Author: claimsbot

1. A method, comprising:
operating a gas turbine engine including a variable geometry mechanism with a number of vanes, the variable geometry mechanism operating to vary working fluid flow area between the vanes over a range from a first extreme to a second extreme, one of the first extreme and the second extreme defining a greater flow area than another of the first extreme and the second extreme;
within the range, selecting a desired state of the variable geometry mechanism different than a current state of the variable geometry mechanism to provide a desired flow area closer to the first extreme than the current state; and
transitioning the variable geometry mechanism from the current state to the desired state in response to said selecting by adjusting the variable geometry mechanism from the current state to an interim state with a corresponding flow area closer to the first extreme than the desired state, and subsequently adjusting the variable geometry mechanism from the interim state to the desired state to regulate hysteresis of the variable geometry mechanism.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a compressor and the compressor includes the variable geometry mechanism.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a first spool comprising a first compressor driven by a first turbine and a second spool comprising a second compressor driven by a second turbine, and the first compressor includes the variable geometry mechanism.
4. The method of claim 3, which includes:
selecting a rotational speed threshold of the second spool relative to an operating speed limit of the second spool; and
performing the adjusting only if the second spool is rotating above the speed threshold.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first extreme has the greater flow area and in which adjustment of the variable geometry mechanism from the interim state to the desired state corresponds to decreasing the flow area.
6. The method of claim 1, which includes changing the variable geometry mechanism from the desired state to a different state with a lesser flow area than the desired state.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable geometry mechanism has a mechanical hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing the flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing the flow area to reach the desired state.
8. A method, comprising:
operating a gas turbine engine including a compressor with a variable geometry mechanism, the variable geometry mechanism including a number of vanes, and operating to vary flow area for working fluid passing between the vanes;
selecting a desired state of the variable geometry mechanism different than a current state of the variable geometry mechanism to change the flow area; and
controlling hysteresis of the variable geometry mechanism by one of increasing or decreasing the flow area from the current state to an interim state followed by another of increasing or decreasing the flow area from the interim state to the desired state.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a first spool comprising the compressor driven by a turbine and a second spool comprising another compressor driven by another turbine, and performance of the controlling is conditioned on operating speed of the second spool relative to a selected threshold.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein:
the interim state corresponds to a greater flow area of the variable geometry mechanism than the desired state;
the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area of the variable geometry mechanism than the current state; and
the controlling increases the flow area from the current state to the interim state and decreases the flow area from the interim state to the desired state.
11. The method of claim 8, which includes pivoting each of the vanes about a corresponding pivot axis to change the flow area.
12. A method, comprising:
operating a gas turbine engine including a compressor, the compressor including a variable geometry mechanism that operates to vary an amount of flow area for a working fluid passing through the compressor;
selecting a desired state of the variable geometry mechanism different than a current state of the variable geometry mechanism to change the amount of flow area, the variable geometry mechanism having a hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing flow area to reach the desired state; and
determining the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area or lesser flow area relative to the current state to control operation of the variable geometry mechanism within the hysteresis band.
13. The method of claim 12, which includes adjusting the variable geometry mechanism from the current state to an interim state and from the interim state to the desired state to reach the desired state by the decreasing flow area.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the adjusting is conditioned on rotational speed of one or more members of the gas turbine engine relative to a threshold.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a first spool comprising the compressor driven by a turbine and a second spool comprising another compressor driven by another turbine, and performance of the controlling is conditioned on operating speed of the second spool relative to a selected threshold.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the variable geometry mechanism includes a number of vanes and further comprising adjusting the variable geometry mechanism to change from the current state to the desired state, which includes pivoting each of the vanes about a corresponding pivot axis to provide a flow area change.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein an aircraft is propelled by the gas turbine engine and includes a throttle control to adjust operation of the gas turbine engine, and the selecting is performed by adjusting the throttle control.
18. A system, comprising:
a gas turbine engine including a variable geometry mechanism with a number of vanes, the variable geometry mechanism being operable to vary working fluid flow area between the vanes over a range extending from a first extreme to a second extreme, one of the first extreme and the second extreme defining a greater flow area than another of the first extreme and the second extreme;
an input device coupled to the gas turbine engine that is operable to select a desired state of the variable geometry mechanism different than a current state of the variable geometry mechanism, the desired state being closer to the first extreme than the current state;
a controller responsive to the input device to generate one of more control signals to control hysteresis of the variable geometry mechanism; and
wherein the variable geometry mechanism is responsive to the control signals to change from the current state to an interim state closer to the first extreme than the desired state and subsequently to change from the interim state to the desired state.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the vanes are of a stator type.
20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for determining if the desired state corresponds to a flow area greater than or less than the current state.
21. The system of claim 18, wherein the input device includes an operator throttle control, and further comprising an aircraft, the gas turbine engine being operable to propel the aircraft and selectively adjust the variable geometry mechanism in response to the throttle control.
22. The system of claim 18, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a first compressor connected to rotate with a first turbine, the first compressor including the variable geometry mechanism.
23. The system of claim 18, wherein the variable geometry mechanism is structured with the first extreme corresponding to a maximum flow area, the second extreme corresponding to a minimum flow area, the interim state corresponding to a flow area greater than the desired state, and the desired state corresponding to a flow area greater than the current state.

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 catheter assembly for intracranial treatment of a patient comprising:
an outer flexible tube having a proximal end, a principal lumen extending therealong to the proximal end, and at least one radial aperture through the wall communicating with the lumen, the tube further defining a secondary lumen adjacent to the tube outer-wall surface and extending therealong to the proximal end, in cross-section the principal and secondary lumens are substantially circular, the size of the secondary lumen being smaller than the size of the principal lumen and the tube outer-wall surface is substantially smooth and has a major cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the surface of the principal lumen, a minor cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the surface of the secondary lumen, and transitional portions therebetween on either side, each transitional portion being other than concave; and
a depth electrode within the secondary lumen, extending along the length thereof and out the proximal end, the depth electrode having spaced electrical contacts exposed along the flexible tube,

thereby facilitating concurrent electrical sensing and fluid flow.
2. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
3. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of radial apertures along and around the outer tube.
4. The catheter assembly of claim 3 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
5. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer tube has a closed distal end.
6. The catheter assembly of claim 5 further comprising a rigid stylet received within the principal lumen during and for purposes of insertion into the patient’s brain, the stylet being removable after insertion of the catheter assembly.
7. The catheter assembly of claim 6 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
8. The catheter assembly of claim 6 wherein there are a plurality of radial apertures along and around the outer tube.
9. The catheter assembly of claim 8 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
10. The catheter assembly of claim 1 further including a luer fitting inserted into the principal lumen at the proximal end during treatment, the luer fitting being a connector for connecting the catheter assembly with a drainage system.
11. The catheter assembly of claim 10 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
12. The catheter assembly of claim 10 wherein there are a plurality of radial apertures along and around the outer tube.
13. The catheter assembly of claim 12 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
14. The catheter assembly of claim 2 wherein the electrical contacts along the depth electrode have diameters such that they extend at least partially into the windows, thereby facilitating their electrical contact with brain tissue.
15. The catheter assembly of claim 14 wherein the electrical contacts along the depth electrode are substantially flush with the outer-wall surface.
16. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein in cross-section each transitional portion is substantially linear.
17. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the largest cross-dimension of the outer flexible tube does not exceed about 5.0 millimeters and the smallest cross-dimension is not smaller than about 1.0 millimeter.
18. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the depth electrode within the secondary lumen is removable, thereby allowing fluid flow after electrical sensing is no longer intended.
19. A catheter assembly for intracranial treatment of a patient comprising:
an outer flexible tube having a proximal end, a fluid-flow lumen extending therealong to the proximal end, and at least one radial aperture through the wall communicating with the lumen, the tube further defining a channel adjacent to the tube wall and extending therealong to the proximal end, in cross-section the fluid-flow lumen and channel are substantially circular, the size of the channel being smaller than the size of the fluid-flow lumen and the tube outer-wall surface is substantially smooth and has a major cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the surface of the fluid-flow lumen, a minor cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the surface of the channel, and transitional portions therebetween on either side, each transitional portion being other than concave; and
a depth electrode within the channel, extending along the length thereof and out the proximal end, the depth electrode having spaced electrical contacts exposed along the flexible tube.
20. The catheter assembly of claim 19 wherein the outer tube includes windows therethrough aligned with the electrical contacts of the depth electrode.
21. The catheter assembly of claim 19 wherein there are a plurality of radial apertures along and around the outer tube.
22. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the depth electrode includes a tube of a polyurethane material having a Shore A hardness of at least about 50.
23. The catheter assembly of claim 22 wherein the polyurethane material has a Shore A hardness of 55.
24. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer flexible tube is an integral piece of medical-grade elastomeric tube having a Shore A hardness of at least about 80.
25. The catheter assembly of claim 24 wherein the polyurethane material has a Shore A hardness of 83.
26. The catheter assembly of claim 24 wherein the depth electrode includes a tube of a polyurethane material having a Shore A hardness of at least about 50.
27. A method for intracranial treatment of a patient comprising:
providing a catheter assembly including (a) an outer flexible tube having a proximal end, a principal lumen extending therealong to the proximal end, and at least one radial aperture through the wall communicating with the lumen, the tube further defining a secondary lumen adjacent to the tube outer-wall surface and extending therealong to the proximal end, in cross-section the principal and secondary lumens are substantially circular, the size of the secondary lumen being smaller than the size of the principal lumen and the tube outer-wall surface is substantially smooth and has a major cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the surface of the principal lumen, a minor cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the surface of the secondary lumen, and transitional portions therebetween on either side, each transitional portion being other than concave, and (b) a depth electrode within the secondary lumen, extending along the length thereof and out the proximal end, the depth electrode having spaced electrical contacts exposed along the flexible tube;
inserting the catheter assembly into the patient’s brain, thereby facilitating concurrent electrical sensing and fluid flow; and
withdrawing the depth electrode from the secondary lumen while the catheter assembly is within the patient’s brain thereby, allowing fluid flow after electrical sensing is no longer intended.

1. A method of providing Internet access to a client device connected to a gateway device that is configured to establish an Internet connection, the method comprising:
receiving, at the gateway device, at least one outgoing IP frame generated by a client device;
determining a type of the at least one outgoing IP frame using a gateway platform of the gateway device, wherein the gateway platform is configured to access a network application programming interface of the gateway device that is configured to create and control TCPUDP connections;
generating, using the gateway platform, at least one invocation in response to receiving the at least one outgoing IP frame; and
forwarding, using the gateway platform, the at least one invocation to particular, non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the header information comprises a TCP header, a SYN flag, a destination address and a destination port, and wherein the method comprises:
operating the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface, in response to receiving the at least one invocation, to create a new TCP connection between the gateway device and a destination device associated with the destination address and destination port.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the header information comprises a TCP header, a FIN flag, a destination address and a destination port, and wherein the method comprises:
operating the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface, in response to receiving the at least one invocation, to terminate a TCP connection between the gateway device and a destination device associated with the destination address and destination port.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the header information comprises a TCP header, a RST flag, a destination address and a destination port, and wherein the method comprises:
operating the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface, in response to receiving the at least one invocation, to terminate a TCP connection between the gateway device and a destination device associated with the destination address and destination port.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the header information comprises a TCP header, a TCP payload section, a destination address and a destination port, and wherein the method comprises:
operating the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface, in response to receiving the at least one invocation, to forward contents of a TCP payload section of the IP frame over an existing TCP connection.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the header information comprises a UDP header, a UDP payload section, a destination address and a destination port, and wherein the method comprises:
operating the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface, in response to receiving the at least one invocation, to forward contents of a UDP payload section of the IP frame to a destination specified by the destination address and destination port.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein:
the destination port is a DNS port;
the at least one outgoing IP frame includes a payload section comprising a DNS query; and
the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface are configured to complete an Internet domain name look-up.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway platform is implemented by instructions stored on at least one memory device in the gateway device.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device is a smartphone or a cellular phone.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the client device is a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or a portable electronic device.
11. A gateway device configured to provide Internet access to a client device seeking Internet access through the gateway device, the gateway device comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive at least one outgoing IP frame generated by the client device;
a network application programming interface configured to create and control TCP or UDP connections; and
a gateway platform configured to access the network application programming interface,
determine a type of the at least one outgoing IP frame by detecting header information of the at least one outgoing IP frame,
generate at least one invocation based on the header information, and
forward the at least one invocation to particular, non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface.
12. The gateway device of claim 11, wherein:
the header information comprises a TCP header, a SYN flag, a destination address and a destination port; and
in response to receiving the at least one invocation, the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface are configured to create a new TCP connection between the gateway device and a destination device associated with the destination address and destination port.
13. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to implement a method of providing Internet access to a client device connected to a gateway platform, the method comprising:
accessing, at the gateway platform, a network application programming interface configured to create and control TCP or UDP connections of a gateway device, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide Internet access to a client device seeking Internet access through the gateway device;
determining, by the gateway platform, a type of the at least one outgoing IP frame generated by the client device, by detecting header information of the at least one outgoing IP frame;
generating, by the gateway platform, at least one invocation based on the header information; and
forwarding, by the gateway platform, the at least one invocation to particular, non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface.
14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein:
the header information comprises a TCP header, a SYN flag, a destination address and a destination port; and
in response to receiving the at least one invocation, the non-privileged portions of the network application programming interface are configured to create a new TCP connection between the gateway device and a destination device associated with the destination address and destination port.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A device for changing the control timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a drive gear (2) adapted for direct connection to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and an impeller (3) adapted for direct connection to a camshaft of the internal combustion engine,
the drive gear (2) has a cavity (7) formed by a hollow cylindrical perimeter wall (4) and two side walls (5, 6) inside of which at least one hydraulic working chamber (9) is formed by at least two boundary walls (8), the impeller (3) has a wheel hub (10) with at least one vane (11) at a perimeter thereof that extends radially into the working chamber (9) of the drive gear (2) that divides the working chamber (9) into two respective hydraulic pressure chambers (12, 13) that counteract one another,
the pressure chambers (12, 13) are adapted to effect a pivoting motion or a fixing of the impeller (3) with respect to the drive gear (2), and thus of the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft, by selective or simultaneous application of pressure through a hydraulic pressure medium feed,
a pressure medium tap (16) lying at the axial side (14 or 15) of the wheel hub (10) of the impeller (3) facing toward or away from the camshaft and pressure medium channels (17, 18) located in both axial sides (14, 15) of the wheel hub (10) of the impeller (3) that form the pressure medium feed to and from the pressure chambers (12, 13),
the pressure medium tap (16) and the pressure medium channels (17, 18) are connected to one another through a pressure medium distributor (20) penetrating the impeller (3) along a longitudinal axis thereof and lying by means of a head (19) against the axial side (15 or 14) of the wheel hub (10) of the impeller (3) facing away from or toward the camshaft,
the pressure medium tap (16) and the pressure medium distributor (20) are adapted to be connected directly to the camshaft and are partially enclosed at the head (19) and the outer surface (21) by a respective coaxial penetration (22, 23) in the side walls (5, 6) of the drive gear (2),
wherein,
wear-resistant sealing media are used to seal a gap located between the head (19) of the pressure medium distributor (20) and the penetration (22) of the one side wall (5) of the drive gear (2) andor between the outer surface (21) of the pressure medium tap (16) and the penetration (23) of the other side wall (6) of the drive gear (2) against external pressure medium leakage.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing media is found as a slitted steel sealing ring (24, 25) or as a lamellar sealing ring that is located in a circular radial notch (26, 27) located in the head (19) of the pressure medium distributor (20) andor in the outer surface (21) of the pressure medium tap (16).
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing media is formed as a circular sealing washer (28, 29) located in a circular axial notch (30, 31) formed as a recess at the penetration (22, 23) of the side walls (5, 6) and at the head (19) of the pressure medium distributor (20) andor at the outer surface (21) of the pressure medium tap (16).