A capacitive fluid level sensor is disclosed that operates without the use of a float, wherein coplanar sensing electrodes disposed onto a dielectric substrate and positioned proximate a dielectric wall of a vessel containing a fluid, form a fringing field capacitance that changes in accordance with changes in the level of the fluid. The electrodes are electrically insulated from the measured fluid. The electrodes are sized and spaced to maximize response of the capacitance to changes in the level of the fluid, while minimizing the effects of the dielectric wall. The sensor is fabricated such that it can be positioned against the outside of a dielectric wall of a vessel, or embedded within a dielectric material. A low permitivity spacer and shield assembly are taught which reduces sensitivity to electric fields external to the vessel. An interdigital comb configuration of the electrodes is also disclosed in which depressions or gaps are formed into the dielectric substrate in an area of spacing of the electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sensors for measurement of fluid level. The measured fluid may be contained in a sump, reservoir, process vessel, holding tank, or other man made or natural fluid container. A fluid container is herein called the vessel. An example of such a vessel is a holding tank for a marine use. At least a part of at least one vessel wall is fabricated from an electrically non-conductive material. The terms electrically non-conductive, insulating, and dielectric are used here interchangeably.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a capacitive level sensor that measures fluid level in the vessel without the use of a float, and functions based on the permitivity of the measured fluid being substantially different from that of air, the sensing element of the capacitance level sensor being electrically insulated from the measured fluid.
The capacitive level sensor of the present invention measures fluid level while the sensing element is mounted on, or embedded within, an outside wall of the vessel. Alternatively, the present invention also teaches the embedding of the sensing element into a wall of a device that utilizes fluid level information, such as a bilge pump.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art capacitive level sensors have been built which depend on the permitivity of a measured fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,702 teaches a capacitive level sensor that is inserted into a reservoir containing a liquid. Conversely, the present invention teaches the design of a sensor that is not immersed into the measured fluid, but is instead mounted on the outside of a wall of a vessel that contains the measured fluid. The separation of the sensor electrodes from the sensed fluid in the present invention allows the sensor to operate corrosion-free while measuring a corrosive fluid, such as seawater. Even when an immersed sensor is anodized as taught in the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,658), or otherwise coated with a compatible material, corrosion and electrical conductivity can remain a problem due to inconsistency or pinholes in the coating or due to deterioration of the coating with age and use. The present invention also allows for easy addition of a level sensor to an already-installed vessel. An alternative embodiment of the present invention teaches embedding the sensing element within the vessel wall. Still another embodiment of the present invention teaches embedding the sensing element into an electrically non-conductive member of another device that utilizes fluid level information, such as a bilge pump, located within the vessel. In all embodiments of the present invention, direct contact of the sensing element with the measured fluid is avoided.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,132 teaches a capacitive liquid level indicator that incorporates dual capacitive sensor arrays, disposed on opposite sides of a dielectric substrate. In order to expose the two sides of the sensor array assembly to the measured liquid, the complete sensor array assembly is immersed into the measured liquid, contrary to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,415 teaches a device for continuously measuring the liquid level in a container, wherein a capacitive sensor is disposed in the liquid. This is also contrary to the present invention, as the present invention teaches the separation of the sensing element from the measured fluid by a dielectric material.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,293,142 and 6,564,658 teach electromagnetic sensors that use special "slow wave structure" electrode configurations, called electrodynamic elements, that, when driven by a radio frequency generator, produce a "slowed wave". The wave is slowed due to the electromagnetic cooperation (related to the travel time of the electromagnetic wave between adjacent conductors of the electrodynamic element) among adjacent conductors arranged in series with spacing. The ratio by which the wave is slowed, on comparison to the natural speed of an electromagnetic wave in the materials used, is called the "slowing factor". This measurement technique is, according to column 2, line 67 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,658 and column 2, line 60 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,142, " . . . contrary to the capacitance and inductance sensitive elements".
The present invention utilizes a capacitance sensitive element, herein called the sensing element. The present invention does not use a slowed wave related to the propagation time between adjacent conductors, but relies instead on the positioning of electrode conductors with respect to one another and optionally, also with respect to a guard or shield conductor, in order to provide control of the shape and size of the sensing field of a capacitive sensor. In the present invention, the field size is made large enough to penetrate a dielectric wall of the vessel, or a dielectric wall of a device that utilizes fluid level information, in order to measure the level of fluid within the vessel.


An improvement to sigmoidal gaussian cusp knee (SGCK) gamut mapping algorithm useful for gamut boundary descriptors (GBDs) that are defined with multiple shells rather than a single hull. The gamut mapping algorithm involves a lightness-rescaling step and a chroma compression step, in which points on each of the shells of the source GBD are mapped to corresponding points on the respective shells of the destination GBD. In situations where there is a mismatch between the number of shells in the source GBD and the destination GBD, such as a case where one of the GBDs is defined by a singly-shelled GBD whereas the other is defined by a two-shelled GBD, an induced hue slice may be constructed so as to simulate the missing shell. In addition, an induced hue slice may be constructed in a situation where lightness rescaling results in a mapping that is too steep between source and destination.

1. Field of the Invention
2. Related Art
The need for gamut mapping arises in cross-media/cross-device image reproduction. The difference in gamut mapping among different devices/media requires re-mapping of colors such that colors in the source gamut are mapped to within the destination gamut so that they can be reproduced on the destination device/medium. In addition, there are many different ways to achieve this, resulting in different "rendering intents." For example, ICC (International Color Consortium, www.color.org) profiles support four different rendering intents, called Perceptual, Relative Colorimetric, Saturation and Absolute Colorimetric. The perceptual rendering intent strives at optimizing color reproduction for photographic images. The present invention involves gamut mapping for the perceptual rendering intent.
While the rendering intent sets up a directive for the design of the gamut mapping algorithm, it does not in general define a particular algorithm. Perceptual intent, for example, can be implemented with several possible algorithms. One of the algorithms suggested by CIE TC8-03 division is the SGCK ("Sigmoidal Gaussian Cusp Knee") algorithm. This algorithm is a combination of the GCUSP algorithm by Morovic (J. Morovic and M. R. Luo: Gamut Mapping Algorithms Based on Psychophysical Experiment, Proceedings of the 5th IS&T/SID Color Imaging Conference, 44-49 (1997)) and the Sigmoidal lightness rescaling algorithm by Braun (G. J. Braun and M. D. Fairchild: Image Lightness Rescaling using Sigmoidal Contrast Enhancement Functions, Journal of Electronic Imaging, Vol. 8, 380-393 (1999). These articles are incorporated herein by reference. The SGCK algorithm is known and in general comprises two steps: a lightness rescaling step, and a chroma compression step.
The SGCK algorithm works well for gamut boundary descriptors (GBD) that have a single convex hull in both the source and the destination. Recently, however, GBDs have been described that have multiple hulls, or "shells". See U.S. Application Publication No. 2005/0047648, "Color Descriptor Data Structure" by Newman et al., and U.S. Application Publication No. 2005/0047654, "Gamut Mapping Between Multiple Boundary Regions" by Newman et al. These published applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Perceptual gamut mapping with multiple gamut shells


A needled mat adapted to reinforce a thermoplastic matrix material includes (a) a primary layer having a plurality of thermoplastic fibers in an amount greater than about 20 weight percent of the primary layer on a total solids basis, the primary layer being less than about 20 weight percent of the mat on a total solids basis; and (b) a secondary layer having a plurality of discontinuous glass fiber strands and having thereon a strand coating composition which is compatible with the thermoplastic matrix material, the secondary layer being essentially free of individual glass monofilaments.

An increasingly popular process for forming composites is by compression molding or stamping a moldable sheet of a thermoplastic resin reinforced with fibers such as a glass fiber mat, often referred to as glass mat thermoplastics or "GMT". These composite sheets can be used to form articles such as automobile components and housings for computers.
An example of a commercially successful GMT sheet is the AZDEL.RTM. moldable composite sheet which is formed by extruding layers of polypropylene resin sheet with needled mats of continuous glass fiber strand. The AZDEL.RTM. composite sheet is commercially available from Azdel, Inc. of Shelby, N.C.
For reinforcing a resin matrix material, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,664,909, 3,713,962 and 3,850,723 disclose fibrous mats of unstranded filaments which can be layered with reinforcing mats of fiber strands.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,140 discloses an insulation medium formed by needling a loose layer of inorganic fibers, such as glass, bonded together by a carrier web which is a blend of inorganic and organic fibers, with the carrier web comprising up to about 10% by weight organic fibers.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,661, 5,011,737, 5,071,608 and 5,098,624 disclose fiber reinforced thermoplastic molded products produced by intimately blending reinforcing glass fibers and thermoplastic fibers into a web and heating the web to the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers while applying pressure to the web to press the web into a consolidated structure.
There is a long-felt need in the industry for a mat for applications such as GMT which can be readily handled, processed and impregnated by the thermoplastic matrix material, good uniformity of glass distribution and flow into complex mold shapes, low composite viscosity and which provides a composite having good surface smoothness and mechanical properties, such as strength and stiffness.

Glass fiber strand mats, thermoplastic composites reinforced with the same and methods for making the same


A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting, receiving, and reproducing digital audio signals as discrete carriers similar to standard FM broadcast signals. An audio signal is digitized using, for example, adaptive delta modulation techniques. Several channels of audio information, such as left and right stereo channels and a second audio program ("SAP") channel can all be digitized and incorporated onto the digital broadcast signal carrier. The digitized audio signal may be modulated using multiphase modulation of the carrier of an FM broadcast band or cable television band signal. A plurality of audio channels may be digitized and transmitted over the airwaves, or over a cable transmission network. Channels of nondigitized audio channels may be interspersed with the digitized audio channels in the Fm broadcast band. Source material for the digitized audio channels may be provided to a cable headend over the cable transmission network in the 5-30 MHz CATV upstream path, and rebroadcast over the cable transmission network in the forward or "downstream" band.

Cable television growth has come from the development of various programming categories and by the technologies which made the delivery of these programs possible. Cable first brought distant TV signals to areas where there was little or no off-air reception. This applies to distant signals and weak signal areas where outdoor antennas are mandatory. The next category to bring major growth to cable was the advent of premium pay services, which became available after the development of reasonable cost satellite delivery systems. After satellite delivery was accepted and became less costly, super stations and cable networks formed another category of programming that has become customary and are often termed "extended basic" services. Franchising and local politics has created a generally unprofitable but necessary category called "local origination". Recently, addressable technology and aggressive marketing have caused "pay-per-view" programming to form another category of programming.
FM (audio) broadcasting over cable has never achieved significant success for two technological reasons: signal quality is poor and there has been no way to collect revenue or control the access to the service.
New digital techniques for the reproduction of sound provide performance that is far superior to analog techniques which have been used in the past. An example of high fidelity sound reproduction using digital techniques can be found in the compact disc technology which has recently enjoyed tremendous success as an alternative to phonograph records and tapes. Digital recording and playback techniques provide reproduction of music that is extremely realistic and free from background noise and distortions which have plagued other high fidelity sound reproduction systems currently in wide scale use.
Commonly owned, U.S Pat. No. 4,821,097, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Providing Digital Audio on the Sound Carrier of a Standard Television Signal", and incorporated herein by reference, discloses a system wherein the FM audio portion of a standard television signal in the TV band is replaced with digital audio. Three digital audio channels are time division multiplexed on the sound carrier, using combined multiphase and AM modulation. The audio signals are digitized using adaptive delta modulation techniques. Video vertical and horizontal framing, as well as the audio carrier phase reference, audio data bit time and frame reference, and various control data is carried using AM modulation. The digital audio information is carried using multiphase modulation. The composite data stream may be serially encrypted to provide security and prevent unauthorized reproduction of the video and/or audio portions of the television signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,981, entitled "Digital Terminal Address Transmitting for CATV", discloses producing digital signals of up to four different modes for transmission over an unused television channel in an existing cable television transmission line. High quality audio signals may be transmitted and/or data channels or monaural audio signals, all of which may be transmitted over the single cable television transmission line. Cable television channels have approximately a 6 MHz bandwidth, and are transmitted in the TV band which ranges in frequency from 50 MHz (channel 2) to 550 MHz (channel 50).
Any distribution system which transmits digital audio data (such as a cable television system) must be such that the transmitted audio signal does not interfere with millions of radio sets already in existence which use conventional analog sound circuits. Thus, such things as the channel width of 400 kilohertz (KHz) for each channel within the FM broadcast band should not be changed, subject to narrow tolerances.

Apparatus and method for providing digital audio in the cable television band


A wireless system includes a semiconductor device including a plurality of functional circuits each having the same function, and a communication device. The semiconductor device modulates and transmits a processing result of each functional circuit using subcarriers each having different frequencies. The communication device extracts a normal response by majority decision from a processing result of each functional circuit received. In this manner, a wireless system with high durability can be provided at low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which transmits and receives data using radio signals. In addition, the present invention relates to an external communication device which transmits and receives radio signals to/from a semiconductor device. In addition, the present invention relates to a wireless system having a semiconductor device and a communication device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a small semiconductor device in which a small IC chip and an antenna for wireless communication are combined (hereinafter referred to as a semiconductor device; and also called an RFID tag, a wireless tag, an ID tag, an RF tag, or a wireless chip) has attracted attention. The semiconductor device can perform noncontact transmission and reception of data, such as writing and reading data, by transmitting or receiving communication signals to/from an external communication device (hereinafter referred to as a communication device; and also called a reader/writer, a controller, or an interrogator).
As an application field of a semiconductor device which transmits and receives data through radio signals, for example, merchandise management in the distribution industry is given. These days merchandise management with a barcode or the like is widespread; however, data cannot be read when there is an interrupting object because data stored in the barcode is optically read. On the other hand, in data transmission and reception without contact through a wireless communication device, since data in a semiconductor device is read wirelessly, it can be read even if there is an interrupting object. Therefore, a promotion of efficiency and a cost reduction in merchandise management are expected. In addition, the semiconductor device is expected to have a broad range of applications such as railway tickets, air tickets, and automatic payment systems (Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2000-149194). A system in which people or objects are distinguished by using a small semiconductor device which transmits and receives data wirelessly is called RFID (radio frequency identification) and it has attracted attention as a fundamental technology in IT society.

Wireless system, semiconductor device, and communication device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. A vortex generator accessory is mounted to either of the suction side or pressure side and includes a base portion and a protrusion member extending upwardly from the base portion. An attachment layer connects the base portion to the suction or pressure side. The attachment layer has a lower shear modulus than the base portion to allow for shear slippage between the base portion and the underlying suction or pressure side.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known foil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.
In many cases, accessory components are attached to the rotor blades of wind turbines to perform various functions during operation of the wind turbine. For example, it is known to change the aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbine rotor blades by adding protrusions or other structures (often referred to as "vortex generators") to the surface of the blade in order to increase the energy conversion efficiency during normal operation of the wind turbine by increasing the lift force of the blades while decreasing the drag force. The vortex generators serve to increase the attached-flow region and to reduce the detached-flow region by moving flow separation nearer the trailing edge of the blade. This is particularly desirable nearer to the blade root in order to increase the overall lift generated by the blade. In particular, the vortex generators create local regions of turbulent airflow over the surface of the blade as a means to prolong flow separation and thus optimize aerodynamic airflow around the blade contour. Conventional vortex generators are typically sheet metal and are defined as "fins" or shaped structures on the suction side of the turbine blade.
The installation techniques and systems for attaching conventional vortex generators can be quite expensive and time consuming, particularly for field installations. For example, typical field installation techniques require the use of attachment fixtures and significant dwell time for curing the attachment adhesives. The adhesives typically are considered hazardous materials and appropriate precautions and protective measures (both equipment and personal) must be taken.
Thus, an improved attachment system for wind turbine rotor blade accessories, particularly vortex generators, would be desired. For example, an attachment system that allows relatively easy, cost-effective, and efficient on-site mounting of vortex generators to a rotor blade without adhesives and attachment fixtures would be advantageous.

Attachment system and method for wind turbine vortex generators


A system for mounting a flat panel television or display to a surface such as a wall. A base plate is configured to operatively connect to a surface, while an adapter plate is configured to operatively connect to a display device. A plurality of connecting arms are used to operatively connect the base plate to the adapter plate. Each of the plurality of connecting arms includes a base plate engagement portion slidably engageable with slots in the base plate and an adapter plate engagement portion operatively connected to the adapter plate. Movement of the base plate engagement portions within the base plate's slots results in a translational movement of the adapter plate relative to the base plate.

In recent years, flat-panel television units have become enormously popular in both the commercial and the residential sectors. As the prices for plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) flat panel displays have continued to fall, and as the quality for the same devices has improved, more and more businesses and individuals have purchased such devices both for business and home entertainment purposes.
One of the advantages of flat-panel television units that customers have found particularly appealing is their relatively low thickness. Because conventional "tube" televisions have a relatively large depth, the display options for such devices are quite limited. In the residential setting, most users require a television stand or large entertainment center to store the television. Such stands or entertainment centers can take up significant floor space, which is often undesirable. In the commercial or educational setting, users will often install large overhead mounting systems that can contain the television. However, these systems usually require professional installation and, once the television is secured in the mount, it is often very difficult to access and adjust due to its height.
With flat-panel televisions, on the other hand, users are presented with a relatively new option: mounting the television directly to a wall. By mounting the television to a wall, a person can eliminate the need to take up potentially valuable floor space with a television stand or entertainment unit. Furthermore, individuals and entities can mount the television at a sufficiently low height to be able to adjust the television's orientation with little difficulty.
Although the introduction of flat-panel televisions on a wide scale has presented new opportunities to both residential and commercial customers, it has also presented new challenges. Over the past few years, a number of wall mounting systems have been developed for use with flat panel televisions, but each has its own drawbacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,109 discloses a wall mounting system that permits a flat panel television to have a limited range of motion once it is mounted to the wall. Although somewhat useful, the system described in this reference has only a limited range of motion, is relatively expensive to manufacture due to the number of components, and provides the user with no ability to rotate the television about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the ground. Additionally, such a system provides the user with no ability to pull the television away from the wall, further limiting the television's range of motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,101 and U.S. Application Publication No. 2004/0245420 disclose mounting systems that provide the television with a greater degree of potential motion. However, the systems described in these references are extremely complex in nature, particularly when an articulating arm is included to permit the television to be pulled away from the wall. More particularly, the articulating arm on such products often has up to three separate joints, each of which adds to the product's complexity and cost to manufacture. The multiple joints also cause additional friction to exist in the system, which can wear out plastic components rather quickly. Additionally, such designs can have significant stability and control issues when the television is pulled away from the wall, as the mass of the television creates a significant moment that can place significant forces on the single articulating arm. This can pose both product integrity and safety issues. Furthermore, such systems can be so large, heavy and bulky that installation becomes exceedingly difficult, often requiring two or more persons to correctly install the device. This is particularly problematic for flat panel televisions, which are often heavier than conventional tube televisions. Lastly, such mounting systems often cannot "collapse" into a very low profile when the television is not intended to be extended away from the wall. This can result in a loss of space in a room and create the appearance of increased clutter.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a wall mounting system that is simple in design, easy to install, while still being constructed to permit users to orient a flat panel display in a variety of positions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A device and method for simultaneously manipulating multiple data storage cartridges or other storage elements in a storage library. The device housing includes an opening for receiving data storage cartridges. A gripping mechanism extends from the opening. The gripping mechanism is adapted to grip a data storage cartridge to be retrieved and to urge the data storage cartridge into the opening. One or more transport mechanisms are attached to one or more inner walls of the housing. The transport mechanisms are adapted such that once a data storage cartridge moves into the opening, the transport mechanisms will urge the data storage cartridge further into the opening until the data storage cartridge is held within the housing. The data storage cartridge can be moved further into the housing such that the gripping mechanism is free to collect additional cartridges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for manipulating data storage cartridges in a library of data storage cartridges or other storage elements in a storage library.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern data storage libraries may contain vast numbers of data storage cartridges other storage elements, such as floppy disks, DVDs, CDs. To handle the vast number of cartridges or other storage elements, one or more robotic devices having a manipulating member, which may be referred to as a hands, move within the library. The robots and associated hands retrieve data storage cartridges from the library and deliver the data storage cartridges to one or more data storage cartridge readers. Similarly, the robots and associated hands deliver data storage cartridges from the readers back to the library.
Because the number of data storage cartridges contained in a library can be extremely large, efficient use of space is a priority. Thus, data storage cartridges are packed closely together and the library is designed such that there exists a minimum number of aisles of mostly empty space. Aisles may be horizontal and vertical, or curved. Although aisles are necessary to allow the robots and hands to retrieve data storage cartridges, each aisle reduces the total number of data storage cartridges that may be stored in a particular room.
Reducing the number of aisles and increasing the number of data storage cartridges stored in a library is desirable. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved apparatus and method for manipulating multiple data storage cartridges using a single robot having a single hand.


In a method for scraping off automatically an excessive portion of a workpiece by a cutting tool, a surface shape of the excessive portion of the workpiece is measured, a cross-sectional area variation of the excessive portion along a feed course in which the cutting tool will proceed during a cutting operation thereof is calculated from the measured surface shape of the excessive portion, and the excessive portion is scraped off in the feed course with a feed speed of the cutting tool which is changed in accordance with the calculated cross-sectional area variation of the excessive portion along the feed course, so that the larger the calculated cross-sectional area of the excessive portion is, the smaller the feed speed of the cutting tool is, and the smaller the calculated cross-sectional area of the excessive portion is, the larger the feed speed of the cutting tool is.

The present invention relates to a method for scraping off automatically an excessive portion, for example, a burr, a bead weld or the like, of a workpiece.
In a conventional method for scraping off automatically the excessive portion of the workpiece, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 62-246465, a surface shape measuring sensor mounted on a forward end of a robot hand measures a central line, height and width of a bead weld of a workpiece, a desired surface shape under the bead weld is calculated thereon, and a cutting tool is pressed repeatedly against the bead weld with a constant pressing force range to scrape off the bead weld until the desired surface shape is obtained.

Method for scraping off excessive portion of workpiece


Embedded systems are provided, which includes a processing unit and a memory. The processing unit simultaneously executes first thread having a flag for performing a data acquisition operation and second thread for performing a data process and output operation for the acquired data in the data acquisition operation. The flag is used for indicating whether a state of the first thread is in an execution state or a sleep state. The memory which is coupled to the processing unit provides a shared buffer for the first and second threads. Before executing the second thread, the flag is checked to determine whether to execute the second thread, wherein the second thread is executed when the flag indicates the sleep state while execution of the second thread is suspended when the flag indicates the execution state.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to embedded systems and methods for thread and buffer management thereof, and, more particularly to embedded systems and methods for threads and buffer management thereof capable of simultaneously processing multiple threads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Embedded systems have been widely implemented in various fields, such as machine controllers, set-top boxes of tool machines, information home appliances, mobile phones, trip computers and so on. The embedded system is mainly used for remote controlling and data acquisition to perform remote monitoring of the tool machine and frequency diagnosis operation of the tool machine in the case of a set-top box for the tool machine. Generally, when the tool machine performs the frequency diagnosis operation, the set-top box of the tool machine should keep in high speed and stable acquiring frequency for acquiring data from the tool machine. The acquired data is processed first and the processed data is transmitted to the remote side. If the acquiring frequency of data is not stable during the data acquisition operation (i.e. the data can not be acquired at a stable frequency), misjudgment may be caused due to the insufficiency of the acquired data. However, due to the cost consideration, the embedded system is typically composed of a cheap central processing unit (CPU), thus its operation capability may be limited. When the processing unit of the embedded system requires to acquire data, process the acquired data and output the processed data simultaneously, the processing unit may not be capable of executing the thread, which requires to acquire data on time, in time to acquire data on schedule due to the limited operation capability of the processing unit and/or previously acquired data may not be processed on time leading to out of the memory. Then, the acquiring will be delayed and stability of signal acquiring will be affected.
Recently, with the growths in computer techniques and processor architectures advance, processors with multi-cores have become more and more popular. The multi-core indicates a technology that implements concurrent processing of multiple threads at the same time on hardware. Due to the better performance and the well hardware support of the multi-core processor, the processing/computer systems with the multi-core processor can execute more than one thread at the same time so as to improve overall processing performance. Due to the cost consideration, the embedded system adapting a single-core processor is generally used and the single-core is utilized to simultaneously perform the data acquisition and data process operations. To prevent the acquiring frequency from being affected by real time diagnosis processing, producer and consumer modes are utilized to separately perform the data acquisition operation by one thread (i.e. the producer) and perform the data process operation by another thread (i.e. the consumer) so as to avoid interference and waiting between each other. However, although the data acquisition and data process operations can be separated by using different threads, the execution order between the two types of threads can not be controlled by the processor since the execution order still follows the sequence scheduled by the operation system (OS). Thus, stability of data acquisition (i.e. stably acquiring data on schedule) may not be guaranteed when the processor and memory loading in the embedded system is almost full. In addition, a shared memory (also referred to as shared buffer) is utilized to be accessed by different threads. Since the storage space of the shared memory (buffer) is limited, it may easily become out of memory after a long time operation, thereby resulting in data loss.
It is therefore a desire to provide a method for threads control and buffer management for use in the embedded system that may, under a condition that the hardware cost for the embedded system is not significantly increased and the specifications of the processor and the memory within the embedded system are not enhanced, keep acquiring data with high frequency and performing data process and output operation at the same time without the drawbacks of acquiring data with unstable acquiring frequency and resulting in data loss due to the problems of insufficient spaces of the memory buffer.

Embedded systems and methods for threads and buffer management thereof


In a closed-loop wireless communication system, a codebook-based precoding feedback compression mechanism is provided to remove redundancy from the precoding feedback that is caused by channel correlation in time and frequency. Redundancy due to temporal correlation of the transmission channel is removed by sending precoding feedback only if there is a change in the precoder state for the channel to the receiver. Redundancy due to frequency correlation is removed by run length encoding the precoding feedback, thereby compressing the precoding feedback prior in the frequency domain. By compressing the precoding feedback, the average rate of precoder feedback is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed in general to field of information processing. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a system and method for reducing precoding feedback in MIMO communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication systems transmit and receive signals within a designated electromagnetic frequency spectrum, but the capacity of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum is limited. As the demand for wireless communication systems continues to expand, there are increasing challenges to improve spectrum usage efficiency. To improve the communication capacity of the systems while reducing the sensitivity of the systems to noise and interference and limiting the power of the transmissions, a number of wireless communication techniques have been proposed, such as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), which is a transmission method involving multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas. For example, space division multiple access (SDMA) systems can be implemented as closed-loop systems to improve spectrum usage efficiency. SDMA has recently emerged as a popular technique for the next generation communication systems. SDMA based methods have been adopted in several current emerging standards such as IEEE 802.16 and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) platform.
FIG. 1 depicts a MIMO wireless communication system 100 in which a transmitter 102 having a first antenna array 106 communicates with receiver 104 having a second antenna array 108, where each antenna array includes one or more antennas. The communication system 100 may be any type of wireless communication system, including but not limited to a MIMO system, SDMA system, CDMA system, OFDMA system, OFDM system, etc. In the communication system 100, the transmitter 102 may act as a base station, while the receiver 104 acts as a subscriber station, which can be virtually any type of wireless one-way or two-way communication device such as a cellular telephone, wireless equipped computer system, and wireless personal digital assistant. Of course, the receiver/subscriber station 104 can also transmits signals which are received by the transmitter/base station 102. The signals communicated between transmitter 102 and receiver 104 can include voice, data, electronic mail, video, and other data, voice, and video signals. In operation, the transmitter 102 transmits a signal data stream (e.g., signal s1) through one or more antennas 106 and over a channel H1 to a receiver 104, which combines the received signal from one or more receive antennas 108 to reconstruct the transmitted data. To transmit the signal vector s1, the transmitter 102 prepares a transmission signal, represented by the vector x1, for the signal s1. (Note: lower case bold variables indicate vectors and upper case BOLD variables indicate matrices). The transmission signal vector x1 is transmitted via a channel represented by a channel matrix H1, and is received at the receiver 104 as a receive signal vector y1=H1x1+n1 (where n represents co-channel interference or noise). The channel matrix H1 represents a channel gain between the transmitter antenna array 106 and the subscriber station antenna array 108. Thus, the channel matrix H1 can be represented by an k×N matrix of complex coefficients, where N is the number of antennas in the transmitter/base station antenna array 106 and k is the number of antennas in the receiver/subscriber station antenna array 108. The value of k can be unique for each receiver/subscriber station. As will be appreciated, the channel matrix H1 can instead be represented by a N×k matrix of complex coefficients, in which case the matrix manipulation algorithms are adjusted accordingly so that, for example, the right singular vector calculation on a k×N channel matrix becomes a left singular vector calculation on a N×k channel matrix. The coefficients of the channel matrix H1 depend, at least in part, on the transmission characteristics of the medium, such as air, through which a signal is transmitted. A variety of methods may be used at the receiver to determine the channel matrix H1 coefficients, such as transmitting a known pilot signal to a receiver so that the receiver, knowing the pilot signal, can estimate the coefficients of the channel matrix H1 using well-known pilot estimation techniques. Alternatively, when the channel between the transmitter and receiver are reciprocal in both directions, the actual channel matrix H1 is known to the receiver and may also be known to the transmitter.
While the benefits of MIMO are realizable when the receiver 104 alone knows the communication channel, these benefits are further enhanced in "closed-loop" MIMO systems when the transmitter 102 has some level of knowledge concerning the channel response between each transmit antenna element and each receive antenna element. Precoding systems provide an example application of closed-loop systems which exploit channel-side information at the transmitter ("CSIT"). With precoding systems, CSIT can be used with a variety of communication techniques to operate on the transmit signal before transmitting from the transmit antenna array 106. Examples of precoding techniques including providing a multi-mode beamformer function to optimally match the input signal on one side to the channel on the other side, applying weighting and combining values to the beams, and selectively allocating power to one or more of the beams, based on the transmission channel conditions.
To apply MIMO precoding at the transmitter 102, full broadband channel knowledge at the transmitter 102 may be obtained by using uplink sounding techniques (e.g., with Time Division Duplexing (TDD) systems). Alternatively, channel feedback techniques can be used with MIMO systems (e.g., with TDD or Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) systems) to feed back channel information to the transmitter 102. One way of implementing precoding over a low rate feedback channel is to use codebook-based precoding to reduce the amount of feedback as compared to full channel feedback. However, such precoding feedback can easily use up the usually small bandwidth allocated to the feedback control channel due to the multiplicity of the precoder coefficients and/or receiver stations in the system 100. As a result, the limited feedback resources of conventional codebook-based systems can be overwhelmed by unacceptably high feedback data rates.
Accordingly, an efficient feedback methodology is needed to provide precoding feedback to the transmitter using a codebook to reduce the size of the feedback signal while sustaining a minimal loss in link performance. There is also a need for an improved feedback system which avoids degrading uplink performance and reduces long feedback delay. In addition, there is a need for a system and methodology for reducing the average precoder feedback rate to reduce uplink performance loss and feedback delay. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional processes and technologies will become apparent to one of skill in the art after reviewing the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings and detailed description which follow.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for purposes of promoting and improving clarity and understanding. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the drawings to represent corresponding or analogous elements.

Feedback reduction for MIMO precoded system by exploiting channel correlation


The present application discloses a vehicle monitoring method and apparatus, processor, and image acquisition device. The method includes: identifying a vehicle window area image in a vehicle image obtained through monitoring; performing feature identification on the vehicle window area image to obtain an identification result of a target feature; performing human eye sensory processing on the vehicle image and the vehicle window area image respectively, and stitching the processed vehicle image and the processed vehicle window area image to obtain a processed image; and outputting the identification result of the target feature and the processed image. The present application solves the technical problem of relatively low identification rate in vehicle monitoring by image detection.

Currently, high-definition checkpoint systems are provided with a high-definition webcam (also be referred as "snapshot machine"), which may snapshot an image and is provided with pattern identification technologies such as detecting of the driver's human face, seatbelt detection, and sun-shading board detection. For a user, it is required that the image shot by the snapshot machine is clear and easy to be identified so as to facilitate providing data support for the maintenance of public safety, crime detection, investigation, and searching for clues after time business events such as fleeing from the scene of an accident.
Based on the above business requirement, the snapshot machine generally will select a area of interest in the shot vehicle image for image processing or feature identification. In the prior art, the accuracy of image processing is inadequate. Moreover, during the image processing, the effect of factors such as the vehicle model of the vehicle that is monitored and preliminary image processing on the result of the feature identification. As a result, its result of feature identification or image processing is not ideal. There exists a problem of relatively low rate of image detection identification of the vehicle that is monitored.
Currently, no effective solution has been proposed for the above described problem.

Vehicle monitoring method and apparatus, processor, and image acquisition device

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.


A locking assembly for a non-pivotable door is provided. The locking assembly comprises a spacer plate defining a spacer plate bolt void and a strike plate defining a strike plate bolt void. The spacer plate and strike plate are to be coupled to one another and further fixedly coupled to the non-pivotable door, such that the spacer plate bolt void and the strike plate bolt void are aligned. The locking assembly further comprises a locking mechanism and a housing, which is configured to receive and contain the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a latch bolt that is moveable between a retracted position within the housing and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the latch bolt extends outwardly from the housing and into each of the spacer plate bolt void and the strike plate bolt void, thereby locking the non-pivotable door to the housing.

Door lock and latch assemblies are generally known in the art for use in latching and locking doors. Deadbolt locks are commonly and widely used in residential homes, apartments, commercial buildings, and other settings where it is desired to secure an entry against unwanted intrusion. Deadbolt locks are used in some instances as the sole means to lock an entry door, and in other instances in conjunction with other locking mechanisms. Latch and lock assemblies, including deadbolt locks, typically include one or more latch members mounted along a free side edge of a pivotable door and adapted to engage with associated keeper devices mounted on an adjacent doorjamb.


The handling of large amounts of data on storing media shall be simplified. Therefore, a method for maintaining a storage media by generating, editing or reading log data related to the content and usage of a data item stored or to be stored on a storage medium is provided. Data items are deleted or recommendations for deletion are provided on the basis of the log data from the storage medium. Thus, the user is relieved from the unpleasant and time-consuming task of deleting data items from recording media.

The increase of media capacities for DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and DVR (Disk for Digital Video Recording) provides new dimensions for the private recording. While in the past only two or three movies could be stored on a single recording medium like a VHS tape for example, in the future it will be possible to store much more movies on the larger volume capacities, e.g. 40 movies a disc. Another change is enforced by the fact that the storage medium for recording is a digital one and therefore different application contents like photo, audio, e-books and movies will be stored on the same single medium.
The handling of such a data amount is not easy for the user. In fact metadata (data about data) will be added to navigate within and to select the desired items, but there is no solution for the maintenance of data. What will happen when the medium becomes full and therefore a record task request cannot be executed? The user will have to delete some other data. This is a very unpleasant and also time-consuming task.
The reason for this is that the deleting of recorded material on a DVD or DVR has to be done manually. The user has to determine and explicitly select those date to be deleted.


A preform forming machine for producing a three-dimensional dry fiber preform may include a forming block assembly and a clamping plate assembly. The forming block assembly may have a forming table and a forming block and may be positionable in a series of forming block assemblies. The clamping plate assembly may have a clamping table and a clamping plate and may be positionable in a series of clamping plate assemblies arranged in opposing relation to the series of forming block assemblies. Each forming block may be configured to fold a ply stack over onto itself to form a web of a preform. Each clamping plate may be configured to clamp the ply stack to the forming table during the folding of the ply stack.

Composites are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, in aircraft construction, composites are used in increasing quantities to form the fuselage, wings, and tail section of conventional tube-and-wing aircraft. Composites may also be used in hybrid wing/body aircraft wherein the fuselage may be blended and integrated with the wings. Composite structures may include reinforcing elements to increase the overall strength and stiffness of the composite structure. For example, a composite panel may include a number of composite stiffeners such as frames and stringers that may be coupled to a composite skin member to increase the overall strength and stiffness of the composite panel. In one method of fabricating composite panels, a plurality of three-dimensional stringers may be formed as preforms of dry fabric material. The stringer preforms may be assembled to a relatively flat or curved skin preform. The skin and stringer preform assembly may be infused with resin and allowed to cure to form a final composite panel which may be used to form an airframe of an aircraft.
Conventional methods for forming three-dimensional stringer preforms include multiple hand operations to assemble, fold, and stitch the dry fabric. For example, conventional methods for forming stringer preforms require manually laying up or stacking individual pieces or plies of dry fabric into a ply stack. The method may additionally include manually positioning fabric ply doublers at one or more locations along a length of the ply stack. The ply stack may then be hand-folded to form a web which may be tack-stitched by hand and loaded into a stitching jig for inserting one or more web seams. Following the stitching of the web, the partially-formed stringer may be debulked, and manually-positioned in a preform assembly jig. After mounting in the assembly jig, the stringer flanges may be hand-formed, radius fillers may be installed, and tear straps may be manually applied over the flanges.
Unfortunately, the above-described preform forming process relies extensively on skilled touch labor which presents several drawbacks. For example, the large number of operations required for manually laying up, folding, and tack-stitching the dry fabric results in a lengthy cycle time for producing each stringer preform. For certain composite structures, a large quantity of stringer preforms may significantly add to the production schedule for the composite structure. Variations in stringer cross-section, variations in flange width, and localized ply doubler buildups along the stringer length add to the complexity and time required to fabricate each stringer preform. In addition, the high degree of accuracy required for forming each stringer preform may result in significant dimensional variation between stringer preforms and an excessively-high rejection rate requiring rework that may add to production costs.
As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a system and method of forming a stringer preform that requires a minimal amount of recurring skilled touch labor. In addition, there exists a need in the art for a system and method of forming a stringer preform in a reduced amount of time and at reduced cost. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a system and method of forming stringer preforms with a high degree of accuracy and with minimal dimensional variation between stringer preforms.

System and method for producing a three-dimensional dry fiber preform


Improvements are provided in processing of documents to increase their security and/or decrease the complexity of testing for authenticity. Methods for printing documents with security markings and methods and apparatus for authenticating documents are described. In one aspect a document is printed with a security marking comprised of an image printed in at least two image segments. The image can be printed with an ink capable of forming images which are visible both to viewing under white light and as fluorescent images when irradiated with ultraviolet light, the segments having features of different sizes. The relative sizes of the two image segments will provide a detectable difference in fluorescent image sharpness. The apparatus provides means, all of which are simple and easily available for carrying out the methods.

The invention relates to security markings; and, more particularly, to fragile watermarks employing inks having the ability to print images that can be viewed as visible images under white light illumination and as fluorescent images when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The invention makes practical use of a limitation of photosensitive optically variable (POV) inks or other inks which produce sharp visible images but less than sharp fluorescent images.
The use of watermarks per se has been available for centuries to provide desired, visible images for security and other purposes. Circumvention of these watermarks is a simple matter of using paper or printing to duplicate the mark. High-resolution scanners and printers, especially when coupled with reverse engineering, can be used to thwart many security markings, and advances in digital technology make security an increasingly difficult task. Fragile watermarks, ones that might not be recognizable to the eye and are not easily reproduced, are being introduced to provide additional levels of security.
Fragile watermarks are being developed to counter both software and hardware improvements in digital reproduction technology capabilities which, left unchecked, would soon make copying and counterfeiting most conventional images possible. A fragile watermark is an image with components, e.g., features that are difficult to undetectably duplicate. For instance, information in the form of a plurality of numbers and/or characters that represent some fact, i.e., date, etc., can be embedded in an image in a manner that the embedded information will change in appearance when the image is scanned or photocopied. In most cases, fragile watermarks can thwart copying efforts, but often require individual or time-consuming forensic evaluation. Unfortunately, sorting mail pieces or bank notes by the thousands cannot be simply accomplished with document by document evaluation.
Examples of fragile watermarks are found in several copending and commonly-assigned patent applications. The principles described in these and other patent documents provide useful procedures to enhance security of postal and other documents. It would be desirable to have a wide range of such procedures that could be used alternatively or in combination to decrease the incentive for counterfeiters to make unauthorized copies.
In U.S. Patent Application Pub. 20030052178, published Mar. 20, 2003, by Claude Zeller, Robert A. Cordery, Donald G. MacKay and William A. Brosseau, a Method for embedding information in an image is described. According to the disclosure, a composite image is produced that includes first and second images. The second image embeds information in the first image in a manner that the second image will change in appearance when the first and second images are scanned or photocopied.
In a related application, U.S. Patent Application Pub. 20030002711, published Jan. 2, 2003, Claude Zeller, Robert A. Cordery, Donald G. MacKay and William A. Brosseau, describe a method for reading information that has been embedded in an image. They proved a method for detecting a copy of a composite image that includes a first image and a second image. Information is embedded in the second image that will change in appearance when the first and second images are scanned or photocopied. This is accomplished by scanning the first and second images, and detecting a change in appearance of the second image that indicates the first and second images were scanned or photocopied.
In another related application, U.S. Patent Application Pub. 20020176114, published Nov. 28, 2002, Claude Zeller, Donald G. MacKay William Kilmartin, and William A. Brosseau, James Euchner and Robert A. Cordery, describe a method for utilizing a fragile watermark for enhanced security. According to this disclosure, a method is provided that detects when an image is copied or scanned in order to reduce the production of fraudulent images. This permits an inspector to conduct an analysis of an image with a simple set of tools on site without the need to check a remote database through a network and look for duplicate images. This minimizes the infrastructure and cost required to implement the system. A local inspection can be made by scanning an image and decoding it with relatively inexpensive tools available on site. The foregoing is accomplished by producing a fragile watermark image that produces a noticeable and measurable loss of information when it is reproduced. The loss of information is due to effects associated with scanning and printing processes.
U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20020195586 to Judith D. Auslander, John Griffiths and John Mama and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20030041774 to Judith D. Auslander and Richard A. Bernard, describe inks for ink jet printing, which have the ability to print images that can be viewed as visible images under white light illumination and as fluorescent images when irradiated with ultraviolet light. These inks greatly facilitate high speed printing of documents such as mailpieces where this combination of properties has great utility. These photosensitive optically variable (POV) inks provide readable images due to both positive and negative contrast. The term negative contrast refers to the property of the fluorescent image being the reverse or negative of the visible image. Thus, where the dark printed ink is illuminated with white light, it appears as a positive image and the same image printed with a POV ink appears as the negative when illuminated with fluorescent-exciting radiation. The inks have been suggested as possibly useful for security purposes because of a strong need for printing security markings which exhibit high contrast, preferably black, and simultaneously exhibit fluorescence. These inks, however, have the disadvantage typical of fluorescent ink, especially those formulated for ink jet printing, that the sharpness of the fluorescent images has limitations when the print size is reduced too much or the print pattern becomes too complex. It would be desirable to provide a security system utilizing POV inks that practical resolution problems associated with fluoresced images where image features are too small or closely spaced.
U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20030005303 to Judith D. Auslander, Robert A. Cordery and Claude Zeller, describes a method and system for validating a security marking that can use inks of the type above. That method includes the steps of acquiring a first image of the security marking in the visible wavelength range under illumination of visible light, also acquiring a second image of the security marking from the fluorescent emission under excitation illumination, and using the first and second images to verify authenticity of the item. The method does not require high-resolution fluorescent images, and use of POV inks in the production of fragile watermarks would seem a use unattainable. The inventors note therein that the prior art has provided inks for rotary and other letter press postage meters to imprint indicia on envelopes with platens using ink impregnated into foam or other porous media. Red-fluorescent, colored inks have been made for letterpress meters and include red, blue, green and black inks. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,681,317, 2,763,785, 3,230,221, 3,560,238, 3,928,226 and 4,015,131 disclose such red-fluorescent inks.
Presently, security markings can be produced with fragile watermarks or with POV ink, but the advantages or manner of combining the methods have not been previously recognized. There remains a need for fragile watermarks that are simple to print and to test.

Fragile water mark printed with two component inks and process


A system for cleaning litter in a poultry house by removing caked litter while leaving uncaked litter. The system comprises a separator that connects and disconnects to the front bucket of a skid-steer loader while the operator remains seated. The separator and bucket couple via a bucket and separator coupling. One coupling comprises two spaced apart parallel arms that insert into corresponding sleeves that form the other coupling. Connecting requires aligned forward loader movement with the separator on the ground while disconnecting requires reverse loader movement. The separator comprises a chassis supporting a blade that forces litter into the separator. A plurality of spikes on a rotating reel forcefully break the entering litter into smaller pieces as an integral ramp feeds the litter onto an upwardly moving conveyor. Several perforations in the plates comprising the conveyor permit uncaked litter to fall through onto a return chute while caked litter is retained by a plate lip until being deposited in the bucket. The separator is powered by a hydraulic motor assembly employing a quick-coupling split shaft with automatically mating halves. When removing caked litter, the operator drives the loader through the house while pushing the separator to sift the litter. When the bucket gets full, the operator disconnects the separator and dumps the bucket. The separator is then reconnected to the loader bucket to continue cleaning.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to powered devices that separate used litter from unused litter when cleaning poultry facilities More specifically, this invention pertains to an apparatus that quick couples to a conventional bucket to remove caked litter from a poultry house and a method of using the apparatus. Prior art may be found in U.S. Class 209 and the various subclasses thereunder.
II. Description of the Prior Art
As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, litter is often placed on the floor of a poultry facility or the like to maintain reasonably sanitary conditions therein. The litter, often comprised of sawdust, wood shavings, chips, hulls etc., absorbs excretions and/or excess water to prevent the flock from being constantly exposed to disease causing contaminants. This litter layer is usually about two inches thick.
As time passes, the absorbed materials eventually saturate the uppermost layer of litter (generally the first half inch of litter). The saturated litter forms an impenetrable crust that is commonly referred to as a "caked" layer. The "caked" layer prevents subsequent excretions from being properly absorbed by the relatively clean litter underneath the caked layer. The caked layer also causes an undesirable buildup of ammonia gas. Thus, the facility must be periodically cleaned to remove the used litter to maintain sanitary conditions.
A simplistic solution would be to remove all of the litter, including the caked top layer and the unused litter underneath. However, this solution would waste litter that was not yet saturated by contaminants. Since wasted litter is expensive to replace, a more practical approach is to scrape off and remove the top caked layer while leaving the unused litter underneath Several prior art methods and machines have been proposed to retain clean litter while removing filthy caked litter.
A traditional method of removing contaminated caked litter from poultry facilities or houses employs small tractors equipped with front end buckets and/or small front end loaders (commonly referred to as "skid-steer" loaders) Further, since most chicken houses have ceilings varying from 6 feet to 12 feet, larger tractors and/or front end loaders simply will not work inside the houses.
To clean the house, the operator drives the tractor or front end loader about the house while only scraping off the top caked layer with their front bucket. Since both of these machines are quite maneuverable, they may be adeptly driven in the tight confines of most facilities to quickly clean it.
Unfortunately, this "free hand" method of scraping demands a skilled and patient operator to enjoy any degree of success. Furthermore, even seasoned operators have trouble differentiating the caked top layer from the clean litter underneath since the front blade of the bucket is hidden during scraping. As a result, the "free hand" method usually collects too much clean litter with the caked litter.
Machines known as "caking" machines have been developed to overcome the difficulties associated with "free hand" scraping. Caking machines increase both the speed and efficiency of scraping by also separating the litter. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,183, 3,738,579, 3,483,960, 3,263,257, 3,412,943, and 5,297,745 all show similar caking machines.
All of the known caking machines are intended to be pulled behind a draft vehicle (ie., a tractor or the like) to clean a house. As the caking machines are pulled over the litter, a front blade scrapes across the litter to remove the top and adjacent layers. Generally, a hydraulic motor powers an intermediate screened conveyor that separates the caked litter from the unused litter as the litter moves longitudinally. The caked litter is then dumped into an integral collecting bed while the unused litter is returned to the floor.
One vexatious problem experienced with known caking machines involves their lack of maneuverability. In other words, the articulated combination of the tractor and the caking machine is exceptionally difficult to drive inside a typical poultry house. This is especially problematic in house corners where the caking machines always leave an uncleaned area because of their articulated structure.
Another problem arises with dumping the collected caked litter. Since the caked litter is ordinarily quite rich in nitrates and other plant nutrients, it is normally spread over a nearby field as fertilizer to dispose of it advantageously While a few of the known caking machines may also be used as spreaders, most caking machines must be unloaded and the litter transferred to a different machine for spreading (i.e., a fertilizer truck or buggy or the like).
The accumulated caked litter is normally dumped outside the house in a convenient pile during cleaning. In order to dump, the operator must discontinue scraping and drive outside the house. Such a disruption can easily cause the operator to forget the cleaning cessation location. Moreover, the articulated tractor and spreader combination is difficult to back up and turn around Consequently, most operators simply drive forward over the uncleaned litter. This forward movement contributes to operator confusion since the caking machine often wipes out the delineation between clean and uncleaned litter. Of course, this problem could be overcome if the operator only dumped when trips through the house were finished. However, dumping unnecessarily is inefficient and time consuming.
When finished cleaning the house, the pile of caked litter is loaded into a spreader. Often, the tractor pulling the caking machine is also used to load the dumped litter into the spreader. If so, time is wasted when uncoupling and recoupling the caking machine. A proposed solution for this dilemma involves using caking machines that double as spreaders. However, these types of caking machines are even more hindered when collecting caked litter. For example, spreaders typically have large "flotation" type wheels to traverse fields while carrying heavy loads of litter. The flotation wheels help prevent the spreaders from getting stuck in wet and/or muddy areas. Further, it is desirable for spreaders to have large capacities so that trips from the house to the field are minimized. However, both of these characteristics only accentuate maneuverability problems to inside the confines of a conventional poultry house.
Thus, an efficient caking machine that maneuvered more easily inside a conventional poultry house would be a significant improvement. A caking machine that facilitated operations in corners and adjacent support columns would be an especially desirous improvement. An ideal caking machine would combine the maneuvering characteristics of conventional bucket equipped tractors and/or front end loaders with the separating abilities of conventional caking machines.
A caking machine that simplifies and quickens the transfer of collected litter to a spreader would also be desirable. Such a machine would ideally quick couple to the draft vehicle. A machine that permitted the operator to couple and uncouple the draft vehicle without leaving his seat would be particularly desirable. Also, if the caking machine was left in place during litter dumping, it would desirably eliminate confusion regarding the location of cleaning cessation.

Apparatus and method for removing caked litter from a poultry facility


Automatic spotlighting of participant video feeds in a video conference are based on one or more triggers detected in the participant video feeds. Participant video feeds are added to a spotlight video queue. The participant video feeds are elevated to an active spotlight status based on certain criteria. The participant video feeds that are elevated to the active spotlight status are displayed adjacent to a host video feed on a display.

Conference software helps people all around the world to connect with one another every day in a variety of business and personal settings. A conference implemented over conference software may be video-enabled to allow participants to see each other in real-time and may also accommodate participants interacting with others through audio alone. Conference platforms use network connections with participant devices to facilitate audio and/or video communications between participants. The growing ubiquity of network-connected devices enables more and more people to communicate over conferences every day.

Automatic spotlight in video conferencing


A beverage making pack may include a flexible container having a beverage making space, a pack body to which the flexible container is coupled and which has a pack opening communicating with the beverage making space and a seating part seated on a fermentation tank module, a tube connected to a lower portion of the pack body and accommodated in the flexible container, and a cap configured to open/close the pack opening.

Beverages are collectively referred to as drinkable liquids such as alcoholic drinks and teas. For example, the beverages may be classified into various categories including water (drinking water) for solving thirst, a fruit drink having unique scent and taste, a soft drink providing a feeling of refreshment, a favorite beverage expected to have an arousal effect, an alcoholic beverage having an alcoholic effect, and the like.
Beer is a representative example of such beverages. The beer is an alcoholic drink produced by making juice using malt made by sprouting barley, filtering the juice, adding hops to the filtered juice, and then fermenting the juice using yeast.
A consumer may buy ready-made products produced and sold by beer manufacturers or may drink house beer (or craft beer) produced by directly fermenting materials of beer in a house or a bar.
The house beer may be manufactured in various kinds as compared with the ready-made products, and may be manufactured in accordance with tastes of consumers.
Materials for producing beer may include water, malt, hops, yeast, scent additives, and the like.
The yeast may ferment the malt while being added to the malt, and may help to produce alcohol and carbonic acid.
The scent additives correspond to additives such as fruits, syrup, and vanilla beans, which increase taste of the beer.
In general, the house beer may be produced by totally three steps including a wort generating step, a fermentation step, and a mature step, and two weeks to three weeks may be consumed from the wort generating step to the mature step.
It is important that the house beer maintains an optimum temperature during the fermentation step, and as the house beer is manufactured more simply, convenience of a user may be improved.
In recent years, a beverage maker has gradually been used which may easily produce beer in a house or a bar, and it is preferable that such a beverage maker safely and easily produces beer.

Beverage making pack and beverage maker including same


A method of forming an optical transmission flow cell that includes forming a fluid pathway cavity though a housing, and forming an optical pathway cavity through the housing and through the fluid pathway cavity, the optical pathway cavity configured to receive an optical fiber to emit light through the fluid pathway cavity. Material is added at a transition between the optical pathway cavity and fluid pathway cavity to form a surface at the transition configured to prevent formation of air pockets within fluid in the optical pathway cavity.

Identifying fluid substances using optical based methods such as ultraviolet visible spectrum (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, luminescence, vibrational spectroscopy, or the like can require substantial accuracy in measurements. Real-time monitoring of these diverse fluids, including liquids, emulsions, or the like can be critical for process control. Often, such real time monitoring involves detection of at least one chemical component or all chemical constituents of the fluid. To achieve this goal, sensor probes are utilized in the form of a physical transducer in operational contact with the fluid and the auxiliary components of the sensor probe to bring the signal to and from the sensor probe. Sensor probes can utilize different detection principles where the sensor probe deliver a certain type of energy to the fluid and detects the change in this delivered energy as a result of an interaction with the fluid. Nonlimiting examples of such energy include electromagnetic, electric, acoustic, mechanical, thermal energy. Non-limiting examples include electrical detection principles such as conductivity, capacitance, impedance, and optical detection principles such as UV-VIS spectroscopy, luminescence, near-infrared spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy. The probe types can involve transmission- or insert-types of probes. One example of a transmission-type probe is a flow cell.
A flow cell provides fluid into contact with energy created by the probe. Thus, each flow cell includes an inlet for providing the fluid to be tested, and an inlet for infrared light, ultraviolet light, sound, or similar energy types to come in contact with the fluid.
A common challenge in conventional sensor probes is the formation of pockets of air, or air bubbles, and other types of inhomogeneities on the probe surface or in the detection region that adversely affect the sensor response. The common adverse effect is the loss of accuracy of measurements resulting from the pockets of air and other types of inhomogeneities. Specifically, the pockets of air prevent the full contact of the needed sample volume with the energy delivered by the probe.

Sensor probe assembly and method of forming


A bicycle rim brake assembly includes a fastening shaft, a mounting part, a pair of brake arms and a pair of brake shoe attaching parts. The fastening shaft extends in an axial direction and is configured for attachment to a portion of a bicycle frame adjacent to the bicycle wheel. The mounting part includes a fastening portion that is configured such that the fastening shaft extends through the fastening portion. The mounting part and the fastening portion are movable between a plurality of mounting positions relative to the fastening shaft along a first direction that intersects the axial direction. The brake arms are supported in a freely pivotal manner on an outer perimeter of the mounting part. The brake shoe attaching parts are provided on respective ones of the brake arms.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle rim brake assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle rim brake assembly configured to apply a braking force to a rim of a wheel of a bicycle.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One component that has been extensively redesigned is the bicycle brake assembly.
One well-known example of a bicycle rim brake assembly is the caliper brake. A caliper brake is configured to apply a braking force to the wheel of a bicycle by pinching the rim of the wheel with a pair of brake shoes attached to a pair of brake arms. Caliper brakes are designed such that the position of the brake shoes can be adjusted up and down so that the brake shoes contact appropriate surfaces on the rim. In a conventional caliper brake, a vertically elongated oblong hole is provided in each brake arm and a bolt for fastening the brake shoe is inserted through each oblong hole. With this conventional design, the process of adjusting the vertical positions of the two brake shoes is troublesome because the vertical position of each of the two brake shoes must be adjusted separately.
Another example of a bicycle rim brake assembly is a center pull caliper brakes that includes a fastening arm that supports the brake arms on a bicycle such that brake arms freely pivot on the fastening arm. In such a conventional design (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 55-56795) the fastening member is vertically adjusted to align the brake shoes vertically with the bicycle tire rim. The fastening arm has an outer anchoring part configured to secure the outer casing of a brake cable and pivotal support parts configured to support both brake arms in a freely pivotal manner. A vertically elongated oblong hole is formed in the fastening arm. A bolt for fastening the brake device to the frame is inserted through the elongated hole and fastened to the frame of the bicycle. The vertical positions of the brake shoes are adjusted by adjusting the mounting position of the fastening arm, thereby adjusting the vertical position of the entire brake assembly. Thus, with this conventional design, the process of adjusting the vertical positions of the brake shoes is simplified because a fastening arm that is separate from the brake arms is provided and the vertical positions of both brake shoes can be adjusted simultaneously by adjusting the position of the fastening arm. Additionally, since the position of the pivotal center of the brake arms does not change relative to the positions of the brake shoes, the braking ratio of the two brake arms of the brake device does not change.
With the conventional center pull caliper brake described above, the process of changing the vertical positions of the brake shoes is simplified because the existence of the fastening arm enables the vertical positions of both brake shoes to be adjusted by moving the entire brake device up and down. However, the fastening arm has a complex structure that includes the outer anchoring part (which secures the outer casing of the brake cable), two left and right pivotal support parts (which support the brake arms in mirror image positions in a freely pivotal manner), and the elongated oblong hole for adjusting the vertical position. In short, since the conventional design requires a fastening arm having a complex structure to be provided in order to adjust the vertical positions of the brake shoes more easily, the structure of the entire brake device is also more complex.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle rim brake. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A digital subscriber line transmission system comprising an IFFT circuit generating successive outgoing time domain symbols on a subscriber line from respective groups of digital frequency domain coefficients; an FFT circuit generating groups of digital frequency domain coefficients from respective incoming time domain symbols received on the subscriber line, a current incoming symbol being delayed with respect to a current outgoing symbol by a predetermined time interval; and circuitry for, during an end portion of a current incoming symbol, subtracting from the signal received on the subscriber line an estimated echo obtained by a filter from a signal portion following the end of the current outgoing symbol, and adding thereto, through said filter, a beginning portion of the current outgoing symbol, wherein said portions have a duration at least equal to said predetermined time interval.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital subscriber line (DSL) transmission systems which allow high speed communication on twisted pair telephone lines, in particular. The invention relates more specifically to a solution for maintaining orthogonality of a local echo.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 very schematically shows a DSL transmission system at one end of a telephone line 10. A serial stream of outgoing digital data Dout is provided to a serial-to-parallel converter 12 which extracts N multibit values, each corresponding to a complex frequency domain coefficient. These frequency domain coefficients are provided to an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) circuit 14 which generates, for each set of N coefficients, a time domain symbol. A symbol is thus the sum of N sinusoidal subcarriers of different frequencies, the amplitude and phase of each subcarrier being determined by the corresponding frequency domain coefficient received by the IFFT circuit.
Each symbol is transferred onto telephone line 10 through a hybrid line interface 16. Line interface 16 also receives incoming symbols from line 10. These incoming symbols are provided to a fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuit 18 which extracts the N frequency domain coefficients of each received symbol. These frequency domain coefficients are arranged into an incoming serial data stream Din through a parallel-to-serial converter 20.
A similar structure is provided at the other end of line 10.
The illustrated serial-parallel conversions are for clarification purposes only, since the FFT and IFFT circuits operate, in practice, directly on the serial streams in a pipeline manner.
FIG. 2 illustrates the spectrum of the signals conveyed on line 10 in such a system. The bandwidth of the telephone line is subdivided in N channels, each corresponding to one frequency domain coefficient as processed by the IFFT and FFT circuits. There are for example N=2048 channels, each having a bandwidth of 5 kHz. The first frequency domain coefficients may be 11 bits wide and thus correspond to 2048 different amplitudes/phases in the time domain. Because of the attenuation undergone by the higher frequencies on the telephone line, the last frequency domain coefficients may only be two bits wide.
A gap shown in FIG. 2 at the beginning of the spectrum is reserved for "plain old telephone services" (POTS).
FIG. 3 shows the spectrum of one subcarrier f1 conveyed in a symbol. This spectrum is not a discrete value at f1 because the symbol is sampled in a window. The power spectral density thus has a sin(x)/x (sinc) function shape. To avoid the interference of the lobes of this spectrum with nearby channels, the subcarriers are chosen to be "orthogonal". This means, as shown, that the distance between subcarriers is chosen so that each subcarrier is at a zero crossing of the sinc functions. The sinc functions only depend on the window width, which is constant, and thus have a constant pseudo period and all have zero values at the same frequencies.
In order to avoid near-end and local echo problems, the channels are often used only for unidirectional communication, whereby, in theory, near-end echoes of outgoing symbols occur in channels not used for the incoming symbols. In practice, there is a main difficulty in implementing this solution, as explained below.
FIG. 4 shows a stream of outgoing symbols S1, S2 . . . on line 10, and a stream of incoming symbols S′1, S′2 . . . For clarity reasons, it is supposed that the incoming symbols convey only one subcarrier f1 and the outgoing symbols convey only one subcarrier f2, the subcarriers f1 and f2 being adjacent. As shown, the incoming and outgoing symbols are not synchronized, the phase-shift depending essentially on the characteristics of the telephone line 10. The FFT circuit 18 synchronizes its sampling on the incoming symbols, as shown by dotted lines. While each incoming symbol is sampled by FFT circuit 18, the echo of the outgoing signal is also sampled.
Due to the delay between the incoming and outgoing symbols, the transitions between the outgoing symbols will be sampled in the echoes. Such transitions are discontinuities which have a wide spectrum in the frequency domain. This is shown in FIG. 3 by dotted lines for subcarrier f2. This wide spectrum affects all the nearby channels.
FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional solution, disclosed in PCT patent application WO 97/06619, for avoiding this problem. Each symbol is extended by a cyclic suffix CS which is longer than the delay between the incoming and outgoing symbols. This cyclic suffix is a simple copy of the first portion of the corresponding symbol. (The cyclic suffix mentioned here should not be mistaken with a cyclic prefix conventionally used for other purposes. Such a cyclic prefix, not shown for clarity purposes, corresponds to an end-portion of each symbol placed in front of the symbol.)
As shown, the incoming symbols are sampled outside the cyclic suffixes CS. In this manner, the system samples the echo of a portion of each outgoing symbol followed by a portion of its cyclic suffix CS, and does not see a transition between two symbols. As a consequence, the sampled echo remains orthogonal, i.e. each subcarrier in the sampled echo has the sinc-shaped spectrum shown in continuous line in FIG. 3 and not the wide spectrum shown in dotted line.
A drawback of this solution is that it needs the transmission of a cyclic suffix for each symbol, which suffix is a duplication of a portion of the corresponding symbol, often 5% of the symbol. This inevitably reduces the transmission throughput of the system by at least 5%.
It could be devised to cancel the local echo in order to omit the use of a cyclic suffix. Moreover, a local echo canceling would allow each channel to be used in full duplex mode, i.e. in both transmission directions.
Theory on how to design adaptive filters, such as Finite Impulse Response filters (FIR) used in echo-cancellers, is provided in the manual "Adaptive Filter Theory" by S. Haykin, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 1991 which is incorporated herein by reference.
The use of an echo-canceller would dramatically increase the throughput of the system but the hardware requirements may increase more than the throughput gain obtained. Indeed, an adaptive filter used for echo-cancellation in a DSL transmission system should be designed to store all the time domain samples of a currently processed symbol and for adaptively calculating weighting coefficients for a large number of samples, reaching 1000 if the symbol has more than 1000 samples. The complexity of the algorithm is proportional to the product of the size of the filter by the number of weighting coefficients to calculate, since all the weighting coefficients are recalculated each time a new sample is received. The number of samples of a symbol is equal to double the order of the FFT, i.e. the number of channels used.

DSL transmission system with means for ensuring local echo orthogonality


The invention relates to methods for applying wet concrete mixtures containing cement, fillers, water, one or more polymers, and possibly further admixtures or additives according to the wet-mix shotcrete method, characterized in that the wet concrete mixtures, which contain at least one polymer based on one or more vinyl esters of unbranched or branched alkyl carboxylic acids having 1 to 15 C atoms and possibly one or more further ethylenically unsaturated monomers, are put into a concrete spraying machine and are applied to a subsurface by means of the wet-mix shotcrete method with a layer thickness of ≧3 cm.

The usual methods for processing and applying concrete mixtures are shotcrete methods. In these, concrete mixtures are introduced into a concrete spraying machine with which the concrete mixtures are applied via a delivery line to the particular substrate by means of a spray nozzle. Concrete mixtures contain cement, fillers, such as sand or gravel, and optionally further additives.
Dry shotcrete methods and wet shotcrete methods are known in this context. In dry shotcrete methods, concrete mixtures are employed in the dry form (concrete dry mixtures). The concrete dry mixtures are mixed by addition of water in the spray nozzle. In the dry shotcrete method, the concrete compositions obtained in this way are thus sprayed on to a substrate immediately after mixing with water. Polymers, which can be contained in the concrete dry mixture or can also be added only in the spray nozzle, are examples of an additive for concrete mixtures. JP-A 61097152 and JP-A 60152778 disclose that by the use of vinyl acetate/ethylene/vinyl chloride terpolymers in the various dry shotcrete methods, the rebound on application of concrete mixtures to a substrate is reduced. To reduce the formation of dust when carrying out the dry shotcrete method and the associated health hazard to employees on the construction site, JP-A 09-255387 recommends the use of polymers, such as vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymers, in concrete mixtures. For this purpose, JP-A 63-270334 and JP-A 63-002847 propose vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymers which additionally contain units of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids.
In wet shotcrete methods, concrete mixtures are introduced into the concrete spraying machine in an aqueous form (wet concrete mixtures). In this case, the concrete mixtures are thus first mixed with water and then introduced into the concrete spraying machine, with which the wet concrete mixtures are applied via a delivery line with a spray nozzle to a substrate. When the wet,shotcrete method is employed for construction, polymers have hitherto been added in the spray nozzle.
JP-A 11-107506 describes wet shotcrete methods in which vinyl acetate/ethylene/acrylic acid ester terpolymers are added in the spray nozzle in order to reduce the rebound of the wet shotcrete when it impinges on the substrate. DE-A 102007024965 and. DE-A 102007024964 describe polymer-modified setting accelerators and the use thereof in wet shotcrete methods, the polymer-modified setting accelerators being admixed to the wet concrete mixtures in the spray nozzle. JP-A 2004-051422 discloses the use of repair concrete mixtures which are applied by wet shotcrete methods and, in addition to superfine γ-Ca2SiO4, contain vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymers as an additive. In this context, the repair concrete mixtures were employed for renovating concrete by the wet shotcrete methods with subsequent manual working with application thicknesses of up to 2 cm. Concrete compositions containing polyacrylamides with anionic comonomer units are known from EP-A 1726432 for the production of fireproof coatings. DE-A 19723474 describes dry and wet concrete mixtures with emulsifier-stabilized styrene/acrylic acid ester copolymers containing anionically charged monomer units. Such copolymers, nevertheless, are not stable in wet concrete mixtures, the storage stability and therefore the transportation stability as well as the use properties of the wet concrete mixtures suffering as a result. Furthermore, the anionic copolymers also act as plasticizers in wet concrete mixtures as a result of their negative charge. In practice, however, it is advantageous to be able to dose plasticizers and further additives independently of one another, in order to be able to establish precisely the desired concrete properties at each construction section of the particular construction site. Emulsifiers may also have a plasticizing action. The hardened concrete of DE-A 19723474 has an increased elasticity modulus (E modulus), and associated with this a lower elasticity, which can contribute towards cracking of the hardened concrete.
The concrete mixtures known to date and the application thereof by shotcrete methods lead to hardened concrete which is inadequate with respect to its impermeability to water. Hardened concrete is obtained by setting of wet concrete mixtures. Precisely in construction, such as, for example, in tunnel or mine construction, particularly high requirements are imposed on hardened concrete, since the hardened concrete is constantly in contact with, for example, rock or ground water, which furthermore changes markedly in its composition, such as its salt content, depending on the season and the local circumstances, and penetration of which into the hardened concrete severely damages this.
Against this background there was the object of providing hardened concrete which is distinguished by a relatively high impermeability to water and which also overcomes the further problems mentioned above.

Methods for applying polymer-modified wet concrete mixtures


A new Petunia plant named ‘Petvani’ characterized by its trailing, outwardly spreading plant habit, very strong branching habit, very floriferous habit, single flowers that are vanilla in color, and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Petvani'.
The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The new Petunia cultivar has a trailing and spreading plant habit and big vanilla colored flowers.
The new Petunia originated from a cross between a Petunia hybrida seedling selection as the female, or seed, parent identified as 'B0896-1,' and a Petunia hybrida seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent identified as 'A0982-1.' This cross was made in August 2003. The new Petunia was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2004.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Enkhuizen since August 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.