An engine control system digitally stores corresponding values of timing angles and engine speeds and selects the timing angles based on the operating speed of the engine. In the engine speed range near idle speed, the timing angle is set to a pre-selected angle after top dead center (ATDC) and the relationship between engine speed and timing angle calls for the timing angle to be advanced from the pre-selected angle after top dead center (ATDC) to successively advancing angles which subsequently increase angles before top dead center (BTDC) as the engine increases in speed. In one application, a timing angle of 10 degrees after top dead center (ATDC) is selected for a engine idle speed of approximately 800 RPM. This relationship, which is controlled by the engine control unit, avoids stalling the engine when an operator suddenly decreases the engine speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to the control of an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to the control of a four cycle engine, wherein the timing of the engine is controlled as a function of the engine RPM and the timing is initially set to be controlled to a pre-selected angle after top dead center (ATDC) position of the piston when the engine is operating at idle speed under certain predetermined conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different methods and apparatus are well known to those skilled in the art for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine. Typically, a control procedure varies the timing of the engine as a predetermined function of a parameter such as engine speed, throttle position, load applied to the engine, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,671, which issued to Surace on Feb. 7, 1984, discloses a device for automatically adjusting the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine when it is operating under idle conditions. The device automatically adjusts the spark advance for controlling the idling RPM of an internal combustion engine. It comprises a first sensor means connected by a first connection to the intake duct upstream of the throttle valve. The device also comprises a second connection to the duct downstream of the valve. The second connection is controlled by a solenoid valve that is, in turn, controlled by a second sensor means for determining the engine rotational speed. A third sensor means determines the throttle valve position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,002, which issued to Frahm on Jan. 31, 1978, describes a throttle and ignition advance linkage for an internal combustion engine. A carburetor throttle valve of an internal combustion engine is set in timed relation to a timing control coil by a T-shaped throttle control level which is coupled to an external throttle operator and the timing control lever resiliently coupled to the throttle control lever. The two control levers are pivotally mounted on a common pivot pin secured to the engine block. The T-shaped throttle lever is pivotally mounted at the center of the cross-bar with a pair of throttle control cables that are secured to the opposite ends and to an external throttle control. The stem of the lever projects outwardly toward the carburetor valve input element. A cam member includes a slotted and clamp screw connection to one side of the stem to permit adjustment of the cam member along the length of the stem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,810, which issued to Wesemeyer et al on May 19, 1981, discloses a control system for control of repetitive events such as ignition and fuel injection in internal combustion engines. In order to simplify the crankshaft rotation sensor device which provides the computer of a control system with angular speed and position information for ignition and/or fuel injection timing, a signal generated by one pickup for every two engine cylinders from a single reference mark on the crankshaft is formed into a signal pulse which is used to trigger the counting of clock pulses from a clock into a counter. These are then periodically transferred to a computer as a numerical signal which represents the required information. In a first mode, the counts are transferred every other period between pulses and the counter counts in the cycle periods between the pulses in which the counter is not transferring to the computer. In a second mode, the counter counts every cycle between pulses and the counts are transferred during every pulse itself. There is also described in this patent a system which includes additional circuitry by which below a certain speed of the engine the system operates in the first mode and above that speed operates in the second mode.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,815, which issued to Van Duyne on Apr. 28, 1992, describes a variable air/fuel engine control system with closed-loop control around a maximum efficiency and combination of otto-diesel throttling. The system is intended to control a spark ignition engine to maximize fuel efficiency over its entire range of operating conditions. The system includes apparatus for controlling the amount of fuel delivered to the engine and apparatus for measuring the internal cylinder pressure in at least one cylinder of the engine. Apparatus is provided for estimating the air mass entering the engine and computing apparatus calculates the engine efficiency from the amount of fuel delivered, internal cylinder pressure, and the estimated air mass entering the engine. In one embodiment, efficiency is measured by calculation of the approximate indicated specific fuel consumption. Apparatus is provided for varying the amount of fuel delivered to the engine to maximize the indicated specific fuel consumption over the entire range of operating conditions of the engine. In this embodiment, apparatus is provided which is responsive to a desired engine power output beyond wide open throttle plate and apparatus is provided for delivering a greater quantity of fuel beyond the wide open throttle plate position maximum efficiency point.
U.S. Pat. 5,608,632, which issued to White on Mar. 4, 1997, describes a self contained sequential throttle by injection engine control system. The system is configured to be attached to the intake port or intake manifold of a reciprocating engine. The system can be designed to allow installation as original equipment or as a retrofit unit. In either case, the system provides the engine with a dual ignition and electronically controlled fuel-injection. The system includes a master control unit that utilizes a firmware operating microprocessor. The control unit is connected to a plurality of sensors that sense critical system parameters that determine the engine settings. All systems parameters are user controlled by three system command switches that are located on a control display unit. The display unit is attached to the control unit by an electrical cable and is positioned on the vehicle to provide easy accessibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,221, which issued to Isobe et al on Apr. 1, 1986, discloses a method and device for internal combustion engine condition sensing and fuel injection control. Engine condition signals are read out from sensors for detecting conditions of the engine with selected sensor outputs read out in synchronism with rotation of the engine at a predetermined crank angle empirically corresponding to a low engine load and resulting high battery voltage. The predetermined crank angle is within at least 20 crank angle degrees of bottom dead center.
The above patents are hereby explicitly incorporated herein.
An operator who is controlling an internal combustion engine, such as the engine of an outboard motor, typically moves a throttle plate of the engine manually by adjusting a throttle handle to select engine speed. Using any one of many different known throttle controls, such as a tiller handle, an operator can continually move an adjustment device by hand and thereby, through a mechanical linkage, affect the position of a throttle plate located within an air intake assembly of the engine. By opening the throttle, engine speed is increased, and by closing the throttle, engine speed is decreased. In other words, the operator controls the speed of the engine by controlling the air flowing through the engine's intake manifold to its cylinders. When an operator suddenly changes engine speed from a first speed to a faster second speed, this results in two reactions in most internal combustion engines. First, the throttle valve is moved to a more open position. Secondly, and generally simultaneously, a quantity of fuel is injected by a fuel pump into the air stream passing from the air intake manifold to the cylinders of the engines. These two occurrences allow the engine to rapidly respond to the operator's manual request for increased speed.
If, after increasing the speed of an engine, the operator then suddenly decreases the speed, the engine may react in a manner that is not intended. For example, an increase in speed followed by a sudden decrease in speed can result in too much fuel passing into the cylinders. As described above, the initial increase in speed results in an injection of fuel into the air stream by a fuel pump. If the speed is then suddenly reduced before that injected fuel is consumed, the cylinders of the engine will experience a condition wherein a higher than normal quantity of fuel flows into the cylinders is accompanied by a lower than normal quantity of air. This condition could result in stalling.
In order to avoid the situation described immediately above, many throttle controls are provided with a dashpot which ameliorates the action by the operator described above. In other words, when the operator attempts to suddenly open the throttle and then quickly close the throttle, the dashpot mechanically delays the response by the throttle. In other words, the throttle plate closes in response to the operator's control, but in a manner slower than the actual manual change in the control device, such as the tiller handle. The dashpot moderates the movement of the throttle plate so that it does not rapidly close and deprive the cylinders of the required air to burn the fuel that had been injected as a result of the sudden increase in speed caused by the operator. This delayed closing of the throttle plate allows the excess fuel to be burned because the speed of the engine is decreased more slowly than requested by the operator.
Many different types of dashpots are well known to those skilled in the art. However, the inclusion of the dashpot on an internal combustion engine adds cost and complexity. It would therefore be significantly beneficial if a means could be provided to prevent the adverse results described above, when an operator suddenly increases and subsequently quickly decreases engine speed, but without the need for the additional cost and complexity associated with a provision of a dashpot.

Method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine


Acyclic, asymmetric methyl alkyl carbonates, particularly for use with a carbonaceous, e.g., graphite, anode, in electrolytes suitable for portable power sources, are disclosed. Asymmetric alkyl carbonate solvents, having the general structural formula MeO--CO.sub.2 R, where R is larger than methyl, can be used as the only solvent in the non-aqueous electrolyte of a portable power source; no other solvent is necessary for superior performance in, e.g., high energy density lithium ion batteries or high power electrochemical capacitors. Furthermore, an asymmetric alkyl methyl carbonate can serve as the primary solvent for a non-aqueous electrolyte, i.e., the solvent providing the requisite properties, with the appropriate volume balance being made up with a combination of cyclic and acyclic carbonates or esters chosen for a particular application.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high energy, non-aqueous portable power source such as a high energy density battery or high power electrochemical capacitor, and more particularly, to a high energy, non-aqueous portable power source comprising novel asymmetric alkyl carbonate-based electrolytes which afford improved cycle life, high capacity, and superior low temperature performance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Non-aqueous electrolytes formulated specifically for application in electrochemical devices optimally possess a variety of desirable qualities, as described in a recent review article by Gores, et al. (1). The authors cite low temperature performance and electrochemical stability as two key requirements for both non-aqueous batteries and capacitors, but do not teach how these requirements may be achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,443 (2) discloses a non-aqueous rechargeable lithium ion battery comprising a complex oxide containing lithium, a carbonaceous anode material, and a mixed solvent electrolyte consisting of a lithium salt and a binary blend of a cyclic and acyclic organic carbonate solvent. This patent teaches that in order to maintain electrolyte liquid at -20.degree. C., a mixing ratio of acyclic to cyclic organic carbonate must be in the range of 1 to 4. Solvent combinations outside this ratio form solids at -20.degree. C. which is deleterious to both the capacity and cycle life of the battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,862 (3) claims the advantage of low temperature performance in lithium ion batteries employing non-aqueous electrolytes comprising a tertiary blend of a cyclic organic carbonate solvent, an acyclic organic carbonate solvent, and an acyclic ester solvent represented by the formula RCO.sub.2 R'. The tertiary combination of organic solvents to give battery electrolytes that perform well at low temperature appears to have been determined empirically. Japanese Kokai application No. JP 08115742 A2 (4) discloses low temperature electrolytes for lithium ion batteries are claimed. These electrolytes consist of a lithium salt, an acyclic carbonate, and at least 10-100 vol % of chloroethylene carbonate.

Asymmetric organic alkyl methyl carbonates for non-aqueous power sources


Distributing communications between paths, comprises providing a plurality of destinations, providing a plurality of communications paths such that each of the plurality of destinations can be accessed over each of the plurality of communications paths, defining destination addresses interleaved over the plurality of destinations, sending communications from a source to a plurality of the interleaved addresses, and selecting different ones of the plurality of paths for successive communications that are sent to addresses on different destinations, wherein the path for a communication is selected using at least a part of the address of the communication.

In a communications system, there may exist two or more paths by which information can be transferred from a sender to a recipient. It is desirable to be able to select the path by which each message is sent so as to make efficient use of the capacity of the communications paths. Where the overall path by which information travels includes shorter "hops," it is desirable to be able to select the path for an individual hop.

Distribution of communications between paths

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention discloses a system and method for proactively monitoring risk exposure. In this invention, risk related information is received at an input knowledge source. A shared database stores the risk related information received at the input knowledge source. A plurality of domain knowledge sources formulates a decision on how the risk related information in the shared database affects a predetermined risk category. An output knowledge source generates a risk related report in response to the decisions formulated by each of the plurality of domain knowledge sources. A risk analytics router routes the risk related information in the input knowledge source to the shared database, the risk related information in the shared database to at least one of the domain knowledge sources, the decisions formulated from the domain knowledge sources to the shared database, and the decisions from the shared database to the output knowledge source.

In the financial services industry, an increase in profit is typically brought about by increasing the volume of financial service contracts, reducing losses from active financial service contracts, or by both increasing the volume of financial service contracts and reducing losses from active financial service contracts. The major source of loss in any type of credit instrument is typically due to default in payment by the financial service clients. In order to reduce incidences of default in payment, a great deal of effort is expended in estimating the credit worthiness of the financial service clients. Despite the large amount of effort expended in making a credit decision, it is almost inevitable that the financial circumstances of the financial service clients will change after the date that the decision was made. However, the financial services industry has not expended the same amount of effort on monitoring the risk exposure to the financial service clients as compared to the underwriting process of determining credit worthiness. The result of placing a lot of effort on the underwriting process has addressed the needs to eliminate bad risks and minimize rejections of potentially good clients. However, the financial services industry has expended very little effort on monitoring the financial circumstances of their clients after the date that a credit decision was made. Monitoring the financial circumstances of the clients after a credit decision is made, is likely to increase profits for the financial service providers. Accordingly, there is a need to proactively monitor the financial circumstances of financial service clients after the date that a credit decision has been made.

System and method for proactively monitoring risk exposure


The present invention relates to a system and method for authenticating, monitoring, and managing all terminals connected to a wireless/wired network to use Internet. A shared terminal management system comprises a management server, a charging server, a central server, a central authentication G/W server, and a proxy server, and assigns a terminal identification value for every terminal that uses Internet, authenticates terminals by reading and analyzing the assigned terminal identification value, monitors and manages shared terminals used as being connected to one line to classify lines into a basic line and an additional line, and charges for the additional line. The shared terminal identification system for identifying and managing terminals connected to one Internet line comprises a subscriber line authentication unit, a packet collecting unit, a first packet analyzing unit, an element packet transmission unit, a data management unit and a terminal determining unit.

Owing to a recently rapid development and popularity of Internet technology, Internet has been easily used by anyone at present so that Internet user population has explosively increased, and Internet access methods and ways to use a network tend to have been complicated and diverse.
In a current price system in which it currently costs about 30,000 won to connect one floating public IP (Internet IP) address for Internet access, and it additionally costs more than 10,000 won for additional IP, it is uneconomical to assign a plurality of public IP addresses to a plurality of hosts, and there is a difficulty in failing to solve a depletion and shortage of limited IP addresses.
Therefore, to solve these problems, there have been recently many cases in which a network sharing device such as an IP sharer is used to form a network address translation (NAT) at one public IP such that a plurality of client subscribers concurrently use a network. Such sharing formation or system is frequently used in a normal environment using network sharing as well as companies.
However, network traffic overload and hacking, virus, or worm having a malicious object due to an increase in thoughtless network sharing become problems, which make it difficult to grasp a line availability status and sharing rate of a service provider and cause economical loss such as new facility expansion cost due to an increase in the corresponding network traffic, investment loss, and maintenance cost, and thus a problem in that line availability right is not uniformly provided to subscribers occurs.
Accordingly, to track a user who incurs the problem of the thoughtless network sharing, although it is important to settle expense loss by obtaining an actual IP address of the user, catching and analyzing the number of clients actually available for each line, establishing a management policy such as a selective allowance or shutoff with respect to the corresponding line, and separately charging loss expenses due to the traffic overload, no practical and detailed solution or method has not yet been proposed.

Shared terminal identification system using a network packet and processing method thereof


A composite tracking system for a medical device comprises a field location tracking system including at least one field location sensor structured to be coupled to a medical device, a magnetic resonance tracking system including at least one tracking coil structured to be coupled to a medical device, and a composite tracking processor operably coupled to the field location tracking system and the magnetic resonance tracking system. The composite tracking processor is operable to receive and process field location parameters from the field location tracking system and positional coordinates from the magnetic resonance tracking system to register a field location coordinate system to a magnetic resonance coordinate system.

MRI has achieved prominence as a diagnostic imaging modality, and increasingly as an interventional imaging modality. The primary benefits of MRI over other imaging modalities, such as X-ray, include superior soft tissue imaging and avoiding patient exposure to ionizing radiation produced by X-rays. MRI's superior soft tissue imaging capabilities have offered great clinical benefit with respect to diagnostic imaging. Similarly, interventional procedures, which have traditionally used X-ray imaging for guidance, stand to benefit greatly from MRI's soft tissue imaging capabilities. In addition, the significant patient exposure to ionizing radiation associated with traditional X-ray guided interventional procedures is eliminated with MRI guidance.
MRI uses three fields to image patient anatomy: a large static magnetic field, a time-varying magnetic gradient field, and a radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field. The static magnetic field and time-varying magnetic gradient field work in concert to establish both proton alignment with the static magnetic field and also spatially dependent proton spin frequencies (resonant frequencies) within the patient. The RF field, applied at the resonance frequencies, disturbs the initial alignment, such that when the protons relax back to their initial alignment, the RF emitted from the relaxation event may be detected and processed to create an image.
For imaging of soft tissue of patients with implanted medical devices, such as catheters, guidewires, stents, cardiac defibrillators (ICDs), pacemakers, neurostimulators, cochlear implants, and the like, MRI is preferable to other modalities including X-ray, computer tomography, ultrasound and positron emission tomography (PET).
Localization of medical devices during use is desirable and often required for medical procedures. For example, as a medical device is advanced through the patient's body during an interventional procedure, its progress may be tracked so that the device can be delivered properly to a target site. Once delivered to the target site, the device can be monitored to determine whether it has been placed properly and/or is functioning properly. Providing the ability to track the location of medical devices is useful in interventional procedures such as cardiac electrophysiology procedures including diagnostic procedures for diagnosing arrhythmias and ablation procedures such as atrial fibrillation ablation, ventricular tachycardia ablation, atrial flutter ablation, Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome ablation, AV node ablation, SVT ablations and the like. Tracking the location of medical devices using MRI is also useful in oncological procedures such as breast, liver and prostate tumor ablations; and urological procedures such as uterine fibroid and enlarged prostate ablations.
Currently, several methods of locating position(s) of a medical device during a medical procedure exist. One exemplary method is a magnetic field method. In this method, a magnetic field is transmitted that permeates all non-metallic surfaces. A miniaturized sensor designed for medical applications is placed on the instrument that is inserted into the body. The location of the sensor may be determined based upon magnetic field strength and/or orientation. Another exemplary method is an impedance based method. In this method, an electric field is transmitted through the body and the bioimpedance is measured between locations. The location of a medical device or instrument may then be determined based upon the impedance variance. Another exemplary method utilizes an ultrasound transducer to provide an image of a medical device and procedural tissue used in positioning. Yet another exemplary method uses optical trackers that emit or reflect a light source that is in turn sensed by one or more detectors. The light source is typically infrared, but may alternatively operate in another frequency range as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
This non-exhaustive list of exemplary methods may be termed "field location" techniques. Each of these field location techniques provides spatial coordinates (i.e. x, y, z) relative to a point external to the patient. The spatial coordinates are provided in what is commonly referred to as "absolute" space. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, providing spatial coordinates in absolute space requires registration of the external point relative to the patient. Thus, one disadvantage of such field location techniques arises from the fact that if the position of the patient changes during a procedure, re-registration with respect to the external reference location is required. Another disadvantage of field location techniques is their inherent accuracy limitations due to non-ideal and/or non-homogeneous field behavior in the body.
In an attempt to overcome the disadvantages inherent in field location techniques, it is possible to utilize the MR scanner to determine the location of a tracking coil embedded in or attached to the medical device or instrument. Thus, tracking position using the MR scanner is an alternative to using field location techniques such as those previously described. MR tracking has the advantage of requiring no registration with respect to any external point or reference images generated by the MRI, as images created with MRI are referenced to so-called "patient" space. However, when MM is utilized for both tracking and imaging, there may be a decrease in the imaging performance because tracking sequences must be time multiplexed with imaging sequences.
When used in combination with MRI, field location techniques will suffer from being referenced to absolute space rather than patient space. Patient space is a coordinate system that includes spatial warping caused by non-ideal gradient fields. For instance, assume that at some absolute point (x=y=z=0), patient and absolute space may be perfectly aligned. However, as one moves away from that point, patient space may be nonlinear or increase with a different scale as compared to absolute space. As such, circular objects imaged with MRI may appear somewhat oblong. Correction software in the MRI may be used to compensate for this effect. Such compensation is, in general, dynamic, in that different compensation is required for different images, depending upon several variables. In addition, absolute space may be offset from patent space such that registration of the two spaces is required (for example, (x=y=z=0) for absolute space may not be (x=y=z=0) for patient space, and/or the two spaces may be rotated with respect to one another.
As will be understood based on the foregoing, current technologies for tracking a medical device are inadequate. Thus, what is needed is a system and method that combines the benefits of both field location and MRI techniques to provide an improved means for locating and tracking a medical device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Combined field location and MRI tracking


A digital watermark detection apparatus detects a watermark value from a motion image in which a topological invariant is embedded as the watermark value. The digital watermark detection apparatus includes a watermark component extracting unit which extracts each watermark component from the motion image; an average value computing unit which computes an average value of component values of pixels included in the watermark component; an identified watermark component determination unit which determines whether or not the watermark component is an identified watermark component to be utilized in identifying an arrangement unit of a plurality of watermark components based on the average value; a watermark component identifying unit which identifies the watermark component except for the identified watermark component; and a watermark value computing unit which computes the watermark value based on the identified watermark component and the watermark components except for the identified watermark component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program product for detecting a digital watermark, in which the watermark value is detected from a motion image in which a topological invariant is embedded as the watermark value.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is well known a digital watermark technique. In the digital watermark, pieces of information such as information on an author of copyright to data, user identification information, rights information, utilization condition, necessary confidential information in use, and copy control information are embedded in digital copyrighted work data such as sound, music, video, and an image while the pieces of information are hardly perceived, and the pieces of information embedded in the digital copyrighted work data are detected and utilized if needed. The digital watermark is utilized for the purpose of copyright protection or secondary use of the digital copyrighted work.
It is thought that the digital watermark is associated with a topological invariant by regarding geometric distortion as homomorphic mapping. The inventors already proposed a topological invariant digital watermarking technique in order to realize robustness to geometric distortion (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3431593). In the topological invariant digital watermark technique, an invariable topological invariant (for example, homotopy class) is embedded as the digital watermark under the geometric distortion.
Generally, security measures against a process performed in a time axis direction (hereinafter such processes are referred to as "time axis direction attack") such as frame rate conversion and frame thin-out can be realized by embedding the same watermark value in plural frames. However, in this case, it is difficult to distinguish the embedded watermark values whether the watermark values are embedded as the same watermark value or different watermark value. Therefore, it is necessary to detect switching of the watermark values.
In a technique in which a homotopy class is used as the topological invariant, one digital watermark value is realized by embedding and extracting three kinds of components of (X,Y,Z). In a technique of embedding one component in one frame or a technique of utilizing an inter-frame difference to embed one component, when the digital watermark suffers from the time axis direction attack, there is generated a problem that distinction cannot be made among the X, Y, and Z components, and thereby the watermark value cannot correctly be detected.

Apparatus, method, and program product for detecting digital watermark


The invention provides greatly shortened electrical paths for the wires or traces connecting a disk drive suspension slider to the preamplifier circuit chip without problems of chip wastage by supporting the disk drive suspension assembly of a slider, a flexure, a load beam and a mounting plate, all in operative association on the preamplifier circuit chip, and supporting the chip on the actuator arm.

1. Technical Field
This invention has to do with disk drive suspensions, and more particularly with a head gimbal assembly (HGA) utilizing a disk drive suspension attached to the actuator arm by a preamplifier circuit chip. The invention affords the advantages of extremely short conductive paths from the head/slider to the chip with resultant substantial reduction in noise pick-up and consequent improvement in electrical performance. The invention further enables substantially increased manufacturing efficiencies in the use of preamplifier circuit chips since problems with non-chip components will not cause wastage of chips. The invention utilizes an ultra-compact suspension load beam of approximately the size of the chip to attach to the chip. The chip in turn is attached to the actuator arm.
2. Related Art
Presently known disk drive head stack assemblies (HSA) comprise a series of HGA""s arranged in a common stack. The HGA""s are connected with conductive wire or traces to a microprocessor chip comprising a central preamplifier circuit. The preamplifier circuit chip controls the read-write action of the slider (which includes the read/write head) and serves to amplify the very weak read signals coming from the slider. Read signals are often so low, e.g., less than 100 microvolts, that merely ambient electrical noise of adjacent equipment can interfere with the detection and processing of the signal. Typically, the preamplifier circuit chip has been placed on the actuator which is at a considerable remove in most suspension systems from the slider. The loss in electrical signal, however, increases with increased path length.
Placing the preamplifier chip closer to the slider presents difficulties, however, both practical and financial. For example, at least in theory, the slider can itself define a chip and provide its own preamplification. This chip-in-slider approach would require a costly development process and the sliders would likely be quite expensive. Moreover, both the chip and the slider will be lost to yield if either is defective. And one cannot tell if either is defective until installed in an HGA.
Or the chip can be placed on the suspension in a manner to be more closely adjacent the slider. This expedient reduces the length of the electrical path for the lowest amplitude signals, reducing noise exposure and lowering the probable error rate. There is the disadvantage, however, of having the chip premounted on the suspension delivered to the disk drive manufacturer and unusable if the suspension for unrelated reasons is not within specifications, wasting the costly chip. Or, the disk drive manufacturer can as part of the drive could add the chip to the suspension. In the chip-on-suspension approach, if the chip is added to the suspension before the slider is added, (which appears necessary since the chip cannot practically be added after the slider is added) the impact on yield of HGA assemblies is greater and the cost more expensive because the scrapped parts represent more value. It is advantageous to add the most expensive components of the suspension as late as possible in the build process after as many of the early step yield losses have already occurred. But, mounting the chip on the suspension before adding the slider obviates this advantage and increases the cost of the discarded assembly, should it be necessary to discard, by the amount involved in acquiring and installing the later discarded chip. The chip-on-suspension approach places the mass of the chip along the middle length of the load beam, and the suspension thus suspends the chip mass. This lowers the resonant frequency of the suspension and provides only lower shock resistance, unlike the invention suspension which places the mass of the chip between the suspension and the actuator arm. Further, the placement of the chip on the load beam is disadvantageous in that the chip so placed is subject to all the physical action of the load beam from bending, twisting, shock and other forces.
It is an object therefore of the present invention to provide improvements in suspension design. It is a further object to provide a novel HGA design having a suspension supported by the preamplifier circuit chip. Another object is the provision of an HGA in which the electrical leads are greatly shortened between the slider and the preamplifier chip to obtain read signals less subject to noise and attenuation. A still further object is to provide a novel suspension and chip combination which affords all the benefits of the optimum relative placement of the slider and chip, and preserves the suspension gimballing function, while only lengthening the actuator arm that supports the chip and slider combination. Other objects will appear hereinafter.
In the present invention an ultra-compact suspension is preferably used, one occupying as little as one-third or even less lateral area as a conventional small size suspension. The suspension is so small that it is feasible to attach the suspension to the actuator arm by the preamplifier chip. The invention suspension can be used with magnetic or optical heads and associated sliders.
These and other objects of the invention to become apparent hereinafter are realized in the combination of a preamplifier circuit chip and a disk drive suspension assembly of a slider, a flexure, a load beam and a mounting plate, all in operative association; the preamplifier circuit chip supporting the assembly on a disk drive actuator arm.
In this and like embodiments, typically: the assembly mounting plate is adhered to the preamplifier circuit chip, the preamplifier circuit chip being adhered to the actuator arm to support the assembly at the actuator arm; the assembly mounting plate is adhered to the preamplifier chip, or the preamplifier circuit chip has a plurality of support legs extending therefrom, the preamplifier circuit chip being attached to the actuator arm by the support legs to support the assembly at the actuator arm; the assembly and preamplifier circuit chip are disposed in a common stack; the load beam at least partially surrounds the flexure, and the mounting plate is attached to the load beam in flexure bridging relation, the preamplifier circuit chip being attached to the mounting plate at the locus of the flexure-bridging; and, the preamplifier circuit chip and load beam are each generally rectangular and of substantially the same area.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a disk drive suspension assembly adapted for mounting to a disk drive actuator arm, the suspension assembly comprising a flexure for supporting a slider in operative association with a disk, a load beam supporting the flexure, a mounting plate, and a preamplifier circuit chip having a first surface to which the mounting plate is mounted and a second surface adapted for mounting the preamplifier circuit chip to the actuator arm.
In this and like embodiments, typically: the flexure, the slider, the load beam, the mounting plate, and the preamplifier circuit chip are arrayed in a common stack relation; the mounting plate is adhered to the preamplifier circuit chip, and includes also a disk drive actuator arm, the preamplifier circuit chip being adhered to the actuator arm to support the suspension assembly at the actuator arm, or the mounting plate is adhered to the preamplifier circuit chip, the preamplifier circuit chip having a plurality of support legs extending therefrom, and includes also a disk drive actuator arm, the preamplifier circuit chip being adhered to the actuator arm by the support legs; the load beam at least partially surrounds the flexure, and the mounting plate is attached to the load beam in flexure bridging relation, the preamplifier circuit chip being attached to the mounting plate at the locus of the flexure-bridging; the preamplifier circuit chip and load beam are each generally rectangular, are of like surface area, and opposed in the stacked condition of the suspension; there is also included an actuator arm and disk, the actuator arm extending longitudinally in a predetermined first plane generally parallel with the disk; the flexure, load beam, mounting plate and preamplifier circuit chip being arrayed in a common stack extending within a cylindrical second plane, the cylindrical plane intersecting the actuator arm plane; the cylindrical second plane intersects the actuator arm first plane at a right angle; the cylindrical second plane has a diameter sufficient to surround the common stack and no greater than three times the diameter necessary to surround the preamplifier circuit chip in the common stack; the assembly mounting plate is adhered to the preamplifier circuit chip, the preamplifier circuit chip being adhered to the actuator arm to support the assembly at the actuator arm; the load beam at least partially surrounds the flexure, and the mounting plate is attached to the load beam in flexure bridging relation, the preamplifier circuit chip being attached to the mounting plate at the locus of the flexure-bridging; and, the preamplifier circuit chip and load beam are each generally rectangular and of substantially the same surface area.
Preferably, the load beam has generally an E-shape with a base, and extending from the base a center portion, a left portion and right portion all generally extending in a load beam plane, the flexure generally extends in a flexure plane spaced from and generally parallel to the load beam plane, the flexure being attached to the left and right load beam portions and in gimballing contact with the load beam, a slider supported by the flexure for operative association with the disk, and a mounting plate extending in a mounting plate plane spaced from and generally parallel to the flexure plane, the mounting plate being attached to the load beam at it""s the left and right portions only to bridge the flexure; the mounting plate is centrally deflected, the mounting plate being adhered to the preamplifier circuit chip at the deflection; and the suspension is provided in further combination with electrical leads attached between the preamplifier circuit chip and the slider head, and from the preamplifier circuit chip to suspension control electronics.
In its method aspects the invention provides the method of assembling a disk drive suspension and preamplifier circuit chip combination, including arranging the slider, the flexure, the load beam and the mounting plate in stacked and interconnected relation, attaching a preamplifier circuit chip to the mounting plate, and attaching the preamplifier circuit chip to an actuator arm.


The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying a liquid coating onto an object. The apparatus includes a device that has a handle and a transfer medium which is attached to the handle. The apparatus further includes a cover that is attached to the device. The cover includes a closure element that is operable to open and close an end of the cover. When the end of the cover is open, the cover is movable between a first position where the cover protects the transfer medium and a second position where the cover protects the handle. In another example embodiment, the cover is formed of a removable first layer that is positioned adjacent to the transfer medium when the cover is in the first position and a removable second layer that is positioned adjacent to the handle when the cover is in the second position.

There are several devices that are typically used to apply a liquid coating onto an object. As examples, brushes, rollers, mops and pads are often used to apply a paint, stain, waxes, cleaning materials and/or cooking materials (among other materials) onto surfaces of an object.
These devices may be relatively costly such it may be desirable to try to preserve the devices for reuse at a later time. In order to preserve a device that is used to apply a liquid coating, virtually all of the liquid (e.g., paint) needs to be removed from the device before it can be set aside. The extensive cleaning that is typically required to remove all of the liquid from such a device is often tedious, dirty and time-consuming.
Depending on the type of liquid that is applied onto an object, a solvent is often required to clean a device. Many solvents are harmful to the skin and/or emit vapors that may have varying degree of toxicity. These solvents are also typically costly to purchase and difficult to dispose of after use.
One method of preserving a device that is used to apply a liquid coating onto an object is to store the device in a container of the liquid, or another type of solvent, where the device remains until the next time the device is used. However, if the interval between uses is relatively long, some of the liquid or solvent may evaporate, or harden, causing the device to be irreparably damaged.
There is a need for an apparatus for applying a liquid coating to an object where the apparatus can be used to apply liquid onto an object at more than one time. The apparatus should also be able to provide a somewhat environmentally amenable method to dispose of the apparatus. It would also be desirable if the apparatus were able to provide protection to an individual's hand as the individual uses the apparatus to apply liquid to an object.

Apparatus for applying a liquid coating onto an object


The present invention discloses a method for managing memory blocks in a flash memory. The method is first to calculate the total number of good blocks and total number of bad blocks in the flash memory, and then all the good blocks and the bad blocks will be evenly allocated to each segment according to the number of segments contained in the flash memory. After the allocation, the allocation information will be recorded in one good block to form a data block so that when the flash memory is executing initialization, the controller chip may find the data block, and store the data in the SRAM (static random access memory) of the flash memory. Then, according to the data stored in the SRAM, the controller chip may generate a corresponding table for the block contained in the segment according to the data stored in the SRAM. As a result, the flash memory may be used with lower capacity and may obviate the problem of being unusable when the flash memory contains the excessive amount of the bad blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for managing memory blocks in a flash memory and, more particularly, to a managing method that utilizes the number of the good blocks in the flash memory to adjust the flash memory capacity so that the flash memory can be used with lower capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
The evolution of non-volatile memory has been very remarkable, from a series of ROM (read only memory), such as Mask-ROM, OTP ROM (one time programmable read only memory), EPROM (erasable and programmable read only memory) and EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read only memory), to a powerful information storage device called flash memory. Among them, flash memory has been the focus of spotlight because it has all the credits that a common non-volatile memory has and goes beyond that; that is, flash memory has faster reading speed and lower power consumption for information storage than other non-volatile memories. For this reason, flash memory has been playing a significant role in the semiconductor industry. In recent years, some manufacturers even combine controller chip to flash memory and produce new storage devices such as flash disks and memory cards. Moreover, the good qualities that a flash memory owns, including low power consumption, non-volatility, shock resistance, high storage density, and compact size that can be substantially reduced without any assistance of motor or magnetic head, are very suitable to be employed in the compact electronic products such as digital cameras, MP3 mobile mini disks, and personal digital assistant (PDA).
So far, the flash memory has been very successful in developing its high capacity, and now one single flash memory can be as powerful as having 512 mega bytes, while the number of blocks can reach 4096 blocks. However, because the SRAM (static random access memory) on a controller chip is limited, the memory blocks in a flash memory is managed by block segmentation, while the overall management is achieved by a technique called swapping. On the other hand, selection of segments for use is depending on an even allocation method. For example, if a flash memory contains 4096 blocks, then after all the blocks have been divided into four segments for management, each segment may contain 1024 blocks. Theoretically, this method may sound easy for management, but in case that a few blocks has already gone bad, and that all the bad blocks are all aggregated in one segment, the situation may turn into that no block is available for block replacement in that segment. In such case, when data is to be written into the segment, the flash memory may refuse data accessing because there is no replaceable block available for writing. As a result, the user of the flash memory may need to buy another storage device due to malfunction caused by the flash memory, which in turn may increase the user's cost for consuming another storage device.

Method for managing memory blocks in flash memory


Drive with a belt-driving wheel and a belt-motion deflector with a transmission member in the form of a belt wrapping around them in a continuous loop. The belt is in form-fit engagement with and is driven by at least the belt-driving wheel. Structures are distributed at least part-way along the belt and form fit matching structures on at least the belt-driving wheel. The belt is woven and the structures are applied to the belt in a separate step.

The present invention concerns a drive. A motion-transmission member in the form of a strap or belt wraps around both a belt-driving wheel and a belt-motion deflector. The belt either constitutes or can be fastened at the ends to constitute a continuous loop. A surface structure extends at least part-way along the belt. The surface structure extends approximately more than half-way along the belt when motion is transmitted back and forth. A matching structure extends along at least the contact surface of the belt-driving wheel. The structure on the surface of the belt-driving wheel fits into and engages the structure on the surface of the belt along the direction that force is being transmitted in.
Drives of this genus are primarily employed to move components back and forth along a limited stretch, to open and close a door panel for example. The mechanisms addressed herein, however, are not only those that move along a limited stretch or back and forth between two points. The drives employed for such purposes can transmit motion either by friction or by means of form-fit ("formschlussig") components, chains and cogged belts in particular. Form fit between part of the member attached to the component being moved on the one hand and the belt-driving wheel on the other is satisfactory for back-and-forth motions over limited stretches. A door panel for example can be operated by a motor-powered chain wheel if the wheel engages a chain-like section of a continuous-loop motion-transmission member that the panel is attached to.
The continuous loop makes it possible to avoid long stretches wherein no motion occurs, as in rack-and-pinion mechanisms for example.
One advantage of a drive with form fit is that it cannot slip. Another is the absolute precision, allowing of course for tensional distortion, with which the engaging members can be matched along the stretch in question. Driving force usually needs to be applied only between the output wheel and the belt-shaped motion-transmission member, when, specifically, the latter is directly fastened to the component being moved, which often happens when the motion is back-and-forth. It is on the other hand also possible to transmit the output from the drive by way of the belt-motion deflector, especially if the latter is a wheel, which can then be included if necessary in the interlocking engagement.


A method for performing maintenance on a gas turbine engine assembly includes unplugging a first connector from a first socket, the first connector electrically coupled to the engine control unit, the first socket electrically coupled to the hydromechanical unit, plugging a second connector into the first socket, the second connector electrically coupled to a driver simulator, cranking the engine core to a low speed value, and operating the driver simulator to reposition at least one of the variable stator vane assembly and the variable bypass valve from a first operational position to a second operational position that is different than the first operational position.

This application relates generally to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for performing gas turbine engine maintenance.
Gas turbine engines generally include, in serial flow arrangement, a high-pressure compressor for compressing air flowing through the engine, a combustor in which fuel is mixed with the compressed air and ignited to form a high temperature gas stream, and a high pressure turbine. The high-pressure compressor, combustor and high-pressure turbine are sometimes collectively referred to as the core engine. Such gas turbine engines also may include a low-pressure compressor, or booster, for supplying compressed air to the high pressure compressor.
At least some known gas turbine engines also include at least one variable stator vane (VSV) assembly that is utilized to control the quantity of air flowing through the high-pressure compressor to facilitate optimizing the performance of the high-pressure compressor. The variable stator vane assembly includes a plurality of variable stator vanes which extend between adjacent rotor blades. The variable stator vanes are rotatable about an axis such that the stator vanes are positionable in a plurality of orientations to direct air flow through the high-pressure compressor. Moreover, at least some known gas turbine engines include a variable bypass valve (VBV) that is configured to bypass a portion of the pressurized air generated by a booster stage, i.e. the low pressure compressor, around the high-pressure compressor to facilitate matching the output of the booster stage to the input requirements of the high-pressure compressor.
To facilitate operating the VSV's and the VBV, at least one known gas turbine engine includes a fuel system that is configured to channel fuel to an actuator that is actuated utilizing an engine control system. More specifically, as the gas turbine engine is operated, the engine control system electrically actuates the actuator such that fuel supplied by the fuel pump, is channeled to either the VSV's and/or the VBV to facilitate repositioning either the VSV's and/or the VBV.
When the gas turbine engine receives a shutdown command, the engine control system, based on at least one predetermined engine operating parameter, ceases to provide the actuator any operational commands such that the VSV's and the VBV will "drift" to a failsafe operating position.
Accordingly, to service the gas turbine engine, maintenance personnel must reposition the VSV's and/or the VBV to a desired position. For example, to borescope the gas turbine engine, the maintenance personnel will reposition the VSV's to a fully open position, and reposition the VBV to a fully closed position. To reposition either the VSV's and/or the VBV, the maintenance personnel disconnect the fuel line between the fuel pump and the engine control system, and install a hand pump to facilitate channeling fuel to either the VSV's and/or the VBV. More specifically, the handpump is operated to either open and/or close at least one the VSV's and the VBV when the gas turbine engine is not operating.
However, utilizing a handpump to reposition either the VSV's and/or the VBV increases the time and thus the cost of maintaining the gas turbine engine. Moreover, when the fuel line between the fuel pump and the engine control system is reconnected, the gas turbine engine must be operated in a test configuration to verify that the fuel system is not leaking. Accordingly, utilizing a hand pump to reposition either the VSV's and/or the VBV increases the time and thus the cost to perform maintenance on the gas turbine engine.

Method and apparatus for performing gas turbine engine maintenance


This invention recognizes the hazards of beryllium and beryllium oxide in automotive applications and offers alternative material solutions. In particular, commercial electrochromic mirrors use beryllium comprising alloys for busbars and may also use beryllium oxide for the electronics used to power and control these mirrors. Further, this can be combined by reducing other known hazards such as mercury, cadmium, lead and antimony compounds.

Electrochromic rearview mirrors have long been incorporated into vehicles for providing automatic control of glare to a vehicle operator. EC Rearview mirrors are often times mounted both inside and outside the vehicle or only on the inside. Some of the patents that describe electrochromic devices usable for mirrors are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,280,701, 4,712,879, 4,902,108; 5,140,455, 5,724,187, 6,111,684; 6,166,848, 6,853,472 and published patent application 2004/0233537.
Such commercially available mirror assemblies comprise of an EC cell enclosed in a casing along with attachment mechanism to the vehicle, powering electronics and other electrical and electronic features. These mirror assemblies may comprise of materials which are harmful to the environment. In one aspect this invention describes novel combination of materials to reduce environmental degradation and safety, particularly for those who are involved when these systems are being made or removed and recycled or disposed at the end of their life cycle.
Typically, the mirrors have a perimeter molding which forms a lip on the front surface to hide or block the perimeter busbars, connections or adhesives from being observed. Recently, mirrors are being introduced, particularly for the outside rear-view mirrors that do not have a formed bezel or a molded lip on the front substrate. It is claimed that such mirrors also provide superior vision, as the mirror area available for reflection increases by the inclusion of this perimeter. In this invention novel ways are described that keep this utility while enhancing the mirror appearance.
Most commercial EC mirrors use liquid electrolytes, which have the potential to leak and damage the car interiors or exterior coatings and paints. Multiphase electrolytes have been recently disclosed which can solidify the electrolyte. New compositions of electrolyte which form multiphase solids with lower viscosity are disclosed which result in superior processing behavior of the devices.

Environmentally safe electrochromic mirrors


A controlling structure of a stroller enabling a user to release a seat includes a driving block and a driven block respectively engaged with each other through respective teeth integrally formed on a respective upper end face and a respective lower end thereof and a wire having a first end thereof securely connected with a control bar and a second end thereof securely connected with the driving block such that when a user pulls the control bar, the driving block will move along in the same direction as the control bar, and the driven block will thus be forced to move sideward. When the driven block is moved sideward, a projection of the driven block originally received within a side hole of an armrest will also be moved out of the side hole. Thus, a seat having a hole defined in respective side thereof and initially having the projection of the driven block received within the hole is able to be lifted by a user.

Transferring a baby in a stroller, particularly a sleeping baby, and moving it to a car seat or vice versa, may sometimes be a problem to parents, because if the baby is disturbed, it can be very difficult to comfort it or get it back to sleep. To solve the problem, a stroller having a seat releasably attached thereto is introduced to the market. The stroller has a controlling means mounted thereto for controlling the securement of the seat, so that a user is able to release the seat of the stroller by the controlling means, and the sleeping baby will not be bothered. Yet, the controlling means requires the user to use both hands to proceed with the operation of releasing/securing the seat. It is very hard for users to proceed with the operation of releasing/ securing the seat if one of two hands is holding something or the user is disabled. In this case, users will have to secure the seat step by step and one side after another or with the help of others.
From the previous description, the strollers currently available requiring both hands of a user to operate the release of the seat will not fulfill the needs of users)and improvements or alterations thereof are thus required. The stroller having a controlling structure for controlling the release of the seat and constructed in accordance with the present invention tends to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An electronic device including a communication module configured to connect a packet based video call to a user equipment, an image processing module configured to generate a transmission image for the video call, and a control module configured to control a frame type of a transmission image generated by the image processing module based on tune-away information received from the user equipment.

The present disclosure relates to video call quality between terminals using a Packet-Switched (PS) network, and more particularly to alleviating video degradation during a video call.
Unlike a Circuit-Switched (CS) 2G or 3G network, Long-Term Evolution (LTE) (post-4G communication protocol) supports PS network. However, even with LTE, voice calls can still use 3G networks. For example, if a voice call is received while a User Equipment (UE) is accessing a 4G network, a Circuit Switched Fall-Back (CSFB) technique will disconnect from the 4G network and connect to a 3G network.
Additionally, Voice over LTE (VoLTE) supports high-quality voice calls in a broader bandwidth of LTE and VoLTE based video calls with high definition (HD) video quality (1280×720 pixels, 30 fps) is also supported. The HD video quality is better than the quality in an existing CS video call (for example, Common Intermediate Format (CIF) 353×288 pixels, 15 fps).
The CSFB technique is a method of making voice calls where a mobile communication carrier inserts CS call paging information between LTE signals in a core network and provides it to a UE. However, with Single Radio LTE (SRLTE) UE, when the UE checks 3G network for CS paging information (tune-away) the SRLTE UE must stop communicating on the LTE network. Accordingly, LTE data throughput may deteriorate during the tune-away periods on an SRLTE UE.
According to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) TS 44.018 specifications, a CS paging period may have a minimum time of 470 ms and a maximum time of 2.12 s. The CS paging period is determined by the parameter BS_PA_FRMS set in each CELL. In each CS paging period, the LTE connection is disconnected from about 15 ms to about 30 ms to tune-away for the UE to receive and parse a paging message. That is, in the case of a terminal supporting a SRLTE method, during a video call using VoLTE the video quality may deteriorate due to the 15-30 ms tune-away every 470 ms˜2.12 s.

Video call method in packet-switched network and device supporting the same


A bulkhead adaptor for use with a downhole tool to be pumped through a well casing or drill pipe on a cable. The bulkhead adaptor includes a housing assembly having. an upper attachment element for connecting the housing assembly to the cable, and a lower attachment element for connecting the housing to the tool. The adaptor also has a circular swab cup defining a surface area exposed to a flow of pumping fluid. The swab cup is removably attached to the housing and has an outer diameter enclosing a projected area greater than the projected area of the tool, measured in a plane transverse to said well casing or drill pipe. Various preferred materials and methods of use are disclosed. The invention can especially improve the pumping of tools down horizontal or highly deviated wells.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for deploying tools in oil wells with mud pumping techniques, and has special application for use in highly deviated wells.
Once an oil well is drilled, it is common to log certain sections of the well with electrical instruments. These instruments are sometimes referred to as "wireline" instruments, as they communicate with the logging unit at the surface of the well through an electrical wire or cable with which they are deployed. In vertical wells, often the instruments are simply lowered down the well on the logging cable. In horizontal or highly deviated wells, however, gravity is frequently insufficient to move the instruments to the depths to be logged. In these situations, it is sometimes necessary to push the instruments along the well with drill pipe.
Wireline logging with drill pipe can be difficult, however, because of the presence of the cable. It is cumbersome and dangerous to pre-string the electrical cable through all of the drill pipe before lowering the instruments into the well. Some deployment systems have therefore been developed, such as Schlumberger's Tough Logging Conditions System (TLCS), that make the electrical connection between the instruments and the cable down hole, after the instruments have been lowered to depth. In these systems, the electrical instruments are easily deployed with standard drill pipe, and the cable is then run down the inside of the drill pipe and connected. After logging, the cable can be easily detached from the logging tool and removed before the tool is retrieved. The TLCS has been very effective and has achieved strong commercial acceptance.
In the TLCS and other systems, the cable is remotely connected to the instrumentation with a down hole connector. One half portion of this connector is attached to the instrumentation and lowered into the well on drill pipe. The other half portion of the connector is attached to the end of the cable and pumped down the drill pipe with a flow of mud that circulates out of open holes at the bottom of the drill pipe and into the well bore. The connector is sometimes referred to as a "wet connector" because the connection is made in the flow of drilling mud under conditions that challenge electrical connection reliability. In highly deviated or horizontal wells, pumping the connector down the well can be especially challenging. In such cases the pumping force exerted on the connector must overcome friction between the well casing or drill pipe surface, and in some instances must even act against gravity.
The challenge of pumping the cable connector down the well applies to pumping any wireline tool down a well with a flow of drilling muds, which can, depending on the application and down hole environment, have a wide range of weights and viscosities.

Apparatus and method for downhole tool deployment with mud pumping techniques


Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business by improving quality of service (“QoS”) in network exchanges comprising a plurality of related request and response messages. A TQoS (“transactional QoS”) cookie is defined, which is used to store information needed when controlling response time (and perhaps other QoS factors as well) for messages exchanged with a particular client. In preferred embodiments, this QoS information comprises a relative priority for these related messages and an available bandwidth for transmitting messages to the client. The disclosed techniques enable applying consistent QoS requirements for delivery of all the related Web objects comprising a transaction. No changes are required on client devices or in client software, and there is no dependency on a client to support cookies.

1. Related Inventions
The present invention is related to the following commonly-assigned U.S. Patents, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/557,708, filed Apr. 25, 2000, entitled "URL-Based Sticky Routing Tokens Using a Server-Side Cookie Jar"; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/825,097, filed Apr. 3, 2001 entitled "Improved Clickstream Data Collection Technique".
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer system, and deals more particularly with methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business by improving quality of service handling for transactions (that is, exchanges of a plurality of related request and response messages) in a networking environment.

Quality of service improvements for network transactions

International Business Machines Corporation


The opto-electronic integrated circuit device comprises an optical switch 18 provided in an input port 12a of a first input/output port 36a over a substrate 10 and changing over an optical path of an optical signal inputted from the input port 12a and outputting the optical signal through one of a plurality of output terminals 24a–24d; an opto-electric conversion element 26a optically connected to one of the plural output terminals of the optical switch 18, and converting the optical signal outputted from one of the output terminals 24a–24d of the optical switch 18 to an electric signal and inputting the converted electric signal in a semiconductor element 30 mounted over the substrate 10; and an optical waveguide 50 optically connected to another of the plural output terminal 24d of the optical switch 18 and outputting the optical signal outputted from said another output terminal 24d of the optical switch 18 through an output port 32b of a second input/output port 36b over the substrate 10.

The present invention relates to an opto-electronic integrated circuit device, an opto-electronic integrated circuit system and a transmission method using the opto-electronic integrated circuit system.
Recently, opto-electronic integrated circuit devices each including optical elements and electronic devices integrated on a substrates are proposed. In the proposed opto-electronic integrated circuit device, the elements for converting electric signals to optical signals are, e.g., laser diodes, etc., and the elements for converting optical signals to electric signals are, e.g., photodiodes, etc. The optical elements are interconnected by optical fibers, etc., and the electronic devices are interconnected by electric interconnections.
Such opto-electronic integrated circuit device, which includes optical elements and electronic devices mounted on one and the same substrate, can be generally downsized and integrated.
Following references disclose the background art of the present invention.
[Patent Reference 1]
Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2000-114581 (pages 6–8, FIG. 1)
[Patent Reference 2]
Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2000-188418 (pages 4–5, FIG. 1)
[Patent Reference 3]
Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 1995-183570 (pages 2–3, FIG. 1).
When, e.g., N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) opto-electronic integrated circuit devices thus proposed are arranged, and optical signals are transmitted among these opto-electronic integrated circuit devices, N×(N−1)/2 optical interconnections are necessary. (N−1) laser diodes and (N−1) photodiodes must be provided on each opto-electronic integrated circuit devices. Accordingly, it is not easy to form a system which enables the transmission of optical signals among a number of opto-electronic integrated circuit devices, and even when such system is formed, the system will be bulky. Then, in transmitting an optical signal from one opto-electronic integrated circuit device A to another opto-electronic integrated circuit B, it is an idea to transmit the optical signal via further another opto-electronic integrated circuit C, etc. However, in transmitting an optical signal via further another opto-electronic integrated circuit C, etc., the optical signal is converted to an electric signal, and the converted electric signal is further converted to the optical signal. Accordingly, when an optical signal is transmitted via a number of the opto-electronic integrated circuit devices, the delay of the signal is very large.

Opto-electronic integrated circuit device, opto-electronic integrated circuit system and transmission method


This invention provides a speaker port with a flare having an inner wall that minimizes or reduces boundary layer separation. Fluids, such as air and sound waves, flow through the port at a higher velocity when boundary layer separation is minimized or reduced. The inner wall of the port is contoured so that the pressure gradient or change in pressure along the longitudinal axis of the port from its inlet duct to outlet duct is substantially constant.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to loud speakers used in audio systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a speaker port with a contour that reduces boundary layer separation.
2. Related Art
There are many types of speaker enclosures. Each enclosure type can affect how sound is produced by the speaker. Typically, a driver is mounted flushed within the speaker enclosure. The driver usually has a vibrating diaphragm for emitting sound waves in front of a cone. As the diaphragm moves back and forth, rear waves are created behind the cone as well. Different enclosures types have different ways of handling these "rear" waves.
Many speakers take advantage of these rear waves to supplement forward sound waves produced by the cone. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bass reflex enclosure that takes advantage of the rear waves. The enclosure has a small port. The backward motion of the diaphragm excites the resonance created by the spring of air inside the speaker enclosure and the mass contained within the port. The length and area of the port are generally sized to tune this resonant frequency. The port and speaker resonance is very efficient so the cone motion is reduced to near zero thereby greatly enhancing the bandwidth and the maximum output of the system that would otherwise be limited by the excursion of the cone.
In many speaker enclosures, sound waves passing through the port generate noise due to boundary layer separation. A sudden expansion or discontinuity in the cross-sectional area of the port can cause boundary layer separation of the sound waves from the port. Boundary layer separation occurs when there is excessive expansion along the longitudinal axis of the port. The fluid expansion causes excessive momentum loss near the wall or contour of the port such that the flow breaks off or separates from the wall of the port.
To minimize boundary layer separation, many port designs use flares in the shape of a nozzle at opposing ends of the port to provide smooth transitions. Often, different flares are tried until the "best" one is found. In many flare designs, the performance of the port may be poor because boundary layer separation will occur at the point along the longitudinal axis of the port where the adverse pressure gradient is largest. The pressure gradient or change in pressure may become great enough that the momentum of the sound wave or fluid is greater than the pressure holding the sound wave to the wall or contour. In this case, the sound wave separates from the wall, thus generating noise and losses. The point where the maximum pressure gradient occurs along the port limits the flow velocity from the port before separation occurs. Once the sound wave or flow separates from the port contour or wall at the point of maximum pressure gradient, flow losses increase dramatically and result in poor performance of the port.

Speaker port system for reducing boundary layer separation

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


An apparatus for determining transmission policies for a plurality of transmissions of different types based on a first transmission data associated to a first transmission being of a first transmission type, and on a second transmission data associated to a second transmission being of a second transmission type is described, comprising means for obtaining a first score within a common range, said first score being based on an evaluation of said first transmission data in a first transmission type specific manner, means for obtaining a second score within the common range, said second score being based on an evaluation of said second transmission data in a second transmission type specific manner, and means for determining, based on said obtained first and second score, for said first and second transmission a respective first and second transmission policy each defining one or more transmission parameters such that a sum of a first and second expected score is maximized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of optimization of wireless network architectures and resource allocations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optimization of network architectures is critical to achieve maximal network capacity and provide high quality services to the largest possible number of users. In common scenarios, multiple users share the wireless medium and engage in rather diverse applications such as video, voice, and FTP delivery. Optimizing allocation of resources across all users and applications maximizes the satisfaction of the users.
So far cross-layer optimization has been applied only to single application systems. However, in practice multiple users sharing the wireless medium, e.g. in a cell, often run different applications simultaneously. User satisfaction translates into a different set of requirements for each type of application. Furthermore, the impact of losses on the user-perceived quality is highly application-dependent.
The challenge of optimization across multiple applications has been treated mainly in the form of throughput maximization as described by V. Tsibonis, L. Georgiadis, L. Tassiulas, in "Exploiting wireless channel state information for throughput maximization," IEEE INFOCOM 2003, in the following referred to as [Tsi01], and by Xin Liu, E. Chong, N. Shroff, in "Transmission scheduling for efficient wireless utilization," IEEE INFOCOM 2001, in the following referred to as [Liu01].
Maximizing throughput leads to optimum performance only for applications, which are insensitive to delay, and packet loss. Multimedia applications such as video and voice are highly sensitive to changes in data rate, delay, and packet losses. Even the importance of a packet changes dynamically depending on the history of previous packets. Due to these reasons, throughput maximization leads to performance, which is usually not optimal with respect to user perceived quality for multimedia applications.
WO 00/33511 A describes a system for improving the end-user quality of service in a packet switched network. Reports are sent from various nodes in the network informing a network supervisor of the end-user quality of service at the node, which represents an estimate of the quality from a human end-user's perspective. The quality supervisor analyzes the reports and sends commands to the node, which sent the report and/or to other nodes in order to improve the end-user quality of service at the node and in the packet switch network as a whole. The nodes comprise sending and receiving terminals, routers and gateways. The reports include measurements of link parameters, device parameters and end-user quality of service.

Apparatus and method for determining transmission policies for a plurality of applications of different types


A grommet arranged between a pipe and an outer cover that surrounds a braided member connected to the pipe, the grommet including a body with a pass-through space through which a caulking portion of a caulking ring for caulking the braided member to an end portion of the pipe can move in an axial direction.

The present disclosure relates to a grommet and a wire harness.
Conventionally, a wire harness has been known in which noise shielding is performed by surrounding an electrical wire with a shield member formed by conductively connecting an electrically conductive pipe and a braided member formed by braiding metal strands in the form of a mesh. The end portion of the braided member is placed over the end portion of the pipe and is fixed with a caulking ring.
In general, terminal fittings are included on both end portions of the wire harness. The terminal fittings are connected to a partner side in a state of being exposed or contained in a connector. The connector is waterproofed using an outer cover component such as that described in JP 2000-260244A below, for example.
The space between the pipe and the outer cover component is waterproofed using a grommet such as that described in JP 2015-15822A below, for example. One end side in the axial direction of the grommet is fixed to the end portion of the pipe, and the other end side is fixed to the end portion of the outer cover component.
When the terminal fittings are contained in the connector in this kind of wire harness, the terminal fittings are pulled out from the outer cover component, and the end portion of the outer cover component is folded back to expose the terminal fittings.


A method (500) of placing local clock nets in a circuit design can include identifying the local clock nets for the circuit design and selecting components corresponding to each local clock net (510,515), and assigning initial locations to each component of the local clock nets (520). The method further can include generating at least one cost function (530, 550) to evaluate (555) different placements of components of the local clock nets. The components (220, 240) of the local clock nets (205) can be annealed (535–575) using one or more of the cost functions to assign locations to each component of the local clock nets.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of physical circuit design and, more particularly, to the placement of a design.
2. Description of the Related Art
Designs for Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA's) have become increasingly complex and heterogeneous. Modern FPGA designs can include a variety of different components or resources including, but not limited to, registers, block Random Access Memory (RAM), multipliers, processors, and the like. This increasing complexity makes placement of components within a circuit design more cumbersome.
Components of circuit designs traditionally have been placed together through a series of discrete phases or tasks. Each task is performed sequentially and independently of the others to place a particular set of components of the circuit design. For example, inputs and outputs (I/O's) are placed, local clock nets are placed, and global clock nets are placed.
The local clock net placement task assigns or constrains a local clock source, local clock loads, as well as the data components to be latched by the local clock, to physical locations on the chip or particular regions or areas of the circuit design. While local clock nets may be placed in a separate operation from other component types, the local clock net placement task is performed no differently than other placement tasks. That is, although local clock nets can be placed, any analysis as to whether the placement of the circuit design complies with design constraints is not performed until the signals of the circuit design are routed.
During routing, the local clock sources are given higher priority than other component types in an effort to minimize clock skew and clock signal delays. Despite the priority afforded to local clock sources during routing, when design constraints cannot be met with the current placement, the circuit design must be placed again. This can increase circuit development time as well as costs as the circuit design may require placement to be performed several times in order to meet timing requirements as specified by predetermined design constraints.
In any case, determinations as to whether the current placement is feasible are not made until after placement has finished and the signal routing phase has begun. What is needed is a technique for placing local clock nets that seeks to attain a feasible placement for a circuit design during the placement process and evaluate that placement during the placement process prior to routing signals of the circuit design.

Automated local clock placement for FPGA designs


A method for CNC manufacturing is provided. The method includes computer-reading a digital model of a 3D part within a first topological space. An offset surface for the digital model in the first topological space is computer-generated. The offset surface in the first topological space is computer-transformed to a transformed offset surface in a second topological space embedded in the first topological space. A plurality of contours are computer-identified, at which a corresponding plurality of embedded parallel planes intersect the transformed offset surface in the second topological space. The plurality of contours in the second topological space are computer-transformed into a corresponding plurality of transformed contours in the first topological space. A CNC toolpath is computer-generated that traces each of the plurality of transformed contours in the first topological space, the CNC toolpath useable by a CNC machine to manufacture the 3D part.

CNC manufacturing encompasses a variety of techniques that facilitate production of three-dimensional parts, such as machine parts and consumer goods. Typically, CNC manufacturing involves a computerized system moving a CNC tool along a "toolpath." This can include additive manufacturing techniques, such as three-dimensional (3D) printing; subtractive manufacturing techniques in which the desired part is formed by "machining," or removing matter from, a starting material such as wood, plastic, or metal; and techniques in which the shape or appearance of the starting material (e.g., sheet metal) is changed without substantially adding or subtracting any matter, such as incremental sheet forming (ISF).
CNC toolpaths are typically generated via computer analysis of a virtual model of the 3D part to be manufactured. Based on information regarding the desired shape of the 3D part, the initial shape of the starting material, the shape of the CNC tool, and the capabilities of the CNC machine controlling the CNC tool, the computer is programmed to generate a set of movements for the CNC tool to follow that will result in the 3D part being generated from the starting material.
However, CNC toolpaths generated using conventional approaches can give suboptimal results for certain part geometries. In the specific example of ISF, CNC toolpaths generated using conventional methods can struggle to produce 3D parts of acceptable quality when such parts include flat surfaces or "saddle" shapes, among other problematic features. While conventional CNC toolpaths can still be useable to produce 3D parts including these features, the resulting parts can include defects, which can cause quality control issues and, in some cases, render the 3D parts unusable.
Thus, and in view of the above, challenges exist in generating CNC toolpaths useable to form certain types of 3D parts that are of suitable quality and substantially free from defects.

Offset surface transformations for generating CNC toolpaths


An improved device is provided for lifting the drum of a concrete mixer vehicle, wherein the drum has an encircling ring structure. The device includes a body mechanism having a body side wall and an inverted cup with a cavity for receiving a jack, a clamp mechanism wherein a cleat lower wall thereof is slidably adjustable relative to a lower wall of the body mechanism such that a cleat side wall is adjustable toward and away from the body side wall to clamp the ring structure between the body side wall and the cleat side wall, and a stabilizing mechanism for stabilizing the body mechanism relative to the mixer vehicle drum. The device may also include an adapter configured to also be slidably adjustable relative to either the body side wall or the cleat side wall. The stabilizing mechanism, which includes a tongue operably attached to and extending outwardly from the body side wall, a tapped throughbore spaced near a distal end of the tongue, and an axially adjustable adjuster, is configured to operably provide at least a three-point support for the mixer vehicle drum, either by providing the cleat side wall with a concave upper surface for abutting engagement with the drum side wall or by transversely abutting two bolt heads against the ring structure. A method of lifting the mixer drum relative to the mixer vehicle is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates generally to a device for lifting a heavy load and, more particularly, to a device for use with a jack to lift a rotatable drum, such as a drum of a concrete mixer truck.
2. Description of the Related Art.
A mixer truck, such as a concrete mixer truck, has a rotating drum structured to contain and mix material en route to a construction site. Rotating capability is generally provided by supporting the drum on bearings, such as roller bearings. From time to time, those bearings must be replaced. Prior to the present invention, a hydraulic jack was more or less jammed into place between a ring structure built into the periphery of the drum and an underlying portion of the drum supporting structure, wherein the jack was generally canted at an angle to the vertical. The jack was then manipulated whereby the drum was lifted from the bearings so the bearings could be removed and replaced. Support for the jack was somewhat haphazard to say the least. Due to the massiveness of the drum, a precarious and dangerous situation existed for the person manipulating the jack. As a result, may accidents occurred when the base of the jack slipped, sometimes pinching off fingers or a hand resulting in serious bodily injury.
What is needed is needed is a device for safely lifting a mixer drum relative to a concrete mixer vehicle, such as a device is configured to prevent slippage of a jack and that literally or equivalently provides a three-point support for the drum as it is being and while lifted by the jack, such as for bearing replacement.

Lifting device for concrete mixer vehicle drum


A detachable and lockable socket includes a casing. The casing is provided with a controller, a socket unit, and a pin. The pin is connected with a silicone steel sheet. An outer periphery of the silicone steel sheet is provided with a coil. The controller is able to control the coil to be electrified or not. When the coil is electrified, the coil generates a magnetic field, enabling the pin to have a magnetic attraction force. The pin is attracted and locked to a conducting plate of a power source, avoiding looseness, disengagement and stealing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detachable and lockable socket, and more particularly to a detachable socket able to generate a magnetic attraction force to be locked, avoiding looseness, disengagement and stealing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional detachable socket generally comprises a casing. The casing is provided with a pin and an insertion hole. The insertion hole is provided with a conducting plate connected with the pin. The pin is plugged into a wall-mounted socket to connect with a power source. The insertion hole is adapted for insertion of an electric appliance plug to supply power. The conventional detachable socket has the following shortcomings. First, when the pin is plugged into the power socket, it is clamped without any other force to assist in locking. Therefore, the pin may be loose or disengage from the power socket. When the pin disengages from the power socket, the power supply is cut off. When the pin is loose, the power supply is unstable. This may cause a fire accident. Secondly, because the detachable socket doesn't have a locking mechanism, it may be stolen easily.


Described herein are compositions having (a) at least 99 wt % phenol; and (b) 0.1 wppm to 1000 wppm of at least one of the following components: bicyclohexane, cyclohexylbenzene, methylcyclopentylbenzene, hydroxycyclohexanone, cyclohexenone, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanedione, benzoic acid, hexanal, and methycyclopentanone, wherein the wt % and wppm are based upon the total weight of the composition.

Phenol is an important product in the chemical industry and is useful in, for example, the production of phenolic resins, bisphenol A, ε-caprolactam, adipic acid, and plasticizers.
Currently, the most common route for the production of phenol is the Hock process. This is a three-step process in which the first step involves alkylation of benzene with propylene to produce cumene, followed by oxidation of the cumene to the corresponding hydroperoxide and then cleavage of the hydroperoxide to produce equimolar amounts of phenol and acetone.
However, the various steps involved in the production of phenol and acetone from cumene can produce contaminants that are difficult to separate from the desired phenol and acetone products. Examples of these contaminants may include hydroxyacetone, mesityl oxide, 2-methylbenzofuran, acetophenone, alpha-methylstyrene, cumene, and 2-phenylpropanal.
These contaminants, if left in the phenol product, may cause difficulties in downstream processing, or render the phenol unusable for such downstream processing, for example, in the subsequent production of bis-phenols and polycarbonates. Therefore, techniques have been proposed to remove those contaminants involving certain treatments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,507 discloses obtaining high purity phenol from cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide through one or more amine treatment steps. The phenol mixture includes at least 0.5 wt % to no greater than 10 wt % of alpha-methylstyrene, and further includes acetol, 2-phenyl-propionaldehyde (2PPA), methyl-benzofuran (MBF), mesityl oxide (MO) and carbonyl impurities. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,651 discloses a method of producing phenol made by decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide. The phenol is purified by contacting the carbonyl compounds with a nitrogen compound.
The production of phenol from cyclohexylbenzene is an emerging technology, interesting in that it co-produces cyclohexanone rather than acetone. Cyclohexylbenzene can be produced, for example, by direct alkylation of benzene with cyclohexene, or as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,513, by contacting benzene with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. The cyclohexylbenzene can then be oxidized to the corresponding hydroperoxide and the peroxide cleaved to phenol and cyclohexanone using an acidic cleavage catalyst.
The production of phenol from cyclohexylbenzene also produces various contaminants that are difficult to separate from the desired products. However, the nature of those contaminants and the separations involved are significantly different than those involved in either the conventional Hock process for phenol and acetone. For example, hydroalkylation of benzene produces significant amounts of, inter alia, cyclohexane, and lesser amounts of methylcyclopentane, cyclohexene, phenylcyclohexene, and phenylcyclohexyldiene. Similarly, the oxidation of cyclohexylbenzene typically produces peroxide species alien to the Hock process, such as the desired cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide (CHBHP), and undesired byproduct hydroperoxides such as cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-2-hydroperoxide, cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-3-hydroperoxide and cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-4-hydroperoxide. Finally, the cleavage of these various hydroperoxides produces, as both the product of the undesired hydroperoxides and the undesired byproducts of the desired CHBHP, a wide variety of contaminant species are not produced by the chemistry and technology of the Hock process.
That said, described herein are methods to manage the contaminants generated when manufacturing phenol from cyclohexylbenzene.
Advantageously, these methods produce high-quality phenol compositions that are novel, useful and very different from those typically produced by conventional methods (e.g., the Hock process). The chemistry associated with cyclohexylbenzene as a starting material in the instant invention, and further the complete absence of cumene and its conversion products and byproducts, potentially provides a phenol composition with contaminants that are of a markedly different type and concentration than the conventional methods. These contaminants may be less problematic in further processing, e.g., to phenolic resins. Moreover, the contaminants produced in the processes described herein have lower volatility compared to contaminants produced by conventional methods, and therefore may be present in lower concentrations.