Author: claimsbot

1. A curtain coating method comprising:
discharging at least one coating liquid from a discharge opening of a slot type die;
forming a coating liquid film of the coating liquid freely falling; and
applying the coating liquid film to a support medium continuously running, with both right and left ends of the coating liquid film being held by a pair of edge guides,
wherein, during non-coating, a direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the discharge opening of the slot type die is kept in a horizontal direction or tilted from the horizontal direction in a direction distancing from the support medium.
2. The curtain coating method according to claim 1, wherein the \u201cduring non-coating\u201d is \u201cbefore the start of coating,\u201d \u201cduring temporary suspension of coating\u201d or \u201cat the end of coating.\u201d
3. The curtain coating method according to claim 1, wherein the slot type die is rotated, so that the direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the discharge opening of the slot type die is tilted at an angle of 0 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction in the direction distancing from the support medium.
4. The curtain coating method according to claim 1, wherein the slot type die is rotated integrally with or in synchronization with the edge guides, and the edge guides are moved from positions at which the edge guides are located during coating.
5. The curtain coating method according to claim 1, wherein, during non-coating, the slot type die is rotated independently of the edge guides, and the edge guides are moved from positions at which the edge guides are located during coating.
6. The curtain coating method according to claim 1, wherein when an amount of the coating liquid discharged from the slot type die is smaller than that in which the curtain film can be formed, the edge guides are moved from positions at which the edge guides are located during coating to positions other than a region where the coating liquid falls.
7. The curtain coating method according to claim 1, wherein the slot type die is moved in a direction of gravitational force in a state where the direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the discharge opening of the slot type die is kept in the horizontal direction or tilted from the horizontal direction in the direction distancing from the support medium.
8. A curtain coating device comprising:
a slot type die containing a discharge opening from which at least one coating liquid is discharged to form a coating liquid film of the coating liquid freely falling;
a pair of edge guides which hold both right and left ends of the coating liquid film to be applied to a support medium continuously running, and
a unit configured, during non-coating, to keep a direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the discharge opening of the slot type die in a horizontal direction or to tilt the direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the discharge opening of the slot type die from the horizontal direction in a direction distancing from the support medium.
9. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, wherein the \u201cduring non-coating\u201d is \u201cbefore the start of coating,\u201d \u201cduring temporary suspension of coating\u201d or \u201cat the end of coating.\u201d
10. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, wherein the direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the slot type die is 0 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction in the direction distancing from the support medium.
11. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, further comprising: a moving unit configured to move the edge guides from positions at which the edge guides are located during coating.
12. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, further comprising: a unit configured to move the slot type die in a direction of gravitational force in a state where the direction in which the coating liquid is to be discharged from the discharge opening of the slot type die is kept in the horizontal direction or tilted from the horizontal direction in the direction distancing from the support medium.
13. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, further comprising: a die cleaning and air bubble removal pan, wherein the die cleaning and air bubble removal pan is located during non-coating in the vicinity of the discharge opening of the slot type die.
14. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, further comprising: a liquid flowing-down guide plate, wherein the liquid flowing-down guide plate is located in the vicinity of a lip of the slot type die.
15. The curtain coating device according to claim 8, further comprising: a coating liquid anti-scattering member, wherein the coating liquid anti-scattering member is located during non-coating at a position facing the discharge opening of the slot type die.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal comprising an analog signal applied to the input of the multipath analog to digital converter, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter.
2. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 1 wherein the at least one measure and correction block is further operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output an additional correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the additional correction signal further altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter.
3. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal comprising an analog signal applied to the input of the multipath analog to digital converter and a digital signal applied to the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter.
4. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 3 wherein the at least one measure and correction block is further operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output an additional correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the additional correction signal further altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter.
5. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal controlling a weighting of addition of samples representing undelayed and delayed samples of the multipath analog to digital converter, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter.
6. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 5 wherein the at least one measure and correction block comprises an adaptive finite impulse response filter.
7. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 5 wherein the at least one measure and correction block is further operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output an additional correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the additional correction signal further altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter.
8. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the at least one measure and correction block further operable to apply the correction signal to the output of the multipath analog to digital converter before a gain correction signal is applied.
9. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 8 wherein the at least one measure and correction block is further operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output an additional correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the additional correction signal further altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter.
10. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the at least one measure and correction block further operable to apply the correction signal to the output of the multipath analog to digital converter after a timing correction signal is applied.
11. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 10 wherein the at least one measure and correction block is further operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output an additional correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the additional correction signal further altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter.
12. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the at least one measure and correction block further operable to apply the correction signal to the output of the multipath analog to digital converter after an offset correction signal is applied.
13. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 12 wherein the at least one measure and correction block is further operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output an additional correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the additional correction signal further altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter.
14. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal representing the mismatches in bandwidths of the at least two subconverters, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the at least one measure and correction block further operable to apply the correction signal to the output of the multipath analog to digital converter after a differential nonlinearity (DNL) correction signal is applied.
15. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the correction signal comprising an analog signal applied to the input of the multipath analog to digital converter and a digital signal applied to the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter.
16. A multipath analog to digital converter comprising:
at least two subconverters each operable to sample respective samples of an analog signal applied to the multipath analog to digital converter and to output a digital value representing the sample of the analog signal; and
at least one measure and correction block operable to determine differential nonlinearity (DNL) of the at least two subconverters and to output a correction signal to compensate for the DNL, the correction signal altering the operation of the multipath analog to digital converter to reduce error in the output of the multipath analog to digital converter, the at least one measure and correction block operable to determine the correction signal based on a preselected bit transition in samples of the multipath analog to digital converter and to selectively add the correction signal to samples of the multipath analog to digital converter based on a value of the preselected bit.
17. A multipath analog to digital converter according to claim 16 wherein the preselected bit comprises the most-significant bit.

1. A computer-implemented method of modeling one or more events using synthetic variables, the computer-implemented method comprising:
providing, at a processor, a language to represent a plurality of synthetic variables, wherein the language identifies one or more selection phrases;
creating, at the processor, the plurality of synthetic variables using the language, wherein each synthetic variable comprises a structured chain of one or more elements, wherein the structured chain acts as a map from input data to output data,
evaluating, at the processor, the plurality of synthetic variables, wherein each synthetic variable is evaluated to a single value; and
creating, at the processor, one or more models based on the evaluated plurality of synthetic variables.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a representation of the language comprises a selection phrase grammar.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the representation of the language comprises identifying aggregation operators.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables using the language further comprises evaluating a field element.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises evaluating a selector.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises evaluating a function.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises evaluating a variable.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each model of the one or more models comprises a Bayesian network model.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises using syntactic filters.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises data driven filtering.
11. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions configured to instruct the processor to:
provide a language to represent a plurality of synthetic variables, wherein the language identifies one or more selection phrases;
create the plurality of synthetic variables using the language, wherein each synthetic variable comprises a structured chain of one or more elements, wherein the structured chain acts as a map from input data to output data,
evaluate the plurality of synthetic variables, wherein each synthetic variable is evaluated to a single value; and
create one or more models based on the evaluated plurality of synthetic variables.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein a representation of the language comprises a selection phrase grammar.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the representation of the language comprises identifying aggregation operators.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions is further configured to instruct the processor to evaluate a field element.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions is further configured to instruct the processor to evaluate a selector.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the set of instructions is further configured to instruct the processor to evaluate a function.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions is further configured to instruct the processor to evaluate a variable.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein each model of the one or more models comprises a Bayesian network model.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions is further configured to instruct the processor to use syntactic filters.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions is further configured to instruct the processor to use data driven filtering.
21. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause to processor to model one or more events using synthetic variables, the instructions comprising:
providing a language to represent a plurality of synthetic variables, wherein the language identifies one or more selection phrases;
creating the plurality of synthetic variables using the language, wherein each synthetic variable comprises a structured chain of one or more elements, wherein the structured chain acts as a map from input data to output data,
evaluating the plurality of synthetic variables, wherein each synthetic variable is evaluated to a single value; and
creating one or more models based on the evaluated plurality of synthetic variables.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein a representation of the language comprises a selection phrase grammar.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the representation of the language comprises identifying aggregation operators.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables using the language further comprises evaluating a field element.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises evaluating a selector.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises evaluating a function.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises evaluating a variable.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein each model of the one or more models comprises a Bayesian network model.
29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises using syntactic filters.
30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the creating the plurality of synthetic variables further comprises data driven filtering.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A load balancing system comprising:
a transformer comprising a plurality of sensors integrated therewith; and
a control system in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to estimate or determine the state of health of the transformer in response to signals generated via the plurality of sensors and further configured to compare a load request received from one or more loads to the state of transformer health to determine if the transformer can support the load request, and further to acknowledge or agree to provide electrical power to meet the load request or request agreement from the one or more loads to modify the load request.
2. The load balancing system according to claim 1, further comprising a state estimator configured to determine the state of health based upon the signals generated via the plurality of sensors.
3. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the load request is communicated to the control system via at least one of a power line carrier (PLC) and a wireless carrier.
4. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is integrated with the transformer.
5. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is independent from the transformer.
6. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the transformer is a residential neighborhood transformer servicing a plurality of homes.
7. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the load request is generated by one or more plug-in electric vehicle charging systems.
8. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the load request is based upon one or more residential loads.
9. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises:
one or more memory units configured to store a state estimator, state of transformer health data, and sensor signal data;
one or more analogdigital converters configured to generate the sensor signal data in response to the sensor signals;
a plurality of inputoutput ports in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors; and
a processor configured to process the sensor signal data to generate the state of transformer health data.
10. The load balancing system according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution management system configured to balance a grid load based upon the state of transformer health.
11. The load balancing system according to claim 1, wherein the modified load request is selected from a disapproved load condition, and a modified load condition.
12. A load balancing system comprising:
a transformer comprising a plurality of sensors integrated therewith;
a communications and control system embedded within the transformer, the communications and control system in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to estimate or determine the state of health of the transformer based upon signals generated via the plurality of sensors and to compare a load request from one or more loads to the state of transformer health to determine if the transformer can support the load request, and further to acknowledge or agree to provide electrical power to meet the load request or request agreement from the one or more loads to modify the load request; and
a distribution management system configured to balance a grid load based upon the state of transformer health.
13. The load balancing system according to claim 12, further comprising a state estimator configured to determine the state of health based upon the signals generated via the plurality of sensors.
14. The load balancing system according to claim 12, wherein the distribution management system is further configured to balance the grid load based upon a load request approval status.
15. The load balancing system according to claim 14, wherein the load request approval status is selected from an approved load condition, a disapproved load condition, and a modified load condition.
16. The load balancing system according to claim 12, wherein the load request is generated by one or more plug-in electric vehicle charging systems.
17. The load balancing system according to claim 12, wherein the load request is based upon one or more residential loads.
18. The load balancing system according to claim 12, wherein the control system comprises:
one or more memory units configured to store a state estimator, state of transformer health data, and sensor signal data;
one or more analogdigital converters configured to generate the sensor signal data in response to the sensor signals;
a plurality of inputoutput ports in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors; and
a processor configured to process the sensor signal data to generate the state of transformer health data.
19. A method of transformer load balancing, the method comprising:
providing a transformer comprising a plurality of sensors integrated therewith;
providing a control system in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors;
estimating or determining the state of health of the transformer via the control system in response to signals received from the plurality of sensors;
comparing a load request received from one or more loads to the state of transformer health to determine if the transformer can support the load request; and
acknowledging or agreeing to provide electrical power to meet the load request or requesting agreement from the one or more loads to modify the load request based on the state of transformer health.
20. The method of transformer load balancing according to claim 19, further comprising generating the load request via one or more plug-in electric vehicle charging systems.