A charge pump system includes a comparator having a first input coupled to a first reference voltage, a second input coupled to a feedback signal and an output coupled to control operation of a voltage controlled oscillator. The feedback signal is coupled to an output of the charge pump system. An amplifier has a first input coupled to a second reference voltage, a second input coupled to the feedback signal, and an output coupled as input to the voltage controlled oscillator. A gain of the amplifier is lower than a gain of the comparator.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to voltage generators, and more particularly to voltage generators with ramp rate control.
2. Related Art
Voltage generators are used for a variety of purposes in semiconductor devices. Often these voltage generators are only used during portions of the operation of the semiconductor device. One example is non-volatile memories that require high voltages for program and erase operations. In this type of application it is beneficial to have the voltage generator provide the desired voltage quickly. It is also useful to have control over the supplied voltage that is to be used and for the supplied voltage to not introduce noise into the system. Thus, low ripple, which is difficult in generated voltages, is beneficial. These considerations are also relevant in nearly all voltage generators.
Accordingly there is a need to provide further improvement in achieving a voltage generator that quickly provides the desired voltage while avoiding high ripple.

Voltage generator with ramp rate control


A work light string removably physically mounts and electrically attaches lamps anywhere along it is length, with ready hand positioning and re-positioning of desired numbers of lamps at desired positions, and replacement of damaged lamps. The work light string can have one, or, more preferably two separate electrical circuit in which case each lamp and any external electrical load(s) can be powered by either circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally concerns a portable cord, also known as portable cordage, for temporary deployment that attaches, permissibly among other things, temporary work lamps, or lights, along its length, thus nominally a "temporary work light string".
The present invention particularly concerns (1) the positioning of lamps, or lights, along the length of a temporary work light string, and (2) the management of electrical circuits within a temporary work light string and within any devices, including lamps or lights, that are electrically connected to such temporary work light string.
2. Background of the Invention
2.1 Portable Cords
The present invention will be seen to involve a portable temporary power cord, or cable, that can physically attach and electrically connect along its length, among other things, work lamps.
According to the entry "Portable Cord" appearing circa 2012 in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia of the Internet, "[a] portable cord, which is also known as portable cordage or flexible cord, is a cable with multiple conductors used for functions requiring flexibility. The cord can be employed for power in a range of applications, such as operating motors in small and large tools, equipment, power extensions, home appliances and machinery.
"Portable cords may be used in commercial, industrial and residential applications. They work well on job sites where resistance to oil, chemicals and abrasion is vital and also perform well in extreme environments—both the heat and the cold, outside or inside. Additionally, some portable cords can be water-resistant or water submersible. Because of their characteristics, portable cords are commonly used in a range of facilities, such as construction sites, mills, mines, sports complexes, or even marinas.
"Although the construction of a portable cord varies depending on the type, a standard cord has at least two stranded copper conductors. The copper stranding, insulation and jacket directly influence the physical properties of the cord."
The most preferred cord material of the present invention will be seen to be Type SEOW. Continuing in the Wikipedi entry:
"A variety of portable cords, differing in styles, lengths and thicknesses, exist in the marketplace. Common types include Type SJT, SVT, SEOW, SJ, SJOW, SO and SOW. Each has specific applications associated with it. A portable cord is usually made of thermoset, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoplastic. Thermoset cords have heavy-duty-grade rubber jackets and are extremely sturdy. Thermoplastic elastomer cords have medium-duty-grade thermoplastic elastomer jackets and perform well in cold conditions. Thermoplastic cords have a light-duty plastic compound jacket and thus work for light-duty use."
The preferred Type SEOE is a Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). As explained in the 2000 article "Don't Let Your Portable Cord Tie You Up" appearing on the World Wide Web at the Electrical Construction and Maintenance website, "[t]hese cords have medium-duty-grade thermoplastic elastomer jackets. UL designations for these cords are SEOW-A and SJEOW-A. CSA designations for these cords are STW and SJTW-A.
"TPE compounds are lightweight in comparison to the rubber materials . . . [found] in thermoset cords. Approved for indoor and outdoor use, TPE is a better choice than plastic materials for some commercial outdoor construction in northern regions. It performs well in cold temperatures (−50 degrees Celsius/−58 degrees Fahrenheit). You'll see this type of material in some standard extension cords.
"TPE cords resist water, oil, cuts, chemicals, and acid. They also handle exposure to weather, sunlight, and ozone. You can get these in a flame-retardant version. However, the CSA designation for this type of cord (STW) carries no recognition for oil resistance. The agency marks this cable as a "T" type, thermoplastic: a plastic compound.
"Although manufactured like a thermoset product and able to perform in temperatures up to 105 degrees Celsius/221 degrees Fahrenheit, TPE may not stand up in environments where extreme heat and hot oil are factors. When exposed to such circumstances, the cord may disfigure or melt, making it useless.'
2.2 Limitations of Previous Portable Temporary Power Cords
Previous portable temporary power cords attach lamps in fixed positions along the length of the cord, normally at even spacing after an initial interval from the plug that is typically longer than is the space between lamps. Such a construction is, almost by definition, likely unsuitable in detail for the illumination of the interior spaces, or rooms, of a building which rooms are typically not linear, and which are accessed through doors and windows at which points lamps may be inappropriate for, among other reasons, shining in the eyes of persons passing or looking through such portals.
More troublesome than sub-optimal lamp locations are the quite frequent occurrences during construction when more light is needed at a specific location. This entail moving the whole work light string, and all or most of the lamps along it. Reasons for moving the string include so as to prevent the lamps from becoming buried or enclosed or trapped above equipments, avoidance of suspended ceilings and/or of framing and/or of dry wall, or prevention of capture between walls. The operation of moving an entire light string so as to move and relocate but a single lamp may become labor intensive and may even require the labor of more than one person.
Further, and more seriously, lamps that are located in fixed positions along the length of a temporary power cord most typically cannot be replaced if damaged. The only alternative to discarding the entire work light cord is to cut out a damaged light and splice the cord back together in an improved manner, typically leaving both an undesirable bulge on the cord and dimensional unevenness in the location of lights along the cord. This repair requires materials and time, and is seldom done even by skilled electricians upon their own work light cords.
Finally, existing work light cords are normally connected to but a single electrical circuit, which is normally rated at 20 amperes/This means, as a practical matter, that the largest and longest work light strings are no more than ten 100-watt light bulbs, and 100 feet in length. Moreover, the ability to power additional loads from these work light cords—such as at a receptacle at the end of the cord o by screwing into an Edison socket normally taking an light bulb—is limited. It would be useful if the lengths, current capacities, and/or flexibility (in numbers and in positions of the attachment(s) of electrical loads to a work light cord could be improved.

Temporary work light string with variably-positionable and re-positionable readily-replaced lamp, optionally with integral hangers, that are optionally electrically connected to plural electrical circuits


A brush care system for cleaning and drying brushes used in cosmetic or fine art painting applications comprises a washing vessel and a drying vessel. The washing vessel includes a cleaner having a cleaning surface against which the bristles of a brush can be agitated for cleaning. The washing vessel and the drying vessel can be secured together for convenient storage and to enclose and store the cleaner. The drying vessel functions as a stand for drying cleaned brushes and includes walls having one or more apertures for ventilating the vessel. The washing vessel may include one or more partitions.

Brushes for cosmetics and fine arts applications require regular care. Dirty cosmetics brushes can cause skin irritation or infection and can carry impurities to the face and back into the cosmetic product. Improper care of paint brushes will cause rapid deterioration, necessitating replacement. Good quality brushes are expensive, so brush preservation is prudent.


A modular shelving system includes a plurality of modular upright support units spaced from each other in the length direction of the system. Each unit includes a plurality of generally horizontal through passages for receiving and respectively supporting a plurality of elongated shelf-supporting rails of varying lengths to allow for varying the length of the shelving system as well as varying the spacing between the support units. Some of the through passages are located at lower areas of the support units to position some of the supporting rails for supporting an appropriate lower shelf. Other of the through passages are located at upper areas of the support units to position other of the supporting rails for supporting an appropriate upper shelf.

Shelving assemblies are available in a wide variety of configurations for purchase by the ultimate consumer as well as by construction or design contractors to meet a multitude of storage and/or continuous use requirements. Such shelving assemblies often are break-down systems and typically are available to the consumer at home improvement centers, "lumber" stores or the like.
One of the problems with most shelving assemblies or systems is that any given shelving "package" has given dimensions. When designing a shelving layout, the space to be occupied by the shelving most likely has fixed dimensions. For instance, it may be desirable to install shelves along a ten foot wall. If the shelving assemblies are available in three foot lengths, three units would be used, leaving a one foot "lost" space which not only is aesthetically displeasing but lacks ulitarian efficiency. In order to avoid these types of situations, some shelving systems come in different lengths for a more custom approach. Unfortunately, this is not cost effective both from manufacturing as well as inventory considerations.
Another problem with most currently available shelving assemblies or systems is that they are designed to carry a specific load or limitation. Typically, the load limitations are built into the shelving at a relatively high parameter to meet the maximum needs of most consumers. Unfortunately, shelving often is used under situations where these maximum load limitations are not at all necessary. Consequently, expensive high-load shelving often is used when much cheaper shelving would be quite adequate.
The present invention is directed to solving these and other problems in currently available shelving assemblies or systems, wherein the overall length of a shelving system can be easily varied and/or the loading characteristics of the shelving can be varied lengthwise of the system without changing the design or construction of the support units for the shelving.


For zero-touch provisioning of devices at scale using device configuration templates by device type, a secure element, a provisioning wizard, a provisioning client, an enrollment client, an update client, an enrollment service, an update publisher service, signing and encryption certificates, a method including generating device configuration templates for enrollment and update by device type, sending device configuration templates signed with a device owner signing certificate, and a device owner encryption certificate to the device manufacturer, generating a device configuration for a device based on the device configuration templates using a secure element on the device for immutable device identity, an extended configuration for the device, signing the device configuration with a device manufacturer signing certificate and a secure element signing certificate, encrypting the doubly signed device configuration with an owner encryption certificate, configuring bootstrap metadata, and configuring the device provisioning client to autostart at power-on for device enrollment and update.

Provisioning of unattended IoT devices poses an emerging challenge because unlike user interactive devices (such as servers, workstations, phones, tablets, etc.) headless field devices (such as for example smart meters, industrial sensors, actuators, controllers, edge gateways, set top boxes, etc.) are deployed on large scale (in the millions) and geographically dispersed. Provisioning of such IoT devices by field operators is expensive, cumbersome and prone to human errors during manual configuration.
Current approaches to provisioning IoT devices requires manual distribution of cryptographic artifacts (such as for example device activation codes, or self-signed certificates) and content (intellectual property) that has no protections against cloning and counterfeiting of devices by professional hackers. Such cryptographic artifacts are issued prior to the establishment of an authoritative and immutable device identity, and content (device firmware, software, applications, data) typically signed but not encrypted for distribution. Emerging innovations, such as for example Intel® Enhanced Privacy ID (or EPID), offer a member private key based signing and a group public key based verification mechanism for transfer of ownership across the supply chain for secure device onboarding.
There are limitations and challenges in the above mentioned approaches, wherein: (a) device provisioning requires a centralized rendezvous service and a redirect based on prior registration by the device owner of device identifiers; (b) device enrollment requires issuance of device certificates based on identity proofing; (c) device updates require data integrity and confidentiality verification based on supply chain provenance and a plurality of signing and issuer certificates to be loaded on the device's key and trust stores; (d) lifecycle management of cryptographic artifacts requires periodic reconfiguration with manual intervention by field operators in production environments.

System and method for zero touch provisioning of IoT devices


An image processing method has a detection step of detecting a correspondence between one color of a first plurality of colors in a first image and one color of a second plurality of colors in a second image, and a correction step of correcting the first plurality of colors or the second plurality of colors in accordance with the correspondence.

Conventionally, in photographing the same subject under different conditions, an image of different color tone may be produced from data of the photographed result depending on the condition, whereby the technical operator performs an image processing for matching the subject color of plural images by operating the image processing software.
One of such conventional techniques involves picking up the image of the same subject employing the apparatuses that are different in the photographing environments and photographing characteristics, for example, a scanner and a digital camera, and making the correction to match the color of both images which may be different due to differences in the photographing environments and characteristics. JP7-121681A disclosed the technique relating to the correction, and JP9-147098A disclosed the technique relating to the correction of tint for one image.
Also, the conventional image processing apparatus as described in JP9-298657A performs an image processing method of correcting plural images for color tone, based on the parameters for changing the color tone which are manually inputted by the operator, to match the color tone for plural images having different color tone.
However, with the correction techniques as described in JP7-121681A and JP9-147098A, though the color correction or color matching is made between two images, it was difficult to match the color of two images.
Also, in the image processing apparatus as described in JP9-298657A, there was a problem that the general user having no specialized experience or technique for the operation was not easy to match the color tone, since the operator must have some skills to correct objectively or match the color tone by operating the parameters.

Image processing method of detecting a correspondence between colors, image processing apparatus and program for detecting a correspondence between colors


An improved valve element for a spray nozzle assembly of a steam desuperheating device that is configured to spray cooling water into a flow of superheated steam in a generally uniformly distributed spray pattern. The valve element includes a valve body and an elongate valve stem that is integrally attached to the valve body and extends axially therefrom. The valve body itself includes a nozzle cone which is integrally connected to the valve stem, and defines an outer surface. Integrally formed on a bottom surface of the nozzle cone is a hub having multiple ribs protruding therefrom. Integrally connected to each of the ribs is a generally circular fracture ring. The fracture ring is disposed in spaced relation to the lower edge of the nozzle cone which circumvents the bottom surface thereof. In this regard, a series of windows are formed in the valve body, with each window being framed by a segment of the lower edge of the nozzle cone, an adjacent pair of the ribs, and a segment of the top edge of the fracture ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to steam desuperheaters and, more particularly, to a uniquely configured valve element for use in a spray nozzle assembly for a steam desuperheating device. The nozzle assembly is specifically adapted for creating a substantially uniformly distributed spray of cooling water for spraying into a flow of superheated steam in order to reduce the temperature thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many industrial facilities operate with superheated steam that has a higher temperature than its saturation temperature at a given pressure. Because superheated steam can damage turbines or other downstream components, it is necessary to control the temperature of the steam. Desuperheating refers to the process of reducing the temperature of the superheated steam to a lower temperature, permitting operation of the system as intended, ensuring system protection, and correcting for unintentional deviations from a prescribed operating temperature set point.
A steam desuperheater can lower the temperature of superheated steam by spraying cooling water into a flow of superheated steam that is passing through a steam pipe. Once the cooling water is sprayed into the flow of superheated steam, the cooling water mixes with the superheated steam and evaporates, drawing thermal energy from the steam and lowering its temperature. If the cooling water is sprayed into the superheated steam pipe as very fine water droplets or mist, then the mixing of the cooling water with the superheated steam is more uniform through the steam flow.
On the other hand, if the cooling water is sprayed into the superheated steam pipe in a streaming pattern, then the evaporation of the cooling water is greatly diminished. In addition, a streaming spray of cooling water will pass through the superheated steam flow and impact the opposite side of the steam pipe, resulting in water buildup. This water buildup can cause erosion and thermal stresses in the steam pipe that may lead to structural failure. However, if the surface area of the cooling water spray that is exposed to the superheated steam is large, which is an intended consequence of very fine droplet size, the effectiveness of the evaporation is greatly increased.
In addition, the mixing of the cooling water with the superheated steam can be enhanced by spraying the cooling water into the steam pipe in a uniform geometrical flow pattern such that the effects of the cooling water are uniformly distributed throughout the steam flow. Conversely, a non-uniform spray pattern of cooling water will result in an uneven and poorly controlled temperature reduction throughout the flow of the superheated steam. Along these lines, the inability of the cooling water spray to efficiently evaporate in the superheated steam flow may also result in an accumulation of cooling water within the steam pipe. The accumulation of this cooling water will eventually evaporate in a non-uniform heat exchange between the water and the superheated steam, resulting in a poorly controlled temperature reduction.
Various desuperheater devices have been developed in the prior art in an attempt to address the aforementioned needs. Such prior art devices include those which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,746,001 (entitled Desuperheater Nozzle) and 7,028,994 (entitled Pressure Blast Pre-Filming Spray Nozzle), and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0125126 (entitled Pressure Blast Pre-Filming Spray Nozzle), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present inventions represent an improvement over these and other prior art solutions, and provides a desuperheater device for spraying cooling water into a flow of superheated steam that is of simple construction with relatively few components and that requires a minimal amount of maintenance, is capable of spraying cooling water in a fine mist with very small droplets for more effective evaporation within the flow of superheated steam, and is capable of spraying cooling water in a geometrically uniform flow pattern for more even mixing throughout the flow of superheated steam. Various novel features of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below.


A spark plug and cylinder head assembly includes a spark plug and a cylinder head of an engine. The cylinder head has a bore and a surface which faces a combustion chamber of the engine and on which the bore opens. The spark plug is fit in the bore of the cylinder head, and includes a metal shell, an insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode secured in the insulator, and a ground electrode facing the center electrode through a spark gap. An end surface of the metal shell has an outer edge and an inner edge, and tapers from the outer edge to the inner edge in a direction toward the inside of an air pocket formed between the metal shell and the insulator. The outer edge of the end surface of the metal shell protrudes from the surface of the cylinder head into the combustion chamber.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spark plugs and their mounting in cylinder heads of engines. More particularly, the invention relates to a spark plug and cylinder head assembly which can be made at low cost and ensure reliable ignition of the air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, there is mounted, in a cylinder head of the engine, a spark plug for igniting the air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of the engine.
The spark plug includes a center electrode and a ground electrode, and discharges sparks across a spark gap formed between the center and ground electrodes. The discharged sparks then causes the formation of a flame core, and the flame grows around the flame core to ignite the air/fuel mixture.
However, when the flame core is formed too close to an inside surface of the cylinder head which faces the combustion chamber, the flame core will be cooled by the inside surface, hindering the growth of the flame.
To solve the above problem, one may consider locating the spark gap of the spark plug deep into the combustion chamber. However, in this case, the temperature of the ground electrode will become too high, causing a pre-ignition of the air/fuel mixture.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H5-87274 discloses a spark plug and cylinder head assembly which is made by mounting a spark plug in a cylinder head of an engine. In this assembly, the spark plug includes an air pocket that is formed between a metal shell and an insulator of the spark plug and opens to a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder head. A communication hole is formed in the metal shell to extend between the air pocket and an outer side surface of the metal shell. Further, a communication path is formed in the cylinder head to fluidically connect the air pocket of the spark plug to the combustion chamber. In operation, a flow of the air/fuel mixture is induced through both the communication path and the communication hole, expelling the air/fuel mixture having entered the air pocket of the spark plug to the combustion chamber.
The above spark plug and cylinder head assembly may be effective in shifting sparks induced in the spark gap of the spark plug away from the inside surface of the combustion chamber.
However, to make the spark plug and cylinder head assembly, it is necessary to form the communication hole in the metal shell of the spark plug and the communication path in the cylinder head and to accurately align the communication hole with the communication path. Consequently, both the manufacturing and assembly processes of the spark plug and the cylinder head become complicated, increasing the cost of the resultant spark plug and cylinder head assembly.

Spark plug and cylinder head assembly ensuring reliable ignition of air/fuel mixture


An apparatus for and a method of supplying cold air to a refrigeration compartment door passing through a distributing duct provided in the apparatus, are disclosed. A refrigerator with the apparatus includes at least one compartment for preserving foods at a cold temperature, a first duct for supplying cool air to one portion of the compartment, a second duct for supplying the cool air to the other portion of the compartment and a pair of blower fans mounted in order to introduce the cool air to the first and second ducts, respectively. Therefore, the interior of the refrigeration compartment is maintained at a desired low temperature, thus allowing foods in the refrigeration compartment to be always maintained at the desired low temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an apparatus for and a method of supplying cold air in a refrigerator and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and a method of supplying cold air to a refrigeration compartment door passing through a distributing duct provided in the apparatus, thus allowing cool air to be simultaneously discharged from both front and rear portions of a refrigeration compartment and effectively uniforming the inner temperature of the refrigeration compartment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the construction of a typical refrigerator and a general cool air supply construction applied to the refrigerator construction, respectively.
As shown in the drawings, the interior of the typical refrigerator is divided into two compartments: freezer and refrigeration compartments 2 and 4, by a barrier 5 filled with an insulating material.
Now, the circulation of cool air in the above-mentioned refrigerator will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 2, a liquid refrigerant, having low temperature and low pressure, is quickly vaporized in the evaporator 6 while absorbing heat from air in the interior of the refrigerator, thus forming cool air to be circulated in the interior of the refrigerator. That is, the cool air, generated in accordance with the heat exchange operation around the evaporator 6, is partially discharged into the freezer compartment 2 passing through a shroud 12 by a blower fan 8. At this time, the remaining cool air is also discharged into the refrigeration compartment 4 via a space defined between a grill 13 and the shroud 12 arranged in the rear of the grill 13. That is, the cool air freely flows down into a refrigeration compartment duct 10. Thereafter, the cool air is discharged from the rear portion to the front portion of the refrigeration compartment 4 through a plurality of discharging holes 10a which are formed on the front portion of the refrigeration compartment duct 10.
As a result, the cool air, supplied into both freezer and refrigeration compartments 2 and 4, has a relatively high temperature after a time. That is, the low temperature of the cool air is transmitted to food and drink in the freezer and refrigeration compartments 2 and 4, thus forming warm air in both compartments 2 and 4, respectively. Such warm air, circulated through the freezer and refrigeration compartments 2 and 4, returns to the evaporator 6 through first and second return ducts 2a and 4a, which are provided in the barrier 5.
In this case, the circulation of the cool air is determined by the inner temperature of the freezer compartment 2. That is, the refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator, designed for generating cool air and including the evaporator 6 and a compressor (not shown), etc., operates by the current temperature of the freezer compartment 2. Thus, when the inner temperature of the freezer compartment, sensed by a temperature sensor 3 installed in the freezer compartment 2, is higher than a predetermined temperature, the refrigerating cycle is carried out. On the contrary, when the inner temperature of the freezer compartment is less than the predetermined temperature, the driving of the refrigerating cycle is stopped. Alternatively, the driving of the refrigerating cycle may be carried out by the inner temperature of the refrigeration compartment 4.
However, the typical refrigerator is problematic in that it is somewhat difficult for the cool air to be suitably supplied to the refrigeration compartment due to the supplying of the cool air to the freezer compartment.
In addition, it is difficult to evenly maintain the inner temperature of the refrigeration compartment because the cool air is only discharged from the rear portion to the front portion of the refrigeration compartment through the discharging holes 10a.
Furthermore, the temperature of the inside portion of the refrigeration compartment 4 is higher than that of a portion around the door of the refrigeration compartment 4. Particularly, when the door of the refrigeration compartment 4 is repeatedly opened and closed, the temperature around the door portion of the refrigeration compartment 4 rises because hot air is introduced from the surroundings into the refrigeration compartment 4. Therefore, it is difficult for the refrigerator to maintain the freshness of the food and drink in baskets 14 of the refrigeration compartment door.

Apparatus for and method of supplying cold air in refrigerators


A package structure includes a semiconductor device, a circuit substrate and a heat dissipating lid. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die. The circuit substrate is bonded to and electrically coupled to the semiconductor device. The heat dissipating lid is bonded to the circuit substrate and thermally coupled to the semiconductor device, where the semiconductor device is located in a space confined by the heat dissipating lid and the circuit substrate. The heat dissipating lid includes a cover portion and a flange portion bonded to a periphery of the cover portion. The cover portion has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, where the cover portion includes a recess therein, the recess has an opening at the second surface, and a thickness of the recess is less than a thickness of the cover portion, where the recess is part of the space.

Semiconductor devices and integrated circuits (ICs) are typically manufactured on a single semiconductor wafer. The dies of the wafer may be processed and packaged with other semiconductor devices or dies at the wafer level, and various technologies have been developed for the wafer level packaging. Semiconductor processing for fabrications of the semiconductor devices and ICs continues to evolve towards increasing device-density, higher numbers of active devices (mainly transistors) of ever decreasing device dimensions. As electronic products are continuously miniaturized, heat dissipation of the packaged semiconductor devices and ICs have become an important issue for packaging technology.

Package structure and method of manufacturing the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An apparatus for extracting juice and pulp from vegetables and fruits is provided having a base containing an electric motor, and a bowl removably attached to the base. The motor has a drive shaft which projects into the interior of the bowl for receiving process tools. The bowl is provided with a strainer which is equipped with a skirt which fits inside the central tube surrounding the drive shaft. The driving shaft has a spindle fitted thereon in two orientations, one in which the strainer remains static during operation and one in which the strainer is driven rotationally when the driving shaft is turning.

The invention described herein is directed to a device for obtaining juice from fruit and vegetables, that is to say for extracting the essential juices from such with a view to human consumption either directly, or in the form of sorbet ice, jelly, sauce, jam, puree and so on, and intended specifically but not exclusively for fitting to a household appliance of the type known as a food-processor.

Device for the extraction of juice and pulp from fruit and vegetables


The present invention prevents the formation of cracks in a molded main body and the corrosion of a stator core.. A molded motor is provided with: a stator 1 which has a stator core 6 which has a plurality of tooth portions 12 extending radially inward which are formed equidistantly around it and which is laminated from a plurality of layers of cold-rolled steel plate, and stator coils 8 composed of lead wires wound around the tooth portions 12 of the stator core 6; a rotor rotatably disposed inside the stator 1; and a molded main body 30 made of resin which covers the stator 1, and spaces 32 are formed in the molded main body 30 between the stator coils 8.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a molded motor provided with: a stator; a rotor rotatably disposed inside the stator; and a molded main body which covers the stator.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a conventional molded motor, FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the stator core of the molded motor in Fig.4 and this molded motor is provided with: a stator 1; a rotor 2 rotatably disposed inside the stator 1; bearings 3 disposed at both ends of the rotor 2 to support the rotor 2 so that it can rotate freely; and a molded main body 4 composed of polyphenylene sulfide resin which covers the stator 1.
The stator 1 is provided with: a stator core 6 laminated from a plurality of layers of cold-rolled steel plate 5, which is a magnetic plate; stator coils 8 composed of lead wires wound around tooth portions 12 of the stator core 6; a first guide 9 and second guide 10 which fit into the stator core 6 from the top and bottom respectively to insulate between the stator coils 8 and the stator core 6; and a terminal 11 fixed by heat crimping to the second guide 10 and connected to the stator coils 8.
The rotor 2 is provided with: a shaft 13 supported at both ends by the bearings 3 so that it can rotate freely; and magnets 14 fixed to the shaft 13 with adhesive, arranged with alternating north-seeking (N) poles and south-seeking (S) poles.
The molded main body 4 has: a connector portion 15; flange portions 17 integrated with bushes 16 into which bolts (not shown) are inserted; and a receiving portion 19 which receives an annulus 18, which is an inserted body.
The molded motor of the above construction is connected by means of bolts inserted into the bushes 16 to a throttle valve device, which regulates the amount of air delivered to an internal combustion engine.
The throttle valve device is provided with: an annulus 18 which is inserted into the receiving portion 19 of the molded main body 4 and which has an internal gear 20 on its inner wall; a sun gear 21 connected to the shaft 12; a planetary gear (not shown) which engages with the sun gear 21 and the internal gear 20; and a shaft (not shown) which passes through the center of the planetary gear.
In the molded motor of the above construction, an integrated motor main body 22 is formed from the stator 1, the molded main body 4, and a bush 23 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, by insertion molding, in which resin is injected into a metal mold in which the stator 1 and the bush 23 have been placed. Then the bearing 3, which is secured to the shaft 13, is inserted into the bush 23, and the motor main body 22 and the rotor 2 are integrated, completing the assembly of the molded motor.
In the molded motor of the above construction, rotating magnetic fields of north-seeking (N) poles and south-seeking (S) poles are generated in the stator core 6 by passing an electric current through the stator coils 8, and the magnets 14 and the shaft 13 secured to the magnets 14 follow this rotating magnetic field and rotate.
The sun gear 21 of the throttle valve device rotates with the rotation of the shaft 13. The planetary gear, which is engaged with the sun gear 21 and the internal gear 20 of the annulus 18, rotates and revolves around the sun gear 21. With the rotation of the planetary gear, a gear (not shown) rotate and the throttle valve (not shown) rotates. The amount of air delivered to the internal combustion engine varies in response to the rotational angle of this throttle valve.
In the conventional molded motor, the motor main body 22 is formed by injecting high-temperature resin into a metal mold, but there is a problem in that cracks form during natural cooling after molding at point A in FIG. 6, for example, due to differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the molded main body 4 and the stator core 6. In other words, during natural cooling, the amount of shrinkage in the molded main body 4 is greater than the amount of shrinkage in the stator core 6, and the temperature of the stator coils 8 is also low, so that in the vicinity of the stator coils 8, the molded main body 4 is cooled quickly and hardening of the resin proceeds quickly, leading to problems in that cracks form at point A between the stator coils 8 where hardening is slow.
Also, when the motor main body 22 is stored, there is a problem in that water accumulates at point B in FIG. 6, for example, due to condensation, etc., and the stator core 6 is subject to corrosion.


A voltage booster circuit including a pull-up capacitor connected to the supply line via a PMOS switching transistor. The other terminal of the pull-up capacitor is supplied with a pull-up voltage switching between a first value determining charging of the capacitor, and a second value higher than the first and determining pull-up of the capacitor. A negative voltage source presents an output connected to the control terminal of a switch transistor, and generates a negative voltage of a value lower than the first pull-up voltage value when charging the capacitor, so as to saturate the switch transistor and charge the capacitor to a voltage close to the supply voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-efficiency voltage booster circuit operating at very low supply voltage.
Though applicable in particular to switching regulators featuring N-channel power MOS transistors which require a high gate potential for proper operation, the present invention may also be applied to any device comprising a pass MOS transistor which operates at very low supply voltage. In particular, the present invention may be applied to all MOS and combined BJT/MOS technologies with threshold voltages above or comparable with the supply voltage. For example, the present invention may be applied to devices used in pagers, cordless systems, radio-controlled systems and Local Area Networks which are supplied by a single low-voltage battery and which, according to present standards, must operate at supply voltages of 800 mV or at most 900 mV.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As is known, the physical performance of switching regulators featuring MOS transistors for controlling the current in the inductor should simulate, as closely as possible, that of an ideal switch. That is, ideally, the MOS transistor should present zero resistance between the drain and source when on. In actual fact, however, this never occurs. The resistance of the transistor when on equals R.sub.ds,on, and must be minimized as much as possible to reduce the voltage drop and power dissipation of the transistor to achieve a good degree of efficiency of the regulator.
As is known, the voltage drop of the transistor is inversely proportional to both its area and overdrive (i.e. the excess gate-source voltage in relation to the turn-on threshold voltage of the transistor). Therefore, if a limited area of the MOS transistor is required, as in the case of currently used integrated devices, which are necessarily increasingly smaller and mounted in very small packages, the only alternative is to work on the overdrive voltage of the transistor (V.sub.ov =V.sub.gs -V.sub.th). That is, for the switching regulator to operate properly, a high overdrive must be assured.
On the other hand, a high overdrive also means a high gate-source voltage V.sub.gs, which poses problems in the case of the circuits with low supply voltages mentioned previously. This is because the minimum threshold voltages achievable by the best technologies currently available are comparable with, if not less than, the low supply voltages required. Nor is it possible, at the low supply voltages considered, to use diodes as unilateral switches.
As such, recourse must be made to voltage boosters or pumps capable of generating, from a low supply voltage, a higher voltage for gate driving MOS transistors.
Known voltage boosters include what are referred to as Cockroft-Walton second or higher-order multipliers. These multipliers operate in accordance with a succession of steps comprising: charging a capacitor to a voltage correlated to the supply voltage; pulling up one terminal of the capacitor; and connecting the other terminal of the capacitor to an output via controlled switches to achieve an output voltage higher than the supply voltage.
FIG. 1 shows one example of a third-order multiplier 1 comprising three PNP transistors 2, 3 and 4 and two NPN transistors 5 and 6 connected between a supply line at V.sub.dd and ground. More specifically, transistor 2 has an emitter terminal connected to the supply voltage V.sub.dd, a base terminal connected to the base terminal of transistor 3 and to the emitter terminal of transistor 4, and a collector terminal connected to the collector terminal of transistor 5, to the base terminal of transistor 4 and to the base terminal of transistor 6. Transistor 3 has an emitter terminal connected to the supply voltage V.sub.dd, and a collector terminal connected to a node 8. Transistor 4 has a collector terminal which is grounded. Transistor 5 has a base terminal defining an input 9 at which it receives a turn-on signal V.sub.1, and an emitter terminal grounded via a resistor 10. Transistor 6 has an emitter terminal which is grounded. Circuit 1 also comprises two capacitors 12, 13, each having one terminal 15, 16, respectively, which defines an input for respective push-pull digital control signals S1, S2, and the other terminal A, B of each, respectively, which is connected to a respective terminal of a chain of diodes 17, 18, 19. More specifically, diode 17 is connected at the anode to node 8, and at the cathode to terminal A and to the anode of diode 18. The cathode of diode 18 is connected to terminal B and to the anode of diode 19, and the cathode of diode 19 forms an output terminal 20 which outputs a voltage O.
Components 2-6 and 10 form an input stage for transferring the supply voltage V.sub.dd to node 8 when V.sub.1 is high. In this condition, it is assumed S1 is low and S2 is high at an instant t.sub.0, so that a potential V.sub.A at terminal A equals: EQU V.sub.A (t.sub.0)=V.sub.dd -V.sub.cesat,3 -V.sub.d,17
where V.sub.cesat,3 is the collector-emitter voltage drop across transistor 3 when saturated; and V.sub.d,17 is the voltage drop across diode 17.
A potential V.sub.B at terminal B, on the other hand, equals: EQU V.sub.B (t.sub.0)=V.sub.dd -V.sub.cesat,3 -V.sub.d,17 -V.sub.d,18
where V.sub.d,18 is the voltage drop across diode 18. For example, if voltage V.sub.dd equals 5 V, if V.sub.cesat,3 equals 0.3 V, and if the voltage drop of the diodes equals 0.7 V, then V.sub.A (t.sub.0)=4 V and V.sub.B (t.sub.0)=3.3 V.
At an instant t.sub.1, S1 switches to high (V.sub.dd) and S2 to low, and, since capacitor 12 is already charged, terminal A is brought to potential: EQU V.sub.A (t.sub.1)=V.sub.A (t.sub.0)+V.sub.dd
diode 17 turns off, and terminals B and 20 are brought to potential: EQU V.sub.B (t.sub.1)=V.sub.A (t.sub.1)-V.sub.d18 EQU V.sub.20 (t.sub.1)=V.sub.B (t.sub.1)-V.sub.d19
where V.sub.d,19 is the voltage drop across diode 19. In the example shown, V.sub.A (t.sub.1)=9 V, V.sub.B (t.sub.1)=8.3 V and V.sub.20 (t.sub.1)=7.6 V.
At an instant t.sub.2, S1 switches back to low and S2 to high (V.sub.dd), diode 18 turns off, and the potentials at terminals A, B and 20 equal: EQU V.sub.A (t.sub.2)=V.sub.A (t.sub.0)=4 V EQU V.sub.B (t.sub.2)=V.sub.B (t.sub.1)+V.sub.dd =13.3 V EQU V.sub.20 (t.sub.2)=V.sub.B (t.sub.2)-V.sub.d19 =12.6 V
As can be seen, the loss in efficiency of the circuit of FIG. 1 is considerable, mainly because of the voltage drop across diodes 17-19. This prevents the circuit from being used in the presence of very low supply voltages (800 mV mentioned previously) at which it is not even possible to charge capacitors 12 and 13 because of the voltage drop across diodes 17, 18.

High-efficiency voltage booster circuit operating at very low supply voltage

Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno


The present invention relates generally to a method for determining which radio channel to allocate to a mobile station for communicating via a mobile radio system, and a system for mobile radio communication in which a radio channel can be allocated to a mobile station. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for radio channel allocation where the radio quality on candidate radio channels is measured and the interference effects of establishing a radio connection on the candidate radio channels on already existing radio connections is estimated. Using these measurement results and estimates, as well as the information about the quality requested by the connection to be set up, it is determined which radio channel (if any) shall be allocated to the MS.

As the load on the existing mobile radio systems is continuously increasing, it becomes more and more important to efficiently utilize the scarce frequency resources. A lot of effort is today put into planning the mobile radio cell structure, in order to optimize, given a certain amount of bandwidth, the number of connections with acceptable channel quality. How the available channels are allocated to existing and about-to-be-set-up radio connections is of uttermost importance for the overall performance of the system. Various methods for channel allocation are described in the publication "Channel assignment schemes for cellular mobile telecommunication systems: A comprehensive survey", IEEE Personal Communications, June 1996, I. Katzela and M. Naghshineh.
An important group of channel allocation schemes are the schemes which base the channel allocation decision on measurements of the co-channel interference which would be experienced by a candidate channel if a connection were to be set up on the channel. However, decisions based upon such interference measurements only can lead to sub-optimal allocation. It is possible that allocation of a channel with low co-channel interference will result in a negative impact on already existing calls in the network, and hence in deterioration of the quality of such calls. Such deterioration will often lead to disturbing hand-overs of the deteriorated calls to other radio channels, which may in turn lead to further existing connections being adversely affected.
Attempts to address the problem of avoiding unwanted impact on already existing connections when allocating a new channel to a connection can be found in the literature. In WO97/32444, a method for allocating a frequency to a cell is described, where one criteria for selecting a certain frequency is that the frequency to be selected cannot cause third order intermodulation products when combined with any of the selected frequencies being used in that cell. However, the impact on existing radio connections of setting up a new radio connection extends far beyond the impact of third order intermodulation products on existing connections in the cell where the new connection is to be set up. A very important effect to consider is the impact of co-channel and adjacent channel interference, which is mainly to be taken in account of for channels used in cells other than the cell where the connection is to be set up. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,837 a method for frequency allocation is described where the frequency is selected which requires the lowest transmit power to obtain a certain carrier over interference (C/I) value. A set-up transmit power threshold is used in the method, which prevents users that would need a lot of power, and would therefore produce a high level of interference, from entering the system. This is a rather crude way of solving the problem, since no threshold value would be the optimal threshold value for all frequencies at all moments. Thus, the available channels cannot be utilized in an efficient way using this method.
It would therefore be very advantageous if a method of predicting the interference impact of the set up of a new connection on already existing connections could be found. An object of the present invention is to provide such a method.

Mobile radio system and a method for channel allocation in a mobile radio system


A vibration training apparatus includes a base, a swinging link rod module and a driving mechanism. The swinging link rod module installed on the base has a driving mechanism for driving several swinging link rods for a link rod movement. An eccentric transmission shaft driven by a motor drives the swinging link rod module to produce a linear vibration during the swinging process, and matches with the rotation speed of the motor to drive a support stand to produce vertically up-and-down displacements with vibrations of different frequencies. An adjusting device can be installed between the swinging link rod module and the base for changing the swinging amplitude of the swinging link rod module, such that the driving mechanism can drive the swinging link rod module to linearly change the vibration amplitude and achieve a whole-body vibration effect to stimulate internal organs and improve muscle strengths and blood circulations.

Referring to FIG. 11 for a traditional passive repeated muscle strength improvement machine, the machine includes a treadle 61 in a weight training equipment stand 60 and a cam 62 installed under the treadle 61, and the treadle 61 can be moved up and down repeatedly by a mechanical transmission method and ascended and descended by rotating the cam 62, such that an exerciser continuously bears a passive exercising load and engages in a plyometric and centrifugal contraction muscle strength training that consumes a great deal of motor units in a short time to generate larger muscle strength and power.
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 for another traditional left, right, up and down vibration training machine, the machine includes a treadle 76 on a machine body 70, a center shaft 75 installed at the middle of the bottom of the treadle 76, a link arm 74 installed at an end of the machine body 70 and pivotally integrated with a motor 71 of the machine body 70, a link wheel 72 of an eccentric link wheel, and a driving arm 73, such that both left and right ends of the treadle 76 can be inclined, ascended and descended repeatedly to produce up-and-down vibrations on both left and right ends of the treadle 76 similar to those of a seesaw and assist users to exercise their body sideway for a better exercising effect.

Vibration training apparatus for linearly changing vibration amplitude


Some embodiments may facilitate software development and operations for an enterprise. A communication input port may receive information associated with a software continuous integration/deployment pipeline of the enterprise. An intelligent software agent platform, coupled to the communication input port, may listen for a trigger indication from the software continuous integration/deployment pipeline. Responsive to the trigger indication, the intelligent software agent platform may apply system configuration and rule layer information to extract software log data and apply a machine learning model to the extracted software log data to generate a pipeline health check analysis report. The pipeline health check analysis report may include, for example, an automatically generated prediction associated with future operation of the software continuous integration/deployment pipeline. The intelligent software agent platform may then facilitate transmission of the pipeline health check analysis report via a communication output port and a distributed communication network.

An enterprise may develop and deploy software applications. For example, a business might write software applications (and periodic upgrades to those applications) to handle internal workflows, interactions with customers, etc. As part of the software development process, the enterprise may implement quality assurance processes to reduce the likelihood of errors and improve the stability of the software application. For example, the enterprise might manually review software error logs to monitor the quality of software development. Recently, enterprises have begun to combine software development practices and information technology operations to shorten the system development lifecycle while still delivering features, fixes, and updates in accordance with business objectives. This trend, which includes Continuous Integration ("CI") and Continuous Deployment ("CD") processes which introduce a fast pace of software builds and automated test executions. Manually implementing quality assurance in such an environment can be a time consuming and error-prone task (e.g., a team of experts may face a huge job of reviewing software logs to determine the root causes of an error).
It would be desirable to provide systems and methods to automatically and efficiently implement quality assurance in a software development environment.

Intelligent software agent to facilitate software development and operations


A surface mount includes a base for receiving a hollow object that is to be secured with the mount to another surface. The interior area includes a movable anchor than can be advanced toward the wall that defines a hollow object receiving area, so that a hollow object is pinched or compressed between the anchor and its respective wall.

There have been a number of attempts to provide surface mounts for securing hollow objects to the surface. While a number of these have been found useful, there are still problems with the endurance of the connection between the mount and the hollow object. It has been found that one cause of failure between the mount and the object has been the failure to restrain movement of the object within the mount.


When a front-passenger seat occupant detecting sensor indicates absence of an occupant in a front-passenger seat, an air conditioning control ECU adjusts a temperature measurement measured with a non-contacting temperature sensor for measuring a surface temperature of the occupant in the front-passenger seat and controls air conditioning state around the front-passenger seat based on the adjusted temperature measurement associated with the front-passenger seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning system for controlling air conditioning state of a vehicle based on a temperature measurement of a non-contacting temperature sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
One type of previously proposed vehicle air conditioning system uses a non-contacting temperature sensor (e.g., infrared sensor) to measure a surface temperature of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and controls air conditioning state of the passenger compartment (e.g., the temperature and the flow rate of air discharged from a discharge opening of the air conditioning system) based on the measured surface temperature of the occupant. One such an air conditioning system is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent publication No. 2002-172926. This air conditioning system will be referred to as a first type air conditioning system.
Another type of previously proposed air conditioning system controls air conditioning state around a driver seat and air conditioning state around a front-passenger seat independently of each other. One such an air conditioning system is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent publication No. 2002-144839. This air conditioning system will be referred to as a second type air conditioning system.
It is conceivable to combine the first type air conditioning system and the second type air conditioning system in such a manner that the surface temperature of the driver seated in the driver seat and the surface temperature of the occupant seated in the front-passenger seat are measured with non-contacting temperature sensors, and the air conditioning state around the driver seat and the air conditioning state around the front-passenger seat are controlled independently of each other based on the measured surface temperature of the driver in the driver seat and the measured surface temperature of the occupant in the front-passenger seat.
However, in such an air conditioning system, when the occupant is absent in the front-passenger seat, the surface temperature of the front-passenger seat is measured instead of the surface temperature of the occupant in the front-passenger seat. Thus, when the air conditioning state around the front-passenger seat is controlled based on the surface temperature of the front-passenger seat, the air conditioning state around the driver seat and the air conditioning state around the front-passenger seat substantially differ from one another. In such a case, an air flow will be supplied from the front-passenger seat air conditioning zone to the driver seat air conditioning zone, resulting in uncomfortable feeling of the driver. Furthermore, in the case where the air conditioning control operation is performed without considering presence or absence of the occupant in the seat, when the occupant returns the seat after a predetermined period of absence, the occupant may feel uncomfortableness.

Vehicle air conditioning system having non-contacting temperature sensors


Plastic modular link belt conveyors are provided with an inner drive belt system disposed along a variable length of the conveyor belt at one or more positions to produce various advantages including operation of longer belts and those which have curved conveyance paths. The modular characteristics of these drive systems permit custom design in the field for different conveyor loadings, paths and loads. Thus, belt life and performance is enhanced by driving a belt with a belt drive system. The system advantageously uses standard modules of one type in both the driven and driving belts. Thus the modules have similar manufacturing tolerances and temperature characteristics. Pivoted link modules with oblong apertures in the belt drive system permits choices of modules for belt constructions compatible with curved paths. The modularized belt systems are versatile for adaptation to such applications as wide bricklayered modular belts and non-conventional conveyor needs. In the drive system integrally formed gear teeth on the modular links intermesh in the space between the transverse pivot rods in the respective innermost driving belt and the outermost driven belt. By running the inner drive belt "inside-out" modular links with drive tooth appendages extending from opposite belt sides, standard modules of the type having special conveyance structure on the conveying belt side may be used in the driving belt.

Modular link conveyor belts are conventionally formed as belt loops driven by power driven sprocket wheels located at one or two ends of the loop. For heavily loaded belts the power drive system dependent upon a few sprocket teeth about the sprocket wheel in driving contact with the belt modules passing over the wheel presents a series of problems. With strong sprocket teeth and powerful drive forces plastic belts wear and have short life. Also the drive forces ar not usually at the most heavily loaded portions of the belt and must transmit the drive forces through a chain of link to pivot rod couplings, thus creating tension in the belt requiring heavy duty modules. Furthermore the loading at the pivot joint accelerates wear. This type of drive system is particularly unacceptable in long belts or belts disposed in curved paths.
Conveyor belt and chain drive systems that employ a loop belt in place of a drive sprocket to drive a conveyor belt system have been proposed in the prior art for distributing driving forces over a longer conveyor belt portion and thus reducing tension in the conveyor belt. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,939,315, Paulson, Dec. 12, 1933; 1,960,719, Stibbs, May 29, 1934; 2,405,530, Sullivan, Aug. 6, 1946; 2,868,356, Haaff, Jan. 13, 1959; and 4,058,204, Arich, Nov. 15, 1977 represent these prior art drive systems. These systems, in general, are not compatible with modular link belts having pivotable plastic links which ar subjected to significant wear and excessive belt tension in the presence of heavy or variable loading.
Also in these prior art drive systems there are many other deficiencies and limitations, particularly for universal usage with a large variety of conveyor systems employing belts of various widths, lengths and travel path configurations where drive belts require a variety of configurations. One serious deficiency in custom made complex drive belts adapted to various conveyor belt conditions is the necessity to produce and stock special drive belt links in relatively small quantities thereby significantly increasing the cost of the driving belt systems.
Conveyor belts that travel about curved paths in particular present driving problems not solved by the prior art.
A significant problem not addressed by the prior art is the compatibility of the drive belt with the conveyor belt under actual working conditions. For example if there are different dimensional changes in the modules of the respective belts in response to temperature or manufacturing tolerances, the two belts will incur incompatibility resulting in interference, power loss and increased wear.
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide improved conveyor belt drive systems of the type that engage a modular link conveyor belt in a driving relationship by an endless loop modular driving belt extending along a significant portion of the modular link belt length, thereby to relieve tension, reduce wear and relate driving forces to load bearing portions of the conveyor belt.
A further object of the invention is to provide conveyor belt drive systems of significantly universal adaptability to belts of various lengths, widths, loadings and path configurations.
Another object of the invention is to provide plastic modular link driving belt systems for engaging a plastic modular link conveyor belt with compatible performance under working conditions.

Drive system for modular link conveyor belts


Disclosed are provided a method and a system for network connection chain traceback by using network flow data in order to trace an attack source site for cyber hacking attacks that goes by way of various sites without addition of new equipment of a network or modification a standard protocol when the cyber hacking attack occurs in the Internet and an internal network.

A cyber attack traceback technique means a technique that can trace the position of an actual hacker, that is, a source site of an attack even though the position of an attack system and the position of a hacker that attempts actual hacking are different from each other. The traceback technique in the related art researches various algorithms according to a communication environment and a connection method and may be generally divided into TCP connection traceback and IP traceback techniques according to the connection method.
The IP traceback technique as a technique that analyzes a log which remains in an attacked system to trace the position of an attacker by a trace thereof because the IP traceback technique uses a non-connection directional communication method includes a proactive method through insertion of trace related information into header and payload portion of an IP packet and a reactive method through traffic monitoring and filtering.
TCP connection traceback as a traceback technique used in a connection directional communication method by using a feature of a TCP communication method is primarily classified into a method based on a feature of a connection chain for communication, that is, network router equipment or a host PC.
In the case of the two methods, that is, the IP based traceback and the TCP connection based traceback, overhead exists, which should monitor all network traffic packets and communication connections and in particular, it is disadvantageous that further tracing is impossible via network equipment (e.g., a router) or another Internet service provider (ISP) which does not provide a tracing function. Further, since data are transmitted to and received from intermediate hosts while attacking through the connection chain in an application layer, tracing in a network layer becomes impossible.
Since various tracing methods proposed up to now should endure overhead in which an additional system for an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to mount an additional function on the router or perform monitoring should be installed, the various tracing methods may be theoretically possible, but a possibility that the various methods will be actually used may be low.
Cyber target attacks which have occurred in recent years may be significantly difficult to trace the source site because most methods for hiding attack source sites through various hopping sites are provided. Accordingly, a technique that traces a source site of an attacker that goes via various sites is particularly required while network overhead such as addition of new equipment or a change of a standard of an IP protocol does not exist.

Method and system for network connection chain traceback using network flow data

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A heat exchanger tube having an integral restricting and turbulating structure consisting of dimples formed by confronting indentations pressed into the sides of the heat exchanger tube. The dimples are comprised of indentations disposed in pairs which extend into the tube to such a depth as is necessary to significantly reduce the cross sectional area of the heat exchanger tube and provide a pair of converging, diverging flow nozzles to promote turbulence of the flue gases. The turbulence characteristics of the tube can be controlled by varying the size of the aperture of the nozzles. In certain applications, the dimples are located along the sides of the heat exchanger tube, thereby providing unobstructed drainage for liquids even when the tube is bent into a serpentine shape.

A typical method of making heat exchangers for a variety of gas and oil fired industrial or residential products is to bend a metal tube into a serpentine shape thereby providing multiple passes. Gases heated by a burner at one end of the heat-exchanger travel through the tube interior and exit the other end of the heat exchanger. While the hot flue gases are within the tube, heat is conducted through the metal walls of the tube and transferred to the air or other fluid media surrounding the tube thereby raising its temperature. In order to achieve efficient heat transfer from the tubes, it is usually necessary to alter the flow of gases by reducing their velocity and/or promoting turbulence, mixing and improved contact with the tube surface. A typical method for achieving this is by placing a separate restrictive turbulating baffle inside the tube. These baffles are typically metal or ceramic. One problem associated with baffles in tubes is noise caused by expansion or contraction of baffles or vibrations generated by the mechanical coupling to components such as blowers or fans. Another difficulty related to the use of baffles is that the heat exchanger tube cannot be bent with a baffle already inserted so that baffles must be inserted after bending, limiting the typical location of baffles to straight sections of the heat exchanger tube which are accessible after bending. In addition, the use of separate baffles increases the cost and difficulty of assembling the heat exchanger.
A known alternative to baffles is the technique of selectively deforming the tube to change its cross section. Such deformation causes a restriction to the gas flow due to the change in cross section, achieving the effect of baffles. For example a known method is to flatten sections of the tube to achieve the desired restriction. A problem with the use of flattened sections is that this technique extends the cross section of the tube beyond that of the tube without deformations, creating low spots in horizontal sections. Additionally, the flattened sections prevent the tube from passing through a hole of approximately the tube outside diameter as required for assembly in some applications.
While deformation of the heat exchanger tube can replace the use of baffles in some applications, the deformation technique has had less than satisfactory results when applied in commercial and light commercial heating and air conditioning units. The design of most heating and air conditioning units is such that the heat exchanger is located downstream of the evaporator section for cooling. Therefore, during use for air conditioning the cool air passing over the heat exchanger lowers the tube temperature below the dew point of air inside the tube, resulting in condensation inside the tube. Current configurations of tube deformation experience problems in draining this condensation from the tube due to low spots in the horizontal sections of the tube. The low spots, which are caused by restricting deformations prevent the flow of liquid, allowing condensate to puddle and increase the likelihood of corroding the tube. For this reason baffles are often used in heating and air conditioning unit heat exchangers to avoid premature failure due to corrosion.

Heat exchanger tube with integral restricting and turbulating structure


A method and apparatus that includes the steps of providing a plurality of wireless nodes including at least one parent node and at least one child node, a control panel sending instructions to and receiving data from the plurality of nodes through a primary gateway and a wireless subsystem of the gateway, the primary gateway synchronizing the plurality of nodes by periodically transmitting a synchronization signal and one of the plurality of nodes detecting failure of the gateway and transmitting an idle synchronization signal for so long as the one of the plurality of nodes detects failure of the gateway.

Fire detection systems are generally known. Such systems are typically based upon the use of a number of fire detectors dispersed throughout a building and at least one warning device that warns occupants of the building to the presence of a fire. While each fire detector could be connected to its own warning device, fire detectors are typically connected to a common monitoring panel. This is useful because of the need to send notice of any detected fire to a central monitoring station.
However, the use of a common monitoring panel requires that a connection be established and maintained between the panel and each fire detector and each warning device. In the past, the connection was established by installing at least two wires between each fire detector and the monitoring panel and between each warning device and the monitoring panel.
More recent systems have relied upon the use of wireless transceivers to reduce the costs of installation. Such systems require a transceiver located in each of the fire detectors, the warning device and the central monitoring panel.
Still other systems have relied upon wireless transceivers within one or more of the sensors to relay signals from other sensors in a mesh network. While these systems work well, they often require signal coordination among the wireless devices that may be kept even if one or more devices on the network are switched off. Accordingly, a need exist for better methods of controlling such systems.

Wireless fire system with idle mode and gateway redundancy


An EMI shield for a transceiver module includes a plurality of collapsible fingers that allow the shield to be sealed at the corners when the transceiver is inserted into a receiving cage. The fingers of the shield are made with a designed interference with the cage, so that the fingers are compressed when the module is inserted into the cage. A pattern of peaks and valleys on the fingers bordering the corners of the shield allows the two adjacent fingers to mesh when the module is inserted into the cage. The meshing of the peaks-and-valleys pattern of the bordering fingers allows the shield to be sealed with a gap width under 0.015″.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to transceiver modules, and more particularly is a transceiver module with an EMI shield that is sealed when the module is inserted into a cage mounted on a PC board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computers and related peripheral equipment, and satellite and communication systems, have in the recent past evolved extremely rapidly. These systems require ever increasing data transfer rates to perform the highly complex tasks that drive the systems, such as digital signal processing, image analysis, and communications. With current demands, optical couplers are used to transfer signals over short and long distances between computers, between two circuit boards in one computer, and even between multiple chips on a single printed circuit board. The use of high speed optical signals in place of electrical interconnections increases the achievable data transfer rate.
An optical transmitter/receiver module typically includes both light emitting devices such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and light detecting devices such as photodiodes. Driver/receiver circuitry modules, typically in the form of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, include driver circuitry which receives electrical signals from one device and drives the VCSELs in response. The ASIC also includes receiver circuitry for receiving signals from the photodiodes and, in response, for processing those signals into an appropriate output. The combination of the VCSELs, the photodiodes, and the ASIC circuitry is commonly referred to as an optical transceiver or a fiber optic transceiver.
To provide heat dissipation means and EMI (electro-magnetic interference) protection for the circuitry of the transceivers, the transceivers are enclosed in packages called modules. The main subject of this invention is the IPF module that includes, per MSA (Multi Source Agreement) standards, an EMI dissipation means at the mouth of the cage receiving the module.
The problem presented by the EMI shield is that the shield must wrap around the rectangular module. This presents four edge areas that are very difficult to cover with a stamped sheet metal EMI shield. The stamping process requires some boundary distance between the fingers and the edge of the base of the shield. With ordinary straight projecting fingers in the shield, an unacceptably large gap is created in the EMI shield at each of its corners.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means to form an EMI shield at the mouth of the cage receiving a transceiver.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an EMI shield that forms sealed corners when the transceiver is inserted into the cage.

Transceiver module with collapsible fingers that form a sealed EMI shield


A fluid bearing apparatus having an increased contact area between a body and a bushing and having a compact size. In the fluid bearing apparatus according to the present invention, a body extends from a shaft fixed to a lower bearing bracket in a lengthwise direction, which has a conical groove at one end and a truncated cone at the other end. An upper bushing includes a recess for receiving the one end of the body and having a conical protrusion formed therein. The conical protrusion is inserted into the conical groove of the body. A lower bushing has a recess receiving the other end of the body and a through hole extending through the lower bushing. The shaft is slidably inserted into the through hole. The upper bushing is separately combined with the lower bushing. Accordingly, the bushing which receives the body, may be decreased in volume, so that a motor to which the fluid bearing apparatus is applied, can be reduced in a total size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid bearing apparatus and more particularly to a fluid bearing apparatus having an increased contacting area of a bearing and rotating elements and a compact size.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with improvements in the fields of information and computer technology, there has arisen a need for rotary shafts with higher rotational speed and accuracy, but without unwanted movement or oscillation. Such rotary shafts are needed in driving motors for various machines, such as a polygon mirror driving gear of a laser printer, a spindle motor of a hard disk, a head driving motor of a video cassette recorder, and the like. A driving motor capable of stable rotating at high speed while preventing the movement or oscillation of the rotary shaft has been developed together with a fluid bearing apparatus which enables the rotary shaft of the driving motor to rotate at high speed with high accuracy.
The fluid bearing apparatus, as described above, generally has dynamic pressure generating flutes formed therein. There are two types of the dynamic pressure generating flutes. One type of the dynamic pressure generating flutes is a spiral shape and the other type is a herringbone shape. The spiral shaped dynamic pressure generating flutes are mainly applied to thrust bearings supporting thrust load and the herringbone shaped dynamic pressure generating flutes are mainly applied to radial bearings supporting a radial load.
In the case of a conical fluid bearing apparatus, one of the conventional fluid bearing apparatus, various structures have been proposed to provide sufficient rising forces in a short time for rotating elements, such as a bushing, a plate, and the like.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional driving apparatus of a polygon mirror, in which a conical bearing apparatus is applied to the driving apparatus to increase a contact area of a bushing and a shaft.
The conical bearing 70 includes a body 45 and an upper cone 45a and a lower cone 45b which are respectively formed at both ends of the body 45, while extending from one end of a fixing shaft 40. The body 45 connects the upper cone 45a to the lower cone 45b and has a predetermined diameter. Furthermore, the upper and lower cones 45a and 45b have tapered sectional shapes and extend outwardly from the body 45. The dynamic pressure generating flutes 45a', 45b' are respectively formed on the tapered surface of the upper and lower cones 45a and 45b. When the rotating elements rotate, the dynamic pressure is generated in the bearing resulting in shifting up the upper and lower bushing 30 and 32. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 10, 50, and 60 respectively indicate a polygon mirror, a plate having a rotor mounted thereon, and a lower bearing bracket.
In the bearing apparatus as constructed above, however, the upper cone 45a which is formed at one end of the body 45 is made to extend in the lengthwise direction of the fixing shaft 40 so that the cross-section area is gradually reduced from the one end of the body 45 to the top of the cone 45a. Thus, the height of the upper bushing 30 is increased as much as the length of the upper cone 45a. Therefore, there is a problem in that a total size of the motor is increased.


Embodiments described herein disclose methods and systems for managing a digital reputation of a user. The exemplary method can receive information about an item to be purchased by the user, determine in real-time or near real-time, based on one or more financial factors, a first digital reputation score indicative of an effect of the item on the user's digital reputation, determine an alternative item to be purchased instead of the item to be purchased, and determine a second digital reputation score based on the purchase of the alternative item.

In today's data driven world, individuals provide personal information about themselves with every digital interaction without ever realizing the consequences of providing personal information. Companies or organizations collect and analyze personal information obtained from individuals' digital interactions to form a comprehensive digital personal reputation about each of those individuals. A digital personal reputation may not only impact an individual's online, digital, or virtual presence but it may also impact that individual's real-life interactions. For example, if a consumer uses a credit card for a financial transaction, the consumer may not only hand over personal information in that transaction but may also hand over a way to track that consumer's behaviors. Attempts to prevent online, digital, or virtual presence by only avoiding credit card transactions may not be successful. For example, in a transaction involving only cash, a retailer may still be able to track purchases through rewards programs. The divulging of personal information may not be optional or transparent to the consumer. This personal information may be used by marketers, retailers, or financial institutions in a manner unapproved by the individuals. Individuals do not have a say in who has access to their personal information, how their personal information was obtained, and how their personal information will be used. Thus, individuals are not able to properly identify and control their personal information collected by companies or organizations.
The techniques introduced here may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


The invention relates to a method for controlling a security system of a charging station for charging electric vehicles, the security system comprising the following elements: a charging plug, the charging plug comprising a sensor unit for recording biometric data of a user that are used for authenticating the user on the security system, and a control unit for evaluating biometric data of the user. For this purpose, according to the invention, the control unit extracts a plurality of features from the biometric data of the user, and the control unit evaluates the features of the biometric data in a plurality of stages.

This background section is provided for the purpose of generally describing the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor(s), to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
In modern charging stations for charging electric vehicles, in most cases a separate authentication step is provided which is implemented, for example, at the charging station itself or via a smartphone app. During the authentication step, biometric data, inter alia, are recorded which can be used to authenticate an authorized user. An example of a method for controlling a security system of a charging station is known from the document DE 10 2010 032 580 A1. A separate authentication step can be perceived as such by the user. In the presence of a separate authentication step of this kind, intuitive and fluid operation of the charging station is rendered difficult.

Method for controlling a security system of a charging station for charging electric vehicles


Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for clinical decision support including a crawler agent component. The crawler agent component is adapted to receive a search parameter. The search parameter specifies a criteria for evidence data to be searched for. The crawler agent component is adapted to initiate a search of a plurality of evidence sources based at least in part on the search parameter. The search identifies the evidence data. The evidence data is utilized by the clinical decision support system to provide decision support to a healthcare provider for a patient.

The present invention generally relates to clinical decision support. More particularly, the presently described technology relates to systems and methods for a clinical decision support crawler agent.
Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals or clinics, include medical information management systems, such as hospital information systems (HIS), radiology information systems (RIS), clinical information systems (CIS), cardiovascular information systems (CVIS), picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), laboratory information systems (LIS), and electronic medical records (EMR). Information stored may include patient medical histories, imaging data, test results, diagnosis information, management information, and/or scheduling information, for example. The information may be centrally stored or divided at a plurality of locations.
One example of a medical information management system is a PACS. PACS connect to medical diagnostic imaging devices and employ an acquisition gateway (between the acquisition device and the PACS), storage and archiving units, display workstations, databases, and sophisticated data processors. These components are integrated together by a communication network and data management system. A PACS has, in general, the overall goals of streamlining healthcare operations, facilitating distributed remote examination and diagnosis, and improving patient care.
A typical application of a PACS system is to provide one or more medical images for examination by a medical professional. For example, a PACS system can provide a series of x-ray images to a display workstation where the images are displayed for a radiologist to perform a diagnostic examination. Based on the presentation of these images, the radiologist can provide a diagnosis. For example, the radiologist can diagnose a tumor or lesion in x-ray images of a patient's lungs.
A reading, such as a radiology or cardiology procedure reading, is a process of a healthcare practitioner, such as a radiologist or a cardiologist, viewing digital images of a patient. The practitioner performs a diagnosis based on the content of the diagnostic images and reports on the results electronically (e.g., using dictation or otherwise) or on paper. The practitioner typically uses other evidence to aid in performing the diagnosis. Some examples of other evidence are prior (e.g., historical) exams and their results, other images, key image notes, laboratory exams and reports (such as blood work), allergies, pathology results, medication, alerts, document images, and other reports. In addition, the practitioner may want to consider other clinical evidence relevant to the context of the diagnosis being made as well as evidence pertaining to family members that may have a genetic link to the patient.
However, with current systems, the healthcare practitioner must manually seek out any additional evidence to be used in performing the diagnosis. That is, current systems do not automatically provide the practitioner with additional, potentially relevant, evidence to be considered.
In addition, relevant evidence may be located in various evidence sources. Evidences sources may include, for example, medical information management systems in different healthcare facilities. The healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, may be geographically distributed, and potentially even in different countries. For example, a patient may have gone to a hospital while on vacation years prior and had x-rays taken that might be relevant evidence for a healthcare practitioner to consider in making the current diagnosis. As another example, a patient may visit another geographic location or country for a special medical procedure, perhaps for cost or clinical reasons. As another example, a patient may have moved or immigrated from another city, region, state, or country. Current systems do not provide an efficient mechanism to gather evidence from evidence sources such as remote facilities, hospitals, or clinics. That is, current systems do not allow a practitioner to easily access such evidence.
Further, in addition to difficulty in obtaining the evidence, a practitioner must know of the existence of the evidence and where it is located. It is virtually impossible for a practitioner to manually search every possible healthcare facility's medical information management systems to locate potentially relevant evidence. A healthcare practitioner cannot obtain and utilize evidence he does not know about.
Clinical decision support systems provide assistance to healthcare providers such as physicians. A clinical decision support system may be part of a CIS, HIS, and/or PACS, for example. For example, a clinical decision support system in a PACS can aid a physician in making decisions regarding diagnosis and/or treatment. A clinical decision support system is particularly useful for aiding a healthcare practitioner in situations beyond the context of the practitioner's experience. A clinical decision support system may provide a recommendation for diagnosis and/or treatment. The recommendation may be based on one or more pieces of evidence provided to the clinical decision support system. As is true for a healthcare provider, a clinical decision support system can provide a better recommendation when more evidence is available to be considered.
Thus, there is a need for a healthcare practitioner to be able to locate and obtain access to evidence from multiple evidence sources. Further, there is a need for a clinical decision crawler agent to aid the practitioner to locate and obtain evidence for diagnosis and/or treatment and to make a recommendation based on the obtained evidence.

Systems and methods for clinical decision crawler agent


To reduce latency for priority requests in a bus system, non-priority requests to a bus device are separated from priority requests so that the priority requests can be processed before the non-priority requests. Priority requests are transferred over a priority request bus. Standard non-priority requests are sent over a shared bus coupled to several bus devices. One of the bus devices contains a request buffer to receive non-priority requests from the shared bus and a priority buffer to receive priority requests from the priority request bus. Requests in the priority buffer are processed before requests in the request buffer. In one embodiment, a multiplexer having input ports coupled to the request buffer and the priority buffer is configured so that the multiplexer outputs priority requests if there are priority requests in the priority buffer. Some embodiments of the bus communication system incorporate a priority bypass bus which transfers priority data directly to a peripheral device coupled to the first bus device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bus architectures and particularly to a priority bypass bus which provides minimum latency for priority data channels.
2. Description of Related Art
A bus is a communication path between various devices of a electronic system. For example in a computer system, the central processing unit (CPU) communicates with main memory through a memory bus. Peripheral devices may also be connected to the memory bus or connected to the CPU through a separate IO bus.
Buses can be divided into two general categories: point-to-point buses and shared buses. A point-to-point bus connects only two bus devices together. A shared bus can be used by more than two bus devices. Thus the number of buses required for communication depends on whether point-to-point or shared buses are used. For example, four bus devices require six point-to-point buses to communicate with each other, but four bus devices can communicate through a single shared bus. With a shared bus architecture, all four bus devices can share a single bus.
Point-to-point buses have the advantage of lower latency, minimal bus contention, and the ability to support multiple simultaneous data transfers. However, the large number of buses used in a point-to-point bus architecture require a large amount of chip or board area.
Since only a single shared bus can support multiple bus devices, the chip or board area required to implement a shared bus architecture is much less than is required by a point-to-point bus architecture. With the increasing complexity of electronic systems, data buses have increased in width. Wide data buses preclude the use of many point-to-point buses when chip or board area is costly. Therefore, shared buses are commonly used in complex electronic systems.
A major disadvantage of the shared bus is a high bus latency, i.e., the time between a bus device requesting use of the bus and the bus device being able to use the bus. A major source of bus latency in a shared bus occurs if multiple bus devices require the bus simultaneously.
Bus latency is increased if multiple bus devices request communications with the same target bus device. In such a situation, the target bus device may queue several requests and respond to each request in turn. Therefore, the later request to the target bus device suffers a greater latency. Therefore, a bus system is desired which provides low latency but does not consume the area consumed by a point-to-point bus architecture.