2291results about How to "Effective maintenance" patented technology

An on-board intelligent vehicle system includes a sensor assembly to collect data and a processor to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event. The data may be collected from existing standard equipment such as the vehicle communication bus or add-on sensors. The data may be indicative of conditions relating to the vehicle, roadway infrastructure, and roadway utilization, such as vehicle performance, roadway design, roadway conditions, and traffic levels. The detection of an event may signify abnormal, substandard, or unacceptable conditions prevailing in the roadway, vehicle, or traffic. The vehicle transmits an event indicator and correlated vehicle location data to a central facility for further management of the information. The central facility sends communications reflecting event occurrence to various relevant or interested users. The user population can include other vehicle subscribers (e.g., to provide rerouting data based on location-relevant roadway or traffic events), roadway maintenance crews, vehicle manufacturers, and governmental agencies (e.g., transportation authorities, law enforcement, and legislative bodies).

A thermal energy controller system useful in medical procedures includes a controller coupled to a probe, and a thermal element to vary probe temperature. The controller includes memory storing a non-continuous algorithm that permits user-selectable settings for various probe types such that controller operation is self-modifying in response to the selected probe setting. Probe output power Pout is constant in one mode to rapidly enable probe temperature to come within a threshold of a target temperature. The controller can then vary Pout dynamically using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) algorithm Pout=Kp·P+Ki·I+Kd·D, where feedback loop coefficients Kp, Ki, Kd can vary dynamically depending upon magnitude of an error function e(t) representing the difference between a user-set desired target temperature and sensed probe temperature. Advantageously, target temperature can be rapidly attained without overshoot, allowing the probe system to be especially effective in arthroscopic tissue treatment.

A method for enabling intelligence at the edge. Features include: triggering by sensor data in a software layer hosted on either a gateway device or an embedded system. Software layer is connected to a local-area network. A repository of services, applications, and data processing engines is made accessible by the software layer. Matching the sensor data with semantic descriptions of occurrence of specific conditions through an expression language made available by the software layer. Automatic discovery of pattern events by continuously executing expressions. Intelligently composing services and applications across the gateway device and embedded systems across the network managed by the software layer for chaining applications and analytics expressions. Optimizing the layout of the applications and analytics based on resource availability. Monitoring the health of the software layer. Storing of raw sensor data or results of expressions in a local time-series database or cloud storage. Services and components can be containerized to ensure smooth running in any gateway environment.

A redundant fan system for a computer includes two fans installed in series with at least one of the fans having collapsible blades. A fan system of this type reduces the fan inefficiency caused when one fan in a series mounted pair is not operating, either because it is free-wheeling or in a locked rotor condition. When non-operational, the fan blades of the collapsible fan fold inward due to airflow generated by the operational fan over the collapsible blades. The ability of the blades to fold reduces the inefficiency of the operational fan, having less of an effect on fan life. Also, because the flow of air is less restricted, proper airflow can be maintained, thus preventing overheating of the computer.

A substrate processing apparatus (1) has a first polishing unit (400A) and a second polishing unit (400B) for polishing a peripheral portion of a substrate. Each of the two polishing units (400A, 400B) includes a bevel polishing device (450A, 450B) for polishing a peripheral portion of a substrate and a notch polishing device (480A, 480B) for polishing a notch of a substrate. The substrate processing apparatus (1) has a maintenance space (7) formed between the two polishing units (400A, 400B). The bevel polishing devices (450A, 450B) in the two polishing units (400A, 400B) face the maintenance space (7) so as to be accessible from the maintenance space (7).

One or more methods and systems of effectively transmitting voice and voice band data from one node to another are presented. In one embodiment, the system comprises an NTP time server generating absolute times to computing devices such as residential voice over internet protocol (VoIP) gateways. The NTP time server generates absolute times in response to NTP time requests made by one or more computing devices such as residential VoIP gateways. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining an adequate rate for requesting absolute times from an NTP server, making periodic requests to the NTP server, obtaining the absolute times from the NTP server, and generating an adjustment parameter for use by a computing device such as a residential VoIP gateway.

A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network. The ballast comprises a power circuit portion for providing an electrical current to power a lamp. The ballast further includes a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device, a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast, and a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data. The ballast processor is operative to receive a serial data that has a portion defining whether the message is in a first or a second format, the first format comprising a DALI standard format and the second format comprising a format providing extended functionality. The ballast processor is capable of processing messages in either the first or second formats.

A vacuum cleaner includes a suction port assembly, a motor generating a suction force at the suction port assembly, and a cyclone dust collecting device for centrifugally separating air drawn in through the suction port assembly and the motor in sequence. The cyclone dust-collecting device includes an air discharge port penetratingly formed on an outer circumference of the cyclone dust-collecting device and exposed to an outside of the cleaner body, for guiding the air discharged to the outside. Accordingly, since the air discharge port is disposed in the cyclone dust collecting device, not in the cleaner body, a discharge channel for connecting the cyclone dust collecting device and cleaner body is omitted and thus a structure of the vacuum cleaner becomes simplified.

Methods and devices for implanting spinal fixation implants and devices are provided. In one embodiment, a method for implanting a spinal fixation system is provided and it includes the steps of positioning a spinal fixation element to extend along a patient's spinal column adjacent to one or more vertebrae, determining an implant site on at least one vertebra, implanting at least one spinal anchor at the implant site on at least one vertebra, and coupling the spinal fixation element to each implant.

Systems and methods for directing client requests and for selecting a back end server to service client requests. A front end server receives client requests and based on the URI of the requests, directs the request to a back end server. The client request can be for a private or a public folder and each back end server typically stores both private and public folders. If the request is for a private folder, then the front end server determines which server stores that user's private folder and directs the client request to that folder. If the request is for a home public folder, the front end server directs the client request to the server that is associated with the private folders of the users. If the request is for an application public folder, then the front end server selects one of the back end servers to service the client request. Advantageously, the front end server always directs the client request to the same server. If the selected server is unavailable, then the front end server is capable of redirecting the client request to an available server.

An apparatus and method for managing the preventative maintenance requirements and unscheduled repairs on a fleet of vehicles. The apparatus includes a computer system having a host processor and a database accessible by the host processor, and at least one maintenance response station communicating with the host processor. The database contains vehicle specific maintenance schedules indicating recommended maintenance intervals for scheduled maintenance, where each scheduled maintenance has associated maintenance tasks. The method involves periodically receiving signals at the host processor containing maintenance trigger data associated with a specific vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, comparing the received maintenance trigger data to maintenance schedule data contained in the database, and for each comparison, determining whether maintenance is indicated, and if so, identifying the vehicle at a vehicle response station.

The invention involves methods of inhibiting the cancer cell cycle to make cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents. In particular, inhibition of CDK4 and / or CDK6 inhibits cell cycle progression in cancer cells. When combined with chemotherapy such cell cycle inhibition can effectively treat even aggressive cancer types that are drug-resistant and intractable to most chemotherapies.

A self-contained environmental control and power system (ECAPS) unit including an HVAC system with at least one variable-speed compressor driven by a DC motor, wherein the HVAC system is adapted to condition air and output the conditioned air and a variable-speed diesel engine connected to a generator. The generator is configured to vary in speed so as to output AC power at a variable frequency. The unit includes a rectification assembly which transforms the AC power from the generator and / or external AC power to DC power, and an inverter assembly which transforms the DC power to an export AC power. The ECAPS unit directs the DC power to the DC motor to drive the variable speed compressor and varies, in a controlled manner, at least one parameter of the outputted conditioned air from the HVAC system.

A single use lancet device having a housing, a lancet with a piercing tip movably disposed in the housing and structured to move between a cocked orientation and a piercing orientation, and a driving assembly structured to move the lancet into the piercing orientation. A retention member and an engagement hub are further provided and structured to be cooperatively engaged with one another upon the lancet being disposed in the cocked orientation so as to maintain the lancet in the cocked orientation until released by an actuation assembly. Specifically, the actuation assembly is structured to move between an actuated and an un-actuated orientation, movement into the actuated orientation releasing the retention member and the engagement hub from their cooperative engagement with one another and thereby result in movement of the lancet into the piercing orientation. The device also includes a restrictor assembly structured to substantially prevent the actuation assembly from moving out of the actuated orientation, thereby preventing re-firing of the lancet utilizing the actuation assembly.

A network of nodes caches replicated datasets in which dataset changes are efficiently propagated as a set of changes even under failure conditions. A master node and a plurality of subordinate nodes in the network each maintain a copy of the dataset and a change log storing change events in the dataset in that node. The change log further includes a rename chain having a plurality of linked rename records created in response to a new master gaining control of the dataset. The master node computes and propagates dataset changes to the subordinate nodes as a set of change events. If the master node fails, one of the subordinate nodes becomes temporary master and continues to propagate dataset changes using its dataset and its change log in response to update requests from other nodes where the update request contains information from the change log of the requestor node.

A system, methods and apparatus are described involving the self-organizing dynamics of networks of distributed computers. The system is comprised of complex networks of databases. The system presents a novel database architecture called the distributed transformational spatio-temporal object relational (T-STOR) database management system (dbms). Data is continuously input, analyzed, organized, reorganized and used for specific commercial and industrial applications. The system uses intelligent mobile software agents in a multi-agent system in order to learn, anticipate, and adapt and to perform numerous functions, including search, analysis, collaboration, negotiation, decision making and structural transformation. The system links together numerous complex systems involving distributed networks to present a novel model for dynamic adaptive computing systems, which includes plasticity of collective behavior and self-organizing behavior in intelligent system structures.

The invention relates to the field of elevators. In order to early discover and diagnose A elevator fault, the invention adopts the technical scheme that an elevator fault diagnosis and early-warning method based on data drive is achieved by means of a remote service center, a fault diagnosis and prediction terminal and an elevator controller, and the method comprises the steps as follows: firstly, elevator fault data are mined to obtain characteristic information in an elevator fault data stream, and the mined result is stored in an elevator fault case base of the fault diagnosis and prediction terminal; secondly, an elevator fault knowledge base on the fault diagnosis and prediction terminal is updated by the elevator fault case base; thirdly, the case retrieval is carried out on the characteristic of a new elevator fault problem, and the fault diagnosis is carried out on the elevator system by adopting the fault diagnosis method based on the case-base reasoning; and finally information with the characteristic that is most similar with that of the new elevator fault problem is acquired through retrieval of the knowledge or the case in the elevator fault knowledge base to solve the diagnosis problem. The method is mainly suitable for manufacturing and designing image sensors.

Compositions, and methods of using such compositions, useful for placement, for example injection, into the interior of human or animal eyes are provided. Such compositions include a therapeutic component, such as one or more corticosteroids, a biocompatible polymeric component, and a solvent component. The composition is in a fluid form before placement in the interior of an eye, and becomes less fluid after the composition is placed in the eye to form an extended or delayed release drug delivery element or system. The drug delivery element is formed by the dissipation of the solvent from the composition when the composition is placed in the interior of an eye. One example of a composition includes triamcinolone acetonide as a therapeutic agent. A method of treating an ophthalmic condition, or otherwise improving or enhancing vision of a patient, comprises placing the fluid composition in the interior of the eye. The method may be practiced by injecting the fluid composition into the interior of the eye.

The filter structures commonly known as a bag house or a filter bag or an air filter with a bag construction can be made by preparing the bag assembly, either in a tubular or a bi-fold construction by placing a layer of fine fiber on the upstream surface of the filter media structure. The filter assembly includes a filter cabinet with an interior component. The filter component is suspended within the filter cabinet interior. The filter component includes a frame or support for the filter media. The frame or support holds the filter bags such that the filter bags are suspended from the frame in the cabinet interior. The intake air enters the cabinet, passes through the filter assembly and exits the cabinet. The air must pass first into the fine fiber layer, the filter media and then the exterior of the cabinet.

Producing reduced metal by charging and stacking a raw material containing a metal-containing material and a solid reducing material on a horizontally moving hearth of a traveling hearth furnace, by disposing a solid reducing material layer on the hearth, forming concave portions at the solid reducing material surface, stacking the raw material on the surface of the solid reducing material layer, reducing raw material by at least once heating and melting the material on the hearth to separate metal and gangue and ash ingredients, and discharging metal from the hearth.

A routing table circuit for a router has one or more input ports and output ports for message communication. In the routing table circuit, one or more routing table memories store a plurality of routing table arrays. The routing table arrays are arranged hierarchically in levels, and each routing table array is associated with a predetermined subset of prefixes. Each routing table array has entries. The entries include a block default route pointer field to store a block default route pointer, if any, and a routing field. The route engine may access any level of table array by using a next level route pointer stored in the routing field. Using the block default route and the routing field, the present invention further reduces the number of memory accesses and the update cost for route insertion and deletion by identifying and skipping elements that do not require route updating.

Multidimensional clustered tables are provided for efficient processing and management in a relational database management system. A multidimensional clustered table is one whose data is simultaneously clustered along one or more independent dimensions, or clustering keys, and physically organized into blocks or pages on disk. When such a table is created, one can specify one or more keys as dimensions along which to cluster the table's data. Each of the dimensions can consist of one or more columns. Further provided are efficient query processing and maintenance techniques for use in conjunction with multidimensional clustered tables.

An absorbent sanitary article with posterior guide ridge member is provided for effectively absorbing and retaining bodily fluid in the septum region of a wearer. The absorbent sanitary article with posterior guide ridge member has a bodycontacting surface for providing comfort against body skin and throughwhich bodily fluids will pass. An absorbency core provides some measure of bodily fluid absorbency. A barrier layer is included in order to prevent bodily fluids retained by the absorbency core from penetrating through the present invention and soiling adjacent undergarments. An outer layer imparts a degree of comfort and softness, as well as providing a vapor permeable sheathe. An integrally formed guide ridge is provided in order to be guidably received within a septum region of the wearer to prevent soilage of undergarments and to provide the wearer with a greater sense of dryness.

In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operatively interfaced with a peripheral device. The motion controller controls insert conveyor assembly speed, envelope conveyor assembly speed, and the rotational position at which the actuator should be activated, based on the encoder signal. Once during every master cycle, the motion controller calculates the actuator activation position, and causes the first actuator to be activated at the calculated first actuator activation position.

A kiosk dispenses and receives recorded optical media using an interconnected central server, through an Internet Service Provider. The central server has databases and processing capabilities and is connected to a credit verification system. The databases collect inventory administration information and customer data (e.g., credit card information and email addresses) from the kiosks. The central server initiates credit verification, sends receipts to customers via email and maintains databases for remote inventory control and administration of the kiosk network. A kiosk may identify a recorded disk for automated restocking and perform quality assessment of a recorded disk. The kiosk may provide publishing-on-demand or act as a portal for remotely served advertisements. The kiosk preferably includes a rotatable carousel with a selection of DVDs. A digital camera captures a digital image of a disk barcode and internal software rotates the image to “read” the barcode, to control inventory and access issues.

A multi-level power amplifier architecture using a multi-tap transformer implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit wireless communications device is described. By providing a multi-tap transformer for coupling a plurality of power amplifiers to a shared output impedance, such as an antenna, power transmission may be made at different levels while maintaining efficiency. With a multi-tap transformer having “N” taps featuring “N” different impedance levels, each tap may be connected to an amplifier cell which delivers power into the transformer at the tap for coupling to the output load. Any one of the “N” amplifier cells can be turned on at once along with any combination of the “N” amplifier cells.

PCT No. PCT / IE96 / 00078 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 12, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 12, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 4, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 20758 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 12, 1997A container (1) for storage or transport of liquids comprises a flexible body (2) which is collapsible and erectable, the body having a base (18) and side walls (7, 8, 11, 12), with pockets (4) therein, and stiffining means (3) in the pockets to stiffen the flexible body (2), wherein a transverse gusset (6) is provided at each corner between adjacent side walls (7, 12, 8, 11), and a reinforcer (5) extends from the corner to the gusset, the reinforcer (5) being provided with stiffening means therein. A liner (not shown) conforms to the octogonal interior configuration of the container body. Two opposite side walls (7, 8) each have two center pockets (4c), and a central joint line (9) between the two center pockets (4c) provides a hinge line for folding of the container. Each side wall (7, 8, 11, 12), reinforcer (5) and gusset (6) may be formed of a single piece of fabric.