The invention provides an infrared-sensitive positive-working image forming material which provides excellent development latitude, image formability and image region strength, and in which decrease in development property is prevented even when a certain time has passed after pattern exposure until development treatment; an infrared-sensitive positive-working planographic printing plate precursor which is formed from the image forming material and has excellent image formability and image region printing durability; and a method for manufacturing a planographic printing plate using the planographic printing plate precursor. The image forming material includes; on a support, a lower layer containing a polymer having carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof, at least a part of the carboxylic acid groups forming a salt structure with a monovalent basic compound, and an infrared absorbing agent; and an upper layer whose solubility to aqueous alkaline solution is increased by heat, in this order.

Reconstructed picture quality for a video codec system may be improved by categorizing reconstructed pixels into different histogram bins with histogram segmentation and then applying different filters on different bins. Histogram segmentation may be performed by averagely dividing the histogram into M bins or adaptively dividing the histogram into N bins based on the histogram characteristics. Here M and N may be a predefined, fixed, non-negative integer value or an adaptively generated value at encoder side and may be sent to decoder through the coded bitstream.

Provided are video encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses. The video encoding method includes: encoding a video based on data units having a hierarchical structure; determining a context model used for entropy encoding a syntax element of a data unit based on at least one piece of additional information of the data units; and entropy encoding the syntax element by using the determined context model.

A multistage turbomachine is disclosed, comprising a casing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a plurality of stages arranged in the casing. A flow path extends from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the sequentially arranged stages. Each stage is comprised of a rotating impeller and an electric motor embedded in the casing and arranged for rotating the impeller at a controlled rotary speed. Each electric motor comprises a motor rotor, arranged on the impeller and integrally rotating therewith, and a motor stator stationarily arranged in the casing. Pairs of sequentially arranged impellers are configured for rotation in opposite directions.

A vehicle accessory power management assembly has a power device, an accessory device, a power transmitting device and a controller. The power transmitting device has an input part coupled to the power device, an output part coupled to the accessory device, and a speed ratio switching part switchable between a first operating state in which the input part and the output part rotate at a first speed ratio relative to one another and a second operating state in which the input part and the output part rotate at a second speed ratio relative to one another. The controller is configured to switch the speed ratio switching part between the first operating state and the second operating state in response determining whether the speed of output of the power device is above a pre-determined value or below a pre-determined value.

A system and method of reducing the net carbon dioxide footprint of an industrial process that generates power from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in which ambient air is admixed with up to 50% by volume of an effluent gas from the power generator of the industrial process, in order to substantially increase the CO2 concentration in the air prior to treatment. The treatment comprises adsorbing CO2 from the admixed ambient air utilizing a cooled, porous substrate-supported amine adsorbent, wherein the porous substrate initially contacts the mixed ambient air containing condensed water in its pores, which act as an intrinsic coolant with respect to the exothermic heat generated by the adsorption process. In addition, prior to regenerating the supported adsorbent, air pressure is substantially reduced in the sealed regeneration chamber and the low pressure chamber is placed in fluid connection with a higher pressure regeneration chamber containing steam and carbon dioxide, to preheat the sorbent to be regenerated and to quickly cool the regenerated sorbent prior to use for further CO2 adsorption.

A punching device includes a punching unit that punches a hole in a sheet of paper; a container that receives a chad of paper generated upon punching by the punching unit; a dispersing member that is provided within the container and that is configured to disperse the chad of paper; and a guiding member configured to guide the chad of paper that is generated upon punching by the punching unit and fallen into the container to the dispersing member.

A tool is provided for moving a first clamping or gripping member toward or away from a second facing clamping or gripping member, the tool having a double threaded drive shaft coupled to opposed threaded linkage driving members for causing the threaded linkage driving members to be driven toward or away from each other. As the threaded linkage driving members move closer, the resulting angle of the links becomes steeper, thus increasing the mechanical advantage of the clamping tool, enhancing clamping forces. A beneficial result is a clamping apparatus that requires less manual energy than a traditional clamp. Another beneficial result is provided if the same amount of energy is applied to the driveshaft as in a traditional clamp, the resulting clamping force is significantly higher. If the second clamping member is adjustable, it accommodates wide variations in thickness of an object positioned between the first and second clamping members.

A positioning device for a turnable table of a saw machine having a pivot shaft that pivotally connects a pair of clamping units. A pressing member with an attachment portion for attaching to a coupling unit may be formed on each clamping unit. By manipulating a trigger of the coupling unit, the pair of clamping units can be driven to rotate a pair of corresponding clench members for selectively clamping or unclamping a base of the saw machine. Thereby, the turnable table can be secured in place upon adjustment.

A sheet material punching device includes a plurality of punches and links, a driving mechanism having drive gears capable of transmitting a rotational driving force of an electric motor (driving source), and slide arms allowed to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of a frame, the slide arms making the punches reciprocate in a punching direction along with their own reciprocating motions by the intermediary of links. The slide arms respectively have cams capable of converting the rotational motion of the driving mechanism into the reciprocating motions of the slide arms, and auxiliary cams capable of moving the slide arms to predefined initial positions. The drive gears respectively have cam followers to be engaged with the cams, and auxiliary cam followers to be engaged with the auxiliary cams. The sheet material punching device return the slide arms to the initial positions without increasing a driving energy.

The invention relates to a metal-cutting machining process for a semi-finished product having a predetermined shape and at least one machining surface which has the steps: applying a protective foil having a predetermined elongation at break to the at least one machining surface with a predetermined adhesive force, placing a metal-cutting tool in a predetermined position above the machining surface, exerting a predetermined mechanical force in a predetermined direction for a predetermined length of time to the tool for carrying out a metal-cutting process on the semi-finished product and lifting the tool from the at least one machining surface after the predetermined length of time. In order to protect the semi-finished products from damage through the machining residues and at the same time not to impair the drilling performance, according to the invention through the adhesion an adhesive force is produced between the protective foil and the machining surface of substantially 10 N/25 mm and a protective foil is used which has an elongation at break of between 80 and 120%.

An adjustable riving knife assembly including a riving knife and a saw machine riving knife adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanism including a locating member and a locking unit. The locating member defines a track, and the riving knife has a riving knife body and a coupling portion inserted into the track. The locking unit includes an axle holder affixed to the locating member, a brake mounted on the axle holder, an operating member connected to the brake and a locking member to be driven by the brake. Rotation of the operating member causes the brake to move the locking member relative to the riving knife between a locking position, where the locking member engages the riving knife, and an unlocking or adjusting position, where the locking member is disengaged from the riving knife.

A sheet post-processing apparatus which is capable of shortening time wasted until actual start of punching and enhancing productivity. A drive unit causes a moving member which has a cam and reciprocates. A punching member is driven by a movement of the cam of the moving member and punches a sheet when the moving member moves forth and moves back. A determination unit determines a type of the sheet. A control unit controls, when a sheet to be punched is to be subjected to a punching process, the drive unit such that the moving member starts moving before conveyance of the sheet to be punched stops, and controls, when the sheet to be punched is to be subjected to the punching process, the drive unit such that timing with which the moving member starts moving is changed based on the determination by the determination unit.

The invention relates to a method or methods of operating an apparatus for treating material by cutting, soaking and/or washing of the material, wherein the apparatus comprises a receptacle, a discharge element with a vortex generator and a pump arranged to pump fluid and material from the receptacle towards the vortex generator, wherein the vortex generator and the pump in combination are adapted to generate a vortex in the form of a conic helix in the fluid extending into the receptacle.

Method for production of cellulose and hemicellulose fibers from lignocellulose biomass obtained from sugarcane leaves and buds by applying a process comprising the stages of: a) Diminishing the particle size of the lignocellulose biomass to a range between 3 and 15 mm, b) Subjecting the product obtained to treatment with one or more solvents and/or a mixture of specific catalysts, c) Carry out sudden decompression to an atmospheric pressure, d) Collecting the pretreated material in a cyclone, e) Optionally separating the liquid and solid fractions through washing and filterung f) Optionally, treating the solid fraction in a reactor with a mixture of ethanol and chlorine dioxide, d) Wash the product obtained to achieve cellulose efficiency above 50% and of lignin of 5 to 7%, fiber lengtht in a range to 1,5 to 2,7 mm, breaking length (km) of 7,0 -8,9, Burst index (kPam2/g) of 4,5-7,2 and Tear index (mNm2/g) of 8,2-8, The obtained high-resistance cellulose and hemicellulose is especially suitable for the paper production and polymer-type plastics.

Compositions and methods related to new wet strength resins are provided. By using functionally-symmetrical cross-linkers and mono-functional modifiers, and separating the steps of reacting a prepolymer with the cross-linkers from the reaction of intermediate cross-linked prepolymer with epichlorohydrin, new wet strength resin products are provided having improved properties.

A pneumatic radial tire in which a plurality of land portion rows 2 are formed by a plurality of main grooves that extend in the circumferential direction on a tread portion of a tire, and a thin groove 3 that extends in the tire circumferential direction is formed in at least one shoulder land portion row 2A that is positioned on the tread end among the plurality of land portion rows. A land portion 5 that is positioned between, the thin groove 3 and the tread end 4 is partitioned into a plurality of blocks 5a by a lug groove 6 that extends in the tire width direction and whose maximum groove depth is set deeper than the groove depth of the thin groove, and the groove depth of the lug groove continuously changes so as to become a maximum at an intermediate position between the thin groove and the tread end. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pneumatic radial tire that can achieve improved drainage performance.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. The toroidal structure is at least partially coated with an elastomer. One end portion of at least one spring is wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent a rim.

A belt structure for a two-wheeled vehicle made by means of strip-like segments or elements, each including parallel cords embedded in an elastomeric layer, sequentially laid along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support so as to form a reinforcing layer having a continuous circumferential extension around a geometric rotation axis of the toroidal support, wherein each strip-like element is laid in a laying trajectory defining, at each point, a laying angle; at each point of the laying trajectory a laying gap is formed between adjacent strip-like elements; the laying trajectory is formed starting from preselected laying angles on the shoulder and on the crown of the tire; the laying gap between adjacent strip-like elements varies along at least one length of said laying trajectory between crown and shoulder so as to cause variation of the laying angle and obtain the preselected angles on the shoulder and on the crown.

The present invention provides a rubber composition that improves in terms of the fuel economy of a rubber composition containing an isoprene-based rubber and also offers favorable durability and favorable processability or adhesion to steel cords, and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a bead apex, sidewall packing, base tread, or breaker cushion, including: a specific rubber component; a specific amount of a specific carbon black; a specific amount of sulfur; and a specific amount of a compound represented by formula (I) below. The present invention also relates to a rubber composition for a steel cord topping, strip adjacent to steel cords, or tie gum, including: a specific rubber component; a specific amount of a specific carbon black; a specific amount of an organic acid cobalt salt; and a specific amount of a compound represented by the formula (I).

A vehicle-carried air compressor device includes a case installed with an air compressor therein, a tire repairing container containing a liquid adhesive, and a flexible linking tube. An air inlet coupler of the tire repairing container is connected with an air outlet manifold of the air compressor. An end of the flexible linking tube is coupled to an adhesive outlet coupler of the tire repairing container, and the other end of the flexible linking tube is provided with a protection adapter for coupling to a tire nipple. Before the protection adapter is connected with the tire nipple, the other end of the flexible linking tube is closed by the protection adapter, so that the liquid adhesive in the tire repairing container will not shoot out suddenly because of improper handling.

A tire (10) having a tread (12) includes a plurality of laterally spaced, circumferentially extending continuous ribs (11) defining grooves (14). Each groove has oppositely facing sidewalls (20, 22) and a bottom surface (30). A first set of stone bumpers is provided with each stone bumper (18) projecting laterally from one of the sidewalls with an end (24) extending towards the other sidewall of the groove. A second set of stone bumpers is provided with each stone bumper (18') projecting from the other sidewall with an end (26) extending towards the one sidewall of the groove. Each stone bumper of the first and second sets of stone bumpers 1) is integral with the associated sidewall and with a portion of the bottom surface of the groove, and 2) includes a cutout (34) defining a surface that is spaced from and in opposing relation to the bottom surface of the groove.

A pneumatic tire for a commercial vehicle with a tread, wherein at least the part of the tread which comes into contact with the road contains a sulphur-vulcanized rubber mixture. The sulphur-vulcanized rubber mixture contains 90 to 50 phr (parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight, of all of the rubbers in the mixture) of natural rubber, 10 to 50 phr of at least one polybutadiene having a glass transition temperature Tg of −110 to −65° C. and 5 to 50 phr of at least one aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbon resin having a softening point (ring and ball to ASTM E 28) of 0 to 150° C., and a mean molecular weight Mn of less than 2000 g/mol and a polydispersity D=Mw/Mn of 1 to 5.

Side lug rows are provided at both side regions of a tread surface and are formed by a plurality of lugs defined by lug grooves opening to edges in the tread width direction, and a central block row aligned on the tire equator and formed by a plurality of blocks is disposed between positions at ¼ of the tread surface width from the tire equator. The tire has a directional tread pattern, with a designated rotation direction, formed by circumferential grooves and width direction grooves that define the blocks of the central block row and are narrow grooves with a narrower groove width than the lug grooves. The distance from the tire equator to the groove wall in each of the circumferential grooves defining the blocks is set to be larger at a leading edge of each block than at a trailing edge of each block.

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for creating, exporting, viewing and testing, and importing custom applications in a multitenant database environment. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to provide a vehicle for sharing applications across organizational boundaries. The ability to share applications across organizational boundaries can enable tenants in a multi-tenant database system, for example, to easily and efficiently import and export, and thus share, applications with other tenants in the multi-tenant environment.

The described technology is directed towards maintaining and using a version-based hierarchy of software resources (e.g., file system files) to return version-specific responses to clients. A client sends its version information with each data request, and gets back a response based upon that version. Version changes are made by maintaining the current version of each software code resource and overriding the current version with a previous version for clients as needed. The technology allows updates (e.g., for new devices and new software resource versions) to be supported by inserting resources into the resource hierarchy and moving resources therein based upon versioning. A system based on deltas is also contemplated, in which only parts of a file may be changed relative to a different version, instead of overriding the entire file.

The method for validating the status of a memory of a simulator of a cryptographic component able to save data generated by a cryptographic function, includes a step carried out in the simulator including a first execution of a first cryptographic function generating: a first status of the first memory, and a first result of the first command; a step carried out in a test bench including a second execution of a second simplified cryptographic function, with the first and the second functions carrying out the same operations generating: a second status of the memory, and a second result of the second command; a step of validating including comparisons: of the first status and of the second status and of the first result and of the second result.

User input including a social network notification symbol followed by a social network tag is detected in association with a social network user interface. The social network tag includes a text keyword that identifies a social network topic within the social network. A referential third-party social network user notification subset within the social network is defined as a subset of social network users within the social network that follow the social network topic. A referential third-party social network notification is published to the defined referential third-party social network user notification subset within the social network. The referential third-party social network notification includes the detected user input that includes the social network notification symbol followed by the social network tag.

A document history interface provides a visual document history. In particular, document history application provides for tracking, storing and presenting events occurring over a document lifecycle to provide a robust interface for visualizing and accessing the document's history. In aspects, an interactive document timeline with a scroll control is provided to roll back through the document history. The interactive document timeline includes visual indicators for events that occurred during the document lifecycle, including but not limited to authoring events, communication events, and document branching events. A play control is further provided with the interactive document timeline such that a time-lapse rendition of events occurring over the document history may be displayed. In some aspects, upon scrolling to particular points along the interactive document timeline, legacy versions of the document may be saved as new documents.

Computer implemented systems and methods are provided for generating a predictive graphical user interface. In some embodiments, a system for generating a predictive graphical user interface may comprise at least one processor configured to receive real-time and historical data associated with utilization of a facility. The at least one processor may be configured to generate, based on the real-time and historical data, instructions to display a user interface depicting a first representation of utilization of the facility at a first time. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a request to display a second representation of utilization of the facility, the request including a selection of a second time, and generate, based on the real-time and historical data, instructions to display, within the interface, a second representation of utilization of the facility, the second representation reflecting utilization at the second time, wherein the second time is a future time relative to the first time.

A door (200) of a motor vehicle has an outer panel (100) and an opening apparatus. The opening apparatus has a door handle (30) and a door lock (20) with a lock barrel (10). The lock barrel (10) and the door handle (30) are arranged completely on the inner side of the outer panel (100) of the door (200).

A method of preventing a first door on an over-the-road vehicle from moving from a closed position into an open position. The first door has a first latch assembly that cooperates with a second latch assembly to releasably maintain the first door in its closed position. One of the first and second latch assemblies is maintained in place by at least one fastener extended into a first opening. With the at least one fastener loosened, the first locking assembly is placed on one of: a) one of the doors; or b) the vehicle frame after which a fastener is tightened into the first opening to thereby: i) maintain one of the first and second latch assemblies in place and secure the operatively placed first locking assembly. With the first door in the closed position, a locking device can be connected to the first locking assembly and another part on the vehicle to thereby maintain the first door in the closed position.

The invention relates to an antitheft device (2) for the steering column of a vehicle, comprising: a locking portion (6) including a bolt for locking the steering column, and a mobile member (22) capable of controlling the locking-in-position of the bolt; and an access portion (4) including a latch and carrying a pivoting rocker arm (34) bearing against the mobile member (22) and against the locking portion (6).

A scalpel handle for holding a blade having a cutting edge includes a handle member and a blade shield for covering the blade cutting edge. The blade shield is connected to the handle member for pivotal movement relative thereto between a blade-covering condition and an out-of-the-way condition, and a movable shield latch mechanism is capable of releasably locking the blade shield in its blade-covering condition. A finger-operable actuator mechanism is mounted upon the handle member for movement between first and second conditions, and a spring is interposed between the actuator mechanism and the handle member. During a first phase of movement of the actuator mechanism from its first to its second condition, the shield latch mechanism unlocks the blade shield from its locked blade-covering condition, and during a second phase of movement, the blade shield is moved from its blade-covering condition to its out-of-the-way condition.

A rear wheel driving apparatus (1) includes: a first right-left communication passage (FP) through which a left reservoir (RL) and a right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other; and a second right-left communication passage (SP) which is provided in parallel with the first right-left communication passage (FP) and through which the left reservoir (RL) and the right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other. Thus, flowability of a liquid fluid stored in a case (11) is enhanced, and smoothing of a fluid level is enabled.

The disclosed embodiments include self-lubricating oil feed systems that may include an integral bearing. The oil feed systems may include gear pumps suitable to minimize the axial profile of the oil feed systems. Additionally, the oil feed systems may be directly coupled to turbomachinery having a gear, and provide for mechanical support and lubrication of certain components of the turbomachinery. In certain embodiments, the oil feed systems enables the transfer of a lubrication fluid to the bearing during operations of the turbomachinery.

An exemplary system for delivering a turbomachine fluid to a supplied area is a pump configured to draw fluid from both a first container and a second container when operating in both a positive g-force environment and a negative g-force environment. The fluid from the first container in a positive g-force environment is a mixture of air and oil, and the fluid from the first container in a negative g-force environment is primarily oil.

A high-pressure homogenizer including: a fixed body (7) housing a rotating crankshaft (10);a motor (3) for driving the crankshaft (10);a reduction gear unit (4) interconnected between the crankshaft and transmission elements (5, 6), characterized in that the reduction gear unit (4) is an epicyclic reduction gear unit. Preferably there is provided a lubricant feed line (15) which passes through the fixed body and reaches the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4). Preferably the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4) is constructed integrally with the fixed body (4).

An example method of accessing a valve assembly of a turbomachine includes accessing a check valve of the valve assembly from a first position that is radially outside a flow path through the turbomachine. The method accessing a shut off valve of the valve assembly from a second position that is radially outside the flow path. The check valve and the shut off valve are configured to influence communication of lubricant along a lubricant communication path that extends between a location radially outboard the flow path and a location radially inboard the flow path. The first position is the same as the second position in some examples.

An oil supplying assembly for a transmission of a vehicle, which may supply oil to a clutch and a pulley of a transmission, may include a base member which is mounted to a transmission main body, and includes a first oil path supplying the oil to the clutch and an oil supply column which is integrally formed to the base member and of which a second oil path for supplying the oil to the pulley is formed thereto.

A lubrication device for a hybrid vehicle power transmission device including a gear member, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor within a transaxle case, the lubrication device includes: a first pipe supplying oil forcibly transferred from an oil pump to the second electric motor; an oil passage branched from the first pipe; a first catch tank supplied with oil from the oil passage; a second pipe connected to the first catch tank to supply oil accumulated in the first catch tank to the first electric motor; an oil flow outlet disposed in the first catch tank and located above the second pipe; and a second catch tank disposed vertically beneath the first catch tank to receive oil outflowing from the oil flow outlet.

A gas turbine engine includes a geared architecture with a multiple of intermediate gears, and a baffle with an oil scavenge scoop adjacent to each of the multiple of intermediate gears. A geared architecture and method are also disclosed.

A composition comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant comprises (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R32, R152a, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; the lubricant comprises (iii) a hydrocarbon-based lubricant component; and (iv) a synthetic lubricant component; and the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total lubricant. Also disclosed are methods of replacing refrigerants in refrigeration or air conditioning systems containing a refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a lubricant. The methods involve adding to the system (a) a replacement refrigerant comprising (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R152a, R32, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system.

An electrochemical energy storage device includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode. The anode includes a capacitive material as a majority component, and further includes an electrochemically active material as a minority component, such that an operating potential of the anode is configured according to a reaction potential of the electrochemically active material.

Methods are provided for cooling data centers based on a cooperative system including a plurality of Indirect Air-Side Economizers, also referred to as Recirculation Air Cooling Units, that are advantageously operated in conjunction with one or more Side Stream Filtration Units or filters inclusive to a portion of the IASE/RACUs, and one or more Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Units for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space. An objective of the systems and methods according to this disclosure is to provide the necessary rejection of heat, removal of particulate from the air, and control of the absolute moisture content of the air within a data center.

A system configured to thermally regulate exhaust portions of a power plant system (e.g. steam turbine) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid.

A cooling system has a cabinet and a plurality of separate cooling stages including an upstream cooling stage and a downstream cooling stage. At least the upstream cooling state is a variable capacity cooling stage. Each cooling stage has a cooling circuit. Evaporators of the cooling circuits are arranged in the cabinet so that air passes over them in serial fashion. A controller when a Call for Cooling first reaches a point where cooling is needed, operating the upstream cooling circuit to provide cooling and not the downstream cooling circuit. When the Call for Cooling has increased to a second point, the controller additionally operates the downstream cooling circuit to provide cooling. The cooling capacity at which the upstream cooling circuit is being operated is less than its full capacity when the Call for Cooling reaches the second point.

An interconnect switch is provided including switching logic executable to facilitate a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-based interconnect, and further including a control host embedded in the switch to provide one or more enhanced routing capabilities. The control host includes a processor device, memory, and software executable by the processor device to process traffic received at one or more ports of the switch to redirect at least a portion of the traffic to provide the one or more enhanced routing capabilities.

The present application relates to a serial data communications switching device and a method of operating the serial data communications switching device. The serial data communications switching device comprises one host port for connecting to a host device; a plurality of client ports each for connecting to one of a plurality of client devices; an arbiter configured to arbitrate the permission to send a message sequence between the plurality of the client devices according to an arbitration scheme; and a TX flow analyzer adapted to detect a client transmission received at one of the client port from a current client device currently having granted the permission and to instruct the arbiter to maintain the granted permission for the current client device for the ongoing client transmission.

A method of switching an apparatus state of a first apparatus having a first universal serial bus (USB) interface connected via a connecting wire with a second USB interface of a second apparatus is provided. The method may include receiving a state switching instruction, setting a level of a configuration channel (CC) in a USB interface circuit corresponding to the first USB interface from a first high level to a first low level via a logic controller of the first apparatus when the state switching instruction instructs the first apparatus to perform a master-to-slave switch, and setting the level of the CC in the USB interface circuit corresponding to the first USB interface from the first low level to the first high level via the logic controller of the first apparatus when the state switching instruction instructs the first apparatus to perform a slave-to-master switch.