43results about How to "Alleviate problem" patented technology

A method and system for testing complex machine control software A method of formally testing a complex machine control software program in order to determine defects within the software program is described. The software program to be tested (SUT) has a defined test boundary, encompassing the complete set of visible behaviour of the SUT, and at least one interface between the SUT and an external component, the at least one interface being defined in a formal, mathematically verified interface specification. The method comprises: obtaining a usage model for specifying the externally visible behaviour of the SUT as a plurality of usage scenarios, on the basis of the verified interface specification; verifying the usage model, using a usage model verifier, to generate a verified usage model of the total set of observable, expected behaviour of a compliant SUT with respect to its interfaces; extracting, using a sequence extractor, a plurality of test sequences from the verified usage model; executing, using a test execution means, a plurality of test cases corresponding to the plurality of test sequences; monitoring the externally visible behaviour of the SUT as the plurality of test sequences are executed; and comparing the monitored externally visible behaviour with an expected behaviour of the SUT.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a high-k gate dielectric, characterized in that an annealing process in a forming gas atmosphere, corresponding to a final step of a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device based on MOSFET fabrication techniques, is applied for a high-k gate dielectric-containing semiconductor device, under high pressure, instead of conventional atmospheric pressure, whereby passivation effects of interface charges and fixed charges of the semiconductor device can be maximized even at relatively low temperatures.

Video processing comprises storing data relating to images of a video signal captured over at least a reference period relative to a current image of the video signal; comparing the current image with a reference image of the video signal captured within the reference period, so as to detect image features in the current image representing changes with respect to a corresponding position in the reference image; detecting whether a detected image feature in the current image has remained at substantially the same image position over a group of images preceding the current image; and displaying the current image with an indication of any such image features and an indication of the duration of the presence of the image feature at that image position.

A cabin door device having a cabin frame, comprises: a door mounted to a side part of the cabin frame so as to be moveable between a fully closed position and a fully open position; and a main striker supported by the cabin frame, wherein the door has a lock device, and the door is held in the fully closed position by the lock device engaging the striker; and an auxiliary striker that is supported by the cabin frame and whose position can be changed between a held posture, in which the door is held at an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position by coupling with the lock device, and a retracted position in which the lock device of the door is allowed to engage with the striker.

The establishment and reception of a service, such as a multimedia service, over different networks is described. A first and second network coupled by a home gateway may respectively employ first and second radio access technologies. An interface between the radio access technologies may communicate downlink channel setup requests. Uplink and downlink control signals are communicated via a first network. In response to the exchange of uplink and downlink control signals via a first network, multimedia data is received via the second network.

A novel node device enables transmission of a wideband signal, in compliance with various acceptable transmission standards and protocols. The signal consists of the legacy spectrum of about 5-860 MHz as well as a new downstream spectrum of about 1000-2000 MHz and a new upstream spectrum of about 2000-3000 MHz or about 930-1100 MHz. The novel device enables transfer of additional data in the upstream direction employing multiple upstream bands without making substantial investment in upstream physical node splitting, thus providing networking services to residential subscribers as well as to small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), which may operate under existing DOCSIS protocols and controlled by standard DOCSIS routers (CMTSs).

A self-contained re-humidification mask (1) having locating means (6) to enable the mask to be supported in an operative position on a user (4) is provided. The mask has a wall (2) shaped as a moulded domed mask configured to cover the face of a user from the nose to the chin. An endless peripheral edge is shaped and configured to generally anatomically follow the contours of a face of a user to define, with the face of a user, an air pocket (24). The mask has a single inlet-outlet aperture (8) located generally opposite a position occupied in use by a mouth of a user, and at least one re-humidification assembly (9) located in the inlet-outlet aperture such that it substantially fills the aperture. The re-humidification assembly includes a coil (17) of corrugated hygroscopic paper having an axis of the coil extending in the direction of fluid flow through the inlet-outlet aperture. The re-humidification mask preferably has a wall formed from a non-woven synthetic fibre sheet that is press moulded and heat set to the domed shape thereof.

A polyalkylene glycol (PAG)-preferably a polyethylene glycol-or a derivative or conjugate thereof, in particulate form, having a residual solvent content of 200 ppm or less and a volume mean particle diameter of 25 mum or less. Also methods for forming particulate products containing PAGs or derivatives or conjugates thereof, in particular by carrying out a GAS process-preferably a Nektar(TM) SCF process-on a solution or suspension of a target substance but using as the anti-solvent fluid a compressed fluid which at the point of its contact with the solution or suspension is at a temperature of 25° C. or below.

A sensor structure includes a mass element (104, 204) and a support element (106, 206) for the mass element, either or both of the elements including carbon nanostructures (106, 114, 206) at least some of which are mutually non-parallel, the mass element and support element being configured such that upon acceleration or other mechanical or energy impact exceeding a predetermined threshold, a permanent change takes place in the physical configuration of the carbon nanostructures and in a dependent, measurable value of a predetermined electrical parameter, the electrical parameter optionally including or indicating at least one electrical property selected from the group consisting of: resistance, inductance, capacitance and impedance.

A 2D occupancy system for determining a position of a user (e.g. a human, an object or an animal) in an environment includes a host device and a plurality of motion detection devices. The host device and the plurality of motion detection devices are connected through a network. Each motion detection device has a viewing angle and the viewing angle of any motion detection device overlaps with the viewing angle of at least one other motion detection device. The host device comprises an input port for receiving motion information from the plurality of motion detection devices, and a processing unit for determining the position of the user in the environment from the motion information from particular motion detection devices at a same time-stamp.

A dryer includes a drying chamber, a process air guide that guides process air along the articles to pick up humidity from them, a heat sink in the process air guide that precipitates humidity from the process air as a condensate, and a condensate collector with a condensate container having an insert that is permeable to the condensate and that projects through an opening into the condensate container for transferring the condensate to and from the condensate container. The insert includes a first filter that filters particles from the condensate prior to storing the condensate in the condensate container.

The invention relates to a method for converting generic application instructions stored on a server to a client specific application for a client device, wherein the server and the client device are arranged in a client-server network. The method comprises selecting a suitable plug-in based on a rating system and using the selected rendering plug-in to convert generic application instructions to a client specific application. By means of the invention it is provided a flexible solution for introducing new client devices to the client-server network, since any discrepancies between different types of client devices may be resolved by the rendering plug-in.

A fiber stuffing and fluffing machine utilized for fiber stuffing toys, pillows, and other skins having a venturi vacuum system, a unique agitation cavity and blade arrangement, and various unique mechanical and electrical features which provide improved stuffing and fluffing capabilities over the prior art. The art of the present invention is capable of integration into a single stand alone unit which performs improved fluffing and stuffing operations without the need for external pneumatic sources. The art of the present invention, in its various embodiments, also utilizes scroll compressors or turbine compressors heretofore not found in prior art stuffing and fluffing applications. The present art further provides means for separating foreign objects from the ingested stuffing fibers to protect the fluffer blower.

An electrical connector is used for electrically connecting a chip module and includes: an insulating body, having a plurality of receiving slots; and a plurality of terminals, disposed in the receiving slots and each having a base plate, a contact arm and at least one extending arm, in which the base plate is fixed in the receiving slot, the contact arm is located on one side of the base plate and has a contact portion conducting the chip module, the contact portion is higher than the base plate and is exposed outside the receiving slot, and the extending arm is in a bent shape and has a lower end connected to the contact arm and an upper end connected to the base plate.

A method of positioning a surgical instrument is provided which includes mapping a volume adjacent an operating table by taking mapping images from two orientations of a calibration object which includes a 3-dimensional array of radio opaque markers in a known configuration. A patient is positioned on the operating table with a patient target area within a mapped volume, and an instrument holder carrying a known configuration of radio opaque markers positioned adjacent the target area. Further fluoroscopic target images of the target area and instrument holder are obtained from the two orientations and the target area then reconstructed in 3-dimensions by comparing the target images to the mapping images. An instrument holder orientation is then calculated from the reconstruction.

A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.

An apparatus and method for monitoring the status of one or more pilot flames or of the main flame in a flare system. A collimator, quartz light tube, or other receiver is positioned near the combustion zone and receives an image which is transmitted via a fiber optic line to an analyzing sensor which is located at a safe distance from the flare system. The fiber optic line preferably extends through a pilot gas line, a flame front generator line, or other protective conduit so that the fiber optic line can be cooled and purged by pilot gas, instrument air, or other cooling gas media which is continuously delivered through the conduit.

A header for use in implantable pulse generator devices. The header is part of electrical connector assembly having one or more openings designed to receive the terminal pin of an electrical lead wire or electrode. The header is designed to provide and sustain long-term electrical and mechanical lead wire connections between the electrodes of a terminal pin and the implantable pulse generator device.

A retaining formation defined on a brake lever of an air disc brake includes a push fit/snap fit connection for releasably securing a push rod to a brake lever. The retaining formation can include a pinned connection and a ball and socket joint, and a main axis of the pinned connection is coincident with a center of rotation of the ball and socket joint. The retaining formation can include a concave formation on one of the push rod and the brake lever and a corresponding convex formation on the other of the push rod and the brake lever. The concave formation at least partially surrounds the convex formation to prevent axial separation of the push rod and the brake lever. A method of assembling a brake subassembly includes the steps of assembling a push rod and a brake lever including a retaining formation such that at least a portion of the retaining formation deforms during assembly and resiles when the push rod is assembled to the brake lever to provide a snap fit connection therebetween. Another method of manufacturing a retaining formation includes the steps of providing one of a push rod and a brake lever with a concave formation, providing the other of the push rod and the brake lever with a convex formation able to receive the concave formation, assembling the concave formation and the convex formation, mechanically working the one of the push rod and the brake lever with the concave formation such that the concave formation at least partially surrounds the convex formation to prevent axial separation of the push rod and the brake lever.

A hydrogen peroxide point of use wetted wiper system comprises a packaging with a first, a second, and a third compartment, wherein the separate compartments are mergable. Wipers are disposed in the third compartment. Disposed in the second compartment is dry urea hydrogen peroxide, and the urea hydrogen peroxide is isolated from the wipers. Disposed in the first compartment is a solvent, wherein the solvent is isolated from the wipers and the urea hydrogen peroxide. The first and second compartments can merge to form a unified compartment such that the solvent is combined with the urea hydrogen peroxide at a point of use to form liquid hydrogen peroxide. The unified compartment then merges with the third compartment such that the liquid hydrogen peroxide wets the wipers, the liquid hydrogen peroxide concentration and amount proportional to the wiper absorptive capacity, number, size, and degree of desired saturation.

A method and an apparatus for damping voltage oscillation of a voltage intermediate circuit of a frequency converter, the frequency converter comprising a half controlled rectifier bridge coupled to a supply network. The method comprises determining magnitude (U_c) of voltage of the voltage intermediate circuit, determining magnitude (U_in) of rectified voltage of the supply network, forming a derivative of a difference (U_in−U_c) between the rectified voltage of the supply network and the voltage of the voltage intermediate circuit, delaying firing of controllable components of the rectifier bridge on the basis of the formed derivative.

Dust accumulation monitors are provided to autonomously monitor dust accumulations. The dust accumulation monitors include a casing having a translucent portion, a light sensor configured to output a sensing signal based on sensed light penetrating through the translucent portion, a controller coupled to the light sensor to receive the sensing signal and configured to output a dust alert signal based on the received sensing signal, and a communication interface coupled to the controller and configured to output an alert based on the dust alert signal output by the controller. A dust accumulation monitoring system includes a plurality of dust accumulation monitors, and a central monitor communicatively connected to each of the plurality of dust accumulation monitors and configured to receive dust sensing signals from each of the plurality of dust accumulation monitors. The dust accumulation monitors may communicate through wired or wireless links with the central monitor.

A dispenser for delivering beverages (e.g. beer) including a main body (20), an inlet (21), an outlet (23) and a piston stop valve (23). In use, the piston moves from a first closed position (A) to a second position (B) where fluid is permitted only through restrictive channels (30) that causes turbulent flow and hence foam formation for the head of the beverage. In a third position (C), flow is completely open from the inlet to the outlet and foam formation is minimised.

A security device (2) is described for protection access to and from a parking space by being suitable for secure mounting to the entrance/exit of the parking space at ground level comprising a barrier or sign (9) capable of movement between a raised position for preventing movement of a vehicle past the barrier (9) and a lowered position permitting the vehicle to be driven over the device (2), and arming pedal (4) which is depressed when the vehicle is driven over the device (2) to energize a driving means in the form of a torsion spring (78) which is connected via a control means including a cam (40) having two cam lobes (42,44) for effecting movement of a bar (60), to the barrier (9) by a suitable connection means, such as for example a slotted wheel (84) and pulley arrangement, so that operation of the control means causes lower or raising of the barrier.

In a wireless mesh network having a known or predetermined physical topology, a network node or access point (AP) may promptly begin operation on the network in response to receiving a network advertisement. In particular, the node or AP can store a network communication schedule and adjust the network communication schedule based on parameter value(s) received in the network advertisement received from the network manager. As a result, the node or AP can begin operating in accordance with a network's communication schedule promptly after receiving the network advertisement by transmitting packets using pairs of communication channels and timeslots assigned thereto in the adjusted communication schedule. The network communication schedule stored by the node or AP can take the form of an algorithm that takes the parameter value(s) received in the network advertisement as input(s) and, when executed by the node or AP, outputs the appropriate adjusted network communication schedule.

A stable composition including botulinum neurotoxin and a cyclodextrin and a method of preserving botulinum neurotoxin and for producing a botulinum neurotoxin composition with improved stability properties in an efficient and economically advantageous manner. The invention seeks to alleviate the problems associated with rapid degradation or denaturation of botulinum neurotoxin by providing a novel composition that exhibits improved stability properties. The botulinum neurotoxin is preferably stabilized by forming a cyclodextrin inclusion complex.

The present invention provides a method, system and apparatus for refilling a reservoir of a smoking-substitute device with liquid from a dispenser.

The present invention solves some of the problems of the prior art by providing a method, system and apparatus for readily refilling the reservoir of a smoking-substitute device with liquid from a dispenser. The method, system and apparatus of the present invention prevents liquid from being dispensed until the dispenser is securely and sealably engaged to the smoking-substitute device, provides independent liquid and gas pathways between the dispenser and reservoir, and substantially alleviates the problems of spillage and/or leakage when dispensing liquid from the dispenser into the reservoir of the smoking-substitute device.

An amplification device, comprising a device input receiving a device input signal, an amplifier unit comprising a zero crossing detector unit, an output filter and a lead-lag compensation network. The zero crossing detector unit compares the device input signal with a reference potential and switches a pulse width modulated detector output signal between first and second voltage levels dependent on the comparison. The amplifier unit provides an actual device output signal, e.g., an amplified representation of the device input signal. The amplification device further comprises a device output providing the actual device output signal, a control loop bridging the amplifier unit and comprising a forward filter, e.g., an integrating filter, for increasing loop gain improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the actual device output signal, and a deviation detection unit detecting over modulation of the amplifier unit, so that the amplification device disables forward filter functioning upon over modulation.

An imager is disclosed comprising: one or more detectors, a shutter adapted to open and close periodically to modulate the radiation incident upon the detector element to produce a sequence of alternating open fields and closed fields, said detector being adapted to produce a first pair of output signals V.sub.o1 and V.sub.c1 comprising an open field and a closed field, and a second pair of output signals V.sub.o2 and V.sub.c2 comprising an open and a closed field, a reset device adapted to reset the output of the detecting element to a predetermined voltage after the output signals of V.sub.o1, V.sub.c1, V.sub.o2 and V.sub.c2 have all been obtained, there being no reset of the output of the detecting element between the output signals V.sub.o1, V.sub.c1, V.sub.o2 and V.sub.c2, and a processor adapted to process said first and second pairs of output signals to produce a first and a second processed image signal from the detecting element, the first processed image signal corresponding to the first pair of fields and the second processed image signal corresponding to the second pair of fields. The four signals provide sufficient information to produce images,which are free from reset KTC noise whilst removing the effects of ramp voltages produced by current leakage across the detectors.