[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: Providing Multiple Multicast Streams Over A Single Transport Bearer Channel

Technical Field and Background:
Content providers may broadcast content, such as video content, to a set of devices. For example, a wireless provider may broadcast content to a set of wireless telephones using a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (“MBMS”) technique. In some situations, a content provider may desire to simultaneously broadcast multiple video streams, such as when broadcasting content corresponding to multiple television channels.

Invention Disclosure:
A user device may be configured to identify a received transport bearer channel, via which a group of content streams are received, the transport bearer channel including a group of logical bearer channels that each correspond to a particular transport layer session, each transport layer session corresponding to a particular one of the content streams; receive a selection of a particular content stream, of the group of content streams; identify a particular logical bearer channel, of the group of bearer channels, that corresponds to the particular content stream; extract a transport layer session from the identified particular logical bearer channel; provide, from a transport layer of the user device and to an application layer of the user device, the particular content stream from the transport layer session; and present the particular content stream.

[Assistant]
1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a user device, a plurality of content streams, the content streams being received via a transport bearer channel, the transport bearer channel including a plurality of logical bearer channels that each correspond to a particular transport layer session, each transport layer session corresponding to a particular one of the content streams,
wherein the plurality of content streams are associated with a plurality of different digital rights management (“DRM”) techniques;
receiving, by the user device, a selection of a particular content stream, of the plurality of content streams;
verifying the particular content stream based on a particular DRM technique associated with the particular content stream;
receiving, by the user device, a mapping of content stream identifiers to logical bearer channel identifiers;
identifying, by the user device, a content stream identifier associated with the selected particular content stream;
identifying, by the user device, a plurality of logical bearer channel identifiers associated with the plurality of logical bearer channels;
identifying, by the user device, a particular logical bearer channel, of the plurality of bearer channels, that corresponds to the particular content stream,
wherein identifying the particular logical bearer channel includes identifying, based on the mapping, that a bearer channel identifier, associated with the particular logical bearer channel, is associated with the content stream identifier associated with the selected content stream;
extracting, by the user device, a transport layer session from the identified particular logical bearer channel;
providing, from a transport layer of the user device and to an application layer of the user device, the particular content stream from the transport layer session; and
presenting, by the user device, the particular content stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport layer sessions include a plurality of File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (“FLUTE”) sessions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport bearer channel includes a Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) Multicast Channel (“MCH”).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical bearer channels include a plurality of LTE Multicast Traffic Channels (“MTCHs”).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical bearer channels are included in the transport bearer channel in a time-division multiplexed manner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport bearer channel is a single transport bearer channel associated with a broadcast technique.

7. A user device, comprising:
a non-transitory memory device storing a set of computer-executable instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the set of computer-executable instructions, wherein executing the set of computer-executable instructions causes the processor to:
identify a transport bearer channel, via which a plurality of content streams are received, the transport bearer channel including a plurality of logical bearer channels that each correspond to a particular transport layer session, each transport layer session corresponding to a particular one of the content streams,
wherein the plurality of content streams are associated with a plurality of different digital rights management (“DRM”) techniques;
receive a selection of a particular content stream, of the plurality of content streams;
verify the particular content stream based on a particular DRM technique associated with the particular content stream;
receive a mapping of content stream identifiers to logical bearer channel identifiers;
identify a content stream identifier associated with the selected particular content stream;
identify a plurality of logical bearer channel identifiers associated with the plurality of logical bearer channels;
identify a particular logical bearer channel, of the plurality of bearer channels, that corresponds to the particular content stream,
wherein identifying the particular logical bearer channel includes identifying, based on the mapping, that a bearer channel identifier, associated with the particular logical bearer channel, is associated with the content stream identifier associated with the selected content stream;
extract a transport layer session from the identified particular logical bearer channel;
provide, from a transport layer of the user device and to an application layer of the user device, the particular content stream from the transport layer session; and
present the particular content stream.

8. The user device of claim 7, wherein the transport layer sessions include a plurality of File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (“FLUTE”) sessions.

9. The user device of claim 8, wherein the transport bearer channel includes a Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) Multicast Channel (“MCH”).

10. The user device of claim 9, wherein the logical bearer channels include a plurality of LTE Multicast Traffic Channels (“MTCHs”).

11. The user device of claim 7, wherein the logical bearer channels are included in the transport bearer channel in a time-division multiplexed manner.

12. The user device of claim 7, wherein the transport bearer channel is a single transport bearer channel associated with a broadcast technique.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors of a user device, cause the one or more processors to:
identify a transport bearer channel, via which a plurality of content streams are received, the transport bearer channel including a plurality of logical bearer channels that each correspond to a particular transport layer session, each transport layer session corresponding to a particular one of the content streams,
wherein the plurality of content streams are associated with a plurality of different digital rights management (“DRM”) techniques;
receive a selection of a particular content stream, of the plurality of content streams;
verify the particular content stream based on a particular DRM technique associated with the particular content stream;
receive a mapping of content stream identifiers to logical bearer channel identifiers;
identify a content stream identifier associated with the selected particular content stream;
identify a plurality of logical bearer channel identifiers associated with the plurality of logical bearer channels;
identify a particular logical bearer channel, of the plurality of bearer channels, that corresponds to the particular content stream,
wherein identifying the particular logical bearer channel includes identifying, based on the mapping, that a bearer channel identifier, associated with the particular logical bearer channel, is associated with the content stream identifier associated with the selected content stream;
extract a transport layer session from the identified particular logical bearer channel;
provide, from a transport layer of the user device and to an application layer of the user device, the particular content stream from the transport layer session; and
present the particular content stream.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the processor-executable instructions further include instructions, which further cause the one or more processors to:
receive a mapping of content stream identifiers to logical bearer channel identifiers;
identify a content stream identifier associated with the selected particular content stream; and
identify a plurality of logical bearer channel identifiers associated with the plurality of logical bearer channels,
wherein identifying the particular logical bearer channel includes identifying, based on the mapping, that a bearer channel identifier, associated with the particular logical bearer channel, is associated with the content stream identifier associated with the selected content stream.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the transport layer sessions include a plurality of File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (“FLUTE”) sessions.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the transport bearer channel includes a Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) Multicast Channel (“MCH”).

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the transport bearer channel is a single transport bearer channel associated with a broadcast technique.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the logical bearer channels include a plurality of LTE Multicast Traffic Channels (“MTCHs”).

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the logical bearer channels are included in the transport bearer channel in a time-division multiplexed manner.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the transport bearer channel is a single transport bearer channel associated with a broadcast technique.


[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: Regulator For A Firearm Auto Loader

Technical Field and Background:
Automatic or semi-automatic firearms typically include an auto loader that cycles a bolt carrier and bolt backward and forward after the firearm is fired. Depending on the particular firearm, the auto loader may be propelled by the recoil of the firearm and/or by the expanding gas associated with the discharge of a round. Rearward movement of the bolt carrier and bolt causes an extractor to engage and draw a spent round from the firing chamber. The bolt returns forward, often under action of a spring, after the round is ejected from the firearm. Forward movement of the bolt engages a fresh round from a magazine and pushes the round into the firing chamber for subsequent firing. Automatic or semi-automatic firearms that utilize expanding combustion gas to power an auto loader may draw combustion gas from the firearm barrel after a round is fired. The pressurized combustion gas urges a piston that, in turn, moves the bolt of the firearm rearward to unlock the breach of the firearm, extract a round from the firing chamber and eject the spent round from the firearm. A spring typically urges the bolt forward to feed a fresh round into the firing chamber and to lock the firing chamber, completing the firing cycle of the firearm.

Invention Disclosure:
A regulator that controls an amount of energy provided to an auto loader for rounds having different gun powder loads is provided. The regulator includes a chamber, and a piston in fluid communication with the chamber. The regulator may further include a throttling valve having a first position in which pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm can flow into the chamber, and a second position in which pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm cannot flow into the chamber. The throttling valve is configured to move from the first position to the second position when pressure in the chamber exceeds a threshold level. The regulator may include an expansion valve in fluid communication with the chamber and arranged to move from a first position to increase a volume of the chamber when pressure in the chamber exceeds a threshold level. The regulator may include a valve including a vent hole, where the valve is in fluid communication with the chamber and is arranged to vent combustion gas from the chamber through the vent hole.

[Assistant]
1. A regulator for a gas operated firearm auto loader, comprising:
a chamber constructed and arranged to receive pressurized combustion gas from a gas port of a barrel of the firearm when a round is fired from the firearm;
a piston having a piston head in fluid communication with said chamber, the piston constructed and arranged to move away from a firing position to actuate at least a portion of a cycle of the firearm when urged by pressurized combustion gas received in said chamber; and
a throttling valve in fluid communication with said chamber, the throttling valve having a first position in which pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm can flow into the chamber, and a second position in which pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm cannot flow into the chamber, and wherein the throttling valve is configured to move from the first position to the second position when pressure in the chamber exceeds a threshold level.

2. The regulator of claim 1, further comprising a valve body in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein the throttling valve is received within the valve body.

3. The regulator of claim 2, wherein the valve body further comprises an inlet port which is configured to fluidly connect the gas port of a barrel of the firearm with the throttling valve to receive pressurized combustion gas when the throttling valve is in the first position.

4. The regulator of claim 3, wherein the valve body further comprises an outlet port which is configured to fluidly connect the throttling valve to the chamber to receive pressurized combustion gas when the throttling valve is in the first position.

5. The regulator of claim 4, wherein the valve body further comprises an expansion area positioned at a first end of the throttling valve, the expansion area configured to receive pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm, and wherein when the pressure in the expansion area exceeds a threshold level, the pressure in the expansion area moves the throttling valve from the first position to the second position.

6. The regulator of claim 5, further comprising an access plug positioned within the valve body, wherein the access plug separates the chamber from the expansion area.

7. The regulator of claim 4, wherein the valve body further comprises an expansion area positioned at an intermediate section of the throttling valve, the expansion area configured to receive pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm, and wherein when the pressure in the expansion area exceeds a threshold level, the pressure in the expansion area moves the throttling valve from the first position to the second position.

8. The regulator of claim 7, wherein the expansion area is substantially annular shaped.

9. The regulator of claim 4, wherein the throttling valve includes an annular groove, wherein when the throttling valve is in the first position, the annular groove fluidly connects the inlet port to the outlet port, and when the throttling valve is in the second position, the inlet port and outlet port are not in fluid communication.

10. The regulator of claim 1, wherein the throttling valve is urged toward the first position by a biasing element.

11. The regulator of claim 10, wherein the biasing element is configured to urge the throttling valve toward the piston.

12. The regulator of claim 10, wherein the biasing element is configured to urge the throttling valve away from the piston.

13. The regulator of claim 12, wherein the piston and throttling valve are configured such that if the biasing element fails, and the throttling valve remains in the second position, the piston can move the throttling valve back into the first position.

14. The regulator of claim 10 wherein the biasing element is selected from a spring, a set of washers, a resilient polymer and a pressurized gas cylinder.

15. The regulator of claim 1, wherein the throttling valve is constructed and arranged to prevent combustion gas from escaping from said regulator to an ambient environment other than through the barrel of the firearm.

16. The regulator of claim 1, further comprising a stroke limiter configured to limit movement of the throttling valve beyond a predetermined maximum distance.

17. The regulator of claim 1, wherein a first end of the throttling valve is positioned within the chamber.

18. A firearm in combination with the regulator of claim 1, wherein the firearm is capable of automatic fire with rounds varying in load by greater than 10%.

19. The regulator of claim 1 wherein the throttling valve has a third position where pressurized gas from the gas port flows into the chamber at a rate that is less than when the throttling valve is in the first position and greater than when the throttling valve is in the second position.


[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: Semiconductor Device

Technical Field and Background:
A semiconductor device is formed by cutting a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged in a matrix shape above a single silicon wafer using dicing and sealing the chips by packaging. In a conventional semiconductor chip, a method of adhering a lower side device with the upper side device using a spacer or a method of misaligning the center of a chip adhered to an upper side from the center of a chip on the lower side are adopted when an electrical connection terminal arranged on the surface of the chip is connected using bonding wire etc in the case where for example the same chips are stacked using a die attach film in order to void connecting a chip adhered below. In addition, there is a problem whereby a paste material which protrudes from an adhesion part of a pair of chips tends to creep up the side surface of a chip in the case of a package using a die attach paste, the creeping paste material reaches the top surface of the chip which degrades the quality of the semiconductor device. For example, in a semiconductor device having a CoC (chip on chip) connection structure, when an underfill resin dripper between an upper side semiconductor chip and lower side conductor chip flows above an electrical connection terminal arranged on the surface of the lower side semiconductor chip, an electrical contact between the electrical connection terminal and bonding wire etc may be blocked. To deal with such a problem, a technique has been disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent No. 2014-103198 for example in which a dam pattern is arranged so as to enclose the electrical connection terminal.

Invention Disclosure:
A semiconductor device is provided including a package substrate, and a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked above the package substrate, at least one of the plurality of semiconductor chips including a step part in a periphery edge part of a rear surface,

[Assistant]
1. A semiconductor device comprising:
a package substrate; and
a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked above the package substrate, the plurality of semiconductor chips including a first semiconductor chip arranged on an upper layer among the plurality of semiconductor chips and second semiconductor chip arranged on a lower layer among the plurality of semiconductor chips,
wherein the first semiconductor chip includes a step part with a step difference in the step shape in a periphery edge part of a rear surface,
the step part exposes an electrical connection terminal of the second semiconductor chip,
the electrical connection terminal of the second semiconductor chip is arranged between adjacent electrical connection terminals of the first semiconductor chip in a top view toward the package substrate, and
a rear surface except the step part of the first semiconductor chip being adhered by an adhesive.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the step part is arranged in one part of a periphery edge part of the first semiconductor chip.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of semiconductor chips includes a plurality of grooves on a rear surface, and is connected with a lower layer via the adhesive.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein the step part is arranged in one side of the periphery edge part of the first semiconductor chip.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein the step part is arranged in each side of the periphery edge part of the first semiconductor chip.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the step parts has electrical conductivity.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein each of the centers of the plurality of semiconductor chips roughly match and are arranged within a region having a radius within 0.005 mm.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein the adhesive is a die attachment paste.


[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: Multiple Patterning Techniques For Metal Gate

Technical Field and Background:
A CMOS transistor device is formed with a gate dielectric and a gate electrode, to control current flows through a channel under the gate dielectric between a pair of source/drain regions. As scaling down tendency continues, the gate dielectric begins to break down causing the gate dielectric to lose its insulating (dielectric) quality and to exhibit a larger leakage. There has been a desire to replace the gate oxide and the polysilicon gate with a high-k gate dielectric and metal gate electrode, in favor of improving device performance such as leakage and channel mobility. The high-k dielectric and metal gate electrode use metal gate stacks with the right work functions on the high-k dielectric for high-performance CMOS logic applications.

Invention Disclosure:
The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit with a work function metal layer disposed directly on a high-k dielectric layer, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit is formed by forming a first work function metal layer directly on a high-k dielectric layer. Then the first work function metal layer is patterned to be left within a first gate region of a first device region and to be removed within a second gate region of a second device region. Thereby, the first work function metal layer is patterned directly on the high-k dielectric layer, using the high-k dielectric layer as an etch stop layer, and the patterning window is improved.

[Assistant]
1. A method of forming an integrated circuit, comprising:
forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate comprising a first device region, a second device region, and a third device region;
forming a first work function metal layer directly on the high-k dielectric layer; and
patterning the first work function metal layer to leave the first work function metal layer within a first gate region of the first device region and a second gate region of the second device region, and to remove the first work function metal layer and expose the high-k dielectric layer within a third gate region of the third device region;
forming a second work function metal layer within the first gate region, the second gate region and the third gate region; and
patterning the second work function metal layer to leave a first portion within the first gate region and to remove a second portion within the second gate region and a third portion within the third gate region.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming source/drain regions alongside the first gate region of the first device region; and
forming source/drain regions alongside the second gate region of the second device region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first work function metal layer comprises titanium nitride (TiN).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first work function metal layer is patterned by applying a wet etchant solution having an etch rate ratio of the first work function metal layer to the high-k dielectric layer greater than about 1400.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
after patterning the first work function metal layer and prior to forming the second work function metal layer, forming a barrier layer over the first work function metal layer and the high-k dielectric layer within the first gate region, the second gate region and the third gate region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the second work function metal layer is formed to have a bottom surface aligned with a bottom surface of the first work function metal layer.

7. A method of forming an integrated circuit, comprising:
forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate comprising a first device region, a second device region, a third device region and a fourth device region;
forming a first work function metal layer directly on the high-k dielectric layer;
patterning the first work function metal layer to leave a first portion within a first gate region of the first device region and a second portion within a second gate region of the second device region, and to expose the high-k dielectric layer within a third gate region of the third device region and within a fourth gate region of the fourth device region;
forming a second work function metal layer over the patterned first work function metal layer and exposed high-k dielectric layer; and
patterning the second work function metal layer to leave a first portion within the first gate region and to remove a second portion within the second gate region.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
forming a cap layer between the first work function metal layer and the second work function metal layer;
wherein the cap layer is formed to cover the first, second, third and fourth gate regions.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
forming a barrier layer between the cap layer and the second work function metal layer;
wherein the cap layer is formed to cover the first, second, third and fourth gate regions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first work function metal layer and the second work function metal layer comprise titanium nitride (TiN) and the barrier layer comprises tantalum nitride (TaN).

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
forming and patterning a third work function metal layer to leave first, second and third portions within the first, second and third gate regions and to remove a fourth portion within the fourth gate region; and
forming and patterning a fourth work function metal layer within the first, second, third and fourth gate regions.

12. The method of claim 7, before forming the first work function metal layer:
forming polysilicon gates within the first, second, third and fourth gate regions;
forming sidewall spacers alongside the polysilicon gates;
forming p-type source/drain regions alongside the first and second gate regions and n-type source/drain regions alongside the third and fourth gate regions; and
removing the polysilicon gates.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the first device region comprises low threshold p-type transistors, the second device region comprises standard p-type transistors, the third device region comprises standard n-type transistors, and the fourth device region comprises low threshold n-type transistors;
wherein the low threshold p-type transistors and the low threshold n-type transistors have threshold values smaller than those of the standard p-type transistors and the standard n-type transistors.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the first work function metal and the second work function metal are a same material.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the first work function metal layer is patterned by applying a wet etchant having an etch rate ratio of the first work function metal layer to the high-k dielectric layer that is greater than about 1400.

16. A method of forming an integrated circuit, comprising:
forming a substrate comprising a first device region, a second device region, and a third device region;
depositing a high-k dielectric layer over the substrate;
forming a first work function metal layer directly on the high-k dielectric layer;
patterning the first work function metal layer to leave a first portion within the first device region and a second portion within the second device region, and to expose the high-k dielectric layer within the third device region;
forming a cap layer over the first work function metal layer within the first device region and the second device region and over the high-k dielectric layer within the third device region;
forming a second work function metal layer over the cap layer; and
patterning the second work function metal layer to leave a first portion within the first device region and to remove a second portion within the second device region.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first device region is formed to have p-type transistors and the second device region is formed to have n-type transistors.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first work function metal layer and the second work function metal layer are formed using titanium nitride (TiN).

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second work function metal layer is patterned to remove a third portion within the third device region.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
forming sidewall spacers at peripheries of the first work function metal layer and the second work function metal layer; and
forming p-type source/drain regions alongside the first work function metal layer and n-type source/drain regions alongside the second work function metal 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: Base Station Device, Mobile Terminal, And Radio Communication System

Technical Field and Background:
In recent years, a small cell has been used in order to accommodate the increased data traffic. In this case, “small cell” refers to a cell that has a shorter cell radius or whose number of users that is able to access the cell is smaller compared with a macrocell. A small cell may be established in a macrocell in order to accommodate an increased number of users of the macrocell or increased communications traffic per user. In this case, in order to mitigate interference between the macrocell and the small cell, the small cell is often established so as to perform communication using a frequency bandwidth that is different from a bandwidth used in the macrocell including the small cell. In order to hand over to a base station of a small cell, a mobile terminal identifies a physical cell ID (PCI, physical cell identifier) allocated to a small cell that is a handover destination. At this point, the mobile terminal performs processing in a frequency bandwidth which the small cell that is a handover destination uses for communication. Thus, a mobile terminal that tries to obtain, during communication with a macrocell, information on a small cell that is a handover destination will perform the processing both in a frequency bandwidth used for communication through the macrocell and in a frequency bandwidth used for communication in the small cell. However, when a mobile terminal performs communication processing in a plurality of frequency bandwidths, power consumption of the mobile terminal increases. Further, a mobile terminal that is located away from a small cell repeats the processing until a physical cell ID is obtained, so power consumption for searching for the small cell further increases. Therefore, a method in which a mobile terminal determines whether a small cell is in its proximity using fingerprint information has been proposed. The fingerprint information is information generated when a mobile terminal exists in a small cell and stored in a recording medium of a mobile terminal, and includes position information on the small cell such as the position information on the mobile terminal when it existed in the small cell. The mobile terminal identifies a physical cell ID with respect to a small cell determined to be in its proximity, by comparing the position information in a fingerprint stored in the recording medium with a current position of the mobile terminal. As a related technology, a mobile terminal that stores therein a list indicating an accessible small cell has been devised. When receiving a network policy from a base station, this mobile terminal determines whether a small cell is positionally accessible, using information on an accessible small cell included in the list. Here, fingerprint information is used as information on an accessible small cell. The mobile terminal reports a determination result to the base station. Further, a method in which a base station determines a handover destination for a mobile terminal has also been proposed. In this method, abase station that determines a handover destination reduces, by use of a fingerprint table, the size of a list of a base station that transfers the same physical cell identifier, and identifies a handover destination. Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-31224 Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-109666 In a communication method that uses fingerprint information, when determining that there is a small cell in its proximity using fingerprint information, a mobile terminal starts searching for the small cell. However, the conventional fingerprint information does not include the information on a cell in which the mobile terminal has not existed before. Thus, when using the conventional fingerprint method, a mobile terminal has difficulty in efficiently finding a small cell in which the mobile terminal has not existed before. On the other hand, when searching for a small cell that is a handover destination without using the fingerprint method, a mobile terminal performs search processing even when it is located away from the small cell, so the search processing is not efficiently performed, and further, power consumption of the mobile terminal increases. A method that permits a mobile terminal to efficiently search for a cell established in a bandwidth that is different from a bandwidth used for communication has not been obtained as well.

Invention Disclosure:
A base station device is able to perform radio communication with a mobile terminal that exists in a first cell, and includes a memory and a transmitter. The memory stores therein position information on a second cell that can be a move destination for the mobile terminal. The transmitter transmits the position information on the second cell to the mobile terminal so as to cause the mobile terminal to detect that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell using the position information.

[Assistant]
1. A base station device that is able to perform radio communication with a mobile terminal that exists in a first cell, the base station device comprising:
a memory that stores therein position information on a second cell that can be a move destination for the mobile terminal;
a transmitter that transmits the position information on the second cell to the mobile terminal so as to cause the mobile terminal to detect that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell using the position information; and
a processor that performs processing for the mobile terminal handing over from the first cell, in which communication in a first frequency bandwidth is performed, to the second cell, in which communication in a second frequency bandwidth that is different from the first bandwidth is performed, wherein
the transmitter transmits information which the mobile terminal uses to start communication in the second frequency bandwidth after receiving, from the mobile terminal, a report that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell.

2. The base station device according to claim 1, further comprising
a receiver that receives, from the mobile terminal, a request message that makes a request for a start of communication by use of the first cell, wherein
the transmitter transmits the position information to the mobile terminal when the receiver receives the request message.

3. The base station device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a receiver that receives, from the mobile terminal, a request message that makes a request for a start of communication by use of the first cell, wherein
the processor
calculates a moving speed of the mobile terminal,
makes adjustment so that a time interval from the reception of the request message until the transmission of the position information is longer when the moving speed is faster, wherein
the transmitter transmits the position information to the mobile terminal when the time interval has elapsed.

4. The base station device according to claim 1, wherein
the memory stores therein a sector identifier that identifies each sector being obtained by dividing the first cell in association with a cell that shares at least one point with the sector identified by the sector identifier, and
the transmitter reports, to the mobile terminal, positon information on the cell that shares at least one point with a sector in which the mobile terminal is located.

5. A mobile terminal that is able to communicate with a base station device in a first cell, the mobile terminal comprising:
a receiver that receives, from the base station device, position information on a second cell that can be a move destination from the first cell;
a processor that
identifies a position of the mobile terminal, and
detects that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell using the position information and the position of the mobile terminal;
a transmitter that transmits, to the base station device, report information that reports that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell, wherein
the processor performs processing for handing over from the first cell, in which communication in a first frequency bandwidth is performed, to the second cell, in which communication in a second frequency bandwidth is performed,
the transmitter transmits the report information to the base station device using the first frequency bandwidth,
the receiver receives, from the base station device, start information that is used to start communication in the second frequency bandwidth after the transmitter transmits the report information, and
the processor hands over from the first cell to the second cell using the start information.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein
the first cell is divided into a plurality of sectors and the mobile terminal is located in a sector to be communicated with from among the plurality of sectors, and
the receiver obtains position information on a cell that shares at least one point with the sector to be communicated with.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein
the processor detects the second cell by detecting a cell whose distance from the position of the mobile terminal is not greater than a threshold.

8. A radio communication system comprising:
a base station device that provides a first cell; and
a mobile terminal that is able to communicate with the base station device in the first cell, wherein
the base station device transmits, to the mobile terminal, position information on a second cell that can be a move destination for the mobile terminal,
the mobile terminal
identifies a position of the mobile terminal,
detects that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell using the position information and the position of the mobile terminal,
transmits, to the base station device, report information that reports that the mobile terminal has approached the second cell, wherein
communication is performed in the first cell by use of a first frequency bandwidth,
communication is performed in the second cell in a second frequency bandwidth, wherein
when receiving the report information, the base station device transmits, to the mobile terminal, start information which the mobile terminal uses to start communication in the second frequency bandwidth, and
the mobile terminal starts communication by use of the second cell using the start information.

9. The radio communication system according to claim 8, wherein
the base station device
calculates a moving speed of the mobile terminal when receiving, from the mobile terminal, a request message that makes a request for a start of communication with the base station device,
makes adjustment so that a time interval from the reception of the request message until the transmission of the position information is longer when the moving speed is faster, and
transmits the position information to the mobile terminal when the time interval has elapsed from the reception of the request message.


[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: Airbag Device For A Vehicle Bonnet

Technical Field and Background:
The majority of injuries and fatalities in road traffic related incidents occur to pedestrians. Although traffic regulation and education of pedestrians can achieves some reduction in the number of injuries and fatalities, in more recent years the focus has turned towards vehicle design in order to reduce the likelihood of injury to pedestrians in the event of a collision. One area of development has been in ‘passive’ measures involving softening the points of a vehicle that a pedestrian would most likely impact during a collision. Known measures include redesigning bumpers (fenders), bonnets (hoods), windscreens and A-pillars to be more compliant during a collision without compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle, and the passenger cell particularly. In addition to passive measures, so called ‘active’ systems have been developed which are able to manage the energy transfer during a collision more effectively. Such active systems include ‘pop-up’ bonnets in which an actuator deploys an entire bonnet upwardly in a collision. Here, the relatively compliant structure of the bonnet, usually being sheet metal, acts as a cushioning surface for the pedestrian and the raised position of the bonnet provides increased clearance from the engine bay to guard against the pedestrian impacting the harder components in it, such as the engine and suspension parts. A system like this goes some way to improving energy transfer management, although the considerable mass of the bonnet can act as a limitation on deployment speed; generally it is desirable to deploy the bonnet as quickly as possible so the mass of the bonnet compromises the deployment speed. Other active systems are known. In one example, it is known to incorporate an airbag device in the cowl of the vehicle which deploys from under the bonnet in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The bonnet also deploys upwardly a short way in this system. The airbag unit in such a device assumes a generally U-shaped configuration when it is fully inflated so the lateral base of the inflated airbag overlies the lower edge of the windscreen whilst the arms of the inflated airbag extend some way up the A-pillars at the sides of the windscreen thereby providing a cushioning surface on these vehicle hardpoints. Although such a system can provide a degree of protection for the pedestrian during impacts with the rear of the bonnet, the windscreen base and the A-pillars, its effectiveness is compromised by the limited space available to store such an airbag device having the necessary volume in the cowl of the vehicle, which is usually in use to store existing components such as air conditioning intakes, and windscreen wiper components. Furthermore, the entire mass of the bonnet must also be deployed which increases the energy consumption of the system and also limits deployment time. It is against this background that the invention has been devised. Embodiments of the invention may provide an improved airbag device for a vehicle. Other aims and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, claims and drawings.

Invention Disclosure:
An airbag device for installing in a bonnet of a vehicle to manage energy transferred during an impact with a pedestrian. In one aspect, the airbag device comprises a housing containing an airbag and a deployable cover panel, wherein the cover panel includes an outer member coupled to a carrier member, wherein the carrier member is coupled to the airbag housing and configured to separate from the airbag housing upon inflation of the airbag. In another aspect, the airbag device comprises an airbag housing and a cover panel, the cover panel being separable from and tethered to the housing so as to limit displacement of the cover from the housing.

[Assistant]
1. An airbag device configured to be installed in a bonnet of a vehicle, the airbag device comprising a housing containing an airbag and a deployable cover panel, the cover panel including an outer member coupled to a carrier member, an upper surface of the carrier member including a plurality of spacer members to control a spacing between said upper surface and an underside of the outer member, wherein the carrier member is coupled to the airbag housing and configured to separate from the airbag housing upon inflation of the airbag upon inflation of the airbag, and further wherein the outer member of the cover panel forms part of an outer surface of the bonnet.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the outer member is adhesively bonded to the carrier member.

3. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein the outer member is adhesively bonded to the carrier member about its perimeter.

4. The airbag device of claim 3, wherein the outer member is adhesively bonded to the carrier member about its perimeter by a substantially continuous bead of bonding compound.

5. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the carrier member includes a strengthening member attached thereto.

6. The airbag device of claim 5, wherein the strengthening member is metal.

7. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the cover panel is coupled to the housing by one or more fasteners configured to break under a predetermined tension load during deployment of the airbag.

8. The airbag device of claim 7, wherein the one or more fasteners are heat stakes, the dimensions of which are selected such that the one or more heat stakes break under a predetermined tension load during deployment of the airbag.

9. A vehicle bonnet assembly having a panel defining an aperture within which is mounted an airbag device as claimed in claim 1.

10. A vehicle incorporating an airbag device in accordance with claim 1.

11. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the carrier member comprises an underside including one or more locating posts for positioning the carrier member on the housing.


[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: Simultaneous Wireless Connections With Improved Efficiency

Technical Field and Background:
Field The described embodiments relate to techniques for improving communication performance in a wireless network, including techniques for communicating additional messages with a user-interface device during a power-saving mode. Related Art Many modern electronic devices include a networking subsystem that is used to wirelessly communicate with other electronic devices. For example, these electronic devices can include a networking subsystem with a cellular network interface (UMTS, LTE, etc.), a wireless local area network interface (e.g., a wireless network such as described in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard (which is sometimes referred to as ‘Wi-Fi®’) or Bluetooth® from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Wash.), and/or another type of wireless interface. In order to save power, a networking subsystem in an electronic device may transition to a power-saving mode such as a sleep mode. For example, a networking subsystem communicating messages using Bluetooth may transition to a sniff mode. During the sniff mode, the networking subsystem may periodically transition to a normal mode to receive an incoming message from another electronic device and to transmit an outgoing message in response using reserved slots. Then, the networking subsystem may revert to a sleep mode until the next predefined time (or anchor point) when another incoming message is to be received. While the sniff mode maintains communication between the electronic devices and reduces power consumption, there is a fixed time interval (or “sniff interval”) between the anchor points. This fixed sniff interval can cause a noticeable delay or latency for some applications. In addition, the fixed sniff interval can consume communication capacity even when an electronic device is inactive or does not have any data to communicate with another electronic device. If multiple electronic devices communicate concurrently using Bluetooth, the reduced communication capacity can degrade the communication performance. Consequently, the use of the sniff mode may sometimes degrade the user's experience.

Invention Disclosure:
An interface circuit in a computing device may communicate with user-interface devices using shared slots during time intervals. In particular, the computing device may transmit outgoing messages to the user-interface devices at a first predefined time during sequential time intervals when the user-interface devices transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode. In response, the computing device may receive incoming messages from one or more of the user-interface devices at a second predefined time following the first predefined time during the sequential time intervals. Then, the computing device may transmit a multicast message to the user-interface devices at a third predefined time during the sequential time intervals. In response to the given multicast message, one of the user-interface devices may communicate data to the computing device. Note that, in some instances, a multicast time slot may instead be used to communicate data to one of the user-interface devices.

[Assistant]
1. A computing device, comprising:
an antenna;
an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, which, during operation, communicates with user-interface devices via a link using a communication protocol, wherein, during operation, the interface circuit:
transmits outgoing messages to the user-interface devices at a first predefined time during sequential time intervals when the user-interface devices transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode, wherein a given outgoing message at the first predefined time during a given sequential time interval is addressed to a specific user-interface device;
receives incoming messages from the user-interface devices at a second predefined time following the first predefined time during the sequential time intervals, wherein a given incoming message is received at the second predefined time during the given sequential time interval from the specific user-interface device;
transmits, when the given incoming message excludes information specifying a user-interface event, multicast messages to the user-interface devices at a third predefined time following the second predefined time during the sequential time intervals.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:
during operation, the interface circuit transmits, when the given incoming message includes the information specifying the user-interface event, a reply message to the specific user-interface device at the third predefined time during the given sequential time interval, wherein the specific user-interface device waits in the normal mode for the reply message until at most a subsequent sequential time interval; and
the reply message includes feedback based on the information specifying the user-interface event that is presented to a user by the specific user-interface device.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the specific user-interface device waits in the normal mode to receive the reply message based on one of: a type of a user-interface component of the specific user-interface device; and a type of the user-interface event.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the communication protocol includes Bluetooth and the sequential time intervals include sniff intervals.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, the interface circuit receives, in response to one of the multicast messages, an incoming message from one of the user-interface devices at a fourth predefined time after the third predefined time in one of the sequential time intervals.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein, during operation, when the incoming message includes data, the interface circuit transmits an acknowledgment message to the one of the user-interface devices at one of the first predefined time and a third predefined time in a subsequent time interval after the one of the sequential time intervals.

7. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the incoming message encompasses more than one time slot in the one of the sequential time intervals.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, when a collision occurs between a first incoming message and a second incoming message, the interface circuit sequentially polls the user-interface devices to receive the first incoming message and the second incoming message without a subsequent collision.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, when a number of collisions exceeds a threshold value, the interface circuit transmits the outgoing messages at predefined times during each of the sequential time intervals and discontinues transmitting the multicast messages.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, when the interface circuit has data for one of the user-interface devices, the interface circuit transmits the data using a first occurrence of one of: an outgoing message at the first predefined time during one of the sequential time intervals addressed to the one of the user-interface devices; and one of the multicast messages.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, the interface circuit communicates to the user-interface devices an adaptive frequency-hopping schedule and a future start time when the adaptive frequency-hopping schedule is used, so that the user-interface devices listen to correct frequencies during transmission of the multicast messages.

12. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, the interface circuit transmits second outgoing messages to a second user-interface device at a fifth predefined time following a fourth predefined time during each of the sequential time intervals.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, the interface circuit transmits second multicast messages to the user-interface devices at a fifth predefined time following a fourth predefined time during each of the sequential time intervals.

14. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit includes:
a processor; and
a memory that stores an embedded operating system, wherein, during operation the processor executes the embedded operating system and performs the operations of: transmitting the outgoing messages, receiving the incoming messages, and conditionally transmitting the multicast messages.

15. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to communicate with user-interface devices via a link using a communication protocol, the computer-program mechanism including:
instructions for transmitting, via an interface circuit, outgoing messages to the user-interface devices at a first predefined time during sequential time intervals when the user-interface devices transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode, wherein a given outgoing message at the first predefined time during a given sequential time interval is addressed to a specific user-interface device;
instructions for receiving incoming messages from the user-interface devices at a second predefined time following the first predefined time during the sequential time intervals, wherein a given incoming message is received at the second predefined time during the given sequential time interval from the specific user-interface device; and
instructions for transmitting, when the given incoming message excludes information specifying a user-interface event, a multicast message to the user-interface devices at a third predefined time following the second predefined time during the sequential time intervals.

16. An interface-circuit-based method for communicating with user-interface devices via a link using a communication protocol, wherein the method comprises an interface circuit of a computing device:
transmitting outgoing messages to the user-interface devices at a first predefined time during sequential time intervals when the user-interface devices transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode, wherein a given outgoing message at the first predefined time during a given sequential time interval is addressed to a specific user-interface device;
receiving incoming messages from the user-interface devices at a second predefined time following the first predefined time during the sequential time intervals, wherein a given incoming message is received at the second predefined time during the given sequential time interval from the specific user-interface device; and
transmitting, when the given incoming message excludes information specifying a user-interface event, a multicast message to the user-interface devices at a third predefined time following the second predefined time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the interface circuit transmitting, when the given incoming message includes information specifying the user-interface event, a reply message to the specific user-interface device at the third predefined time during the given sequential time interval, wherein the specific user-interface device waits in the normal mode for the reply message until at most a subsequent sequential time interval.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the specific user-interface device waits in the normal mode to receive the reply message based on one of: a type of a user-interface component of the specific user-interface device; and a type of the user-interface event.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the interface circuit receiving, in response to one of the multicast messages, an incoming message from one of the user-interface devices at a fourth predefined time after the third predefined time in one of the sequential time intervals.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the interface circuit, when a collision occurs between a first incoming message and a second incoming message, sequentially polling the user-interface devices to receive the first incoming message and the second incoming message without a subsequent collision.


[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: Trailer Component Holder And Assembly

Technical Field and Background:
Various trailers, such as, by way of non-limiting example, flat-bed trailers, utility trailers, travel trailers, are typically coupled via a trailer tongue to a towing hitch associated with a towing vehicle. The towing hitch may include a ball hitch that is received in a ball receiver associated with the trailer tongue. Additionally, the trailer tongue may include one or more secondary connecting components, such as, by way of non-limiting example, trailer chains and/or an electrical plug. While the trailer is being towed, the secondary connecting components may couple and/or connect the trailer to a portion of the towing hitch. By way of non-limiting example, an attachment portion of each of the one or more trailer chains may be received by a portion of a towing hitch. The attachment portion may be a hook or a clasp that is configured to be received by an aperture disposed on the portion of the towing hitch. The one or more trailer chains may act as a safety feature of the trailer. The one or more trailer chains may act to secure the trailer to the towing vehicle if the ball hitch is dislodged from the ball receiver. The towing vehicle may include a wiring harness. The wiring harness may be configured to receive an electrical plug associated with the trailer. The wiring harness and the electrical plug may cooperatively operate to synchronize various lights on the towing vehicle with various lights on the trailer. For example, the wiring harness and electrical plug may cooperate to synchronize turn indicator lights and break lights on the towing vehicle with turn indicator lights and break lights on the trailer. When the secondary connecting components of the trailer are not in use, the secondary connecting components may drag or lay on the ground. For example, one or more trailer chains may drag on the ground when the trailer is being towed and the one or more trailer chains are not coupled to the towing vehicle. Additionally, the one or more trailer chains may lay on the ground when the trailer is not being towed. Similarly, the electrical plug may drag on the ground when the trailer is being towed and the electrical plug is not connected to the wiring harness and/or lay on the ground when the trailer is not being towed. The secondary connecting components may become damaged as a result of exposure to dirt, moisture, or friction from laying on the ground and/or being dragged on the ground. Additionally, the secondary connecting components may have to be lifted off of the ground in order to couple and/or connect them to the towing vehicle. Accordingly, a system for storing the secondary connecting components while the secondary connecting components are not in use may be desirable.

Invention Disclosure:
A holder and system for holding or retaining trailer components, such as trailer chains and/or electrical components, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a holder includes a first portion and a second portion configured for connection to the first portion. In an embodiment, the holder comprises first and second portion that are configured to form an opening that encircles a portion, such as a shaft, of a trailer lift. An embodiment of a system for holding or retaining trailer components may include trailer lift and a holder portion that extends outwardly from a portion of the trailer lift.

[Assistant]
1. A holder for holding or retaining trailer components, the holder comprising:
a first portion configured to receive at least a portion of at least one secondary connecting component of a trailer;
a second portion configured to engage at least a portion of the first portion; and
a plurality of connectors configured to connect the second portion to the first portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to form an aperture comprising at least one radiused portion disposed on one of a rear side of the first portion and a side of the second portion that faces the rear side of the first portion, the aperture being configured to substantially surround a lift mechanism shaft;
wherein the first portion is substantially planar.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein each of the connectors are configured to extend from one of the first portion and second portion and into the other of the first portion and the second portion.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary connecting component of said trailer includes a trailer chain.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a polymer material.

5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of recesses or holes, each recess or hole configured to receive a respective secondary connecting component of the at least one secondary connecting component; and the first portion includes a cutaway portion configured to receive a portion of an electrical plug.

6. A system for holding or retaining trailer components, the system comprising:
a trailer lift for a trailer; and
the holding portion of claim 1.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the holding portion is formed as a unitary component of the trailer lift.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the holding portion is connected to a portion of the trailer lift.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the holding portion is welded to a portion of the trailer lift.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the holding portion includes a polymer material.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one secondary connecting component of said trailer includes a trailer chain.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the holding portion includes a cutaway portion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cutaway portion is configured to receive a portion of an electrical plug.

14. A holder for holding or retaining trailer components, the holder comprising:
a first portion configured to receive at least a portion of a first secondary connecting component of a trailer;
a second portion configured to engage at least a portion of the first portion; and
a plurality of connectors configured to connect the second portion to the first portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to form an aperture comprising at least one radiused portion disposed on one of a rear side of the first portion and a side of the second portion that faces the rear side of the first portion, the aperture being configured to substantially surround a lift mechanism shaft;
wherein the first portion includes a cutaway portion that is configured to receive a second secondary connecting component of said trailer and the second secondary connecting component includes an electrical plug associated with said trailer.

15. The holder of claim 14, wherein the cutaway portion is disposed on a front side of the first portion, wherein the cutaway portion extends to an edge of the first portion.

16. A holder for holding or retaining trailer components, the holder comprising:
a first portion configured to receive at least a portion of at least one secondary connecting component of a trailer;
a second portion configured to engage at least a portion of the first portion; and
a plurality of connectors configured to connect the second portion to the first portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to form an aperture comprising at least one radiused portion disposed on one of a rear side of the first portion and a side of the second portion that faces the rear side of the first portion, the aperture being configured to substantially surround a lift mechanism shaft;
wherein the first portion includes a plurality of holes each configured to receive a secondary connecting component of the at least one secondary connecting component, and the plurality of holes includes at least three holes.

17. The holder of claim 16, wherein the plurality of holes are disposed on a top side of the first portion a predetermined distance away from a front side of the first portion.

18. A holder for holding or retaining trailer components, the holder comprising:
a first portion configured to receive at least a portion of at least one secondary connecting component of a trailer;
a second portion configured to engage at least a portion of the first portion;
a plurality of connectors configured to connect the second portion to the first portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to form an aperture comprising at least one radiused portion disposed on one of a rear side of the first portion and a side of the second portion that faces the rear side of the first portion, the aperture being configured to substantially surround a lift mechanism shaft; and
a cutaway portion disposed on the first portion, wherein the cutaway portion is configured to receive an electrical plug associated with the trailer, and wherein the cutaway portion includes a receiving portion disposed on a front side of the first portion and an electrical plug retaining portion disposed adjacent to the receiving portion, the electrical plug retaining portion being configured to retain the electrical plug within the cutaway portion.

19. The holder of claim 18, wherein the electrical plug retaining portion comprises an L-shaped recess disposed adjacent to the receiving portion.

20. The holder of claim 18, wherein the electrical plug retaining portion comprises at least a partial circle having a diameter that is slightly larger than a diameter of a portion of the electrical plug.


[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: Dynamic Means For Correcting For Load Imbalance And Harmonic Distortion

Technical Field and Background:
In a typical power line capacitor switching system application, electrical parameters of the power drawn is measured using integrated circuits, the parameter also indicating the reactive power by a load and then communicating via a switching device to a capacitor bank which thereby attempts to match the load of a power line at an designated signal value or by calculated measured factor ratio. Traditionally electronic switches attempt to switch high-energy loads at the voltage zero point crossing meaning where the line voltage crosses through the neutral line wherein the voltage equals zero. The state of the art today and for the past several decades has been to use switch circuits that require a certain amount of current to bias their base and this current is typically induce by the line voltage. Consequently, it is impossible to turn the switch on exactly at the zero crossing of the line voltage. Currently, there are no effective means or methods for correcting for imbalance or harmonic distortion within industrial and commercial settings. The current state of the art calculates a signal value of reactive power drawn by the load or calculated from a ratio of an active power value and converted to presumed power value. Under these two methods there is a problem to overcome. In the case of a 208, 3 phase AC line, the peak voltage of the line will be approximately 300 volts. The minimum voltage of the line will be approximately 300 volts and any voltage undischarged from the capacitor will be added to the line voltage and consequently the switching voltage will be as much as two times that of the line voltage. Under these applications both switches and capacitors are damaged and frequent replacements are the common practice. Currently there are no high energy power line capacitor switching systems that match the voltage of the capacitor to the line voltage at the time the switch contact is made, how the capacitor can be discharged rapidly so that it can to switched on rapidly, or that guarantees that the capacitor is kept in its discharge mode in the event of a power loss. The ever-increasing demand for electrical energy has triggered a search for greater efforts to attain higher efficiency in every aspect of this industry. The costs for generating as well as for electricity have risen as demand has increased. Many efforts to increase efficiency, reduce consumption, and mitigate delivery costs have been developed and implemented to this end. Most importantly, the state of the current art is focused on addressing power factor correction or in common parlance, reducing KVAR. Our invention is focused on correcting for load imbalance and harmonic distortion commonly known as KW. Thus there is a need in the art for a novel, dynamic capacitor switching system to correct for load imbalance and harmonic distortion. The present invention describes a novel and dramatically more efficient point to locate and implement the switching circuit. This current invention teaches that the optimum timing of the switching circuit is in the second quadrant of the Alternate Power line circle.

Invention Disclosure:
A method and apparatus are directed to a dynamic means for correcting imbalance and harmonic distortion in an electrical system. In one embodiment, the device includes an imbalance and harmonics measurement module configured to measure power parameters for determining imbalance and harmonics within the electrical three-phase system. Within this system a series of capacitors are configured to respond to measured demands reported and designated to correct for imbalance and harmonics distortion. The device is networked among various source load controllers are responsible for designating master and slave relationships within the closed system.

[Assistant]
1. An apparatus for dynamically correcting load imbalance in a three-phase electrical system, the three-phase electrical system having three supply leads and a neutral lead, there being supply voltages present between adjacent supply leads and supply currents on each of the supply leads; there existing a phase relationship between each supply voltage and each supply current, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor adapted to sense current on the neutral lead;
phase controllers connected between each pair of adjacent supply leads adapted to control the phase relationship between voltage between the supply leads and current on the supply leads, the phase controllers able to push the phase relationship into a lead or lag phase relationship;
a processor executing a stored program adapted to read the sensor and determine current on the neutral lead;
the processor connected to, and controlling, the phase controllers in order to push some of the phase controllers into a lead phase relationship;
the processor adjusting the lead relationship on some of the supply leads to cause the neutral current to go to zero.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the phase controllers contain banks of capacitors.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein some of the capacitors are dynamically switched in and out of service.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the capacitors are switched in and out of service at a point along the AC waveform between 90 degrees and 180 degrees in time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is a micro-controller.

6. An apparatus for dynamically correcting load imbalance in a three-phase electrical system, the three-phase electrical system having three supply leads and a neutral lead, there being supply voltages present between adjacent supply leads and supply currents on each of the supply leads; there existing a phase relationship between each supply voltage and each supply current, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor adapted to sense current on the neutral lead;
phase controllers connected between each pair of adjacent supply leads adapted to control the phase relationship between voltage between the supply leads and current on the supply leads, the phase controllers able to push the phase relationship into a lead or lag phase relationship;
a processor executing a stored program adapted to read the sensor and determine current on the neutral lead;
the processor connected to, and controlling, the phase controllers in change the phase relationship between supply lead voltage and current on each pair of supply leads;
the processor adjusting the phase relationship on some of the supply leads to cause the neutral current to go to zero.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the phase controllers contain banks of capacitors.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein some of the capacitors are dynamically switched in and out of service.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the capacitors are switched in and out of service at a point along the AC waveform between 90 degrees and 180 degrees in time.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the processor is a micro-controller.


[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: User Apparatus And Area Information Notification Method

Technical Field and Background:
In recent years, technology has been proposed for providing a user apparatus with information that corresponds to the area in which the user apparatus exists (e.g., advertising information from stores that exist in the area), and technology has been proposed for controlling operations of the user apparatus in accordance with the area in which the user apparatus exists. The area that the user apparatus is located in is specified based on GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning information and information regarding the base station with which the user apparatus has a wireless connection, for example.

Invention Disclosure:
A user apparatus includes processing modules that execute processing using basic area information, and an area information supply module that supplies basic area information to the processing modules. The area information supply module includes an event detection unit that detects an event, an area information acquisition unit that acquires basic area information in accordance with an event being detected, and an area information notification unit that notifies the processing modules of the basic area information. The area information acquisition unit acquires detailed area information in accordance with a request signal being received. The area information notification unit notifies a processing module of the detailed area information.

[Assistant]
1. A user apparatus comprising:
a plurality of processing modules that each execute processing using basic area information that indicates information regarding a residing cell in which the user apparatus resides; and
an area information supply module that supplies the basic area information to the plurality of processing modules,
wherein the area information supply module comprises
an event detection unit that detects an event that occurs in the user apparatus,
an area information acquisition unit that acquires the basic area information in accordance with the event being detected by the event detection unit, and
an area information notification unit that notifies each of the plurality of processing modules of the basic area information acquired by the area information acquisition unit,
at least one of the processing modules comprises
an information requesting unit that transmits a request signal for requesting the area information supply module to supply detailed area information that includes information different from the basic area information,
the area information acquisition unit acquires the detailed area information regarding the residing cell in accordance with the request signal being received from the information requesting unit, and
the area information notification unit notifies at least one of the processing modules of the detailed area information acquired by the area information acquisition unit,
wherein in the at least one processing module, determining whether or not the request signal for requesting the detailed area information is to be transmitted based on the basic area information received from the area information supply module.

2. The user apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information requesting unit determines whether or not the request signal for requesting the detailed area information is to be transmitted based on the basic area information received from the area information notification unit.

3. The user apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area information notification unit performs notification of the detailed area information acquired by the area information acquisition unit to only the processing module that comprises the information requesting unit that transmitted the request signal.

4. The user apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area information notification unit performs notification of the detailed area information acquired by the area information acquisition unit to a plurality of processing modules that includes the processing module that comprises the information requesting unit that transmitted the request signal.

5. The user apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the basic area information includes a cell identifier that uniquely identifies the residing cell and a location characteristic of the residing cell, and
the detailed area information includes the cell identifier and information regarding a landmark that exists in the residing cell.

6. The user apparatus according to claim 2, wherein,
in a case where processing in the at least one processing module requires the detailed area information in addition to the basic area information for the processing to be executed, the information requesting unit determines that the detailed area information is to be requested, and transmits the request signal for requesting the detailed area information to the area information supply module,
whereas in a case where processing in the at least one processing module does not require the detailed area information for the processing to be executed, the information requesting unit determines that there is no need to request the detailed area information.

7. An area information notification method in a wireless communication system that comprises a plurality of processing modules that each execute processing using basic area information that indicates information regarding a residing cell in which a user apparatus resides, and an area information supply module that supplies the basic area information to the plurality of processing modules, the area information notification method comprising:
in the area information supply module, detecting an event that occurs in the user apparatus;
in the area information supply module, acquiring the basic area information in accordance with the event being detected;
in the area information supply module, notifying each of the plurality of processing modules of the acquired basic area information;
in at least one of the processing modules, transmitting a request signal for requesting the area information supply module to supply detailed area information that includes information different from the basic area information;
in the area information supply module, acquiring the detailed area information regarding the residing cell in accordance with the request signal being received from the processing module; and
in the area information supply module, notifying at least one of the processing modules of the acquired detailed area information,
wherein in the at least one processing module, determining whether or not the request signal for requesting the detailed area information is to be transmitted based on the basic area information received from the area information supply module.

8. The area information notification method according to claim 7, wherein in the at least one processing module,
in a case where processing in the at least one processing module requires the detailed area information in addition to the basic area information for the processing to be executed, determining that the detailed area information is to be requested, and transmitting the request signal for requesting the detailed area information to the area information supply module,
whereas in a case where processing in the at least one processing module does not require the detailed area information for the processing to be executed, determining that there is no need to request the detailed area information.


[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: Device For Dissipating Heat From At Least One Electronic Component

Technical Field and Background:
The present invention relates to an assembly for cooling at least one electronic component disposed on a printed circuit board in accordance with the type defined in greater detail in the preamble of claim 1 . By way of example, a device for cooling an electronic device and an associated production method are known from DE 10 2013 204 029 A1. The cooling device is intended for a control device, which is disposed in a housing and comprises an electronic circuit disposed on a printed circuit board, having an element that produces a lossy line, wherein a contact pressure for establishing mechanical and thermal contact with the printed circuit board is provided on the housing. The contact pressure is disposed adjacent to the element producing a lossy line. Tensions arise due to the different heights and tolerances of the electrical components in the circuitry, and because of bends in the printed circuit board, or carrier plate, respectively, which lead to the cooling surfaces of the components or printed circuit board not lying, or lying with different pressures, against the cooling device. As a result of the high working temperatures, the poorly cooled elements reduce the lifetime of the electronic components.

Invention Disclosure:
The current embodiments provide an assembly for cooling a printed circuit board with at least one electronic component disposed on a first surface of the printed circuit board. The assembly may have a housing with first and second elastic elements and a cooling element configured to cool the at least one electronic component. The printed circuit board may be held between the first and second elastic elements in the housing. The assembly may further have at least one cooling surface region protruding from the cooling element and facing toward a second surface facing opposite the first surface of the printed circuit board in a region opposite of the electronic component.

[Assistant]
1. An assembly for cooling a printed circuit board comprising at least one electronic component disposed on a first surface of the printed circuit board, the assembly comprising:
a housing having first and second elastic elements and a cooling element configured to cool the at least one electronic component, wherein the printed circuit board is held between the first and second elastic elements in the housing, and wherein the housing forms an interior opening beneath the circuit board; and
at least one cooling surface region protruding from the cooling element and into the interior opening positioned for cooling the at least one electric component, the at least one cooling surface region facing toward a second surface facing opposite the first surface of the printed circuit board in a region opposite of the electronic component,
wherein the second elastic element is substantially formed as an elastic thermally conductive film positioned between the at least one cooling surface region and the second surface of the printed circuit board.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing forms an interior opening beneath the circuit board, and wherein the second elastic element substantially fills the interior opening.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elastic thermally conductive film is made from an electrically insulating material.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic element is coupled to a housing frame element, and wherein the first elastic element is configured to be pressed against the first surface of the printed circuit board.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling surface region protrudes into an interior opening of the housing, and wherein the cooling element forms at least a portion of an undersurface of the housing.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is provided in a power electronics system of a vehicle transmission.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, comprising at least two cooling surface regions protruding from the cooling element and facing toward the second surface of the printed circuit board.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling surface region is formed as a portion of the cooling element.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic element and/or the second elastic element are configured to provide a uniform pressure on the printed circuit board.

10. An assembly for cooling a printed circuit board comprising an electronic component, the assembly comprising:
a housing having a frame element and a cooling element coupled to the frame element to define an interior opening configured to at least partially receive the printed circuit board; and
an elastic element coupled to the frame element and configured to press against a first outer surface of the printed circuit board,
wherein the cooling element includes a first cooling surface region protruding into the interior opening and toward the elastic element, the first cooling surface region configured to transfer heat from the printed circuit board, and the first cooling surface region being integral with the remainder of the cooling element,
the assembly further comprising an elastic thermally conductive film disposed on the first cooling surface region and configured to contact a second outer surface of the printed circuit board, the second outer surface facing opposite the first outer surface.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastic thermally conductive film is made from an electrically insulative material.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the cooling element at least partially forms an undersurface of the housing.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the printed circuit board forms at least a portion of a power electronics system for a vehicle transmission.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first cooling surface region is configured to face a second outer surface of the printed circuit board, the second outer surface facing opposite the first outer surface.

15. The assembly of claim 10, the cooling element further comprising a second cooling surface region protruding into the interior opening, the second cooling surface region configured to transfer heat from the printed circuit board.

16. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastic element comprises an electrically insulative material.

17. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastic element substantially fills the interior opening such that the elastic element provides a uniform pressure on the printed circuit board.

18. A method for cooling a printed circuit board, the method comprising:
placing a printed circuit board within an interior opening of a cooling element, wherein at least one cooling surface region protrudes into the interior opening towards an undersurface of the printed circuit board; and
closing the interior opening with a frame element such that an elastic element extending from the frame element contacts an upper surface of the circuit board and such that the elastic element substantially fills the interior opening,
wherein an elastic thermally conductive film is disposed on the cooling surface region and contacts the undersurface of the printed circuit board at least when the interior space is closed.