A developing device comprising: a drive roller which is driven so as to be rotated; a developing sleeve which is formed by a thin film and has a peripheral length slightly larger than that of the drive roller so as to be fitted around the drive roller; a press member which presses the developing sleeve against the drive roller at one side of the drive roller so as to form a sag portion of the developing sleeve such that the sag portion is brought into contact with an electrostatic latent image support member; and an electric field forming member for forming alternating electric field such that an attractive force capable of bringing the developing sleeve and the electrostatic latent image support member into contact with each other is applied between the developing sleeve and the electrostatic latent image support member.

The present invention relates to a developing device for use in image forming apparatuses such as a copying apparatus, a printer, etc.
When an image is formed by image forming apparatuses such as a copying apparatus, a printer, etc., an electrostatic latent image is initially formed on a surface of an electrostatic latent image support member for supporting the electrostatic latent image, usually a photosensitive member. Then, charged toner is supplied to the surface of the electrostatic latent image support member by a developing device so as to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visual toner image. Subsequently, the obtained toner image is transferred onto a transfer medium such as a paper sheet by a transfer device and is fixed on the transfer medium by a fixing device.
The developing device used in such image forming apparatus is of several types. Particularly, in a developing device in which a thin layer of developer is formed on a developer support member such as a developing roller so as to be brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image support member, it is essential that the thin layer of the developer should be supplied uniformly. A developer regulating blade for forming the thin layer of the developer is required to be brought into contact with a surface of the developing roller at a predetermined pressing force or more. Thus, the developing roller should have a relatively high hardness. Meanwhile, at a contact area between the developing roller and the electrostatic latent image support member, it is desirable that hardness of the developing roller be minimized in order to prevent damage to the electrostatic latent image support member and marring of an image.
In order to solve the above described problem of the known developing device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 63-226676 (1988) proposes a developing device in which at a toner supply area, uniform charging of toner and uniform formation of a thin layer of the toner are improved by securing a sufficiently large pressing force between a toner support member for development and a means is such as a blade for forming the thin layer of the toner, while at an area having an electrostatic latent image support member and the toner support member confronting each other, the toner is supplied to an electrostatic latent image by holding the toner support member in contact with the electrostatic latent image support member at a proper light pressing force stably.
However, also in this prior art developing device, such a case as shown in FIG. 12 may happen in which since a longitudinally central portion SLC of a thin film member SL is curved concavely at the area having the thin film member SL and the electrostatic latent image support member PC confronting each other, it is difficult to uniformly hold the thin film member SL and the electrostatic latent image support member PC in contact with each other. Namely, the cylindrical thin film member SL is generally made of metal, for example, nickel by electroforming or the like. However, the thin film member SL made of metal has such drawbacks that the production is complicated and expensive, the thin film member SL is likely to be cracked at its opposite end portions, the thin film member SL is readily damaged when struck by an object and the thin film member SL is apt to be affected by ozone or the like emitted from a charger of a copying apparatus, etc. In view of these drawbacks of the thin film member SL made of metal, it is proposed that the thin film member SL be made of synthetic resin in place of metal. In the case where the thin film member SL is made of synthetic resin, concave curving of the central portion SLC of the thin film member SL is likely to take place as shown in FIG. 12 more conspicuously than a case in which the thin film member SL is made of metal, thereby resulting in a defective image having skipped spots such as central skipped spots or thin spots. Even if the thin film member SL is made of metal, it is difficult to bring the thin film member SL into contact with the electrostatic latent image support member PC stably and uniformly when thickness of the thin film member SL is small.
Furthermore, the prior art developing device has such problems that the thin film member is required to have high machining accuracy and high assembly accuracy and position of contact of the thin film member with the electrostatic latent image support member is restricted. In addition, if the thin film member is allowed to stand in contact with the electrostatic latent image support member, the thin film member is deformed. As a result, noncontact state may partially appear between the thin film member and the electrostatic latent image support member, thus resulting in production of thin spots or skipped spots in an image.

Developing device brought into contact with an electrostatic latent image support member


A connector assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (10) defining a central slot (14) with two rows of passageways (16) by two sides thereof and two rows of contacts (20) disposed in the corresponding passageways, respectively. An electronic card (9) is received in the central slot and has a number of circuit pads (91) on a bottom portion thereof to engage the corresponding contacts, respective. Each of the contacts defines a contact section (22) extending into the central slot, and such contact section is of a downward bellows type with an overlapped region. The inner arm of the overlapped region provides a contact apex contacting the corresponding circuit pad. A height of the overlapped region is similar to a lengthwise dimension of the corresponding circuit pad when the printed circuit board is fully inserted into the slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to card edge connectors, and particularly to high-speed card edge connectors.
2. Description of Related Art
In today's high speed electronic systems, it is desirable that all components of an interconnection path be optimized for signal transmission characteristics, otherwise the integrity of the system will be impaired or degraded. High-speed card edge connectors are popular type of electrical connector that require passing fast rise time signals without distorting or degrading that rise time. Such high-speed card edge connectors are generally employed in computer and telecommunication equipments.
A conventional card edge connector commonly has an elongated housing defining an elongated slot for receiving a mating edge of a daughter printed circuit board or a card. A plurality of terminals are spaced along one or both sides of the slot for engaging contact pads adjacent the mating edge of the daughter printed circuit board to thereby establish electrical interconnection between the daughter card and a mother backplane printed circuit board on which the card edge connector is mounted. Such card edge connectors typically utilize preload features in the contacts in order to achieve a suitable contact force between the contacts and the inserted card.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,292 and 5,051,099 both disclose typical card edge connectors. Signal contact members of those card edge connectors are loaded from a mounting face of the housing and are inserted so that free tips thereof rest behind a plastic wall that exists between the card and the tips. Outwardly extending flanges of an intermediate portion of each signal contact member engage a corresponding flange receiving surface within the housing to lock the signal contact members within the housing. Noticeably, such a preloaded contact tip requires a long portion of the contact to extend above the contact-card interface. This length is required not only for providing a preload feature but also for allowing a sufficient lead-in portion on the contact. This tip design adds significant capacitance because the tip consists of a long extension that does not lie within the current path. This capacitance is detrimental to signal integrity. In common industry language, this tip design can be described as having a large electrical stub. In addition, the surface pads on the plug-in card are usually enlarged to provide sufficient surface area for the mating of the contacts. The increased surface area at the mating location increases the residual capacitance on the plug-in card, therefore further degrading signal integrity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,049 discloses another conventional card edge connector. Similarly, the connector has preloaded contacts secured in the housing. It can be readily seen that the contacts as disclosed in these prior arts have tips pointing towards the inserted card. Clearly, it adds the risk of the card mechanically stubbing on the sheared tips of the contacts. Moreover, it is not easy to reduce the connector height for such a tip design.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,565 discloses another type of high speed card edge connector. The '565 patent suggests a modified geometry of the retention mechanism that holds the contact into the housing. In prior art for lower speed signals, the retention mechanism consists of a solid tab. The solid tab adds a discrete capacitance element between adjacent signal lines. Discrete capacitance elements within a connector's construction will degrade signal transmission. The '565 patent invention makes the solid tab a U shape geometry, forcing the current to flow around the outside perimeter defined by the retention mechanism. This geometry reduces capacitance and adds inductance. This balancing of capacitance and inductance provides better signal transmission. However, the '565 patent simply removes capacitance from a retention mechanism of the contact.
Hence, an improved high-speed card edge connector is highly desired.


A heart stimulation apparatus for intracardial stimulation of heart tissue has an electrode device with an electrode head provided at the distal end thereof, having at least a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface, a stimulation pulse generator and a switch for selectively connecting the conductive surface(s) to the stimulation pulse generator in any combination. In order to reduce the energy consumption, an autocapture unit is provided which automatically tests a number of possible combinations of conductive surfaces for stimulation and selects the combination providing the lowest stimulation threshold for connection to the pulse generator. A heart signal detector can also be provided to which the electrode surfaces are also connectable in any combination, with the autocapture unit selecting an optimal combination for sensing as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heart stimulation apparatus for intracardial stimulation of heart tissue and/or sensing heart signals of the type having an electrode lead with an electrode head at the distal end thereof, the electrode head having at least first and second conductive surfaces for stimulating heart tissue and/or sensing heart signals respective connected to first and second separate conductors, the conductive surfaces being insulated from each other, and a stimulation pulse generator and/or a heart signal detector and a switch for connecting one conductive surface, or a plurality of the conductive surfaces, to the stimulation pulse generator and/or the detector in any desired manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A heart stimulation apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,934 in which an electrode lead can be provided with a plurality of independently connectable electrodes. The electrodes include a plurality of ring electrodes installed relatively far apart, and a conductive electrode tip. A switching stage is provided for connecting the electrodes in selected combinations to the pacemaker circuitry in a manner determined by a physician to be best suited for a given pacing function. Each electrode is individually tested to determine its capture threshold.
Another electrode device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,928 wherein a plurality of relatively small conductive surfaces are arrayed on the head of the electrode device in order to reduce the threshold value and also to reduce thus energy consumption. All the conductive surfaces on the head of this electrode device are connected to the same conductor. This can result in needlessly large energy consumption, since some of the conductive surfaces are not in contact with heart tissue for stimulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,852 describes a pacemaker electrode with a plurality of relatively large conductive surfaces connected to the same conductor disposed at a distal end of the electrode device.


A knowledge manager relying on a hierarchical default expert system is provided including a class hierarchical data base which may be appended to without affecting the class hierarchy and which will address the appended matter first to supersede any previous knowledge in the class hierarchy data base of the system. In addition, the system parameters of assets are appended to the system and are instantiated into objects which are then treated with an object-oriented paradigm. Thus, specific assets which are found throughout a plant may be defined as objects. These objects may be appended to the system without the proprietary information which they contain being disclosed to unauthorized personnel and override, add or delete information to the class hierarchical database.

Process management systems are known for monitoring and controlling processes in order to obtain in optimum operation and control thereof. After decades of refining and improving these process management systems, industries are learning that the gains coming out of the process management systems are reaching a diminishing set of returns. Therefore, other areas of system management need to be addressed for industries to meet the immense challenge of remaining competitive.
One key area of industrial plant management lies in the ability to manage assets of the plant. For example, in industrial plants like petrochemical plants and power generation plants, it is a challenge to ensure that unusual events get managed using past learning experience and according to a specific procedure. There are many different roles in an industrial plant's organization making the management challenge complex. It is possible that one group of people is responsible for the operation of the plant, another group is responsible for the maintenance of machinery, and yet another group is responsible for the maintenance of instrumentation. Unusual events are not repetitive enough to keep people's memory of the procedures refreshed. To make matters worse, many unusual events occur so infrequently that people who managed and learned from the last situation have either changed jobs or are not available by the time a similar event occurs again.
Many times these events can have profound impact if not managed correctly. Improper management of one of these infrequent events may cause loss of life, loss of property, fugitive emissions and other undesirable consequences. Therefore, what is needed is a system which, inter alia, helps people at the time of the event remember what needs to be done and what has been learned before in similar or related events.
Furthermore, an asset management system is needed which maximizes an asset's life while minimizing its cost. Thus, the asset management system may be used in combination with a process management system to optimize assets and processes simultaneously to maximize profits.
However, a typical plant employing an asset management system will require more information input than was required with just the process management system. Therefore, a problem exists in providing an inexpensive media which will transfer information from the added multiplicity of sensors or measuring points to a central location of the system. For example, in order to manage a process in a plant there may have been one thousand sensors and now what is needed is five thousand sensors to manage the process and assets of the plant. The information from the sensors or measuring points are typically coupled to a central location via a field bus. The field bus standard today allows for six units or sensors coupled per wire. This is limited by the fact that the sensors coupled to the bus have to remain on all the time in order that they provide the proper control functions to the sensors. Therefore, these field buses are serving a dual purpose in controlling the various sensors and feeding back information of their operation. In an intrinsically safe environment the field bus may be allowed to only be coupled to four units or sensors to meet the low power requirements required in this type of environment. Thus, a need exists for a field bus which allows for a large number of sensors to be operatively coupled thereto such that installation and hardware cost may be lowered while retaining a field bus system which remains operable in an intrinsically safe environment.
In today's modern industrial plants the assets of the plant are provided by a variety of different manufacturers. Therefore, the deep knowledge base of an individual asset is usually of a proprietary nature. Thus, problems exist in obtaining the deep knowledge of a particular asset and incorporating it into an asset management system without the proprietary information being divulged for the benefit of the asset manufacturer's competitor. Thus, a need exists for a system to be appendable without the deep knowledge of any particular asset being disseminated and without interfering with the operation of the overall system.
In addition, a need exists for an asset management system which gives the right people concise information at appropriate times so that they are able to make correct decisions.
The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware and is included herewith to discharge applicant's acknowledged duty to disclose relevant prior art. It is stipulated, however, that none of these references teach singly nor render obvious when considered in any conceivable combination the nexus of the instant invention as disclosed in greater detail hereinafter and as particularly claimed.
______________________________________ PATENT NO. ISSUE DATE INVENTOR ______________________________________ 4,591,983 May 27, 1986 Bennett et al. 4,628,435 December 9, 1986 Tashiro et al. 4,644,479 February 17, 1987 Kemper et al. 4,719,586 January 12, 1988 Moyer et al. 4,803,039 February 7, 1989 Impink, Jr. et al. 4,815,014 March 21, 1989 Lipner et al. 4,839,823 June 13, 1989 Matsumoto 4,853,175 August 1, 1989 Book, Sr. 4,855,923 August 8, 1989 Fullmer 4,858,102 August 15, 1989 Lovrenich 4,947,095 August 7, 1990 Kawamura et al. 5,068,080 November 26, 1991 Impink, Jr. et al. 5,099,436 March 24, 1992 McCown et al. 5,119,318 June 2, 1992 Paradies et al. 5,148,363 September 15, 1992 Sakamoto et al. 5,161,110 November 3, 1992 Dorchak 5,189,604 February 23, 1993 Lovrenich 5,195,029 March 16, 1993 Murai et al. 5,214,577 May 25, 1993 Sztipanovits et al. 5,216,612 June 1, 1993 Cornett et al. 5,239,547 August 24, 1993 Tomiyama et al. 5,249,260 September 28, 1993 Nigawara et al. 5,251,144 October 5, 1993 Ramamurthi 5,267,141 November 30, 1993 Morita et al. 5,305,426 April 19, 1994 Ushioda et al. 5,333,240 July 26, 1994 Matsumoto et al. 5,355,444 October 11, 1994 Chirico 5,403,447 April 4, 1995 Jarvinen et al. 5,406,502 April 11, 1995 Haramaty et al. 5,414,632 May 9, 1995 Mochizuki et al. 5,442,562 August 15, 1995 Hopkins et al. 5,463,545 October 31, 1995 Umeda et al. 5,463,567 October 31, 1995 Boen et al. 5,511,004 April 23, 1996 Dubost et al. 5,521,844 May 28, 1996 Karis 5,541,832 July 30, 1996 Nakajima et al. 5,557,549 September 17, 1996 Chang 5,559,691 September 24, 1996 Monta et al. 5,561,610 October 1, 1996 Schricker et al. ______________________________________

Knowledge manager relying on a hierarchical default expert system: apparatus and method


A method and apparatus is provided for connecting a computer to electronic addresses in sync with an audio/video broadcast. Simultaneously with the broadcasting of audio/video programming, an address transmitter transmits an address, such as a URL, identifying an on-line service which contains information about the audio or video programming. This address is received by a computer and used to automatically access the on-line service. Preferably, the process is repeated with different addresses corresponding with different programming. It is also preferred that the addresses be sent via a paging system.

Although both television programming and the Internet have undergone an explosion of content, the two have essentially expanded and developed independently. There have been relatively few successful attempts to marry these two areas of communication. Accordingly, despite the vast business opportunities afforded by television, the potential of exploiting or enhancing revenues via the Internet has been largely untapped. The same is true with respect to radio stations, which are being all but left out of the information revolution.
Although some efforts have made to made to link these two areas, these efforts have suffered from disadvantages. Users can often obtain more information about their favorite programming or station by accessing a website on the World Wide Web which is dedicated to that programming. However, while the website may contain useful information which is of interest to the user, the user has to overcome a number of obstacles to get to that website. The user must first obtain an electronic address such as a Uniform Resource Locators ("URL") for the website and enter that electronic address exactly into the user's computer. These addresses are often long and complicated. These inconveniences can dissuade those who would otherwise be interested in finding programming information on the Internet.
Another manner in which broadcast programming and the Internet have been linked is allowing users to electronically communicate via the Internet with a live broadcast show. The television programming may change in response to the information being sent to the broadcaster, such as by broadcasting a transcript of the messages sent. Again, however, this method also requires the user to know and correctly use the appropriate URL.
Further, the foregoing efforts to link broadcast programming with the Internet also require that the user stay connected to one particular website. If the user wishes to find information on the Internet which is associated with different programming, they are required to change websites and undergo the same inconveniences of finding and entering the appropriate URL.
It would be advantageous, therefore, if there were a method and apparatus which saved the user the difficulty of finding and entering proper on-line electronic addresses associated with broadcast programming. There is an accompanying need for a method and apparatus which automatically connects the computer to different addresses as the programming changes.

Apparatus and method of automatically accessing on-line services in response to broadcast of on-line addresses


A seat belt system for use in a vehicle, which includes a seat belt webbing for restraining an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the webbing includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the webbing is attached to a retractor for either retracting the webbing or permitting withdrawal of the webbing, and wherein the second end of the webbing is connected to an anchor; a tongue mechanism connected to the webbing and positioned to separate the webbing into a lap portion and a shoulder portion; and a buckle mechanism configured to detachably couple with the tongue mechanism. The tongue mechanism is configured so that the tongue mechanism is slideably coupled to the webbing when the tension in the webbing is less than a cinching load, and when the tension in the webbing is equal to or greater than the cinching load the tongue mechanism applies a cinching force on the webbing to prevent the webbing from changing position relative to the tongue mechanism. The tongue mechanism is further configured so that when the tension in the webbing is less than the cinching load there is no cinching force applied to the webbing.

The present application relates generally to the field of vehicle seat belt systems which provide occupant protection during a dynamic vehicle impact event. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an improved tongue mechanism for a seat belt system.
Motor vehicles have been equipped with seat belt systems coupled or integrated with seat systems. During a vehicle dynamic impact event, the seat belt system restrains an occupant with a seat belt or webbing to the seat system, providing protection to the occupant. Among the conventional seat belt systems, a three point seat belt system is generally known and employed. The typical method of configuring a three point seat belt system is to connect the seat belt or webbing fixedly at one end to the vehicle or seat system, connect the other end fixedly to the seat belt retractor, and slideably couple a tongue to the webbing between its ends. The tongue then may be detachably coupled to a buckle mechanism positioned on the side of the seat opposite to the anchor and retractor connections of the webbing. Thereby, when the tongue is latched to the buckle mechanism, the webbing forms a lap portion which extends across the lap of the occupant between the anchor and tongue connections of the webbing; and forms a shoulder portion which extends diagonally across the torso of the occupant and over the shoulder of the occupant, between the tongue and retractor connections of the webbing.
It has been known to make a tongue mechanism slideable along the length of a continuous loop of webbing to allow the occupant to adjust the lengths of the lap and shoulder portions of the seat belt. It has also been known to construct a tongue mechanism that includes a cinch mechanism, having a lock bar that is driven by belt tension from the latching of the tongue and buckle mechanisms to cinch the webbing of the seat belt system. There are two primary types of tongue mechanisms having cinch mechanisms. The first type are non-free falling tongues, which the cinch mechanism engages the webbing as soon as the seat belt has tension. The second type are tongue mechanisms progressively engage their cinch mechanism with each successive tensile force through the webbing. These tongues continually shorten the webbing (i.e., tighten the webbing around the occupant) over time, resulting from forces transmitted during normal vehicle driving (e.g., from hitting a bump or pot-hole, or from vehicle stability) through the webbing. Therefore the seat belt systems that employ these tongue mechanisms become more uncomfortable for the occupant during use or over time.
It would be advantageous to construct a tongue mechanism that has free-falling capability, and includes a cinch mechanism which engages at a pre-determined belt tension, then disengages when the belt tension drops below the pre-determined amount. It would also be advantageous for this tongue mechanism not to progressively tighten the webbing around the occupant over time during normal vehicle use.


A touch type electrophoretic display apparatus, including: at least one photo-controlled voltage source, used for generating at least one reference voltage, wherein the level of the at least one reference voltage gets lower/higher as the intensity of environmental light increases/decreases; and a plurality of photo sensing circuits, each of which including: a photo transistor, generating a channel current according to an incident light; a light intensity storing capacitor, used for integrating the channel current to generate a photo sensing voltage; and an output switch, used for providing an output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch type electrophoretic display apparatus, especially to a touch type electrophoretic display apparatus using photo sensors for touch detection, wherein the output signal levels of the photo sensors can be adjusted according to the intensity of environmental light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a sectional view of a prior art touch type electrophoretic display apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the touch type electrophoretic display apparatus includes a display substrate 100 and an electrophoretic display layer 110.
The display substrate 100 has a plurality of pixel driving circuits and a plurality of photo sensing circuits. The pixel driving circuit includes a pixel switch and a pixel capacitor, while the photo sensing circuit includes a photo transistor, a light intensity storing capacitor, and an output switch. The pixel driving circuits are used for generating an array of driving voltages to drive the electrophoretic display layer 110 to display a picture. The photo sensing circuits are used for outputting a plurality of photo sensing signals to a controller for detecting the coordinate of a touch event occurring in a touch plane.
When a finger of a user touches a local area of the touch plane, one of the photo sensing circuits will change the voltage level of the photo sensing signal, so that the controller can generate a touch coordinate accordingly. Regarding the circuit diagrams of the pixel driving circuit and the photo sensing circuit of the display substrate 100, please refer to FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the pixel driving circuit includes a transistor 201 and a pixel capacitor 202, while the photo sensing circuit includes a photo transistor 203, a light intensity storing capacitor 204, and an output switch 205.
The transistor 201 is used as the pixel switch, for storing a source voltage VS on the pixel capacitor 202 under the control of a gate voltage VG, to determine the grey level of a pixel of the electrophoretic display layer 110.
The photo transistor 203—under the bias of a turn-off voltage VOFF and a supply voltage VP—is used for generating a channel current according to an incident light, the stronger the incident light, the larger the channel current. When a touch event takes place at a position above one of the photo transistors 203, the incident light will become dimmer, and the channel current will reduce to a low level.
The light intensity storing capacitor 204 is used for integrating the channel current to generate a photo sensing voltage. The photo sensing voltage will exhibit a first level when the incident light on the photo transistor 203 is not shielded; the photo sensing voltage will exhibit a second level when the incident light on the photo transistor 203 becomes dimmer due to a touch operation of a user, wherein the first level is higher than the second level.
The output switch 205 is implemented by a transistor, used for outputting the photo sensing voltage through an output signal SOUT, under the control of an output scan voltage VSCAN. When the level of the output signal SOUT is lower than a threshold voltage, which is set between the first level and the second level, it indicates touched status; when the level of the output signal SOUT is higher than the threshold voltage, it indicates untouched status.
However, when environmental light is dim, the first level—corresponding to the situation that the incident light on the photo transistor 203 is not shielded—can be lower than the threshold voltage, and this will mistake untouched status as touched status. To solve this problem, one solution is to increase the channel width/length ratio of the photo transistors 203. Nevertheless, with the channel width/length ratio of the photo transistors 203 increased, the second level—corresponding to the situation that the incident light on the photo transistor 203 is shielded—can be higher than the threshold voltage when environmental light is strong, and this will mistake touched status as untouched status. That is, the first level and the second level can be shifted by environmental light to an extent that the touch status will not be determined correctly.
In view of the problems mentioned above, the present invention proposes a novel touch type electrophoretic display apparatus, which can adaptively adjust the level of the photo sensing voltage according to the intensity of environmental light, to prevent the touch status from being misjudged.

Touch type electrophoretic display apparatus


Methods and systems are provided for pre-ignition control. A pre-ignition mitigating enrichment is deactivated in response to a tip-out but reactivated in response to a subsequent tip-in. By preemptively enriching the engine, repeated pre-ignition due at subsequent tip-ins is reduced.

Boosted engines operating at heavy loads and low engine speeds may be prone to pre-ignition combustion events. The early combustion due to pre-ignition can cause very high in-cylinder pressures, and can result in combustion pressure waves similar to combustion knock, but with larger intensity. Strategies have been developed for prediction and/or early detection of pre-ignition based on engine operating conditions. Additionally, following detection, various pre-ignition mitigating steps may be taken.
In one example, as shown by Rollinger et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,073,613, in response to a pre-ignition event, the affected cylinder is enriched. In addition, an engine load may be reduced. Further still, the enrichment and load limiting is adjusted based on the pre-ignition history of the engine with a more aggressive enrichment and load limiting applied when there is recurrent pre-ignition as compared to sporadic pre-ignition.
However, the inventors herein have identified a potential issue with such an approach. Specifically, the enrichment is deactivated in response to a tip-out leading to an incomplete pre-ignition mitigating enrichment. For example, if an engine is operated at a relatively higher engine speed and load condition, the engine can become very hot. Subsequent operation at lower engine speed and high load can produce repeated pre-ignition events every time a throttle tip-in is performed to increase air mass and torque. The approach of '613 mitigates low speed pre-ignition by enriching the cylinder(s) for a short period of time. However, if the pedal or throttle request is decreased (e.g., due to a tip-out event) during the mitigating action, the enrichment strategy may be abandoned. A subsequent tip-in to even low or mid loads may produce pre-ignition events. In particular, pre-ignition may be triggered during a subsequent tip-in to loads even lower than those that typically trigger pre-ignition. This may not only degrade engine performance but also reduce engine life.
To at least partly address the above issue, a method of controlling an engine is provided. The method comprises, during a tip-in, in response to an indication of pre-ignition, enriching the engine until a subsequent tip-out, and if a number of enrichment cycles between the tip-in and the tip-out is lower than a threshold, enriching the engine during a subsequent tip-in. In this way, enrichment responsive to pre-ignition induced during a tip-in may be completed and further pre-ignition may be mitigated.
For example, in response to an indication of pre-ignition during a tip-in event, an enrichment profile may be determined. This may include a number of enrichment cycles as well as a degree of richness of each cycle, to be performed to mitigate the pre-ignition. If a tip-out event occurs, the enrichment may be stopped or deactivated. If the tip-out occurs after the number of enrichment cycles are performed, the enrichment profile may be considered completed. However, if the tip-out occurs before the determined number of enrichment cycles are performed, the enrichment profile may be considered incomplete. The controller may then store the remaining number of enrichment cycles in its memory. During a subsequent tip-in following the tip-out, the remaining number of enrichment cycles may be executed, even if an indication of pre-ignition is not received during the subsequent tip-in. This allows the enrichment initiated responsive to the initial tip-in to be completed or reactivated during the subsequent tip-in, and further pre-ignition events to be preemptively addressed.
Alternatively, the controller may lower a pre-ignition threshold during the subsequent tip-in and perform the remainder of the enrichment when the engine conditions cross the lower threshold. For example, the remainder of the enrichment may be triggered during the subsequent tip-in at lower engine load conditions than engine load conditions where pre-ignition typically occurs. The controller may then complete the enrichment until the remaining number of enrichment cycles have been depleted.
In this way, pre-ignition responsive to repeated tip-ins may be reduced. By continuing enrichment initiated, but not completed, during an initial tip-in, at a subsequent tip-in, sufficient combustion chamber cooling can be provided. By preemptively reactivating the enrichment during the subsequent tip-in, before an indication of pre-ignition is received, the combustion surfaces can be maintained below critical temperatures and thermal overloading during the subsequent tip-in can be reduced. In this way, not only is the incipient pre-ignition event mitigated, but also, the likelihood of further pre-ignition events is reduced. Overall engine performance and life is extended.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and system for pre-ignition control


A plurality of power budgets are sent to a corresponding plurality of power consumers by a power management point, wherein a total power budget managed by the power management point includes a sum of the plurality of power budgets and an available power budget not assigned to the plurality of power consumers. An additional power request having a power increase amount is received from a first power consumer of the plurality of power consumers. The additional power request is approved when the power increase amount does not exceed the available power budget. The available power budget is decreased by the power increase amount. An approval of the additional power request is sent to the first power consumer.

Organizations often use datacenters to house computer systems and associated support devices, such as storage and communications equipment. Today, many organizations are unable to expand their computing capacity because they are constrained by their ability to power and cool additional equipment in their datacenters. Also, adding computing systems may increase datacenter utility costs as well as increase a datacenter's environmental footprint.

Collaborative power sharing between computing devices


A neutron generator, comprising:. (i) an ion source comprising an anode and a thermionic cathode disposed in an ionizable gas environment (e.g. hydrogen isotope); PA0 (ii) means for heating the cathode so that the latter emits electrons which, when colliding with the gas atoms, generate ions; PA0 (iii) a target; PA0 (iv) an electrical gap to accelerate ions from the ion source towards the target upon impingement of the ions; and PA0 (v) control means for applying voltages to the anode, cathode and electrical gap.. The cathode is of the dispenser type or volume type, and preferably comprises one block of material comprised of a substrate impregnated with an electron emitting material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to neutron generating systems and more particularly pertains to a new and improved neutron generator especially adapted to traverse the narrow confines of a well or borehole, although useful in a variety of other applications. Since a neutron generator embodying the invention is ideally suited to the needs of well logging services, it will be described in that connection.
2. The Related Art
The use of a generator of high energy neutrons has been known for a long time for neutron-gamma ray or neutron-neutron logging. A neutron generator has advantages compared with chemical neutron sources, in particular it features a negligible amount of radiation other than the desired neutrons; a high yield of neutrons; a controllable yield of neutrons in bursts or continuously; neutrons at higher energies than formerly possible; mono-energetic neutrons; and control of the generator so as to permit its deactivation prior to withdrawal from or insertion in a well. The first five of these attributes are important in obtaining more informative logs, while the last is valuable in minimizing health hazards to operating personnel.
Neutron generators used in oil well logging tools usually require controlled low pressure atmospheres and high intensity magnetic fields. Accordingly, for illustrative purposes, the invention is described in more complete detail in connection with a neutron generator suitable for use in a well logging tool.
Neutron generators usually have three major features:
(i) a gas source to supply the reacting substances, such as deuterium (H.sup.2) and tritium (H.sup.3); PA1 (ii) an ion source comprising usually at least one cathode and an anode; electrons are emitted from the cathode surface when an electrical impulse is applied to the anode; impact of the primary electrons on the gas molecules result in subsequent secondary electrons being stripped from the gas molecules, thus generating positively charged ions; and PA1 (iii) an accelerating gap which impels the ions to a target with such energy that the bombarding ions collide with deuterium or tritium target nuclei in neutron (n) generating reactions: EQU H.sup.2 +H.sup.2 .fwdarw.He.sup.3 +n+3.26 MeV EQU H.sup.2 +H.sup.3 .fwdarw.He.sup.4 +n+17.6 MeV EQU H.sup.3 +H.sup.3 .fwdarw.He.sup.4 +2n+13 MeV PA1 where He.sup.3 and He.sup.4 are helium isotopes, and the energy is expressed in millions of electron volts (MeV). PA1 1) a sonde incorporating at least one radiation detector; and PA1 2) a neutron generator comprising: PA1 an ion source comprising an anode and a dispenser or volume type cathode disposed in an ionizable gas environment including at least one hydrogen isotope; PA1 means for heating the cathode so that the latter emits electrons which, when colliding with the gas atoms, generate ions; PA1 a target; PA1 an electrical gap to accelerate ions from the ion source towards the target upon impingement of the ions; and PA1 control means for applying voltages to the anode, cathode and electrical gap.
Ordinarily, negative electrons and positively charged ions are produced through electron and uncharged gas molecule collisions within the ion source. Electrodes of different potential contribute to ion production by accelerating electrons to energy higher than the ionization threshold. Collisions of those energetic electrons with gas molecules produce additional ions and electrons. At the same time, some electrons and ions are lost to the anode and cathode. In this manner, the positive and negative charges inside the ion source approach an equilibrium. Collision efficiency can be increased by lengthening the distance that the electrons travel within the ion source before they are neutralized by striking a positive electrode. One known path lengthening technique establishes a magnetic field which is perpendicular to the aforementioned electric field. The combined magnetic and electrical fields cause the electrons to describe a helical path within the ion source which substantially increases the distance traveled by the electrons within the ion source and thus enhances the collision efficiency of the device.
This type of ion source, called "Penning ion source", is part of a family of "cold cathode ion sources" and has been known as early as 1937; see for example the article by F. M. Penning and J. H. A. Moubis in Physica 4 (1937) 1190. Examples of neutron generators including such "cold cathode ion source" used in logging tools are described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,512 or 3,756,682 both assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation.
However, neutron generators using Penning ion sources used in logging tools suffer from several drawbacks.
First, the anode being at a high potential, in the range of 1 to 3 kV, the cathode suffers erosion due to energetic ion bombardment. Material sputtered from the cathode may coat the insulator surfaces provided for electrical insulation either of the anode or of the target. This may cause instability which is prejudicial to the operation of the ion source. Also, this instability occurring in a space where high voltages are involved can be detrimental to safety.
Second, most logging nuclear measurements are carried out by emitting pulses of neutrons which irradiate the earth formations, and by detecting the radiation (neutrons or gamma rays) resulting from the interaction of earth formation atoms and the emitted neutrons. Thus, it is critical to have a good knowledge of the characteristics of the neutron pulse, such as the neutron output (number of neutrons emitted) and the pulse timing. Such knowledge means having control over these characteristics. It is highly desirable to generate neutron pulses having a substantially square shape, in particular a short rise time (to reach the plateau value) and a short fall time (once the voltages are turned off). However, in a Penning source, such tasks are difficult because the charge populations in the source, particularly the electron population, do not reach equilibrium instantaneously; see F. Chen, J. Appl. Phys. 56 (11) 3191, 1984. The rate at which the charge populations approach the equilibrium depends strongly on the gas pressure in the source. This effect manifests itself in the slow rise time of the neutron pulse, and a delay, typically a few microseconds (although sometimes variable with operation conditions), between the time the voltage appears at the anode and the start of the neutron pulse. Since the cathode and anode surface conditions are not identical between different neutron tubes, different pressures are often required to achieve the same neutron output. This makes the timing control of the source all the more difficult that it is essentially a function of the particular neutron generator, and may vary over the operating lifetime of the neutron generator.
Third, the high voltage required for a Penning ion source (1-3 kV) is generally produced via a pulse transformer. The transformers are designed for a certain pulse width. Thus, changing pulse length results in altering the performance, most noticeably, the neutron pulse shape. There have been some attempts to improve the neutron pulse shape generated from a cold cathode ion source. In particular, the article "Neutron Generators for Wireline Application," from R. Ethridge et al., 1990 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, Arlington, Va., Oct. 22-23, 1990, Vol. 2 of 2, describes a cold cathode source wherein the pulse transformer is provided with a "clamping" circuit designed to decrease the fall time of the pulse. However, such clamping circuits: (i) do not seem to improve the rise time of the neutron pulse; (ii) require additional power; (iii) and increase the overall size of the control circuit.
Fourth, the known cold cathode sources can usually operate in any one of several discharge modes according to the relative ion and electron populations and different plasma sheath structures. The anode voltage, the magnetic field and the gas pressure determine the operating point at which the production and loss of electrons and ions are at balance. In addition, under certain conditions, the operating point is unstable near certain mode boundaries. The transition from one mode to the other can lead to a substantial change in the ion beam density and electron extraction efficiency, and, with control circuits currently used that regulate the beam current by lowering the gas pressure, to a reduction in gas pressure that can result in oscillations about the mode boundary. The resulting neutron output variations are detrimental to the overall quality of the measurements.
Fifth, the means for generating the magnetic field, intended to lengthen the electrons path, are relatively cumbersome and increase the overall dimensions and weight of the neutron generator. This is of concern in a logging tool where room is limited.
An alternative to the cold cathode ion sources are "hot cathode" ion sources, proposed as early as 1939, associated to a spectrograph, as depicted e.g. in the article "Focused Beam Source of Hydrogen and Helium Ions" by G. W. Scott Jr., in Physical Review, May 15, 1939, volume 55. Further developments in the same technical area provided some modifications to the basic hot cathode ion source; see e.g. the article "An Electrostatically Focused Ion Source and its Use in a Sealed-Off D.C. Neutron Source" by J. D. L. H. Wood and A. G. Crocker, Nuclear Instruments and Methods, 21 (1963) pages 47-48; or the article "Electron Bombardment Ion Source for Low Energy Beams" by S. Dworetsky et al., in The Review of Scientific Instruments, November 1968, volume 39, No. 11. A "hot cathode" typically comprises a material susceptible, when heated, to emit electrons. The cathode is disposed above, or concentrically to, the anode. An extracting electrode (also called focusing electrode) is placed at the front of the anode to extract ions, generated from collisions between electrons and gas molecules, and focus such ions so as to form an ion beam.
Hot cathode ion sources by themselves bring some improvements with respect to cold cathode ion sources. Hot cathode sources for instance: (i) do not always require a magnetic field, and this allows a substantial reduction in weight and dimensions; (ii) are able to generate an optimum electron flux in a relatively short period of time after the voltage pulse is applied to the anode; (iii) as being used in sealed neutron generator, do not show troublesome mode transitions in the range of gas pressure where these devices normally operate; and (iv) do not require a high anode or cathode voltage when used in neutron generators including a discharging gas made of deuterium and tritium; this reduced voltage entails a reduction in electrode erosion.
However, hot cathode ion sources present drawbacks of their own compared to cold cathode ion sources, such as: (i) additional power; (ii) a relatively reduced lifetime at least for most of hot cathode filament materials, and (iii) the need for a specific structure to support the hot cathode and anode, especially in view of the severe shock and vibration conditions encountered during logging operations.
Moreover, according to applicant's knowledge, the known hot cathode ion sources were implemented in laboratories and designed mainly for experimental purpose, which applications are not subjected to the severe environmental constraints typical of the logging techniques. In other words, performances of these known hot cathode ion source could be considered sufficient for laboratory measurements but would not be acceptable for logging applications, even assuming they could be directly implemented in a logging tool. Among others, one could mention, as constraints specific to logging applications: weight and dimensions, safety, neutron pulse shape, neutron output, power requirements, and operating lifetime.
Accordingly, although the neutron generators used so far in the logging techniques have been working relatively satisfactory, there still is a need for an improvement to the neutron output and especially to the neutron pulse shape.


A drive system having a belt with a length and a plurality of teeth spaced regularly along the length of the belt and a first pulley having a plurality of grooves for receiving the belt teeth with the belt and first pulley in operative relationship. The single pitch difference between the belt teeth and the grooves in the first pulley is between -0.04 mm and 0 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to power transmission belts and, more particularly, to a toothed power transmission belt which drives/is driven by a grooved pulley either one way in a predetermined path or in a reciprocating motion.
2. Background Art
Printer carriage belts, bank note conveyor belts, card conveyor belts, and other types of conveyor belts are commonly made using a toothed construction.
The common difference for the single pitch error for the belt teeth, which is calculated by measuring the length of the pitch circle or the length of the center distance, is not controlled for the belts in the above-identified environment. Similarly, the common difference for the single pitch error of teeth on a cooperating pulley, calculated by determining the outer diameter tolerance, is not controlled.
It is known to use aramid fiber or glass fiber load carrying cords in this type of belt. One example of an aramid fiber cord is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-135954. The cords therein have a twist coefficient of from 1.4 to 2.6 and a thickness of from 300 to 500 denier. It is also known to make aramid fiber load carrying cords by twisting yarns which are defined by twisting a plurality of base yams together and then applying adhesive thereto. Glass fiber ropes have also been treated with an adhesive in the prior art.
In the conventional belts, described above, the single pitch difference between the single pitch of the belt teeth and the pitch of the pulley grooves is not controlled. If the single pitch difference between the single pitch of the teeth of the belts and the single pitch of the grooves of the pulleys on which the belts are mounted is large, there may be interference between the belt teeth and pulley teeth as the belt teeth move into the pulley grooves in operation. This may produce vibration and/or variation in the belt speed. With the belt being used in a printing application, printing accuracy may be compromised. Travel accuracy may be adversely affected in conveyor systems. Variation in the travel rate may produce adverse effects in other environments in which this type of belt is used which require consistent belt speed.
Additionally, in conventional belt and pulley systems, the height of the belt teeth and the depth of the pulley grooves are normally approximately the same. Since the grooves in this type of system may be relatively deep, the rotational center line of the belt may be influenced by the interference between the belt teeth and pulleys as the belt teeth enter the pulley grooves. This condition is shown generally in FIG. 19 herein. In FIG. 19, a belt 10 is shown in operative relationship to a pulley 12. The belt 10 has teeth 14, 16, 18 which move into and out of grooves 20 on the pulley 12 as the system operates. In this system, one tooth 22 between adjacent grooves 20 on the pulley 12, moves between adjacent teeth 14, 16 and presses a portion 24 of a body 26 of the belt 10 outwardly to produce a relatively sharp bend at 24. As a result of this interference between the belt 10 and pulley 12, undesirable speed variation may result with the belt 10 in use.
It is known to use aramid fibers and glass fibers in load carrying cords in systems which require cords with a high modulus of elasticity. However, when the belts are driven by small motors, or are used as printer carriage belts, bank note conveyor belts, card conveyor belts, and the like, which are not driven with a high torque, the belts made with these fibers may not be as flexible as necessary. These belts may also become highly rigid at low temperatures. As a result, the necessary starting torque and the necessary drive torque for these systems may be undesirably high.

Toothed power transmission belt and drive system using the power transmission belt


A jammer for jamming communications in a communications system where the communications system operates with digital bursts having burst periods measured in time and occurring in a communication frequency band such as GSM having a transmit band and a receive band. The jammer includes a tone comb generator for providing repetitions of jamming signals for the communication frequency band where the jamming signals have jamming signal intervals providing frequency separation between the jamming signals. The jamming signals are generated with a dwell time substantially less than a burst period for the communications system. The jamming signals are generated concurrently for the transmit band and the receive band and are transmitted as RF jamming signals to jam communications for mobile stations.

RF transmitters and receivers have become widely available and deployed for use in many applications including many commercial products for individuals such as cellular hand sets ("mobile stations"), garage door openers, automobile keyless entry devices, cordless handsets and family radios. RF transmitters and receivers are also widely deployed in more complex commercial, safety and military applications. Collectively, the possible existence of many different RF transmissions from many different types of equipment presents a broadband RF transmission environment.
In light of the increasing large deployment of many different types of RF transmitters and receivers, the particular RF signals and signal protocols that may be present in any particular local area potentially are quite complex. Cellular systems, in particular, are of high interest because of their widespread deployment.
At times in a particular local area, it is desirable that the RF local mobile stations be rendered temporarily inactive thus preventing such local RF mobile stations from initiating transmissions by any associated local RF mobile stations or otherwise from initiating any action.
RF jammers have long been employed for temporarily rendering local RF mobile stations inactive. However, the large deployment of many different types of RF transmitters and receivers has rendered conventional jammers ineffective in many RF environments.
Jamming is usually achieved by transmitting a strong jamming signal at the same frequency or in the same frequency band as that used by the targeted local receiver. The jamming signal may block a single frequency, identified as "spot jamming", or may block a band of frequencies, identified as "barrage jamming".
Although simple jammers have long existed, technological advances require the development of advanced jamming equipment. Early jammers were often simple transmitters keyed on a specific frequency thereby producing a carrier which interfered with the normal carriers at targeted local receivers. However, such single carrier jammers have become ineffective and easily avoided using, for example, frequency hopping, spread spectrum and other technologies.
Some jamming equipment has used wide-band RF spectrum transmitters and various audio tone transmissions to jam or to spoof local receivers. Other systems employ frequency tracking receivers and transmitters and utilize several large directional antenna arrays that permit directional jamming of targeted local receivers. Often in such arrays, deep nulls in selected directions are provided to minimize the effects of the jamming in those selected directions. The deep null directions are then used to allow wanted communications.
Some jammers feature several modes of operation and several modulation types. For example, such operational modes include hand keying, random keying, periodic keying, continuous keying and "look through". In the "look through" mode, a special jammer or a separate receiver/transmitter is used to selectively control the keying of the transmit circuit. The "look through" mode can be configured to hard key the transmitter ON at full power output upon detection of a received signal and periodically hard switch the transmitter RF power to OFF. In unkey operations, while the receiver "looks through" to see if there is still a carrier present or, after the transmitter has hard keyed to full output power ON, the RF output of the transmitter is gradually slewed down to a lower level while the receiver "looks through" to detect any carrier activity on the targeted frequency.
In a continuous-wave operation, when a jammer is only transmitting a steady carrier, the jamming signal beats with other signals and produces a steady tone. In the case of single side band (SSB) or amplitude modulated (AM) signals, a howl sound is produced at the receiver. In the case of frequency modulated (FM) signals, the receiver is desensitized, meaning that the receiver's sensitivity (ability to receive signals) will be greatly reduced.
When various types of modulations are generated by a transmitter, the operation is referred to as "Modulated Jamming". The modulation sources have been, for example, noise, laughter, singing, music, various tones and so forth. Some of the modulation types are White Noise, White Noise with Modulation, Tone, Bagpipes, Stepped Tones, Swept Tones, FSK Spoof and Crypto Spoof.
The jammers that are actually deployed have tended to be either barrage jammers broadcasting broadband noise or CW (continuous wave) signals targeted at specific known signals. Generally, barrage jammers tend to produce a low energy density in any given communications channel, for example a 25 kHz channel, when jamming a broad band of channels. By way of example, a 200 MHz barrage jammer transmitting 100 Watts generally will only have 12 mWatts in any communications channel and this low power level per channel is likely to be ineffective as a jammer. These jammers also tend to jam wanted communications.
A regenerative jammer is disclosed in an application entitled REGENERATIVE JAMMER WITH MULTIPLE JAMMING ALGORITHMS, with filed date of Mar. 24, 2006 and with Ser. No. 11/398,748. The regenerative jammer generates and transmits RF broadband jamming signals for jamming one or more local RF receivers. The jammer includes a broadband antenna unit for receiving broadband RF jammer received signals from local transmitters and for transmission of regenerated broadband RF jamming signals to the local receivers. The antenna unit includes one or more antennas for separately transmitting and receiving. The jamming signals use a plurality of jamming algorithms including a regeneration algorithm for jamming local receivers.
The jamming of cellular systems is of particular interest because of the high number of cellular mobile stations that are presently deployed and that are increasingly being deployed.
Cellular systems "reuse" frequencies within a group of cells to provide wireless two-way radio frequency (RF) communication to potentially large numbers of users at mobile stations (often called "cell mobile stations" and "hand sets"). Each cell covers a small geographic area (up to about 35 kilometers and typically much smaller in urban areas) and collectively a group of adjacent cells covers a larger geographic region. Each cell has a fraction of the total amount of RF spectrum available to support cellular users. Cells are of different sizes (for example, macro-cell or micro-cell) and are generally fixed in capacity. The actual shapes and sizes of cells are complex functions of the terrain, the man-made environment, the quality of communication and the mobile station capacity required. Cells are connected to each other via land lines, microwave links, switches or other means that are adapted for mobile communication. Switches provide for the hand-off of mobile stations from cell to cell and thus typically from frequency to frequency as mobile stations move between cells.
In conventional cellular systems, each cell has a base station (BTS) with RF transmitters and RF receivers co-sited for transmitting and receiving communications to and from mobile stations in the cell. The base station employs forward RF frequency bands (carriers) to transmit forward channel communications to mobile stations and employs reverse RF carriers to receive reverse channel communications from mobile stations in the cell.
The forward and reverse channel communications use separate frequency bands so that simultaneous transmissions in both directions are possible. This operation is referred to as frequency division duplex (FDD) operation. In time division duplex (TDD) operation, the forward and reverse channels take turns using the same frequency band.
The base station in addition to providing RF connectivity to users at mobile stations also provides connectivity to other base stations through a switch or other facility sometimes called an Office. In a typical cellular system, one or more such Offices will be used over the covered region to service a number of base stations and associated cells in the cellular system and to support switching operations for routing calls between other systems and the cellular system or for routing calls within the cellular system. An Office assigns RF carriers to support calls, coordinates the handoff of mobile stations among base stations, and monitors and reports on the status of base stations. The number of base stations controlled by a single Office depends upon the traffic at each base station, the cost of interconnection between the Office and the base stations, the topology of the service area and other similar factors.
A handoff between base stations occurs, for example, when a mobile station travels from a first cell to an adjacent second cell. Handoffs also occur to relieve the load on a base station that has exhausted its traffic-carrying capacity or where poor quality communication is occurring. The handoff is a communication transfer for a particular mobile station from the base station for the first cell to the base station for the second cell.
Conventional cellular implementations employ one of several techniques to reuse RF bandwidth from cell to cell over the cellular domain. The power received from a radio signal diminishes as the distance between transmitter and receiver increases. Conventional frequency reuse techniques rely upon power fading to implement reuse plans. In a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, a communications channel consists of an assigned particular frequency and bandwidth (carrier) for continuous transmission. If a carrier is in use in a given cell, it can only be reused in cells sufficiently separated from the given cell so that the reuse site signals do not significantly interfere with the carrier in the given cell. The determination of how far away reuse sites must be and of what constitutes significant interference are implementation-specific details for the communication system.
In TDMA conventional cellular architectures, time is divided into time slots of a specified duration. Time slots are grouped into frames, and the homologous time slots in each frame are assigned to the same channel. It is common practice to refer to the set of homologous time slots over all frames as a time slot. Each logical channel is assigned a time slot or slots on a common carrier band. The radio transmissions carrying the communications over each logical channel are thus discontinuous. The radio transmitter is off during the time slots not allocated to it.
Each separate radio transmission, which occupies a single time slot, is called a burst. Each TDMA implementation defines one or more burst structures. Typically, there are at least two burst structures, namely, a first one, an access burst, for the initial access and synchronization of a mobile station to the system, and a second one, a normal burst, for routine communications once a mobile station has been synchronized. Strict timing must be maintained in TDMA systems to prevent the bursts comprising one logical channel from interfering with the bursts comprising other logical channels in the adjacent time slots.
GSM signals are TDMA bursts with digital GMSK modulation format. The bit duration is about 3.7 μsec with about 156 bits forming a 0.577 msec burst in a TDMA time slot. A specific user is assigned one burst every 4.615 msec. The mobile stations transmit and receive at different RF frequencies. For example, in most of the world, including Europe, the mobile station transmits in the bands from 890 to 915 MHz and 1710 to 1785 MHz and receives in the bands from 935 to 960 and 1805 to 1880 MHz. The signals are allocated to channels within their transmit bands. The channel spacing is 0.2 MHz. The 1800 MHz mobile station transmit band has 75 MHz/0.2 MHz=375 channels available and similarly 375 channels for the receive band.
In some parts of the world, including the US and Canada, the GSM network uses the 800 and 1900 MHz bands. In the 800 MHz band, the mobile station transmits from 824 to 849 MHz and receives from 869 to 894 MHz. In the 1900 MHz band, the mobile station transmits from 1850 to 1910 MHz and receives from 1930 to 1990 MHz.
In operation of a GSM communication system, the system detects signal problems with a mobile station, such as high bit errors or loss of reception, and then commands the mobile station to change to a new RF channel. This new RF channel may be in the same band or may be in the other band. For example, if the mobile station is using 901.2 MHz and experiences difficulty, the system may command it to change to 893.4 MHz. Due to capacity and system loading, the mobile station may be commanded to use 1782.4 MHz in the upper band. These channel changes happen without detection by the user of the mobile station. GSM systems also have frequency hopping provisions where the channels are changed periodically to avoid interference.
Notwithstanding the advancements that have been made in jamming systems, GSM and other communication systems present a demanding need for more effective jammers. GSM jammers generally fall into three categories: continuous wave (CW), noise and modulated. The goal of these jammers is to have the mobile station receive enough jammer signals with sufficient power compared to the intended GSM signal from the base station, to prevent the intended signal from being demodulated properly. The mobile station does nothing when it does not recognize the received signal.
CW jammers generate a sinusoidal signal using a signal generator, for example, using a direct digital synthesis (DDS) chip. DDS chips can quickly tune to a commanded frequency and generate a sinusoidal signal. This sinusoidal signal is amplified with a power amplifier and transmitted via an RF antenna. The advantage of a DDS is that it is relatively inexpensive to generate the RF jammer signal. The disadvantages of a DDS are that a) the jammer system must know which channels to jam requiring an involved signal processing system and b) the jammer system requires a large number of DDS's to cover all the possible active mobile station receive channels.
Noise jammers produce broadband white noise filtered to the bands of interest, usually the mobile station receive channels. This band limited signal is amplified with a power amplifier and transmitted. An advantage of this noise jammer system is that the noise generator generates the signal at the RF frequency and covers a broad band. This noise jammer system only needs one signal generator to cover a wide band of frequencies. A disadvantage of the noise jammer system is that the noise density is low. For example, if a 10 Watt power amplifier is used to transmit the signal in the mobile station receive band, only about 20 mW of jamming signal power is actually transmitted in each channel. This low power produces a limited effective jammer range.
Modulated signal jammers use modified GSM mobile station circuitry and software to transmit a GSM type signal on active channels. This mobile station circuitry is inexpensive, but the number of mobile stations that can be jammed at one time is limited. Further, the mobile station circuitry has limited transmit power and therefore has a limited effective range.
Whenever a jammer starts operating, the GSM system will detect the interference and command the mobile station to change to a different channel frequency. This hand-off of a mobile station, if allowed to proceed, is made in milliseconds. Similarly, when frequency hopping is employed, the jammer must be able to respond to the new hopped to channel. Accordingly, any jammer must deal with the channel hand-off, frequency hopping and other dynamic operation of communication systems.
To be effective in jamming the dynamic operation of a communication system, a jammer must track changes to new channels and block the new channels, detect and jam all active channels or jam all possible channels. Furthermore, when the system detects a bad TDMA burst, it will retransmit the burst on the same or a different channel. Therefore, to be effective, the jammer must hit all TDMA bursts. Known systems do not satisfy these requirements.
In light of the foregoing background, there is a need for improved transmitters, receivers and jammers that are effective in local areas, and in particular are effective for GSM and other digital environments.

Aeroflex High Speed Test Solutions, Inc.


In an electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply using a permanent magnet type electric power generator having many kinds of windings in order to obtain the maximum output by force of wind without using PWM converter, there is a problem that gap magnetic flux of the permanent magnet type electric power generator is demagnetized to decrease the internal induced voltage because alternating current output of the permanent magnet type electric power generator is lagging current. In an electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply including a permanent magnet type electric power generator having a plurality of windings inducing different effective values of induced voltages and individual rectifiers for rectifying alternating current outputs of the permanent magnet type electric power generator, a capacitor is connected in series between the individual rectifier and the alternating current output terminal of the winding inducing higher effective value of induced voltage among the plurality of windings in a manner that serial impedances of the capacitor and the permanent magnet type electric power generator become capacitive within the range of rated rotational speed of said permanent magnet type electric power generator.

In order to obtain the approximately or substantially maximum output from a permanent magnet type electric power generator connected to a windmill or waterwheel by converting alternating current to direct current without using a PWM converter, the applicant of the present application had proposed an electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply comprising a permanent magnet type electric power generator including a plurality of windings inducing different induced voltages and having alternating current output terminals each connected in series through a reactor to a rectifier, and the direct current outputs of these rectifiers being connected in parallel to one another, thereby outputting the direct current external (refer to, for example opened Japanese Patent Literature 1).
Such a prior art technique will be explained in detail with reference to a main circuit diagram illustrating an electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply connected to a windmill shown in FIG. 13.
In FIG. 13, a windmill is denoted by reference numeral 1 and an electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply of the prior art is denoted by reference numeral 2 comprising a permanent magnet type electric power generator 3, first and second reactors 4 and 5, first and second rectifiers 7 and 8, a positive output terminal 11 and a negative output terminal 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a battery.
The permanent magnet type electric power generator 3 in FIG. 13 has two kinds of windings and of a three-phase generator.
In the permanent magnet type electric power generator 3 in FIG. 13, connected to the first reactor 4 and further to the first rectifier 7 is the alternating current output terminal W1 of a first winding whose effective value of induced voltage is low due to its smaller number of turns.
Connected to the second reactor 5 and further to the second rectifier 8 is the alternating current output terminal W2 of a second winding having a larger number of turns.
The direct current outputs of the first and second rectifiers 7 and 8 are connected in parallel to the positive output terminal 11 and the negative output terminal 12, and the total output of the respective windings is stored into the battery 13.
A method for obtaining the substantially maximum output from the electric power generating apparatus 2 for dispersed power supply thus configured will be described hereinafter.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the number of revolutions of the windmill versus output characteristic when wind speed is taken as the parameter.
With a windmill, if the shape of the windmill and wind speed U are determined, the output P of the windmill is monolithically determined with respect to the number of revolutions N of the windmill. For example, the output P of the windmill for the wind speeds Ux and Uy is illustrated as in FIG. 12, respectively. Peak values of the outputs P of the windmill for various wind speeds are shown as the maximum output curve Pt in FIG. 12.
In more detail, with the number of revolutions of the windmill versus output characteristic in FIG. 12, when the wind speed is Ux, the maximum output Px of the windmill is obtained at the number of revolutions Nx of the windmill as shown at the intersection point Sx of the windmill output curve at the wind speed Ux with the maximum output curve.
Moreover, when the wind speed is Uy, the maximum output Py of the windmill at the wind speed Uy is obtained at the number of revolutions Ny of the windmill.
Namely, when viewing the maximum output curve in FIG. 12 from another point, this curve indicates the fact that in order to obtain the maximum output from the wind, upon the number of revolutions N of the windmill being determined, the maximum output can be obtained by primarily determining the output P of the permanent magnet type electric power generator 3 at a value on the maximum output curve Pt.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view when the direct current outputs of the electric power generating apparatus 2 for dispersed power supply of the prior art are connected to a constant voltage power supply such as a battery or the like. As shown in FIG. 11, respective outputs of the first and second windings of the permanent magnet type electric power generator 3 of the electric power generating apparatus 2 for dispersed power supply are shown as the number of revolutions of windmill versus output characteristic curves P1 and P2 owing to difference in the effective values of induced voltages of the windings and voltage drops caused by internal inductances of the respective windings and the reactors connected to the respective output terminals.
In other words, when the number of revolutions N of the windmill is low, the battery 13 is not charged because the induced voltages of the first and second windings in the permanent magnet type electric power generator 3 are lower than the battery voltage Vb.
However, when the number of revolutions N of the windmill increases to a value near to N2, the electric current starts to flow through the second winding. With increase in number of revolutions N of the windmill, the electric current increases so that the output of the second winding is as shown at P2.
At this time, even if the number of revolutions N of the windmill increase to cause the induced voltage to be increased, the voltage of the battery remains at substantially constant value. On the other hand, the output P2 only gradually increases because the inductance of the second winding and the inductance by the second reactor 5 are proportional to the frequency.
With the first winding, when the number of revolutions N is further increased, the output starts to be obtained and greater output can be obtained because the internal inductance of the first winding and inductance of first reactor 4 are both small.
FIG. 10 illustrates the output to a constant voltage power supply such as a battery of the electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply of the prior art.
A total output obtained by summing up the outputs P1 and P2 of the first and second windings in the permanent magnet type electric power generator 3 is shown by an approximate output curve Ps.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2004-64,928 (FIG. 1)

Main circuit of electric power generating apparatus for dispersed power supply


A sound resonator device for internal connection to a guitar or other musical instrument that has strings tensioned over any type of bridge piece. The resonator device includes a torsion arm affixed to a sound board of the instrument from which is connected a plurality of involute coil sets, each made from a harmonically predetermined thickness (or gauge) of metal wire secured at its opposite end to the instrument interior.

To enhance the tonality of the sound box of a musical instrument, one may incorporate a common household spring that responds to the vibrations of its strings to give some resonant effect and modify the tones generated by plucking, strumming, striking or otherwise vibrating these strings.
It is further known in another design, that one might secure a large spring device to the frame of a guitar and suspending that spring vertically above the guitar strings over the outside top wall of the sound box and at a location in front of the bridge piece. A loop at the free end of this spring connects directly to two strings and vibrates with the strings to enhance the sound from the instrument. That spring device can be removed or disconnected if the original sound from that instrument is desired. Such a spring device has many disadvantages, however. It is unsightly; it intercepts string energy before it can benefit the soundboard, and is difficult to install. Known (large) spring connections are quite cumbersome. They also obstruct an area of the instrument where the user places his/her hand to pluck or otherwise activate the strings.
Relevant art to the present invention also includes the following disclosures, arranged chronologically: Sanns, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 8,969,692, Aspri U.S. Pat. No. 8,222,503, LaMarra U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,838,752 and 7,488,878, Chiliacki U.S. Pat. No. 7,259,318, England U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,372 and Martin U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,191.

Organic sound texture enhancement and bridge strengthening system for acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments


A long time monitoring and self-powered solar light-emitting diode (LED) lamp wireless sensor device, capable of monitoring bridge, building or structure in real-time. The device comprises a substrate, at least one LED lamp bead, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell, at least one wireless communication module, at least one sensor and a control unit. The device is contained in a casing having a transparent region and a waterproof function. The solar cell stores energy into the rechargeable battery in sunshine environment, and by comparing the sensing value with a threshold, it is determined whether a safety issue occurs, so as to emit alert. In the night, the rechargeable battery supplies power to the LED lamp beads for illumination or decoration lighting of the structure. Wireless communication links the entire system for providing safety monitoring information, LED lighting or decoration instruction.

Technical Field
The invention relates to an apparatus and system combined with a structural safety monitoring function and a lighting function.
Related Art
A bridge across a valley or serving as a viaduct is constantly influenced by stableness of a foundation, and after the bridge suffers from wind, sunshine, rain and other weather changes for a long period of time, and is even wrecked by earthquakes, typhoons, lightning and other harsh weather conditions plus frequent overload of vehicles driving thereon and a fatigue stress load of long time vibration, either the bridge is naturally aged due to disrepair or sometimes the bridge encounters an accident of sudden tilt or fracture. Especially, bridges, buildings and other structures located in an area with frequent economic activities are in need of long-term monitoring. Conditions of roads and bridges in remote area are hard to be monitored and managed by manpower. Therefore, it is necessary and important to seek an economic and efficient solution.
In view of bridge structural health monitoring (SHM), a conventional method is to develop a bridge safety monitoring system by using hydraulic pressure gauges, inclinometers and tension meters, and the various sensors are connected to a data server through optical fiber wiring for data interpretation, and related data is transmitted to a cloud end through a telecommunication network, by which a pier tunneling condition, a bridge tilt condition and a bridge gap condition are automatically monitored to ensure safety of the bridge. A main disadvantage thereof lies in an expensive setup cost, and serial connection between the sensing nodes requires optical fiber or electric wire, and if a certain node is damaged, direct replacement thereof is not easy. Moreover, a city power or a large battery is required to supply power thereto. Therefore, since the deployment of the sensing nodes is not easy, and multi-point deployment cannot be implemented, there are many blind spots and omissions on a monitoring network. In some foreign countries, although a wireless sensor network (WSN) especially a Zigbee is used to monitor the bridge, a function thereof is limited to transmission of sensing data of the sensor of each node, and a whole operation mechanism or an added value is not provided. Moreover, the sensing data can only be transmitted through the WSN, and if any node or a main node of the WSN is damaged, or functions of the system are incomplete, or the whole system is malfunction, in case of absence of auto repair or absence of an emergency replacement mechanism, difficulties in manual maintenance and reconfiguration are additional encountered. Moreover, the aforementioned apparatus and system cannot monitor and warn the overload vehicles in real-time.

Solar light-emitting diode lamp wireless sensor device for monitoring structure safety in real-time


An image forming device includes a voice data storage unit which stores voice guidances by designating attributes for each of the voice guidances, a voice output unit which outputs the voice guidances and a control unit which extracts a necessary voice guidance from the voice storage unit when it is necessary to output the voice guidance and outputs the voice guidance from the voice output unit according to the attributes of the voice guidance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device having a function for outputting a voice guidance.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a device having a function for outputting a voice guidance (a function for producing voice data), according to a first conventional technology, when there is a change in a state of an engine part of a printer, a control unit retrieves voice data (which can be replaced by a user) corresponding to the change in the state from a Random Access Memory (RAM) and produces the voice message from a speaker. For example, when a surrounding volume is loud, or when a surrounding lightness is light, or when the user is away from the printer, the volume of the voice message is increased. On the contrary, when the surrounding volume is small, or when the surrounding lightness is dark, or when the user is standing in proximity to the printer, the volume of the voice message is turned down. In case there is a change in the state of the printer such as a failure in the printer that is generated when the user is away from the printer, the voice message is generated when the user returns in close proximity to the printer.
According to a second conventional technology, an appropriate output sound is provided so that when a copy image quality is selected, the selected region is emphasized. For example, when a region of a brighter copy image quality is selected, a sound of a tone tuned higher is provided. When a region of a darker copy image quality is selected, a sound of a tone tuned lower is provided.
According to a third conventional technology, the state of a device can be grasped easily from a position located away from the device in accordance with the contents or the volume of a voice of a voice notifying unit. In addition, when the state of the device is not necessary to be displayed during the nighttime or during the absence of a user, the output of the voice is stopped by a preset timer or the volume is reduced.
According to the first conventional technology, the voice message is generated according to the change in the state of the printer (for example, a failure in the printer that is generated when the user is away from the printer). In addition, the volume of the voice message is adjusted to be loud or soft according to the surrounding volume, the surrounding lightness and the presence or the absence of the user. However, the volume is adjusted to be either loud or soft when generating the voice message. In addition, only the failures that are generated when the user is away from the printer are assumed for the change in the state in the printer. The first conventional technology was not made in consideration of the following circumstances. For example, there is no description or suggestion made regarding a case in which while a certain voice message is being generated, another voice message becomes necessary to be generated.
According to the second conventional technology, the sounds of high and low tones are provided according to the copy image quality. According to the third conventional technology, the state of the device is determined by the contents or the volume of the voice at a position located away from the device. Therefore, information that is most necessary for the user cannot be presented promptly and accurately in response to various possible circumstances of the device.


A compressible electrical connector (10) includes a rigid molded body (11) having elastomeric caps (19, 20) at the top (12) and bottom (13) thereof. A thin flexible film (21), provided with respective connector elements (22), is wrapped around the rigid molded body (11) and its caps (19, 20) and is retained by a film retaining plate (23). The film retaining plate (23) has a plurality of latching lances (24) received in corresponding mounting holes (30) formed transversely in the rigid molded body (11). A hot melt layer (36) is placed over the film retaining plate (23), and a plurality of compressible electrical connectors (10) are stacked side-by-side to form an array (35). The array (35) is disposed between a pair of PC boards or other electronic assemblies (39, 40) having respective circuit elements (37, 38). The height of the rigid molded body may be changed conveniently to readily accommodate different product applications.

Compressible electrical connectors are well known in the computer, electronics and aerospace industries. These compressible electrical connectors comprise a plurality of wires or traces photographically etched or otherwise formed on a thin flexible film. The film is then wrapped around a core which may be formed from a suitable elastomeric material. There are a wide variety of such molded compressible electrical connectors supplied by AMP Incorporated of Harrisburg, Pa. under its trademark "AMPLIFLEX".
In a typical product application, one or more "AMPLIFLEX" compressible electrical connectors are disposed between a respective pair of PC boards, thereby making the desired electrical connection between the respective circuit elements on the boards. As the boards are clamped together, the elastomeric core of the compressible electrical connector is compressed.
However, the equipment often requires a relatively large spacing (or height) between the respective boards, as for example, 0.400 inches (or roughly 10 mm.). As a result, the compressible electrical connector may become bowed or distorted, thereby compromising the structural integrity and electrical continuity of the overall assembly. Moreover, the equipment manufacturers often require loose or "sloppy" tolerances in the spacings between the PC boards.
Therefore, it would be very desirable to accommodate these relatively large spacings and wide tolerance ranges without incurring engineering and production problems resulting in increased costs. The cost of the elastomeric material, itself, is also an important factor to be considered.

Compressible electrical connectors for large board spacings