A subsea oil and/or gas exploitation device including at least one guide member for guiding subsea equipment that is to be landed and connected to the device into a connecting position in relation to the device. The at least one guide member includes an array of projections provided for the purpose of engaging corresponding recesses arranged in a corresponding guide member of the subsea equipment.

According to prior art, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,011, a subsea oil or gas exploitation device comprises a sea floor template that is lowered to the sea bottom for the purpose of defining a base for further equipment needed, such as a Christmas tree construction for each drill hole and a blow out preventer device.
Typically, the template comprises a plurality of well subsea equipment guides. Normally, such well equipment guides comprise a plurality of posts that stand up from a position adjacent individual drilling holes. From said posts, guiding wires extend to a top side device such as a floating vessel, from which further equipment such as Christmas tree arrangements and BOP devices can be lowered down to their operative position on top of the template, initially guided by the wires and finally by the posts. For this purpose, holes or the like are provided in the equipment in question for reception of said posts.
This kind of wire guideline arrangement has the advantage of permitting relatively rapid and precise guiding of said equipment down to the template, as long as the depth does not become too large. At larger depths, for example more than 800 meters, it will become increasingly difficult to avoid that the wires get twisted into each other due to their movements as a result of underwater streams etc. If the wires get twisted, further guiding by means thereof becomes impossible, something that cannot be tolerated for safety reasons as well as operational and economical reasons.


An article transport device having a housing space for housing an article retained by an article-retaining unit located in a raised position, is formed in a moving body of the article transport device, and an aperture for allowing the article-retaining unit to be raised and lowered between the raised position and a lowered position, is formed in the lower-end part of the housing space. The article transport device further comprising purified air ventilation means for ventilating purified air through an air purification filter, an opening/closing element capable of changing positions to an open position for opening the aperture and a closed position for blocking the aperture by pivoting around a lateral axis, and opening and closing control means for positioning the opening/closing element in the open position in a case in which the article-retaining unit is raised or lowered between the raised position and the lowered position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an article transport device in which an article-retaining unit capable of retaining an article is provided to a moving body capable of moving along a guide rail on a ceiling, so as to be able to be raised and lowered to a raised position located close to the moving body and to a lowered position downward from the raised position, a housing space for housing an article retained by the article-retaining unit located at the raised position is formed on the moving body, an aperture for allowing the article-retaining unit to be raised and lowered between the raised position and the lowered position is formed in the lower-end region of the housing space, and purified air ventilation means for ventilating purified air in the housing space through an air purification filter is provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a case in which the article transport device described above transports an article from a transport-origin article transport point to a transport-destination article transport point, first, the moving body moves to a stop position corresponding to the transport-origin article transport point and lowers the article-retaining unit from the raised position to the lowered position, and the article-retaining unit located at the lowered position receives the article from the article transport point. Thereafter, the article transport device raises the article-retaining unit from the lowered position to the raised position and, while the article is retained by the article-retaining unit located at the raised position, the moving body moves to a stop position corresponding to the transport-destination article transport point and lowers the article-retaining unit from the raised position to the lowered position, and the article-retaining unit located at the lowered position hands off the article at the transport-destination article transport point.
The article transport device thus transports articles among a plurality of article transport points by using the moving body to move from position to position and by raising and lowering the article-retaining unit. Such an article transport device is used to transport an article among a plurality of article transport points in, for example, a cleanroom, the article transport points being article processing units for carrying out various processes on the article. Accordingly, there is a desire to maintain clean conditions for the article during the transport thereof as well.
In view of this, in a conventional article transport device, a housing space for covering the periphery of an article retained by an article-retaining unit located at the raised position is formed on the moving body, and purified air ventilation means for ventilating purified air in this housing space through an air purification filter is provided (for example, see JP-B 3226017). Purified air is thereby ventilated to the article housed in the housing space when the article-retaining unit is located in the raised position and the moving body is used for movement, and the article being transported is kept in clean conditions.
In the above-described device recited in JP-B 3226017, the housing space is formed in a rectangular shape, and a clean unit having an air-blowing fan and an air filter through which the airflow generated by this air-blowing fan passes is provided as the purified air ventilation means. The clean unit is disposed such that the clean airflow that has passed through the air filter blows out into the housing space from substantially the entire area of one lateral surface of the housing space (a lateral surface on the front side of the moving body in the direction of travel). To supply a clean airflow to the entire article inside the housing space, the housing space is provided with a flow-regulating plate for guiding the clean airflow to the surface opposite from the clean unit, and the surface in the housing space facing the clean unit is provided with a plurality of fins for regulating the flow direction of the clean airflow, spaced out at intervals in the up-down direction.
In an article transport device as described above, raising and lowering the article-retaining unit between the raised position and the lowered position allows articles to be exchanged (i.e., received and delivered) between the article-retaining unit and an article transport point such as an article processing unit. Therefore, an aperture for allowing the article-retaining unit to be raised and lowered between the raised position and the lowered position is formed in the lower-end part of the housing space. Dust therefore sometimes infiltrates into the housing space from outside the housing space through the aperture, and this dust sometimes adheres to the article housed in the housing space.
In view of this, in the above-described device according to JP-B 3226017, dust is prevented from infiltrating into the housing space from outside the housing space through the aperture by providing the plurality of fins for regulating the flow direction of the clean airflow and forming an air curtain for shielding the aperture. However, for example, the occurrence of even slight disturbance to the airflow may allow dust to infiltrate into the housing space through the aperture, which is a concern. It is therefore difficult to prevent dust from infiltrating into the housing space through the aperture merely by forming the air curtain.
In a case in which the article to be transported is, for example, a reticle cassette that houses a reticle for the lithographic exposure of semiconductors, liquid crystal display panels, or the like, a substance such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide may infiltrate into the housing space through the aperture and this substance adheres to the reticle cassette, creating a possibility that a cloudiness termed "haze" will occur in the reticle (that is, the reticle will become opaque), and the quality of the reticle will be adversely affected. In view of this, there is a need to prevent a substance such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide from adhering to the reticle cassette, but because an air curtain is merely formed in the above-described device recited in JP-B 3226017, it is difficult to prevent a substance such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide from infiltrating into the housing space from aperture.
The following is an additional description regarding the occurrence of haze (cloudiness) when a substance such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide adheres to a reticle cassette.
The reticle cassette serving as the article to be transported comprises, for example, a cassette body and a lid body that can be mounted onto the cassette body and can be removed from the cassette body. Further, for example, with a reticle being supported on the backside of the lid body and the lid body being mounted onto the cassette body, the reticle is housed in an enclosed space formed within the reticle cassette, and the reticle is kept in clean conditions. The reticle is used to perform lithographic exposure and other processes at the article processing unit serving as the article transport point. Therefore, the reticle is exchanged between the article processing unit and the article-retaining unit lowered to the lowered position. In this exchange of the reticle, it is not that the reticle itself is exchanged, but rather that the part of the reticle cassette supporting the reticle, such as the lid body, is exchanged as a unit. Accordingly, a part of the reticle cassette is transported to the article processing unit. Therefore, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, or the like in the air adheres to this single part of the reticle cassette, whereupon light energy is applied when lithographic exposure or another process is performed, and the ammonia, sulfur dioxide, or the like initiates a chemical reaction, generating ammonium dioxide or other haze-causing substances. Haze thus occurs when a substance such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide adheres to the reticle cassette.


A method and apparatus for moving component supplying units, each of which carries electric components, along a reference line along which respective component-supply portions of the component supplying units are arranged so as to sequentially position a respective component-supply portion at a component-supply position. The method and apparatus also causes an external drive device to operate a drive member thereof to drive a member of a feeding device of each component supplying unit to perform a component feeding action and a component feeding preparing action and thereby feed the electric components of each unit one by one to the component-supply portion of each unit. The component-feeding action causing one of the electric components of each unit to be fed to the component-supply portion of each unit with the component-feeding preparing action causing the feeding device to be prepared for the component feeding action.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric-component supplying method and apparatus and particularly to the art of improving the efficiency of supplying of electric components.
2. Related Art Statement
Japanese Patent Application laid open for public inspection under Publication No. 7(1995)-9381 discloses a plurality of electric-component ("EC") supplying units each of which stores a plurality of electric components ("ECs") each as an element of an electric circuit (e.g., an electronic circuit) and is moved to supply the ECs to an object device such as an EC mounting device. The plurality of EC supplying units are supported on a support table such that respective EC-supply portions of the units are arranged along a straight line and, when the support table is moved by a table moving device, the respective EC-supply portions of the units are sequentially positioned at an EC-supply position where each of the units supplies one or more ECs to the object device. In each unit, the ECs are fed one by one to the EC-supply portion. A drive device which includes a drive member is provided in the vicinity of the EC-supply device. The drive device operates the drive member to drive a driven member of each unit being positioned at the EC-supply position, so that the ECs are fed one by one to the EC-supply portion. Each of the units disclosed in the above-identified application includes an EC feeding device which performs an EC feeding action and an EC-feeding preparing action while the support table is not moved by the table moving device, i.e., the each unit is stopped.
In the art of supplying ECs, it has been required to shorten an EC-supply cycle time, that is, a time period that is needed for the EC-supply portion of each unit to reach the EC-supply position and supply one EC to the object device, after its preceding unit supplies one EC to the object device. For example, in the case where the object device is the EC mounting device, it has been required, for the purpose of improving the efficiency of mounting of ECs, to shorten an EC-mount cycle time, that is, a time period that is needed for each EC to be mounted on a printed circuit board ("PCB") as a sort of circuit substrate, after its preceding EC is mounted on the PCB. To this end, it is required to shorten a time period that is needed for the EC mounting device to pick up the each EC from the EC-supply portion of each unit.
However, each of the conventional EC supplying units performs both the EC feeding action and the EC-feeding preparing action while the each unit is stopped. Therefore, shortening the EC-supply cycle time needs at least one of shortening a time period needed for the table moving device to move the support table, or shortening a time period needed for the EC feeding device to feed each EC. The former time period may be shortened by increasing the acceleration and/or deceleration of moving of the support table, and the latter time period may be shortened by increasing the acceleration and/or deceleration of feeding of each EC. However, if the acceleration and/or deceleration are/is increased in each case, a great vibration is produced when the moving of the table or the feeding of each EC is started or stopped. This leads to lowering the accuracy or reliability of supplying of each EC. That is, the great vibration may lower the accuracy of positioning of the EC-supply portion of each unit relative to an EC holder of the EC mounting device that picks up each EC from the each unit, may change the attitude of each EC being positioned at the EC-supply portion in each unit, or may cause each EC from jumping out of each unit. In each case, each unit may fail to supply each EC to the EC holder of the EC mounting device.

Electric-component supplying method and apparatus


Power-on-reset (POR) circuits for resetting memory devices, and related circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a POR circuit is provided. The POR circuit is configured to receive as input, a plurality of decoded address outputs from at least one memory decoding device. The POR circuit is further configured to generate a POR reset if any of the plurality of decoded address outputs are active. As a result, memory decoding device latches can be reset to a known, default condition to avoid causing an unintentional word line selection in the memory during power-on state before an external reset is available. Because the POR circuit can generate the POR reset without need of an external reset, the memory decoding devices can be reset quickly to allow for quicker availability of memory after a power-on condition.

I. Field of the Disclosure
The technology of the disclosure relates generally to handling of power-on conditions for memory devices, including for memory pre-decoding devices.
II. Background
In high speed memories, multiple pulsed latches are used to store decoded address values. These pulsed latches may be employed in memory decoding devices for a memory, such as memory pre-decoders and memory decoders. In the example of memory pre-decoders, the pulsed latches are configured to receive and store a portion of a memory address to be pre-decoded. The memory pre-decoder is configured to activate one of a plurality of pre-decoded address outputs provided to a memory decoder to select the memory word line corresponding to the memory address.
Following power-on of a device employing pulsed latch memory, the state of the pulsed latches is an unknown condition. Thus, to avoid unintentional selection of a random word line in the memory according to unknown states of the pulsed latches, the memory system is designed to prevent access before the pulsed latches are reset to a known default condition. As one example, an external reset signal generated after a power-on condition, (e.g., a system reset signal), may be provided to reset the pulsed latches. However, the external reset signal may be controlled by central processing unit (CPU) software or other system circuitry outside the memory system that is not quickly available after power-on. Therefore, valid memory accesses may not available during this time, thus increasing the time for power-on readiness of a device. If memory accesses were made available before an external reset signal becomes available, the unknown state of the pulsed latches could cause a random memory word line to be selected based on the random, unknown state of the pulsed latches. As an example, this could cause a run-time error to occur if a CPU attempts to execute an instruction at a word line in memory selected by pulsed latches in an unknown state.


A rotary pump having a plurality of rotor structures disposed in a pump casing, each structure having a rotor disposed in a casing, a hollow drive shaft each for driving said rotor, a headed bolt disposed within the hollow drive shaft for attaching said rotor to the drive shaft, an internally threaded rotor shaft being attached to the rotor and having said bolt threaded therein, the rotor shaft being disposed within an enlarged diameter hollow end of the hollow drive shaft, and the head of the bolt is disposed at the end of the hollow drive shaft opposite to its end to which the rotor is attached, whereby no rotor attaching means are employed on the face of the rotor opposite to the rotor shaft, and the pump casing has a flat rotor cover over the rotor structures, without any substantial spaces between the rotor cover and the rotors.

Conventionally, in a rotary pump such as can be used for transporting liquid foods, a rotary drive shaft is formed with its leading end in a spline shaft, a spline hole formed through a rotor is engaged by the spline shaft of the rotors of the pump within a pumping chamber in a main rotor casing, and a fastening nut of the rotors is engaged and fixed at the end of the rotor drive shafts projected outwardly from the rotor, and a concave casing cover receives the rotor segments and the rotor fastening nut.
In such a conventional rotary pump, a transported liquid flows in the pumping chamber, enters into the concave part inside the casing cover through a space between the rotor and the casing cover, and tends to be retained in that concave part, becoming trapped therein. Since the so trapped food can spoil, the pumps of this type have to be frequently disassembled and the pump with the concave part inside the casing cover cleaned after a day's use of the pump. Reassembly of such pumps after their disassembly, and their cleaning requires the expenditure of considerable time and labor thus increasing the cost of the product.


A heater for heating liquid by friction includes a rotor rotatable within a housing filled with liquid, the rotor having passages arranged to expel liquid through friction orifices by centrifugal force from a pair of inlet cavities on opposite sides of the rotor. The outlets of the passages lie in a common plane on the periphery of the rotor whereas the inlets of alternate passages open alternately into the respective inlet cavities. The housing has a plurality of outlets lying in the plane of the rotor outlets with one of the housing outlets leading to a heat utilization device while the other housing outlets are connected to by-pass passages leading back into the housing through the side or sides thereof. The constant in-flow from the by-pass passages virtually eliminates cavitation while the pre-heated liquid in the passages adds to the heat of the liquid in the housing otherwise frictionally heated by rotation of the rotor.

It is known to heat liquid by rotating a rotor in a reservoir of liquid, such an arrangement being shown in the patent to Perkins U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,176 assigned to the same assignee as the present application. In that patent scoops at the periphery of a rotor pick-up liquid as the rotor is rotated and direct the liquid through inwardly directed passages in the rotor to a central outlet cavity in the rotor which is in open communication with a central outlet port in the rotor housing. This arrangement was found to deal satisfactorily with cavitation problems but the liquid driven inwardly was opposed by centrifugal force tending to drive the liquid outwardly. In other words, though the arrangement addressed cavitation problem, it clearly was not as efficient as it could have been.
Another arrangement for preventing cavitation while taking advantage of centrifugal force is shown in a patent to Perkins U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,575. That patent involves the use of pump means which delivers liquid to a central cavity in a rotor from which liquid is expelled by centrifugal force through passages in the rotor to its periphery whence the liquid flows through an outlet in the rotor housing to a heat utilization device. Because the pump operated on the scoop principal similar to the rotor in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,176 the pumped liquid was again subject to opposing forces tending to reduce the overall efficiency of the heater.
The broad object of the present invention is to provide a heater for heating liquid by friction but with enhanced efficiency over prior systems.

Apparatus for frictionally heating liquid


A semiconductor device comprising a passive magnetoelectric transducer structure adapted for generating a charge via mechanical stress caused by a magnetic field. The first transducer structure has a first terminal electrically connectable to the control terminal of an electrical switch, and having a second terminal electrically connectable to the first terminal of the electrical switch for providing a control signal for opening/closing the switch. The switch may be a FET. A passive magnetic switch using a magnetoelectric transducer structure. Use of a passive magnetoelectric transducer structure for opening or closing a switch without the need for an external power supply.

Devices for detecting the presence of a magnetic field are known in the art. Well known examples are: a reed switch as an example of a discrete mechanical component, and a Hall element as an example of a component embedded in an integrated semiconductor device.
The reed switch, invented in 1936, is an electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field. It consists of a pair of contacts of ferrous metal reeds in a hermetically sealed glass envelope. The contacts may be normally open but closing when a magnetic field is present, or normally closed and opening when a magnetic field is applied. The switch may be actuated by a coil, making a reed relay, or by bringing a magnet near to the switch. Once the magnet is pulled away from the switch, the reed switch will go back to its original position. Reed switches are used for example as a proximity switch for a burglar alarm. The technology for making reed switches is very mature, but as such they cannot be integrated in semiconductor devices. A major advantage of reed switches is that they are passive devices, meaning that they do not require electrical energy for sensing the presence of a magnetic field.
Hall elements are well known integrated devices for sensing a magnetic field. Hall elements typically have four nodes: two energising nodes and two sensing nodes. When a constant voltage or a constant current is applied over the energising nodes, the strength of the magnetic field can be measured as a differential voltage over the sensing nodes. A disadvantage of Hall elements is that they require electrical energy.

Semiconductor device comprising passive magnetoelectric transducer structure


In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable media is provided storing computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first node in a network, cause the first node to: receive an Internet Protocol (IP) packet that includes a first identifier and further includes an outside-scope second identifier that, for the first node, identifies a first region that does not include the first node and that is communicatively coupled to the first node via a second node; select, based on the outside-scope second identifier and based on at least one of a policy, a metric, or a routing table, an outgoing network interface included in at least one path segment of a plurality of path segments that communicatively couple the first node and at least one other node communicatively coupled to the first region, the plurality of path segments including at least one multi-hop path segment; and forward, via the outgoing network interface and to the second node, data received in the IP packet.

It is unlikely that the designers of the early network that is now referred to as the "Internet" expected it to become as large as it has become. The fact that the global Internet Protocol (IP) address space for 32-bit addresses has been fully allocated is evidence of this. As the Internet grows, new problems will arise and some current problems are getting worse. For example, while network speeds and bandwidth are increases, so are causes of network latency.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has taken steps at various times in the past and are presently taking steps to address a number of problems resulting from the Internet's growth. Problems addressed by the IETF are described in a number of "Request for Comments" (RFC) documents published the IETF. Documents referenced herein include: "Request for Comments" (RFC) document RFC 791 edited by J. Postel, titled "Internet Protocol, DARPA Internet Protocol Specification", published by the IETF in September, 1981;
"Request for Comments" (RFC) document RFC 201519 by V. Fuller, et al, titled "Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR): An Address Assignment and Aggregation Strategy", published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), in June, 1999;
"Request for Comments" (RFC) document RFC 2410 by S. Deering, et al, titled "Internet Protocol, Version 206, (IPv6) Specification", published by the IETF in December, 1998;
"Request for Comments" (RFC) document RFC 3513 by R. Hinden, et al, titled "Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Addressing Architecture", published by the IETF in April, 2003; and
"Request for Comments" (RFC) document RFC 2374 by R. Hinden, et al, titled "Aggregatable Global Unicast Address Format", published by the IETF in July, 1998.
The authors of RFC 201519 in dealing with a number of issues state that their proposal".
RFC 791 states, "The internet protocol implements two basic functions: addressing and fragmentation". RFC 791 goes on to state, "A distinction is made between names, addresses, and routes. A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how to get there. The internet protocol deals primarily with addresses. It is the task of higher level (i.e., host-to-host or application) protocols to make the mapping from names to addresses. The internet module maps internet addresses to local net addresses. It is the task of lower level (i.e., local net or gateways) procedures to make the mapping from local net addresses to routes".
Further new protocols and platforms for building new protocols, such as OpenFlow of the Open Network Foundation (ONF), have been introduced, and will continue to be introduced. Such protocols and platforms are within the scope of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The OpenFlow protocol is specified in "OpenFlow Switch Specification", by Pfaff, B, et al, and published by the ONF in Feb. 29, 2011.
In order to address a number of current and future problems facing the Internet, the subject matter described herein challenges the distinctions asserted in RFC 791 and establishes new relationships between and among names, addresses, and routes. The description herein further demonstrates that current internet addresses do not indicate where a node or network interface component (NIC) of a node is. They provide another global identifier space for identifying nodes and their network interfaces. This global identifier space to some extent is duplicative of the domain name space, which is also a global identifier space for identifying nodes and network interfaces. This duplication of roles is unnecessary as described below.
Accordingly, there exists a need for methods, systems, and computer program products for associating a name with a network path.

Routing methods, systems, and computer program products


A crown setting device for a timepiece comprising: a case; a bezel attached to the case; a setting stem in axially slideable communication with the case; a crown shaft, the crown shaft comprising: a first end; a second end; a first portion of the crown shaft abutting the first end; a second portion of the crown shaft abutting the second end; and wherein the first end is in fixed communication with the setting stem; a crown in fixed communication with the second end; and wherein the second portion is at an angle α with respect to the first portion, and wherein the angle α is between about 90° and about 175°.

Crown setting devices for timepieces are well known in the art. Usually, a timepiece movement, whether it be mechanical or a quartz analog type powered by an energy cell, has a separate internal set of gears connected between the hands and a special setting gear for rotating the timepiece hands to perform a setting function. The setting function, as is well known in the art, is generally carried out by manually operating a watch "crown" which protrudes from the side of the watch case. The crown is connected to an axially slideable, rotatable setting stem having a pinion on its inner end which engages the special setting gear when the crown is pulled out. The crown is knurled or corrugated with grooves to provide gripping teeth to assist in turning the crown. This can become a tedious process when the watch hands must be rotated through several revolutions and is also hard on the fingers when the crown is small in diameter.
Simple time-setting crowns having only two axial positions have evolved and been improved, wherein more than one crown may be used, one to set the time and another to set an alarm time. Also the setting crowns may be provided with more than two axial positions by the use of multiple detents, so as to engage a second internal set of gears to set calendar and/or day/date rings as well as the time of day.
As previously indicated, rotation of crown through many revolutions to set either the time or the alarm rings of the watch can be tiresome and hard on the fingers. In addition, if the crown is small in diameter, or closely set to the watch case, the crown may be difficult to access.
Thus there is a need for a crown setting device that overcomes the above listed and other disadvantages.


The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that may be used to predict a performance metric of a fuel cell. A system consistent with the present disclosure may include sensors in communication with the fuel cell stack, a performance metric prediction system, and a control system. The performance metric prediction system may determine a current density based on inputs provided by the sensors at a plurality of time periods, calculate a first parameter while the current density is below a lower threshold, and calculate a second parameter while the current density is above an upper threshold. The first parameter and the second parameter may be used to selectively adjust a fuel cell polarization curve over time. Based upon the polarization curve, a performance metric of the fuel cell stack may be predicted. The control system may implement a control action based upon the performance metric.

Passenger vehicles may include fuel cell ("FC") systems to power certain features of a vehicle's electrical and drivetrain systems. For example, an FC system may be utilized in a vehicle to power electric drivetrain components of the vehicle directly (e.g., electric drive motors and the like) and/or via an intermediate battery system. An FC system may include a single cell or, alternatively, may include multiple cells arranged in a stack configuration.
Hydrogen is one possible fuel that may be used in a FC system. Hydrogen is a clean fuel and may be used to efficiently produce electricity in a fuel cell. A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical device that includes an electrolyte disposed between an anode and a cathode. The anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen or air. The hydrogen gas is dissociated in the anode to generate free hydrogen protons and electrons. The hydrogen protons may be selectively conducted across the electrolyte. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte, and thus are directed through a load to perform work before being sent to the cathode. The hydrogen protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells ("PEMFC") may be used in FC vehicles. A PEMFC generally includes a solid polymer electrolyte proton conducting membrane, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. An anode and cathode included in a PEMFC may include finely divided catalytic particles, such as platinum (Pt), supported on carbon particles and mixed with an ionomer. A catalytic mixture may be deposited on opposing sides of the membrane.
The open circuit voltage of a typical FC stack may decrease over the lifetime of the FC stack. Voltage degradation may be attributable, among other things, to voltage cycling of the FCs in the stack. Voltage cycling occurs when the platinum catalyst particles used to enhance the electro-chemical reaction transition between a low and high potential state. The repeated transition of the catalyst particles promotes dissolution of the particles. Dissolution of the particles results in loss of active surface area of the particles and performance degradation.
Many factors may influence the relative loss in surface area of the platinum particles relating to voltage cycling, including peak stack voltage, temperature, stack humidification, voltage cycling dynamics, etc. Lower stack voltage set-points may offer greater protection against degradation, but higher stack voltage set-points may provide increased system efficiency.
A fixed voltage may be used to set a stack minimum power level to prevent unwanted voltage cycling. For example, a typical voltage suppression strategy may use a fixed voltage set-point. If a fuel cell power controller is not requesting power, or is requesting minimal power, the power generated by the stack necessary to maintain cell voltage levels at or below the fixed voltage set-point may be provided to certain systems or components where the power is used or dissipated. For example, excess power may be used to charge a high-voltage battery in a FC system vehicle. If the voltage set-point is at a relatively low voltage, then the system may charge the battery frequently, which may result in the battery charge to be at its maximum charge more frequently than it would be if the voltage set-point is set at a lower level. If the battery is at its maximum charge and cannot accept more charging power from the FC system, then the controller may cause the excess power to be dissipated in other components, such as resistors. Where excess power is dissipated using resistors, system efficiency may suffer. Accordingly, establishing an optimal set-point may improve the efficiency of an FC stack.
Several FCs may be combined in an FC stack to produce a desired power out. The FC stack may receive a cathode input gas that may comprise a flow of air forced through the stack by a compressor. Cathode exhaust gas may include water as a stack by-product, together with unconsumed oxygen and other gases.
The current/voltage relationship of the stack may be referred to as a polarization curve. A stack controller may utilize information about the polarization curve to schedule delivery of reactants to the FC system in accordance with power demands. The relationship between the voltage and the current of the stack may be non-linear, and may be influenced by many variables, including stack temperature, stack partial pressures, and cathode and anode stoichiometries. Additionally, the relationship between the FC stack current and voltage may change over time as the stack performance degrades. In other words, an older FC stack may have lower cell voltages, and accordingly, an older FC stack may need to provide more current than a new, non-degraded stack to produce an equivalent power output.

Systems and methods for predicting polarization curves in a fuel cell system


A fitment device is disclosed to be used with a "bag-in-a-box" packaging system. The fitment connects the bag with a valve system and contains a removable diaphragm. The diaphragm is opened by operating a snaring tool which pulls on a tab to tear out the diaphragm. A method of assembling the device with the entire system is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a sterile "bag-in-a-box" filling and discharge system to enable the packaging, transportation, storage and utilization of fluid products such as pasteurized fruit juices and products, as well as yogurt and like materials of relatively high viscosity which must be handled under aseptic conditions.
Efforts have been made in the past to develop transportable, rust free stainless steel containers, commonly known as fluid contents containers, in which the fluid materials can be directly introduced. Such containers typically are of considerable size and may amount to 25 gallons and up or, expressed in terms of liters, containers of 100 to 1000 liters. However, these stainless steel containers are quite expensive and require a series of peripheral apparatus which must be repeatedly sterilized thereby adding to the cost of such systems. The prior art is familiar with flexible bulk bags in rigid holders or bins; i.e., "bag-in-a-box" technology, especially for the containerization of various food and pharmaceutical products. Typically such items as fruit juices, fruit based yogurt and the like are shipped in these boxes 75 which consist of an aseptic bag in a rigid frame work or container. The rigid container or "box" can be made of a suitable plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like. Also, cardboard or paper board boxes can be used. The use of the so called "bag-in-box" technology is the subject of a number of prior art publications such as shown in European patent application 0190757, German patent 35 03 916, German OLS 35 34 810 and OLS 36 15 063.
At present, the filling of such aseptic bags is accomplished by utilizing expensive auxiliary filling equipment. After filling, the containers can be stored aseptically with little or no refrigeration for an extended period of time. It is customary at the present time to accomplish dispensing of the bag contents by emptying the entire contents of the bag or utilizing expensive discharge equipment to permit reentry while maintaining asepsis of the bag. Normally, the container including the bag must remain attached to the unloading device until all the required product has been discharged.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome some of the problems associated with prior art apparatus and to facilitate the loading and unloading of sterilized and aseptic containers.

Apparatus and method to provide bag-in-a-box system

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A driver training system for a user of a simulated vehicle. The system includes input devices for controlling the simulated vehicle, a video display having three-dimensional graphics, modeling software for determining position information based on the input devices, atmospheric effects software to simulate time-of-day and weather conditions, and recursive training software to display a previous route through an environment simultaneously with a present route through the environment together with associated performance data. Another aspect of the recursive training software replays either the previous route or present route and controls one of the input devices to provide "hands-on" feedback to the user. The user then incrementally and recursively maximizes parameters associated with vehicle operation skill. The driver training system may be embodied as a vehicle simulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to automated training and, more particularly, is concerned with vehicle simulators.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A vehicle simulator can be defined as a system that simulates the operating conditions of a vehicle in an environment. Where the vehicle simulated is a car, the environment would typically include a road. The environment in this case may also include weather conditions such as fog or snow. Besides cars, examples of other types of vehicles that may be simulated include airplanes, ships, submersibles and space vehicles.
Vehicle simulators provide the means to efficiently train operators. That is, a simulator can be used where an operator has a need to safely learn how to operate the particular vehicle being simulated. Rather than train an operator on a real-world vehicle, the simulator is used to avoid accidents. Clearly, experience garnered through making mistakes on a simulator is invaluable when compared to the inherent risks of vehicle damage, and moreover, operator injury, associated with making a driving error in a real-life situation. As an example, in a police training application, a student could learn the limits of a police cruiser or guidelines for pursuit, and be tested in these areas without the associated risks of real-life training.
In some sense, a simulator achieves a balance between testing the operator's knowledge of the "rules of the road" and testing the operator's use of a vehicle. Testing the operator's knowledge is typically and conveniently accomplished through written and/or verbal examinations. However, examinations are of limited usefulness for operator training. For example, operator reflexes are not tested at all, and, moreover, such examinations do not adequately address the skills necessary for real-time decision-making.
Besides concerns for operator safety, the other alternative, actual vehicle operation, has its pitfalls too. First, the cost of instructor time may be prohibitive. Furthermore, the actual vehicle itself, such as for space or undersea operation, may simply not be available. Lastly, there is always the risk of an accident when a student is training on an actual vehicle under realistic conditions. Although a certain amount of training may occur in benign environments, for example, learning to drive a car in an empty parking lot, there comes a time, early in the operator's training, where driving in an unrealistic environment is no longer useful and practical.
Vehicle simulators address the issue of presenting the operator with a realistic training environment. The principal shortcoming of existing training systems, however, is that they are not providing realistic feedback for incremental learning. For example, in most known systems there is no way to instantaneously gauge one's progress against a prior use of the vehicle while it is in operation.
Video arcade games are another technology providing a certain degree of user feedback. Arcade games are typically placed in public areas such as arcade halls, theaters, airports and other such areas where the users can occupy time and entertain themselves by playing the game. Arcade games utilizing video displays have been around for some time now, beginning with the simplistic game of bouncing a ball across a line with paddles known as "Pong". However, with the passage of time, video arcade games have become ever more sophisticated and realistic.
Since arcade games have housings which occupy a limited space, the computer equipment of the game is subject to strict space constraints. In addition, the user's interest must be captured and maintained by the simulator, thus requiring that processing be accomplished in real-time. The competing space and time goals thus make the task of injecting realism into the games more difficult.
In many senses, the arcade game called "Hard Drivin'.TM.", manufactured and distributed by Atari Games Corp. of Milpitas, Calif., represents the state of the art in arcade game realism. The physical layout of the game includes clutch, brake and gas pedals, a gearshift and a steering wheel. The user, or driver, is provided feedback response from a video display having a three-dimensional graphical representation of the driving environment and from a speaker which generates realistic sounds of driving. A digital processor, comprising a number of microprocessors and a memory, is the interface between the user inputs ant the feedback response.
The training potential of a simulator or arcade game is maximized when the student has user feedback. One form of feedback possible is a display of various performance numbers on a video monitor of the simulator or game. These performance numbers might be elapsed time for completing a track, top speed, points, and so forth. However, this type of information does not inform the student exactly what location(s) and what parameter(s) he may need to improve. Additionally, graphical feedback attracts and holds the student's attention better than a number or a series of numbers. Therefore, a need exists for graphical feedback of performance data that shows the student periodically how he compares to a standard set by an instructor or where and what parameters he needs to improve to attain a standard set by an instructor. A need also exists for realistic vehicle simulators and arcade games to provide personalized feedback, wherein the feedback may be personalized by either the operator/user or by an instructor/champion.
The training potential of a simulator or arcade game is also improved when the user controls or input devices feel and operate like those of a real vehicle. If the input devices feel and work like the real thing, the student should encounter minimal difficulties due to the input devices when moving from a simulator to a real vehicle. For a car, truck or similar vehicle, several controls are mounted on the steering column. These controls frequently are a shift lever and a turn signal lever. The turn signal lever is moved by the driver to activate a turn signal indicator until the turn is substantially complete, at which time a canceling mechanism deactives the turn signal indicator. The shift lever has an indicator, which moves in response to a shift of gear by the driver, that shows what gear is selected. Thus, a need exists for simulator or arcade game input devices that feel and work like those in a real vehicle.
Simulator training would be improved if accurate atmospheric conditions could be reproduced by a vehicle simulator. Atmospheric conditions caused by particles in the air or the position of the sun in the sky, for example, will mute and distort the environmental colors perceived by a driver. The change in coloration can be thought of as resulting from a screen or grid of haze being overlaid on the image. Such a visual cue of color change, henceforth termed hazing, would provide a greater degree of realism in simulators, allowing users to test their driving abilities under varying environmental conditions.
Night driving is another condition in which it is desirable to practice and test driving abilities. As objects are illuminated by the headlights, they become visible out of the darkness. Then, as the user approaches the objects, they appear brighter and easier to perceive. A problem some drivers may have is driving at a speed that doesn't allow safe stopping if an object would be in the roadway beyond the illumination range of the headlights. It would be desirable to safely experience such an effect on a simulator and therefore know how to handle the situation in real-life. Thus, a simulator which provides the capability to emulate time of day, e.g., dawn, day, dusk, or night, and weather, e.g., fog or snow, would give the user a chance to experience most any driving condition.
Hazing, or simulating non-optimal atmospheric conditions, is used in some present military simulators to simulate flying in fog, or some other form of haze. However, the known military simulators require expensive computer hardware, including high resolution video displays, to reproduce these effects.
Moreover, with infinite resolution on a video display, the simulation of atmospheric conditions such as fog, smog, dusk, and the like, would be perfect, i.e., fine droplets or granules could be interleaved with the view. Alternatively, the human eye could be deceived into seeing higher video resolutions than actually available by employing higher rates of video frame update. Unfortunately, most present video systems have limited resolution and slow rates of video update. In addition, the choice of colors in video displays is often limited due to constraints on video memory.
Due to the above-mentioned problems, users desiring realistic training having visual cues which change colors according to atmospheric conditions have either had to have access to expensive equipment or have had to simply do without. A driving simulator having the capability to approximate atmospheric conditions using many readily available and reasonably priced video display systems would therefore be a great benefit in training drivers.

Driver training system and method with performance data feedback


Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The IC chip includes functional circuits configured to perform desired functions when a chip temperature is higher than a threshold, such as a room temperature. The IC chip includes a warm-up module configured to warm-up the IC chip in a warm-up mode to raise the chip temperature above the threshold. A method for warming up an IC chip prior to operation is also disclosed.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
During integrated circuit (IC) testing, an IC chip may need to be tested at multiple temperatures to ensure that the IC chip performs correct functions in a temperature range. In an example, a chip is required to operate in an ambient temperature range from −25° C. to 125° C. Then, during IC testing, the chip is tested at a cold temperature, such as −25° C., at a room temperature, such as 25° C., and at a hot temperature, such as 125° C.

Method and apparatus for warming up integrated circuits


A circuit for controlling the amplitude of video signals includes a control circuit which contains a first capacitor. For each image pulse, a charge which corresponds to the amplitude of the generated video signal during a prior frame cycle is stored in the first capacitor. During the frame flyback pulse, this charge is transferred to a second capacitor by means of a switch. The second capacitor's voltage serves as a control voltage for the video signal. After the charge is transferred to the second capacitor, the first capacitor is discharged.

A circuit including a clamp circuit and a measuring capacitor for automatically setting the black level voltage at the cathode of a picture tube is known from DE-OS 35 35 570. During the time interval which is not utilized for graphic display, the measuring capacitor is charged, at each frame cycle, by the cathode current. The obtained measured value is received by a scanning and holding circuit and is made available to the control circuit for the remaining frame duration. The control circuit supplies the black level voltage at which the cathode potential is brought into contact with the clamp circuit.
In P 38 19 214.4, a circuit is known for setting the mean brightness of a picture represented with a video signal by holding constant the mean value of the video signal. The mean brightness of image fragments are controlled at a setpoint which is independent from the gray scale value of the remaining image. To accomplish this, the video signal and the signal of a setpoint device are each carried through one switch which is closed during the time periods when the video signal of the image fragments appears. The output signals of both switches are supplied via integrators having equal time constants to a controller. The controller output is coupled to the control input of a controllable attenuator lying in the video signal path. A controllable amplifier can also be used in place of the controllable attenuator. A rectifier is arranged upstream of the integrator. Instead of using the mean value of the video signal, the peak value or another value can also be held constant.
Above all, this type of amplitude control is suited for the video recording of continuously illuminated or luminous images. If the images are illuminated in a pulsewise manner, i.e., by light pulses having varying widths and intervals such as in X-ray video monitors, then the video signal amplitude is controlled according to the resulting mean value of the pulse/interval ratio. However, this type of amplitude control is often undesirable.

Signal level control circuit having alternately switched capacitors in the feedback branch


The invention provides improved devices for treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in intubated patients, with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment, the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The devices eliminate the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit. The treatment also concentrates the therapeutic agent at affected sites in the lung such that therapeutic levels of administrated drug are achieved without systemic exposure of the patient to the drug. The invention further provides a dose control device to govern this regimen.

Mechanical ventilation appears to upset the normal processes that keep the lungs free of disease. Indeed, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is reported to be the most common hospital-acquired infection among patients requiring mechanical ventilation. There is a strong correlation between the duration of intubation and development of infection. In a recent large study, the mean interval between intubation and the identification of VAP was 3.3 days. Rello J. et al., "Epidemiology and Outcomes of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in a Large US Database" Chest 122:2115 (2002). Importantly, once VAP develops, the patient usually requires a more extended period of ventilation. Unfortunately, prolonging the intubation invites new rounds of deep infection with further decompensation of respiratory function, in a vicious cycle ending frequently in death.
It is well-known to treat such infections with systemically administered antibiotics, but simultaneous treatment of the whole body with multiple antibiotic agents is fraught with complications that range from accelerating the selection of antibiotic-resistant strains to disrupting fluid and electrolyte balance and compromising the antiviral defense mechanisms of mucosal epithelia throughout the body. Systemically administered antibiotics can also have adverse effects on the liver, kidney and skeleton. Such concerns have resulted in a recent call for a de-escalating strategy for antibiotic administration. Hoffken G. and Niederman M. S., "Nosocomial Pneumonia: The Importance of De-escalating Strategy for Antibiotic Treatment of Pneumonia in the ICU" Chest 122:2183 (2002).
Exacerbating the risks cited above is the fact that the objective of systemic therapy is to achieve high concentrations of antibiotic not in the circulation but on the mucosal side of the bronchi, i.e., in the bronchial secretions. Many antibiotics diffuse poorly from the bloodstream across the bronchi [Pennington, J. E., "Penetration of antibiotics into respiratory secretions," Rev Infect Dis 3(1):67-73 (1981)], which leads the practitioner to administer higher doses of antibiotic than would be prescribed for a truly systemic infection. Moreover, the purulent sputum that characterizes infected patients tends to compromise the potency of many antibiotics. See e.g., Levy, J., et al., "Bioactivity of gentamicin in purulent sputum from patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis: comparison with activity in serum," J Infect Dis 148(6):1069-76 (1983). This factor further motivates the practitioner to prescribe large amounts of antibiotic. These dangers have led some experts to propose that treating lung infections systemically in nosocomial patients should be abandoned. Unfortunately, known alternatives are not attractive either.
An alternative approach in which antibiotics are applied to the oral, gastric and endobronchial mucosa along with systemic administration has been tried. It is very costly and, in any case, is not associated with any ameliorating effect on mortality. It also invites "outbreaks" of antibiotic-resistant infections in intensive care units especially when used indiscriminately.
In another effort to overcome the aforementioned problems associated with systemic administration, various attempts have been made to administer antibiotics directly to the mucosal surface of the lungs of spontaneously breathing patients in aerosols (liquid droplets or dry powders) delivered via various nebulizers. However, more localized administration of antibiotics is controversial. Early studies with aerosolized antimicrobials did not show unambiguously positive results. This may be due, however, to a poor appreciation of the physics of aerosol administration to the intubated patient. It is now recognized that poor system designs and/or improper device usage can result in virtually no aerosol reaching the desired sites in the lungs. "Consensus Statement: Aerosols and Delivery Devices" Respiratory Care 45:589 (2000).
Moreover, even in studies with generally satisfactory results in terms of levels of antibiotic achieved or the reduction in bacterial load observed [Eisenberg, J., et al., "A comparison of peak sputum tobramycin concentration in patients with cystic fibrosis using jet and ultrasonic nebulizer systems. Aerosolized tobramycin study group," Chest 111(4):955-962 (1997); Ramsey, B. W., et al., "Intermittent administration of inhaled tobramycin in patients with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis inhaled tobramycin study group," N Engl J Med 340(1):23-30 (1999)], no effort was made to reduce the amount of antibiotic administered—the nebulizers were charged with quantities of antibiotic equivalent to doses typically administered systemically.
The administration of antibiotics by nebulization in ventilated patients is reportedly even less satisfactory (Fuller, H. D., et al., Pressurized aerosol versus jet aerosol delivery to mechanically ventilated patients. Am. Rev. Respir Dis 1989, 141:440-444; MacIntyre, N., et al., Aerosol delivery to intubated, mechanically ventilated patients. Crit. Care Med 1985, 13:81-84). In ventilated patients, nebulization that bypasses the humidifier and is actuated only on the inspiration phase of the breathing cycle has been attempted using a ventilator (Bear II, Bear Medical Systems, Riverside, Calif.) of obsolete design (Palmer, et al., Crit. Care Med 1998, 26:31-39).
The extreme variability in effective dose that known methods of aerosol delivery engender is not important for conventional drugs such as bronchodilators because of the potency and safety of such agents. Variability is a crucial problem, however, in the case of antibiotics. The risk of pulmonary toxicity discourages the prescription of heroic doses to overwhelm the variability problem. That leaves the patient exposed to the prospect of inadequate treatment, a particularly risky matter. In the worst cases, by the time the insufficiency is recognized, the opportunity to correct the situation is past. In many other cases, the insufficient treatment encourages the selection and growth of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the patient, which totally disarms the practitioner and exposes entire cohorts of patients to danger.
What is needed in the art to encourage the abandonment of systemic antibiotic therapy to treat lung infections in the nosocomial patient is a means of delivering antibiotics directly into the distal airways of the lung. Such means should produce reliably high titers of antibiotics in the bronchial secretions in a short period of time so as to overwhelm all infectious organisms before selection processes can even begin to establish a population of resistant organisms. On the other hand, the invention should provide a reliable means of dose control to avoid "spillover" into the systemic circulation, pulmonary toxicity, and inadvertent exposure of medical personnel and other patients to escaped antibiotics.

Methods, devices and formulations for targeted endobronchial therapy

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York


(3S, 5S)-(-)-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanediol expressed by the following formula: ##STR1## and (3R, 5R)-(+)-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanediol expressed by the following formula: ##STR2## are disclosed, which are useful as reagents for asymmetric synthesis such as chiral auxiliary and chiral synthon.

This invention relates to novel optically active compounds useful as reagents for asymmetric synthesis such as chiral auxiliaries and chiralsynthon.
An optically active diol is very useful as a reagent for various asymmetric synthesis such as asymmetric source in the synthesis of optically active acetal or chiral auxiliary in a diastereo-differentiating Simmons-Smith reaction. The most representative compound among optically active diols heretofore used as a reagent for asymmetric synthesis is 2,4-pentanediol (hereinafter referred to as PD). Optically active PD, however, has a comparatively low melting point of 50.5.degree. C. In addition, it has very high moisture absorption property and can be hardly dried. Therefore, it is difficult to handle. Further, it possesses problems particularly when it is used for an anhydrous reaction. Accordingly, a novel optically active diol has been desired which is free from the above problems and has excellent properties as a reagent for asymmetric synthesis.


An apparatus for producing an optical fiber preform to perform the deposition process by modified chemical vapor deposition. The Apparatus comprises a main heat source location sensor (800) for detecting the location of a main heat source for heating a substrate tube 100, an additional supporting device control part (1000) wiredly or wirelessly connected to the main heat source location sensor (800), and an additional supporting device (1100) wiredly or wirelessly connected to the additional supporting device control part (1000) for supporting the substrate tube (100). The present invention reduces the effective length of the substrate tube (100) by additionally supporting the substrate tube (100), thereby minimizing the deflection of the substrate tube (100). Particularly, it is possible to considerably reduce the deflection of the substrate tube at its initial part and thus to achieve a high deposition efficiency. Accordingly, it is possible to mass-produce an optical fiber preform of high quality.

In general, the optical fiber preform is produced by modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD), outside vapor deposition (OVD) or vapor axial deposition (VAD) in which the preform is directly grown on the tip of a quartz bar.
The MCVD, the most widely used one of these methods, forms an optical fiber preform by depositing a core layer and a clad layer having different refractive indices in a quartz tube of a high purity. Here, the refractive indices are controlled by adjusting composition rates of deposited substances. That is, the refractive indices of the core and clad layers are controlled by differently adjusting the deposition rate of GeO2 to SiO2 in the composition used for the deposition of the core and clad layers.
The composition is usually supplied into the quartz tube by carrier gases and deposited while the outer surface of the quartz tube is heated to a temperature between 1300 to 1700° C. by a heat source such as gas torch. The gaseous reactant becomes the soot of SiO2 and GeO2 at such a high temperature.
While the soot of SiO2 and GeO2 passes through the quartz tube in the axial direction of the tube, a part of the soot is deposited on the wall of the quartz tube by thermophoresis and the rest thereof is discharged to the outside through a soot exhaust tube. The quartz tube with the sooty substance deposited on the wall is subjected to a collapsing process to produce a preform rod in the form of a cylinder and then a closing process to complete the entire process, thereby producing an optical fiber preform. Here, the quartz tube which is used to form optical fiber preform is called a substrate tube.
In recent years, there is a trend toward increased used of a horizontal lathe in the deposition process. A primary preform prepared in the deposition process using the horizontal lathe is subjected to the collapsing process and the closing process to form an optical fiber preform.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional apparatus for producing an optical fiber preform in which deposition process according to the modified chemical vapor deposition method is performed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional apparatus for producing an optical fiber preform includes a substrate tube 10, chucks 20 for holding hot ends of the substrate tube 10, supporting portions 30 for supporting respective chucks, a horizontal lathe 40 on which the support portions 30 are fixedly mounted, a main heat source 50 disposed on the horizontal lathe 40 between the supporting parts for beating substrate tube 10, a gas supply device 60 disposed outside the horizontal lathe for supplying gases to one end of the substrate tube 10, and a soot collector 70 disposed outside the horizontal lathe for collecting soot discharged Through a soot exhaust tube connected to the other end of the substrate tube.
Since the methods for producing an optical fiber preform by the conventional apparatus for producing an optical fiber preform having the above construction involve a high temperature deposition process, the mechanical strength and viscosity of the substrate tube 10 are reduced. Thus, in the process for producing a preform, the deposition should be carried out at a uniform rate and the outside diameter of the substrate tube 10 should be kept uniform while minimizing the deformation of the substrate tube 10 in the radial direction. However, the optical fiber preform produced by the conventional methods has elastic deformation and viscous deformation at the same time. That is, the finally produced substrate tube 10 deflects in proportion to the elastic deformation level, deposition time and viscous deformation level.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the deflection phenomenon of the substrate tube 10 produced by the conventional apparatus for producing an optical fiber preform, wherein the substrate tube deflects more when the deposition process is carried out repeatedly.
Moreover, the substrate tube and the deposition time should be longer with a higher temperature for mass production, and it makes deflection phenomenon of the substrate tube 10 to be severer. Thus, when the deflection of the substrate tube 10 is excessive, the production of an optical fiber preform itself is impossible, or the produced optical fiber preform, where it may be produced, cannot properly shows its function.

Apparatus for preventing deflection of substrate tube


A focus adjusting apparatus comprises a focus operating unit for generating a focus command signal for driving a focus lens according to an operating amount of the focus operating unit; a focus driving unit for driving the focus lens in response to the focus command signal from the focus operating unit; a focus position detecting unit for detecting a position of the focus lens; a focus detecting unit for detecting whether or not in-focus is achieved or detecting deviation amount from in-focus position; and an operation sensitivity determining unit for determining a focus operating sensitivity of the focus operating unit, wherein the operation sensitivity determining unit determines the focus operating sensitivity and the position of the focus lens, and wherein the focus driving unit drives the focus lens according to the focus operating sensitivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus adjusting apparatus for an image pickup apparatus, for example, a television camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a focus adjusting apparatus for an image pickup apparatus, for example, a television camera, focus adjustment is performed by a servo unit including a driving system (for example, motor) and a control system for controlling the driving system. In order to supply a commanding signal to the control system of the servo unit, a focus demand 18 as illustrated in FIG. 15 is used.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional focus adjusting apparatus for a television lens. An operating amount of the focus demand 18 is first detected. Then, a focus command signal from a zoom-focus operating circuit 17 which computes a focus command value and a focus position signal from a focus position detecting unit 10 are input to a lens controller 9. The lens controller 9 outputs, to a focus driver 13, a focus controlling signal for adjusting a difference between the focus command signal and the focus position signal to 0. Next, the focus driver 13 controls a focus motor 14 in response to the focus controlling signal to control a focus lens. In this case, the operating amount of the focus demand 18 and a driving amount of the focus lens have a linear relationship as illustrated in FIG. 17.
When the operating amount of the focus operating knob (focus demand) and the driving amount of the focus lens have the linear relationship, focusing sensitivity relative to the rotation amount (operating amount) of the focus operating knob increases under a condition in which an field depth is small. Therefore, there has been proposed a focus adjusting apparatus in which the focus driving amount relative to the operating amount of the focus operating knob is determined based on the field depth information (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3429050 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-36511).
However, when the focus driving amount relative to the operating amount of the focus operating knob is determined based on the depth information, the following problem arises. For example, when the field depth is small, focusing in the vicinity of an in-focus position is easy. However, in a case where a focus deviation amount is large, a focal position cannot reach the in-focus position unless the operating amount of the focus operating knob is increased.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method for recycling rare earth materials from dissimilar hard disk drives are provided. The system and method generally include scanning each hard disk drive, sorting and aligning each hard disk drive, rapid fastener removal or diversion to a metrology station, and the collection of separated value streams, optionally for formation into new magnetic stock. For each scanned hard disk drive having a match in an inventory database, the method includes the separation of an internal magnet from residual components. For each scanned hard disk drive lacking a match in the inventory database, the method includes generating a metrology data collection record containing the location of each fastener on multiple surfaces of the corresponding hard disk drive. The system and method are commercially scalable with the potential to generate between 600 and 700 metric tons of rare earth elements from a single processing facility annually, including neodymium for example.

Demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is increasing worldwide and REEs are becoming more expensive and difficult to acquire. Many commonly used technologies rely on REEs. For example, computer hard disk drives, electric vehicles, and electronic communication devices, as well as clean energy, transportation, and national defense applications rely heavily on permanent magnets utilizing critical REEs. Material criticality can result from several factors. If a material is scarce geologically, it can be costly to mine. In addition, mining can also be costly due to environmental considerations. Most REEs are not scarce, although it is not economic to mine them but in a very few locations worldwide.
REEs include seventeen chemical elements, specifically fifteen lanthanides, scandium and yttrium. The lanthanide neodymium is classified as a critical material by the U.S. Department of Energy due to potential supply disruptions. A decrease in the availability of neodymium and other REEs puts future technological growth and national defense capabilities at risk. Until recently, other economic sources of these materials were not being developed.
Hard disk drives are a prime target for REE recovery, however. Hard disk drives contain small amounts of REEs individually but are accessible in large quantities as end-of-life products. The rare earth element neodymium, alloyed with iron and boron (NdFeB), is a powerful permanent magnet used in the read/write mechanism of hard disk drives. The magnetic material in a hard disk drive accounts for 2% to 3% of its total mass, but greater than 25% of a hard disk drive's value. Other REEs of interest are also contained in hard disk drives, namely dysprosium (Dy) and praseodymium (Pr). These two REEs are more valuable than Nd but are found in even smaller quantities than Nd. Nearly 7 billion hard disk drives have been manufactured to date and several hundred million more are manufactured annually. Hard disk drives in commercial data centers are typically replaced every 3 to 5 years to maintain ultra-high reliability data storage.
Despite the fact that hard disk drives contain valuable materials, they are typically shredded to ensure secure data destruction. Once shredded, hard disk drives are sold to metal scrap recyclers as mixed metal waste and the rare earth materials are lost. The sheer number of hard disk drives manufactured each year represents a significant portion of rare earth magnets available for recycling. High throughput, low cost systems for rare earth magnet recycling could supply a significant portion of the demand for rare earth materials in the United States. Accordingly, there remains a continued need for high throughput, cost-effective systems and methods for the recovery of rare earth elements from hard drives and other end-of-life devices.

Hard disk drive dismantlement for critical material recovery


A network distance prediction method and apparatus, wherein the method includes communicating, with at least two reference nodes, to determine values of at least some elements in a local distance matrix; constructing, the local distance matrix based on the values of the at least some elements in the local distance matrix; performing, low-rank sparse factorization on the local distance matrix to obtain a low-rank matrix; obtaining, values of elements in a first element set of the low-rank matrix, to use the values as target values of network distances between the to-be-positioned node and the at least two reference nodes; communicating, with the reference nodes, to obtain coordinates of the reference nodes in a network coordinate system; and determining, coordinates of the to-be-positioned node.

A network coordinate system (NCS) is a scalable network distance prediction solution. There is a plurality of manners of defining a network distance. For example, a network distance may be a network delay, network bandwidth, or another measurable physical quantity. As shown in FIG. 1, a network usually includes a plurality of nodes. In a process of constructing a network coordinate system, each node participating in the construction of the network coordinate system may obtain one or more d-dimension vectors through a small amount of measurement. The one or more d-dimension vectors are coordinates of the node in the network coordinate system. Using an example in which the network coordinate system is a network coordinate system based on a Euclidean model, after coordinates of the plurality of nodes shown in FIG. 1 in the Euclidean coordinate system are determined, the plurality of nodes shown in FIG. 1 may be converted into the Euclidean coordinate system to obtain FIG. 2. Assuming that a network distance represents a network delay between two nodes, a network delay between a node 1 and a node 2 in FIG. 1 can be obtained by calculating a distance between a node 1 and a node 2 in FIG. 2.
The network coordinate system is characterized by high scalability and low measurement overheads and can predict a network distance, for example, information such as a network delay or network bandwidth, between any two nodes, according to a pre-defined calculation rule by using network coordinates of the two nodes. Measurement complexity of a network system including M nodes is O(M), and therefore the network coordinate system can predict network distances, for example, delays or bandwidth, between M(M−1) links through measurement whose complexity is O(M), so as to avoid a large amount of end-to-end measurement. The network coordinate system may be applied to a large-scale distributed network system, and can greatly reduce measurement complexity between nodes.
In some approaches, before a network coordinate system is used, coordinates of nodes in a network system need to be first determined in the network coordinate system. In addition, because a status of the network system dynamically changes, a node in the network coordinate system also needs to update coordinates of the node in the network coordinate system continuously. Specifically, a to-be-positioned node first selects a plurality of reference nodes (for example, 32 reference nodes) and then communicates with the reference nodes, to measure network distances between the to-be-positioned node and the reference nodes, for example, delays or bandwidth between the to-be-positioned node and the reference nodes. Further, the to-be-positioned node also receives coordinates of the reference nodes in the network coordinate system. In this way, the to-be-positioned node can fit coordinates of the to-be-positioned node in the network coordinate system based on the coordinates of the reference nodes in the network coordinate system and the measured network distances.
However, due to impact of factors such as random network delay pollution (that is, a random delay change caused by random fluctuation of network communication), a machine fault, or a measurement error, a network distance measured by the to-be-positioned node usually includes an error value and an outlier value. As a result, the coordinates fitted by the to-be-positioned node are inaccurate, causing a relatively large network distance error during subsequent prediction.

Network distance prediction method and apparatus


A process for producing a functional molecule includes a forming step which forms a modified nucleotide n-mer (where, n represents an integer) containing a modified nucleoside prepared by introducing a substituent into a nucleoside composing a nucleic acid; and a producing step which produces a modified oligonucleotide sequence by randomly polymerizing the modified nucleotide n-mer. A preferable embodiment thereof includes a selecting step which selects a sequence having an affinity to a target from the modified oligonucleotide sequence, a determining step which amplifies the selected modified oligonucleotide sequence and determines the base sequence thereof, and a translating step which translates the sequence of the modified oligonucleotide sequence on the basis of a relation table prepared by relating at least one of 4n kinds of nucleotide n-mers, which are presented in the relation table prepared by the one-to-one combination of 4 kinds of nucleosides, to a modified nucleotide n-mer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a functional molecule that shows a high affinity to various targets (targeted material), is easily amplified and replicated, is suitable for a wide range of fields such as drugs, drug delivery, biosensors, regulation of gene expression amount, conquest of diseases caused by an abnormal gene, elucidation of the function of the protein into which a gene is translated and development of reaction catalysts, and particularly suitable for analysis of the protein, and relates to a process for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In 2002, a draft of human whole gene information was published and in 2003, perfect information thereof is in a schedule to be elucidated. As a result, a central interest of researchers and scientists has shifted to an analysis of a protein being a gene product by a gene. The analysis of the protein become naturally possible by a presence of a molecule having an affinity to individual proteins targeted. Many kinds of proteins targeted for the analysis are present in a cell and many of them have completely unknown amino acid sequence and structure thereof. Therefore, many kinds of molecules are required for the analysis of the proteins.
However, at present, no process effective for preparing or obtaining the molecule used for the protein analysis has been known. The most common process, which has been known so far and is applied for obtaining the molecule having the affinity to a specific protein, is a process to select an affinity antibody by using an animal immune system. However, in this process, use of an animal requires a large amount of the protein, more number of steps, and a high cost. In addition, although the affinity antibody obtained through selection by this process can be replicated by making it as a monoclonal antibody followed by maintaining the cell, it requires a high cost and cannot be improved. Further, there is a problem in that only an affinity antibody having an affinity to the identical target can be selected. Therefore, selecting and obtaining each affinity antibody having an affinity to all kinds of proteins present in the cell is very difficult.
Recently many studies are conducted on selection of a molecule having a specific function from a nucleotide random sequence to identify the molecule on the basis of gene information thereof. As the result, many reports describe molecules having an affinity to a specific target and RNAs catalyzing a specific reaction.
However, a compositional unit number of a nucleotide is 4 in both RNA and DNA and, thus, kinds of functional groups present in a polymer thereof are very limited to limit naturally functions thereof. In order to solve this problem, a study by using a modified nucleotide has been carried out. However determining that a molecule, in which a specific site has received selectively a certain nucleotide, is the molecule requires removing a natural nucleotide, which is corresponding to the modified nucleotide, from an experimental system. As the result, the compositional unit number of the nucleotide is 4+1−1=4 making a radical solution impossible. Further, RNA is enzymatically very unstable and, thus, an attempt to synthesize a molecule having the same function by using a DNA, which is enzymatically stable, has been failed. In these cases, a molecule having an affinity to a specific target is obtained by repeated operation of amplification and purification and, therefore, it is at present difficult to synthesize many kinds of molecules.
On the other hand, in a study by using amino acid or an artificial material as a compositional unit to select the molecular by combinatorial chemistry, gene information, which is not contained in the molecule itself composed of the compositional unit, does not allow amplifying the sequence information. Therefore, determining the sequence of the molecule requires many steps.
Meanwhile, concerning the synthesis of the protein having the gene information, there is the study in which puromycin was introduced to a 3′ terminal of an mRNA (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-291491). This study was carried out by applying the property that puromycin is misunderstood as the amino acid in a translation system and apt to be incorporated easily in the protein. However, in this case, so far, an efficiency of puromycin incorporation is very low and, hence, there is only a report describing that the molecule was selected from a library of a random 3 residues of amino acids. Moreover, there is the problem in that even if the efficiency of puromycin incorporation is improved, the number of a library pool possible finally to become the protein having the gene information in a DNA random pool is very small. Such problem arises from the fact that a termination codon is present on a DNA random sequence in a proportion of 3/64 and a rare codon which is not preferred by the cell is present.

Functional molecule and process for producing the same


A sealing element system for a downhole packer reduces the tendency of the elements to extrude. Mechanical limits are provided to the amount of force that can be passed onto the uppermost and lowermost components of a sealing element system by providing a limit on the longitudinal compression available against a gauge ring. The gauge rings are roughened to also grab the uppermost and lowermost elements to fight the tendency to extrude. The uppermost and lowermost elements are configured with an external groove to control the way they deform into a sealing relationship with the tubing and casing so that extrusion into the gap is reduced.

A common problem with downhole packers is extrusion of the element into an annular gap between the packer body and the tubing or casing. The amount of extrusion is a function of the differential pressure, working temperature, and size of the gap to the casing inside diameter. The pressure and temperature rating of a packer is often determined at a time when the packing element has been pushed completely through the extrusion gap and begins to leak.
In the past, various metal rings or garter springs embedded in the elements at the top and/or bottom have been used to try to prevent extrusion of the packing elements. However, these techniques for reducing extrusion are undesirable in a mechanically set packer because the packer will not be resettable with these features. It is, therefore, desirable in a mechanically set packer that it be fully resettable in case the packer is accidentally set in the wrong location and needs to be moved.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a configuration for the sealing element system, particularly usable in a mechanically set packer, which minimizes extrusion in high-temperature and high-pressure applications. Another objective is to accomplish a reduction of extrusion by limiting the forces applied to the top and bottom components of the packing element assembly in a packer. Another object is to configure the uppermost and/or lowermost components of a packing element system in a packer so as to discourage extrusion when set. Yet another object is to configure the surrounding gauge rings in a manner to further reduce the tendency to extrude. These objects will be readily understood by those skilled in the art by a review of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below.

Downhole packer with element extrusion-limiting device


A tent cover retaining device is disclosed for tents having an exterior frame supporting a tent fabric. A hook extends integrally from each frame member, adjacent to a folding joint, and a rubber string secured to the tent cover is connected to the hook. This prevents the tent cover from slipping down when the frame members adjacent to the joint are folded with the joint upward. The tent cover of the folded tent is stabilized in position and is not permitted to slide loosely on the tubular tent frame component. This is particularly important when the tent is re-erected and the frame is unfolded.

Generally a foldable tent comprises a frame and a cover in combination. The frame in one type of construction has a radially extended and downwardly curved configuration, with the cover installed inside this framework, the connecting portions of the tent fabric cover being shaped as sleeves or tubes in order for them to be attached to the framework. U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,509 shows this general type of construction.
In the construction of such conventional tents, there is a problem in that each time a tent is folded, the cover tends to slip down at the joints, requiring the user to pull up and hold the cover in position each time the tent is folded and particularly when the tent is unfolded.
As shown in the prior art view of FIG. 4, the cover slips down along the frame as the frame is folded. The cover has to be pulled up when unfolding and erecting the tent. Further there is another disadvantage of the prior art tent in that the cover is always biased to one side after installation of the tent due to the longitudinal movements of the fabric sleeves.


The drive system connects a servomotor via a clutch to a shaft after the motor has started up from a standstill to a speed in synchronism with the supply frequency to the servomotor. The clutch may also be actuated to disengage the servomotor from the shaft when the servomotor is slowed to a predetermined speed during stopping of the servomotor. A transmission is employed between the servomotor and the shaft to compensate for any shocks to the motor when engaging the clutch.

As is known, electric motors which are controlled by way of a supply frequency are increasingly used in all kinds of textile machinery but are still under discussion for ring spinning machines.
Each individual spinning position of a ring spinning machine comprises three basic operative elements which must be moved, viz. a spindle, a drawframe and a ring carrier or ring bank. An individual spindle is usually associated with the spinning position but the drawframe and the ring bank extend over a number of spinning positions, as a rule, over the whole length of one side of the machine. For the reasons given hereinafter, endeavors have been made to "decentralize" the conventional central drive system of the ring spinning machine which has been in the form of a main driving motor having transmissions to distribute the driving power to the various operative elements.
The main reasons for these endeavors with respect to a single spindle drive are higher productivity, energy saving, noise reduction, higher speeds, and fewer yarn breakages.
For an individual drafting arrangement drive, the reasons are no change gears, simple and rapid control, the possibility of remote control and the possibility of fine adjustment.
When the three operative elements hereinbefore mentioned are considered individually, the endeavors have met with considerable success. A number of "individual drive systems" are available which drive the spindles individually (or in groups) and give the drafting arrangement its own independent drive. The ring bank can be moved either together with the drafting arrangement or by an independent drive. However, despite many such proposals, no individual drive system has yet been introduced in practice. Although the various decentralized drive systems for the spindles, drafting arrangement and ring bank can still be further improved or optimized, the main outstanding problems are the co-operation of these drives with one another and within the drive system of the drawframe, particularly for starting and stopping the machine. Deviations from the programmed speeds are very likely to occur in this phase and endanger the technological parameters of the spun yarn. Making a drive suitable for practical use is therefore a very difficult job. More particularly, the spindles have to be accelerated from a standstill to their operating speed (or brought to a standstill) with a programmed starting slope if yarn breakages are to be avoided. Further, the drafting arrangement (and ring bank) must so move relative to the spindles that no yarn breakages occur and the yarn quality produced during starting (and stopping) corresponds (is as near as possible the same as) the yarn quality produced in normal operation.
A drive system meeting these requirements must also be economic to produce if it is to be able to compete with conventional central drives.
It has long been known, for example, from DOS 2 203 833, that driving motors speed-controlled by way of the supply frequency offer possibilities of solving the problems mentioned. However, drive systems devised for such motors cannot readily meet all requirements. As soon as (or as long as) such a motor runs in synchronism with its supply frequency, the motor can be maintained (within its load limits) in a desired relationship to other such motors. However, a distinctive feature of such motors is that, if the motor is designed with a rational load bearing capacity, the motor either does not start immediately from a standstill (or decelerate to a standstill) in synchronism with the supply frequency and is instead uncontrollable below a critical speed (minimum speed or minimum frequency), and/or the motor cannot produce an adequate and exactly maintained acceleration torque from a standstill. This feature causes problems, particularly in connection with the driving of drafting arrangements, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
The drafting arrangement of a ring machine comprises a number of units consisting of cylinder/roller pairs. The inter-unit speed ratios determine compliance with the yarn count while the speed ratio between the front roller unit and the yarn-twisting spindle is decisive for the level of twist in the yarn. The units must start from a standstill and, a stoppage, return to a standstill "with gearwheel accuracy"--i.e., in a predetermined relationship of the angles of rotation. Also, the drafting arrangement requires a minimum starting acceleration because, at stoppage of the machine, the yarns preferably remain connected to the spindles and the spindles restart so rapidly that the yarns are tensioned and form a balloon. If the drafting arrangement cannot accelerate to its working speed fast enough in these conditions, mis-twisting and eventually massive yarn breakages occur. Also, for the same reasons, the rotations of the drafting cylinders and rollers should, at stoppage of the machine, be maintained until stoppage (or until a low speed) of the spindles. But, because of considerable differences between the moment of inertia of the spindles and that of the drafting arrangement, this requirement causes considerable problems.
Preferably, an "individual drafting arrangement drive system" comprises at least one drive for the front roller unit and one drive for the other drafting units and possibly even one drive per unit. The reasons hereinbefore set out make it impossible to embody such drive systems using low-cost motors speed-controlled by way of their supply frequency, without taking further action, to maintain the necessary relationships below a critical speed.
German O.S. 2 849 576 describes a drive system for a ring spinning machine or machines which includes two motors for each drafting unit. In addition, each motor is adapted to be coupled by way of a clutch and a belt connection to the corresponding drawframe unit. The control for these clutches is arranged to produce effects in the yarn; however, the control is not related to synchronization of the motors.