[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Tracking Objects Within A Dynamic Environment For Improved Localization

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle navigation systems, and, more particularly, to vehicle navigation systems which can be utilized when lane line markings have become degraded, obscured, or are nonexistent. 2. Related Art Active safety and driver assist features such as lane departure warning, low-speed lane keeping (Traffic Jam Assist—TJA), high speed lane keeping (Highway Assist—HA) as well as fully autonomous vehicle operation rely upon localization of the vehicle within the lane to provide their functionality. Localization is defined as a computational problem of constructing or updating a map of an unknown environment while simultaneously keeping track of a vehicle's location within it. In general, each of these systems relies upon multiple sensor suites to provide robust and accurate positioning. Examples of currently relied upon sensor suites are: camera, stereo cameras, Global Positioning System (GPS), and LIDAR. However, in instances when lane lines become degraded, obscured, or are nonexistent, the camera and LIDAR based solutions are prone to failure. In addition, GPS on its own is not accurate enough for lane-level localization and is prone to dropping out as a result of urban or natural canyon scenarios. To facilitate the continued use of these active safety/driver assist features during occasions when positioning sensors operate in a high error or even failed state it is possible to dead reckon based on the last known position, as well as knowledge of the trajectory of the vehicle. It is possible to perform this reckoning using the vehicle on-board Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors, which are a suite of body fixed accelerometers and gyroscopes used to estimate vehicle velocity states. However, when integrating these signals in an effort to estimate position states, small bias errors can quickly accumulate into large position estimation errors. An improved reckoning of position state can be achieved via odometry from the vehicle's four wheel-speed sensors. While these sensors provide a robust estimate of longitudinal position, they are unable to accurately estimate lateral position changes of the vehicle. Thus, in the event of faulty or nonexistent lane level perception data, limited, if any, solutions exist for continued operation of the aforementioned active safety and vehicle assist features.

Invention Disclosure:
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking objects within a dynamic environment for improved localization. Sensing devices are utilized to gather data about a vehicle's environment. In cases where the sensor data has become degraded, such as data indicating that lane lines have become degraded, obscured, or nonexistent, the vehicle computer system uses previously detected sensor data to estimate the speed and direction of travel of moving objects. The computer system then estimates the location of the moving objects after a specified period of time based on the estimated speed and direction of the moving object. The computer system utilizes this information to localize the vehicle within the dynamic environment and to control the configuration of the vehicle.

[Assistant]
1. A method for tracking objects within a dynamic environment for improved localization, the method comprising:
detecting that sensor data for objects within the dynamic environment has degraded;
estimating a speed and direction of travel for moving objects from previously detected sensor data;
estimating a location of moving objects after a specified period of time, including for each moving object calculating a new position of the moving object based on an initial position and an initial velocity of the moving object, and the specified period of time;
localizing a vehicle within the dynamic environment; and
using the localization to control a configuration of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that sensor data for objects within the dynamic environment has degraded comprises detecting that lane lines on a roadway have become one or more of: degraded, obscured, or nonexistent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein using the localization to control a configuration of the vehicle comprises using localization to control one or more of: acceleration, speed, or direction for the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein localizing a vehicle within the dynamic environment comprises localizing the vehicle within the dynamic environment within a specified confidence interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein localizing the vehicle within the dynamic environment comprises calculating the configuration of the vehicle to maintain safe operation of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein using the localization to control the configuration of the vehicle comprises utilizing the vehicle control system to place the vehicle in a safe configuration.

7. A method for use at a vehicle computer system, the computer system including one or more processors and system memory, the method for tracking objects within a dynamic environment for improved localization, the method comprising the processor:
detecting that sensor data for objects within the dynamic environment has degraded, the sensor data having been gathered by a plurality of sensors at the vehicle, the sensor data indicating the configuration of objects within the dynamic environment, the objects including one or more static objects and one or more dynamic objects;
in response to detecting that the sensor data has become degraded, for each of the one or more dynamic objects:
estimating a speed and direction of travel for the dynamic object from previously detected sensor data; and
estimating a location of the dynamic object after a specified period of time, including calculating a new position for the dynamic object based on an initial position and an initial velocity of the dynamic object, and the specified period of time;
using a localization to control a configuration of the vehicle within the dynamic environment.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising obtaining the sensor data from one or more sensors, the one or more sensors selected from among: a camera, a global positioning systems (GPS), a LIDAR, a radar, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, and a inertial measurement unit (IMU).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting that sensor data for objects within the dynamic environment has degraded comprises detecting that lane lines on a roadway have become one or more of: degraded, obscured, or nonexistent.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein using a localization to control the configuration of the vehicle within the dynamic environment comprises localizing the vehicle within the dynamic environment within a specified confidence interval.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein using a localization to control the configuration of the vehicle within the dynamic environment comprises indicating that there was a fault in using the localization to control the configuration of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein estimating a speed and direction of travel for the dynamic object from previously detected sensor data comprises identifying an object that is traveling in essentially the same direction as the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein estimating a speed and direction of travel for the dynamic object from previously detected sensor data comprises identifying an object that is traveling in essentially the opposite direction as the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising, creating a map of the dynamic environment of the vehicle wherein the map is based on at least one of: a lane marking on the road, a geographic location of the vehicle, and a predetermined map of the road.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising localizing the vehicle within the dynamic environment based on the estimated locations for the one or more dynamic objects, including calculating a configuration for the vehicle to maintain safe autonomous operations in a roadway environment.

16. A computer system, the computer system comprising:
one or more processors;
system memory coupled to the one or more processors, the system memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors; and
the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to track objects within a dynamic environment, including the following:
detect that sensor data for objects within the dynamic environment has degraded;
estimate a speed and direction of travel for moving objects from previously detected sensor data;
estimate a location of moving objects after a specified period of time;
localize a vehicle within the dynamic environment within a specified confidence interval; and
use the localization to control a configuration of the vehicle.

17. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to obtain the sensor data for the objects within the dynamic environment from one or more sensors, the one or more sensors selected from among: a camera, a global positioning systems (GPS), a LIDAR, a radar, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, and a inertial measurement unit (IMU).

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to use the localization to control a configuration of the vehicle comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to indicate that there was a fault in using the localization to control the configuration of the vehicle within the dynamic environment.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to use the localization to estimate a speed and direction of travel for moving objects from previously detected sensor data comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to identify an object that is traveling in essentially the opposite direction as the vehicle.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to estimate a location of moving objects after a specified period of time comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to, for each moving object, calculate a new position of the moving object based on an initial position and an initial velocity of the moving object, and the specified period of time.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Saddle-Type Vehicle

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to saddle-type vehicles driven by a driver straddling on a seat with steering a bar handle. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vehicles have been provided with an idle-stop apparatus for automatically stopping an engine when a vehicle is stopped in view of improvement of fuel consumption and environmental problems. Although the idle-stop apparatus have been applied to many four-wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, it is recently proposed to apply the idle-stop apparatus to the saddle-type vehicles such as two-wheeled vehicles with a bar handle for steering driven by a driver straddling on a seat. For example, as disclosed in JP 2010-163879 A, it is shown a two-wheeled vehicle provided with an idle-stop apparatus which is structured so that the idle-stop can be achieved subject to conditions of vehicle speed lower than a predetermined speed, in addition to throttle opening, presence or absence of a driver on a seat. Thus, the idle-stop is performed by stopping an engine just before stop of a vehicle and accordingly, it is possible to keep the fuel-cut state during deceleration of a vehicle until stop of a vehicle and thus to improve the fuel consumption.

Invention Disclosure:
A saddle-type vehicle can be configured to perform idle-stop during deceleration corresponding to a driver's demand. In some embodiments, the vehicle comprises a bar handle mounted on its opposite tip ends with a grasping grip grasped by the driver and a throttle grip for accelerator operation; two operation controls for performing braking operation, at least one of which being a first brake and a second brake mounted on tip ends of the bar handle; and an engine controller for automatically stopping an engine and making the engine an idle-stop state. In some cases, the saddle-type vehicle further comprises a judgment controller for judging whether a simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes has been achieved; and the engine controller performs the idle-stop during deceleration of the vehicle when the judgment controller judges that the simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes has been performed.

[Assistant]
1. A saddle-type vehicle which can be driven by a driver straddling a seat with steering a bar handle, the vehicle comprising:
the bar handle having opposite tip ends, the bar handle on one tip end having a grasping grip configured to be grasped by a driver and a throttle grip on the other tip end for accelerator operation;
two operation means for performing braking operation, at least one of operation means being one of a first brake means and a second brake means and at least one of the first and second brake means being mounted on a tip end of the bar handle; and
an engine control means for automatically stopping an engine and transitioning the engine to an idle-stop state wherein:
the saddle-type vehicle further comprises:
a judgment means for judging whether a respective operation of the first and second brake means has been achieved; and
a clutch control means for controlling a clutch so that the clutch engages in creep control enabling the vehicle to travel during a state of no-accelerator operation during idling of the engine;
the engine control means is configured to perform the idle-stop during deceleration of the vehicle when the judgment means judges that a simultaneous operation of the first and second brake means has been performed; and
the creep control by the clutch control means is performed when the judgment means judges that the second brake means has been operated but the first brake means has not been operated when the accelerator operation of the throttle grip is not performed and the engine is not in the idle-stop state.

2. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first brake means comprises an operating means mounted on the tip end of the bar handle to which the throttle grip is mounted.

3. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 2 wherein the judgment means is configured to judge that the first brake means has been operated when the first brake means is continuously operated for a predetermined period of time.

4. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 1 wherein the judgment means is configured to judge when the speed of a vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and to make the engine control means perform the idle-stop when the judgment means determines that the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed and that the first and second brake means are simultaneously operated.

5. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 2 wherein the judgment means is configured to judge when the speed of a vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and to make the engine control means perform the idle-stop when the judgment means determines that the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed and that the first and second brake means are simultaneously operated.

6. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 3 wherein the judgment means is configured to judge when the speed of a vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and to make the engine control means perform the idle-stop when the judgment means determines that the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed and that the first and second brake means are simultaneously operated.

7. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 1 wherein the clutch control means is configured to perform the creep control subject to judgment of the judgment means that the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined speed, accelerator operation by the throttle grip is not made, and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brake means is not performed.

8. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle further comprises a stepwise variable transmission provided with a dog clutch, and wherein the idle-stop by the engine control means is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment means that a dog clutch of the stepwise variable transmission is in a power transmission state and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brake means is performed.

9. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 4 wherein the vehicle further comprises a stepwise variable transmission provided with a dog clutch, and wherein the idle-stop by the engine control means is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment means that a dog clutch of the stepwise variable transmission is in a power transmission state and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brake means is performed.

10. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle further comprises a continuously variable transmission, and wherein the idle-stop by the engine control means is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment means that a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is a predetermined value or more and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brake means is performed.

11. A saddle-type vehicle which can be driven by a driver straddling a seat with steering a bar handle, the vehicle comprising:
the bar handle having opposite tip ends, the bar handle on one tip end having a grasping grip configured to be grasped by a driver and a throttle grip on the other tip end for accelerator operation;
two operation controllers configured to perform braking operations, wherein at least one of operation controllers is one of a first brake and a second brake and at least one of the first and second brakes is mounted on a tip end of the bar handle; and
an engine controller configured to automatically stop an engine and transition the engine to an idle-stop state wherein:
the saddle-type vehicle further comprises:
a judgment controller configured to judge whether a respective operation of the first and second brakes has been achieved; and
a clutch controller configured to control a clutch such that the clutch engages in creep control to enable the vehicle to travel during a state of no-accelerator operation during idling of the engine;
the engine controller is configured to perform the idle-stop during deceleration of the vehicle when the judgment controller judges that a simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes has been performed; and
the creep control by the clutch controller is configured to be performed when the judgment controller judges that the second brake has been operated but the first brake has not been operated when the accelerator operation of the throttle grip is not performed and the engine is not in the idle-stop state.

12. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 11 wherein the first brake comprises an operating controller mounted on the tip end of the bar handle to which the throttle grip is mounted.

13. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 12 wherein the judgment controller is configured to judge that the first brake has been operated when the first brake is continuously operated for a predetermined period of time.

14. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 11 wherein the judgment controller is configured to judge when the speed of a vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and to make the engine controller perform the idle-stop when the judgment controller determines that the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed and that the first and second brakes are simultaneously operated.

15. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 12 wherein the judgment controller is configured to judge when the speed of a vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and to make the engine controller perform the idle-stop when the judgment controller determines that the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed and that the first and second brakes are simultaneously operated.

16. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 13 wherein the judgment controller is configured to judge when the speed of a vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and to make the engine controller perform the idle-stop when the judgment controller determines that the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed and that the first and second brakes are simultaneously operated.

17. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 11 wherein the creep control by the clutch controller is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment controller that the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined speed, accelerator operation by the throttle grip is not made, and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes is not performed.

18. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicle further comprises a stepwise variable transmission provided with a dog clutch, and wherein the idle-stop by the engine controller is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment controller that a dog clutch of the stepwise variable transmission is in a power transmission state and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes is performed.

19. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 14 wherein the vehicle further comprises a stepwise variable transmission provided with a dog clutch, and wherein the idle-stop by the engine controller is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment controller that a dog clutch of the stepwise variable transmission is in a power transmission state and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes is performed.

20. The saddle-type vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicle further comprises a continuously variable transmission, and wherein the idle-stop by the engine controller is configured to be performed subject to judgment of the judgment controller that a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is a predetermined value or more and a simultaneous operation of the first and second brakes is performed.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Transmitter Precoding For Optimizing Positioning Performance

Technical Field and Background:
In the context of wireless communications, when measuring time of arrival (ToA) in multi-path environment, a receiver typically receives multiple components each of which representing a distinct path. The shortest path between the transmitter and the receiver is often the path along a line of sight (LoS). The first signal that arrives at the receiver is referred to as the LoS component. The time it takes for the LoS component to travel from the transmitter to the receiver is the time used for calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. However, as the signal strength of the LoS component tends to be weak compared to the signal strength of non-LoS components, it is difficult to identify and measure the time of the LoS component. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , the LoS component may be barely identifiable or not even identifiable due to its weak signal strength compared to the noise while the non-LoS components are stronger in signal strength and hence relatively more identifiable. This would result in a non-LoS component being mistakenly identified as the first component, and hence the “LoS component”, and consequently lead to inaccuracy in the measurement of ToA and calculation of distance. In some cases, there may be one or more non-LoS components that arrive at the receiver very close in time to the arrival of the LoS component. This also makes it difficult to identify and measure the ToA of the LoS component.

Invention Disclosure:
Described herein are techniques related to transmitter precoding for optimizing positioning performance. The techniques are directed to transmit signals with relatively higher transmission power, in a direction along the line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver, than signals transmitted in other directions. The techniques render the first signal arriving at the receiver, as it travels along the line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver, to have stronger signal strength than the signal strengths of other signals that travel through non-LoS paths to reach the receiver.

[Assistant]
1. A device comprising:
at least one receiver;
at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and
at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
identify a first preamble received by the at least one receiver from a first device at a first direction;
identify, a second preamble received by the at least on receiver from the first device at a second direction;
determine a first signal characteristic associated with the first preamble;
determine a second signal characteristic associated with the second preamble;
determine that the first signal characteristic is greater than the second signal characteristic;
determine an estimate of a first channel at the first direction based at least in part on the first signal characteristic being greater than the second signal characteristic; and
identify a payload, received in the first direction from the first device, by the at least one receiver.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter coupled to the at least one transceiver.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute computer-executable instructions to:
compare the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic; and
select the first direction when the first signal characteristic is greater than the second signal characteristic.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute computer-executable instructions to:
determine a line of sight between the device and the first device based at least in part on the second signal characteristic
determine an estimate of a second channel associated with the first device based at least in part on the second signal characteristic.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
determine the estimate of the second channel is based at least in part on a first time of arrival of the first preamble and a second time of arrival of the second preamble.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the estimate of the second channel associated with the first device is based at least in part on the line of sight between the device and the first device.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
determine the estimate of the second channel is based at least in part on the first time of arrival is greater than the second time of arrival.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first signal characteristic is a first signal strength associated with the first preamble and the second signal characteristic is a second signal strength associated with the second preamble.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining a first direction to transmit a first preamble to a first device;
determining a first signal characteristic associated with the first direction;
determining a second direction to transmit a second preamble to the first device;
determining a second signal characteristic associated with the first direction, wherein the first signal characteristic is greater than the second signal characteristic; and
causing to send:
the first preamble and a payload, in the first direction at a first transmission power level, to the first device, and
the second preamble and the payload, in the second direction at a second transmission level, to the first device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second direction is a first angular distance from the first direction.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising operations of:
determining the first level of transmission power associated with the first direction; and
determining the second level of transmission power associated with the second direction.

12. A method comprising:
identifying, a first preamble from a first device at a first direction;
identifying, a second preamble from the first device at a second direction;
determining, by the one or more processors, a first signal characteristic associated with the first preamble;
determining, by the one or more processors, a second signal characteristic associated with the second preamble;
determining that the first signal characteristic is greater than the second signal characteristic;
determining an estimate of a first channel at the first direction based at least in part on the first signal characteristic being greater than the second signal characteristic; and
identifying a payload, received in the first direction from the first device, by the at least one receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
comparing the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic;
selecting the first direction when the first signal characteristic is greater than the second signal characteristic.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining an estimate of a second channel associated with the first device based at least in part on the second signal characteristic.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first signal characteristic is a first signal strength associated with the first preamble and the second signal characteristic is a second signal strength associated with the second preamble.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the estimate of the second channel associated with the first device is based at least in part on the line of sight between the first device and the second device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the estimate of the second channel associated with the first device is based at least in part on the line of sight between the first device and the second device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a first time of arrival of the first preamble is greater than a second time of arrival of the second preamble.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a line of sight between the first device and a second device based at least in part on the second signal characteristic.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Container System For Transporting One Or More Objects By Pulling A Rope

Technical Field and Background:
Transporting large units or heavy equipment can be very troublesome, particularly when the transportation occurs in confined spaces and over uneven grounds. For example, installing a HVAC unit or water heater underneath a structure, such as through a crawl space of a house, often requires multiple people dragging expensive equipment and tools over the uneven ground in order to reach a desired location. Often time, a HVAC unit or water heater can become damaged after being rolled or dragged through a tight crawl space. Due to the large size and weight of many of these units, several people are needed to maneuver and position the units in an attempt to minimize any damage thereto. There thus exists a need for a way to safely and effectively transport one or more objects over a surface to a desired location, particularly in confined spaces such as crawl spaces. Further, there exists a need for a way to transport such objects with only one or two people. Disclosed herein are one or more systems and containers that advantageously addresses these issues. The one or more systems and containers may be used for the HVAC or water heater installation example provided herein, or for use in transporting any object through rough or uneven terrain.

Invention Disclosure:
Container systems for transporting one or more objects, and methods of using, are provided. The container system includes a substantially rectangular symmetrical tray for supporting the one or more objects, the tray being unitarily constructed and defining a base, two opposing longitudinal sides extending away from the base, and two opposing latitudinal sides extending away from the base. Further, the container system includes at least two runners defined by the underside of the base and extending the length of the base in the direction of the longitudinal sides. The container system further has a first rope engaged with two latitudinal first holes positioned on a first latitudinal side and a second rope engaged with two latitudinal second holes positioned on a second latitudinal side.

[Assistant]
1. A container system for transporting one or more objects across a surface comprising:
a unitarily constructed tray for supporting the one or more objects defining:
a base;
two opposing longitudinal sides extending away from the base;
two opposing latitudinal sides extending away from the base;
at least two runners extending along the base in the direction of the longitudinal sides;
at least one longitudinal handle defined by each of the longitudinal sides;
at least two longitudinal supports defined by each of the longitudinal sides, positioned proximally to the at least one longitudinal handle, and extending away from the base for providing longitudinal support;
a first rope engaged with two latitudinal first holes positioned on a first latitudinal side;
a second rope engaged with two latitudinal second holes positioned on a second latitudinal side;
a first pull support positioned inside of the first latitudinal side and extending between, and engaged with, ends of the first rope;
a second pull support positioned inside of the second latitudinal side and extending between, and engaged with, ends of the second rope.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one latitudinal handle defined by each of the latitudinal sides.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least two latitudinal supports defined by each of the latitudinal sides and extending away from the base for providing latitudinal support.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the latitudinal supports extends from an end of a respective runner, wherein each runner has two ends that each taper towards a latitudinal side.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drain outlet for draining liquids from the tray.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an edge of the longitudinal sides and the latitudinal sides located furthest from the base each defines a rounded rail for providing additional support.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the latitudinal first holes and the latitudinal second holes is reinforced with a circular ring.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is substantially flat or ribbed.

9. A method for transporting one or more objects, comprising:
placing the one or more objects in a unitarily constructed tray for supporting the one or more objects, the tray defining:
a base;
two opposing longitudinal sides extending away from the base;
two opposing latitudinal sides extending away from the base;
at least two runners extending along the base in the direction of the longitudinal sides;
at least one longitudinal handle defined by each of the longitudinal sides;
at least two longitudinal supports defined by each of the longitudinal sides, positioned proximally to the at least one longitudinal handle, and extending away from the base for providing longitudinal support;
pulling a first rope engaged with two latitudinal first holes positioned on a first latitudinal side for transporting the one or more objects in a first direction,
wherein each end of the first rope is engaged with a first pull support positioned internally of the first latitudinal side for providing support.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a third rope is engaged with the first rope for transporting the one or more objects in the first direction.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising pulling a second rope engaged with two latitudinal first holes positioned on a second latitudinal side for transporting the one or more objects in a second direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each end of the second rope is engaged with a second pull support positioned internally of the second latitudinal side for providing support.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a fourth rope is engaged with the second rope for transporting the one or more objects in the second direction.

14. A container system for transporting one or more objects across a surface comprising:
a unitarily constructed tray for supporting the one or more objects defining:
a base;
two opposing longitudinal sides extending away from the and having a rounded rail on an edge farthest from the base;
at least two runners extending along the base in the direction of the longitudinal sides;
two opposing latitudinal sides extending away from the base and having a rounded rail on an edge farthest from the base;
wherein a first latitudinal side defines a first handle, a second latitudinal side defines a second handle, a first longitudinal side defines two longitudinal handles, and a second longitudinal side defines another two longitudinal handles;
at least two longitudinal supports defined by each of the longitudinal sides, positioned proximally to the at least one longitudinal handle, and extending away from the base for providing longitudinal support;
a first rope engaged with two latitudinal first holes positioned on the first latitudinal side, wherein the first rope is further engaged with a first pull support extending between two ends of the first rope for providing transport support;
a second rope engaged with two latitudinal second holes positioned on the second latitudinal side, wherein the second rope is further engaged with a second pull support extending between two ends of the second rope for providing transport support.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a third rope is engaged with the first rope for pulling the container system in a first direction.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least two latitudinal supports defined by each of the latitudinal sides and extending away from the base for providing latitudinal support.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the latitudinal supports extends from an end of a respective runner, wherein each runner has two ends that each taper towards a latitudinal side.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a drain outlet for draining liquids from the tray.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein an edge of the longitudinal sides and the latitudinal sides located furthest from the base each defines a rounded rail for providing additional support.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the latitudinal first holes and the latitudinal second holes is reinforced with a circular ring.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Server Capable Of Accessing And Rotating Storage Devices Accommodated Therein

Technical Field and Background:
The conventional server system mainly has electronic devices such as the motherboards, the storage devices, and the power supply installed in a casing. The interior space of the casing is usually divided into a plurality of insertion spaces which are provided to accommodate multiple storage devices arranged in an array. The most common storage device includes a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), etc. However, due to the demand of calculation ability and massive data storage, the server needs to accommodate more storage devices in a very limited casing space. Therefore, the structure and configuration of the casing also needs to be changed correspondingly. In order to increase the quantity of the storage devices, the casing of the conventional server is provided with racks arranged parallelly to receive the storage devices. Since it is not easy to pull out or replace and service the storage devices in rack near the motherboard, a simple flexible element is fixed, by screws, to a side wall of the rack, so that the rack is rotatable with respect to the casing. In the conventional server, the storage devices are stacked horizontally in the insertion spaces of the rack, and the quantity of the storage devices is too limited to satisfy the demand. If increasing the quantity of the storage devices, the flexible element on the rack is not able to provide sufficient torque to support the rack and allow its rotation to a certain angle. Accordingly, the inventor made various studies to improve and solve the above-mentioned problem, on the basis of which the present invention is accomplished.

Invention Disclosure:
A server capable of rotating and accessing storage devices accommodated therein includes a server chassis, a motherboard, a power supply module, two racks, and a system cooling module. The server chassis includes two side plates and an accommodating space between the two side plates. The power supply module is disposed in the accommodating space and arranged corresponding to the motherboard. The racks are arranged parallel to each other and detachably connected to the server chassis. A pivot structure and a handle for operating the rack are disposed at the rack near the motherboard. The rack is rotatable with respect to the server chassis by means of the pivot structure. The system cooling module is disposed adjacent to the rack. At least one cord passage is provided between the system cooling module and each of the side plates.

[Assistant]
1. A server capable of rotating and accessing storage devices accommodated therein, comprising:
a server chassis including two side plates and an accommodating space between the two side plates;
a motherboard disposed in the accommodating space;
a power supply module disposed in the accommodating space and arranged corresponding to the motherboard, the power supply module being electrically connected to the motherboard;
two racks arranged parallel to each other and detachably connected to the server chassis, each of the racks including a plurality of insertion spaces, the storage devices being vertically accommodated in the insertion spaces respectively, a pivot structure being disposed at one side of the rack near the motherboard; and
a system cooling module disposed in the accommodating space and electrically connected to the motherboard, the system cooling module being disposed adjacent to one side of the rack, wherein a first cord passage is provided between the rack and each of the side plates, a second cord passage is provided between the system cooling module and each of the side plates, and the storage devices disposed in the racks are electrically connected to the motherboard via the first cord passage and the second cord passage,
wherein the racks are a first supporting body and a second supporting body, the second supporting body is disposed between the first supporting body and the system cooling module, the pivot structure is separated from the second supporting body and disposed on a bottom plate of the server chassis, and a handle is disposed on a supporting plate of the second supporting body.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the pivot structure includes a hinge and a fixed bracket and a movable bracket, the fixed bracket and the movable bracket are connected to the hinge, the handle includes a main body, a pivot shaft pivotally connected to the supporting plate, and an operating portion and a hook portion respectively disposed at two sides of the main body.

3. The server according to claim 2, wherein the pivot shaft passes through the main body and is connected to the movable bracket and the supporting plate, and the operating portion is perpendicularly connected to the main body in a direction toward the supporting plate.

4. The server according to claim 2, wherein the pivot structure further includes a bolt protruding from one side of the fixed bracket, one side of the hook portion corresponding to the bolt is provided with an inclined surface, and the inclined surface is slidable to engage the hook portion with the bolt.

5. The server according to claim 2, wherein the main body further includes a hole and a block plate bent from the hole, the block plate protrudes toward the supporting plate, the movable bracket includes a restriction plate adjacent to the hinge, the restriction plate is perpendicularly connected to the movable bracket to obstruct the fixed bracket to thereby restrict a rotation angle of the second supporting body.

6. The server according to claim 2, further comprising a flexible element for restoring the handle, two ends of the flexible elements being connected to the movable bracket and the main body respectively.

7. A server capable of rotating and accessing storage devices accommodated therein, comprising:
a server chassis including two side plates and an accommodating space between the two side plates;
a motherboard disposed in the accommodating space;
a power supply module disposed in the accommodating space and arranged corresponding to the motherboard, the power supply module being electrically connected to the motherboard;
two racks arranged parallel to each other and detachably connected to the server chassis, each of the racks including a plurality of insertion spaces, the storage devices being vertically accommodated in the insertion spaces respectively, a pivot structure being disposed at one side of the rack near the motherboard; and
a system cooling module disposed in the accommodating space and electrically connected to the motherboard, the system cooling module being disposed adjacent to one side of the rack, wherein a first cord passage is provided between the rack and each of the side plates, a second cord passage is provided between the system cooling module and each of the side plates, and the storage devices disposed in the racks are electrically connected to the motherboard via the first cord passage and the second cord passage,
wherein the system cooling module further includes a fixed frame and a plurality of fans disposed in the fixed frame, a bottom plate of the server chassis is provided with a plurality of connectors, and each of the connectors is electrically connected to the motherboard.

8. The server according to claim 7, wherein the fans are vertically disposed along a direction of the fixed frame and are connected to the respective connectors.

9. The server according to claim 1, further comprising an opening and an electronic device disposed corresponding to the opening, the opening communicating with the accommodating space, the electronic device being electrically connected to the motherboard.

10. The server according to claim 9, wherein the server chassis further includes a partition plate disposed corresponding to the motherboard, and the partition plate divides the accommodating space into a first layer and a second layer.

11. The server according to claim 10, wherein the electronic device and the power supply module are disposed in the first layer, and the mother board with a plurality of input/output ports is selectively disposed in the second layer.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Active Pixel Sensor Having A Raised Source/Drain

Technical Field and Background:
Integrated circuits (IC) with image sensors are used in PC cameras and cell phones, for example. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices have become popular IC image sensors, largely replacing charge-coupled devices (CCD). CMOS image sensors include passive pixel sensors (PPS) and active pixel sensors (APS). An APS includes at least one photodiode and an amplifier within each cell of the pixel array. The amplifier can be configured as a source follower driven by the pixel itself.

Invention Disclosure:
In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit having a device. The device has a first raised source/drain area arranged over a first source/drain region of a substrate, and a second raised source/drain area arranged over a second source/drain region of the substrate. A first gate stack has a dielectric layer positioned over the substrate and an overlying conductive layer. The first gate stack is laterally between the first raised source/drain area and the second raised source/drain area. Sidewall spacers are located over the dielectric layer and laterally between the first gate stack and the first raised source/drain area and the second raised source/drain area.

[Assistant]
1. A device, comprising:
a first raised source/drain area arranged over a first source/drain region of a substrate;
a second raised source/drain area arranged over a second source/drain region of the substrate;
a first gate stack positioned over the substrate and comprising a lower dielectric layer, a conductive layer on the lower dielectric layer, and an upper dielectric layer on the conductive layer, wherein the first gate stack is laterally between the first raised source/drain area and the second raised source/drain area and wherein the first raised source/drain area extends to a location directly over a topmost surface of the upper dielectric layer; and
sidewall spacers located over the lower dielectric layer and laterally between the conductive layer and the first raised source/drain area and the second raised source/drain area.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second gate stack comprising a second dielectric layer positioned over the substrate and an overlying second conductive layer, wherein the second gate stack is located along a side of the second raised source/drain area that opposes the first gate stack.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:
a photodiode implantation area arranged within the substrate at a location separated from the second raised source/drain area by the second gate stack, wherein the photodiode implantation area has a doping type that is different than that of the substrate underlying the photodiode implantation area.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second dielectric layer continuously extends from the second raised source/drain area to over the photodiode implantation area.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the photodiode implantation area contacts the second source/drain region.

6. The device of claim 2, further comprising:
a third gate stack separated from the first gate stack by the first raised source/drain area, wherein the second raised source/drain area is electrically coupled to a gate contact directly overlying the third gate stack.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first raised source/drain area and the first source/drain region have a dopant concentration that is in a range of between approximately 1×10 19 /cm 2 to and approximately 8×10 20 /cm 3.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region have depths that are less than approximately 100 nm below an upper surface of the substrate.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region have depths that are in a range of between approximately 50 nm and approximately 100 nm below an upper surface of the substrate.

10. A device, comprising:
a photodiode implantation area arranged within a substrate;
a pinning implantation area arranged within the substrate over the photodiode implantation area and configured to drive charge collected in the photodiode implantation area to a floating node comprising a first raised source/drain area laterally positioned between a first gate stack and a second gate stack;
a source follower configured to detect a charge level within the floating node, wherein the source follower comprises a third gate stack separated from the second gate stack by a second raised source/drain area;
an electrical connection extending between the floating node and the third gate stack;
wherein the first gate stack comprises a dielectric layer positioned over the substrate and a conductive layer arranged over the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer protrudes outward past an outermost sidewall of the conductive layer and continuously extends along the substrate from below the conductive layer to over the photodiode implantation area, and wherein a sidewall spacer between the first gate stack and the first raised source/drain area has an upper corner that contacts the first raised source/drain area and that is disposed along a horizontal plane parallel to an upper surface of the substrate and above an uppermost surface of the conductive layer; and
wherein the sidewall spacer continuously extends between a first outermost sidewall laterally contacting the conductive layer within the first gate stack and a second outermost sidewall laterally contacting the first raised source/drain area.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first raised source/drain area is arranged over a first source/drain region of the substrate, and the second raised source/drain area is arranged over a second source/drain region of the substrate.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the second gate stack comprises:
a second dielectric layer positioned over the substrate; and
a second conductive layer arranged over the second dielectric layer.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising:
a reset transistor comprising the second gate stack and configured to reset the photodiode implantation area between exposure periods by removing charge from the photodiode implantation area; and
a row select transistor comprising a fourth gate stack separated from the third gate stack by a third raised source/drain area and configured to selectively provide access to an output of the source follower.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first raised source/drain area comprises a ‘T’ shape having a lateral segment that protrudes outward from a sidewall of the first raised source/drain area to a location overlying the top surface of the first gate stack.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the sidewall spacer has an uppermost surface that is separated from the substrate by a first distance that is greater than or equal to a second distance between the substrate and an uppermost surface of the first raised source/drain area.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the first raised source/drain area extends to a location over the conductive layer.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the first raised source/drain area continuously extends from a first vertical line extending through the conductive layer of the first gate stack to a second vertical line extending through a second conductive layer of the second gate stack.

18. A device, comprising:
a photodiode implantation area arranged within a substrate;
a pinning implantation area arranged within the substrate over the photodiode implantation area and configured to drive charge collected in the photodiode implantation area to a floating node comprising a first raised source/drain area laterally positioned between a first gate stack and a second gate stack;
a source follower configured to detect a charge level within the floating node, wherein the source follower comprises a third gate stack separated from the second gate stack by a second raised source/drain area;
an electrical connection extending between the floating node and the third gate stack;
wherein the first gate stack comprises a dielectric layer positioned over the substrate and a conductive layer arranged over the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer protrudes outward past an outermost sidewall of the conductive layer and continuously extends along the substrate from below the conductive layer to over the photodiode implantation area;
wherein a sidewall spacer is between the first gate stack and the first raised source/drain area, the sidewall spacer having an upper corner that contacts the first raised source/drain area and that is disposed along a horizontal plane parallel to an upper surface of the substrate and above an uppermost surface of the conductive layer; and
wherein the sidewall spacer has an uppermost surface that is separated from the substrate by a first distance that is greater than or equal to a second distance between the substrate and an uppermost surface of the first raised source/drain area.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the conductive layer comprises titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, tantalum, tantalum carbon, tantalum silicon nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, molybdenum nitride, or molybdenum oxy-nitride.

20. The device of claim 18,
wherein the first gate stack further comprises a second dielectric layer arranged over the conductive layer;
wherein a second sidewall spacer is arranged between the first gate stack and the second raised source/drain area; and
wherein the conductive layer is completely surrounded by the dielectric layer, the sidewall spacer, the second dielectric layer, and the second sidewall spacer.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Modular Boat Lift Cover

Technical Field and Background:
A watercraft represents a significant investment. Watercraft owners' who store their boats on lifts understand that a boat lift cover or canopy is needed to minimize the maintenance work required to maintain the appearance of the boat. Watercraft owners need to shelter docked boats from the elements to preserve the life of the boat. While boat houses can provide such shelter, they are expensive, often impractical and, under some circumstances, not allowed by code. Watercraft owners also need to lift their watercraft out of the water for storage and maintenance, and to lower their watercraft into the water for launching or flotation at dock. There are typically two types of boat lifts: lake lifts and tidal lifts. A lake lift is typically manufactured as a complete frame system that is lowered into the water as a single unit and fastened to the lake floor. It remains square due to the calmness of inland water. Tidal lifts are typically constructed on site with a barge pounding long pilings into the sea floor onto which the boat lift mechanism is then mounted. This construction technique is subject to tidal forces during the time that the pilings are being hammered into the sea floor, which can cause the lift to be not perfectly square. Additionally, each boat lift manufacturer has its own design for the lifting I-beam, the cable system and the position of the electric motors making it difficult to design, manufacture and install a boat lift cover for tidal lifts. Prior approaches use many different parts, while shipping in multiple boxes, or one large box. They also require complex assembly procedures and are not adjustable depending on the size of the watercraft. U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,972 (Markiewicz) discloses an all-purpose modular canopy system including a canopy frame formed of a plurality of interconnected sections, the sections being formed of welded tubular elements. The sections are modular in configuration including end and central portions whereby the sections may be selectively assembled to produce the desired length. The canopy frame includes transversely disposed brace elements associated with supporting columns and adjustable fittings to facilitate alignment of the columns and canopy frame, and the canopy frame is covered by a flexible covering using a lacing system between the frame and covering to maintain covering tension. The covering may include a skirt cooperating with skirt stabilizers formed in the canopy frame corners for maintaining the skirt properly oriented. U.S. Publication No. 20050252542 (Basta) discloses a boat lift canopy comprises a truss type framework with a base frame. Joined to the base frame and circumscribed by it is a tie tube frame, which may be discontinuous. A fabric cover, which in preferred embodiments is decorative as well as functional, snugly encloses the outside of the framework, wraps around the base frame and is secured to the tie tube frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,026 (Griffith) discloses a pre-fabricated boat lift canopy constructed of galvanized steel or aluminum tubing. All joints are crimped to a tight, permanent fit by using a special rolling tool. The canopy frame is mounted on “I” beams of existing boat lifts, docks, or pilings. The canopy frame is then covered with a water tight and sunlight resistant decorative canopy. Wind spoilers, in the form of canvas strips, are fastened to the peak of the canopy, a continuous strip, horizontally across the top, a strip at each end, and a third strip at the center. U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,129 (Edson) discloses a boatlift assembly having a boat cradle portion and a canopy portion. The canopy portion and boat cradle portion are movably coupled to cause the canopy portion to be automatically raised when the boat cradle is lowered and to be automatically lowered when the boat cradle is raised. U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,043 (Kaiser) discloses a wakeboard tower canopy which enables wakeboard boats which contain wakeboard towers of various height that protrude above the gunwale, sheer, and/or windshield of the wakeboard boat to gain protection against the elements. By constructing a special frame that incorporates a drive-through curtain system and also a peak in the canopy structure itself, the wakeboard boat being enabled to pull into the normal lift with enough clearance for the tower from the canopy frame.

Invention Disclosure:
The modular boat lift cover for a watercraft comprises a gable assembly and an adjustable support structure. All of the straight components are packaged into the main box frame channels for simplicity in packaging as well as quality control, ensuring no components are missing during packaging and shipping. The box frame channels have sufficient bulk to store the gable components during transport. The modular boat lift cover system has a robust, lightweight design that is compatible and adjustable for width, height and length as the boat owner modifies his existing boat or purchases a new boat, and that will protect the watercraft from the elements and will withstand even the severest of storms, undamaged as well as having the ability to be cantilevered. The modular boat lift cover is easy for the user to assemble and adjust on square lake style boat lifts, and the typically non-square tidal lifts.

[Assistant]
1. A modular boat lift cover for a first watercraft, said modular boat lift cover comprising:
a gable assembly including;
a plurality of peak fittings including two end peak fittings sandwiched about at least one internal peak fitting, said plurality of peak fittings being positioned on a peak of said gable assembly;
a plurality of support tubes being initially linear in shape but becoming bowed under stress, one of said plurality of support tubes being securely attachable to one of said plurality of peak fittings; and
a first and a second box frame support member each supporting at least one of said plurality of support tubes, said first box frame support member being horizontally disposed, said plurality of support tubes being positionable inside said first box frame support member during shipping; and
a cantilever bracing said gable assembly to a piling, said piling being a substantially vertical support disposed between a support structure and a waterway bottom.

2. The modular boat lift cover of claim 1, further comprising an end cap securely disposed nestably inside a first end of said first box frame support member, said end cap preventing debris from entering said first end of said first box frame support member when said end cap is disposed relative to said first end of said first box frame support member.

3. The modular boat lift cover of claim 1, further comprising a splice disposed between a second end of said first box frame support member and a first end of said second box frame support member at a box frame support component juncture, said splice reinforcing and providing additional strength to said box frame support component juncture.

4. The modular boat lift cover of claim 1, wherein said gable assembly is securely engageable with a canopy, said canopy being detachable from and reattachable to said modular boat lift cover, said canopy protecting said watercraft from sun and hurricane-level winds when said watercraft is at port.

5. The modular boat lift cover of claim 1, wherein said boat lift cover has a bowed configuration, at least a portion of a perimeter of said boat lift cover being reinforced by a modular rigid support frame.

6. The modular boat lift cover of claim 1, wherein said boat lift cover is usable for both lake type and tidal lifts.

7. The modular boat lift cover of claim 1, wherein said modular boat lift cover serves as a building block for expanding said modular boat lift cover to adapt to a second watercraft.

8. A modular boat lift cover for a first watercraft, said modular boat lift cover comprising:
a gable assembly including;
a plurality of peak fittings positioned on a peak of said gable assembly;
a plurality of support tubes securely supporting said plurality of peak fittings, said plurality of support tubes securely engaging at least one of said plurality of peak fittings;
a first and a second box frame support member each supporting at least one of said plurality of support tubes, said first and said second box frame support member being horizontally disposed, said plurality of support tubes being positionable inside said first or second box frame support member during shipping; and
an end cap securely nestable inside a first end of said first box frame support member, said end cap preventing debris from entering said first end of said first box frame support member when said end cap is disposed relative to said first end of said first box frame support member; and
a cantilever bracing said gable assembly to a piling, said piling being a substantially vertical support disposed between a support structure and a waterway bottom.

9. The modular boat lift cover of claim 8, further comprising a splice disposed between a second end of said first box frame support member and a first end of said second box frame support member at a box frame support component juncture, said splice reinforcing and providing additional strength to said box frame support component juncture.

10. The modular boat lift cover of claim 8, wherein said gable assembly is securely engageable with a canopy, said canopy being detachable from and reattachable to said modular boat lift cover, said canopy protecting said watercraft from sun and hurricane-level winds when said watercraft is at port.

11. The modular boat lift cover of claim 8, wherein said boat lift cover has a bowed configuration, at least a portion of a perimeter of said boat lift cover being reinforced by a modular rigid support frame.

12. The modular boat lift cover of claim 8, wherein said boat lift cover is usable for both lake type and tidal lifts.

13. The modular boat lift cover of claim 8, wherein said modular boat lift cover serves as a building block for expanding said modular boat lift cover to adapt to a second watercraft.

14. A modular boat lift cover for a first watercraft, said modular boat lift cover comprising:
a gable assembly including;
a plurality of peak fittings positioned on a peak of said gable assembly;
a plurality of support tubes securely supporting said plurality of peak fittings, said plurality of support tubes securely engaging at least one of said plurality of peak fittings;
a first and a second box frame support member each supporting at least one of said plurality of support tubes, said first and said second box frame support member being horizontally disposed, said plurality of support tubes being positionable inside said first or second box frame support member during shipping; and
a splice disposed between a second end of said first box frame support member and a first end of said second box frame support member at a box frame support component juncture, said splice reinforcing and providing additional strength to said box frame support component juncture; and
a cantilever bracing said gable assembly to a piling, said piling being a substantially vertical support disposed between a support structure and a waterway bottom.

15. The modular boat lift cover of claim 14, further comprising an end cap securely disposed nestably inside a first end of said first box frame support member, said end cap preventing debris from entering said first end of said first box frame support member when said end cap is disposed relative to said first end of said first box frame support member.

16. The modular boat lift cover of claim 14, wherein said gable assembly is securely engageable with a canopy, said canopy being detachable from and reattachable to said modular boat lift cover, said canopy protecting said watercraft from sun and hurricane-level winds when said watercraft is at port.

17. The modular boat lift cover of claim 14, wherein said boat lift cover has a bowed configuration, at least a portion of a perimeter of said boat lift cover being reinforced by a modular rigid support frame.

18. The modular boat lift cover of claim 14, wherein said boat lift cover is usable for both lake type and tidal lifts.

19. The modular boat lift cover of claim 14, wherein said modular boat lift cover serves as a building block for expanding said modular boat lift cover to adapt to a second watercraft.

20. The modular boat lift cover of claim 14, wherein said support tubes have a bowed configuration, being initially linear in shape but becoming bowed under stress, one of said plurality of bowed tubes being securely attachable to one of said plurality of peak fittings.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Inter-Rat Mobility Of In-Device Coexistence

Technical Field and Background:
Next generation mobile networks, such as 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) networks, are commonly deployed in a multi-radio environment where a mobile station device, referred to as User Equipment (UE) in LTE/LTE-A, is equipped with multiple radio transceivers. Use of these multiple co-located transceivers by a UE may lead to coexistence interference among networks utilizing nearby frequency bands. Existing 3GPP LTE/LTE-A standards have proposed limited techniques to identify coexistence interference among multiple wireless radios. When a UE is connected to a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), the UE may perform an inter-Radio Access Technology (inter-RAT) measurement for connection with an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), such as an LTE/LTE-A network, to determine if the E-UTRAN frequencies currently experience In-Device Coexistence (IDC) interference. However, the UTRAN/GERAN does not know whether the UE may encounter other additional IDC interference problems until after the UE connects to the E-UTRAN. This may result in the UTRAN/GERAN performing a handover of UEs to an E-UTRAN followed by coexistence interference with the E-UTRAN. If coexistence interference occurs and the E-UTRAN does not support a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) solution to prevent the coexistence interference, the network will handover the UE back to the UTRAN/GERAN. Such network switching results in unnecessary signaling overhead.

Invention Disclosure:
Embodiments of system, device, and method configurations for managing inter-radio access technology (inter-RAT) mobility of handovers between a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) and an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) to avoid scenarios of in-device coexistence (IDC) interference are disclosed herein. In one example, the existence and types of IDC interference with an E-UTRAN Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) network are determined and communicated to the UTRAN/GERAN in an IDC indication signal. The IDC indication signal may communicate the existence and type of IDC interference occurring at user equipment, such as between licensed LTE/LTE-A and unlicensed industrial scientific medical (ISM) radio frequency bands. Accordingly, the UTRAN/GERAN may use information provided from the IDC indication signal to prevent a handover to the E-UTRAN that would result in IDC interference.

[Assistant]
1. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions for execution on circuitry of a user equipment (UE), which when executed by the UE, cause the UE to perform electronic operations for management of evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) handover that:
perform measurements, at the UE, to determine in-device coexistence (IDC) interference occurring with radio communications of the E-UTRAN; and
transmit an indication of the IDC interference to a radio access network;
wherein a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) refrains from performing a handover from the UTRAN or the GERAN to the E-UTRAN in response to the indication of the IDC interference.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to perform electronic operations that:
receive an IDC indication setting from the UTRAN or the GERAN, the IDC indication setting provided to instruct the UE to transmit the indication of the IDC interference to the UTRAN or the GERAN.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to perform electronic operations that:
transmit an IDC indication capability to the UTRAN or the GERAN prior to receiving the IDC indication setting from the UTRAN or the GERAN;
wherein the indication of the IDC interference is transmitted by the UE in response to receiving the IDC indication setting that instructs the UE to transmit the indication of the IDC interference to the UTRAN or the GERAN.

4. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of the IDC interference includes:
a listing of one or more E-UTRAN carrier frequencies affected by the IDC interference, and a direction of the IDC interference.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of the IDC interference is transmitted to the UTRAN or the GERAN, and wherein the instructions further cause the UE to perform electronic operations that:
perform subsequent measurements, at the UE, to determine an absence of IDC interference occurring with radio communications of the E-UTRAN; and
transmit a subsequent indication of the absence of the IDC interference to the UTRAN or the GERAN;
wherein handover of the UE is performed from the UTRAN or the GERAN to the E-UTRAN in response to the subsequent indication of the absence of the IDC interference.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the E-UTRAN indicates that a cause of the handover is from the IDC interference by adding a bit in a handover preparation message, wherein the handover preparation message includes a listing of one or more E-UTRAN carrier frequencies affected by the IDC interference.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the UE coordinates with a network implementation of the management of the E-UTRAN handover to prevent handover, wherein the network implementation of the management of the E-UTRAN handover includes receipt of a handover preparation message at the UTRAN or the GERAN from the E-UTRAN indicating the IDC interference, and use of a timer at the UTRAN or the GERAN to avoid handover of the UE to the E-UTRAN for a period of time, and wherein one or more handover preparation messages exchanged between UTRAN or GERAN nodes include a current value of the timer.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein one or more handover preparation messages exchanged between UTRAN or GERAN nodes include an indication that the UE is affected by the IDC interference, and wherein the handover preparation messages exchanged between the UTRAN or GERAN nodes include a listing of one or more E-UTRAN carrier frequencies affected by the IDC interference.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the UE performs a UE implementation of the management of the E-UTRAN handover to prevent handover, wherein the UE implementation of the management of the E-UTRAN handover includes receipt and processing by the UE of a reference signal received from the E-UTRAN, and communication of pessimistic measurements of the reference signal received from the E-UTRAN; and
wherein the indication of the IDC interference includes the pessimistic measurements, and wherein handover to the E-UTRAN is avoided from the UTRAN or the GERAN in response to the pessimistic measurements.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the IDC interference is caused by interference of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio of the UE, with a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) radio, or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio of the UE.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the IDC interference occurs:
between radio transmissions of LTE Band 40 and a 2.4 GHz industrial scientific medical (ISM) frequency band, between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7 and the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band, between radio transmissions of 2.4 GHz ISM bands and LTE Band 40, or between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7, LTE Band 13, or LTE Band 14 and reception of the GNSS radio.

12. An apparatus of a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising processing circuitry and memory configured to perform management of evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) handover with electronic operations that:
perform measurements to determine in-device coexistence (IDC) interference occurring with radio communications between the UE and the E-UTRAN; and
transmit an indication of the IDC interference to a secondary radio access network (RAN);
wherein the secondary RAN refrains from performing a handover to the E-UTRAN in response to the indication of the IDC interference.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the secondary RAN is a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN).

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the IDC interference is caused by interference of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio of the UE, with a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) radio, or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio of the UE, and wherein the IDC interference occurs:
between radio transmissions of LTE Band 40 and a 2.4 GHz industrial scientific medical (ISM) frequency band, between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7 and the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band, between radio transmissions of 2.4 GHz ISM bands and LTE Band 40, or between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7, LTE Band 13, or LTE Band 14 and reception of the GNSS radio.

15. An apparatus of an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), the apparatus comprising transceiver circuitry and processing circuitry to implement an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), wherein the eNodeB is to monitor in-device coexistence (IDC) interference conditions at a user equipment (UE) in communication with the eNodeB, the processing circuitry and transceiver circuitry configured to:
transmit, to a secondary radio access network (RAN), an indication of IDC interference of radio communications exchanged between the UE and the E-UTRAN; and
prevent handover of the UE from the secondary RAN to the E-UTRAN in response to the indication of the IDC interference.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the secondary RAN is a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN).

17. The eNodeB of claim 15, wherein the eNodeB is further to perform electronic operations that:
receive, from the UE, the indication of the IDC interference of the radio communications exchanged between the UE and the E-UTRAN;
wherein the indication of the IDC interference is generated at the UE in response to measurements, at the UE, of IDC interference occurring between a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio of the UE arranged for communication with the E-UTRAN, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) radio, or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio of the UE.

18. The eNodeB of claim 17, wherein the IDC interference occurs:
between radio transmissions of LTE Band 40 and a 2.4 GHz industrial scientific medical (ISM) frequency band, between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7 and the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band, between radio transmissions of 2.4 GHz ISM bands and LTE Band 40, or between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7, LTE Band 13, or LTE Band 14 and reception of the GNSS radio.

19. The eNodeB of claim 17, wherein the indication of the IDC interference is transmitted from the UE in response to receipt of an IDC indication setting at the UE, the IDC indication setting providing an instruction to the UE to subsequently transmit the indication of the IDC interference to the eNodeB.

20. The eNodeB of claim 15, wherein the eNodeB is further to perform electronic operations that:
receive, from the UE, a subsequent indication of an absence of the IDC interference, the subsequent indication provided in response to subsequent measurements performed at the UE that indicate the absence of IDC interference occurring with the E-UTRAN; and
enable handover of the UE from the secondary RAN to the E-UTRAN in response to the subsequent indication of the absence of the IDC interference.

21. The eNodeB of claim 15, wherein the eNodeB is further to perform electronic operations that:
transmit a handover preparation message from the E-UTRAN to the secondary RAN indicating the IDC interference; and
prevent handover of the UE from the secondary RAN to the E-UTRAN, with use of a timer, for a period of time to avoid handover from the secondary RAN to the E-UTRAN;
wherein a value of the timer is communicated to at least one node of the secondary RAN.

22. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions for execution on circuitry of an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), which when executed by the eNodeB, cause the eNodeB to perform electronic operations for management of handover of a user equipment (UE) to an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) of the eNodeB based on in-device coexistence (IDC) interference conditions at the UE, with operations that:
transmit, to a secondary radio access network (RAN), an indication of IDC interference of radio communications exchanged between the UE and the E-UTRAN; and
prevent handover of the UE from the secondary RAN to the E-UTRAN in response to the indication of the IDC interference.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the secondary RAN is a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN).

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further cause the eNodeB to perform electronic operations that:
receive, from the UE, the indication of the IDC interference of the radio communications exchanged between the UE and the E-UTRAN;
wherein the indication of the IDC interference is generated at the UE in response to measurements, at the UE, of IDC interference occurring between a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio of the UE arranged for communication with the E-UTRAN, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) radio, or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio of the UE.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the IDC interference occurs:
between radio transmissions of LTE Band 40 and a 2.4 GHz industrial scientific medical (ISM) frequency band, between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7 and the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band, between radio transmissions of 2.4 GHz ISM bands and LTE Band 40, or between radio transmissions of LTE Band 7, LTE Band 13, or LTE Band 14 and reception of the GNSS radio.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the indication of the IDC interference is transmitted from the UE in response to receipt of an IDC indication setting at the UE, the IDC indication setting providing an instruction to the UE to subsequently transmit the indication of the IDC interference to the eNodeB.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further cause the eNodeB to perform electronic operations that:
receive, from the UE, a subsequent indication of an absence of the IDC interference communicated to the secondary RAN, the subsequent indication provided in response to subsequent measurements performed at the UE that indicate the absence of IDC interference occurring with the E-UTRAN; and
perform handover of the UE to the E-UTRAN from the secondary RAN in response to the subsequent indication of the absence of the IDC interference.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further cause the eNodeB to perform electronic operations that:
transmit a handover preparation message from the E-UTRAN to the secondary RAN indicating the IDC interference; and
prevent handover of the UE from the secondary RAN to the E-UTRAN, with use of a timer, for a period of time to avoid handover to the E-UTRAN;
wherein a value of the timer is communicated to at least one node of the secondary RAN.