device 11 and a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) group 12. The MOSFET group 12 includes a first MOSFET (i.e., MOSFET1), a second MOSFET (i.e., MOSFET2), a third MOSFET (i.e., MOSFET3), and a fourth MOSFET (i.e., MOSFET4). The driving device 11 is configured for receiving a set of Hall sensing signals N+ and N− from a Hall sensor (not shown) of the fan 101, and outputting a first driving signal VG1, a second driving signal VG2, a third driving signal VG3, and a fourth driving signal VG4 respectively to a gate G1 of the first MOSFET, a gate G2 of the second MOSFET, a gate G3 of the third MOSFET, and a gate G4 of the fourth MOSFET. Thereby, the MOSFETs in each pair of coupled MOSFETs of the MOSFET group 12 are selectably switched on simultaneously. That is, the first MOSFET and the fourth MOSFET are selectably switched on simultaneously, or the second MOSFET and the third MOSFET are selectably switched on simultaneously. Referring also to FIG. 11, after the first MOSFET with the fourth MOSFET are switched on and thereby enabled, a driving current If flows through the fan 101 via an electrical loop constituted by the driving device 11, the first MOSFET and the fourth MOSFET. Referring also to FIG. 12, the second MOSFET and the third MOSFET are then switch on and thereby enabled, and another driving current Ib flows through the fan 101 via an electrical loop constituted by the driving device 11, the second MOSFET and the third MOSFET. The driving current Ib flows in a direction opposite to the direction in which the driving current If flows. The driving currents If and Ib alternately flow through the fan 101, thereby driving the fan 101 to rotate.
A rotational speed of the fan 101 is determined by the levels of the driving currents If and Ib. In particular, the higher the levels of the driving currents If and Ib, the faster the rotational speed of the fan 101. However, the relationship between the levels of the driving currents If and Ib and the rotational speed is non-linear. Therefore, in order to control the rotational speed of the fan 101, it is necessary to appropriately regulate the levels of the driving currents If and Ib. A conventional mode for regulating the driving currents If and Ib is a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) driving mode, wherein the rotational speed of the fan 101 can be regulated by simply controlling a pulse width of the PWM waves corresponding to the driving currents If and Ib.
A noise usually is generated while the fan 101 rotates, due to the low switching frequency between the driving currents If and Ib. Accordingly, in order to suppress the generation of noise, one approach is to set the switching frequency between the driving currents If and Ib to be higher than 25 kilohertz (KHz).
Typically, during the process of switching the driving currents If and Ib, a residual current stored in a coil of the fan 101 cannot be fully discharged in time. This is due to all of the first MOSFET, the second MOSFET, the third MOSFET and the fourth MOSFET being switched off. Therefore, at the moment of switching, a peak voltage in the coil of the fan 101 is excessively high. This is liable to result in the fan driving system 10 being damaged and disabled.
What is needed, therefore, is a fan driving system for a fan which can overcome the above-described shortcomings.

Fan driving system with safe driving current switching


A deposition system includes a vacuum reaction chamber with a substrate holder positioned in it. The substrate holder is for carrying a substrate therein. A sputtering apparatus is also positioned in the vacuum reaction chamber. The sputtering apparatus is configured to direct sputtered material towards the substrate to form a sputtered material region thereon. A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) apparatus is positioned in the vacuum reaction chamber. The PECVD apparatus is configured to deposit a PECVD material region thereon the substrate. The first PECVD apparatus includes a first PECVD electrode movable from a first position towards the substrate and a second position away from the substrate.

The use of lead salt materials, such as lead sulfide (PbS), lead selenide (PbSe), and lead telluride (PbTe), in photoconductive and photovoltaic applications is well known in the art. Lead salt materials have band gap energies which allow the absorption of radiation in the infrared spectrum. In photoconductive applications, the absorption of infrared radiation by the lead salt material provides a change in its conductivity. The change in the conductivity can be sensed by sensing a current flowing therethrough. In this way, the lead salt material can be used to sense incident radiation. In photovoltaic applications, the absorption of infrared radiation in the lead salt material provides a potential difference. The potential difference can be used to provide electrical power. Accordingly, lead salt materials can be used in optoelectronic devices such as infrared photodetectors, solar cells, and thermoelectric devices, among others.
Typically, lead salt materials are deposited on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate, by evaporation or chemical bath deposition. However, these deposition methods have several problems. One problem is that the deposited lead salt material may not adhere to the substrate properly. This is particularly a problem if the substrate is silicon. If the lead salt material does not adhere properly, then the yield of devices is low, which increases the costs.
Another problem is that it is difficult to control the composition of the deposited lead salt material. As a result, the composition of the lead salt material tends to be different from one deposition to another. This is further complicated because the composition can undesirably change with time after it is deposited and exposed to the outside atmosphere. The electrical and/or optical properties of the lead salt material depends on the composition, so if the composition changes then these will too.
A further problem is that it is typically desired to sensitize the lead salt material. After it is sensitized, the lead salt material is sensitive to incident IR radiation at higher temperatures, such as room temperature. Sensitization is usually done by exposing the lead salt material to oxygen. The sensitization can be characterized by measuring the resistivity of the lead salt material. However, the sensitization of lead salt material regions using conventional methods often leads to undesirable differences in resistivity from one lead salt material region to another.
These problems limit the usefulness of any devices formed with lead salt materials fabricated using conventional deposition systems and methods. Hence, there is a need for better systems and methods for depositing lead salt material regions onto substrates.

Formation of photoconductive and photovoltaic films


Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for instruction perturbation for improved device security are described. A device may assign a set of executable instructions to an instruction packet based on a parameter associated with the instruction packet, and each executable instruction of the set of executable instructions may be independent from other executable instructions of the set of executable instructions. The device may select an order of the set of executable instructions based on a slot instruction rule associated with the device, and each executable instruction of the set of executable instructions may correspond to a respective slot associated with memory of the device. The device may modify the order of the set of executable instructions in a memory hierarchy post pre-decode based on the slot instruction rule and process the set of executable instructions of the instruction packet based on the modified order.

The following relates to instruction processing, including techniques for instruction perturbation for improved device security.
Some systems may be widely deployed to provide various types of content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of processing, storage, generation, manipulation and rendition of information. Examples of such systems may include entertainment systems, information systems, virtual reality systems, model and simulation systems, and so on. These systems may employ a combination of hardware and software technologies to support processing, storage, generation, manipulation and rendition of information, for example, such as capture devices, storage devices, communication networks, computer systems, and display devices. A system may include one or more devices that process executable instructions. For example, some systems may include very long instruction word (VLIW) processors supportive of a computer processing architecture in which a language compiler may divide instructions into basic operations that can be performed in parallel.

Techniques for instruction perturbation for improved device security


A deposit and withdrawal service system using Automated Teller Machine (ATM) includes a communication module configured to receive a transaction request associated with a customer's asset managed by an institution from the ATM, and transmit a processing result received from the institution in response to the transaction request to the ATM, and a statement conversion module configured to convert the transaction request received from the ATM into aggregated details data that is independent from the ATM, and convert the processing result received from the institution into statement details data corresponding to the ATM having requested the transaction. The communication module is further configured to transmit the aggregated details data to the institution, receive the processing result from the institution, and transmit the processing result to the ATM as the statement details data. According to the deposit and withdrawal service system, it is possible to standardize a task structure between the ATM operating institution and the institution, and deposit and withdraw the customer's points or loans managed by the institution such as a Fintech institution or a card company via the ATM through a relaying function provided by the deposit and withdrawal service system.

Recently, in the emerging era of Fintech, the technical and social infrastructure enables businessmen other than financial institutions such as banks to provide users with financial services combined with information communication technology, for example, a simple settlement service, introducing the new paradigm for financial markets.
The existing financial institutions are increasing their investment to platforms that can be used in mobile devices to attract customers in a changing environment, and offer Internet-only banks having no offline branch. However, even when customers use mobile platforms, they have to visit offline branches or use Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to deposit and withdraw real money, and Internet-only banks are impossible to directly deposit and withdraw real money due to the absence of offline branches.
ATMs are devices that allow customers of financial institutions to process cash deposits, cash withdrawals, account transfers and currency exchanges in an unmanned manner without the assistance of windows in branches, and ATM operators have made efforts on affiliation with banks or card companies. For example, Patent No. 10-0235531 discloses electronic money handling in ATM based on IC card.
However, Fintech companies yet cannot provide services in conjunction with ATMs. For Fintech companies to provide services in conjunction with ATMs, it is necessary to make agreements between Fintech institutions and ATM operating institutions about the security method and the communication method for transmitting and receiving finance related information, and the statement method including the type and format of data transmitted and received, which imposes the increased service establishment costs on Fintech businessmen. Additionally, when Fintech services are involved with a plurality of financial institutions or ATMs of a plurality of institutions, there is a burden of making agreements for each financial institution.

System and method for deposit and withdrawal service using automated teller machine and computer program for the same


The invention is based on the method for the resharpening of knives used in size-reduction machines described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,094 in which the knives remain installed in a rotatable knife carrier. With this invention the process has been further developed in so far as the cutting edges S are ground one after another respectively at one stop position of the knife carrier 8 in which the radial ray MS of the cutting circle with the direction mS of the grinding feed v at the knife cutting edges S encloses the clearance angle .phi.. So the invention offers the possibility to choose for the cutting edges any clearance angle matching the properties of the material to be flaked.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,094 describes a method and device allowing the resharpening by grinding of the cutting edges of knives fastened in cylindrical, rotatable knife carriers of size-reduction machines by means of releasable clamps without needing to demount the knives from their carriers. In this already known resharpening method, the grinding of the cutting edges occurs while the knife carrier is continuously rotating slowly and the radial grinding feed of the cutting edges is programmed according to the state of wear. For knife rims with cutting edges directed to the interior, as they are, for example, used to flake wood, this patent also already discloses a special sharpening device comprising a rotational disc for the knife rim placed on a machine frame as well as a cross-wise translatory moveable grinding unit and an adjustment device feeding evenly the knives toward the interior, over the cylindrical inner wall of the knife rim.
These proposals already offer the considerable technical and economical progress since the cumbersome, time-consuming and potentially injurious handling of the heavy knife kits is no longer necessary. Considering the frequent knife changes due to the rapid wear of the cutting edges, they allow a considerable reduction of the maintenance work for the concerned personnel and consequently also the downtime of the size-reduction machines. Furthermore the present state of wear in the areas adjacent to the cutting edges are recorded and taken into account when programming the grinding feed so that the protrusion of the cutting edge over the relevant inner surface of the knife rim which is decisive for the working process and the required final quality remains constant even after several resharpenings.
Yet the disadvantage of this sharpening method is, that, as a consequence of the constant rotation of the knife carrier during the grinding process, the face of the knife gets a contour which conforms with the cutting circle resulting inevitably in a clearance angle of zero. It must be admitted that a clearance angle of zero has proven to be effective when grinding a lot of products, but there are products having properties, e.g., density and coefficient of friction, which require a specially adapted clearance angle. That is the case for example for some wood species having a high density and/or a high coefficient of friction due to their high content of resin. Here a clearance angle of zero will cause too much generation of heat during the flaking process.

Method and device for resharpening knives used in size-reduction machines, especially in wood flaking machines


Embodiments relate to a baseband processing apparatus (200) for processing baseband signals to or from at least one remote radio head (204), the at least one remote radio head (204) serving a radio cell of a cellular communication system, the baseband processing apparatus (200) comprising: an interface (208) to connect the baseband processing apparatus (200), as a first node (200-1) of a network (300), to a further baseband processing apparatus as a second node (200-2) of the network (300); a plurality of dedicated user data processors (210; 410; 420), wherein each is operable to process user specific data of first users being associated to the radio cell, the processing of the user specific data of the first users leading to a processing load of the first node (200-1); and a load balancer (212) operable to exchange load information with a load balancer of the second node (200-2) via the interface (208) and to distribute processing tasks between the plurality of dedicated user data processors (210; 410; 420) of the first node (200-1) and/or to distribute processing tasks between plurality of dedicated user data processors (210; 410; 420) of the first node (200-1) and the second node (200-2) in response to the exchanged load information in order to distribute processing load among different nodes of the network (300).

Demands for higher data rates for mobile services are steadily increasing. At the same time modern mobile communication systems, such as 3rd Generation (3G) systems and 4th Generation (4G) systems, provide enhanced technologies which enable higher spectral efficiencies and allow for higher data rates and cell capacities. As the demand for high-rate services with increasing variance grows faster than the cell capacities, operators are urged to increase the number of cells in their networks, i.e. the density of base stations increases. Base station transceivers are major contributors to the overall power consumption of a mobile communication system or network and therewith also major contributors to the OPerational EXpenditures (OPEX) operators are facing. One power saving strategy is to move processing capacity away from the base station transceivers and towards centralized processing units providing processing capabilities for several base station transceivers. The processing equipment of a base station transceiver consumes a significant part of a base station transceiver's total power, although the processing capabilities of a base station transceiver are only fully exploited in high load conditions, which do not occur permanently, but rather during peak hours only. Different cells in radio access systems are very heterogeneous to each other in regard to their traffic load over time. This means in a cluster of cells, the different cells do not have their peak busy hour at the same time. This behavior is qualitatively shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, wherein FIG. 1a illustrates an exemplary traffic load-over-time graph 100 for a radio cell A, while FIG. 1b illustrates an exemplary traffic load-over-time graph 110 for a radio cell B. While, for example, cell A experiences its highest load around 11 a.m., cell B experiences its highest load around 11 p.m.
Currently, the Radio Access of mobile Networks (RAN) uses base stations or base station transceivers, as e.g. eNodeBs for the most recent technology LTE (Long Term Evolution); handling all radio, baseband and control functions. These base stations, in case of macro base stations, consist of voluminous antennas at elevated positions with electronic systems requiring considerable spatial installation volume. In addition, supplementary systems for power supply, air conditioning, etc. are to be installed in close proximity. In densely populated areas such installations are to be repeated over a grid of ˜1 km or less mesh width.
Much of the entire RAN's CApital EXpenditure (CAPEX) and OPEX is therefore attributed to each site's individual processing units, as for example site rent, infrastructure, processing hardware, maintenance, etc. Several approaches to cut at least a big share of these cost elements have been subject to recent research activities. Some solutions reduce emitted power and processing complexity and therewith reduce required volume, however, these solutions are at the expense of increasing the number of required sites.

Distributed load balancing in a radio access network


A vehicle for repairing a damaged road surface by filling depressions within the road surface with a filling material has, in a direction of travel, a heating and scraping unit for removing excess road surface material from the road surface. It further has a depositing device for a filling material. A first dynamic compacting device is arranged downstream of depositing device for compacting the filling material to a level higher than a level of an adjacent undamaged area of the road surface. A doctor blade unit is connected to the depositing device so as to act downstream of the first dynamic compacting device onto the filling material for removing excess filling material. The doctor blade unit pivots horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. The doctor blade unit is vertically adjustable relative to the first dynamic compacting device and the depositing device. A second dynamic compacting device is arranged downstream of the doctor blade unit.

The invention relates to a vehicle for repairing damaged road surfaces, especially of pot holes, ruts, and unevenness, by compensating (filling, coating) with a filling material such as asphalt etc., comprised of a heating and scraping unit, a depositing device for the filling material, and a dynamically acting compacting device, arranged downstream of the depositing device, for compacting the scraped material and the added filling material downstream of the depositing device to a level that is higher than the level of the neighboring undamaged road surface and with a doctor blade unit, positioned downstream of the compacting device and, in operation, reciprocating transverse to the direction of travel for removal of deposited filling material downstream of the compacting device.
A repair vehicle of this kind is described in European application 560 021.
With the known vehicle according to European application 560 021 numerous experiments have been performed which experiments showed as a result that, depending on the application, on the repaired road surface air pockets of up to 2 cm depth will result with a total volume of approximately 3 to 5% and, therefore, non-reproducible compacting results are obtained.
The term "air pockets" refers to empty space within the work surface around a solid granular component or positioned adjacent thereto in any other orientation, which results from the solid particle being rolled or dragged by the horizontally acting doctor blade unit which reciprocates in a direction transverse to the direction of travel but also moves in the direction of travel whereby the remaining empty space is not filled downstream of the doctor blade unit by known vehicles.
The test results further showed that the air pockets with increasing granular size and granular distribution within the surface to be repaired would also increase.
Such air pockets cannot always and with all applications be eliminated with subsequent compacting work, for example, with a separate compacting device, with the required quality as well as personnel-independent in a reproducible and economic manner because in a subsequent compacting step the following important conditions can not always be fulfilled;
postponement, which, especially for thin layers, results in a fast, uncontrollable temperature reduction of the bituminous material to be compacted, which, in turn, makes it questionable that the desired degree of compacting will be reached, PA1 in order to eliminate the already present air pockets during a subsequent compacting step and in order to level the road surface to be repaired with the undamaged road surface in a flush manner, an exact, metered feed of material is required which must correspond to the total volume of the air pockets. PA1 a heating and scraping unit for removing excess road surface material from the road surface; PA1 a depositing device for a filling material; PA1 a first dynamic compacting device arranged downstream of the depositing device for compacting the filling material to a level higher than a level of an adjacent undamaged area of the road surface; PA1 a doctor blade unit connected to the depositing device so as to act downstream of the first dynamic compacting device onto the filling material for removing excess filling material, the doctor blade unit reciprocate horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel; PA1 the doctor blade unit being vertically adjustable relative to the first dynamic compacting device and the depositing device; PA1 a second dynamic compacting device arranged downstream of the doctor blade unit. PA1 controlling a vertical position of the doctor blade unit such that the filling material compacted by the first compacting device is removed by the doctor blade unit only to a first level above a second level, resulting as an actual road surface level downstream of the second dynamic compacting device, that the amount of filling material, defined by the difference between the first and the second level, is sufficient to fill air pockets during compacting with the second dynamic compacting device. PA1 continuously measuring a vertical difference between the damaged road surface and the repaired road surface after compacting with the second dynamic compacting device; PA1 comparing the vertical difference to a preset nominal value to give a comparison value; PA1 adjusting the vertical position of the doctor blade unit as a function of the comparison value in order to match the vertical difference to the nominal value.
The aforementioned required conditions are not fulfillable for subsequent compacting steps and are economically not feasible.
It is an object of the invention to improve the known repair vehicle according to European application 560 021 such that with only smallest remaining air pockets a reproducible and homogenous compacting can be achieved which upon local repair of road surface damage results in a flush connection to the undamaged road surface and, in the case of new coatings of entire road surfaces, ensures a preset level and a preset layer thickness.


A hair drying curler apparatus comprises a curler body and a curler clip, whereby the curler clip is adapted to snap in place over the curler body with a damp lock of the user's hair captured therebetween. The curler body is formed such that a material having a high-surface area extends about and is bonded to an outer surface of the curler body so as to allow an ample amount of hair drying expediting material to be evenly dispersed therethrough. The curler clip is configured in a similar manner as the curler body, whereby the inner surface of the clip is lined with a material having a high-surface area for hair drying expediting material to be embedded therethrough. Additionally, the curler clip is configured so as to clip a lock of hair on the curler body, and so as to expedite the drying of the damp hair between adjacent curlers. Therefore, when the present apparatus is applied to damp hair, the hair is dried and curled simultaneously.

The setting of human and artificial hair by drying, waving, and curling is a subject which has received considerable attention for several centuries. Presently, a variety of devices and methods are available on the market for curling or setting hair permanently or temporarily. For instance, a "permanent" wave or a "perm" is obtained by chemically treating and drying locks of hair while rolled in rollers or bobbins. Such permanent waves usually last from approximately several months to one year. However, for people who desire a more temporary hairstyle or setting, a multitude of devices also are currently available. Such devices include hot rollers, steam rollers, overnight hair rollers, and curling irons and are fabricated in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials for both professional and in-the-home hair treatment.
Since the advent of such temporary hair setting devices, means have been sought for accelerating the drying of wet hair on the rollers to obtain a curl having soft and natural characteristics. In a professional salon, the acceleration of roller-supported hair is usually accomplished by a hair dryer in the form of an air circulating bonnet which forces heated air over the rolled hair. The person receiving the hair treatment in a professional hair salon is usually seated under such a dryer until the desired degree of dryness is achieved. While functioning well to dry the hair, forced air hair dryers such as that just discussed are known to be undesirably confining and uncomfortable for the user since the bonnet immobilizes its user for a considerable length of time. In a home environment, a portable hair dryer is most commonly used for accelerating the drying of hair. However, the home-use hair dryer also confines a person to a limited area of movement due to the connection of the dryer to an electrical outlet for the power supply. Hence, conventional devices for drying hair often are known to be uncomfortable, immobilizing, and time consuming.
Hair drying roller apparatuses have previously been proposed as a means for drying hair simultaneously with other treatments such as curling, waving, body building, and the like. One example of such a proposed hair drying roller apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,255 of Mitsumoto. Mitsumoto shows a hygroscopic hair curler, which comprises a curler body and a U-shaped elongated clip to retain the rolled-up wet locks of hair on the curler body. The curler is a cylindrical, spool-shaped body including a layer of hygroscopic powder, dispersed on an interior portion of the roller. A fibrous material, which covers the hygroscopic powder serves as a transmission medium for allowing moisture from the hair to permeate to the hygroscopic powder layer.
Hygroscopic materials include materials such as silica gel, calcium chloride, kaolin, and the like. During a curling operation, moist locks of hair are rolled onto the cylindrical curlers and clipped by the U-shaped clip device whereupon moisture in the hair is absorbed by the hygroscopic powder of the curler to dry the wet locks of hair. Thus, when the hair is released from the curler by unfastening the clip, the locks of hair will retain their new rolled form until the hair is moistened or washed again.
Another apparatus for drying and curling hair simultaneously is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,490 of Grossman, wherein a plurality of pellets, which comprise a hair drying expediting material, are enclosed within a cylindrical porous roller. Such pellets are held therein by two opposite and opposed end caps which fit snugly into the ends of the cylindrical roller. The pellets are comprised of a clay material mixed with an absorbent natural silicate and a binder that holds the clay and the silica together. In use, the pellets are inserted into the hair roller and held therein by the end caps. Damp locks of wet hair are wound about the outer periphery of the roller and held thereon by generic clips or hair pins. As moisture is drawn out of the hair through the porous roller, the pellets dampen, thereby causing the pellets to emit heat. After the hair has been dried and curled, the pellets are removed from the hair roller and are allowed to dry, either by exposing them to heat or by drying at room temperature until the next hair setting treatment.
A similar apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,961 of Shaler et al.. wherein the hair roller itself comprises a sintered desiccant body of a hollow cylindrical configuration. The roller further includes a heat storage core of cylindrical shape and a material which covers the body of the desiccant roller. The heat storage core further defines a bore adapted therethrough which is able to receive a heating element or a pin for imparting heat into the core. The desiccant roller body of Shaler et al. is a self-sustaining hollow cylinder comprising a mass of desiccant granules, such as silica gel, which are held together by particles of binder, such as nylon. Furthermore, each granule is of irregular shape and is assembled to form the desired overall hollow cylindrical shape by means of a retaining form or mold. The Shaler et al. roller is used in a similar manner as the rollers of Mitsumoto and Grossman.
While these and other similar apparatuses have been somewhat successful in drying and curling hair simultaneously, they still tend to exhibit certain problems and shortcomings inherent in their respective designs. For instance, several of these apparatuses are used in conjunction with a generic pin or clip for holding the hair on the rollers. Such designs are shown in the patents of Mitsumoto and Grossman. With such a configuration, it is difficult to ensure uniform heat transfer from the desiccant in the hair rollers to certain portions of the hair. For example, when hair is wound about a roller from the ends of the hair to the roots of the hair, the hair ends adjacent the roller tend to dry and curl more rapidly than the portions of hair near its roots. Therefore, when the rollers are removed, there is a chance that the hair in the closest proximity to the roller will dry and form a natural curl shape and the hair furthest away from the roller, such as at its roots, will remain slightly damp and uncurled.
The device disclosed in the patent of Shaler et al. attempts to solve the above-discussed problem by providing an arcuate-shaped or C-shaped clamp for disposal over a lock of hair on the roller. The arc-shaped clamp further includes a sintered desiccant body therein for aiding in the drying of the exposed portions of hair. However, hard-to-curl portions of hair, such as hair between adjacent rollers on hair near the scalp might not contact either the roller or the arc-shaped clamp. Therefore, a chance exists that these hard-to-curl portions will still remain damp after the rollers are removed from the hair, thereby causing an uneven, unnatural curl setting.
Accordingly, there exists a continuing need for a hair drying roller apparatus for use in a professional salon or at home, with the apparatus being simple to use, inexpensive to produce, and is capable of fully drying and evenly curling all portions of the hair. It is to the provision of such a hair drying roller apparatus that the present invention is primarily directed.


Controllable fiber optic attenuators and attenuation systems are disclosed for controllably extracting optical energy from a fiber optic, and therefore attenuating the optical signal being transmitted through the fiber optic. In one aspect, material is removed from a portion of the fiber optic, thereby exposing a surface through which optical energy can be extracted. A controllable material is formed over the surface for controllably extracting optical energy according to a changeable stimulus applied thereto, which affects the refractive index thereof. In an improved embodiment, a controllable material is formed over the exposed surface for controlling the amount of optical energy extracted from the fiber optic, and a bulk material is formed over the controllable material, into which the extracted optical energy is radiated. The controllable material has a controllable index of refraction approximately matching the index of refraction of the cladding of the fiber optic, and the bulk material formed over the controllable material has a fixed index of refraction higher than the effective mode index of refraction of the fiber optic. This cladding-driven design varies the effective optical thickness of the controllable material, and therefore effects a controllable attenuation of the optical signal being transmitted in the fiber optic. Attenuation systems including these controllable attenuators, as well as control and sense sub-systems, are also disclosed.

There is often a requirement in fiber optic systems for precise control of optical signal levels entering various system components. This is particularly true for systems at test and characterization stages of deployment. A controllable optical attenuator can be used, for example, to characterize and optimize the optoelectronic response of high-speed photoreceivers, wherein the detection responsivity is dependent on the average optical power incident on the photodiode.
The majority of controllable fiber optic attenuators currently commercially available rely on thin-film absorption filters. This requires breaking the fiber and placing the filters in-line. Controllable attenuation is then achieved by mechanical means such as rotating or sliding the filter to change the optical path length within the absorptive material. This adversely impacts the response speed of the device, the overall mechanical stability, zero attenuation insertion loss and optical back reflection. In general, broken fiber designs suffer numerous disadvantages such as high insertion loss, significant back reflection, and large size. These factors can be minimized, although such corrective measures typically result in added cost and/or size.
What is required are improved controllable fiber optic attenuators and attenuation systems which keep the optical fiber core intact and which achieve controllable attenuation via control of radiative loss from the fiber.

Fiber optic attenuators and attenuation systems


A magnetic field core and armature core are provided on a rotor in spaced-apart relation to each other. Windings for producing rotating magnetic poles are positioned on the magnetic field core, and armature windings are positioned on the armature core. The rotor includes a plurality of magnetic sections which are magnetically coupled with the magnetic field core and armature core, but the magnetic sections are magnetically separated from each other in a direction of rotation of the rotating magnetic poles. Magnetic poles produced on the rotor will be coupled together through a magnetic path formed by the rotor and armature core. Thus, by passing three-phase alternating currents, corresponding to the magnetic poles produced on the rotor, through the armature windings, torque is developed in accordance with the Fleming's rule, so that the rotor is caused to rotate as a motor at a synchronous speed. Only the intensities of the currents flowing through the field and armature windings have to be controlled, in order to control the intensity of this torque. By causing the rotor to rotate via external drive force and passing filed currents corresponding on a rotating position of the rotor, induced electromotive force is developed in the armature windings, so that the synchronous machine operates as a generator.

The present invention relates generally to synchronous machines such as synchronous motors and synchronous power generators, and more particularly to a synchronous machine where field and armature windings are positioned on a stator.
Synchronous motors are available in a variety of designs, such as the rotating-armature, rotating-field and inductor types. The rotating-armature type synchronous motors comprise a magnetic field pole provided on a stator, and an armature winding provided on a rotor. The rotating-field type synchronous motors comprise an armature winding provided on a stator, and a magnetic field pole provided on a rotor. The magnetic field pole in the rotating-field type synchronous motors is typically a permanent magnet positioned on the rotor, or a magnetic field winding that is excited by direct current. The inductor-type synchronous motors comprise a magnetic field pole and armature winding provided on a stator, and an inductor provided on a rotor and having gear-like teeth and slots.
Since the armature winding is provided on the stator as mentioned, the rotating-field type synchronous motors are substantially free from mechanical damages and breakage and permit easy insulation, so that they are widely used today as driving means for rotating the spindles of various machine tools.
However, such rotating-field type synchronous motors where the field pole is a permanent magnet positioned on the rotor are disadvantageous in that the permanent magnet itself is expensive and must be secured firmly enough to not accidentally detach from the rotor and also in that it is difficult to provide large capacity because the magnetic field produced is always constant. The rotating-field type synchronous motors where the field pole is a magnetic field winding provided on the rotor are also disadvantageous in that they essentially require slip rings and a rotary transformer in order to supply field current to the rotor.

c/o NS Engineering Corporation, Ishida 318-3


A microscope mount for mounting a microscope, which is used for observation of bonding conditions, etc., to a bonding machine including a supporting shaft, a microscope attachment shaft and a pair of swing plates rotatably connected to the supporting shaft at one end and to the microscope attachment shaft at the other end. Pulleys are fixed on the shafts, and a belt is installed between the pulleys. A microscope is mounted on the microscope attachment shaft, and the mount is attached to the bonding machine. When in this state the mount is rotated about the supporting shaft, the facing direction of the microscope on the attachment shaft can be kept the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supporting mechanism for microscopes which examine the surfaces of finished areas such as bonded parts of, for example, a semiconductor device.
2. Prior Art
In bonding machines, microscopes are used to check the bonding conditions of semiconductor devices, etc. Usually, the microscope is mounted to the bonding machine via a microscope supporting mechanism that is attached to a fixed or immovable part of the bonding machine.
One example of a microscope supporting mechanism is described in the Japanese Patent Application Publication ("Kokoku") No. 2-58775. In this prior art, the microscope is moved by hand in the directions parallel and vertical relative to the direction the semiconductor devices are fed out.
In the microscope supporting mechanism of this prior art, however, it is sometimes necessary to set the microscope aside from the area where the bonding is performed. Such a movement of the microscope is necessary because it can be a hindrance when the semiconductor devices are examined visually and when parts of the bonding machine near the bonding area are adjusted. In view of such a necessity, in the above-described prior art, the entire microscope supporting mechanism is arranged so as to be rotated about a supporting shaft. However, since the microscope supporting mechanism is simply rotated about the supporting shaft when the microscope is moved from the bonding area, the microscope itself is also rotated by the same angle of the rotation the supporting mechanism makes. This results in that the posture of the microscope or the direction the microscope faces is changed.
Meanwhile, in order to secure a wide space near the bonding area, it is necessary to rotate the supporting mechanism approximately 90 degrees. However, if the parts of the bonding machine are near the microscope supporting mechanism, the microscope touches those parts when it is rotated. Thus, the rotation of the microscope supporting mechanism is limited. For this reason, it is necessary to loosen a knob and then rotate the microscope supporting mechanism while adjusting the posture of the microscope. Therefore, the microscope cannot be quickly moved away from the bonding area where the bonding and observation of bonding conditions are performed.


The present invention is directed to a disk holding device for use in an optical disk reading device that accurately receives and positions an optical disk inserted into the optical disk reading device. The disk holding device comprises a substrate, a holding frame, two holding rods, two guide pins integrally formed on the corresponding holding rods and a sliding plate. Two gear racks are integrally formed with the holding frame, and the two spur gears are integrally formed on top surfaces of the holding rods. Thus, two spur gears of two holding rods respectively mesh the gear racks of the holding frame when the optical disk reading is in use. Further, the sliding plate functions to keep a positioning pin disposed on top surface of the holding rod in place, thereby causing the holding rods to be away from the optical disk when the optical disk reading device is in use. The disk holding device is adapted to receive and position the optical disk of different sizes even though the optical disk reading device is positioned vertically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk reading device, and in particular to a disk holding device for use in an optical disk reading device that can receive and position optical disks of different sizes while the optical disk reading device is positioned horizontally or vertically.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Slot-in optical disk drives allow users to conveniently load and unload optical disks. Slot-in optical disk drive can be implemented in various electronic devices, for example notebook computers and car CD players. Thus, the conventional slot-in optical disk drive 91 has the much more easier loading and unloading system for users to operate while the optical disk drive 91 is positioned horizontally, as shown in FIG. 1.
However, the conventional slot-in optical disk drive 91 has disadvantageous characteristics. For example, referring to FIG. 2, if the conventional slot-in disk drive 91 must be installed vertically in a computer system or due to limited installation space, then an opening 92 of the conventional slot-in disk drive 91 is positioned vertically. However, when the optical disk 9a is loaded into the conventional slot-in optical disk drive 91 that is positioned vertically, it is impossible for the conventional slot-in optical disk drive 91 to position and receive the optical disk 9a accurately. As a result, if the optical disk 9a is not positioned and received accurately, then it results in a reading failure when the conventional slot-in optical disk drive 91 attempts to read the optical disk 9a.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop an optical disk reading device that can receive and position optical disks while the optical disk reading device is positioned horizontally or vertically.

Disk holding device for optical disk reading device


An umbrella having a central shaft, a spindle slidably disposed on the shaft and moveably between an upper opening position and a lower closed position, a plurality of first and second radially extending ribs hingedly secured between the shaft t and spindle, an umbrella canopy being supported on the first ribs, the canopy having upper and lower canopy portions, the lower canopy portion having central first and third annular air intransmissible portions disposed at an upper end of the shaft and an outer end of the first radially extending ribs, a second central air transmissible portion disposed between the first and third central air intransmissible portions, the upper canopy portion having an air transmissible material and disposed over the first of the intransmissible. portion around an upper end of the shaft and the second air transmissible portion, and overlapping in part onto the third annular air intransmissible portion, the upper and lower canopy portions being placed under tension and being taut between the pairs of second plurality of extending ribs when the spindle is in a open position such that air impinging on the lower surface of the upper canopy portion being vented through the air transmissible material of the lower canopy portion and then along a channel formed between the upper and lower canopy portions.

The present invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularly, to an umbrella which vents air from its lower concave surface to the upper convex surface. Such a design helps to minimize or prevent damage to the umbrella due to air blasts and particularly, prevents or minimizes annoying umbrella inversion which may occur when the concave side of the umbrella is subjected to a blast of air.
Various umbrella designs, and in particular designs for minimizing the effects of gusts of wind on umbrellas are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,661 to Fairly discloses an umbrella having an upper umbrella covering comprising a plurality of flaps which are disposed over a central opening at the top of the lower umbrella covering. The flaps comprise a plurality of gores secured at their radial edges to the lower umbrella covering along lines defined by radially depending ribs. The gores have dimensions wider than the width between those ribs and taper with increasingly greater width than the width between those ribs. The gores of the Farley design umbrella are accordingly loose fitting and therefore present problems themselves in catching the wind and in presenting a non-traditional umbrella appearance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,534 to Johnston et al. discloses a self described windproof umbrella having a plurality of holes in a first lower umbrella surface and having an overlying smaller umbrella surface which is secured by elastic bands to the ends of the ribs of the umbrella structure. The elastic bands are unattractive and subject to damage. Furthermore, these elastic bands may actually cause umbrella inversion to occur.
Other umbrella designs of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. 617,415 to Eatman, 3,557,809 to Vasquez, 3,863,660 to Glaeser and 3,960,162 to Noel, Austrian Patent 106,457, U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,047 to Wendorf, French Patent No. 817,056, French Patent No. 1,284,022 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,031,974 to Thomas.
There is a need for an improved umbrella of simple, sturdy design which allows air due to wind impinging on the concave undersurface of the umbrella to escape to minimize the effects of the wind on the umbrella. As is known, a common effect of gusts of wind is an annoying inversion of the umbrella whereby the desired umbrella configuration comprising an upper convex surface and a lower concave surface inverts. In some situations, the wind can also damage the umbrella and cause it to be hurled out of the hands of a holder.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates delayed block allocation in a distributed file system. During operation, the system receives a write command at a client, wherein the write command includes a buffer containing data to be written and a file identifier. In response to receiving the write command, the system reserves a set of disk blocks for the file from a virtual pool of disk blocks allocated to the client. The system also transfers the data to be written to the kernel of the client where the data waits to be transferred to the disk.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the design of distributed file systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for facilitating delayed block allocation in a distributed file system.
2. Related Art
Distributed file systems are typically based on a client-server model, wherein a client wishing to access a file sends a request to a server to perform a file system operation, such as reading from a file or writing to a file. A file system write operation typically involves a number of steps. The first step usually involves allocating space on disk for the file that is being written to. This ensures that space is available to accommodate data associated with the write operation. At the same time, data for the write operation is moved from the address space of the application into kernel space within the operating system of the client. Next, the system transfers the data from the kernel space of the client to the disk at the server.
The step of allocating space is often very slow because it typically involves communicating with the server to ask the server to allocate space. The server then determines if space is available for the write operation and if so typically allocates space by actually reserving disk blocks for the file being written to. Finally, the server sends an acknowledgement to the client indicating that the allocation was successful.
Note that the step of transferring data from the client to the disk at the server typically has very little impact on write performance because this operation is typically performed asynchronously. Hence, the client application can go on to do other tasks while the data is being transferred to the disk.
Attempts have been made to speed up the allocation step by pre-allocating disk blocks to the client to satisfy write operations. For example, see "Disk Space Guarantees as a Distributed Resource Management Problem: A Case Study", by Murthy Devarakonda, Anada Rao Ladi, Andy Zlotek, and Ajay Mohindra, Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Parallel and Distributed Processing, October 1995, pp. 289-292. This paper describes a system that pre-allocates a small number of blocks for a file when the application first creates a file page. As the file grows, the client has to continually return to the server to allocate more disk blocks. While this system speeds up the allocation process, the system suffers from having to continually allocate more disk blocks from the server for the file.
What is needed is a method and an apparatus that facilitates delayed block allocation in a distributed file system without the problems described above.

Facilitating delayed block allocation in a distributed file system


Methods and kits for assessing the susceptibility of a patient to antidepressant-induced mania are described. The method involves testing a sample from a patient for the presence of the s variant of the 5HTTLPR polymorphism in the 5HTT gene. The presence of this s variant indicates that the patient is more susceptible to antidepressant-induced mania.

The induction of mania in patients treated with antidepressants is a complex and not rare phenomenon, which has been described to occur with different frequencies in Bipolar Disorder (BP), Unipolar Disorder (UP), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (1–8). In Mood Disorder (MD) patients, the frequency of induction of mania during antidepressant treatment has been estimated to be 9.5–33%, varying in the different studies including different diagnoses (i.e. UP and BP) and different antidepressant treatments (9–11). More recently, it has become clearer that the phenomenon of antidepressant-induced mania is strictly related to a diagnosis of BP. In BP patients the switch rate during antidepressant treatment is definitively higher than in UP patients (12) and represents a critical issue for the long-term management of the disorder. Whether the type of antidepressant treatment can affect the risk of developing manic switches remains controversial. According to the report of Solomon et al (2), an antidepressant-induced manic episode occurs in approximately 20% of the inpatient admissions with a diagnosis of BP, independently from the treatment status (tricyclic antidepressants -TCAs-, monoamine oxidase inhibitors -MAOIs- or electroconvulsive therapy -ECT-). On the other hand, some studies have shown that the rate of induction of mania is higher in BP patients treated with TCAs and MAOIs than in BP patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (8, 13).
As the impact on the natural course of BP and on the clinical management of the disease created by the occurrence of antidepressant-induced manic switches is quite high (1, 14), the detection of poss predictors of this phenomenon has become one of the primary goals of clinical studies. A higher number of previous manic or hypomanic episodes appeared to be the only clinical variable affecting the risk for developing induced mania during antidepressant treatment (8, 12). According to the report of Stoll et al. (15) antidepressant-induced manic/hypomanic episodes appear to be also clinically different from the spontaneous ones, usually having a shorter duration and less severe psychotic symptoms (15).
Most of the antidepressants commonly used to treat the depressive episodes that occur in the course of BP, act on the serotonin transporter (5HTT) (16). The 5HTT is located on the terminals of serotonergic neurons and its function is to reuptake serotonin from the synaptic cleft into the cell (16). Family, twin, and molecular genetic studies, have shown that BP has a strong genetic component (17–20), and thus, the 5HTT protein gene has been considered an good candidate for the investigation of the genetic component of both BP and the response to antidepressant medication.
The 5HTT gene is located on Chromosome 17, spans 31 kilobases (KB) and consists of 14 exons. This gene has two polymorphisms known. One is in the promoter region (5HTTLPR) consisting of 44 bp insertion/deletion (21). Studies employing lymphoblastoid cell lines containing different genotypes with respect to the 5-HTTLPR (21) showed that cells homozygous for the l allele produced steady-state concentrations of 5-HTT mRNA that were 1.4 to 1.7 times those in cells containing 1 or 2 copies of the s. At the protein level, membrane preparations from I/I lymphoblasts bound 30% to 40% more of a labeled marker than did membranes from I/s or s/s cells. Moreover, uptake of labeled serotonin in cells homozygous for the l allele of the promoter polymorphism was 1.9 to 2.2 times that in cells carrying 1 or 2 endogenous copies of the s variant. These data also suggested that the polymorphism has more of a dominant-recessive than a codominant-additive effect. in rare circumstances, particularly in Asian and African-American populations, additional variants such as the vl (very long) allele and the xl (extra long) allele may occur (22).
Investigation for the possible involvement of the 5HTTLPR in the pathogenesis of BP, applying different methods, has lead to conflicting results. Two linkage studies to date using multiplex families have provided negative results (23–24). Among the several case-control association studies performed, only two studies detected a positive association between the s variant of the gene and BP (25–26). Two studies applying strategies for the detection of association in presence of linkage disequilibrium, which are particularly useful for assessing gene susceptibility in psychiatric disorders where genes may be of small effect (27), gave negative results (28–29).
The other polymorphism known for the 5HTT gene is a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in the second intron, with three alleles (Stin2.9, Stin2.10 and Stin2.12) (30). The Stin2.12 allele was found to be associated with BP in two studies (25, 31), while more recent studies appear to exclude any associations between this polymorphism and BP (32–35).
At least three studies to date have considered the two known polymorphisms of the 5HTT gene in a haplotype analysis, with negative results (26, 35, 36).
With respect to the role of the 5HTTLPR in the antidepressant response, patients with Major Depression and homozygous or heterozygous for the l variant appear to show a better response to fluvoxamine (37) and paroxetine (38) and patients with Bipolar Depression who are homozygous for the l variant of the 5HTTLPR have been found to have a better clinical response to total sleep deprivation (39).
On the other hand, the meaning of these findings, as well as the relationships with the functional variations associated with the gene are controversial (40).

Detection of antidepressant induced mania


An apparatus for conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system transports a blood charge from a source to the cabinet and a flask is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the flask. An output system is coupled to the flask and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The apparatus includes an automated control system operable upon closing the door to lock the door and to then condition the charge, and to then cause the charge to move from the flask to the receiver.

Various treatments have been proposed for the treatment of mammalian blood ex vivo to condition the blood in some way before injecting the blood into a patient. Some procedures take blood from a patient, condition the blood, and then return the blood to the same patient continuously. These procedures contrast with procedures which require that the blood be taken from the patient to be treated as a batch and then returned to the patient. In batch processes there is the possibility that the blood will be given to the wrong patient as well as the dangers inherent in transferring blood from one location to another. Also, batch treatments are potentially hazardous because of the risk of blood contamination during the process of conditioning the blood and also because of the potential for infecting the operator accidentally.
The present invention is directed at the problems inherent in the batch process of treating mammalian blood.
A blood treatment process using batch treatment techniques involves three main steps. Firstly, the blood is sourced either from a donor or from a patient, who will also be the patient receiving the conditioned blood. The blood may be mixed with an anticoagulant and the blood charge must then be transferred to apparatus used to condition the charge. Finally, the conditioned charge has to be collected and prepared for injection into the patient. These steps involve the use of needles (sharps), tubing, valves, syringes and ancillary parts and connectors. At every stage it is important to minimize risk so that the charge is moved and treated without contamination, and so that none of the charge comes into contact with the operator running the procedure.
Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a process and apparatus for receiving a blood charge, conditioning the charge, and preparing the conditioned charge for injecting into a patient while minimizing the risk of contamination and spillage.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a disposable flask assembly for use in a machine designed to condition a charge in the flask assembly and prepare the conditioned charge ready for injection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and process for conditioning mammalian blood


Techniques for providing core-based virtualization based upon cores provided by one or more processors of a system. A device such as a network device comprising multiple processor cores provides for core-based virtualization. According to one embodiment, a network device is provided comprising a first subsystem for processing packets received by the network device. The first subsystem may comprise a set of one or more processors, the one or more processors providing a plurality of cores. Each core in the plurality of cores may have associated memory resources.

The present application relates to virtualization and more particularly to core-based virtualization.
Virtualization implies that one or more virtual machines may be configured for a network device. The virtual machines enable the network device to act like multiple virtual network devices. However, the creation and management of virtual machines can get quite complicated, since resources of the network device must be manual partitioned between the virtual machines. For example, configuring virtual machines typically required complicated tweaking and partitioning of processor-related or memory-related resources.

Core-trunking across cores on physically separated processors allocated to a virtual machine based on configuration information including context information for virtual machines


A process for constructing a three-dimensional geologic model of a subsurface earth volume wherein resolution scales of multiple diverse data types, including seismic data, are accounted for by generating multiple frequency passband models and combining them together to form the complete geologic model. Preferably, a model is generated for each of a low-frequency passband, a mid-frequency passband, and a high-frequency passband. When integrating seismic data into the modeling process, the seismic-frequency passband constitutes the mid-frequency passband model. The process further contemplates updating tentative frequency-passband models through optimization of assigned rock property values in each tentative model according to specified geological criteria. Such optimization is carried out by perturbation of the rock property values in a manner wherein the frequency content of each model is maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to geologic-modeling. More specifically, this invention relates to a three-dimensional geologic modeling technique wherein multiple frequency-passband model units are combined together to form the complete geologic model.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A. Geologic Modeling
As used in the context of the present invention, a geologic model is a computer-based representation of a region of the subsurface, such as a petroleum reservoir or a depositional basin. A geologic model may take on many different forms. Most commonly, descriptive or static geologic models built for mining or petroleum applications are in the form of a three-dimensional array of individual model units or blocks (also referred to as cells) or less commonly points. Hereafter, geologic models will be referred to in terms of blocks. The entire set of blocks constitutes the geologic model and represents the subsurface volume. Each block represents a unique portion of the subsurface, so the blocks may not intercut each other. Dimensions of the blocks should be chosen so that the rock-properties assigned to each block (e.g., lithology, porosity, acoustic impedance, permeability, and water saturation) are relatively homogeneous within a block, yet without creating an excessive number of blocks. Most commonly, blocks are square or rectangular in plan view and have thickness that is either constant or variable, but any shape may be used.
The geologic modeling process assigns values of the rock-properties of interest to all blocks within the geologic model, which is a process known to practitioners of geologic modeling. The value that is to be assigned to the block is calculated using one of many estimation methods, though the most common methods used are geostatistical. Geostatistical methods take into account spatial continuity of the rock property. The three-dimensional continuity of a rock property may be captured by a variogram, which quantifies the spatial variability of the rock property as a function of both separation distance and direction. Also, the model is generally constrained by stratigraphic or structural surfaces and boundaries (e.g., facies changes) that separate regions of different geologic and geophysical properties. The geologic or geophysical data and interpretations that are integrated into the geologic model come from many different sources, including core, wireline logs, outcrop analog, and 2-D or 3-D seismic data.
B. Geostatistical Methods of Geologic Modeling
Deterministic geostatistical methods, such as kriging, are averaging methods that assign weights to the neighboring data as a function of distance from the estimation block and the variogram model. Stochastic geostatistical methods, such as sequential-Gaussian simulation and sequential indicator simulation, generate geologic models that honor desired heterogeneity. The estimation process first uses a deterministic method (e.g., kriging) to produce a conditional distribution of possible values of the rock property for the block. Monte Carlo sampling of this distribution is used to select the value of the property to assign. Since the order in which blocks are estimated affects rock property assignment, a 3-D random path typically is used. This process can generate a suite of geologic models for the property being modeled.
C. Frequency-Domain Description of Data and Spatial Scales
The spatial heterogeneity of rock-properties within a petroleum reservoir has a large effect on fluid flow. Reservoir heterogeneity can be described over a wide range of spatial scales. Each data source that is integrated into the geologic model represents a specific scale of information. For example, well data generally provide finer-scale information than do seismic data. The proper integration of different data types into the geologic model should account for the scale of information represented by each type. Because spectral frequency is a representation of scale in the space domain, it is useful to consider the frequency content of the input data when building the geologic model. Short-range or fine-scale variability in the reservoir corresponds to high-frequency heterogeneity, whereas long-range or coarse-scale variability corresponds to low-frequency heterogeneity. These different scales of information can be described in the frequency domain (also known as the "spectral" domain).
It can be shown that random functions such as 1-D well log or a 3-D geologic model can be decomposed into a sum of sinusoids, each representing a different frequency and unique amplitude. This decomposition is accomplished using the Fourier transform and results in a composite amplitude spectrum 10 (see FIG. 1) which is a plot of amplitude as a function of frequency. A defined frequency band representing a specific spatial scale can be filtered from this composite spectrum in the frequency domain. A typical and well-known low-pass filter is the Butterworth filter which is characterized by a cutoff frequency and a slope (frequency taper) above the cutoff frequency. This filter is easily converted to either band-pass or highpass filter types. The low-pass filter is specified from 0 to f1 Hz resulting in low-frequency band 12, the band-pass filter from f1 to f2 Hz resulting in mid-frequency band 14, and the high-pass from f2 to Nyquist frequency (theoretical maximum frequency for a given data sample rate) resulting in high-frequency band 16, where f1 and f2 represent user defined cutoff frequencies.
The Fourier transformation of a random function also results in phase information. Phase information contains data relating to the spatial distribution of values, whereas the amplitude spectrum contains information about spatial variability of values.
D. Modeling Technologies Which Account for Variations in Spatial Scale
Several geostatistical methods known to practitioners of geologic modeling attempt to account for variations in different scales of heterogeneity. The most basic method is termed "kriging with a trend," by which the geologic model is represented as the sum of a trend (low-frequency) component and a residual (high-frequency) component. The trend is generally modeled as a smoothly varying deterministic component, and the residual component is modeled as a stationary random field with zero mean.
Factorial kriging is a method related to kriging with a trend, except that the model is represented as the sum of one or more independent stochastic components. Each component corresponds to one structure of the variogram model specific to a certain spatial scale. Factorial kriging can be considered as a process to decompose spatially correlated data (e.g., well log, seismic data, or a geologic model) into a number of independent components, each of which can be filtered from the original data. Filtering occurs in the space domain (seismic time or depth) instead of the frequency domain.
Kriging with a trend and factorial kriging demonstrate a number of deficiencies and disadvantages. One such disadvantage is identifying components of the data. With factorial kriging, it may be difficult to identify components that have a physical interpretation, for example, to identify the component that exactly represents the spatial scale of the seismic data. Second, with the geostatistical methods each component is modeled deterministically. Third, the geostatistical methods assume that each component is independent of all other components, i.e., they are modeled separately and summed together to form the complete geologic model.
The application of the Fourier transform (or fast Fourier transform) has also been used to isolate (filter) individual spatial components so that they can be modeled individually. The Fourier transform converts stationary data from the space domain into an amplitude spectrum in the frequency domain. Different data sources represent different frequency ranges in the composite spectrum. Merging spectra from different data sources can generate a composite spectrum. The inverse Fourier transform of this composite spectrum will directly yield a version of the integrated result in the space domain (e.g. a geologic-model realization).
For example, a Fourier transform method has been applied to integrate static information from geologic interpretations (e.g., from seismic data) with dynamic information from well tests. (Huang and Kelkar, Integration of Dynamic Data for Reservoir Characterization in the Frequency Domain, Proceedings of the SPC Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, Colo., Pages 209-219, Oct. 6-9, 1996.) This method assumes that static interpretations represent low-frequency information whereas well-test data represent high-frequency information. This high-frequency information was optimized in the frequency domain to agree with the measured data. With this process, an initial geologic model of permeability (generated with static data) was converted to the frequency domain using the Fourier transform. The spectrum of a defined high-frequency component was perturbed and the composite spectrum then converted back to the space domain using the inverse Fourier transform. Pressure and production rate were simulated for the resulting geologic model and these estimates were compared with measured values using a simulated-annealing algorithm. If convergence was not met, the process was repeated; otherwise, it was terminated.
Prior art technologies that apply the Fourier transform or FFT to account for spatial scales in modeling demonstrate a number of deficiencies and disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that model perturbations are performed in the amplitude spectrum in the frequency domain. It is much more difficult to control the effect of the perturbation when it occurs in the frequency domain than in the space domain. In addition, the model cannot easily be conditioned to well data when perturbation occurs in the frequency domain. Second, the process of merging spectra of different components to form a composite spectrum assumes that the individual components are independent of all other components.
Seismic-inversion methods for characterizing a given geology must also account for spatial scale. It is understood by practitioners of seismic inversion that information on the low-frequency spatial distribution of acoustic impedance in the subsurface is absent in frequency band-limited seismic data. However, a low-frequency acoustic impedance component can often be obtained independently using measurements from well data or seismic stacking velocities, or possibly through inference from seismic-stratigraphic or seismic-facies interpretations. This low-frequency component can be merged with the seismic-frequency information to provide maps or models of acoustic impedance. For example, in studies by Pendrel and Van Riel (Estimating Porosity from 3D Seismic Inversion and 3D Geostatistics, 6th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Expanded Abstracts, Pages 834-387, 1997) and Torres-Verdin et al. (Trace-based and Geostatistical Inversion of 3D Seismic Data for Thin-Sand Delineation: An Application in San Jorge Basin, Argentina, The Leading Edge, September, 1999, Pages 1070-1077), the low-frequency component was derived by interpolation of well-impedance data filtered to an appropriate bandwidth. The resulting low-frequency component was then merged with the seismic data that had been inverted to a model of frequency band-limited acoustic impedance.
Seismic-inversion methods are generally deficient for purposes of geologic modeling because they result in models of acoustic impedance only and contain no information at finer resolution than seismic scale. In addition, these methods assume that the seismic-frequency and low-frequency components are independent sources of information.
E. Deficiencies of the Prior Art Modeling Techniques
Prior art geologic modeling technologies do not properly account for different spatial scales of multiple diverse data types. As such, inaccuracies in the geologic model can result. Use of an inaccurate model may be very costly, resulting in inaccurate estimates of hydrocarbon reserves, missed hydrocarbon-reservoir targets, and inappropriate reservoir-development strategies.
Most prior art geologic-modeling technologies fail to recognize that different data types used in constructing the model contain information at different scales and frequency content. This deficiency is particularly true when integrating seismic information into the geologic model. Seismic-amplitude data do not contain significant low-frequency information. As a consequence of omitting this information, seismic data do not directly measure absolute rock property values nor generally measure slowly varying trends in these properties, e.g., as a result of burial compaction. For example, seismic data may be used to estimate porosity values within a reservoir, though these values may be strongly influenced by a slowly varying compaction trend. Direct integration of these estimates into the model without also integrating the low-frequency information will lead to inaccuracies.
Seismic-amplitude data also do not contain significant high-frequency information. As a consequence of omitting this information, seismic data measures properties over volumes of the subsurface which are much coarser than that measured by well data. For example, most prior-art geologic-modeling techniques assume that the rock-properties estimated from the seismic data and integrated into the geologic model represent a volume that is no different than that measured by the well data. If these estimated properties are integrated directly into the geologic model, the result might not properly reflect the high-frequency heterogeneity that occurs in the reservoir and that affects simulated fluid flow.
As previously discussed, some geologic-modeling technologies attempt to account for the different spatial scales of multiple diverse data types. Some of these technologies construct the model in the space domain, while others construct it in the frequency domain. Deficiencies in these methods include an inability to identify spatial components that have physical interpretations, a difficulty in controlling model perturbations, and, most notably, an assumption that the individual spatial components are independent sources of information.
For example, if shale volume (VSH) is modeled by summing multiple spatial components, the sum of all components can never exceed 100% because this would represent a physical impossibility since the total value would exceed 100%. If all spatial components are generated independently and summed to produce the complete geologic model, there is a good probability that shale volume will exceed 100% at several locations within the model. Therefore, each component is not independent of all other components.

Method for constructing 3-D geologic models by combining multiple frequency passbands


Superalloy components, such as service-degraded turbine blades and vanes, are clad by laser beam welding. The welding/cladding path, including cladding application profile, is determined by prior, preferably real time, non-contact 3D dimensional scanning of the component and comparison of the acquired dimensional scan data with specification dimensional data for the component. A welding path for cladding the scanned component to conform its dimensions to the specification dimensional data is determined. The laser welding apparatus, preferably in cooperation with a cladding filler material distribution apparatus, executes the welding path to apply the desired cladding profile. In some embodiments a post-weld non-contact 3D dimensional scan of the welded component is performed and the post-weld scan dimensional data are compared with the specification dimensional data. Preferably the welding path and/or cladding profile application are modified in a feedback loop with the pre- and/or post-welding 3D dimensional scanning.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to systems or methods for cladding superalloy components, such as service-degraded turbine blades and vanes, by laser beam welding. The welding/cladding path is determined by prior, preferably real time, non-contact 3D dimensional scanning of the component and comparison of the acquired dimensional scan data with specification dimensional data for the component. A welding path for cladding the scanned component to conform its dimensions to the specification dimensional data is determined. The laser welding apparatus, preferably in cooperation with a cladding filler material distribution apparatus, executes the welding path. In some embodiments a post weld non-contact 3D dimensional scan of the welded component is performed and the post weld scan dimensional data are compared with the specification dimensional data. Preferably the welding path and/or cladding application are modified in a feedback loop with the pre- and/or post-welding 3D dimensional scanning.
2. Description of the Prior Art
"Structural" repair of gas turbine or other superalloy components is commonly recognized as replacing damaged material with matching alloy material and achieving properties, such as strength, that are close to the original manufacture component specifications (e.g., at least seventy percent ultimate tensile strength of the original specification). For example, it is preferable to perform structural repairs on turbine blades that have experienced surface cracks, so that risk of further cracking is reduced, and the blades are restored to original material structural and dimensional specifications.
Repair of nickel and cobalt based superalloy material that is used to manufacture turbine components, such as turbine blades, is challenging, due to the metallurgic properties of the finished blade material. The finished turbine blade alloys are typically strengthened during post casting heat treatments, which render them difficult to perform subsequent structural welding. When a blade constructed of such a superalloy material is welded with filler metal of the same or similar alloy, the blade is susceptible to solidification (aka liquation) cracking within and proximate to the weld, and/or strain age (aka reheat) cracking during subsequent heat treatment processes intended to restore the superalloy original strength and other material properties comparable to a new component.
One known superalloy joining and repair method that attempts to melt superalloy filler material without thermally degrading the underlying superalloy substrate is laser beam welding, also known as laser beam micro cladding. Superalloy filler material (often powdered filler) compatible with or identical to the superalloy substrate material is pre-positioned on a substrate surface prior to welding or sprayed on the surface with pressurized gas through a channel during the cladding process. A "spot" area of focused laser optical energy generated by a fixed-optic laser (i.e., other than relative translation, laser and substrate have a fixed relative orientation during laser beam application) liquefies the filler material and heats the substrate surface sufficiently to facilitate good coalescence of the filler and substrate material, that subsequently solidify as a clad deposit layer on the substrate surface. Compared to other known traditional welding processes, laser beam micro-cladding is a lower heat input process, with relatively good control over melting of the substrate and rapid solidification that reduces propensity to cause previously-described solidification cracking. Lower heat input to the superalloy substrate during laser welding/cladding also minimizes residual stresses that otherwise would be susceptible to previously described post-weld heat treatment strain age cracking. While laser cladding welds have structural advantages over traditionally-formed welds, practical manufacturing and repair realities require larger cladding surface area and/or volume coverage than can be filled by any single pass applied cladding deposit.
To meet needs for adding volume to superalloy components, a laser-cladded deposit on a substrate can be formed from single- or two-dimensional arrays of adjoining solidified clad passes. Multiple laser-welded cladding passes and layers can be applied, under automated control, to build surface dimensional volume. Creating arrays of laser-clad deposits often results in microcracks and defects in the deposited material and underlying substrate in the heat affected zone material. Some defects are related to lack of fusion (LoF) that is common when there is insufficient localized laser optical energy heat input. Often a substrate, such as a turbine blade, requires structural repair filling of a missing volume of the blade substrate material with an equivalent volume of superalloy filler, in order to restore the blade's original structural dimensions. In known laser cladding techniques the missing blade substrate volume is filled with a two-dimensional filler weld array of individually-applied laser clad deposits or passes. The laser beam focus position and substrate surface are moved relative to each other under automated control after a single deposit formation to weld the next deposit, analogous to a series of abutting, overlapping bumps or dots. With known multi-dimensional filler material depositing equipment, either a layer of the filler particles (often in powder form) are prepositioned in a layer on the substrate surface or directed through a pressurized gas-fed nozzle over the laser "spot" projected location.
Automated or semi-automated laser weld repair of superalloy turbine component substrates requires definition of each part geometry for tracking purposes, so that the laser cladding path applies solidified deposits on the component's desired surface portions. Component measured actual geometric outline information is compared with desired component specification geometric outline information. The comparison identifies component undersized surface portions in need of solidified filler. The comparison information is used to program the laser cladding or welding path, with expectation that the newly filled portions will meet or exceed the desired specification dimensions. If the newly filled portions of the welded component remain undersized the component must be remeasured and rewelded with a second welding path. After application of one or more welding paths the welded component is inspected for weld quality. Voids or cracks remaining after or created by during the welding process may render the component unsuitable for service, in which case the prior welding effort and expense was wasted. If the post welding inspection indicates that the part is serviceable any post weld excess material is removed by known metal working processes.
In known welding processes component or part outline geometric information is typically collected before repair processing by a camera and defined by contrast measurement. An optical camera, which may be in a machine vision subsystem of an automated welding system, captures a visual image of the turbine component outline. Optical contrast is used to define the component outline or footprint. The automated welding system utilizes the optically defined component outline and the component's desired dimensional specification outline to establish the welding path of relative movement between the component and welding spot (i.e. part movement on a motion control work table, or movement of the welding equipment, or both). The welding system, executing the welding path, dads the component surface to fill missing volume between the actually defined outline dimensions obtained by the optical camera system and specification dimensions.
Traditional optical methods to define repaired component geometry and outline require specialized part illumination and are lacking in resolution and precision. The optical measurement methods only generate planar two dimensional outline information, with the height dimension effectively only inferred by shadow resolution. Thus the welding path executed by the welding apparatus only approximates the two dimension outline of the component. The filler height determination is determined empirically by the welding operator or the automated welding path processor by estimating the number of successive layers needed to obtain the component specification height dimensions. Traditional optical component measurement methods can not be used during repair as feedback to adjust processing equipment in case of component part change in physical condition (e.g., thermal distortion), movement, misalignment of component surface and welding, misguided weld path, or creation of weld defects (e.g., voids and/or cracks) apparatus during repair. Besides the previously identified optical measurement system illumination, resolution and precision deficiencies they cannot obtain visual images through smoke and high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) emissions generated by the laser cladding/welding system during the welding process. Smoke scatters reflected optical camera illumination and high intensity UV emissions overpower the optical camera's ability to capture a visual image.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,303 proposes use of a non-contact laser profilometer to obtain 3D dimensional topography measurement information of a diamond surface. The measured information is compared to desired specification information. Subsequently an ablation laser cuts surface portions identified as being too thick compared to the desired specification. The cut surface is subsequently re-scanned with the laser profilometer to determine whether the surface now meets the desired thickness specification. Cutting and scanning are repeated sequentially until the surface conforms to the desired specification. It is further stated in the patent that the profilometer and ablation system can utilize a common laser device.
Thus, a need exists in the art for turbine component laser cladding systems or methods that in real time acquire component dimensional data, compare the acquired dimensional data with specification dimensional data and determine a welding pattern for building up the component surface in conformity with the determined welding pattern, so that the welding pattern is dynamically determined and is adjusted in response to transient changes occurring during the welding process. Examples of such transient changes include but are not limited to component thermal distortion, movement and/or misalignment of the component surface and the welding apparatus, misguided weld path, or creation of weld defects (e.g., voids and/or cracks) during the welding process.
Another need exists in the art for turbine component laser cladding systems or methods that in real time perform subsequent post weld measurement of the component surface and determining whether the post weld surface measurement data are in conformity with desired specification dimensional data and/or weld quality (e.g., lack of voids and/or microcracks in the welded surface). To meet this need, the systems or methods preferably incorporate the post weld measurement and/or inspection within a real time feedback loop to adjust the welding process dynamically, so that the welded surface is formed in conformity with desired specifications.
An additional need exists in the art for turbine component laser cladding systems or methods that in real time or sequentially acquire dimensional data, compare acquired dimensional data with specification data, determine a welding path and welding processes for building up the component surface in in conformity with the determined welding pattern, and performing the welding by transferring optical energy from the welding laser to the filler material and substrate that fuses the filler material to the substrate as a filler layer without causing thermal degradation to the substrate. To meet this need to avoid thermal degradation the systems or methods preferably vary optical energy transfer based on component surface topology.
Yet another need exists in the art for turbine component laser cladding systems or methods that acquire dimensional data in spite of smoky conditions and/or ultraviolet emissions caused during the laser welding process, whether the acquisition occurs in real time or sequentially with the laser welding process.

Method for automated superalloy laser cladding with 3D imaging weld path control


An electrostatic ink-jet recording head (100) with an ink chamber (15) for storing ink containing electrified toner; an ink path (6) leading to the ink chamber; ink ejecting portions (7, 8) provided at the tip of that ink path; electrophoretic electrodes (15, 11, 11') for moving the electrified toner of the ink along the ink path to the ink ejecting portions by electrostatic repulsive force; and a plurality of ejecting electrodes (2a-2h) , arranged near the ink ejecting portions, for forming an electric field for providing an ejecting force to the electrified toner. The ejecting electrodes are controlled by ejection control electrodes (3a, 3b) that form an electric field for preventing electrified toner from being ejected from the ink ejecting portions. The plurality of ejecting electrodes (2a-2h) are formed along the ink path, and the ejecting electrodes and ejection control electrodes are stacked over a substrate with insulating layers therebetween. This configuration reduces the wiring area of the electrodes in the ink-jet recording head and compresses the size of the head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic ink-jet recording head using electrified toner as ink material, and more particularly to an electrostatic inkjet recording head which performs recording by ejecting electrified toner from the nozzle of the head by the action of an electric field.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electrostatic ink-jet recording head according to the prior art, disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 61-57343 Published on Mar. 24, 1986 for example, is provided with an ink chamber, having an ink inlet, for temporary storage of ink, an ink path leading to this ink chamber, and nozzles. An ink ejecting hole is provided at the tip of each nozzle. The bottom face of the ink chamber, the ink path and the bottom face of the nozzles are linearly arranged on the same plane to reduce resistance to the ink flow. At the tip of each nozzle is provided an ejection electrode for controlling the ejection of ink, and either the ink chamber or the ink path is equipped with an auxiliary electrode. An opposite electrode is arranged in a position at a prescribed distance from the tip of the nozzle. The ink includes toner electrified, positively for instance, in an insulating ink solvent. The opposite electrode has a potential which can electrically attract the electrified toner.
First, an electric field is formed by supplying a prescribed voltage to the auxiliary electrode. In response to the effect of this electric field, there is witnessed an electrophoretic phenomenon in which electrified toner in the ink solvent moves toward the ejecting hole of the nozzle, resulting in concentration of the electrified toner in the tip portion of the nozzle. As a voltage is applied in this state to the ejection electrode at the tip portion of the nozzle, a strong electric field works on the electrified toner in the tip portion of the nozzle, and the grains of the electrified toner, while being strongly attracted by the opposite electrode, fly from the ejecting hole. If recording paper is arranged on the opposite electrode side then, printing will take place. After the ejection of the electrified toner, in order to make up for any shortage of ink (electrified toner) in the nozzle, a member made of porous material is provided in either the ink chamber or the ink path, so that the porous member can serve to effectively supply ink, consisting of electrified toner, in the ink chamber to the nozzle.
However, production of this electrostatic ink-jet recording head according to the prior art requires the arrangement of a porous member in either the ink chamber or the ink path, resulting in a disadvantageously complex manufacturing process. Moreover, since the ejection electrode and the auxiliary electrode are arranged on the same plane and at a distance from each other to prevent their short-circuiting, the packaging area is correspondingly enlarged, inviting another disadvantage of a greater head size. Furthermore, if the number of nozzles is increased, the wiring area for the signal electrode and the auxiliary electrode will be enlarged, resulting in correspondingly greater dimensions of the ink-jet recording head.

Electrostatic ink-jet recording device with control electrodes for selectively preventing ejection of toner