The present invention provides a virtualized computing systems and methods for transitioning in real time between LONG SUPER-MODE and LEGACY SUPER-MODE in the x86-64 architecture. In doing so, a virtual machine, which relies on the traditional 32-bit modes, i.e., REAL MODE and PROTECTED MODE (V86 SUB-MODE, RING-0 SUB-MODE, and RING-3 SUB-MODE), is able to run alongside other applications on x86-64 computer hardware (i.e., 64-bit). The method of performing a temporary processor mode context switch includes the steps of the virtual machine monitor's setting up a “virtual=real” page, placing the transition code for performing the processor mode context switch on this page, jumping to this page, disabling the memory management unit (MMU) of the x86-64 computer hardware, modifying the mode control register to set either the LONG SUPER-MODE bit or LEGACY SUPER-MODE bit, loading a new page table, and reactivating the MMU of the x86-64 computer hardware.

Computers include general purpose central processing units (CPUs) that are designed to execute a specific set of system instructions. A group of processors that have similar architecture or design specifications may be considered to be members of the same processor family. Examples of current processor families include the Motorola 680X0 processor family, manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz.; the Intel 80X86 processor family, manufactured by Intel Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif.; and the PowerPC processor family, which is manufactured by Motorola, Inc. and used in computers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Although a group of processors may be in the same family because of their similar architecture and design considerations, processors may vary widely within a family according to their clock speed and other performance parameters.
Each family of microprocessors executes instructions that are unique to the processor family. The collective set of instructions that a processor or family of processors can execute is known as the processor's instruction set. As an example, the instruction set used by the Intel 80X86 processor family is incompatible with the instruction set used by the PowerPC processor family. The Intel 80X86 instruction set is based on the Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) format. The Motorola PowerPC instruction set is based on the Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) format. CISC processors use a large number of instructions, some of which can perform rather complicated functions, but which require generally many clock cycles to execute. RISC processors use a smaller number of available instructions to perform a simpler set of functions that are executed at a much higher rate.
The uniqueness of the processor family among computer systems also typically results in incompatibility among the other elements of hardware architecture of the computer systems. A computer system manufactured with a processor from the Intel 80X86 processor family will have a hardware architecture that is different from the hardware architecture of a computer system manufactured with a processor from the PowerPC processor family. Because of the uniqueness of the processor instruction set and a computer system's hardware architecture, application software programs are typically written to run on a particular computer system running a particular operating system.
Computer manufacturers want to maximize their market share by having more rather than fewer applications run on the microprocessor family associated with the computer manufacturers' product line. To expand the number of operating systems and application programs that can run on a computer system, a field of technology has developed in which a given computer having one type of CPU, called a host, will include an emulator program that allows the host computer to emulate the instructions of an unrelated type of CPU, called a guest. Thus, the host computer will execute an application that will cause one or more host instructions to be called in response to a given guest instruction. Thus the host computer can both run software design for its own hardware architecture and software written for computers having an unrelated hardware architecture. As a more specific example, a computer system manufactured by Apple Computer, for example, may run operating systems and program written for PC-based computer systems. It may also be possible to use an emulator program to operate concurrently on a single CPU multiple incompatible operating systems. In this arrangement, although each operating system is incompatible with the other, an emulator program can host one of the two operating systems, allowing the otherwise incompatible operating systems to run concurrently on the same computer system.
When a guest computer system is emulated on a host computer system, the guest computer system is said to be a virtual machine, as the host computer system exists only as a software representation of the operation of the hardware architecture of the guest computer system. The terms emulator, virtual machine, and processor emulation are sometimes used interchangeably to denote the ability to mimic or emulate the hardware architecture of an entire computer system. As an example, the Virtual PC software created by Connectix Corporation of San Mateo, Calif. emulates an entire computer that includes an Intel 80X86 Pentium processor and various motherboard components and cards. The operation of these components is emulated in the virtual machine that is being run on the host machine. An emulator program executing on the operating system software and hardware architecture of the host computer, such as a computer system having a PowerPC processor, mimics the operation of the entire guest computer system.
The emulator program acts as the interchange between the hardware architecture of the host machine and the instructions transmitted by the software running within the emulated environment. This emulator program may be a host operating system (HOS), which is an operating system running directly on the physical computer hardware. Alternately, the emulated environment might also be a virtual machine monitor (VMM) which is a software layer that runs directly above the hardware and which virtualizes all the resources of the machine by exposing interfaces that are the same as the hardware the VMM is virtualizing (which enables the VMM to go unnoticed by operating system layers running above it). A host operating system and a VMM may run side-by-side on the same physical hardware.
The evolution of the development of the x86-architecture by Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.) started with a 16-bit processor (x86-16), then extended to a 32-bit processor (x86-32), and is currently being extended to a 64-bit processor (x86-64). The 64-bit x86-architecture which is generically known as the x86-64 architecture, is being developed by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) of Sunnyvale, Calif., as well as by Intel. For example, the AMD 64-bit product is known commercially as AMD64. A distinction is made, however, between the 64-bit x86-architecture of this discussion and another 64-bit product jointly developed by Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Intel known as IA64. IA64 has a 64-bit instruction set architecture that is implemented in Itanium® processors. Generally, the IA64 architecture has no backward compatibility and, thus, x86-architecture software will not run on the IA64 architecture because of the different instruction set. Consequently, the discussion herein of the 64-bit architecture refers exclusively to the x86-64 architecture not the IA64 architecture.
Providing backward compatibility that allows a virtual machine written for a 32-bit legacy OS to run on a 64-bit OS is important to software manufacturers, as backward compatibility enables a shorter time-to-market for new 32-bit products and extends the use of legacy 32-bit applications. The x86-64 architecture supports several different modes of operation including the operating modes of the traditional 32-bit x86 architecture, which are outlined as follows.
Traditional 32-bit x86 architecture (x86-32):REAL MODEPROTECTED MODE:V86 SUB-MODERING-0, −1, −2, −3 SUB-MODES(Note: As used herein, the terms "mode," "sub-mode," and "super-mode" are used to better distinguish the different mode layers of the different architectures; however, as well known and readily appreciated by those of skill in the art, all of these variations are quite often referred to simply as "modes," without regard for relative structure.)
Generally, REAL MODE is an operating mode that allows the execution of only one program at a time. In REAL MODE, programs can only access 1024K of memory and use a 16-bit data path. PROTECTED MODE provides support for virtual memory and multitasking (running more than one program at a time). PROTECTED MODE programs can access addresses above 1024K and can use a 32-bit data path. REAL MODE is the precursor to PROTECTED MODE, in which each program needs all the memory to run and will not allow the execution of another application at the same time. PROTECTED MODE further includes a RING-0 SUB-MODE, a RING-1 SUB-MODE, a RING-2 SUB-MODE, a RING-3 SUB-MODE, and a V86 SUB-MODE (virtual 8086). (Generally, RING-1 and RING-2 SUB-MODES are not used by current applications.)
RING-0 SUB-MODE refers to the Intel 80286 PROTECTED MODE architecture. RING-0 SUB-MODE is the most privileged level, with access to all system resources. RING-0 SUB-MODE is the most privileged code that is used by the OS and its drivers and that have a high level of trust. RING-3 SUB-MODE also refers to the Intel 80286 PROTECTED MODE architecture. RING-3 SUB-MODE is the least privileged level that is used for code that has a low level of trust and is used by all user applications. V86 SUB-MODE refers to the Intel 80386 PROTECTED MODE architecture, a sub-mode in which the CPU emulates the 8086 REAL MODE addressing, but maintains support for paging and certain access restrictions.
By contrast, the x86-64 architecture supports two primary super-modes, i.e., a LEGACY SUPER-MODE and a LONG SUPER-MODE, which are outlined as follows.
Expanded 62-bit x86 architecture (x86-64):LEGACY SUPER-MODEREAL MODEPROTECTED MODE:V86 SUB-MODERING-0, −1, −2, −3 SUB-MODESLONG SUPER-MODECOMPATIBILITY MODERING-3 SUB-MODENATIVE LONG MODE
The x86-64 architecture LEGACY SUPER-MODE includes all the modes and sub-modes of the traditional 32-bit x86 architecture, i.e., REAL MODE, PROTECTED MODE, etc. Additionally, the x86-64 architecture LONG SUPER-MODE includes a NATIVE LONG MODE and a COMPATIBILITY MODE. NATIVE LONG MODE allows for running 64-bit ring-0 code. COMPATIBILITY MODE allows 32-bit ring-3 applications to run on top of an OS that is running 64-bit NATIVE LONG MODE, i.e., a mixed environment. Therefore, 32-bit application can run the COMPATIBILITY MODE while a 64-bit application is simultaneously running in NATIVE LONG MODE.
However, a problem exists in that COMPATIBILITY MODE of the x86-64 architecture only supports the RING-3 SUB-MODE. COMPATIBILITY MODE does not support V86 SUB-MODE or RING-0 SUB-MODE, and at least one (if not both) of these are required for a 32-bit virtual machine (VM) to fully and seamlessly emulate/virtualize a 32-bit hardware environment. Therefore, what is needed are ways for virtual machines that rely on the traditional 32-bit modes, i.e., REAL MODE and PROTECTED MODE (V86 SUB-MODE, RING-0 SUB-MODE, and RING-3 SUB-MODE), to run alongside other applications on a 64-bit processor but still be able to execute ring-0 code as well as access the features of the V86 SUB-MODE.
One solution is for a virtual machine environment operating in the x86-64 architecture to be able to freely transition back and forth between LONG SUPER-MODE and LEGACY SUPER-MODE to, for example, transition back and forth between a guest running a 32-bit OS and the host running a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit processor. However, the implementation of the AMD64 machine, for example, did not anticipate a transition back and forth between LONG SUPER-MODE and LEGACY SUPER-MODE; instead, the implementation of the AMD64 machine assumes that the machine starts in LEGACY SUPER-MODE, makes a single transition to LONG SUPER-MODE when the OS loads, and never returns to LEGACY SUPER-MODE. What is needed is a method of switching back and forth between LONG SUPER-MODE and LEGACY SUPER-MODE in the x86-64 architecture.

Systems and methods for running a legacy 32-bit x86 virtual machine on a 64-bit x86 processor


In the context of a microprocessor and a program, the invention provides parallel subword compare instructions that store results in a selectable intra-register subword location. In a targeting approach, an instruction permits the location to be specified; alternatively, there can be plural instructions, each associated with one of the locations. In a replicating approach, plural replicas are stored in the alternative locations. In a shifting approach, the instruction moves prior results, so that the number of subsequent iterations of the instruction determines the location of a result. The invention provides for overwriting and content-preserving instructions, and for overlapping and separate locations. The invention allows results from multiple parallel subword compare operations with relatively few instructions. The invention also provides for other parallel subword instructions.

The present invention relates to data processing and, more particularly, to instructions executable by data processors. A major objective of the present invention is to provide parallel subword compare instructions that improve processor performance in certain situations common in multimedia applications.
Much of modern progress is associated with advances in computer technology. Typical computers include one or more processors that perform operations on data in accordance with a program of instructions. Associated with each microprocessor is an instruction set, i.e., a set of instructions that the microprocessor can execute. The performance of a processor in the context of a particular application is largely dependent on how efficiently the tasks demanded by the application can be characterized using the processor's instruction set.
As computers have become more powerful, they have been confronted with ever more demanding applications, such as real-time video manipulation. Video is typically presented as a synchronous stream of images. Each image can be described as a two-dimensional array of picture elements (pixels). Each pixel is typically described by one multi-bit (e.g., 8-bit) color value per color dimension. Many applications, e.g., video compression, group the pixels into blocks (e.g., 8×8-pixel blocks).
Common binary image operations (such as comparisons between blocks of the same or different images) can require 2×64×8 (two blocks, 64 pixels per block, 8-bits per pixel) bits of operand data to be handled concurrently. Using the increasingly prevalent 64-bit processors, a binary image block comparison can be implemented using eight pairs of 64-bit registers for the operands, with additional registers being used for storing intermediate and final results.
In all, sixty-four comparisons are called for. Each comparison results in one bit of information. In total, the sixty-four comparisons can result in a single 64-bit word that can be stored in a single result register. How efficiently these sixty-four comparisons can be made is dependent on the instruction set associated with the microprocessor. When a word compare instruction is used, operands with eight data bits and filled out with fixed values must be generated. Then words are compared. Then a one-bit value is stored in the result register at a suitable bit position. Successive results must be stored in appropriate positions in the result register without erasing prior results. Thus, sixty-four compare instructions and many other instructions are required to complete an image block compare using word compare instructions.
Some processors provide for a parallel subword compare instruction. As applied to a pair of 64-bit registers, eight pairs of 8-bit subwords stored in the registers can be compared in parallel to generate an 8-bit result that can be, for example, stored in the eight least-significant bit positions of a result register. This result can be shifted to more-significant bit positions to make room for the results of parallel subword compare operations on other pairs of registers. To complete an image block compare, eight parallel subword instructions, seven shift instructions and seven OR instructions (to combine results) are required, for a total of twenty-two instructions.
The total number of instructions is dependent on the particular implementation of the parallel subword compare instruction. For example, an alternative parallel subword compare instruction, used in the Intel Itanium processor, can store eight replicas of each subword compare result in the corresponding subword location of the result register. In this case, many more ancillary instructions are required to arrange the results of the eight parallel subword compare instructions in a single result. Accordingly, the total number of instructions required for an image block compare might be more than double that given for the first example.
In either case, the number of instructions required for implementing an image block compare is larger than desired. If the instructions are performed serially, the time consumed is excessive. If the instructions are performed in parallel, the ability of the processor to perform other operations in parallel with the image block compare operation is limited.
Of course, if a 16-register parallel subword compare instruction were available, the image block compare could be performed in one instruction. However, such an instruction would be complex to implement from a hardware standpoint and perhaps overly specialized from a software standpoint. What is needed is a parallel subword compare instruction that permits more efficient image block compares, as well as related operations.

Parallel subword instructions for directing results to selected subword locations of data processor result register

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method of shoot suppression when transition properties of an image signal are improved. The method includes improving transition properties of an original image signal and filtering a local overshoot and/or undershoot at edges of the transient-improved image signal. Accordingly, a transition time of the original image signal may be reduced and generation of shoots may be suppressed so that a quality-improved image is generated.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to image quality improvement, and more particularly to a method of shoot suppression and an image quality improving apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A transient improvement technique for increasing sharpness of an image signal reduces an edge transition time. In the case of a luminance signal, the transient improvement technique is referred to as a luminance transient improvement (LTI) technique.
Generally, the transient improvement technique is applied to reduce the transition time and thereby increase the sharpness of an image. In reducing the transmission time, there may be sideeffects related to overshoot and/or undershoot or distortion of the image.
FIG. 1 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a conventional image quality improvement process.
Referring to FIG. 1, an original image signal A is inputted to an image quality improving apparatus. The image quality improving apparatus generates a first derivative signal B and a second derivative signal C from the input signal A. The image quality improving apparatus multiplies the first derivative signal B by the second derivative signal C to generate an adjustment signal D. Then, the image quality improving apparatus adds the input signal A and the adjustment signal D to generate a quality-improved image signal E.
The quality-improved image signal E has a shorter transition time than the original image signal A but also has an overshoot and an undershoot. The reduction of an edge transition time may sharpen an image but the overshoot and undershoot (shoots) may distort an original image and thus degrade image quality. As the transition time becomes shorter, undershoots or overshoots that occur in the conventional image quality improvement process become larger.

Method of shoot suppression and an image quality improvement apparatus


A control member is rotatably mounted on the fuselage or on the wing of a model aircraft in spaced relation with a supporting surface of the fuselage. A gear leg is supported at one end by the control member and supports a landing wheel at its spaced opposite end. The gear leg extends radially of the control member. A torsion spring is coaxially mounted with the control member for storing energy when the control member is in a position whereby the gear leg is fully extended for ground operations and for releasing stored energy to rotate the control member in a manner whereby the gear leg is retracted for flying operations. A gear retracting initiator coupled to the torsion spring initiates gear retraction. An extend lock locks the gear leg in its fully extended position. A retract lock locks the gear leg in its retracted position. An actuator in operative proximity with the extend lock and the retract lock assists in locking the gear leg in its fully extended position and assists in locking the gear leg in its retracted position.

The present invention relates to a model aircraft retractable landing gear device. More particularly, the invention relates to a retractable landing gear device for a flying model aircraft.
The retractable landing gear mechanisms of flying model aircraft are generally quite heavy, very bulky and expensive in manufacture. These mechanisms thus make the model aircraft more costly to purchase and to operate.
The principal object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device of simple structure.
An object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device which is light in weight.
Another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device of simple structure which is inexpensive in manufacture.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device which is not bulky and which is installed with facility, convenience and rapidity in a flying model aircraft.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device of simple and inexpensive structure which operates reliably, efficiently and effectively.
Another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device which may be used in a variety of ways as a landing gear motor actuator or device.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft single cycle gear retractable landing gear device.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device which is fail safe, since if it is not activated to retract the landing gear such landing gear will stay down after take off.
Another object of the invention is to provide a model aircraft retractable landing gear device which includes a gravity gear extension.

Model aircraft retractable landing gear device


Mechanisms for generating an incremental backup of a set of data blocks while excluding certain files that are less desired to be backed up. Examples of such files include temporary Internet files and the recycle bin. This allows the size of the incremental backup to be reduced significantly since such undesired files are often changed between backups. The incremental backup is constructed by first calculating which data blocks should be included in the incremental backup. The calculation is a function of at least the identity of which if any of the data blocks in a prior snapshot have been or would have been altered as a result of potential file alterations in the prior snapshot, and/or which if any of the data blocks in the subsequent snapshot have been or would have been altered as a result of potential file alterations in the subsequent snapshot.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computing backup and restore technology; and more specifically, to mechanisms for generating an incremental backup of a partial volume, and for performing the backup of the same.
2. Background and Related Art
Computing technology has transformed the way we work and play. Businesses, residences, and other enterprises have come to rely on computing systems to manage their key operational data. Often, the data itself is many times more valuable to an enterprise than the computing hardware that stores the data. Accordingly, in this information age, many enterprises have taken precautions to protect their data.
One way of protecting data is to introduce storage redundancy. For example, a primary computing system maintains and operates upon the active data also referred to herein as a "live volume". A volume is a logical group of data blocks (e.g., sectors on a disk) that are set aside for use by a file system. On desktop systems, a volume is usually equivalent to a disk partition.
At a particular point in time, the primary computing system captures the current state of the active data. The processes of capturing the current state of active data on the primary computing system is also often referred to as taking a "snapshot" of the active data. While there may be a variety of ways of taking a snapshot of the active data, one example will now be described. In the example, from the point of the snapshot forward, if there is a write to the active data, the data that is about to be overwritten is instead copied to another location, and a snapshot table is updated to reflect that the snapshot copy of that portion of the data is in another location. Thus, the snapshot may be preserved while the primary computing system continues to operate upon the active data. At some point, the data from the snapshot may be backed up to the backup computing system. Hereinafter, the active volume that continues to be operated upon by the system separate and apart from the snapshot may be referred to as the "live volume". The snapshot may be referred to as the "snapped volume".
In order to do a full (also called a "base") backup, the backup process conventionally compiles the snapshot version of all of the used clusters in a file system into a base backup image file. The blocks that need to be included in this backup can be determined by the system bitmap. The used data blocks (e.g., sectors or clusters) in a file system may be determined from a system bitmap. As used herein, a "bitmap" is a data structure that has one bit for every data block in a volume. A conventional system bitmap has each bit set if the corresponding data block is in use (e.g., is allocated) by the file system, and clear if the corresponding data block is not in use by the file system.
After a full backup is taken, a snapshot device driver monitors the live volume of the primary computing system and keeps track of each block that has been modified since the last backup. It does this by using what will be referred to herein as a "vdiff" bitmap. When the snapshot is taken for the full backup, the vdiff bitmap has all of its bits initially clear. Until the next snapshot time, if there is a write to the blocks of the live volume, the bit corresponding to the data block being written to is set.
When the next incremental backup is taken, only the blocks that have been modified and that are part of the file system are captured. The incremental bitmap specifies which blocks need to be captured. In conventional incremental imaging, the incremental bitmap may be computed by bit-wise ANDing the system bitmap with the vdiff bitmap. The full backup corresponding to the time that the incremental image is taken can be reconstructed by accessing blocks in the incremental image, and if they are not present in the incremental image, accessing blocks from the base image.
However, often it is not necessary or desirable to backup all files on a system. There are some files that are simply not a high priority for backing up. Excluding these files from a backup can reduce the size of the backup, as well as the time that it takes to create or restore the backup. A good example of files that do not need to be backed up is a user's temporary Internet files, which serve as a cache of files visited recently. Generally there is no need to back them up, and because this cache can be large and changes often, eliminating these files can significantly reduce the size of base and backup images. Another example would be the WINDOWS recycle bin, which also contains old files that the user should not need to back up.
Accordingly, what would be advantageous are mechanisms that permit base and incremental images to be taken, but while allowing certain files to be excluded from the base and incremental images.


The present invention relates to an energy router for an energy internet, which comprises a three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, a six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit, a single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit, a high-voltage DC bus and a low-voltage DC bus. The three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, the six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit and the single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit each have three energy flow operating modes: a forward conduction, a reverse conduction and a non-conduction. According to the energy flow operating mode of each unit, different operating modes of the energy router for the energy internet are formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention belongs to the technical field of electric and electronic power conversion, in particular relates to an energy router for an energy internet.
2. The Prior Arts
From the 20th century, with the development of economy and society, energy is consumed increasingly, so people is forced by rapid increase in power demand to pay more attention to development of renewable energy. With the rapid increase in power load, the problem about stability and reliability of the traditional large-scale centralized power supply has occurred. Every country turns its attention on research on development of electric energy to use of clean renewable energy and distributed energy, and the distributed power generating system is developed rapidly. An energy router is the core power electronic equipment realizing information exchange and power sharing between the energy internet and the distribution grid. Reasonable design in the equipment can improve the performance of the distributed power generating device and the stability of the energy internet, and strengthen the support to the distribution grid.
The existing power conversion device with a solid state transformer as the core has small power capacity, single level of voltage it can supply, large limit on energy flow, single energy conversion form and low efficiency due to its backward topological structure. The traditional solid state transformer has single control mode; only from the perspective of controlling the grid-connected voltage, regarding the solid state transformer as the traditional transformer is a simple low-consumption substitute, which cannot realize the energy coordinated control policy based on the energy router.


A method of fabricating a cathode member or pellet is provided, which realizes the sufficiently large increase of the electron emission capability by the current activation process and that prevents the maximum cathode current from being lowered as long as an electron emissive agent exists in the cathode member. First, (a) a nickel powder and a rare-earth-metal oxide powder are provided. (b) The nickel powder and the rare-earth-metal oxide powder are uniformly mixed together, thereby producing a first powder mixture. (c) The first powder mixture is heated in a hydrogen atmosphere, an inert atmosphere, or a vacuum atmosphere, thereby producing an intermetallic compound of nickel and the rare-earth metal in the first powder mixture. (d) The first powder mixture containing the intermetallic compound is uniformly mixed with an electron-emissive agent powder, thereby producing a second powder mixture. (e) The second powder mixture is sintered by a HIP process, thereby forming a cathode member. The intermetallic compound produced in the first powder mixture has a function to chemically decompose the electron emissive agent to thereby increase the electron emission performance of the electron emissive agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cathode member for an electronic tube and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a cathode member of an electronic tube such as cathode-ray tubes (CRTs), traveling-wave tubes, and so on. in which the thermal activation process is completed in a shortened time and the maximum cathode current is effectively prevented from lowering, and an electronic tube equipped with the cathode member.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional method of fabricating a cathode member or pellet using a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process is disclosed in the Japanese Non-Examined Patent Publication No. 8-50849 published in 1996, which corresponds to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,115 issued in May 1998.
In this conventional method, first, a nickel (Ni) alloy powder containing magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si) as reducing agents, a barium carbonate (BaCO.sub.3) powder, strontium carbonate (SrCO.sub.3) powder, and a calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3) powder are well mixed together using a ball mill, thereby generating a powder mixture of these powders.
Second, the powder mixture is filled into a rubber molding die and then, the molding die is sealed. The powder mixture filled in the sealed molding die is subjected to a cold isostatic pressing (CIP) process, thereby forming a molded material.
Third, the molded material is introduced into a glass capsule, and then the capsule is sealed and held in vacuum. The capsule is then subjected to a HIP process. thereby sintering the molded material.
Fourth, the sintered, molded material is taken out of the capsule and then, it is subjected to machining processes such as cutting and polishing. Thus, a cathode pellet with a specific geometry is produced.
Finally, the cathode pellet is inserted into a cathode cap. The cathode cap with the inserted cathode pellet is inserted into the inside of a cathode sleeve and is fixed thereto by welding. Thus, a cathode assembly is fabricated.
The conventional cathode assembly including the cathode pellet, the cathode cap, and the cathode sleeve described above is mounted on a CRT in the following way.
First, the cathode assembly is fixed onto an electron gun together with a heater. Next, the electron gun with the cathode assembly and the heater is fixed to a glass valve of a CRT.
Subsequently, an electric current is supplied to the heater of the cathode assembly for the purpose of heating the cathode pellet while the inside of the glass valve is evacuated. Thus, ternary co-precipitated carbonate of Ba, Sr, and Ca, i.e., (Ba,Sr,Ca)CO.sub.3, contained in the cathode pellet is chemically decomposed and changed to ternary oxide of Ba, Sr, and Ca, i.e., (Ba,Sr,Ca)O.
After the glass valve of the CRT is sealed, the heater is supplied with an electric current again to thereby heat the cathode pellet. Thus, the electron emission capability of the cathode member is increased or activated.
The activation process of increasing the electron emission capability of the cathode pellet by simply heating is termed the "thermal activation". On the other hand, the activation process of increasing the electron emission capability of the cathode pellet by applying respectively positive and negative electric potentials to the cathode and anode of the electron gun so that the activation is conducted while inducing the electron emission therefrom is termed the "current activation".
The electron emission capability of the cathode pellet is raised up to a practically high level through these two activation processes, i.e., "thermal and current activations" processes.
The cathode pellet fabricated by the above-described conventional method has the following three problems.
First, the necessary time and temperature for the thermal activation process are long and high, respectively, and consequently, the following disadvantages (i) to (iii) are caused.
(i) Since the cathode cap and the cathode sleeve are made of Nichlome alloy whose heat-resistance property is comparatively low, the cathode cap and sleeve tend to be thermally deformed in the thermal activation process. PA1 (ii) A lot of barium (Ba) contained in the cathode pellet tends to evaporate due to high temperature in the thermal activation process, thereby shortening the lifetime of the cathode. PA1 (iii) The evaporated barium (Ba) tends to be deposited onto a grid located near the cathode, which cases electron emission not only from the cathode pellet but also from the grid. The electron emission from the grid will generate unnecessary or undesired illumination on the screen of the CRT. PA1 (a) A nickel powder and a rare-earth-metal oxide powder are provided. PA1 (b) The nickel powder and the rare-earth-metal oxide powder are uniformly mixed together, thereby producing a first powder mixture. PA1 (c) The first powder mixture is heated in a hydrogen atmosphere, an inert atmosphere, or a vacuum atmosphere, thereby producing an intermetallic compound of nickel and the rare-earth metal in the first powder mixture. PA1 (d) The first powder mixture containing the intermetallic compound is uniformly mixed with an electron-emissive agent powder, thereby producing a second powder mixture. PA1 (e) The second powder mixture is sintered by a HIP process, thereby forming a cathode member.
Second, the increase of the electron emission capability of the cathode pellet due to the current activation process is not sufficient.
Specifically, the electron emission capability is usually increased by the current activation process at a much lower temperature than the thermal activation process. Therefore, to avoid the above disadvantages (i) and (ii) about the thermal deformation of the cathode cap and sleeve and the Ba evaporation, it is typical that the time for the thermal activation process is set as short as possible and at the same time, the current activation process is chiefly used for increasing the electron emission capability.
In the cathode pellet fabricated by the above-described conventional method, however, the electron emission capability is scarcely increased by the current activation process. Thus, the necessary time for the thermal activation process is unable to be shortened, which makes the time for the current activation process comparatively long. Consequently, the above-described disadvantages (i) to (iii) will occur.
Third, the maximum cathode current (MIk) is unsatisfactorily prevented from lowering during practical operation.
Specifically, in the cathode pellet fabricated by the above-described conventional method, the lowering of the maximum cathode current (MIk) during practical operation is extremely small compared with the conventional oxide-coated cathode pellet, resulting in a long lifetime. However, the maximum cathode current (MIk) tends to gradually decrease during the practical operation even if free Ba remains in the cathode pellet.
An ideal cathode pellet is a pellet whose maximum cathode current (MIk) is never lowered while free Ba remains in the cathode pellet. It is not said that the above-described conventional cathode pellet is the ideal cathode pellet.

Fabrication method of cathode member and electronic tube equipped therewith


A lens position sensor for infrared or other types of cameras, which is particularly useful in lens assemblies that have relatively limited axial travel between near field and far field lens focus positions. The camera includes a magnet or other stimulator coupled to a rotatable lens that extends within a magnet plane where the magnet plane is not normal to the optical axis of the lens. A magnetic or other sensor senses the position of the magnet, which is indicative of the lens position.

Handheld thermal imaging cameras, for example, including microbolometer detectors to generate infrared images, are used in a variety of applications, which include the inspection of buildings and industrial equipment. Many state-of-the-art thermal imaging cameras have a relatively large amount of built-in functionality allowing a user to select a display from among a host of display options, so that the user may maximize his 'real time', or on site, comprehension of the thermal information collected by the camera.
As is known, infrared cameras generally employ a lens assembly working with a corresponding infrared focal plane array (FPA) to provide an image of a view in a particular axis. The operation of such cameras is generally as follows. Infrared energy is accepted via infrared optics, including the lens assembly, and directed onto the FPA of microbolometer infrared detector elements or pixels. Each pixel responds to the heat energy received by changing its resistance value. An infrared (or thermal) image can be formed by measuring the pixels' resistances—via applying a voltage to the pixels and measuring the resulting currents or applying current to the pixels and measuring the resulting voltages. A frame of image data may, for example, be generated by scanning all the rows and columns of the FPA. A dynamic thermal image (i.e., a video representation) can be generated by repeatedly scanning the FPA to form successive frames of data. Successive frames of thermal image data are generated by repeatedly scanning the rows of the FPA; such frames are produced at a rate sufficient to generate a video representation of the thermal image data.
Also as is known, the lens assembly often includes a stationary lens body mounted to a camera housing. The lens body supports a rotatable focus ring for focusing the lens. Rotation of ring within the lens body results in axial movement of the ring and the lens relative to the lens body, which remains stationary, due to the cam action of the lens body. Lens position sensors may be employed to determine the lens focus position. However, in some lens assembly designs, the focus changes from its minimum distance to its maximum distance over a very short axial translation. The short axial translation does not provide much axial translation over which lens position sensors may be used to measure the focus position. Accordingly, the resolution and therefore the accuracy of the lens position sensors in such instances may be compromised.

Lens position sensor for infrared cameras


A method and apparatus for use in the dairy industry to affect the time in preparing a dairy cow for milking and the transference of mastitis in dairy cows with the method the present invention provides: retrieving a quantity of the disposable single fold towels/wipes of the present invention before teat cleaning; extracting a towel/wipe from the quantity and having the maximum surface area of the towel/wipe upon extraction available for use without further manipulation; wiping the udder teats until dry and disposing of the used disposable single fold towel of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention is a Nonwoven Airlaid or Nonwoven DRC (Double Recreped Cellulose) or 2-6 ply Scrim single fold, interfold towel with a basis weight between 40 GSM (grams per square meter) and 80 GSM, consisting of both virgin pulp (longer fibers) and also recycled pulp (broken or shorter fibers), in the dairy industry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to processes and, more specifically, to a method and apparatus for use in the dairy industry to effect the time in preparing a dairy cow for milking and the transference of mastitis in dairy cows.
While all of the causation's of mastitis are not clearly understood, it is well known that the transference of the disease commonly occurs during milking through use of bacterial infected towels or by using the same towel on more than one cow to dry the teats after cleaning. The present invention provides a disposable single use towel for this purpose.
Another aspect of the present invention is the single fold interleaving of a plurality of said towels. There are quarter fold disposable towels available but time is a precious factor in milking dairy cows and when a herd can number several hundred a reduction in milking preparation of ten seconds is a reduction in labor of an hour and a half in a herd of five hundred head. In itself a considerable reason for employing the method of the present invention but a more important aspect of the method of a single fold is that withdrawing a towel/wipe exposes the entire surface area for use as opposed to a quarter fold that may be used as is due to time constraints or incompetence. The present invention provides a towel/wipe of maximum surface area upon extraction without further manipulation that serves the function of ease of use and time required for service placement.
Additionally, the method of the present invention provides a container for a plurality of said towels/wipes that is attachable and detachable to a user performing the task of teat cleaning whereby the container comprises a housing having a dispensing port that optionally provides for closure and access to the container towel/wipe supply for replenishment and user fastening means, well known within the art, such as belt and/or fastener, such as a clip fastener. As an example, a fanny pack would suit this purpose. The present invention also provides a structurally mounted dispenser (e.g. post, fence rail, wall, etc.) having a plurality of said towels/wipes whereby a user can simply grab a hand full of said towels before commencing with the task.
The method of the present invention provides: retrieving a quantity of the disposable single fold towels/wipes of the present invention before teat cleaning; extracting a towel/wipe from the quantity and having the maximum surface area of the towel/wipe upon extraction available for use without further manipulation; wiping the udder teats until dry and disposing of the used disposable single fold towel of the present invention.
The apparatus of the present invention is a Nonwoven Airlaid or Nonwoven DRC (Double Recreped Cellulose) or 2-6 ply Scrim single fold, interfold towel with a basis weight between 40 GSM (grams per square meter) and 80 GSM, consisting of both virgin pulp (longer fibers) and also recycled pulp (broken or shorter fibers), in the dairy industry.
The dairy industry includes but is not limited to any structure or facility that produces milk for either human or animal consumption or facilities that process or pasteurize milk. These facilities include but are not limited to milking parlors, dairy barns, wash rooms, show barns, dairy hospital barns, maternity facilities, bull collection facilities and pasteurizing plants.
The Nonwoven Airlaid or Nonwoven DRC (Double Recreped Cellulose) or 2-6 ply Scrim single fold, interfold towel with a basis weight between 40 GSM (grams per square meter) and 80 GSM, consisting of both virgin pulp (longer fibers) and also recycled pulp (broken or shorter fibers), used in the dairy industry may be packaged loosely or banded in a variety of towel counts. The towels may then be dispensed by several methods including but not limited to fanny packs, wall dispensers, portable dispensers, pop up boxes, or manually without any dispenser.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other devices designed for treating cows teats prior to milking. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 2,125,618 issued to Nystrand on Aug. 2, 1938.
Another patent was issued to Valentine on Aug. 23, 1966 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,267,903. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,423 was issued to Spam Sr. on Jan. 30, 1973 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 7, 1992 to Stevenson as U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,770.
Another patent was issued to Zighelboim on Nov. 22, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,732. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,650 was issued to Mottram, et al. on Oct. 7, 1997. Another was issued to Saferstein, et al. on Jul. 6, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,471 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 5, 2000 to van der Lely, et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,204.
Another patent was issued to Bjork on Apr. 22, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,420. Yet another International Patent Application No. WO 00/56201 was issued to Keck, et al. on Sep. 28, 2000. Another was issued to Durden on Mar. 20, 2003 as International Patent Application No. WO 03/022965 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 7, 2005 to Radu, et al. as Canada Patent No. CA 2 529 236.

Device for using nonwoven towels in the dairy industry


A method of producing cross-linked polymerisation hardened droplets in a continuous aqueous medium in a microchannel device is provided. At least two aqueous streams are brought together before entering a hydrophobic phase and thus forming droplets. One aqueous phase comprises an acid source and another comprises a metal ion salt. The slow release of metal ions slows down the rate of polymerisation so that it does not interfere with the droplet formation process.

Microchannel devices are well known in the art and are especially suitable for forming multiphase materials such as emulsions. Microchannel devices operate on the micron scale and so surface forces become an important factor when attempting to use them to prepare such multiphase materials. In particular it is challenging to generate droplets of one fluid in another and maintain consistency in droplet size.
EP-A-1 358 931 (Tosoh Corporation) discloses a microchannel device which is suitable for generating particles of consistent size in a carrier fluid. This discloses the simple Y-shaped geometry and solves the problem by control of the flow rates of the materials used. It also discloses that the generate droplets may be hardened by cross-linking polymerisation, UV curing or by thermal gelling. However, only examples disclosing UV or thermal gelling are specifically disclosed.
For some applications, especially in the foods industry, droplets which harden by cross-linked polymerisaton may be desirable. However, this form of hardening causes difficulties when trying to manufacture uniform polymerised droplets in a carrier medium. One method is to bring an aqueous stream containing the biopolymer sol and an aqueous stream comprising the gelling agent together, so that the biopolymer forms droplets in the gelling agent stream. However because the rate of polymerisation is faster than time for droplet formation this usually results in the gelling process starting even before the droplets are formed, thus giving non-uniform particles or blocking. One way of decoupling the processes of gelation and droplet formation would be to form droplets of the biopolymer sol in a hydrophobic carrier fluid such as an oil. In this arrangement the metal ion which triggers the polymerisation gelling could then be introduced after droplet formation. However a problem with this approach is that metal ions are not very soluble in oil and tend to aggregate together and are prevented from initiating polymerisation.
Therefore it is an aim of the present invention to provide a method of producing cross-linked hardened gel particles on the micron scale which have good consistency in droplet size.
Thus, the present invention provides a method of producing cross-linked polymerisation hardened droplets in a continuous aqueous medium in a microchannel device, comprising feeding a first aqueous stream comprising a source of metal ion salt, a second aqueous stream comprising a source of acidity and a third hydrophobic stream, wherein an aqueous stream comprises a biopolymer and the aqueous streams merge into each other before or at the same time as they meet the hydrophobic stream, thereby forming aqueous droplets which subsequently harden by cross-linked polymerisation by generation of metal ions.


Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide a control solution for a robotic actuator. The actuator can have one or two degrees of freedom of control, and can connect with a platform using an arm. The arm can have at least two degrees of freedom of control, and the platform can have at least two degrees of freedom of control. The platform can be subjected to unpredictable forces requiring a control response. The control solution can be generated using operational space control, using the degrees of freedom of the arm, platform, and actuator.

A robotic actuator can be controlled to accomplish a task. The robotic actuator can be a part of a larger system that can have its own control. However, when the larger system is subjected to unpredictable forces, it can be challenging to provide a control solution for the actuator that can properly accomplish the task.

Systems and methods for providing a control solution for an actuator

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


An electrical connector may include an insulating body and a housing. The housing may include walls defining an assembly space and surrounding external surfaces of the insulating body. The walls of the housing may include front and rear walls facing front and rear external surfaces of the insulating body, respectively. Portions of the front and rear walls of the housing may be spaced apart respectively from the front and rear external surfaces of the insulating body to form first and second docking slots in the assembly space. The front wall of the housing may include front docking holes in communication with the first docking slot, and the rear wall of the housing may include rear docking holes in communication with the second docking slot. The sizes and positions of the docking slots and the docking holes may be configured to enable a mating connector to be connected reversibly or irreversibly.

In order to be able to receive and/or transmit electrical signals and power, electronic devices of all kinds (e.g., smartphones, tablet computers, desktop computers, notebook computers, digital cameras, etc.) have used electrical connectors. For example, to receive and/or transmit electrical signals and/or power from an external device, an electronic device may utilize an electrical connector to interconnect the devices. In another example, to receive and/or transmit signals within an electronic device, e.g., between circuit boards located at different regions of the electronic device, an electrical connector that fits within the electronic device's body may be utilized. In general, the term "electrical connector" may refer broadly to all devices for connecting elements together and carrying electrical signals and/or power between the connected elements.
An electrical connector may be a bridge for transferring signals to/from key components of an electronic device. Therefore, the quality of the electrical connector may affect the reliability of electrical transmissions (e.g., current, power, signals), and such reliability may be closely linked to reliability of operation of the electronic device. Further, because electrical connectors may function to interconnect multiple electronic devices to form a complete system, reliable operation of an entire system may be affected by the reliability of any one or more of the system's electrical connectors. Thus, it can be seen that electrical connectors that operate reliably are elements that are indispensable to electronic devices and that enable electronic devices to carry out their predetermined functions.
Electrical connectors may have many different types of structures, which have been adapted to accommodate the variety of different uses and/or mounting positions demanded by the electronic devices in which the signal connectors are deployed. For example, when a main unit of an electronic device (e.g., desktop computer, servo, on-board computer, etc.) has a relatively large volume, or when a mounting position is complex or concealed, manufacturers may opt to use a wired connector-design structure so that the bendable property of wires can be used advantageously to enable flexibility in the length(s) of the wire(s) used to connect an electronic device to another electronic device reliably. When available space is not a concern, the use of wires may provide flexibility in enabling interconnection of a component (e.g., a circuit board) in the electronic device to another component in the electronic device or in other electronic device, so as to be enable signal and/or power transmission between the components.
However, as designs of electronic devices of all kinds become more and more compact and lightweight, the structures of electrical connectors of all types have become more and more compact and lightweight, and consequently the features of the electrical connectors have become more and more precise. As the size of electrical connectors of all types becomes smaller and more precise, a concern is that the structural strength of these electrical connectors could be weakened, i.e., they could become more fragile, which could affect their transmission performance by increasing the possibility of an unstable connection. An additional concern is that, with their increased fragility, the service life of the electrical connectors could be shortened by incorrect handling. For example, in the process of plugging and unplugging a conventional electrical connector (especially in blind plugging operations), a user could apply force improperly or there could be a deviation from a correct direction or orientation when force is applied during plugging. Such erroneous handling could cause deformation and damage to an insulating body or housing of the connector. Thus, solving the question of how to effectively avoid the abovementioned problems is an important task.

Electrical connector having symmetrical docking holes


An antenna includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a third antenna element. The second antenna element is placed between the first antenna element and the third antenna element. A first connecting end, a second connecting end, and a third connecting end are each placed in a position that is closer to a third apical end than to a first apical end. Thus, even in the case of an antenna including three antenna element that are used for an identical system, the antenna can be provided with a suppressed difference in radiation efficiency among frequency bands to which the antenna elements respectively correspond.

Along with a rapid spread of portable wireless terminals over the last few years, there have been worldwide scarcities in available frequency resources. Further, along an increase in rich content and a growing diversity of services, there has been a growing market demand for large-capacity and high-speed communications. In response, for the expansion of frequencies available to the existing third-generation system (3G, 3rd Generation) and the adaptation to the next-generation system (LTE: Long Term Evolution) to handle large-capacity and high-speed communications, Mid-Band (1.5 GHz band for WCDMA Band IX) has become available to portable wireless terminals, in addition to the conventional Low-Band (800 to 900 MHz band for WCDMA, CMDA 2000, AMPS, EGSM, etc.) and High-Band (1700 to 2100 MHz band for WCDMA, CMDA 2000, DCS, PCS, etc.). Furthermore, as portable wireless terminals have become more and more multifunctional, the adaptation to various wireless communications systems, such as international roaming, One Seg (Japanese terrestrial digital broadcasting service for mobile devices) viewing, GPS, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, etc., has become essential. Under such circumstances, as for antennas that are built in portable wireless terminals, the placement of a plurality of antenna elements within a limited space has been required.
The placement of antenna elements at enough space from each other with respect to the wavelengths in the frequency bands to which the antenna elements respectively correspond makes it possible to suppress deterioration due to mutual interference between each antenna element and the other while securing the characteristics of each antenna element. However, for the realization of multifunctionality as mentioned above in addition to reductions in size and thickness of portable wireless terminals, it has become essential to place a plurality of antenna elements in a certain part within a wireless terminal.
In the case of a wireless terminal including an antenna composed of a plurality of antenna elements, i.e., in the case of a straight-type portable wireless terminal composed of a single housing, the antenna is usually placed in an edge portion of the housing that extends along a long side of the housing. In the case of a portable wireless terminal composed of two housings on the operation side and the display side and having a hinge section via which the two housing are rotatably connected to each other, such as a foldable portable wireless terminal or a biaxial-rotation portable wireless terminal, the antenna is usually placed in a region where a sizable space can be secured, such as the hinge section or an edge portion of the operation-side housing opposite the hinge. In so doing, the placement of each antenna element is very important in considering the characteristics of the antenna. In particular, in the case of a complex antenna including three antenna elements, it is very useful to provide a more preferable placement of each antenna element.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a conventional technology for placing three antenna elements in an identical space.


Access terminal identification management providing a minimum distance between subnets before reusing subnet identifiers. Mobility criteria evaluation determines when to reassign an access terminal identifier. In one embodiment, the mobility criteria is whether any member of the active set for the access terminal belongs to an originating subnet. In an alternate embodiment, the criteria is whether the access terminal has traveled more than a minimum distance from the originating subnet. When a mobility criteria is violated, the access network assigns a new identifier. In one embodiment, the access terminal identifier is a long code mask based on a subnet identifier. Identifier management applies when crossing sector boundaries in a cellular system, and serves to reduce the ambiguity of mapping CC values to full UATI values, and to avoid overlapping assignments.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to communication systems and more specifically to access terminal identification in a communication system.
2. Background
In a cellular wireless communication system, a cell may include multiple sectors. Multiple cells may then define a subnet. When a Mobile Station (MS) or Access Terminal (AT) initiates a communication with a Base Station (BS) or Access Network (AN), a Universal Access Terminal Identifier (UATI) may be used to identify the AT. The UATI is specific to the subnet where the AT is located at origination of a communication, i.e., establishment of a connection. Each AT initiating a communication in a given subnet will be assigned a full UATI having common Most Significant Bits (MSB). The MSB of the full UATI is a subnet identifier or "subnetID." The Least Significant Bits (LSB) of the full UATI are then unique to each AT. In this way, the MSB of the UATI identifies the subnet and the LSB of the UATI identifies the AT.
A UATI is 128 bits and is globally unique. To derive a shorter identifier based on UTI that is locally unique, a subnet "color code" scheme, herein referred to as "CC," assigns a color code to each subnet. The CC is an 8-bit number that is locally unique and provides a mapping to the 104 MSBs of the UATIs in the same subnet. For each AT a Long Code Mask (LCM) is generated using the 24 LSBs of the UATI and the CC. Effectively, the 24 LSBs of the UATI identifies the AT within a subnet, while the CC identifies the subnet. In one example, the CC is concatenated with the 24 LSBs of the UATI to form the LCM.
Once a communication is in process the LCM is not changed. When an AT crosses a subnet boundary several problems may occur. As each subnet may include multiple cells, subnets in close proximity may have a same CC. While neighboring subnets are provisioned with the CC to UATI mapping described hereinabove, the AT may travel to a subnet that does not have this mapping information. In this situation, there is ambiguity in determining the full UATI. In another situation, two ATs may originate from different subnets, wherein the subnets have a same CC. If the LSB of UATIs for the two ATs are the same, then the LCM for the two ATs would be the same, and as a result the signals from the two ATs interfere with each other (i.e., would appear as multipath for each other).
There is a need to generate a unique identifier for a remote station in a wireless communication system. There is further, a need for identifier management when crossing sector boundaries in a cellular system while the mobile is on a traffic channel (i.e., connected state). There is a need therefore for a method of accurately identifying a subnet, when crossing a subnet boundary in a wireless communication system. There is further a need to generate non-overlapping masks and identification information to multiple subnets.


An annunciator for the conduction status of individual switches wired into a series circuit records this status as status history at regular intervals in a memory. The status history is preferably recorded as individual entries having the identification number of an open switch along with a time stamp specifying the length of time which that switch has been open. The current entry is recorded in the memory and a new entry started each time the switch for which an entry in the memory is being created closes or a switch currently receiving power opens. A controller separate from the annunciator generates a request signal and provides a request time value to the annunciator specifying the time which has elapsed since the request condition was detected. The annunciator uses the request time value to determine the probable switch conduction status at the time of the request.

Many types of control systems are used to operate apparatus which has the potential for causing harm or injury if various parameter levels are outside of predetermined ranges. A simple example is the automobile whose engine will be severely damaged if the oil pressure is too low or the coolant temperature is too high. In this situation the system relies on the good judgment of the driver to stop the auto as soon as the warning light or gauge indicates the problem. In some systems too, it is desirable to simply monitor operation of various aspects of a system.
In many of these systems however, human monitoring of the apparatus parameters may be unacceptable because the apparatus is intended to operate automatically, or because the result of improper, that is to say human, monitoring may result in serious damage or injury. Neither is it desirable to rely on the control system to monitor every one of these parameter levels and shut down the system when needed because this adds substantial complexity to the controller. Also, the control system can on occasion fail, for example because of power outages. Instead, in most systems these parameters are used to directly control interlock switches which open if the parameter level is outside of the predetermined range. In these systems, the interlock switches are typically arranged in a series circuit which passes the current for operating the apparatus (and parts of the control system as well in many cases) so that if any of the parameter levels are outside the range specified for it, the apparatus will not receive power and cannot operate. Examples of these series circuits of interlock switches are found in a number of different types of apparatus and their controls, including as one example burner systems and controls. In burner controls, the interlock switch series circuit is used to control power which operates the fuel valves. If any of the burner system parameters are outside the specified ranges, power is not available to the fuel valves, with the result that the burner cannot operate.
One problem which arises in these systems is determining the cause of a malfunction. If an interlock switch opens, power to the system is interrupted of course, but the problem can be in any of the parameters controlling the interlock switches or in other aspects of the system. For example, in burner systems flame failure does not control an interlock switch. In this particular situation, the control system itself interprets the flame sensor signal and shuts down the fuel valves when flame is detected as absent. When the shutdown is caused by an open interlock switch, by the time a repairer arrives to correct the problem, the original cause of the shutdown may no longer exist. As one example of this situation, a low fuel pressure parameter which opens an interlock switch may have been restored within a few seconds and thus will not be apparent to the repairer. Even when latching interlock switches are used, on occasion a second fault may occur after the first fault and before the diagnostic procedures can be started. It is then difficult to determine the cause of the original shutdown. Early annunciators for use with these switch strings simply showed current status of the switches, which was not always adequate for easy troubleshooting.
In order to simplify and improve troubleshooting of malfunctions in these systems, improved annunciators have been designed which record the status of each of the interlock switches in the interlock switch string at the time a fault is detected. Thus for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,129 (Cade) describes a circuit connected to individual interlock switches and the main and pilot valve actuators, to detect abnormal conditions by sensing the status of the fuel valves and to record the identity of the first interlock switch or fuel valve to open at the time the abnormal condition was detected. U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,281 (Dageford) attempts to determine the earlier of two detected failures and record the identity of the switch which first opened. These will typically be related, but may happen in either order, and an indication of the earlier allows easier detection of the underlying problem.
Frequently, knowledge of the current status is helpful during troubleshooting. A problem with the present systems is that it is not possible during troubleshooting, without losing the first out status, to determine the current status of the switches without individually testing or inspecting them. While such individual testing or inspecting is possible, it is laborious when a large number of switches are involved. Furthermore, the current states of these switches may change during the troubleshooting, resulting in further troubleshooting problems.
It frequently is undesirable to build a high level first out fault detection directly into the controller for the system. There may be system configuration advantages in separating the switch status annunciator functions from the control functions. For example, the interlock switches may be physically located at some distance from the controlled system. Or the control system may have a deliberate modular design to accommodate users who may not need a high level of fault detection. In such systems, it is frequently convenient to use a simple serial communication path between the annunciator and the controller. Such a communication path is easy to install, and the transceivers which implement its use are cheap and allow reliable communication. Frequently, such a path will be shared by a number of modules, say other controllers, if a number of independent systems are involved, or a display module which may have yet a third physical location.
In such a system, fault detection, as opposed to switch status information, is still typically included in the controller, since this dramatically improves the reliability and speed of the controller in responding to fault conditions as they occur. However, the use of a shared serial communication path means that the annunciator for a particular interlock switch series circuit may not receive notification of a fault until some time after the fault has actually occurred. Since this time between fault detection and notification to the annunciator may be appreciable in certain instances, say on the order of hundreds of milliseconds, switch status may have changed and the first out information then provided by the annunciator will be incorrect. Inaccurate first out information has the potential to dramatically worsen the problem of fault diagnosis. Accordingly, there is a motivation to improve the accuracy of first out information provided in the situation described.
There are also situations where switch status may be desired even though a fault has not occurred. For example, during startup or shutdown of an installation, switches in a series circuit may be scheduled to close or open at particular stages, and certain installations may find it useful to log this information even though no fault has been sensed.

System controller and remote fault annunciator with cooperative storage, sharing, and presentation of fault data


A method, an electronic device, and a storage medium are provided for a sliding event. The method includes: when a first sliding event is received, it is determined whether a second sliding event is received within a preset time interval, where the first sliding event and the second sliding event refer to two adjacent sliding operations on a sliding cover of an electronic device, which are detected by the electronic device; and when the second sliding event is received within the preset time interval, neither of the first sliding event and the second sliding event is responded, or either of the first sliding event and the second sliding event is responded.

Currently, when a user continuously slides a sliding cover of an electronic device such as a slider phone, a plurality of sliding events that may be detected by the electronic device are triggered, whereby the electronic device needs to frequently respond to the sliding events, such that the electronic device may run slower. Moreover, when the electronic device frequently responds to the sliding events, the screen is frequently turned on and off, which results in more energy consumption of the electronic device and affects the performance thereof.

Sliding event processing method, electronic device and storage medium

Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.


A shoe traction testing and measuring device, comprising a base frame, a rear leg assembly, a front leg assembly, a hip joint, and a piston. The piston is connected to the base frame and the rear leg assembly. A lower portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to the base frame and an upper portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to an upper portion of the front leg assembly at the hip joint. The front leg assembly comprises an articulating ankle and a replica foot, which is configured to don a shoe to be tested. When the piston actuates forward, the upper portion of the rear leg assembly tilts forward, which causes the front leg assembly to move forward and downward, simulating a step of a human, which causes the shoe on the replica foot to contact a force plate or a surface that is on top of the force plate.

Traction may refer to the maximum tractive force between a body and a surface and limited by available friction. Traction may be expressed as the ratio of the maximum tractive force to the normal force and is often referred to as coefficient of traction. The coefficient of traction may be defined as the usable force for traction divided by the weight on the surface contact object (shoe, wheel, etc.). The Usable traction=coefficient of traction times Normal Force.
There are several factors that may affect the coefficient of traction, which are:                The material composition of each of the two tractive surfaces.        Macroscopic and microscopic texture/shape        The Normal Force pressing the two tractive surfaces together.        Contaminants at the material boundary, including lubricants (liquids, liquid films, loose particulates (dirt or gravel) and adhesives        Relative motion between the two tractive surfaces—a sliding object (one in kinetic friction) has less traction than a non-sliding object (one in static friction).        Direction of traction relative to some coordinate system (e.g., the available traction of a tire/shoe often differs between cornering, accelerating, and braking).        For low-friction surfaces, such as off-road or ice, traction can be increased by using traction devices that partially penetrate the surface; these devices use the shear strength of the underlying surface rather than relying solely on dry friction (e.g., aggressive off-road tread or snow chains).
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides guidelines for shoe traction testing, including ASTM F2333, Standard Test Method for Traction Characteristics of the Athletic Shoe-Sports Surface Interface (https://www.astm.org/Standards/F2333.htm). But, these guidelines and devices prior to the present disclosure fail to disclose testing systems, methods and devices that accurately generate the loading and speed characteristics of a human footstep. Additionally, devices other than the device of the present disclosure take too long to reset, thus requiring significant time to run each test and then reset the machine for the next testing run.
There is, thus, a need in the art for a shoe traction measuring device, system, and method that more accurately measures the traction of the footwear by mimicking the loading and speed characteristics of a human footstep.

Device for measuring and testing footwear traction


A wire harness, in which a connection portion between a shape retaining conductor and a flexible conductor can be protected, includes a flexible conductor that is flexibly bendable, a shape retaining conductor that retains its shape, and a protective member that surrounds a connection portion between the flexible conductor and the shape retaining conductor and linearly holds the connection portion, and one end portion of the protective member is fixed to an end portion of the shape retaining conductor.

It is conventionally known to use, in a wire harness that is installed in a vehicle such as a hybrid automobile or an electric automobile, a shape retaining conductor that retains its shape in a portion where flexibility is not required when the wire harness is installed in the vehicle and to use a flexible conductor that is flexibly bendable in a portion where flexibility is required for connection to an apparatus or the like. If the shape retaining conductor and the flexible conductor are used in appropriate portions, space utilization can be increased and the cost can be reduced, for example.
For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a wire harness in which a single core wire is used as a shape retaining conductor and a twisted wire is used as a flexible conductor. In this wire harness, as a result of the single core wire that has a smaller diameter than the twisted wire being inserted through a shield pipe, the diameter of the shield pipe can be reduced. The single core wire and the twisted wire are joined together through ultrasonic welding in a state where a conductor that is exposed from an insulating covering at an end portion of the single core wire and a conductor that is exposed from an insulating covering at an end portion of the twisted wire overlap each other in a direction that crosses an extension direction of these wires. The conductor of the single core wire is crushed into the shape of a flat plate and the conductor of the twisted wire is joined to the thus formed flat surface. The width of the crushed portion having the shape of a flat plate is larger than the outer diameter of the single core wire, and therefore the crushed portion cannot be accommodated within the shield pipe through which the single core wire extends. Therefore, a connection portion between the single core wire and the twisted wire is disposed outside an end of the shield pipe.


For determining the load of an excavator bucket, or optionally of another holding region, a measurement step and an evaluation step are carried out. In the measurement step, the position of a load surface is determined by a noncontact distance-measuring device and, in the evaluation step, a load volume is determined from the position of the load surface and the position and shape of the excavator bucket or of the holding region. For determining the position of the load surface, at least one two-dimensional matrix with distance values is created by means of a distance-measuring camera. For determining the position of the excavator bucket, the distances to at least three points of the excavator bucket, in particular to points on the upper bucket edge, optionally to marked points are determined using the distance-measuring apparatus for determining the surface.

Construction machines having holding regions, in particular machines for changing a surface with at least one bucket, preferably excavators, in particular heavy cable-operated excavators with large-volume buckets, are used for excavating or removing material. For removing material in open cast mining, for example, bucket wheel excavators which can hold up to 100 metric tons of material in a bucket are used. The excavators can be divided into excavators having an at least two-part arm and buckets arranged displaceably thereon and into cable-operated excavators having at least one boom. In the case of the cable-operated excavators, there are both those in which the bucket hangs from a first cable and is dragged by a second cable and those in which the bucket is fastened to an arm and the cable operates the arm with the bucket. In the case of the excavators having two-part arms, there are those having buckets open at the back and those having buckets open at the front.
In order to avoid overloading when loading giant trucks but nevertheless to achieve as high a load as possible, weight determinations are carried out by the excavators during the filling. Moreover, a measurement of the weight permits calculation of the mass removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,574 disclose that weight determinations are possible by determining the motor power of bucket drives. These weight determinations are very inexact because they deliver only a total force which is composed of that fraction of the weight to be determined which varies with the bucket movement and of inertial forces which vary with the complicated dynamic movement processes. More exact weight determinations have therefore been proposed. By simultaneous measurement of positions of the excavator structure and loads during a plurality of movement intervals, a loading weight is to be determined with greater accuracy by selection and averaging. By means of the position-measuring series, geometrical and dynamic corrections can be made. At least two sensors must be provided just for an exact determination of the position of the bucket of a cable-operated excavator having a tiltable boom and an arm tiltably fastened thereto and carrying the bucket. Because the excavator is optionally also used on sloping terrain, the determination of the bucket position relative to the pivot joint is more complicated.
The bucket load is determined via the motor power at a steel cable, the steel cable being led from the motor over a pulley to the bucket. In order to be able to derive as accurate a weight component of the bucket load as possible from the measured cable load, the absolute position of the pulley for the steel cable must be taken into account in relation to the absolute position of the bucket, or the orientation of the terrain and the orientation of the boom and of the arm with the bucket. Moreover, the bucket speed and bucket acceleration must also be taken into account.
For a solution according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,574, various sensors distributed around the excavator, and a central control, are required. The setup of the measuring system is very complicated and susceptible to faults. In addition, a calibration procedure has to be carried out before operation and selection and averaging steps during operation. A complicated fuzzy logic formulation is required. The operation of the measuring system is complicated. Because the motor power is dependent not only on the bucket load and the instantaneous position and movement of the excavator components but also on the state of the bearings of the moving parts, the accuracy of measurement is also impaired by further parameters which cannot be measured.
The prior art also discloses solutions in which vibrations generated by the load pick-up are measured and weight values are derived therefrom. These measurements are based on the fact that an arm or a boom can be considered as a vibrating system whose vibrations depend on the bucket load. The weight values determined are frequently not sufficiently accurate.
Measuring systems of the loaded truck can also be used for the weight determination but are frequently very inaccurate. Weighers on which the weights of the trucks with and without a load can be determined are also used for the weight determination. The disadvantage of the weighers is that the trucks have to be driven onto the weigher and that an excessive load is not detected until after loading or the truck would have to be continuously monitored during the loading with regard to the load weight, for example in that the loading takes place with a truck standing on a weigher, which is often complicated or unfeasible.
A further problem is the alteration of physical properties, e.g. density or humidity, during production or movement of the material to be loaded. One of the goals is to quantify production—volumes of dirt, ore or soil moved in "bank cubic meters (BCM)", i.e. in situ volume prior to initial blasting. Especially after blasting and after loading into a bucket a "swelling" of the material occurs, so the physical properties of the dirt in a bucked are different to those in situ prior to blasting or processing. The existing BCM volume estimates based on weights alone can be less accurate due to varying properties, especially a varying density.

Method and apparatus for determining the loading of a bucket


A stator arrangement includes a stator extending in a circumferential direction and plural teeth alternating with plural slots arranged along the circumferential direction. A first wire is arranged in a first slot of the plural slots. A second wire is arranged in a second slot of the plural slots, wherein the second slot is circumferentially adjacent to the first slot. A first converter has an input terminal connected to the first wire and a second converter has an input terminal connected to the second wire.

A stator arrangement may be utilized for constructing an electric generator for producing electric energy from a rotational mechanical energy, such as a rotational energy provided by a wind turbine. The wind turbine shaft may drive a rotor having plural permanent magnets. The plural magnets may inductively couple to plural coils arranged at the stator, wherein the coils may correspond to two or more electric phases. The two or three or more phases or the corresponding wires may be connected to a converter, in particular a AC-DC-AC converter for converting a variable frequency AC power stream to a fixed frequency AC power stream, in particular via first converting the variable frequency AC power stream to a DC power stream and from there converting to the fixed frequency AC power stream.
If there is a fault in the converter or at one of the wires corresponding to one of the phases, the whole electric energy generating machine has to be shutdown. Thereby, no electrical energy is produced anymore.
There may be a need for a stator arrangement and for an electromechanical transducer, in particular electric generator, wherein the reliability and total amount of energy production during a 20 years life time is increased, fractional power delivery mode is fulfilled by low structural vibration and acoustic noise emission, and wherein in particular a risk or degree of demagnetization of the plural permanent magnets is reduced. In particular, there may be a need for an electric generator, which requires permanent magnets which have a lower amount of dysprosium compared to a conventional permanent magnet, thereby achieving a cost-effective electric generator.

Stator arrangement and electrical generator


Compounds represented by formula (1),

Heretofore, various cyclic compounds have been proposed as the compounds useful for asthma and the like. For example, xanthine derivatives such as theophylline and β2-agonists such as salbutamol, steroids, antiallergic drugs and the like are known.
Further, various tricyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds are proposed.
Examples of such prior arts are mentioned below.
Yakugaku Zasshi, 87, (2), 198-201 (1967) discloses three dihydrodibenz[b,f]oxepin derivatives as the synthetic intermediates of a natural product but no pharmacological action and the like relating to these compounds are described.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,280 describes that tricyclc condensed heterocyclic compounds containing an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom as the heterocylic atom and a substituent of —CHRCOOH or —CHRCOOCH3(wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group) on the benzene ring are useful as anti-inflammatory drugs and relaxants.
European Patent Publication No. 0 011 067 A1 suggests that triclyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds containing a sulfur atom as the heterocyclic atom and —(CH2)n-A (wherein n is 0 to 4; and A is a heterocyclic residue) as one substituent on the benzene ring are effective for asthma, allergy and the like.
British Patent No. 2,016,466 describes that triclyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds containing an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom as the heterocyclic atom and —CH2COR (wherein R is OH, NH2, a C1-5 alkyl group or the like) as one substituent on the benzene ring are useful as anti-inflammatory drugs.
German Patent No. 32 03065 discloses that certain types of triclyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds containing an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom as the heterocyclic atom and various substituents on the benzene ring have pharmacological actions such as analgesia, sedation, antidepression, antispastic action.
European Patent Publication No. 0 003 893 discloses that triclyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds containing oxygen or sulfur as the heterocyclic atom and having —CHR2COOR3 (wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and R3 is a hydrogen atom or —CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH) as one substituent on the benzene ring have pharmacological actions such as anti-inflammation, analgesia and pyretolysis.
German Patent No. 1,302,590 describes tricyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds containing sulfur as the hetero atom and having various substituents on the benzene ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,280 teaches that 3-hydroxymethyl-benzo[b,f]thiepin containing a sulfur atom as the heterocyclic atom and its derivatives are used in the treatment of allergic diseases such as allergic asthma.
Br. J. Pharmac., 82, 389-395 (1984) describes 2-hydroxy-methyl-dibenzo[b,f]thiepin-5,5-dioxide which is an antagonist of prostanoids contractile for lung smooth muscles.
Japanese Pharm. Soc. Bull., 94, 299-307 (1989) suggests that 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid possibly becomes a clinically useful substance as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic drug since it only has a slight effect on circulatory organs and the autonomic nervous system when a considerably large amount is used.
WO Publication 96/10021 describes antioxidative tricylic condensed heterocyclic compounds containing oxygen or sulfur as the heterocyclic atom and having various' substitutents on the benzene ring.
WO Publication 96/25927 describes glutamic receptor blockers and cerebral function improving drugs containing oxygen or sulfur as the heterocyclic atom and having various substitutents on the benzene ring.
WO Publication 97/25985 describes tracheal smooth muscle relaxants having compounds containing oxygen or sulfur as the heterocyclic atom and having various substituents on the benzene ring as the effective component.
J. Org. Chem., 61, 5818-5822 (1996) and Collection Czechoslov. Chem. Commum., 43, 309 (1978) describe the synthesis of dibenzoxepins and dibenzothiepins.
Terahedron, 40, 4245-4252 (1984) and Phytochemistry, 31, (3) 1068-1070 (1992) describe dibenzoxepin derivatives derived from a natural substance.
Chem. Pharm. Bull., 23, (10) 2223-2231 (1975) and Chem. Pharm. Bull., 26, (10) 3058-3070 (1978) describe the synthetic methods of dibenzothiepin derivatives and the antiemetic action of these compounds.
J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, 3291-3294 (1991) and J. Med. Chem., 26, 1131-1137 (1983) describe the synthetic methods of dibenzoxepin and dibenzothiepin derivatives and the anti-estrogenic action of these compounds.
As stated above, heretofore, various tricyclic condensed heterocyclic compounds have been disclosed, but they cannot be said to be sufficient in respect of therapeutic effect, prolonged action, safety (in terms of preventing side effects) when used as therapeutic drugs for airway disorders such as bronchial asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema and upper esophagitis and the like and lung diseases, allergic diseases, chronic inflammation and the like. Thus, the development of novel compounds having a broad range of pharmacological actions including an airway smooth muscle relaxing action, an inhibition of airway hypersensitivity and an inhibition of infiltration of inflammatory cells into the airway and, at the same time, high safety (reduced side effects) is demanded.

Tricyclic fused heterocycle compounds, process for preparing the same and use thereof

Abstract: Compounds represented by formula (1),

Abstract: wherein        X is, for example, CH, CH2, CHR (wherein R is a lower alkyl group or a substituted lower alkyl group) or CRR′ (wherein R and R′ are the same as the above defined R);        Y is, for example, CH, CH2 or C═O;        Z is, for example, O, S, S═O or SO2;        U is C or N;        R1 to R4 are each independently, for example, a hydrogen atom, OR, SR (wherein R is the same as defined above), or an aromatic ring, a substituted aromatic ring or a heterocycle;        at least one of R5 and R8 is, for example, OH and the remaining of R5 and R8 are each independently, for example, a hydrogen atom or OH, optical isomers thereof, conjugates thereof or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided. These compounds are characterized in having a wide range of pharmacological actions such as an excellent relaxing action of tracheal smooth muscles, an inhibition of airway hypersensitivity and an inhibition of infiltration of inflammatory cells into the airway and, in addition, high safety.