A method and apparatus for writing to a target memory page of a memory has an initial memory page having allocated thereto a marking memory containing information whether a content of the initial memory page is written correctly to the target memory page. The apparatus includes a memory controller for determining whether the target memory page has an error, if the target memory page has an error, for erasing it, if the marking memory indicates that the target memory page is not written correctly, for writing the target memory page based on the initial memory page, if the target memory page is written correctly, for changing the marking memory such that the marking memory indicates that the target memory page is written correctly, and if the marking memory of the initial memory page indicates that the target memory page is written correctly, for erasing the initial memory page.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a method and an apparatus for writing to a target memory page of a memory, the memory specifically being a UCP-EEPROM (UCP-EEPROM=uniform channel programming electrically erasable read only memory).
2. Description of the Related Art
EEPROM memories (EEPROM=electrically erasable read only memory) make it possible to store data that remain after a supply voltage was disconnected from the respective EEPROM memory. Due to the possibility to construct very compact EEPROM memories, these memories are advantageously used in the field of mobile processor means and mobile memories. EEPROM memories are specifically used in the field of chip cards and smart cards, which are for example used for the protection of safety-relevant and sensitive areas and data. Due to the value alone of goods, privileges and data protected directly or indirectly by such EEPROM memories, the latter are targets of attacks such as systematic interruption of the supply voltage or the supply power, which is also termed tearing or tearing attack.
The so-called UCP-EEPROM memories represent a subspecies of the EEPROM memories. In order to save on space on a chip including the EEPROM memory, the bit/byte switches are omitted in one EEPROM cell field in the UCP-EEPROMs. In addition, the memory is organized in memory pages. Here a memory page consists of a number of bytes, half words or words, a word for example including 32 bits or 4 bytes. A memory page then includes for example 64 or 128 bytes.
In a memory page, single bits and bytes cannot be erased individually anymore, that is for example be set to a value of 0. Basically, it is possible to write single bits subsequently, that is subsequently set them to a state representing the value of 1 from a state representing the value of 0. While for many applications this may be a theoretically feasible procedure, it makes little sense for a known write operation to a memory, in which single bits are to be changed, since for example with using error detecting codes (EDC) or error correcting codes (ECC), it cannot be ruled out that single bits may have to be erased, that is brought into a state corresponding to a value of 0. This is, however, generally not possible for UCP-EEPROM memories because, as discussed above, single bits and bytes cannot be erased individually. Thus subsequent writing of a single bit would probably lead to a corruption of the ECC information or the EDC information. In other words, the use of the possibility of postprogramming or postwriting single bits makes little sense in the case of an ECC or EDC functionality incorporated into a memory.
This means, however, that for changing only one bit, byte or data word of the data of this page, the entire memory page must be erased and then written anew. This means that, starting from the erased state of the memory page, the bits to be written are written while the other bits change their states only subtly or not at all in terms of physics. Here the data of the memory page to be changed must be buffered in the meantime so that there is no loss of data in the case of a power failure.
In order to avoid meantime buffering of the memory page as described above, a so-called spare page is used. For this purpose, in addition to the architecture described above, the EEPROM cell field is organized by introducing so-called sectors. Here a number of memory pages are allocated to a sector S. Thus for example 32 memory pages (P1, . . . , P32) are collected in sector S. In order to avoid buffering a memory page to be programmed prior to erasure, a further memory page P0 is added to the sector, which helps to avoid time consuming EEPROM programming in the context of the buffering. This memory page P0 is present in an erased state and serves as a spare page. For programming, the potentially changed content of a memory page, for example memory page P25, is written to memory page P0. After the content has been checked in the new memory page P0, the old memory page P25 is erased and memory page P0 accordingly mapped to the memory. The erased memory page P25 now takes over the role of the old memory page P0. The respective erased memory page is termed the spare page.
As in this way the memory pages are no longer available in their original order in the sector but are "jumbled up" due to several programming processes, some additional bits, forming a so-called MapBlock or memory for a logical address of a memory page, are added to each memory page. To this MapBlock the so-called MapAddress or logical address of the memory page is written. Thus the introduction of the MapAddress and/or the MapBlock makes it possible to allocate a (logical) memory address to each physical memory page. This information must not be lost, not even due to a reset or current loss or tearing. In the MapBlock of each page, a number between 0 and 31 is then available as the MapAddress, if the respective memory page is no erased. Thus the MapAddress identifies a position of the respective memory page in a memory space that is, for example, in sector S. This makes an allocation of memory addresses and the respective physical page possible.
Thus, under normal operating conditions, in a sector S there is an erased memory page, the so-called spare page, and, starting from the above example, 32 data memory pages (data pages). Thus the 32 MapBlocks, each allocated to a memory page, have each logical address between 0 and 31 exactly once. Thus to each physical memory page, exactly one logical memory address representing the position of the respective physical memory page in the memory space, is allocated.
In the cell concept of the EEPROM memories, a write operation to a memory page of a sector causes a mostly slight disturb of all cells of all other pages of this sector. However, even if the cells of the other memory pages are disturbed only a little, this is still a cumulative effect which, as the case may be, may lead to a loss of data and/or to a reduction of the data integrity. In order to counter these disturbs, the concept of the refresh has been introduced. Here for example either memory pages are selected at random from time to time and copied afresh, or a time stamp, which is also termed DisturbCounter and which indicates which memory page is particularly "old", is deposited for example into the MapBlock.
In connection with a supply voltage interruption, this, however, results in the following problem. If, for example by a tearing attack, power supply is interrupted during a programming process, that is during writing the new page and erasing the old page, two problematic scenarios may arise:    A. If a supply voltage interruption occurred during the write operation, the memory pages to which no new data was written during the programming process have already been subject to a disturb. In other words, these memory pages have already "seen" a disturb, which has disturbed the same. If then the invalid memory page generated in the interrupted write operation is erased, the sector with the old unchanged data will be restored, however, the information that a disturb has occurred will no longer be available and therefore lost. The same must subsequently be deposited in the form of a digital value in an (arbitrary) memory page of the respective sector. This can be effected for example by increasing the DisturbCounter. However, an attacker could in this moment interrupt the current supply again and the information on the disturb occurred would be irretrievably lost. In this way an attacker may succeed in introducing a large amount of disturbs into a sector without the system, that is the memory, being able to detect the same. The data integrity of the sector would deteriorate in the course of time so that it is possible that after a certain period of time the sector may even contain incorrect data.    B. If the current supply interruption occurred at the end of the write routine and/or the beginning of the erase routine, there will be a sector that comprises two more or less good memory pages, which are associated to the same logical address by the MapBlock. In this case a decision must be made, which memory page to keep and which memory page to release as the spare page. If for example the older memory page is kept and the younger memory page is erased, there will be the danger that the old memory page has only been "partly erased" in the course of the erase operation and can therefore no longer offer the required data integrity. In other words, it is possible in this case that the old memory page is no longer able to guarantee the required data holding. On the other hand, if the younger page is kept and the older one erased, it could well be that the new memory page will not yet have been completely written and will therefore also not be able to guarantee the required data holding.            Independent of which of the two memory pages is to be kept and which is to be released as the spare page, it is possible to erase one page and copy the other one to the location of the erased page. However, a supply voltage interruption (tearing) at exactly this moment in time could cause the information of wanting to copy the one page to be lost again.
German patent specification DE 10322723 refers to an apparatus and a method of processing a state of a memory. The method in its utilization as a tearing service algorithm described therein can limit the problems discussed above. This tearing service algorithm is described in the following and is able to detect a tearing attack and log all disturbs without exception.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a structure of a memory or a sector of a memory as described in DE 10322723. The memory or sector comprises a plurality of memory pages 800-1 to 800-5, each of the memory pages 800-1 to 800-5 including a data area 810 for storing data, an allocation block or MapBlock 820, a marking area 830, and a time stamp area 840 for storing the DisturbCounter.
FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a known method of processing a state of a memory. More precisely, FIG. 6 shows a part of a tearing service algorithm that is begun by a step shown in FIG. 6 after a start of the algorithm and an (optional) check of memory pages 800-1 to 800-5 of the sector of the memory. If a memory page Pg is to be copied to an empty memory page Pb being the spare page of the sector, and if an optionally performed analysis of the sector shows an error, for example in the form of erroneous memory pages, memory page Pg will be marked in a first step 910. For this purpose, a bit designated as TearingFlag TF1, is postprogrammed in marking block 830 of memory page Pg, which is identified in FIG. 6 by the designation Pg*. Such postprogramming of TearingFlag TF1 may be performed in the context of the UCP-EEPROM concept, as discussed above. Under normal operating conditions, TearingFlag TF1 is erased, that is has the value 0.
Subsequently, memory page Pb is erased in a second step 920. Following this, a second TearingFlag TF2 including marking block 830 of memory page Pg is programmed and/or written in a process step 930, so that TearingFlag TF2 also has the value 1. This is identified in FIG. 6 by the designation Pg**.
In a next step 940 memory page Pg is copied to memory page Pb, wherein on the one hand to time stamp area 840 of memory page Pb a correspondingly increased DisturbCounter is stored in the process and on the other hand the two TearingFlags TF1 and TF2 are erased and/or programmed with a value of 0. The content copied to memory page Pb and based on memory page Pg marked by the two TearingFlags TF1 and TF2 is also referred to as resolvent of Pg**, which in the context of the figures in the present application is also referred to as resolv(Pg**) and r(Pg**).
In a following step 950 the original memory page Pg is erased and thus becomes the new spare page. As TearingFlag TF1 of memory page Pg was not copied during copying step 940, so that TearingFlag TF1 of memory page Pb also has the value 0, the tearing service algorithm is ended in a next step.
FIG. 7 illustrates the content of the two memory pages Pg and Pb affected in the context of the tearing service algorithm described. Here the contents of the two memory pages Pg and Pb are represented in the form of six rectangles, each having an upper and a lower half. More precisely, FIG. 7 thus shows the change of the content of the physical memory pages by method steps 910-950. In the upper halves of the rectangles the content of memory pages Pg is represented, and in the lower halves the content of memory page Pb is represented. Here Pg and Pb also designate the original contents of the two memory pages prior to starting the tearing service algorithm. Under normal operating conditions, memory page Pb is the spare page, so that it should be present in an erased state, which in the context of the description in FIG. 7 could be identified by a zero. However, in order to furthermore enable a description of memory contents possible as a result of a tearing attack, memory page Pb also has a content that does not necessarily have to correspond to the content of an erased memory page.
Starting from the contents Pg and Pb memory page Pg is marked by marking step 910, which is emphasized by the superscript asterisk. Memory page Pb is erased by erase step 920, which is symbolized in FIG. 7 by the entry 0. The second TearingFlag TF2 of memory page Pg is set by marking step 930, which is represented in FIG. 7 by the marking Pg**. In step 940 the resolvent of memory page Pg** is written to memory page Pb, which is represented in FIG. 7 by the designation r(Pg**). Subsequently, memory page Pg is erased in erase step 950.
In the following, the function of the method and/or the tearing service algorithm described in FIG. 6 is discussed in closer detail according to a known method under tearing conditions or attack conditions. In order to complete the algorithm, the tearing service algorithm must be able to find to an appropriate location and/or a correct location from any location of the tearing service algorithm after an interruption of the supply voltage (tearing). This must be ensured even if a repeated number of interruptions takes place during the tearing service algorithm. All this must be performed without disturbs being forgotten or overlooked. If as a result of case B described above two memory pages have the same logical address in MapBlock 820, that is, if there is a so-called DoubleMapping, the method discussed will be started with method step 910. Here the fundamental decision must be made, which of the two memory pages affected is to be kept and which is to be erased. If the fundamental decision is made, that the younger page, that is the page time stamp area 840 of which indicates a younger age, will be kept, this memory page is treated as memory page Pg and the older memory page is processed as memory page Pb in the context of the method described in FIG. 6. Thus the following occurs: First memory page Pg is marked by TearingFlag TF1 so that from this moment on it can always be determined that a tearing service algorithm was initiated. In the case of an interruption of the supply voltage at the beginning of the tearing service algorithm, that is before TearingFlag TF1 is written and thus becomes "visible", a DoubleMapping will again be detected in the case of a restart of the tearing service algorithm, and the algorithm begins afresh.
Subsequently, memory page Pb is erased. Thus, if the chip comprising the memory finds a sector with a memory page, in which only TearingFlag TF1 is set, and a second memory page, to which the same logical address is allocated, the tearing service algorithm will be completed beginning with method step 920. If the sector analogous has exactly one memory page with a TearingFlag TF1 set, with TearingFlag TF2 is not set, and also has an erroneous memory page, which in this case is a memory page not completely erased, the tearing service algorithm will also be completed with step 920, that is the erasure of the memory page Pb not completely erased. However, if the sector has a memory page with a TearingFlag TF1 set, and TearingFlag TF2 not set, and also has an erased memory page, the interruption of the supply voltage has occurred at the end of method step 920, that is at the erasure of memory page Pb, so that in this case the tearing service algorithm can be continued with step 930.
In step 930 TearingFlag TF2 of memory page Pg is set, and in the following step 940 the content of memory page Pg is copied to spare page Pb with a correspondingly increased DisturbCounter. Thus setting the second TearingFlag TF2 in memory page Pg marks the transition from erasing memory page Pb (step 920) to the step of writing of memory page Pb (step 940).
Thus, when the sector of the memory has a memory page with both TearingFlags TF1 and TF2 set, that is, has memory page Pg** and an erroneous memory page, then the tearing service algorithm was interrupted in the area of method steps 940 and/or 950. As in this case memory page Pb, that is the former spare page, cannot be erased, as this would lead to a loss of the information referring to the disturb in the form of the correspondingly increased DisturbCounter, memory page Pb must first be written completely. In principle, however, this is possible as it is clear, which information is to be written to memory page Pb, that is the content of memory page Pg with a correspondingly increased DisturbCounter and erased TearingFlags, that is the resolvents of Pg**. The difficulty here is that memory page Pb has experienced somewhat more than one write operation. In principle, memory page Pb may be subjected to up to three write operations. This involves a certain risk that due to the disturbs accompanying the programming and/or writing of memory page Pb, the erased bits, that is those bits of the page the value if which is 0 are also no longer optimal. The result may be a reduced life expectancy of the data stored in the respective memory page, that is a reduced data guarantee of for example 10 years.
For this reason, memory page Pb will be properly copied a second time in the tearing service algorithm in the context of the known method. For this purpose, however, memory page Pg** must first be erased in order to obtain a spare page. Moreover, it must be assured, that the information that page Pb must be copied anew does not get lost. This is realized in the known method by introducing copying step 960. In the context of step 960, memory page Pb is in fact written to the end, including, however, the setting of TearingFlag TF1 of memory page Pb.
After completion of step 960, the known method is continued with step 950, that is erasing memory page Pg in order to obtain a spare page, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
In this case, however, memory page Pb has TearingFlag TF1 set so that the tearing service algorithm is continued again with step 930, with memory pages Pb and Pg exchanging their roles. This makes it possible to realize the above mentioned necessity of a renewed copying of memory page Pb.
In other words, after step 960 has been completed, finally memory page Pg** is erased in the context of step 950, and the case differentiation leads back to step 930 so as to perform the copy operation mentioned. As already discussed, the tearing service algorithm is completed and therefore ended in the case that step 960 was not performed, that is that memory page Pb does not have TearingFlag TF1 set.
A substantial disadvantage of the known method consists in the fact that this method is functional in fully initialized sectors only, that is sectors, in which exactly one erased memory page is available as a spare page in the normal operating mode or in the normal case. This is due to the fact that method step 960 can be performed without difficulty only in a fully initialized sector. Under normal operating conditions, that is in normal operating mode, there can only be one erroneous memory page. For this reason, it is obvious which half written memory page is or must be written to the end in the context of method step 960. In the case of an only partly initialized sector, it is possible, however, that more than one memory page may come into question as the possible target memory page for method step 960. For example, if memory page Pb is already available in an erased state and another memory page produces an error in the context of an EDC method or an ECC method due to an insufficient erasure that has up to date not been detected, a loss of information will occur when in the context of the known method discussed in FIG. 6 the content of memory page Pg is copied and/or written over this insufficiently erased memory page. In this case, an erroneous memory page would be generated that might not withstand a later Check in the context of an ECC method or an EDC method. As memory page Pg** is erased due to erase step 950 following step 960, there is the great danger that due to the method of processing a state of a memory according to a known method a loss information and/or data may occur.
Another disadvantage of this known method is the necessary "side entry" into method step 960, which very often causes problems, particularly in the presence of hardware weaknesses. More precisely, this second, very serious, problem is that again a loss of information may occur. Assuming that the tearing service algorithm was performed up to the beginning of step 950, that is erasing memory page Pg, so that memory page Pg** is already partly erased and therefore contains "wobbly" data, it may occur that this memory page will not be detected as erroneous in a first analysis. In this case the content of this memory page, which may prove to be erroneous in a second readout attempt, is written to memory page Pb in the context of method step 960, so that memory page Pb is subsequently overwritten with wrong information, which could finally lead to a destruction of the data stored in memory page Pb. As subsequently memory page Pg is in turn erased in method step 950, this inevitably in turn leads to a loss of information.

Method and apparatus for writing to a target memory page of a memory


A fuel cell vehicle capable of improving energy efficiency by reducing switching loss is provided. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell that generates direct current power; inverters which respectively include switching elements and convert the direct current power generated by the fuel cell into alternating current power; a diode that prevents current from flowing from the inverters toward the fuel cell; a step up/down DC/DC converter that adjusts the voltage of the cathode side of the diode; a voltage control part that controls the step up/down DC/DC converter, thereby controlling current output from the fuel cell; and a stop and idle determination part that stops the supply of air to the fuel cell, thereby stopping idling of the fuel cell. The voltage control part reduces the voltage of the cathode side of the diode as the voltage of the fuel cell is reduced by activating the stop and idle determination part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle capable of improving energy efficiency by reducing switching loss.
2. Related Art
In recent years, fuel cell systems have attracted attention as a power source for vehicles. A fuel cell system has, for example, a fuel cell that generates electric power by causing a reactive gas to react chemically, a reactive gas supply device that supplies the fuel cell with the reactive gas via a reactive gas flow channel, and a control device that controls the reactive gas supply device.
The fuel cell has a stack structure in which, for example, several tens to several hundreds of cells are stacked. Each of the cells is configured by sandwiching a membrane electrode structure (MEA) between a pair of separators. The membrane electrode structure is configured with two electrodes (an anode (positive) and a cathode (negative)) and a solid polymer electrolyte film.
A hydrogen gas as a reactive gas is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell, while air-containing oxygen is also supplied as another reactive gas to the cathode. An electrochemical reaction thus occurs, thereby generating electric power. Basically, only neutral water is produced at the time when electric power is generated as described above. Fuel cells have, therefore, attracted attention from the viewpoints of environmental impact and use efficiency.
In a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell system as described above, direct current power generated by the fuel cell is converted by an inverter into alternating current power, which is supplied to a motor and accessories. Between the fuel cell and the inverter, a diode is arranged with the forward direction of the diode oriented in a direction from the fuel cell toward the inverter, in order to prevent current from flowing from the inverter toward the fuel cell.
In the fuel cell vehicle, the motor and accessories require less electric power when the vehicle is stopped and idling than when the vehicle is traveling. A battery system has, therefore, been proposed that steps up voltage of an inverter to be higher than that of a fuel cell when the vehicle has been stopped and idling (for example, see Unexamined Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-197030. According to the proposed fuel cell system, current is prevented from flowing toward the motor or accessories from the fuel cell through the inverter, by stepping up the voltage of the inverter to be higher than that of the fuel cell. Accordingly, energy efficiency is improved.


A ventilation nozzle for vehicle interiors, having a front screen which is visible in the vehicle interior and having a multiplicity of screen openings. An air-guide block, made of elastic material, is arranged upstream, in the air-flow direction, of the front screen, having a multiplicity of parallel air ducts passing longitudinally through it. An adjusting device changes the flow direction of the air flowing out of the front screen. For the purpose of producing diffused ventilation, the air-guide block is placed nonpositively against the front screen and the adjusting device is additionally designed in such a manner that it is able to raise the air-guide block, counter to a biasing force, from the front screen.

This application claims the priority of German application 196 48 736.6, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a ventilation nozzle for vehicle interiors.
In a ventilation nozzle known from French patent document Fr 2 585 637 A1, the air-guide block together with its air-duct register is manufactured from close-pored, foamed elastomer or polymer and fastened to the rear side of the front screen. The adjusting device for adjusting the air-guide block, and hence for changing the air-outflow direction from the ventilation nozzle, has two toothed racks which are aligned at right angles with respect to each other and are fastened to the rear side of the air-guide block. Meshing with the toothed racks are pinion wheels which can be rotated via adjusting wheels, which can be operated manually. A respective adjusting wheel is provided for adjusting the air-exit direction in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane. If one of the adjusting wheels is rotated, that pinion wheel which is rotated thereby and meshes with the particular toothed rack displaces the vertical or horizontal toothed rack and, in doing so, adjusts the air-guide block in such a manner that the air ducts are positioned, in the vertical plane or horizontal plane, at an angle of inclination with respect to the front screen and, as a result, the air-outflow direction changes. However, in all cases the air flow is linear and hence suitable for flowing directly against windows etc. When flowing towards the vehicle occupants, in contrast, a diffused distribution of air is preferred for reasons of air-conditioning comfort.
An object of the invention is to improve a ventilation nozzle such that in addition to setting the direct outflow direction with a linear air flow, it is also possible to convert the linear air flow into a diffused swirl of air.
According to the invention, this and other objects have been achieved by providing a ventilation nozzle to be mounted to an air-conduction duct of a ventilation or air-conditioning system of a vehicle, comprising: a front screen to be exposed to an interior of the vehicle, said front screen having screen webs which define a plurality of screen openings; an air-guide block made of an elastic material arranged upstream of the front screen, a front side of the air-guide block being biased by a biasing force nonpositively against the screen webs of the front screen, said air-guide block defining a plurality of parallel air ducts passing longitudinally therethrough, said air ducts having a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the screen openings; and an adjusting device coupled to the front screen and to the air guide block, said adjusting device being adjustable to displace a rear side of the air guide block which faces away from the front screen approximately parallel to the front screen in at least two orthogonal directions in order to change a flow direction through said air ducts, the adjusting device being adjustable to move the air-guide block counter to the biasing force away from the front screen such that a clearance is defined between the front side of the air-guide block and the front screen.
According to the invention, this and other objects have been achieved by providing a ventilation nozzle for an air-conduction duct of a vehicle, comprising: a front screen having webs which define a plurality of screen openings; an elastic air-guide block arranged adjacent and upstream of the front screen, said air-guide block defining a plurality of parallel air ducts which are aligned with said screen openings at a downstream side of the air-guide block; a control plate fixedly coupled to an upstream side of the air-guide block, said control plate defining a plurality of openings which are aligned with said air ducts at the upstream side of said air-guide block; a control rod defining a longitudinal axis being articulated on said front screen via a first spherical body seated in a cup defined in said front screen, said control member being articulated on said control plate via a second spherical body seated in a cup defined in said control plate, said control rod being displaceable along said axis relative to said first spherical body to displace said second spherical body, said control plate, and said air guide block along said axis relative to said front screen.
The ventilation nozzle according to the invention has the advantage that, as the result of the front side of the air-guide block being raised from the screen webs of the front screen, a space without air-guide elements is formed between the air-guide block and the front screen, in which space the linear air flows emerging from the individual air ducts of the air-guide block swirl together and hence a diffused volume of air exits from the ventilation nozzle. The swirling of the air leaving the ventilation nozzle is further assisted by the front screen through which the volume of air, which has already been swirled, has to flow.
The ventilation nozzle according to the invention can be manufactured at low cost and can be assembled in a simple manner, it being possible for individual nozzles to be combined in a large component without any problem. As regards its design, the front screen may be configured freely without this involving changes to the remaining components, apart from to the shape of the air-duct cross-section in the air-guide block. The front screen may thus be provided, for example, with hexagonal, rectangular, square, round or oval screen openings and may be realized using any desired materials. Behind the front screen, which can be configured freely in terms of design, the technical realization of the ventilation nozzle remains, however, unchanged, with the result that the ventilation nozzle is a standardized component having universal applicability.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a rigid control plate having a screen structure corresponding to the front screen is fastened to the rear side of the air-guide block. The adjusting device has a rod-shaped control member which is guided through the air-guide block, is mounted in the front screen, bears a hand-operated knob protruding in front of the front screen and is joined in an articulated manner to the control plate. These constructive measures make it possible for the adjusting device for all three adjusting functions, i.e. direct air flow with the air-flow setting in the horizontal direction, direct air flow with the air-flow setting in the vertical direction and diffused ventilation, to manage with just a single control member which has to be pivoted, or axially displaced, in order to bring about the three adjusting functions, it being possible for the axial displacement alternatively to be brought about by axial displacement or rotation of the hand-operated knob.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the front screen and control plate are preferably manufactured from aluminum, and the air-guide block, which is preferably of cellular rubber, is injection-moulded onto the control plate during the manufacturing process.
For the non-positive bearing of the air-guide block against the front screen, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one spring acts upon the control plate, to be precise, acts upon the control plate preferably in the articulation region of the control member. The at least one spring may be designed as a compression spring supported in a fixed position in the air-conduction stub, or may be designed as a tension spring which is then enclosed in the through-hole in the air-guide block, which through-hole accommodates the control member, and is fitted to the front screen.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the articulated joining of the control member to the control plate and mounting thereof in the front screen are implemented by a respective spherical cup being moulded in the control plate and the front screen, and the two spherical cups, which with their openings face one another, in each case rotatably accommodate one of two spherical bodies arranged on the control member. That spherical cup which is on the front-screen side has a central opening for the passage of the rod-shaped control member. That spherical body which is accommodated axially and undisplaceably in the spherical cup on the front-screen side is seated axially displaceably on the control member. A lock is effective between this spherical body and the control member, which lock retains a relative position, adjusted via the hand-operated knob, of the spherical body and control member. In that spherical cup which is on the front-screen side, it is possible, after the hand-operating knob has been grasped, for the control member to be pivoted radially in all directions for the purpose of adjusting the direct air flow, that spherical body which is accommodated in the spherical cup on the control-plate side converting this pivoting movement into a displacement movement of the control plate in its plane, and hence causing the air-guide block, which is connected fixedly to the control plate, to be deformed. In order to set the diffused ventilation, the control member has to be displaced in the axial direction, as a result of which, via the spherical cup on the control-plate side, the control plate and the air-guide block connected fixedly to said plate are displaced axially and the said air-guide block is raised from the front screen.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the axial displacement of the control member is brought about in that a threaded hole is provided in that spherical body which is accommodated by that spherical cup which is on the front-screen side, into which threaded hole an external threaded section, provided on the control member, is screwed. Rotation of the hand-operated knob about the axis of the control member hence causes the air-guide block to be raised from the front screen so as to produce the diffused ventilation, it being possible for the axial spacing to be adjusted continuously.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


In some examples, this disclosure describes a method for detecting a fault in an electrical power system comprising a bus connected between a first solid state power converter and a second solid state power converter. The method includes receiving, at a controller of the electrical power system, a first signal indicating a current at a source side of the first solid state power converter, wherein the source side of the first solid state power converter is connected to a power source of the electrical power system. The method also includes receiving, at the controller, a second signal indicating a current at the bus and determining, by the controller, that a fault occurred in the electrical power system based on the first signal and further based on the second signal. The method further includes controlling the first solid state power converter in response to determining that the fault occurred.

An electrical power system may include one or more power sources and one or more loads separated by one or more solid state power converters. In a bidirectional electrical power system, a solid state power converter may allow power to flow in either direction between the power source and the load. The solid state power converter may include a set of source-side switches and a set of load-side switches, with an optional middle capacitor connected between the source-side switches and the load-side switches.

Fault detection for a solid state power converter

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.


A clip for a writing instrument has an external biasing mechanism separate from the connection of the clip to the writing instrument to avoid permanent deformation or breaking of the clip arm and wear on the writing instrument body. The biasing mechanism is a coil spring mounted on the clip arm between two supports for compression and flexion when the clip arm is pulled away from the side of the writing instrument.

The present invention relates generally to the field of writing instruments and in particular to a new and useful pen clip having a bias spring held on the clip arm to provide a gripping force while reducing the likelihood of breaking due to wear.
Clips secured to the cap or barrel of a writing instrument for holding the writing instrument in a shirt pocket or on a pad of paper are generally known. Many prior clips are biased simply by a bent strip of metal, which form a U-shape, similar to a leaf spring. One end of the strip of metal is secured to a writing instrument barrel or cap. over time, flexion of the strip can lead to permanent deformation or the connecting strip breaking and the clip becoming irreparably detached from the writing instrument.
A pen clip of this type is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 1,923,153, in which the clip arm is made of a metal and has a small ball at the end to assist a person in putting the clip over the edge of a pocket. The clip relies upon the deformation of the clip arm so that the clip can be fit over a pocket edge.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,926,852 discloses a pen clip having a spring formed by a planar strip of metal connecting the clip arm to a pen cap. The spring is simply a resilient piece of metal secured to the pen cap at one end and having the clip arm mounted over the other end. The clip arm movement is limited by the upper end of the clip arm resting against the side of the cap and the surface of the spring.
Some prior pen clips include metal coils which are non-functional as springs and are used only to secure a clip to a writing instrument or other object.
U.S. Pat. No. 854,378, for example, has a pen clip formed from a single length of wire which is bent into a loop in the center to form a clip arm. The ends of the loop are wound together into a coil having the coil longitudinal axis parallel to the length of the clip arm. The coil is adapted to fit over varying diameter writing instruments, while the loop extends from one end of the coil to form a clip on the side of a writing instrument. The loop simply deforms away from the side of the pen or pencil that the coil has been fitted over. The coil is expected to tightly hold the clip to the pen and is not intended to deform or compress when the clip arm is pivoted away from the writing instrument.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,211,463 teaches a device holder having a coil holding a tube and gripping jaws formed by the ends of the coil which can be supported on a shirt pocket. The coil is not intended to compress or deform axially as the tube prevents that type of movement. The gripping jaws are biased closed by the coil and can hold objects.
Other clips have rigid clip arms with a perpendicular upper section connected to a writing instrument. The upper sections are used to pivotally w hold the clip to the writing instrument, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,699, which shows a pen clip mounted to a pen cap by a spring-biased fulcrum at the top of the pen cap. The clip arm may be pivoted away from the side of the pen cap, causing the upper end of the clip arm to move against a spring mounted perpendicular to the clip inside the writing instrument body.
A pen clip having the enclosed end inside the cap biased against a coil spring positioned vertically inside the cap is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,498,857. The clip arm extends out of the cap through a slot which permits the clip to pivot away from the side of the pen cap. The horizontal enclosed end of the cap is held between the upper end of the cap and the spring. The spring and clip enclosed end are mounted around a cylindrical threaded connector which also closes the end of the cap.
These types of clips suffer from the problem of complex manufacturing requirements to incorporate the spring mechanism inside the writing instrument. Further, the clip is not rigidly held to the writing instrument, but instead, has a flexible connection which is subject to breaking or wear which is not easily repairable. Since the upper end of the clip arm has to pass through the writing instrument body, the side of the writing instrument can be damaged, and the clip arm is still subject to breaking from excessive force applied to the bent portion.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a clip for a writing instrument which has a robust biasing mechanism external of the writing instrument body.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a clip using a coil spring to bias the clip arm.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a clip biasing mechanism with a significantly reduced likelihood of breaking or permanently deforming.
A further object of the invention is to provide a clip for a writing instrument which is biased toward the writing instrument body and connected to the writing instrument body by two separate components.
Accordingly, a clip for a writing instrument has a clip arm with two ends, the upper end being threaded to receive a fastener, a spring fit over the upper end of the clip arm, and a flange adjacent the upper end having a diameter larger than the spring. A support arm having a hole therethrough extends perpendicularly from the writing instrument or a cap for the writing instrument near its top end. The threaded end of the clip arm is inserted through the hole from the bottom side so that the upper end of the spring rests against the bottom surface of the support arm. The fastener is secured to the upper end of the clip arm and holds the clip arm in the hold. The bottom edge of the fastener rests against the upper surface of the support arm. The spring is compressed slightly between the bottom surface of the support arm and the flange, so that in combination with the orientation of the support arm, the clip arm is biased toward the side of the writing instrument.
The clip can be connected to the cap or the body of a writing instrument. The clip can be used with pens, pencils, markers and non-marking stylii, among other types of writing instrument. The clip has a solid connection to the writing instrument with a separate, durable, flexible bias mechanism for holding the clip toward the writing instrument body. Although the bias spring is constricted partly by the support arm, they are separate components, so that using the bias mechanism does not require the support arm to flex or move.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.


Embodiments include methods that may be performed by a processor of a mobile device and a processor of a base station for managing beam failure recovery (BFR). The processor of the mobile device may determine whether a beam failure of a communication link with a base station has occurred, determine whether contention free random access (CFRA) resources have been configured in response to determining that a beam failure has occurred, and initiate contention based random access (CBRA) in response to determining that CFRA resources have not been configured. The processor of the base station may receive from the mobile device a message initiating CBRA, determine whether a downlink beam or quasi-colocation (QCL) assumption a downlink resource of a physical random access channel (PRACH) is different from any active downlink beam or QCL assumption, and perform CBRA with the mobile device.

Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) systems can provide high data rate communication services to mobile devices. However, the frequency bands used to provide NR services, such as millimeter wave frequencies, are susceptible to rapid channel variations and suffer from free-space pathloss and atmospheric absorption. To address these challenges, NR base stations and mobile devices may use highly directional antennas to achieve sufficient link budget in wide area networks. Such highly directional antennas require precise alignment of the transmitter and the receiver beams, for example, using beam management operations. However, beam management operations may increase the latency of establishing a communication link, and may affect control layer procedures, such as initial access, handover and beam tracking.
If a mobile device determines that channel conditions are below a threshold, the mobile device may determine that a beam failure has occurred. If the mobile device detects a threshold number of beam failures, the mobile device may initiate a beam failure recovery process with the base station.

Managing beam failure recovery random access


A control system for a semiconductor processing apparatus comprises a control server connected to a semiconductor processing apparatus, a verification server connected to the control server, and a database connected to the verification server. The verification server evaluates input parameter values stored in the semiconductor processing apparatus against verification data stored in the database. The results of the evaluation are used to determine whether a process will be performed by the semiconductor processing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a control system for a semiconductor processing apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a control system for monitoring input parameter values supplied to the semiconductor processing apparatus.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-10555 filed on Feb. 4, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices are generally fabricated by a series of fabrication processes performed under highly specific conditions. The fabrication processes may include, for example, photographic and/or chemical processing steps used to create electrical circuits on a semiconductor wafer. The processing conditions may include, for example, timing information, chemicals, temperatures, and so forth, which are used for each processing step. Collectively, the series of processes and associated processing conditions used to form a semiconductor device may be referred to as a "recipe" for fabricating the device.
A recipe for fabricating a semiconductor device is generally stored in a semiconductor processing apparatus used to perform the fabrication processes. The recipe typically manifests itself as a set of input parameter values related to the processes and processing conditions and supplied to the semiconductor processing apparatus.
In order to ensure that the semiconductor device is fabricated correctly, the input parameter values are usually validated before and/or during the fabrication processes to ensure that they will lead to predictable and acceptable results. For example, the input parameter values may be validated by inspecting preset parameter values on the semiconductor processing apparatus prior to performing a fabrication process. In addition, the input parameter values may be validated by monitoring variations of the parameter values while the fabrication processes are being performed.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional control system 100 for a semiconductor processing apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, conventional control system 100 comprises a control server 20 and an operator interface 30. A plurality of semiconductor processing apparatuses 10 arranged in fabrication lines are connected to control server 20 through a communication interface (e.g., a wired or wireless digital connection, network lines such as twisted pair cables, or the like). Operator interface 30 is also connected to control server 20 through a communication interface.
An operator uses operator interface 30 to perform a "track-in" operation. The term "track-in" refers to an operation whereby one of semiconductor processing apparatuses 10 is selected through operator interface 30. Typically the selection is made by a human operator. However, performing a track-in operation does not necessarily require a human operator. The track-in operation is performed by providing an input specifying a particular semiconductor processing apparatus 10 to control server 20 via operator interface 30.
Control server 20 runs a control program adapted to control semiconductor processing apparatuses 10. The control program includes a range specification for input parameter values supplied to semiconductor processing apparatuses 10. The range specification is used to determine whether the input parameter values supplied to semiconductor processing apparatuses 10 are proper. For example, the range specification may include upper and lower limits for each of the input parameters. Accordingly, input parameter values outside of the upper and lower limits are considered improper.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method 50 of controlling a semiconductor processing apparatus using the control system shown in FIG. 1. Throughout this description, method steps are designated within parentheses (XXX) to distinguish them from system elements, like those shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an operator sends a message specifying a specific semiconductor processing apparatus 10 to control server 20 through operator interface 30 (51). Control server 20 requests that the selected semiconductor processing apparatus 10 send a recipe including input parameter values (52) to control server 20. The recipe may include, for example, current preset parameter settings for the selected semiconductor processing apparatus 10.
Once the selected semiconductor processing apparatus 10 sends the recipe to control server 20, control server 20 uses the control program to determine whether or not the input parameter values in the recipe are proper according to the range specification (step 53). Based on a result of this determination, control server 20 determines whether or not to approve the track-in operation and whether or not to start fabrication processes specified by the recipe. Collectively, these determinations are referred to as an interlock decision step.
Where the input parameters are improper according to the range specification, control server 20 disapproves the track-in operation (step 54). In other words, the selection of the particular semiconductor processing apparatus 10 is cancelled. In addition, control server 20 also typically generates interlock signals, causing any fabrication processes specified by the recipe to be cancelled, i.e., not performed (55).
Where the input parameters in the recipe are proper according to the range specification, control server 20 approves the track-in operation, i.e., the selection of the semiconductor processing apparatus 10 (56). Then, the selected semiconductor processing apparatus 10 starts performing any fabrication process(es) specified by the recipe (57).
Unfortunately, the conventional control system for a semiconductor processing apparatus and its associated methods have at least the following drawbacks. First, control server 20 only verifies whether or not the input parameter values are between upper and lower limits. Accordingly, control server 20 fails to consider undesirable variations of the input parameter values or undesirable combinations of input parameter values, as examples. This can cause a number of problems. For instance, although the input parameter values may remain within the upper and lower limits, excessive variations of the input parameter values may cause unexpected failures during fabrication processes. Conventional control server 20 fails to address such variations of the input parameter values during fabrication processes.
Second, conventional control server 20 is typically limited in both data memory capacity and data processing capacity. As a result, where a large amount of data needs to be processed within a limited amount of time, control server 20 may fail to meet processing deadlines. For example, control server 20 may fail to verify a large number of input parameter values within a short period of time. Accordingly, control server 20 may fail to detect certain improper parameter values. In such cases, control server 20 may be configured only to verify a certain subset of the input parameter values of semiconductor processing apparatuses 10. Alternatively, the total number of input parameter values to semiconductor processing apparatuses 10 may simply be limited.
Third, modifying the range specification in the control program generally requires modifying the control program itself.
Fourth, due to the limited data memory in control server 20, it may be difficult to organize the input parameter values sent to control server 20 into a database format.
Fifth, where a particular recipe not registered with the control program is received by control server 20, the conventional control system has no way to verify the input parameter values in the non-registered recipe. Such a non-registered recipe may be a completely new recipe or an earlier used recipe.
Due to at least these shortcomings of the conventional control system for a semiconductor processing apparatus and its associated methods, an improved control system and new methods are needed.

Control system for semiconductor processing apparatus


A method and electronic device for extracting incoming/outgoing information and managing contacts are provided. The method includes determining whether a communicating electronic device which has been or is in communication with the electronic device is included as a contact in a first contact list; extracting incoming/outgoing information based on at least one of metadata and contents of the communication with the communicating electronic device when the communicating electronic device is not included as a contact in the first contact list; and displaying the extracted incoming/outgoing information on a touchscreen of the electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electronic device and method for extracting incoming/outgoing information and managing contacts and, more particularly, to an electronic device and method for distinguishing, storing, and managing short-term contacts.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of functions of electronic devices, electronic devices may now store many details concerning contacts. For example, the electronic device may store not only a telephone number of a specific person, but also other contact details such as a SNS (Social Networking Service) address and an email address of that person.
However, when an electronic device performs communication with a new entity that is not stored as a contact in the electronic device, only the telephone number corresponding to the entity is displayed in the call history list of the electronic device without a user name or company name of the entity. Moreover, since a plurality of entities which are not stored as contacts are displayed in the call history list of the electronic device, the user can not distinguish a specific entity from the other entities when the user wants to perform communication with the specific entity. Therefore, in order to distinguish any of the new entities from each other, the user needs to manually store respective new contacts in the electronic device.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for extracting user information for a new contact in an electronic device from at least one of metadata and contents of a communication when the electronic device has or is having a communication with a new entity (i.e., one not previously stored as a contact), thereby improving the user's convenience.

Electronic device and method for extracting incoming/outgoing information and managing contacts


The disclosed embodiments include methods of making belts for apparatuses useful in printing and fuser belts for apparatus useful for printing. An embodiment of the methods includes forming a first layer of the belt using a first material comprising a first polymer applied on an inner surface of a mandrel, the first layer including a first outer surface facing the inner surface of the mandrel and a first inner surface; forming a second layer of the belt using a second material comprising a second polymer applied over the first inner surface, the second layer including a second inner surface; and removing the belt from the mandrel.

Some printing apparatuses include a nip formed by a belt and roll. In such apparatuses, media are fed to the nip and contacted by the belt and roll to treat marking material on media to form images on the media.
It would be desirable to provide methods for making belts for apparatuses useful in printing that provide additional manufacturing options, as well as belts made by the methods.

Methods of making belts for apparatus useful in printing


A magnetic head includes a magnetic write structure having a first magnetic layer having a first pole, a second magnetic layer having a second pole spaced apart from the first pole, and a third magnetic layer having a third pole contacting the second pole. The third pole has a third-pole width greater than a second-pole width. An inductive coil positioned adjacent to the third magnetic layer controllably magnetizes the third magnetic layer. The third magnetic layer is nonuniformly thick such that a thickness of the third pole is less than a thickness of the third magnetic layer at locations in registry with the inductive coil. The magnetic write structure is conveniently fabricated by depositing the magnetic layers and the inductive coil, masking the third magnetic layer other than the third pole, and removing a portion of the thickness of the third pole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to magnetic heads and, more particularly, to a write head with a T-shaped write pole.
2. Background of the Invention
A write head is used in a magnetic read/write device to write a magnetic bit onto a recording medium of a magnetic storage device. An example is the read/write head of a computer hard disk, which is positioned closely adjacent to the recording medium and separated from the recording medium by an air bearing. A data bit is written onto an area of the recording medium, typically a track moved past the read/write head, using the writing portion of the read/write head by locally changing the magnetic state of the recording medium. That magnetic state is later sensed by the read sensor to read the data. The write structure and the read structure are usually integrated together in a read/write head.
In one design, the write structure includes a small-scale horseshoe-like electromagnet with the poles oriented perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS) of the read write head. Because of the small size, the electromagnet, including the legs of the horseshoe, the pole layers, the inductive coil, and the related structure, are fabricated by microelectronic techniques as multilayered structure. The poles at the ends of the legs and adjacent to the ABS are typically designated as the lower pole (also called first pole, or P1 pole) and upper pole (also called second pole, or P2 pole.) A continuing trend in the industry is to make the tracks in the recording medium ever narrower, so that more information may be stored on the recording medium.
In order to write onto a narrow track on the recording medium, the upper pole is made very narrow and has reached submicron widths in current writing devices. To reach even smaller sized, a wider third pole (P3) layer may be added to support and aid in the fabrication of the upper pole layer. Viewed from the ABS. the third pole and upper (P2) layer together have a T-shape, with the wider third pole layer forming the crosspiece of the T. T-shaped pole piece structures are known in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,942.
Although the T-head structure successfully allows the fabrication and use of the narrower P2 pole layer for writing onto ever narrower tracks in the recording medium, the inventors have observed other problems in the work leading to the present invention. Specifically, the T-head structure may perform "corner writing", an unintended alteration of the recording medium off of the intended track. There is a need for an approach to avoid corner writing, while at the same time realizing the benefits of the T-head write structure. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Magnetic head with magnetic layers of differing widths and third pole with reduced thickness

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A microwave oven includes a housing forming a cooking chamber and a compartment next to the cooking chamber for containing various electrical components. A power supply cord extends from the compartment through a cord hole in a back side of the housing to supply power to the electrical components. A heater, fan and fan motor are disposed adjacent a rear portion of the cooking chamber for performing a convection cooking operation, whereby a hot zone on the rear side of the housing located directly behind the cooking chamber may be heated to a temperature capable of damaging the cord if coming into contact therewith. An element is screwed to the back side of the housing below the cord hole to contact a portion of the cord located exteriorly of the housing to physically isolate the cord from the hot zone.

The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly, a device for preventing heat damage to an electric power cord for a microwave oven having a convectional cooking function.
Generally, the microwave oven is a cooking appliance which cooks foods by frictional heat generated by causing molecules of the foods to move at high speeds utilizing high frequency energy. Recently, there has been developed a convectional microwave oven having a cooking function characterized by a forced convection of hot air created by an electric heater and a blower fan in addition to the basic cooking function by high frequency energy. In such a conventional microwave oven, the cooking of foods such as meat and fish are boiled evenly from surface to interior by high frequency energy and at the same time, the surface of the foods is browned crispy by the heating of the hot air, so that the taste and flavor of foods are enhanced.
FIG. 5 illustrates a prior art convection microwave oven disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-132118. As shown in FIG. 5, the prior art convection microwave oven has an inner case la forming a cooking chamber 1 and an outer case 6 surrounding the inner case 1a, wherein an electric component compartment(not shown) for mounting various electric components is located between the inner and outer cases 1a and 6. In the back of the cooking chamber 1, a duct 7a is provided between a rear plate 4a connected to the rear portion of the inner case 1a and the outer case 6 to form a hot air chamber 7 in which a blower fan 8 and an electric heater(not shown) are provided.
In an inner wall of the duct 7a, an insulating material 7b is fixed to prevent heat radiated from the heater from transferring backward. In the rear of the duct 7a, a cooling fan 8a, coaxially arranged with the blower fan 8, and a motor 8b for driving the cooling fan 8a and the blower fan 8 are provided. The duct 7a, the cooling fan 8a and the motor 8b are covered by a rear plate 6a connected to the rear portion of the outer case 6. The rear plate 6a has a plurality of air vents 9a and 9b for ventilating air by the operation of the cooling fan 8a.
In such a prior art convection microwave oven, high-temperature heat radiated from the heater and motor 8b are transferred to the rear of the microwave oven by the cooling fan 8a provided in the rear of the cooking chamber 1.
Therefore, in a convection cooking mode in which the electric heater is operated, the hot air chamber 7 located in the rear of the cooking chamber 1 and the rear plate 6a are relatively maintained at a high temperature. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the rear portion of the microwave oven, a power cord 2 for supplying the power to the microwave oven is provided. One end of the power cord 2 is fixed to the interior of the electric component compartment, and the other end having a plug 3 extends from the outer case 6 to the exterior and is inserted into a receptacle (not shown).
In such a microwave oven, however, the power cord 2 makes contact with highly heated elements and is apt to be damaged. That is, since the high-temperature heat emitted from the motor 8b and the heater located in the rear of the cooking chamber 1 is transferred to the rear plate 6a of the outer case 6, the power cord 2, which is movable freely, may touch the rear plate 6a and become damaged by its very high temperature. If such a contact often occurs, the life cycle of the power cord 2 is shortened and is apt to cause a short-circuit.

Microwave oven with power cord isolated from hot components


A machine (1000) for forming a blank assembly having a blank and a retaining web coupled to the blank includes a deck (1250) coupled to a frame (1002), and a blank transfer assembly (1200) coupled to the frame. The blank transfer assembly is configured to position the blank on the deck. The machine also includes a web transfer assembly (1700) coupled to the frame. The web transfer assembly includes a pick-up assembly (1730) moveable between a first end and a second end of the web transfer assembly. The pick-up assembly is configured to pick up the web proximate the first end and deposit the web proximate the second end in an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank positioned on the deck. A first compression member (1750) is configured to compress a coupling region of the web against the blank on the deck to form the blank assembly.

This disclosure relates generally to a machine for forming containers from a blank of sheet material, and more specifically to methods and a machine for forming a blank assembly including a retaining web coupled to the blank, and/or forming a shipping container having an article retaining web from the blank assembly.
Containers fabricated from paperboard and/or corrugated paperboard material are often used to store and transport goods. Such containers are usually formed from blanks of sheet material that are folded along a plurality of preformed fold lines to form an erected corrugated container. At least some known blanks include opposing end panels, opposing side panels, a glue panel, bottom panels, and, in some cases, a top panels, connected by a plurality of fold lines. The panels are rotated to form end walls, side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall of the container. Moreover, at least some known containers are formed using a machine. As just one example, a blank may be positioned near a mandrel on a machine, and the machine may be configured to wrap the blank around the mandrel to form at least a portion of the container. In at least some cases, the use of the machine greatly increases a rate at which the containers may be formed and/or filled with goods.
These shipping containers are often used to ship products or articles purchased by customers from an online merchant. In today's online environment, more and more customers are avoiding the time consuming task of traveling to a "brick and mortar" store to purchase the products and goods they need for home and/or work. Rather, these customers are making their purchases online from merchants that sell these products either exclusively through an online presence or through an online presence that is in combination with physical stores. In either case, when these products or articles are purchased online, the products in most cases are shipped to the customer or to another person the customer identifies as the recipient. There is a need for containers designed to ship such products.
In at least some known cases, when such products are placed inside these known shipping containers additional packing material, such as packing peanuts, styrofoam popcorn, packing noodles, foam sheets, balled-up paper sheets or some other cushioning material, is also placed inside the container to prevent damage to fragile objects during shipping. This additional packing material is a significant expense for the merchants shipping their products, and requires a significant amount of space to store such packing material.
Accordingly, it is desirous to have a shipping container that includes a means for retaining or securing a product within the container to prevent the product from being damaged from shifting around during shipment, wherein the retaining means is inexpensive, easily used, and does not require much storage space. It is also desirous to have such a shipping container formable from the blank using a machine.

Methods and machine for forming a shipping container with an article retaining web


System for providing AC line balancing includes a three-phase power source, a monitoring component and a control component. Three AC lines from the three-phase power source are coupled to a first set of loads and a set of transfer switches. Additionally, the set of transfer switches are configured to be coupled to a second set of loads. The monitoring component is configured to detect current provided by the three AC lines to identify the AC lines providing the highest and the lowest levels of currents to the first and second sets of loads. The control component is configured to configure at least one transfer switch in the set of transfer switches to decouple the AC line providing the highest level of current to a load of the second set of loads and couple the AC line providing the lowest level of current to that load.

Three-phase power supplies are utilized for various high-power applications, including, but not limited to, industrial and/or communication systems. Three-phase power is a common form of electrical power and a popular method of electric power transmission and distribution. This is mainly due to its inherent benefits for high power transmission and its smooth wave form quality which allow three-phase electrical equipment to run smoothly and last longer. A three-phase system is generally more economical than others because it uses less conductor material to transmit electric power than an equivalent single-phase or two-phase system operating at the same voltage.
Three-phase alternating current (AC) lines are typically not well balanced since the majority of loads are configured to receive a single-phase from a three-phase power supply. Additionally, the majority of loads draw an uneven amount of current from the power supply. Unbalanced three-phase AC lines present a number of issues for a system. For example, an unbalanced system can cause inefficiency and/or alter the power supplied to a load. Existing three-phase power supplies are able to balance the current from each of the three-phase AC lines, for example, by implementing an active power converter. The active power converter can be implemented to toggle switches coupled to the three-phase AC lines. For example, a portion of current from a first AC line can be transferred to a second AC line by toggling switches. However, implementing the active power converter for AC line balance is complex, expensive and unreliable. Additionally, only a small amount of improvement in overall AC line balance is achieved by implementing the active power converter.

Line balancing for a three-phase alternating current system


A method for compressing image data includes a first step for dividing image data into predetermined areas and determining a representative value about density of pixels in each area, a second step for determining density of pixels included in each area by using the representative value of the area and an interpolation rule, a third step for determining reproducibility of an image obtained, on the basis of the density of pixels determined in the second step, by using the image data and a dither pattern that is used for a pseudo gradation process performed on the image data, and a fourth step for encoding, on the basis of the representative value determined in the first step, for areas that are determined to have a good reproducibility in the third step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for compressing image data having a gradation property.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a print system including a computer and a printer is used. As such a print system, there is a type in which a computer side performs an image processing such as a pseudo gradation process (a dither process) on image data to be printed so that a printer side does not need to perform a special process on the image data received from the computer and prints the image on a paper sheet just by using the image data.
Conventionally, a raster printer is known as a printer that is used for this type of print system. The raster printer can be made up of small scale hardware at a low cost since the printer side does not need to perform a special image processing. However, it has a disadvantage that a quantity of data to be transmitted increases since image data that can be printed on a paper sheet as they are should be transmitted. In addition, a recent request for a high quality of image makes image data have more volume size resulting in a greater quantity of data to be transmitted to the printer. For this reason, the transmission of image data from the computer to the printer needs much time.
In order to solve this problem, the computer side has to compress the image data. However, if a process for compression is complicated, the compression process itself needs much time. Furthermore, there is a case where an expansion process also needs much time if the expansion process is complicated. In this case, the printer side requires at large scale hardware for the expansion process at a high cost.
Therefore, it is desired to realize a compression technique that can perform compression with a small process load by small scale hardware to realize a high compressibility so as to realize a print system that can use an inexpensive printer and perform a high speed process as a whole.
In many cases, image data must be processed to have a pseudo gradation when the image data with a multi gradation is printed with a printer. As one of methods for realizing a pseudo gradation, a dither method is known well conventionally. The dither method uses a dither pattern and compares each of threshold levels of the dither pattern with a pixel value of each pixel of the image data so as to produce binary data or multivalued data.
One of compression techniques on the basis of the dither pattern is disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 6-152986. According to the method disclosed in this document, binary image data are divided into blocks having a predetermined size. A reference pattern corresponding to the number of dots included in an arbitrary image block is compared with the image block. If the image block matches the reference pattern, it is assigned with a sign indicating the reference pattern. If the image block does not match the reference pattern, a result of the comparison is encoded.
In addition, as a compression technique for binary image data, a JBIG format is known, which is acknowledged by ITU-T recommendation (ITU represents International Telecommunications Union).
In addition, a method for compressing image data having a pseudo gradation produced by a dither pattern is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,614. According to the method disclosed in this document, a value of each pixel is compared with a threshold value so as to determine a range for each pixel.
However, in the method disclosed in the above-mentioned first document, the reference pattern is encoded when a designated image block matches the reference pattern. Therefore, a quantity of data to be transmitted increases corresponding to a sign of the reference pattern. In addition, as image data alter, it is rare that every pixel within a block matches. In this case, the quantity of data is further increased since differential data are transmitted.
On the contrary, the JBIG format has a relatively light load of a compression process, which can be performed at a high speed even on a computer. However, a compressibility of the JBIG format is not so high as a compressibility of other format such as the LZS format or the LZW format. In particular, when halftone data increases, the compressibility of the JBIG format decreases.
As to the method disclosed in the above-mentioned second document, a quantity of information is not decreased since a value is determined for each pixel. Therefore, another compression means are necessary for decreasing a quantity of information.
In either case of the conventional methods, when a gradation image is transmitted to a printer, image data having a pseudo gradation are compressed before transmission, or a gradation image before being processed to have a pseudo gradation is compressed before transmission. In the former case where the pseudo gradation image is compressed, a process becomes complicated because it includes a statistical process of data having a pseudo gradation image component, so there may be a limit in image components that can be extracted. In the latter case where the gradation image is compressed, it is not compatible to have both a high compressibility and a high image quality since components to be transmitted may include a component that will be omitted in the pseudo gradation process that will be performed later.

Method and device for compressing image data

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An example method of operating an image forming apparatus includes measuring a toner concentration supplied to a developing apparatus and increasing a driving speed of the developing apparatus based on the toner concentration not reaching a target toner concentration. The toner concentration is measured in a state where the driving speed of the developing apparatus is increased, and, based on the toner concentration not reaching the target toner concentration based on the driving speed of the developing apparatus being increased, an operating state of the image forming apparatus is determined based on a remaining amount of toner.

An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to form a visible toner image on the photoconductor, transfers the toner image to a printing medium via an intermediate transfer medium or directly to a printing medium, and fixes the transferred toner image on the printing medium.

Toner supply by changing driving speed of developing apparatus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A honeycomb support structure of an electrically-heated catalyst apparatus is disclosed, in which a support member of retainers for preventing an electrically-heated catalyst moving backward is coupled to an outer cylinder while causing the support member to follow the thermal deformation of the outer cylinder thereby to suppress the deformation of the support member due to the thermal stress. A metal foil laminate having a corrugated foil and a tabular foil superposed one on the other is spirally wound to form a cylindrical honeycomb unit, which is accommodated in a metal outer cylinder and is heated by being supplied with power. The honeycomb unit support structure includes a plurality of ceramic bars and at least a support member having a plurality of recesses for holding the ceramic bars at such a position as to traverse the end surface of the honeycomb unit downstream of the exhaust gas flow and in such a manner as to follow the deformation of the outer cylinder. The structure of the support member that can follow the deformation can be realized by preparing a cylindrical metal plate and forming at least a gap in the cylindrical metal plate. Consequently, the honeycomb unit is prevented from telescoping, a uniform temperature distribution in the support member is assured, and the durability of the support member is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a honeycomb unit support structure for an electrically-heated catalyst apparatus, and more in particular to a metal honeycomb unit support structure constituting a catalyst carrier of an electrically-heated catalyst apparatus which can be supplied with power and heated to a catalyst activation temperature within a short time.
2. Description of the Related Art
The exhaust gas emitted from the internal combustion engine mounted on an automotive vehicle contains hazardous materials such as HC (hydrocarbon), CO (carbon monoxide) and NOx (nitrogen oxides). The exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine, therefore, is generally provided with a catalyst converter as an exhaust gas cleaning unit for cleaning the exhaust gas. The three-way catalyst used for the catalyst converter, however, is known to have a low rate of cleaning hazardous materials in the exhaust gas when the catalyst temperature is low (is in an inactive state). The exhaust gas cannot be cleaned sufficiently, therefore, as long as the catalyst is inactive after cold starting of the internal combustion engine.
In view of this, an electrically-heated catalyst apparatus has been suggested in which a catalyst carrier made of a metal is supplied with electrical power at the time of starting the engine or when the catalyst is inactive, so that the metal catalyst carrier is heated up to a catalyst activation temperature (300.degree. to 400.degree. C.) within a short time.
The electrically-heated catalyst apparatus comprises a cylindrical casing connected to the exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine, and a main catalyst carrier and an electrically-heated catalyst carrier serially arranged in spaced relation to each other in the cylindrical casing. The electrically-heated catalyst carrier is heated by power supplied thereto and includes a central electrode which is led out of the casing through an electrode section. A battery and a switch are connected between the electrode section and an external electrode provided on a part of the casing. When the switch is turned on, the electrically-heated catalyst carrier is supplied with power thereby to generate heat.
The electrically-heated catalyst carrier is generally made by superposing a corrugated metal foil (hereinafter called "the corrugated foil") and a tabular metal foil (hereinafter called "the tabular foil") on each other, coupling the longitudinal ends thereof to the center electrode, and then winding the superposed structure of the corrugated foil and the tabular foil around the central electrode thereby to constitute a spiral metal foil laminate (honeycomb unit). A foil member about 50 .mu.m thick made of an iron alloy containing aluminum is generally used for the corrugated foil or the tabular foil.
The honeycomb unit 7 made by winding the corrugated foil and the tabular foil around the central electrode has an axial path formed spirally around the central electrode by the space between the corrugated foil and the tabular foil. Also, an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst is carried on the surface of the corrugated foil and the tabular foil. When the switch is turned on for supplying power to the honeycomb unit and the exhaust gas is caused to flow through the path while the temperature of the catalyst is increased for activation, the hazardous components of the exhaust gas are brought into contact with the catalyst and the exhaust gas is cleaned.
The electrically-heated catalyst apparatus configured in this way has the disadvantage that the corrugated foil and the tabular foil of the honeycomb unit are liable to be displaced from each other (hereinafter referred to as "telescoping") or are liable to break down due to such adverse factors as the high-temperature, high-speed exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust manifold, the heat cycle in which the engine is heated when running and cooled when stationary, and vibrations exerted from the engine or the vehicle body, thereby often leading to a reduced function of the electrically-heated catalyst carrier.
The following solutions to these problems have been proposed:
(1) The end surface of the honeycomb unit of the electrically-heated catalyst apparatus downstream of the exhaust gas flow is supported in contact with at least a support bar (retainer) covered with an insulating material, and the retainer is welded to a metal outside cylinder (case) (see JP-A-5-269389).
(2) A joint reinforcement is formed on each of the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the honeycomb unit of the electrically-heated catalyst apparatus, an insulative ceramics bar is suspended as a retainer over the inner peripheral reinforcement and the outer peripheral reinforcement downstream of the exhaust gas flow for preventing the catalyst carrier moving backward, and each retainer is fixed by a support member thereby to prevent telescoping (foil displacement) of the electrically-heated catalyst carrier.
(3) The contact portion between the corrugated foil and the tabular foil in the neighborhood of each of the outer and inner peripheries of the honeycomb unit is coupled by welding with a Ni solder or the like, and a reinforcement thus is provided on each of the outer and inner peripheries of the honeycomb unit.
The preventive means first-above described, however, poses the problem that the honeycomb unit portion free of the retainer suffers telescoping. The second preventive means, on the other hand, if the support members are mounted inappropriately, develops an uneven temperature distribution on the outer cylinder and deforms the support members, often causing the retainers to come off from the support members.
Further, the problem of the third preventive means is that telescoping occurs in the boundary between the reinforced outer peripheral portion and the remaining portions of the honeycomb unit. Telescoping also occurs in similar fashion in the neighborhood of the boundary between the honeycomb unit having no inner or outer peripheral reinforcement and the case containing the honeycomb unit.

Structure for supporting honeycomb unit of electrically-heated catalyst apparatus


Scatter effects are reduced in a radiographic imaging device, such as a digital slot scan mammographic imaging device, by reducing detected scatter and processing detector information to compensate for scatter effects. Spatial intensity profile information together with other imaging signal and patient dependent parameters can be used in image processing to estimate and compensate for various scatter effects including single and multiple scatters and Compton and Rayleigh scatter.

Medical imaging is considered to be one of the most demanding applications of radiographic imaging, at least in terms of resolution and/or contrast. For instance, in the case of mammography it is generally desirable that a given imaging system be capable of obtaining images with a resolution on the order of fifty microns or better. Contrast requirements are also quite demanding since potential lesions and/or suspicious masses may exhibit x-ray attenuation characteristics similar to that of surrounding "healthy" tissue. With early detection of these lesions and/or masses being extremely desirable, enhancement of image resolution and/or contrast continues to be of increasing importance.
Mammography has been performed using both film-based and digital systems. In film-based systems, x-rays signals are generally transmitted through mammary tissue and received at an appropriate screen (e.g., phosphor screen). Light emitted from the screen, due to excitation by the impinging x-rays, is used to expose a light sensitive film. The film is then developed to yield an image of the patient's breast which can be viewed on a light box. By contrast, a full field light-sensitive detector may be utilized in place of the film in digital systems. In this context, "full field" indicates that the field imaged corresponds to the dimensions of the detector, although this may be substantially less than a full image area of interest to a physician, such as a full breast in the case of mammography. This detector outputs an electronic signal that is indicative of the received radiation intensity across a pixel region. In turn, the signal may be connected and processed into a viewable digital image (e.g., on a high-resolution monitor). As may be appreciated, digital image systems are becoming the norm in view of the attendant image storage and processing advantages.
Regardless of the mammography system utilized, granularity and screen noise may tend limit and/or distort the resultant image. For instance, the image contrast has been shown to be significantly affected by scattered radiation. Indeed, as a radiation source transmits a beam towards a tissue, the beam is both attenuated and scattered by the tissue. The scattered radiation that impinges on the detector (e.g. in the case of a digital system) from a path outside a "direct" or substantially straight path from the radiation source to the detector ("primary ray") is generally undesirable. Accordingly, mammographic images would ideally be generated "scatter-free".
One type of scatter is Compton scattering, also referred to as incoherent scattering, that typically occurs when an incident x-ray photon ejects an electron from an atom (e.g., a tissular atom), and an x-ray photon of lower energy is "scattered" from the atom. It may be said that relativistic energy and momentum are conserved during Compton scattering and that the scattered x-ray photon generally has less energy and therefore greater wavelength than the original incident photon. By contrast, Rayleigh scattering, also referred to as Thomson or coherent/classical scattering is generally characterized by an x-ray photon interacting with a whole atom so that the photon is scattered with substantially no change in internal energy to the scattering atom, nor to the x-ray photon. In other words, the wavelength of the scattered photon is generally similar to that of the incident photon prior to being scattered.
Various attempts have been made at reducing the incidence of scatter in radiographic imaging. For instance, the use of anti-scatter grids in full field digital imaging as described above has been shown to reduce the amount of scatter displayed in a resultant image. However, use of these grids generally coincides with a need for significant increase in tissue radiation dosages to generate images of desired resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and/or contrast. As another example, various opaque shields have been utilized to enable collection and calculation of an estimated scatter portion of the total beam intensity. However, use of these opaque shields has resulted in portions of the image information being lost (unexposed, white areas on film). As a way of avoiding these lost areas in the resultant images, one or more subsequent images may be taken without the shields in an additional exposure period(s), and the scatter calculations of the first image can then be applied to the subsequent image(s). However, this obviously requires additional exposure of the patient to radiation doses, and means or process to remove the opaque shields between exposures.

Signal profiling for medical imaging systems