Network-based service content protection techniques are described. In one or more implementations, content is edited locally by a computing device. The edited content is automatically encrypted without any user intervention by the computing device using an encryption credential, e.g., encryption key or other secret. The automatic encryption is performed responsive to a request to store the content at a network-based service provider such that the encrypted content can only be decrypted and accessed with the encryption credential and the encrypted content is uploaded to the network-based service provider.

Users have access to a wide variety of network-based services, e.g., web services. These services may support a wide variety of user interaction with a wide variety of different types of content. This may include word processing services to compose documents, a spreadsheet service to configure a spreadsheet, an image editing service configured to create and edit images, sound editing services, and so on. For example, a user may utilize a word processing service to create a document, a copy of which may be maintained by the service "over the cloud."
In some instances, however, users may desire to store sensitive information as part of this access. Continuing with the previous example, the user may compose a document that includes sensitive financial data, personal information, and so on. Although a service provider of the network-based services may employ techniques to protect this data from third-parties (e.g., malicious outside parties), there are no such protections from a service provider from accessing the data, itself. Rather, such protection generally relies on an agreement between the user and the service provider that the service provider will not "peek" at the data. However, concerns that one or more technicians associated with the service provider may not comply with this agreement could cause users to forgo use of such functionality to store sensitive information.


A multi-service platform module (102) having a storage device (220) and a controller (226) coupled to the storage device (220). A first aggregation element (236) is coupled to the storage device (220) and the controller (226), where the first aggregation element (236) is coupled to route access to the storage device (220) between one of a first network (104) and a first transceiver socket (240), and where the controller (226) controls the first aggregation element (236). A second aggregation element (238) is coupled to the storage device (220) and the controller (226), where the second aggregation element (238) is coupled to route access to the storage device (220) between one of a second network (106) and a second transceiver socket (242), and where the controller (226) controls the second aggregation element (238).

In computer systems that handle large amounts of data, it is desirable to have redundancy in the data storage and processor systems. Prior art methods of accomplishing redundancy include the redundant array of independent disks (RAID) methodology. One of these methodologies is RAID 1, which essentially "mirrors" data on any given disk to another disk. This has the disadvantage of being expensive.
An implementation of the RAID concept is found in multi-service platform systems, which create an environment where any component, processor, storage media, etc. can be replaced (hot swapped) while maintaining the integrity of the system. Ideally, this system approaches 100% availability of data and 100% reliability as no single failure will bring down the entire system. However, multi-service platform systems have the disadvantage of having many components to support a dual network architecture, which makes maintenance difficult. When one of these components fail, it is difficult to locate the component (processor, storage device, etc.) in the vast array of boards found in the system. Also, controlling the access of the dual networks to the many devices requires extra processors and uses valuable network resources just to monitor and maintain the system. This detracts from network and processing resources available to support user applications and devices, while increasing costs for a given system capacity and performance.
Accordingly, there is a significant need for an apparatus and method that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art outlined above.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the drawing have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of manufacturing a fabric for a carbon fiber reinforced composite material includes binding a front texture woven with warp threads and weft threads which are carbon fibers and a back texture woven with warp threads and weft threads which are thermoplastic resin fibers at binding points to integrate the front texture and the back texture.

Carbon fibers have high tensile strength and a high tensile elastic modulus and carbon fiber reinforced plastic formed by solidifying the carbon fibers with resin is a material having high specific strength and a high specific elastic modulus. Therefore, the carbon fibers are widely used as an advanced composite material for aerospace use, use for automobiles, use for civil engineering and construction, use for sporting and leisure goods, and the like.
As a method of manufacturing the carbon fiber reinforced composite material by thermoplastic resin impregnation, there are various methods. For example, one of the methods is a known method in which prepreg impregnated with resin is stacked in a plurality of layers, a blank (stampable sheet) is formed by heating and laminate molding of the layers of prepreg, and a carbon fiber reinforced composite material is formed by reheating and hot press molding of the stampable sheet in a mold.
There is also a joined sheet which is manufactured by respectively disposing thermoplastic resin sheets on upper and lower faces of plain-woven carbon fibers and melting the thermoplastic resin sheets into the carbon fibers by heating and pressurizing the laminated body with hot plates from both sides (see Patent Document 1, for example).
There is also proposed a method of obtaining a carbon fiber reinforced composite material by weaving carbon fibers and thermoplastic resin fibers while blending them (see Patent Document 2, for example).

Fabric for carbon fiber reinforced composite material and method of manufacturing the same


A synchronous system for a three-stage ball bearing slide includes a carrier track being inserted into a fixed track to carry a mobile track. Both of the mobile and the carrier tracks engage in reciprocal movement along the same axis direction in relation to the fixed track. A dancer is pivoted to the rear end of the carrier track. The carrier track synchronously slides with the mobile track by a protruding tongue on the mobile track upholding the dancer, and is held in position by having the dancer to uphold a compression bit on the fixed track. A direct push on the extreme where the carrier track is extended releases the dancer from the compression bit to retract once again the carrier track into the fixed track.

(1.) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronous system for a three-stage ball bearing slide, and more particularly, to a mobile track when pulled to extend drives a carrier track to slide synchronously and is temporarily positioned at its terminal without being retracted thus to permit the carrier track to be directly subject to the push thereon to once again be retracted into a fixed track.
(2.) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional three-stage ball bearing slide usually contains a fixed track (outer track), a carrier track (middle track), and a mobile track (inner track). Taking the ball bearing slide adapted to a cabinet and its drawers for example, the fixed track (outer track) is fixed to the cabinet, the mobile track (the inner track) is each fixed to both sides of the drawer, and the carrier track (middle track) is inserted into the fixed track (outer track) by means of a slide aid, usually a ball bearing, to slide and carry the mobile track (inner track), thus to make the mobile track (inner track) and the carrier track (the middle track) engaging in reciprocal movement along the same axial direction in relation to the fixed track (outer track) for the drawer to be pulled out or in against the cabinet. The three-stage ball bearing slide of the prior as illustrated in FIG. 13 of the accompanying drawings defines the track according to its location. Slide aids D, E are respectively provided between the inner track (A) and the middle track (B) as well as between the middle track (B) and the outer track (C). A retainer (F) and a compressor (G) are respectively provided in the inner track (A) and the middle track (B) to allow one-way positioning when the inner track (A) is pulled out to its extreme and to pull the retainer (F) to release it from the compressor (G) for the inner track (A) to disengage from the middle track (B).
So far the development of the design of those ball bearing slides adapted to cabinets and drawers has been focusing on two purposes, to hold the carrier track (middle track) in positioning when pulled to its fully extended location, and to be pulled for movement synchronously with the mobile track (inner track). Design of the linking mechanism associated with those two purposes may be referred to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,551,775 and 5,757,109; US Published Application Nos. 2002/0057042, 2003/0080659, 2003/0107309, and 2003/0111942; and Taiwan Utility Model Patent Nos. 215789 and 197034 (No. 197034 same as that of US Published Application No. 2003/0178922 owned by this Applicant).

Synchronous system for a three-stage ball bearing slide


Provided is a semiconductor device including: a semiconductor element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a gate electrode; a surge voltage measuring unit electrically connected to the first electrode or the second electrode and configured to measure a surge voltage; a variable resistor electrically connected to the gate electrode; a comparator configured to compare a surge voltage measurement value, which is acquired by measuring the surge voltage generated by a first pulse applied to the gate electrode by the surge voltage measuring unit, with a surge voltage target value; a determination unit configured to determine a setting value of a resistance value of the variable resistor based on the comparison result by the comparator; and an instruction unit configured to instruct the setting value to the variable resistor.

A surge voltage may be generated due to an inductance of a circuit, for example, when a power transistor performing a switching operation at high speed is turned off. If the surge voltage is generated, there is a problem in that breakdown of a gate insulating film may occur or ringing of the circuit may occur.
By increasing a resistance of a gate connected to a gate electrode of the power transistor, the switching speed is decreased at the time of the switching of the power transistor. It is possible to suppress the surge voltage by decreasing the switching speed. However, the decrease in the switching speed is not preferable because a switching loss is increased.

Electronic circuit, power conversion device, driving device, vehicle, and elevator


An (Al,Ga)As/(Al,Ga,In)P semiconductor layer structure is etched using an SiCl.sub.4 or an SiCl.sub.4 /(He,Ne) plasma. The etching is carried out at 0.degree. to 80.degree. C. and at a plasma pressure below 1.33.times.10.sup.-1 Pa (1 mTorr). The etched surfaces are sufficiently smooth for the etching process to be used in the production of (Al,Ga)As/(Al,Ga,In)P semiconductor lasers.

Semiconductor laser devices which emit red light are of great commercial importance, and are used in areas such as data storage. The active region of such a laser device is commonly made using crystalline semiconductors of the (Al,Ga,In)P alloy system. The laser is usually grown on a GaAs substrate, and other GaAs layers may be used in the laser structure.
One common laser structure is the buried ridge laser. Buried ridge lasers are used for optical disc data storage applications which require stable single mode operation. It is known to make a buried ridge laser by means of a procedure involving three semiconductor deposition stages. First, multilayers of (Ga,In)P and (Al,Ga,In)P are deposited on an n-type GaAs substrate to form an n-type cladding region, an active region and a p-type cladding region of the laser. Then, a ridge is etched into the p-type cladding region. Then, n-type GaAs is deposited over the ridge and selectively etched away over the top of the ridge to expose a (Ga,In)P layer at the top of the ridge. Finally, p-type GaAs is deposited over the whole of the structure to bury the ridge, and then metal contact layers are deposited.
A buried ridge laser is disclosed in Japanese patent application No. JP-03 156592 which requires only two semiconductor deposition stages. Multilayers of (Ga,In)P, (Al,Ga,In)P and GaAs are deposited on a GaAs substrate to form the active and cladding regions. Then, after the ridge has been formed by etching, n-type GaAs is deposited over the whole of the structure and etched away from the top of the ridge. Metal contact layers are then deposited. The reduction in the number of semiconductor deposition stages is an advantage for mass production.
The ridge may be etched using either a chemical solution or a plasma. Chemical etching is, however, unsatisfactory where the deposited layers are misoriented. It is advantageous to deposit each layer such that it is slightly misoriented from the nominal (100) crystal direction of the underlying layer, because undesirable "ordering" of the crystal can be suppressed by using such misorientation. Misorientation towards the (110) crystal direction of 4.degree. to 15.degree. and even higher is possible.
A chemical solution will etch different crystal planes at different rates. Ridges formed in misoriented layers by chemical etching are found to be asymmetric, and this degrades the properties of the laser device. In particular, it is found that the peak of the far-field emission pattern is shifted away from the direction normal to the laser facet if the ridge is asymmetric, which creates difficulties in coupling to the output of the laser. In addition, the chemical etching procedure has a number of steps and can be difficult to control in a production process.
Plasma etching does not usually discriminate between crystal planes, so this process can be used to form a ridge in misoriented layers. Other advantages of plasma etching are that it may be accurately controlled, and may be readily incorporated into a production process. Not all plasma etching processes will be appropriate, however, because some cause damage to the remaining semiconductor. in addition, some processes may selectively etch the various layers in the laser device at different rates and this may cause the etched ridge to be "stepped" at the interface between the (Al,Ga,In)P and GaAs layers, rather than having a smooth continuous profile that is required.
"Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology", Vol. B1 pages 1053-1055 (1983), discloses the use of SiCl.sub.4 plasmas and SiCl.sub.4 /Ar plasmas generated in a conventional rf-powered parallel-plate "Reactive Ion Etching" (RIE) system at total pressures of between 1 and 25 mTorr to etch both GaAs and InP. It also discloses that the addition of Ar in Ar:SiCl.sub.4 flow ratios of 4:1 , 2:1 and 1:4 eliminated trenching and redeposition observed in InP and resulted in more vertical walls as compared to the use of SiCl.sub.4 alone. However, this document discloses only the etching of individual layers and does not examine the profile obtained by etching a sample containing layers of both GaAs and (Al,Ga,In)P.
EP-A-0 547 694 teaches that the above-mentioned SiCl.sub.4 /Ar plasma etching technique is unsuitable for use on GaAs/(Al,Ga,In)P laser structures because it results in rough surfaces which are undesirable for optoelectronic devices. Such document discloses a onestep plasma etching process for forming the ridge of GaAs/(Al,Ga,In)P lasers using a mixture of SiCl.sub.4, Ar and CH.sub.4 gases in a rf-powered parallel-plate geometry, wherein the sample being etched is heated to a temperature of between 100.degree. and 150.degree. C. Such document also states that it is essential to add CH.sub.4 to the SiCl.sub.4 /Ar gas mixture if the smooth surfaces required for optoelectronic devices are to be obtained. In a practical etching process, however, the use of CH.sub.4 gas is undesirable because of the possibility of polymer formation on the etched surface and/or hydrogen diffusion into the semiconductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5338394 discloses a method for etching indium-based III-V compound semiconductors in which electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) etching is effected in the presence of SiCl.sub.4 and H.sub.2 or CH.sub.4 in an ECR chamber at any pressure suitable for ECR, but with an expressed preference for use of a pressure between 1 mTorr and 5 mTorr.
EP-A-0607662 discloses a method of selectively etching GaAs over AlGaAs using a mixture of SiCl.sub.4, CF.sub.4, O.sub.2 and an inert gas such as He so as to avoid using a chlorofluorocarbon etchant in a standard plasma etching apparatus, but without any specific disclosure of the pressure employed apart from a reference to etching at 5 mTorr with no He.

Method of etching semiconductor laser device having Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As and Al.sub.v Ga.sub.1-(v+y) In.sub.y P compound


A disk drive is disclosed comprising a track recorded on a disk, wherein the track has repeatable runout (RRO). The track comprises a plurality of embedded servo sectors including servo information stored at a servo data rate, and a plurality of data sectors between the embedded servo sectors. The track is headerless in that the plurality of data sectors are uninterrupted by sector identification data. One of the plurality of data sectors includes a RRO correction value used to compensate for the RRO, the RRO correction value being stored at a user data rate different than the servo data rate. The disk drive further comprises a head and a voice coil motor (VCM) for positioning the head over the track. A servo control system, responsive to the servo information and the RRO correction value, generates a VCM control signal that is applied to the VCM for positioning the head over the track.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disk drives. More particularly, the present invention relates to a headerless disk drive comprising repeatable runout (RRO) correction values recorded at a user data rate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The above-referenced co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/946,805 discloses a disk drive which stores correction values to attenuate repeatable runout (RRO), a disturbance in the servo control system due to eccentricities and other distortions in a track recorded on the disk. RRO is a predictable disturbance that is periodic with the rotation of the disk; therefore, it can be estimated and RRO correction values introduced into the servo loop as a correction signal in order to attenuate the RRO from the servo control effort.
It is known to calibrate and store the RRO correction values in embedded servo sectors during manufacturing of the disk drive. During user operations, the RRO correction values are retrieved from the embedded servo sectors and used to compensate for the RRO in the servo control system. However, the disk drive is designed to prevent writing to the embedded servo sectors during user operations in order to protect the integrity of the servo information. Thus, the prior art teaches that the RRO correction values are recorded in the servo sectors during manufacturing, after which the RRO correction values are not modified over the life of the disk drive.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,578 a disk drive is disclosed wherein the RRO correction values may be stored in a header of a data sector. The header stores sector identification (ID) data which is used to verify the correct location of the head before reading or overwriting a data sector. In xe2x80x9cheaderlessxe2x80x9d disk drives (otherwise referred to as ID-less disk drives), sector headers are not used and instead the sector identification data is stored in the embedded servo sectors. The above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,578 teaches that for headerless disk drives, the RRO correction values are stored in the embedded servo sectors.
FIG. 1A shows an example format of a disk 2 typically employed in a headerless, magnetic disk drive. The disk 2 comprises a plurality of concentric tracks 4 partitioned into a number of headerless data sectors 6 with embedded servo sectors 8 recorded at a regular interval around the disk 2. The data sectors 6 store the user data received from the host computer, and the embedded servo sectors 8 store servo information for use in positioning a head over a centerline of a selected track 4 while writing data to or reading data from the disk 2. The embedded servo sectors 8 also store sector identification data for identifying the data sectors 6 during read and write operations.
In order to increase the capacity of the disk drive, a more constant linear recording density is achieved by banding the tracks 4 into predefined zones and increasing the data rate from the inner diameter zones to the outer diameter zones. The data rate can be increased in the outer diameter tracks 4 due to the increase in circumferential recording area. The zoned recording technique is illustrated in FIG. 1A wherein the disk 2 comprises an inner zone 10 for storing fourteen data sectors 6 per track 4 and an outer zone 12 for storing twenty eight data sectors 6 per track 4. In practice, the disk 2 is actually partitioned into numerous zones with the data rate increasing incrementally from the inner to outer diameter zones.
The embedded servo sectors 8 are typically recorded at a lower data rate than the data sectors 6. The embedded servo sectors 8 are also typically not zoned but are instead recorded at the same data rate from the inner to outer diameter tracks 4. An example format of an embedded servo sector 8, as shown in FIG. 1B, includes a preamble field 14, a sync mark field 16, a servo information field 18, and servo bursts 20. An acquisition preamble (e.g., a 2T acquisition preamble) is typically recorded in the preamble field 14 which enables a read channel within the disk drive to acquire the appropriate timing and amplitude information from the read signal before reading the servo information. A sync mark (typically fault tolerant) is recorded in the sync mark field 16 and used to symbol synchronize the servo information stored in the servo information field 18. The servo information typically includes a servo track address which identifies the current track the head is over while the head is seeking to a selected track, as well as sector identification data used to identify the data sectors 6 of the tracks 4. The servo bursts 20 are groups of pulses recorded at precise intervals and offsets from a track""s centerline. The servo bursts 20 provide fine position information for the head with respect to the track centerline, and are used during read or write operations by the servo control system to maintain the head over the centerline of the selected track.
As described above, it is known to store the RRO correction values in the embedded servo sectors 8, either within the servo information field 18 or in a separate field (e.g., in a field following the servo bursts 20). However, because a disk drive is typically designed to prevent writing data in the servo sectors 8 in order to protect the integrity of the servo information, the RRO correction values stored in the servo sectors 8 cannot be modified during user operations. This technique requires that the RRO correction values calibrated during manufacturing be relatively accurate since there is no opportunity to fine tune the RRO correction values after manufacturing. This slows the manufacturing process since the accuracy of the RRO correction values is directly related to the number of revolutions used to compute the RRO correction values for each track. In addition, storing the RRO correction values in the write protected embedded servo sectors prevents adapting the RRO correction values to account for changes in the actual RRO that can occur over the life of the disk drive. Modifying the disk drive to allow data to be written to the embedded servo sectors during user operations is undesirable because of the aforementioned risk of corrupting the servo information which would render the user data recorded in the track unrecoverable. Further, designing a disk drive to allow data to be written to the servo sectors during user operations would be a significant departure from existing architectures, requiring substantial resources to develop and test.
There is, therefore, a need for a disk drive capable of storing RRO correction values in a cost effective manner without requiring significant modifications to existing disk drive architectures. Further, there is a need to update the RRO correction values in order to track variations in the actual RRO that can occur over the life of the disk drive.
The present invention may be regarded as a disk drive comprising a track recorded on a disk, wherein the track has repeatable runout (RRO). The track comprises a plurality of embedded servo sectors including servo information stored at a servo data rate, and a plurality of data sectors between the embedded servo sectors. The track is headerless in that the plurality of data sectors are uninterrupted by sector identification data. One of the plurality of data sectors includes a RRO correction value used to compensate for the RRO, the RRO correction value being stored at a user data rate different than the servo data rate. The disk drive further comprises a head, and a voice coil motor (VCM) for positioning the head over the track. A servo control system, responsive to the servo information and the RRO correction value, generates a VCM control signal that is applied to the VCM for positioning the head over the track.
The present invention may also be regarded as a method of compensating for repeatable runout (RRO) in a track recorded on a disk. The track comprises a plurality of embedded servo sectors including servo information stored at a servo data rate, and a plurality of data sectors between the embedded servo sectors. The track is headerless in that the plurality of data sectors are uninterrupted by sector identification data. One of the plurality of data sectors includes a RRO correction value used to compensate for the RRO, the RRO correction value being stored at a user data rate different than the servo data rate. A head is positioned over the track using a voice coil motor (VCM). The method further comprises the step of generating a VCM control signal in response to the servo information and RRO correction value, wherein the VCM control signal is applied to the VCM for positioning the head over the track.

Headerless disk drive comprising repeatable runout (RRO) correction values recorded at a user data rate


A heat exchange system with at least one heat exchange chamber with heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber is provided. The heat exchange chamber boundaries include at least one first opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior. At least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid.

Despite the integration of renewable energy into the public electric energy system (power grid) a large share of electricity is nowadays still generated by fossil energy sources. But the global climate change requires the further development of renewable energies.
The energy output of renewable energy sources like wind and solar is not constant throughout a day or throughout a year. Consequently, electricity which is generated by utilizing energy from renewable energy sources fluctuates.
In order to manage this fluctuating electricity, heat (thermal energy) storage systems are developed for storing and releasing thermal energy (heat exchange system). Such a heat exchange system comprises a heat exchange chamber with heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround a heat exchange chamber interior. The heat exchange chamber interior is filled with heat storage material like stones. The heat exchange chamber boundaries comprise a first opening for guiding an inflow of a heat transfer fluid, e.g. air, into the heat exchange chamber interior and a second opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior.
For a charging mode, the heat exchange system additionally comprises a charging unit for heating the heat transfer fluid with the aid of excess electricity. The resulting hot heat transfer fluid is infused into the heat exchange chamber interior via one of the openings (e.g. first opening) of the heat exchange chamber boundaries. This opening defines a "hot" terminal of the heat exchange chamber. The hot heat transfer fluid is guided through the heat exchange chamber interior. By the guiding of the hot heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior a heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid to the heat storage material is caused. Heat is stored by the heat storage material.
Via the other opening (second opening) of the heat exchange chamber the resulting "cold" heat transfer fluid is guided out of the heat exchange chamber interior. Thereby, this opening of the heat exchange chamber boundaries defines a "cold" terminal (end) of the heat exchange chamber. The charging mode is stopped when the temperature at the cold terminal of the heat exchange chamber begins to rise above a predetermined temperature.
In a discharging mode of the heat exchange chamber this stored heat can be recovered: "cold" heat transfer fluid is infused into the heat exchange chamber interior via the first opening of the heat exchange chamber boundaries. In this case, the first opening defines a "cold" terminal. The cold heat transfer fluid is guided through the hot heat exchange chamber interior. By the guiding of the cold heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior a heat transfer from the heat storage material to the heat transfer fluid is caused. Heat is released from the heat storage material.
Via the second opening of the heat exchange chamber boundaries the resulting "hot" heat transfer fluid is guided out of the heat exchange chamber interior. Thereby, the second opening of the heat exchange chamber defines a "hot" terminal of the heat exchange chamber.
The resulting hot heat transfer fluid can be used for generating steam with which a steam turbine is driven. A result of the described discharging mode: Heat is transformed back to electricity.
The discharging mode is stopped when the temperature at the hot terminal of the heat exchange storage begins to drop below a certain temperature.
For instance, the heat storage material comprises stones. Due to thermally induced stress the stones break during the charging mode which results in a packing (compacting) of the stones. In addition, cyclic thermal loads lead to an extension and shrinking of the stones and therefore to a further compacting of the bed. Assumed that the total volume of the heat exchange chamber remains constant, this causes additional paths for the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior. The flow of the heat transfer fluid trough the heat exchange chamber interior can hardly be controlled.

Heat exchange system with compensation of dimension change of heat storage material and method for exchanging heat by using the heat exchange system


A method for determining a set of B1 field maps for different transmit channels includes determining a first partial B1 field map having absolute B1 amplitudes for each transmit channel. A gradient echo technique operating with a single gradient echo image is used to determine a relative partial B1 field map having relative B1 amplitudes for each transmit channel. A spatial weighting function for mapping the relative B1 amplitudes onto absolute B1 amplitudes is determined taking into account the first partial B1 field maps and the relative partial B1 field maps of all the transmit channels. The spatial weighting function is used to determine second partial B1 field maps from the relative partial B1 field maps. The B1 field map for each transmit channel is determined from the first and the second partial B1 field map for the respective transmit channel taking into account the subregions and/or the error values.

The present embodiments relate to a method for determining a set of B1 field maps for different transmit channels of a radio-frequency transmit coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus.
Magnetic resonance imaging and the basic principles thereof are already widely known in the prior art. The process entails introducing an object that is to be examined into a relatively high basic magnetic field (e.g., the B0 field). In order to be able to acquire magnetic resonance data, in a slice, for example, the spins of the slice are excited, and the decay of the excitation, for example, is considered as a signal. A gradient coil arrangement may be used to generate gradient fields, while high-frequency excitation pulses (e.g., radio-frequency pulses) are transmitted via a radio-frequency transmit coil. A radio-frequency field (e.g., a B1 field) is generated by the radio-frequency pulses, and the spins of resonantly excited nuclei, spatially resolved by the gradients, are tilted through a flip angle relative to the magnetic field lines of the basic magnetic field. The excited spins of the nuclei then emit radio-frequency signals that may be picked up by suitable receive antennas and processed further in order thus to enable magnetic resonance image data to be reconstructed.
Conventional radio-frequency transmit coils are operated in a "homogeneous mode" (e.g., in a "CP mode"). A single radio-frequency pulse having a defined fixed phase and amplitude is applied to all the components of the transmit coil (e.g., all the transmit rods of a birdcage antenna). In the interests of increasing flexibility and creating new degrees of freedom with the aim of improving the imaging, a technique known as parallel transmission, in which individual pulses that may be different from one another are applied to each of a plurality of transmit channels, is enabled. This totality of individual pulses, which may be described, for example, via the parameters phase and amplitude, is defined in entirety in an activation sequence that is described by a corresponding parameter set. Such a multichannel pulse that is composed of individual pulses for the different transmit channels may be referred to as a "pTX pulse" (e.g., "parallel transmission"). In addition to the generation of location-selective excitations, field inhomogeneities may also be compensated in the process (e.g., as part of "RF shimming").
In order to determine an activation parameter set of an activation sequence, the effects of the individual transmit channels in the imaging region (e.g., the homogeneity volume) are to be known. These are determined using a technique called "B1 mapping." In B1 mapping, B1 field maps are acquired for each transmit channel, which provides that the B1 field maps reveal how strong the B1 field is at a specific excitation (e.g., at a unit excitation and/or at a specific transmitter voltage), at a specific location in the imaging region. This provides that each voxel (e.g., volumetric picture element) is assigned a mostly complex B1 value and consequently a B1 amplitude and a B1 phase. The B1 field maps are strongly object-dependent (e.g., at field strengths of the basic magnetic field such as ≧3 T), so that the B1 field maps are acquired individually for each object that is to be scanned. B1 mapping scans may take a very long time in comparison with conventional imaging methods.
Known B1 mapping methods may measure the flip angle caused by a radio-frequency pulse and a phase. The amplitude of the B1 field may easily be determined from the flip angle. The problem here is that all B1 mapping methods have only a limited sensitivity range insofar as the flip angle as a measurement parameter is concerned. The sensitivity range is mostly specified as a region in which the measurement parameter (e.g., the flip angle) may be reliably measured. The sensitivity range is composed of intrinsic limitations inherent in the measurement methods and/or the acquisition technique. Such a limitation in the case of B1 mapping methods may be the fact that only flip angles between 0° and 180° may be resolved, and regions in which an excessively high level of uncertainty and consequently an excessively high error value is present. High error values are produced, for example, as a result of signal noise, such that, for example, in the acquisition techniques used in the B1 mapping method, very small flip angles may be detected only with very great difficulty on account of the signal noise.
Thus, it is known, for example, that signal noise may lead to a systematic overestimation of very small flip angles.
For example, for systems having a plurality of local transmitters, the B1 variation over the object that is to be scanned may be very great. This provides that the transmitter voltage used, a parameter that may be used in selecting the sensitivity range, may not be chosen such that the generated flip angle lies over the object that is to be imaged within the sensitivity range of a scan acquired using the B1 mapping method.
With regard to this problem (e.g., when the dynamic range of the B1 field distribution over the object that is to be imaged is greater than the sensitivity range of the B1 mapping method used), two basic approaches to a solution are known.
It has been proposed to reduce the dynamic ranges of B1 field distributions that are to be acquired. This may be achieved by measuring, not the field distributions of the individual channels and consequently the individual coil elements, but the field distributions of different channel and therefore coil element combinations. The field distributions of the individual channels are to be unequivocally calculated from the measurement results for the transmit channel combinations, ideally with reduced noise sensitivity in comparison with the measurement of the individual transmit channels in each case. The result is therefore a complex backward calculation from a plurality of combinations that are highly susceptible to error and computationally intensive. A greater number of individual B1 field distributions may thus be measured.
In another solution, it has been proposed to cover the dynamic range of the B1 field distributions sequentially in a plurality of measurements. This provides that a plurality of B1 measurements are performed repeatedly for each transmit channel at a different transmitter voltage, the different transmitter voltages generating B1 fields of different strength. A B1 field that falls within the sensitivity range of the B1 mapping method used is to be generated at least once for each subvolume of the imaging region. In this case, therefore, the results of a plurality of measurements using the same acquisition technique, but at different transmitter voltages, are combined in order to obtain the B1 field maps. There is an obvious increase in the measurement and evaluation overhead. The transmitter voltage may also only be varied within certain limits, with the result that no improvement is achieved in relation to the basic problem (e.g., the high signal noise at low flip angles).
Absolute values (or absolute values normalized to a specific transmitter voltage value and a specific excitation) of the B1 field are used for planning the acquisition session and for determining activation parameter sets for activation sequences. Accordingly, although acquisition techniques in which relative B1 field maps may be generated are known, these have the disadvantage that the acquisition techniques do not directly specify the B1 field in terms of the amplitude, but are weighted with a spatial function. The term "relative" in this context refers to the cited weighting function, unknown within the framework of these measurements, which may correspond, for example, to the root of the sum of squares of the amplitudes over all transmit channels. The basic principle of such relative measurement methods is explained in more detail, for example, in DE 10 2005 049 229 B3.
In order to determine the spatial weighting function, reliable B1 field values are to be available at the same picture element both for the absolute B1 amplitude and for the relative B1 amplitude. One possibility of back-calculating the absolute B1 values from relative B1 values is described, for example, in the article titled "Calibration Tools for RF Shim at Very High Field with Multiple Element RF Coils: from Ultra Fast Local Relative Phase to Absolute Magnitude B1+Mapping" by P. F. Van de Moortele et al., Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med. 15 (2007) 1676. There, it is proposed to perform a further absolute B1 measurement while using all of the transmit channels in order then to be able to solve a linear equation system. Problems of the sensitivity ranges are not addressed therein, however.


A heater core is connected with an engine to receive a hot engine-coolant, which operates as a main heater. An evaporator in a refrigerating cycle operates as an auxiliary heater. A condenser is connected to an outlet of the compressor, and the evaporator is connected to an inlet of the compressor. A bypass conduit is provided, one end of which is connected to the outlet side of the compressor and another end of which is connected to an inlet side of the evaporator. A expansion valve is disposed in the bypass conduit. In heating stage, the compressed hot refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows into the bypass conduit. The refrigerant is expanded by the expansion valve and radiates the heat in the evaporator.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, especially and air conditioner used for an automobile.
Japanese Patent 57-47829 shows a conventional air conditioner, wherein an evaporator is defrosted by a gas-phase refrigerant which is at a high temperature and under high pressure. When the evaporator is frosted, the gas-phase refrigerant discharged from a compressor is introduced into the evaporator so as to defrost the evaporator. The refrigerant that has flowed through the evaporator is returned to the compressor through an accumulator as in the gas-phase process.
A conventional air conditioner is equipped with a heater core through which a warmed engine coolant flows. As shown in FIG. 9, an internal-combustion engine 1 is connected to heater core 3a of heater unit 3 through an inlet conduit 2 and an outlet conduit 4 on which a valve 5 is provided. The heater core 301 is disposed downstream of an evaporator 14, whereby air introduced by a fan 28 flows through the evaporator 14 and then through the heater core 3a. An electric heater, a combustion heater or a heat pump is used as an auxiliary heat source while the heater core 301 is used as a main heat source.
The conventional air conditioner shown in Japanese Patent 57-47829 is designed to defrost the evaporator by use of hot refrigerant, not to increase the heating efficiency. The temperature of the engine coolant is not elevated rapidly right after the engine is started, so that a long time is required to radiate enough heat from the heater core.
The conventional air conditioner having the auxiliary heat source has further problems as follows. The electric heater consumes a lot of electric energy; the combustion heater has a safety hazard; and the heat pump is not operative in cold climates.

Airconditioner having selectively operated condenser bypass control


The present invention is directed to the recovery of a call signaling channel in connection with a realtime communication established using a packet data network. Specifically, in the event of the failure of an endpoint's current gatekeeper, this invention provides a fast mechanism for searching for an alternate gatekeeper with which the endpoint can re-establish its call signaling channel and hence can regain call service, including call features on existing calls. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a lightweight registration request message is sent on the RAS channel to an alternate gatekeeper in response to the loss of an established call signaling channel, even though a keep alive signal is not then due. The lightweight RRQ message may be sent to individual gatekeepers on an alternate gatekeeper list, until a registration confirmation message is received. Alternatively, a lightweight RRQ message may be sent to all or a number of the gatekeepers on the alternate gatekeeper list simultaneously. A call signaling channel is then established between the first alternate gatekeeper to respond with a registration confirmation message, or to a selected gatekeeper where a number of gatekeepers provide an RCF message.

Packet data networks are increasingly used for the exchange of realtime audio, video and data communications. The H.323 protocol requires the establishment of a call signaling channel that is separate from the bearer channel. The call signaling channel is used to exchange signaling messages, such as call setup, tear down, address translation and messages related to billing.
In a gatekeeper routed system, a call signaling channel is established between an end point or terminal and a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is an entity that provides basic call signaling features, enhanced features, address translation, network access control and other functions. The call signaling channel between the end point and a gatekeeper must be maintained in such a system if realtime communications between the terminal and any other terminal are to occur or continue.
Alternate gatekeepers may be provided by a system in case the call signaling channel between the terminal and the gatekeeper with which the terminal was initially registered fails. However, the ability to re-establish the call signaling channel with an alternate gatekeeper is not assured. For example, one or more alternate gatekeepers may not be reachable or may be down. Accordingly, an alternate gatekeeper that is actually available must be found. One approach to locating an available gatekeeper is to attempt to re-establish a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection with each address in the alternate list, one at a time, until a gatekeeper that is actually available is found. However, attempting to establish a TCP connection with each gatekeeper in the alternate list can be an extremely time consuming process, especially when a successful connection is only established towards the end of the list. A TCP connect message could be sent to multiple gatekeepers on the address list simultaneously. Such an approach could make the process of locating a gatekeeper that is actually available faster, however, it is not particularly efficient, as it could result in the generation of excessive network traffic. Furthermore, multiple TCP connections could be established, and then all but one would need to be torn down. Accordingly, needless overhead could be generated. With respect to either of the approaches in which a TCP connection is established, following establishment of the connection, messages need to be exchanged to make sure that the terminal is still registered with the gatekeeper.
Another approach to re-establishing a call signaling channel is to use a "ping" to determine if a gatekeeper is up. However, the use of a ping for this purpose is problematic in situations where the gatekeeper is behind a firewall, as some firewalls filter out the ping message. In addition, as with approaches that seek to establish a TCP connection, additional messages would be required in order to determine if re-registration is necessary.

Method and apparatus using lightweight RRQ for efficient recovery of a call signaling channel in gatekeeper-routed call signaling


In an injection mold, a compression pin is placed at a cavity surface by the pressing force of a biasing member, and is moved rearward by the pressure of filled resin so as to form a compression boss. After the completion of filling, the compression boss is compressed by the compression pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection mold used to form a resin molded item, and a partial compression method for the injection mold.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mold for partial compression molding disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-228970, depressions are formed by moving ejector pins back away from a mold surface, which forms an inner surface of a molded item, by a compression allowance. The depressions and a cavity are filled with resin in this state, and the resin is then compressed by the ejector pins. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-198198 discloses that the leading end of a boss is compressed by an ejector pin and that a peripheral portion of the boss is compressed by a sleeve pin. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-283422 discloses that an inner portion of a boss is compressed.
A known partial compression molding method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.
In an injection compression mold shown in FIG. 7, a cavity 1 is defined by a cavity mold section 6 and a core mold section 7. The leading end of each ejector pin 17 is held at a position shifted rearward from a mold surface, which forms an inner surface of the cavity 1, so as to form a depression corresponding to a compression boss 4 which is a boss for compression (hereinafter a boss for compression will be referred to as a compression boss). A compression mechanism is provided in a movable clamping plate 10. The compression mechanism includes a plurality of hydraulic chambers 18 and hydraulic cylinders 19 to be hydraulically driven in the hydraulic chambers 18. The hydraulic cylinders 19 are disposed on a rear surface of an ejector plate 9 that is connected to the ejector pins 17. In order to mold an item with the mold having the above-described configuration, filling of molten resin is started in a state in which the ejector pins 17 are shifted rearward from a core surface by the distance corresponding to the compression bosses 4, and the interiors of the cavity 1 and the compression bosses 4 are filled with the resin. After resin filling is completed, the compression mechanism is started so that the ejector plate 9, that is, the leading ends of the ejector pins 17 are pushed toward the cavity 1 (to the right in the figure) by the hydraulic cylinders 19, thus compressing the compression bosses 4. By this compression, the pressure is substantially uniformly transmitted to the entire mold. This can remove a sink mark from a rib. In order to prevent a sink mark from being formed on the rear side of the boss, the leading end of a boss portion 20 can be compressed by a sleeve pin 21 slid by a hydraulic cylinder 19, as shown in FIG. 8, or an inner pin 22 that forms a depression in a boss portion 20 can be compressed by a hydraulic cylinder 19, as shown in FIG. 9.
As described above, the ejector pin retreats by the compression allowance before resin filling, and a compression boss formed during resin filling is compressed, so that a sink mark can be prevented from being formed on the rear side of a boss or a rib.
Unfortunately, in the above-described known methods, since resin flows to the compression boss during resin filling, the resin flow undulates at the leading end on the surface of the cavity, and nonuniform flow easily occurs. When the resin flows to the compression boss, the pressure of resin in the cavity of the compression boss decreases, and the cavity surface of the rear side of the compression boss and a portion downstream of the compression boss become regions having low transferability because of insufficient resin filling. Consequently, an appearance defect, such as nonuniform transfer and uneven glossiness, is sometimes caused. Further, since there is a pressure difference in the cavity after resin filling, when the compression boss is compressed by the ejector pin, the compression pressure varies in accordance with the position of the ejector pin, and it is difficult to apply a sufficient compression pressure to necessary portions. Moreover, since compression needs to be performed with the hydraulic cylinder, the mold structure is complicated and the cost is increased.

Injection mold and partial compression molding method


A superconducting bearing device includes a permanent magnet on a rotor, with a superconductor placed opposite the magnet. Flux trapped in the superconductor during cooling helps to stabilize the rotor. More specifically, the permanent magnet is mounted on the rotor so that, as the rotor rotates, its rotation does not alter the magnetic flux distribution around the axis of rotation of the rotor. The superconductor permits penetration of the magnetic flux from the magnet, being space from the magnet by a distance that permits a predetermined quantity of the magnetic flux to penetrate it, while not permitting rotation of the rotor to alter the distribution of the penetrating magnetic flux.

The present invention relates to superconducting bearing devices having incorporated therein a superconductor permitting penetration of a magnetic flux thereinto.
Superconducting bearing devices heretofore known include, for example, the one disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication SHO 63-243523.
The superconducting bearing device disclosed includes a Type I superconductor, i.e., a superconductor preventing the penetration of magnetic flux perfectly to utilize the perfect diamagnetism of the superconductor. The device comprises a rotary shaft made of the superconductor and having its opposite ends fitted in a pair of recesses each of which is formed in a support member of magnetic material magnetized to one of the polarities, the rotary shaft being supported in a non-contacting position axially thereof.
With the known superconducting bearing device, the rotaty shaft is supported in a non-contacting position utilizing perfect diamagnetism as stated above and is therefore instable with respect to a direction orthogonal to the direction of repulsion, so that the support member for supporting each end of the rotary shaft must be machined to a shape surrounding the shaft end. Furthermore,between the shaft end and the support member, the portion opposed to the shaft end axially and radially of the shaft needs to be magnetized. Accordingly, the device is cumbersome to design and make.

Superconducting bearing device stabilized by trapped flux


A motor vehicle airbag arrangement has an airbag stored behind a cover disposed in the region of the dashboard panel. When the airbag, which can be inflated by a gas generator, is triggered, the cover moves to form an opening so that the airbag can unfold into a position which protects a seat occupant's upper body. Unfolding of the airbag is controlled as a function of the position in which the occupant is sitting by using the cover as a shield for the unfolding airbag which can deflect part of the airbag into a position which provides additional protection for a further body region of the occupant. The size of the opening formed by moving the cover depends on the position in which the occupant is sitting at the time.

This invention relates to airbag arrangements for motor vehicles having controlled deployment of the airbag to protect an occupant.
Airbag arrangements for motor vehicles having one or more airbags are known in a wide variety of embodiments and for a wide variety of purposes. One component of these conventional arrangements may be a sensor system that determines the sitting position of the occupant to be protected in relation to the airbag in order to control the deployment of the airbag and the timing and extent of air bag deployment based on that determination. German Offenlegungsschrift No. 44 20 114 discloses an air bag arrangement for front and side protection having control electronics arranged for determining the direction and intensity of an impact as well as the seat occupancy and controlling the actuation of airbags individually or in combination based on the result of the determination.
Some conventional airbags are arranged behind a cover in an instrument panel that is opened to release the airbag and, in addition to providing protection for the upper body of a seat occupancy, providing protection for the occupant's knees as well. In the arrangement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,168, upon deployment of an airbag, a knee pad located behind the instrument panel trim is swung out of a rest position into a position adjacent to the occupant's knees. The knee pad may alternatively have the configuration of a flap, covering a storage compartment for the folded airbag and forming a part of the lower instrument panel trim which is joined to the overlying portion of the instrument panel trim by a tear edge or weak spot. In addition to the airbag for protection of the upper body, an auxiliary air bag for knee protection may be connected to the gas generator so as to project between a supporting wall integral with the vehicle frame and the protecting position of the knee pad in the activated condition.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,033, discloses an airbag arrangement having a pressure-relieving device to render the airbag deployment as independent of temperature fluctuations as possible. This patent also shows that an airbag can be arranged so that it is able to protect both the upper body and the knees of the occupant.
Pressure relief valves are also employed to control the flow rate of gas to the airbag as a function of the seated position of the passenger, for example to diminish the gas flow if the occupant at the time of impact is not in his predetermined seated position but is leaning forward, i.e. is "out of position" so that the airbag will not act on the occupant with full gas pressure. To control the gas pressure in an airbag, step generators may also be employed, though they are rather costly.
Lastly, Canadian Patent No. 1,080,764 discloses an airbag arrangement disposed underneath the instrument panel which includes a hollow member providing knee impact protection and an airbag for protection of the occupant's upper body.


An apparatus and method for controlling the voltage applied to a load is taught. The method includes receiving an AC line voltage, generating an operating AC voltage from the AC line voltage and applying this operating AC voltage across the load. A measured signal which is a function of the magnitude of the operating AC voltage is generated, and then averaged to generate an average signal representative of the average value of the measured signal. The operating AC voltage is continually readjusted in response to changes in the average signal. The apparatus implementing this method includes terminal means for receiving an AC line voltage, means for generating an operating AC voltage from the AC line voltage, connector means for applying the operating AC voltage across the load, and voltage detection means for generating a measured signal which is a function of the magnitude of said operating AC voltage. Signal averaging means are provided for generating an average signal representative of the average value of the measured signal. Finally, the apparatus includes AC voltage modulation means for adjusting the operating AC voltage in response to the average signal. In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the AC voltage modulation means comprises voltage reduction means for switching off the line voltage for a portion of each cycle, the length of the portion being determined by the average value of the measured signal. The voltage modulation means may comprise a phase control integrated circuit device for controlling a triac. The phase control integrated circuit device is responsive to the average signal to generate a control signal operative to control a triac to switch off transmission of the line voltage to the load for the portion of each cycle.

Energy conservation has become a major concern in the design of electrical circuits and systems. Energy conservation has benefits to the end users and society as a whole. For example, on the one hand, diminished use of energy lowers operating costs of the system. On the other hand, diminished need for energy results in diminished adverse environmental impact such as pollution, depletion of resources and the like. One example of the need for reduction in energy consumption lies with the operation of AC motors. The use of such AC motors has become commonplace. Many ordinary appliances and much of the equipment used in residential as well as in industrial and commercial settings utilize such motors. These motors are ordinarily connected to power lines provided by local utility companies, which can vary substantially in voltage between locales and over time. Motors typically operate at relatively constant speeds, the speed being independent of the applied AC voltage to the motor over a range of operating voltages.
The energy consumption of any load element in an electric circuit, such as a motor, is determined from the integral over a predetermined period of the product of the instantaneous AC voltage applied across the load terminals and the instantaneous AC current through the load. Typical AC line voltages are sinusoidal. It is known that applying a sinusoidal input to an inductive load will result in both the AC voltage and AC current having the same sine wave shape but with an offset in time. The time offset between voltage and current is called a phase shift or phase difference and is typically expressed as an angle. For a constant voltage and, hence, relatively constant current, the power consumed by a load may be expressed as VIcos.PHI., where V is the average value of the applied AC voltage across the load, I is the average value of the AC current through the load and .PHI. is the phase difference between the voltage and the current. Cos .PHI. is sometimes referred to as the "power factor". Thus, power consumption is related to the phase difference between the AC voltage applied to the load and the AC current through the load. This phase difference is dependent upon the load condition of the motor. Hence power consumption is dependent upon the load status of the motor and upon the line voltage applied to the motor.
Most motors are designed to operate adequately at predetermined line voltages. Normally, the motor designer must assume that the motor will be operated at the lowest line voltage normally encountered. Such a voltage may be far lower that the normal line voltage available at most locations and at most times. For example, a load used in a refrigerator must be capable of delivering adequate power under full load during a "brown-out" condition, i.e., when a utility reduces line voltage over its entire grid (or portion thereof) in response to unusually high electrical energy demand. Changes in line voltage effects both load performance and energy consumption. While wide variations in line voltage are, thus, undesirable, such variations are beyond the control of most load designers and users. It is noted that ordinary line voltage fluctuations will not result in changes in the phase between the current and the voltage. Prior art energy conserving systems are responsive to changes in phase but not to fluctuations in line voltage.
Therefore, there is a need for a energy savings system for controlling the voltage applied to a load which is simple and which is responsive to changes in line voltage to adjust for such changes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved load control system for energy savings.
Another object of the invention is to provide an energy savings system for use with various loads which are simpler in design than the prior art.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying claims and drawings.

Ideal voltage controller for conserving energy in inductive loads


In a vehicle comprising a transaxle (2) which is fixedly attached at its left and right axle casings (5) to left and right body frame members (1), a mechanism for preventing the transaxle from being rotationally displaced about wheel axles (4) is provided. The mechanism comprises a rotation-preventing beam (6), fixedly provided to the frame members, and engaging projections (7, 8) fixedly disposed on a transmission casing (3) of the transaxle. Attachment portions of the body frame for the transaxle are well prevented from being deformed so that no substantial inclination of the transaxle is caused.

In a vehicle comprising a transaxle which is powered by an engine through a transmission shaft and drives vehicle drive wheels to rotate, the transaxle is subjected to a reaction torque which is caused by the ground reacting against the rotation of the drive wheels. Such reaction torque tends to rotationally displace the transaxle about the axles of drive wheels so that portions of the vehicle body frame at which the transaxle is attached to the frame tend to be deformed to result in an inclined posture of the transaxle. In case where such inclined posture of transaxle is caused in a vehicle having a shaft-jointing structure where a universal joint is employed only between the transmission shaft set forth above and either of an engine output shaft or an input shaft of the transaxle, or in a vehicle having a shaft-jointing structure where the transmission shaft for connecting the engine output shaft and transaxle input shaft is jointed to both of these shafts using rubber joints, variation in angular velocity is caused at the joint or joints so that an unstable condition of rotational speed of the transaxle input shaft is caused whereby a variation in the travelling speed of vehicle is resulted.
As shown, for example, in JP, U No.61-127026, one of the conventional structures for avoiding such disadvantage is that a transaxle is fixedly secured to a vehicle body frame using a plurality of bolts extending in plural directions, namely lateral, vertical and logitudinal directions of a vehicle, so as to provide a support structure rigid enough to prevent the transaxle from being changed in posture. As shown, for example, in JP, U No.63-26440, another structure according to the prior art, is that two universal joints are employed so that no problem in power transmission from an engine to a transaxle may be caused even when the transaxle is changed in its posture. When the latter structure is employed, a transaxle is, in general, fixedly attached at its left and right axle casings to left and right frame members of a vehicle body frame.
Of the two prior art structures set forth above, the former one of providing a rigid support structure for the transaxle requires a lot of tapping operations, bolts, and assembling operations so that it is expensive. The latter structure of employing two universal joints is still expensive due to the use of two universal joints of a relatively large cost and may cause, when the posture of transaxle is varied, deviation in timing or unsmoothness with regard to the operation of a control mechanism for a speed change gearing or the like provided in the transaxle.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved transaxle-supporting structure which eliminates these problems of the prior art structures.


A method and system for detection of available a white space channel in an area of licensed transmitters includes a detector which utilizes the autocorrelation analysis of a channel in an frequency modulated (FM) band. Calculation of the autocorrelation excludes an initial set of correlation delay values such that large values of autocorrelation are removed. The remaining autocorrelation based on higher correlation delay values exposes the sinusoidal nature of an FM transmitter operating in the selected channel. White space becomes available to a user if no transmitter is detected using the autocorrelation detection method.

Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the operation of unlicensed radio transmitters in the broadcast television spectrum at locations where that spectrum is not being used by licensed services under certain restrictions. Some restrictions are specified in a publication by the FCC, entitled "Second Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order," ET Docket No. 08-260, November 2008. The unused spectrum available for unlicensed use, which may include television and other pre-allocated spectrum, is often termed "white space". One major restriction on spectrum use is that unlicensed devices which can operate in the white space will be required to sense, at levels as low as −114 dBm, licensed transmitter signals, such as licensed digital and analog television transmitter signals, licensed wireless microphone signals, and signals of other services that operate in the multiple use bands on intermittent basis. In one example, a licensed sports television network may have authority to operate in the area of a sports arena, such as a football stadium. Such licensed use can include the use of wireless microphone transmitters to accommodate coverage of the sports event. However, such use is intermittent because the football event may only occur for a limited number of hours of an event day. Thus, the spectrum normally available only to the licensed wireless transmitters can be made available for un-licensed use under the new FCC guidelines.
Some prior art devices which detect white space frequency band availability operate on the principle of spectrum peak detection of licensed transmissions. However, such spectrum peak detectors will fail to properly identify an available channel when strong adjacent channel interference exists. Strong licensed signals, such as a digital television (DTV) signal can introduce adjacent channel interference due to leakage into adjacent spectrum which can cause false positive results in white space detectors that operate using spectrum peak-based detection. This false detection can eliminate an otherwise available channel from being utilized by the white space detector.

Autocorrelation-based spectrum sensing for FM signals


A method and system for real-time, in-line calculations of opto-electronic properties and thickness of the layers of multi-layered transparent conductive oxide stacks of photovoltaic devices is provided. The method and system include taking measurements of each layer of the stack during deposition thereof. The measurements are then used to calculate the opto-electronic properties and thicknesses of the layers in real-time.

A variety of thin-film photovoltaic devices, such as cells and modules, are known. Multilayered transparent conductive oxide (TCO) stacks are commonly used as support and contact (electrode) for these photovoltaic devices. The TCO stacks have opto-electronic properties, which can directly affect the devices' performance. The opto-electronic properties include electrical conductivity and optical transparency, both of which depend on thicknesses of the layers in the multilayered TCO stacks. Optical transparency is related to optical constants such as refractive index (n), and extinction coefficient (k). The refractive index of a material describes how light propagates through that material. It is a measure of how a wavelength and velocity of light are reduced when propagated through the material as compared to the wavelength and velocity of propagation through a vacuum. The extinction coefficient is a constant that relates to the absorption of light in a material.
Thus, to ensure a consistent performance across devices or batches of devices, it is necessary that the thickness and optical constant values of each layer of a TCO stack be consistent from one TCO stack to another. To do so, the thickness and optical constant values of each of the individual layers in the TCO stacks have to be controlled as the stacks are being formed. To control the thicknesses of the layers as the TCO stacks are being formed, the thickness of the layers must be measured in real-time (i.e., as the layers are being formed) or near real-time.
One method that has been used previously to obtain thicknesses of individual layers of a device is to take microscopic cross-sectional measurements of the device. Microscopic cross-sectional measurements includes cutting open a previously-fabricated device to expose its cross-sectional layers and using an electron microscope (or other microscopic measurement tool) to measure the thickness of each exposed layer.
To ensure that the thicknesses of the layers do not deviate too much from one device to another, the microscopic cross-sectional measurements should be taken on a fairly regular basis. Doing so, however, may slow down the manufacturing line as layer deposition may have to be stopped awaiting the results of the measurements to determine whether adjustments to the deposition equipment are needed. Further, since the device is destroyed in order to take the measurements, additional costs may be added to the photovoltaic devices. Obtaining values for the optical constants of the layers is equally, if not more, challenging.
Hence, in-line measurements of the thickness and optical constant values of the layers of a TCO stack would be preferable, not only to prevent the need for device destruction, but also to allow measurements of each layer of the device in real-time. Real-time layer measurements may allow, for example, for real-time correction of undesired manufacturing variances. It would therefore be desirable to perform an accurate real-time, non-destructive calculation of layer thicknesses and optical properties thereof for the layers of the TCO stack.

Method and system for in-line real-time measurements of layers of multilayered front contacts of photovoltaic devices and calculation of opto-electronic properties and layer thicknesses thereof


Based on data acquired from a server via a predetermined network, a predetermined content is acquired. Further, based on data acquired from an information storage medium by performing near field communication with the information storage medium, a content that can be used in the same application as an application in which a content that can be acquired from the server via the predetermined network is used, or the same content is acquired.

Conventionally, there is a system for downloading a client application from a server on a network through wireless communication, thereby performing processing based on the client application.
The system, however, can merely acquire a client application from the server on the network, but cannot acquire the client application by another means.
It is an object of an exemplary embodiment to provide an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method that are capable of acquiring a content using a plurality of types of means, and a storage medium having stored therein an information processing program capable of acquiring a content using a plurality of types of means.
To achieve the above object, the exemplary embodiment can employ, for example, the following configurations. It should be noted that it is understood that, to interpret the descriptions of the claims, the scope of the claims should be interpreted only by the descriptions of the claims. If there is a conflict between the descriptions of the claims and the descriptions of the specification, the descriptions of the claims take precedence.
In an exemplary configuration of an information processing system according to the exemplary embodiment, an information processing system includes a server and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a computer processor configured to: as first data acquisition, acquire data from the server via a predetermined network; as second data acquisition, perform near field communication with an information storage medium, thereby acquiring data from the information storage medium; execute an application in which a predetermined content can be used; as first content acquisition, based on the data acquired in the first data acquisition, acquire a content that can be used in the application; and as second content acquisition, based on the data acquired in the second data acquisition, acquire a content that can be used in the same application as an application in which a content that can be acquired in the first content acquisition is used.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire a content from a server via a predetermined network and also acquire, from an information storage medium through near field communication, a content that can be used in the same application. This makes it possible to acquire a content that can be used in the same application, using a plurality of acquisition methods.
In addition, in the second content acquisition, the content may be acquired by performing a process of, based on the data acquired in the second data acquisition, allowing use of a content stored in advance in the information processing apparatus, or by reading data representing a content from the information storage medium in the second data acquisition.
Based on the above, if a content is acquired from the information storage medium through near field communication, it is possible to acquire the content not via the network.
In addition, the server may include a computer processor configured to, in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus to acquire the content, perform a process of charging a user of the information processing apparatus in accordance with the content.
Based on the above, it is possible to charge for a content that can be acquired from the server via the predetermined network.
In addition, the computer processor of the information processing apparatus may be further configured to prompt the user to select a content from among a plurality of contents acquired in the first content acquisition and/or the second content acquisition. In this case, the application may be executed using the content selected from among the plurality of contents.
Based on the above, it is possible to execute an application using a content desired by a user.
In addition, in the first content acquisition and the second content acquisition, a content belonging to a content group of the same type that can be used in the application may be able to be acquired.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire a content of the same type using a plurality of acquisition methods.
In addition, in the first content acquisition and the second content acquisition, the same content that can be used in the application may be able to be acquired.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire the same content using a plurality of acquisition methods.
In addition, a content that can be acquired in the first content acquisition and a content that can be acquired in the second content acquisition may be contents belonging to content groups of different types that can be used in the application.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire contents of different types using a plurality of acquisition methods.
In addition, the server may comprise a computer processor configured to, in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus, present contents that can be acquired by the information processing apparatus. The computer processor of the information processing apparatus may be further configured to, based on the presented contents, prompt a user to select a content. In the first content acquisition, the content selected by the user is acquired.
Based on the above, it is possible to select a content desired by a user and acquire the selected content from the server.
In addition, the information storage medium may have an external appearance related to a predetermined character. In the second content acquisition, a content related to the character may be acquired based on information from the information storage medium.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire a content based on the external appearance of the information storage medium. This enables a user to intuitively know from the external appearance of the information storage medium a content that can be acquired.
In addition, the information storage medium may store as the information an identification code regarding the character.
Based on the above, it is possible to easily set a content based on the external appearance of the information storage medium, using an identification code regarding a character.
In addition, the content acquired in the first content acquisition and the content acquired in the second content acquisition may be displayed together in a list on a display apparatus, thereby prompting a user to select a content from among the contents displayed in the list.
Based on the above, a content acquired from the server and a content acquired from the information storage medium are displayed in a list. Thus, the user can select a content from these contents without distinguishing them and use the selected content in the application.
In addition, the content acquired in the first content acquisition and the content acquired in the second content acquisition may be displayed on a display apparatus by distinguishing the contents, thereby prompting a user to select a content from among the displayed contents.
Based on the above, a content acquired from the server and a content acquired from the information storage medium are displayed by distinguishing them. This makes it possible to select a content to be used in the application, taking into account the acquisition source of the content.
In addition, the information processing apparatus may further include a content storage unit. The content storage unit stores at least the content acquired in the second content acquisition. In this case, even in a state where the information processing apparatus cannot perform the near field communication with the information storage medium, the application may be able to be executed using the content stored in the content storage unit.
Based on the above, it is not necessary to perform near field communication with the information storage medium every time a content is used. This can improve the convenience of a content.
In addition, in the first content acquisition and/or the second content acquisition, a process may be performed of allowing simultaneous use of a plurality of contents stored in advance in the information processing apparatus based on data acquired in the first data acquisition and the second data acquisition.
Based on the above, it is possible to simultaneously acquire a plurality of contents.
In addition, in the first content acquisition and/or the second content acquisition, a process may be performed of allowing, by updating the executed application, use of the contents acquired based on the pieces of data acquired in the first data acquisition and/or the second data acquisition.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire a content of which the use will be allowed in the future.
In addition, the application using the contents acquired in the first content acquisition and/or the second content acquisition may be able to be executed, and another application different from the application may also be able to be executed using the data acquired in the second data acquisition.
Based on the above, the information storage medium can also be used in another application. This can improve the utility value of the information storage medium.
In addition, processing using the contents acquired in the first content acquisition and/or the second content acquisition may be able to be performed, and processing different from the processing using the contents may also be able to be performed using the data acquired in the second data acquisition.
Based on the above, the information storage medium can be used for a purpose other than the addition of a content. This can improve the utility value of the information storage medium.
In addition, the application may be executed, thereby enabling game processing using the contents acquired in the first content acquisition and/or the second content acquisition.
Based on the above, it is possible to use in an added system a content used in a game.
In another exemplary configuration of the information processing system according to the exemplary embodiment, an information processing system includes a server and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a computer processor configured to: as first data acquisition, acquire data from the server via a predetermined network; as second data acquisition, perform near field communication with an information storage medium, thereby acquiring data from the information storage medium; as first content acquisition, based on the data acquired in the first data acquisition, acquire a predetermined content; and as second content acquisition, based on the data acquired in the second data acquisition, acquire the same content as the content.
Based on the above, it is possible to acquire a content from a server via a predetermined network and also acquire the same content from an information storage medium through near field communication. This makes it possible to acquire the same content using a plurality of units.
In addition, in the second content acquisition, a content that allows execution of a predetermined application only for a predetermined period may be able to be acquired. In the first content acquisition, a content that allows the execution of the application without limitation of a period may be able to be acquired.
Based on the above, it is possible to construct a system for acquiring, from the information storage medium through near field communication, a content of which the usable period is limited, such as a trial content, and acquiring, from the server via the predetermined network, a content of which the usable period is not limited, such as a product of the content.
In addition, in the first content acquisition, a content that allows execution of a predetermined application only for a predetermined period may be able to be acquired. In the second content acquisition, a content that allows the execution of the application without limitation of a period may be able to be acquired.
Based on the above, it is possible to construct a system for acquiring, from the server via the predetermined network, a content of which the usable period is limited, such as a trial content, and acquiring, from the information storage medium through near field communication, a content of which the usable period is not limited, such as a product of the content.
In addition, the exemplary embodiment may be carried out in the forms of an information processing apparatus, a storage medium having stored therein an information processing program, and an information processing method.
According to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to acquire a content from a server via a predetermined network and also acquire a content from an information storage medium through near field communication. This makes it possible to acquire a content using a plurality of acquisition methods.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Information processing system, information processing apparatus, storage medium having stored therein information processing program, and information processing method


Described is a catalyst regenerator system that includes a regenerator vessel within which is a verticaliy extending partition that divides a fluidized bed zone of the regenerator vessel into a dense phase fluidized bed zone and a fast-fluidized bed zone. Apparatus is provided to introduce spent catalyst into the fast-fluidized bed zone and to remove regenerated catalyst from the dense phase fluidized bed zone. The partition is equipped with openings that provide for the flow of catalyst from the dense phase fluidized bed zone to the fast-fluidized bed zone.

Such regenerator vessels are for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,282. This publication describes a vessel comprising at its lower end a bubbling fluidised bed of catalyst in which the combustion of coke present on the catalysts to be regenerated takes place.
A disadvantage of the bubbling bed regenerator as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,282 is that they are troubled with stagnant beds, due to poor catalyst flow patterns, and regeneration gas bypassing, due to the formation of large bubbles within the bubbling dense bed.
An alternative to the bubbling bed regenerator is the so-called "High Efficiency Regenerator" (HER) design as described in EP-A-610186. The regeneration is performed in a fast-fluidised bed for most of the coke combustion and a dilute phase transport riser for some CO combustion. Regenerated catalyst is collected in a bubbling dense bed for reuse and for recycle to the coke combustor. The regeneration of catalysts is more efficient than in the bubbling bed regenerator. As a result the catalyst inventory required in a FCC unit having such a regenerator can be smaller than the inventory of a FCC unit having a bubbling bed regenerator This is advantageous, for example because such a FCC unit can refresh or change its catalyst inventory in a more efficient manner.
A disadvantage of the "High Efficiency Regenerator" (HER) design as for example described in EP-A-610186 is their mechanical and operational complexity. For example the regenerator vessel consists of two stacked vessels comprising three different fluidised bed regimes.
GB-A-769818 discloses a vessel, wherein both stripping and regeneration is performed. Catalyst from the FCC reactor is supplied to an inner vessel zone wherein catalyst is stripped to obtained spent catalyst. The spent catalyst can flow via openings from inner vessel space to the outer vessel space. In the latter space regeneration takes place.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,397 describes a regenerator wherein the spent catalyst is directly introduced in a fast-fluidised bed zone located centrally in a regenerator vessel. The required temperature for achieving a sufficient combustion of the coke from the catalyst is achieved by mixing the spent catalyst with part of the regenerated catalyst at the catalyst inlet. The partly regenerated catalyst then flows to a second fluidised bed located in the annular space between the centrally located fast-fluidised bed zone and the regenerator vessel wall. Disclosed is a regeneration process wherein partial combustion takes place in the fast-fluidised bed and total combustion takes place in the second fluidised bed. In order to avoid after burning in the upper part of the regenerator vessel, when the effluent gasses of both fluidisation zones meet, a special cyclone arrangement is proposed.


A smart mic may be combined with an LMR radio terminal for user communication. An outgoing user communication by either the LMR terminal or the smart mic causes a corresponding incoming communication received respectively at the smart mic or the LMR terminal to be suppressed in various ways. This prevents audio interference for the user.

Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems traditionally support PTT operation in half duplex. This means that a radio terminal or smart mic can either transmit or receive but not do so simultaneously. PTT solutions that operate over Internet Protocol (IP) are commonly referred to as Voice Over IP (VOIP) solutions. Some VOIP solutions are implemented as half duplex. Other VOIP solutions are implemented in full duplex which means a radio terminal or smart mic can receive and transmit simultaneously.
LMR is a technology that supplies PTT voice service but operates over communication technology specifically optimized for voice. Examples of LMR technology include but are or not limited to P25 (APCO 25), Tetra, DMR (Digital Mobile Radio), or analogue LMR. LMR PTT voice service typically operates using an LMR server that forms a central controller to which all the LMR radios connect to for service. Generally LMR voice services are half duplex.
Push To Talk over Cellular (PTToC) solutions are used by professional users such as security guards for voice communication. The technology typically uses a PTToC server deployed either locally or on the cloud and multiple PTToC clients connect to the server for operations. Typically the PTToC clients operate on smart phones using the cellular network for communications and the voice service supplied is either half duplex or full duplex. More generally the technology is referred to as VOIP because the voice service can run over any suitable IP network such as Wi-Fi as well as cellular.
Today, professional users such as police, fire and ambulance tend to use a combination of LMR and PTToC technologies. Unique integration problems are created when LMR and PTToC technologies are combined.
If an audio transmission is initiated from a combined LMR/PTToC terminal over the PTToC path into a network then the same audio transmission will arrive at the originating terminal via the LMR path. This happens because the LMR server is connected to the PTToC server in the network via a gateway which means a call received on the LMR path maybe re-transmitted on the PTToC path and vice versa. In other words the user of a combined LMR/PTToC terminal will be able to hear themselves talking making the use of the terminal less practical.
Similarly if a data message is transmitted from a combined LMR/PTToC terminal over the PTToC path into a network then the same data message may arrive at the original terminal via the LMR path. This happens because the LMR server is connected to the PTToC server via a gateway which means a data message received over PTToC may be re-transmitted over LMR. If a data packet transmission originates on the LMR path from the combined LMR/PTToC terminal then the PTToC side of the combined terminal may receive the message and vice versa.

Management of a combined smart-mic and radio system