A secondary graphics processor control system includes a secondary graphics processor. A controller is coupled to the secondary graphics processor. The controller detects the start of an application that is associated with a secondary graphics processor and then determines a power capability of a battery. The controller then either prevents enablement of the secondary graphics processor if the power capability is below a predetermined threshold such that only a primary graphics processor processes graphics for the application, or allows enablement of the secondary graphics processor if the power capability is above the predetermined threshold such that the secondary graphics processor processing graphics for the application. The primary graphics processor may be an integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) provided by a system processor that is mounted to a board, and the secondary graphics processor may be a discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU) that is coupled to the board.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems (IHSs), and more particularly to a secondary graphics processor control system in an IHS.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Some IHSs utilize multiple graphics processors for processing graphics that are displayed on the IHS. For example, IHSs may include a system processor that provides a primary graphics processor, sometimes referred to as an integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU), along with a secondary graphics processor that is separate from the system processor/primary graphics processor, sometimes referred to as a discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU). The IHS may use only the primary graphics processor to process graphics when relatively less graphics intensive applications (e.g., email applications, productivity applications, web browsing applications, and/or a variety of other relatively less graphics intensive applications known in the art) are run on the IHS, and may use the secondary graphics processor to process graphics when more graphics intensive applications (e.g., gaming applications) are run on the IHS. Switching between processing graphics using the primary graphics processor and processing graphics using the secondary graphics processor has conventionally been performed using a switching algorithm that includes a list of applications that, upon launch, will result in the enablement of the secondary graphics processor for processing graphics for the IHS. If an application is launched that is not on the list of applications, the primary GPU will continue to process graphics for the IHS.
Enabling the secondary graphics processor in response to simply detecting the launch of an application on the list raises a number of issues. For example, the secondary graphics processor typically consumes much more power relative to the primary graphics processor, and automatically switching from the primary graphics processor to the secondary graphics processor to process graphics for the IHS may quickly deplete the IHS battery. This can result in a negative user experience when only IHS battery power is available to the IHS and a convenient power source with which to recharge the IHS battery is not available.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved secondary graphics processor control system.

Secondary graphics processor control system


An integrated circuit comprises scan test circuitry and additional circuitry subject to testing utilizing the scan test circuitry. The scan test circuitry comprises a scan chain having a plurality of scan cells. The integrated circuit further comprises a clock distribution network configured to provide clock signals to respective portions of the integrated circuit. The clock distribution network comprises at least one clock module comprising one or more clock dividers and associated clock divider logic, and the scan test circuitry is configured to permit testing of at least a portion of the clock divider logic. A given scan chain of the scan test circuitry may comprise first and second scan cells, with the first scan cell having a scan output coupled to a scan input of the second scan cell, and the second scan cell having a data input driven by an output of the clock divider logic.

Integrated circuits are often designed to incorporate scan test circuitry that facilitates testing for various internal fault conditions. Such scan test circuitry typically comprises scan chains comprising multiple scan cells. The scan cells may be implemented, by way of example, utilizing respective flip-flops. The scan cells of a given scan chain are configurable to form a serial shift register for applying test patterns at inputs to combinational logic of the integrated circuit. The scan cells of the given scan chain are also used to capture outputs from other combinational logic of the integrated circuit.
Scan testing of an integrated circuit may therefore be viewed as being performed in two repeating phases, namely, a scan shift phase in which the flip-flops of the scan chain are configured as a serial shift register for shifting in and shifting out of test patterns, and a scan capture phase in which the flip-flops of the scan chain capture combinational logic outputs. These two repeating scan test phases may be collectively referred to herein as a scan test mode of operation of the integrated circuit, or as simply a scan mode of operation. Outside of the scan test mode and its scan shift and scan capture phases, the integrated circuit may be said to be in a functional mode of operation. Other definitions of the scan test and functional operating modes may also be used.
Integrated circuits commonly include multiple clock domains. In an integrated circuit of this type, different portions of the integrated circuit are provided with different clock signals via a clock distribution network.

At-speed scan testing of clock divider logic in a clock module of an integrated circuit


The present invention discloses a disposable safety self-destruction insulin needle. The invention uses a sleeve-connected linkage structure and realizes an instant reset of the safety sleeve by means of the spring located in the middle axis so as to ensure that the needle tube is not exposed and preferably realizes a tilting and deflection of the self-destruction pressure base due to a plurality of flexible plates unevenly distributed on the inner wall in the needle base so as to finally ensure that the insulin needle cannot be used a second time, in so doing the safety self-destruction operation of the insulin needle is realized.

Document 1 whose patent N.O. is CN200620038771.0 and whose application date is 2006, Jan. 6, whose publication N.O. is CN2882649Y and whose publication date is 2007, Mar. 28, whose applicant is Wenzhoushi BeiPu Technology Limited Finn, discloses a needle for injection of insulin. The independent claim in Document 1 recites: it mainly comprises a needle base which is provided on the top end thereof with a needle tube, characterized in that the needle base is provided in the chamber thereof with an inner screw and has a diameter of 5 mm-50 mm, the needle tube is fitted over by a needle tube protection sleeve, the needle base is fitted over by a needle seat protection sleeve under an opening of which is provided with a dialysis paper.
The document discloses a conventional mechanism of an insulin injection needle, when using the conventional insulin syringe and pen-type insulin syringe, the needle point is exposed always in the air and therefore the problem with safety is caused apparently and the current insulin syringe has a defect inner structure which causes a result of repeatedly utilization of it after collection of it and hence a safety risk is left for a medical accident.

Disposable safety self-destruction insulin needle


The present invention relates to a cushioning device including an inflatable cushion having at least one side and first and second opposing surfaces, and at least one restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the at least one side of the inflatable cushion.

The present invention relates to a cushioning device, such as an overlay for a mattress, which includes an integrated restraint structure.
Therapeutic supports for bedridden patients have been well known for many years. Such therapeutic supports include inflatable mattresses and cushions, as well as a variety of foam mattresses and cushions. Most therapeutic mattresses and cushions are designed to reduce xe2x80x9cinterface pressures,xe2x80x9d which are the pressures encountered between the mattress and the skin of a patient lying on the mattress. It is well known that interface pressures can significantly affect the well-being of immobile patients in that higher interface pressures can reduce local blood circulation, tending to cause bed sores and other complications. With inflatable mattresses, such interface pressures depend (in part) on the air pressure within the inflatable support cushions. Most inflatable therapeutic mattresses are designed to maintain a desired air volume within the inflated cushion or cushions to prevent bottoming. xe2x80x9cBottomingxe2x80x9d refers to any state where the upper surface of any given cushion is depressed to a point that it contacts the lower surface, thereby markedly increasing the interface pressure where the two surfaces contact each other.
One type of therapeutic support is an inflatable cushion used as an overlay (i.e., a supplemental pad positioned on top of an existing structure, such as a mattress). For example, the Sof-Care(copyright) cushions of Gaymar Industries, Inc. are cushions which overlay an existing mattress and which include a multitude of lower individual air chambers and a multitude of upper individual air chambers with air transfer channels therebetween. Air is transferred through the interconnecting channels to redistribute the patient""s weight over the entire bed cushion. A three layer overlay cushion known as the Sof-Care(copyright) II cushion continually redistributes patient weight through more than 300 air-filled chambers and may include hand grips at the side of the cushion to assist in patient positioning. In these types of cushions, the individual air chambers remain pressurized.
There have also been provided cushion and pump combinations in which alternate air chambers are alternately inflated and deflated to relieve excess pressure on patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers or to relieve excess pressure on patients with pressure ulcers (e.g., the Airflo Alternating Pressure System of Gaymar Industries, Inc.). Micro-vents and/or low air loss tubes may also provided to produce a gentle flow of air beneath the patient to help minimize moisture build-up.
Rotating the patient on an inflatable mattress is also a well known method to avoid bed sores on immobile patients. Such a method is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,289 and 6,079,070, which are commonly assigned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,289 to Wortman et al. describes a mattress unit having a plurality of air cells. The mattress unit rotates a patient by controlling the air pressure in each air cell by inflation and deflation. To rotate a patient to its right side requires deflating the right air cells and inflating the left air cells. The air pressure required to rotate the patient depends on the patient""s weight, body type, and various other parameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,070 to Flick describes a cushion for use as an overlay that includes a pair of inflatable side-by-side upper cells, a pair of individually inflatable side-by-side lower bladders, a crib, and a manifold all disposed within a cover. For inclining the cushion upper surface to one side, one of the bladders is inflated while the other is uninflated.
However, when the overlay cushions described above are used in conjunction with an underlying structure, e.g., a separate mattress unit, the risk to the user of falling from the structure is increased. In particular, the overlay cushion adds to the height of the structure, thus increasing the risk. Moreover, the risk of falling from the structure is especially prevalent when an overlay cushion is used as part of a rotating mattress. In this situation, the weight of the user is being shifted toward one side of the mattress and, therefore, the risk of falling from the mattress in that direction is significantly increased. Since those users requiring a rotating mattress are typically unable to move well themselves, the added risk to these users is intensified.
One attempt to resolve the above-described risk of falling is the crib structure in U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,070 to Flick. In particular, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,070, the cushioning system includes a crib structure which provides a framework for receiving the inflatable portion of the cushioning system. The crib has two protruding leg covers and a base connecting the two leg covers extending beneath the inflatable portion of the cushion. The leg covers extend along the outer sides of the inflatable portion and receive bolster bladders. Alternatively, the crib structure may be composed of foam material.
Thus, the cushioning system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,070 is a multi-component system including two major components, an inflatable portion and a supporting crib. Each of these major components includes several sub-components, all of which must be placed within a cover. Therefore, this cushioning system requires on-site assembly, making it more difficult to use by untrained users, or must be delivered pre-assembled, which would require expensive and bulky packaging. Moreover, the production of a multi-component cushioning system increases manufacturing difficulties and costs.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a cushioning device for use as an overlay which includes an inexpensive and easy to use restraint system. The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.
The present invention relates to a cushioning device including an inflatable cushion having at least one side and first and second opposing surfaces, and at least one restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the at least one side of the inflatable cushion.
The present invention also relates to a cushioning system including an inflatable cushion having at least one side and first and second opposing surfaces, at least one restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the at least one side of the inflatable cushion, and an inflation device operably connected to the inflatable cushion.
The present invention also relates to a method for restraining a user on a cushion. This method involves positioning a cushioning device on a supporting structure, the cushioning device including an inflatable cushion having at least one side and first and second opposing surfaces, and at least one restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the at least one side of the inflatable cushion. Then, a user is positioned on first surface of the inflatable cushion, and the inflatable cushion is inflated.
The cushioning device of the present invention provides a simple, one-piece device for home or hospital use for providing pressure relief so that pressure ulcers may be eliminated or retarded. The integrated restraint structure in the cushioning device eliminates the need for multiple components, thereby eliminating the need for on-site assembly of the cushioning device. In addition, the elimination of the need for multiple components in the cushioning device makes the device easy to use for an untrained user. Further, the integrated restraint structure in the cushioning device decreases costs of manufacture.

Cushioning device including a restraint structure


A process for vibration analysis, including the steps of: receiving synchronized motion measurements of particle motion in two or three orthogonal dimensions over a selected period of time at a plurality of different measurement locations; and determining one or more strain waveforms in the orthogonal dimensions in regions spanning the plurality of measurement locations using the motion measurements.

Blasting events generally cause damage and stresses in the ground and/or in man-made structures, that extend beyond the immediate area or region of the event, e.g., outside the perimeter of a mining excavation. For example, blast vibration in open pit mines is a contributor to highwall damage, and failure of such walls can cause loss of reserves and interruptions to mine production. Poor stability and failure can be expensive, requiring recovery of ore by clean-up operations, modification of a mine plan, construction of new ramps, installation of extra ground support, and lost production during the remediation period. In underground mines, blast vibration can cause instability in large open stopes, caving operations and mine development tunnels.
It can therefore be desirable to measure vibrations in an attempt to determine whether an amount of vibration due to one or more events, e.g., blasting events, may lead to instability.
In existing systems and processes, vibrations in structures have typically been analysed based on measured motions of the particles in the structures, and subsequent determination of the peaks in velocity, acceleration or displacement of the particles, referred to as the peak particle velocity (PPV), the peak particle acceleration (PPA) or the peak particle displacement (PPD). Once determined, the PPV, PPA and/or PPD can be compared to preselected or predefined acceptable upper limits on peak velocity, acceleration or displacement to determine a likelihood of possible instability or damage in parts of the structure. These acceptable upper vibration velocity, acceleration and displacement limits are, however, difficult to determine accurately, appropriately and consistently, e.g., for each particular application or operation, and selecting incorrect PPV, PPA or PPD limits can be problematic. On the one hand, if the blast vibration limit (i.e., the preselected PPV, PPA or PPD limit) is too low, the cost of the operation can be unnecessarily high. On the other hand, if the vibration limit is too high, it can result in unsafe practices and undesirable damage to the natural structure (e.g., the rock or soil) and/or to other nearby structures including man-made structures.
Some existing systems and processes may use particle velocity to estimate deformation in a structure, such as strain in rock; however, the inventors have realised that these systems typically assume that the strain is linearly proportional to the particle velocity at a point, and thus may not be sufficient for estimating stress and strain in the vicinity (e.g., within a few vibration wavelengths, which can be referred to as being in the near field) of a vibration source (e.g., a blast point or focus) and/or due to relatively rapid transient events, e.g., blasting events.
The motions of the particles in the structure or structures can be related to each other through various forms of mechanical waves such as particle displacement, particle velocity, particle acceleration vibration waves, stress waves or strain waves propagating in the structure(s). The mechanical waves can also be referred to as motion waves.
Some existing systems and processes may use simple wave models (e.g., based on spherical, cylindrical and/or plane waves) to estimate propagation of the motion waves in structures (e.g., for plane waves it is based on a one-dimensional (1D) relationship between particle velocity and strain at each point); however, these simple models may be insufficient for determining the stress and strain caused by a relatively rapid event, such as a blast, and/or in the near field of the vibration source. Furthermore, for blasting, simple wave models may be unsuitable if blast holes are loaded with various different explosive types, if the explosives are delayed individually (i.e., they have different timing), or if the geology of the structure contains layers of different materials and/or other non-uniform structural or material zones. Non-uniformity in the structure (e.g., the blast medium) can cause propagating waves to be reflected, refracted, and transformed between modes, e.g., between waves in the medium and surface waves on the surface of the medium, and between waves of different types. The different types of waves include primary (P) waves (also referred to as compressional waves) whose particle motion is in the direction of propagation, secondary (S) waves (also referred to as shear waves) whose particle motion is perpendicular to the direction of propagation and which can have different polarisations, and surface waves such as Rayleigh (R) waves whose particle motion is elliptical, Love (L) waves and other waves that travel as guided waves.
It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.


According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked structure, a select gate electrode, a semiconductor pillar, a memory layer, and a select gate insulating film. The stacked structure includes a plurality of electrode films stacked in a first direction and an interelectrode insulating film provided between the electrode films. The select gate electrode is stacked with the stacked structure along the first direction and includes a plurality of select gate conductive films stacked in the first direction and an inter-select gate conductive film insulating film provided between the select gate conductive films. The semiconductor pillar pierces the stacked structure and the select gate electrode in the first direction. The memory layer is provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar. The select gate insulating film is provided between the select gate conductive films and the semiconductor pillar.

In conventional nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, device elements are integrated in a two-dimensional plane on a silicon substrate. Increasing its memory capacity requires miniaturization of the dimensions of each single element. However, such miniaturization has recently been difficult in terms of cost and technology.
In this context, a collectively processed three-dimensional stacked memory has been proposed. This collectively processed three-dimensional stacked memory includes a stacked structure with insulating films and electrode films alternately stacked therein, silicon pillars piercing the stacked structure, and a charge storage layer (memory layer) provided between the silicon pillar and the electrode film. Thus, a memory cell is formed at the intersection between the silicon pillar and each electrode film. Furthermore, it is also proposed to use a U-shaped memory string connecting two silicon pillars on the substrate side. In such a collectively processed three-dimensional stacked memory, there is room for improvement to further increase the productivity.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same


An oral care implement comprising a head and a handle coupled to the head, the head comprising a first face having a plurality of cleaning elements extending therefrom, wherein the plurality of cleaning elements comprises at least one bristle tuft positioned on a longitudinal axis of the head and having a distal end remote from the first face, wherein the at least one bristle tuft comprises bristles of varying lengths so as to form a cup-shaped recess at the distal end of the bristle tuft, the plurality of cleaning elements further comprising a plurality of cleaning elements which are substantially V-shaped in plan, positioned in series on the longitudinal axis of the head wherein a concave side of each said V-shaped cleaning element faces towards the bristle tuft.

Various toothbrushes are known in the art which have a variety of head constructions and arrangements of cleaning elements. However, it would be desirable to provide a toothbrush which is able to provide improved cleaning of oral surfaces, and effective cleaning of hard-to-reach areas in the mouth such as the back teeth.


Molding apparatus for forming and preparing frozen food products from liquids having at least one or more containers forming compartments for freezing the liquids has coacting cover and holder assemblies for each of the containers shaped to define a reservoir for collecting portions of melted frozen food product and having an elongated member connected in the generally longitudinal line of the cover and holder assembly so that the portion thereof exterior of the cover and holder assembly forms a handle and the portion extending through the interior of the cover and handle assembly forms an anchor on which the frozen food product is formed so that the frozen food product and the cover and holder assembly can be removed together, to enable the frozen food product to be consumed, and a passageway in the anchor having one end in communication with the reservoir in the cover and holder assembly and the opposite or remote end forms an access opening, and a removable or consumable sealing member maintains the passageway normally closed until the access opening end of the passageway is exposed during consumption of the frozen food product. The removable or consumable sealing member may be an edible confection, a formed plug, a rod which respectively fit or occlude the opening in the concealed access opening end and the adjacent portion of the passageway.

This invention relates generally to molding apparatus and the elements thereof for preparing frozen food products from liquids and solutions, and more particularly to a cover and holder assembly operatively connectible in the molding apparatus and removable with the frozen food product such that, after the frozen food product has been removed from the molding apparatus and is being consumed, the melted portions thereof can be collected in the cover and holder assembly and suctioned or drawn off by the consumer of the frozen food product.
Molding apparatus for forming and preparing frozen food products are known in the prior art.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,175 one such molding apparatus is shown which includes, associated cap members having handle members, anchor members for connecting the cap members to the formed frozen food product and so shaped that, when they are removed from the molding apparatus with the frozen food product, such cap members serve as drip trays for melted portions of the frozen food product. And straw members are provided on each cap member so the user or consumer of the frozen food product can draw off the collected and melted food product in the conventional manner.
The straw member for each respective cap member in the molding apparatus as shown in Pat '175 is connected to and formed on the outer surface of the associated cap member and communicates at one end with the interior of the cap member where the melted frozen food product collects. The straw member extends along the exterior side of the cap member so that the opposite open end is exposed adjacent to and above the top rim of the cap member. This permits the melted frozen food product to be drawn off by sucking on the open end of the straw member in the conventional manner but requires that the consumer lift the cap member to the consumer's mouth, which places the frozen food product squarely in front of the consumer's face when this is done.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,123 purports to show the combination of a frozen confection, and a cup member having a collecting reservoir. A centrally aligned member in the cup member has a portion exterior of the cup member in assembled position acting as a handle and the portion along the interior of the cup member serves as a pipette. The pipette portion in assembled position has one open end covered and in the frozen confection. The end remote from the end in the frozen confection communicates by suitable passage means with the collecting reservoir on the cup member. This patent suggests that when the open end of the pipette is exposed during the consumption of the frozen confection, the user or consumer of the frozen confection can then draw off the melted portion of the frozen confection collected in the cup member and its reservoir. However, this design is essentially inoperable because those skilled in the art will recognize that when conventional freezing processes at atmospheric pressure, the pipette will fill up with the liquid or other solution from which the frozen confection is made, and such liquid or solution will freeze in the pipette and remain in this frozen condition because of the frozen product which surrounds the pipette during consumption of the frozen product. Therefore, contrary to the statements made in Pat '123, this assembly cannot function to accomplish withdrawing of the collected melted frozen food product nor can it be used to achieve the results of the cap assembly for the molding apparatus as shown in Pat '175.
In the present invention an improved cover and holder assembly is provided for use in molding apparatus forming a frozen food product and for holding the frozen food product which achieves more beneficial results than are shown and described in Pat '175 and overcomes the problems inherent in the cup assembly as shown and disclosed in Pat '123.

Molding apparatus for forming frozen food product and composite cover and holder for use therein


An apparatus for a mass spectrometer comprises: a set of four rod electrodes defining an ion occupation volume therebetween having entrance and exit ends, at least one of the rod electrodes having a slot passing therethrough; first and second ion optics disposed adjacent to the entrance and exit ends, respectively; a voltage supply system; and at least one supplemental electrode disposed at least partially within the at least one slot, wherein the voltage supply system is configured so as to supply a radio-frequency (RF) voltage, a direct-current (DC) filtering voltage and an oscillatory dipole resonant ejection voltage across members of the set of rod electrodes and so at to supply a secondary ion-trapping RF voltage and a secondary DC filtering voltage to the at least one supplemental electrode and to supply DC voltages across the rod electrodes and each of the first and second ion optics.

Quadrupole mass filters have been widely used for decades for routine mass spectrometric analysis of a variety of substances, including small molecules such as pharmaceutical agents and their metabolites, as well as large biomolecules such as peptides and proteins. More recently, two-dimensional radial-ejection ion traps (also known as "linear ion traps") have achieved widespread use (see, e.g., Schwartz et al., "A Two-Dimensional Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer", J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrometry, 13: 659-669 (2002)). Generally described, such quadrupolar mass-analysis devices are grossly similar in structure and consist of four elongated electrodes, each electrode having a hyperbolic-shaped surface, arranged in two electrode pairs aligned with and opposed across the centerline midway between each electrode pair.
In both linear ion traps and quadrupole mass filters, there are four parallel rods, each spaced from a central axis, and typically shaped with hyperbolic or round rod profiles. Generally, the long dimension of the rods defines a Z-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system. Opposite phases of an RF voltage are applied between the rods separated in the X dimension, versus those separated in the Y dimension. This applied RF voltage affects the movement of ions in the X and Y dimensions, including the containment of the ions within the device. For linear ion trap operation, an axial containment field is added either through lens elements, or rod segments, to which an additional DC voltage can be applied to contain ions along the Z dimension.
In operation of quadrupole mass filter (QMF) devices, ions comprising a range of mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios are introduced into an entrance end of the apparatus along trajectories that are roughly parallel to the centerline. By properly choosing the magnitude of DC and RF voltages applied to the rods, the range of ions that pass completely through the apparatus can be restricted to only a desired narrow m/z range. The ions so transmitted may then be detected by a detector aligned so as to intercept ions that pass entirely through the apparatus, from one end to another. The detector generates a signal representative of the number of transmitted ions. The detector signals are conveyed to a data and control system for processing and generation of a mass spectrum.
In one form of linear ion trap device used for mass analysis, at least one of the electrodes of an electrode pair is adapted with an aperture (slot) extending through the thickness of the electrode or electrodes in order to permit ejected ions to travel through the aperture to an adjacently located detector. Ions are radially or transversely confined within the ion trap interior by applying opposite phases of a radio-frequency (RF) voltage to the electrode pairs, and may be axially or longitudinally confined by applying appropriate DC offsets to end sections or lenses located axially outward of the electrodes or central sections thereof. To perform an analytical scan, typically a dipole resonant excitation voltage is applied across the electrodes of the apertured electrode pair (often referred to as the X-electrodes because they are aligned with the X-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, which is oriented such that X and Y are the radial axes of the trap and Z is the longitudinal axis extending along the trap centerline) while the amplitude of the RF voltage is ramped. This operation causes the trapped ions to come into resonance with the applied excitation voltage in order of their m/z ratios (m/z's). The resonantly excited ions develop unstable trajectories and are ejected from the trap through the aperture(s) of the X-electrodes to the detectors.
Each class of quadrupole mass analyzer—either quadrupole mass filters or linear ion traps—is associated with its own unique advantages. Ion traps are known for their high sensitivity for full-scan mass analysis, the ability to do iterated fragmentation and analysis (MSn) experiments, and their high scan speed. Quadrupole mass filters are known for their ultimate sensitivity and limits of detection for targeted compound analysis and quantization. This disclosure relates to creating a single device that can act as both a linear ion trap and a quadrupole mass filter and thus can achieve the combination of performance characteristics, while saving the cost and complexity of having two separate devices within a mass spectrometer instrument. This creates a versatile device which has the ideal qualitative capabilities of ion traps while additionally maintaining the quantitative performance aspects of a QMF.
It is known that the slots necessary for linear ion trap operation cause a perturbation to the electric field and distort it away from the pure linear field. Various ways have been proposed to compensate for the deleterious performance effects of apertures put into the electrodes of ion trap apparatuses, including both three-dimensional (3D) ion traps (e.g., Paul traps) as well as linear ion traps. In some currently-available commercial linear ion trap systems, compensation for the effects of the slots is accomplished by stretching the electrode spacing outward from the theoretical optimum spacing for non-slotted hyperbolic rods. Essentially, this method of compensation introduces primarily positive octopolar and dodecapolar higher order (non-linear) fields, which compensates for the negative field distortions created by the slots. However, this method of compensation can not yield complete cancellation of the non-linear higher order fields. As a result, in the current implementation, often, some over compensation occurs, which still leaves some higher order fields for effective performance. Although the apparatus that is compensated in this fashion can operate well as an ion trap mass analyzer, it is desirable, for QMF operation, to be able to generate an RF field that is, essentially, as pure a quadrupole potential (linear field) as possible. Moreover, such compensation mechanisms are not readily adjustable. Preferably, any field distortion compensation mechanism should be adjustable in a fashion so as to be able to compensate for the effects of the ejection slot (so as to achieve optimum ion trap performance) while also being able to make the appropriate field corrections for operation in QMF mode, since these two modes of operation may have different field compensation requirements. The adjustment mechanisms could be employed both in real-time during instrument operation and also during instrument calibration so as to correct for distortions introduced by manufacturing mechanical defects.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,415,617 teaches one approach to achieving functionality as both an ion trap and a QMF by requiring the slots to be configured such that a four-fold symmetry is achieved, thereby resulting in a negligible octopole field component and a predominant dodecapole or icosapolar field distortion. Although this symmetrical configuration significantly reduces the level of field distortion, the residual non-linear fields caused by the slots can still have a deleterious effect on QMF performance. To allow the same structure to also operate as a more-ideal quadrupole mass filter (QMF) theoretically requires even further correction, requiring a more pure linear (quadrupolar) electric field, with near-complete cancellation of all non-linear fields.
The goal of providing the highest level of field correction, along with operationally-adjustable compensation leads to compensation methods which are more local to the slots, versus a global adjustment like stretching of the rod spacing as described above, or changing of the hyperbolic asymptote angles as is employed in some three-dimensional ion trap devices. One such approach that has been considered with regard to 3D ion traps is to put local protrusions, or bumps, adjacent to the slots. Such an approach has been described, for example, in United States pre-grant publication No. 2004/0195504 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,658 in which local electrode bumps are used for field tailoring in order to optimize 3D ion trap performance. Although this approach shows some promise, it is limited in regard to the present objectives in that it does not readily allow adjustment of the field compensation when different compensations are needed for ion trap versus QMF mode. This approach is further limited in that it does not allow for general field-distortion correction, including correction of distortions introduced by manufacturing mechanical defects, for any given device.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,415,617 teaches using "shim" electrodes to achieve correction of field distortions due to the holes in the endcap electrodes of a 3D ion trap. This concept consists of using an additional electrode which is inserted into the aperture, to which a voltage can be applied. This voltage can compensate for the potential fall off caused by the existence of the hole in the endcap electrode, thereby flattening the equipotential contour to produce a more pure quadrupolar potential and associated linear field. The present inventor has realized that a similar concept may be extended to a linear ion trap, thereby allowing the same apparatus to also be used as a QMF.

Method and apparatus for a combined linear ion trap and quadrupole mass filter


A method for continuously producing corrugated sheet from a supply of material having low melt strength at the forming temperature includes a heater, a pair of interdigitated thermo-forming rollers for corrugating the sheet as it exits the heater and a closely coupled calibrator at the outlet end of the thermo-forming rollers. A carrier maintains lateral tension on the sheet as it is heated, thermo-formed and calibrated so as to maintain its uniform lateral width. The thermo-forming rollers and calibrator form and maintain the corrugations until the material cools to below the glass transition temperature. A method for producing the corrugations is likewise disclosed.

The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for thermo-forming sheet material, and particularly to a method and apparatus for corrugating amorphous materials having low melt strength at forming temperatures.
High melt strength sheet materials may be corrugated by drawing or extruding heated sheet material through a calibrator having the profile corresponding to the desired final shape. Low melt strength materials may not be readily formed by this method because pulling or drawing forces may exceed the strength of the material above the glass transition temperature. If the material is extruded below the glass transition temperature, the pulling force may be excessive and, in addition, the sheet material may be damaged by the calibrator or extruder friction. One way to reduce the friction is to use rollers to deform the sheet material. However, certain materials such as polycarbonates have the tendency to shrink back from the deformed shape as the material cools below the glass transition temperature.
The use of deforming rollers and a calibrator has also proved ineffective because the materials tend to pull back from the deformed shape before calibration can be effected. Thus, although the rollers prevent initial damage, the calibrator friction causes damage.
A need therefore exists for a method and apparatus for corrugating sheet material having low melt strength at forming temperatures.


A system for packaging a medical implant may include a sleeve for housing the implant within a cavity in the sleeve, with at least a portion of the cavity conforming to the shape of the implant. A flexible material film may cover and substantially conform to the shape of the sleeve so as to aid in stabilizing the sleeve and implant within an outer package. An insertion instrument for inserting the implant within the body of a patient may also be provided with the system. In some embodiments, the sleeve, with the implant inserted in the cavity of the sleeve, is configured for manipulation by a user without contacting the implant, and the implant is connectable to the insertion instrument while in the sleeve.

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for packaging a medical device. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to packages for holding a medical implant and processes for making said packages.
Conventional implant packages rely on a void-filling approach to protect their contents. The void-filling approach entails stabilizing the contents within a rigid plastic package with a variety of foams and padding materials. The foam and padding materials essentially fill the void between the implant and the inner surfaces of the rigid plastic package. The rigid plastic package is then sealed with lidstock material.
The void-filling approach requires the use of multiple foam components. These components are usually bulky and generate a considerable volume of package waste. Additionally, implants packed in foam can be difficult to remove without premature or accidental exposure to biological material on surgical gloves since the foams are intended to provide a tight fit to cushion the package and the implant. The void-filling approach also requires some manual processes, which are prone to error and typically result in a long packaging process time.
Packages filled with foam also experience problems during transportation. As a package is transported, the foam contained within the package may compress due to the repeated motion experienced during shipping. As a consequence, heavy implants packed in foam must be packed very tightly. Compressed foam allows more implant motion within the package. This implant motion may damage the implant and/or the package and negate the sterile barrier. Once the sterile barrier of a package has been compromised, the medical implant contained within that package cannot be used in surgery. What's more, if a medical implant has been contaminated and the physician has no back-up medical implant on hand, surgery could be delayed.
Foams used in void-filling packages may jeopardize the sterility of the medical implants in other ways. For instance, friction between the foam and the medical implant can abrade the foam and generate particulate. Moreover, when the medical implant is packed tightly with foam to reduce implant motion, the foam may occasionally adhere to the package lidstock during the sealing process. As a result of this improper adhesion, the foam may scorch or shear apart when the package is opened by the end user. Both of these situations may endanger the implant sterility. If the implant has been contaminated and no back-up implant is readily available, surgery could be delayed.
Although implant packages like the void-filled implants packages are well known in the art, improvements are always possible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides techniques for high speed electrical simulation of circuits. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a delay path can be divided into sub-paths called simulation paths. Each simulation path is simulated separately to determine its contribution to the overall delay in the path. According to another embodiment of the present invention, linear and non-linear loads are modeled using linear circuit models to further increase the speed of the simulator. According to another embodiment, driver circuits are simulated using non-linear circuit models. Before a simulation is performed, sample input and output values for the non-linear models are computed and stored in memory. When a circuit design is simulated, the input and output values are accessed from the memory. Intermediate values are determined by interpolating from the values stored memory.

This invention relates to techniques for simulating circuits, and more particularly, to techniques for simulating circuits at high speeds.
Electronic circuits can be simulated using computer aided design (CAD) software such as HSPICE. A user can build a software model of a circuit design in HSPICE. HSPICE can test the software model by applying input signals and plotting the output signals of the model.
However, CAD simulation tools such as HSPICE can be very slow, especially when modeling circuit designs that contain several non-linear circuit elements. Complex equations are typically needed to accurately describe the behavior of non-linear circuit elements. HSPICE uses iterative approaches to solve these complex equations. Using iterative approaches to solve complex equations can be time consuming.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide techniques for simulating circuit designs at higher speeds.

High speed techniques for simulating circuits


A container with side and end walls, a top and a bottom, has a closure with a panel movable outwardly perpendicular to a plane of the closure, from a closed and substantially sealed position to a closed and substantially unsealed position to disengage the seal before undertaking a more gross opening movement in which the panel is moved clear of the opening. In one embodiment, a container is provided with a rear or end wall that in its gross movement hinges open and closed to clear or close an opening between container side walls. At least two hinges are mounted between the movable rear wall and a support plate on a sidewall adjacent to the movable rear wall. The support plate is constrained to move perpendicular to the plane of the door opening, shifting the rear wall between a closed and substantially sealed position and a closed and substantially unsealed position. In this manner the seal is subjected only to compression and decompression, with the movable rear wall or top lid in each case being free move open or closed without interference with the seals. A container door stop assembly and pressure release assembly are also provided.

The invention relates to containers for cargo such as bulk waste material, especially intermodal containers, and more particularly concerns a container having a closure mechanism with a panel mounted for displacement perpendicular to the plane of the closure, in addition to being mounted for hinging or sliding, to facilitate sealing.
Bulk materials, finished products, parts and components, and also waste materials are frequently transported in large containers that preferably seal tightly when closed. Although there are a number of standard sizes, particularly for intermodal containers, a typical container is approximately twenty feet long, six to eight feet wide and four to twelve feet deep.
Such containers advantageously are openable at the top to facilitate loading and unloading. U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,643xe2x80x94Kruzick, for example, discloses a box-like container having a movable top panel or lid that covers an opening occupying a large portion of the top. The lid can be displaced to either side of the container on a roll track, and upended. When closed or moved over the opening, clamps permit the lid and the roll track to be pulled down against the container against spring pressure, for compressing a resilient seal around the perimeter of the opening.
Another container structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,129xe2x80x94Lindley, wherein the top of the container is open but an end door provides an alternative path for loading, as well as dumping of the contents by tipping the container at an appropriate site to discharge the contents through the end. The door defines one full end of the container and is attached to the ends of the opposite side walls on a vertical hinge at the end of one side wall, and a latching mechanism at the other side wall.
Containers as described may be subject to very rough handling and must be of a sturdy construction. The two containers cited above are structured much like dumpsters in that they can be pulled onto a carrying vehicle having a ramp or tiltable flat bed, or urged onto a vehicle by backing a tilting support under a container held at a stop. Such containers are frequently pushed about. They may be handled with fork trucks and are sometimes dropped or at least set down very hard in handling. Materials may be dumped violently into the containers when loading. During normal use, damage and misalignment can occur, particularly in the lids and doors, and their associated seals. Damage to the lids, doors or their seals can result in leakage from the container, and ingress of water.
Containers may be designed with standardized fittings that enable alternative ship, rail and road transport. The fittings are positioned to be engaged by standard locating and fixing pins or hooks of a container in a staging area or on a vehicle placed at a defined position. To support the container when moved from a vehicle to the ground, and vice-versa, the container may have slide runners or rails along the bottom or roll-off hoist structures such as undercarriage wheels. For applying the necessary lateral force via a cable, chain or grasper, a post or hook can be secured to the frame or undercarriage of the container, to receive a hook or cable bight, etc.
Whether the container is structured to be moved in one way or another, moving the container, as well as loading and unloading the container, may generate considerable internal force and stress. The container is most capable of resisting forces that might deform the container if the walls and joints of the container are continuous and well braced. The container is vulnerable to deformation to the extent that closures are provided because the closures are discontinuities in the structure of the container. With respect to loading and unloading, the closure areas are also vulnerable to being struck with falling material or bumped and banged by loading and unloading manipulators.
Where a container closure encompasses a structural wall of the container such as the end wall in the Lindley container mentioned above, the closure must be as heavy and durable as a structural wall, and should be mounted to provide secure mechanical connections of the closure panel with the container structures adjacent to each opening. The container closure also needs to maintain an adequate seal, for example a watertight seal. Often, the objects of providing a heavy closure are inconsistent with the need to provide a good seal.
In the case of a container used for potentially hazardous waste, it is particularly important that the door and lid be sealed in a manner that will not permit accidental seepage of the contents. However, for contents that are not generally considered hazardous, a seal may also be important to prevent water from gaining ingress and damaging the contents. For some materials, water in the container may leach chemical agents from the contents, and the leachate can be a problem.
Large waste containers preferably are transportable by rail if desired, where maximum container height limits are set by federal regulations. Height regulations also apply to over-the-road transport. In addition to the foregoing considerations or mechanical strength and effective sealing, it is desirable that any top lid cover the entire top opening in one piece. It is desirable that the lid and the mechanism for supporting the container lid project above the container as little as possible. Another advantageous aspect would be to provide a lid mechanism that can be handled by a single person.
Containers with end door closures are dumped by opening a door at one end of the waste container, and raising the other end of the container so that the contents slide through the open door by gravity. Dumping containers often have a horizontal hinge at the top of a pivoting door panel, which structure is useful in that the hinge mounting structurally supports the container by fixing the distance between the sidewalls adjacent to the door. However, such a door interferes with access for loading and unloading through the end. In the Lindley container, the hinge axis is vertical. The door is hinged to one of the container sidewalls and is latched to the other. This arrangement places substantial stress on the hinge-side container sidewall. The weight of the door is cantilevered. When the door is pivoted to or near to the closed position, the weight of the door produces a force tending to sway the container hinge axis inwardly and cause the door to droop across the opening. As the door is swung open or closed, the direction of the swaying force varies, stressing the side wall. When the door is closed, it is necessary for the latch side to engage securely to support the weight of the door.
Moreover, the relative movement of a vertically hinged door panel wears the seals. Releasing the latching engagement of the door can result in damage to the seal as the disengaged door panel drops downwardly around a point at the bottom of the door hinge axis. As the door drops at the latch side, the portions of the door and container defining the seal grind over one another in the plane of the end opening. Such grinding wear on the seal is difficult to avoid. Even if the vertically hinged door does not droop at all, the motion of the door panel is rotational about its hinge axis. Rotation around the hinge axis translates into at least a slight relative displacement in the plane of the opening, namely displacement of the door panel relative to a seal strip on the ends of the container side walls (or vice versa) as the seal is compressed. The relative motion is perpendicular to the opening only at the precise point at which the door panel is at the nominal closed position, typically perpendicular to the container side wall. The seal is engaged by the door panel over an arc of the door panel as the door panel contacts and then compresses the seal, which grinds at the seal.
There is a need for a simple, durable and reliable mechanism for permitting the cover or lid of a large container to be easily manipulated between a locked and sealed position and an open position clear of the corresponding container opening, while optimizing sealing. There is also a need for a relatively durable end closure that can provide a reliable seal in a variety of conditions and which is easily used without normal operation causing undue wear on the seal.
According to an inventive aspect, a container that comprises a plurality of sidewalls, a top and a bottom, is provided with a sealing closure in at least one of the walls or portion of the top, comprising a door or panel that is mounted for movement perpendicularly inwardly and outwardly of the closure plane, for moving between a closed-but-unsealed position and a closed-and-sealed position, and additionally is provided with a gross mounting structure for moving the door or panel more generally from the closed-but-unsealed position to an open position substantially clear of the opening.
In one embodiment of the invention, a container is provided that comprises sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a top wall defining an opening. A movable lid that is sized to cover and sealingly close the opening is positioned upon the top wall. At least two guides are positioned on the top wall adjacent to the opening, spaced apart from one another and movable between a first position and a second position. A carriage is mounted on the lid which rides upon the guides wherein the guides and the carriage cooperate to enable the lid to move between (i) a closed and substantially sealed position corresponding to the first position of the guides and (ii) a closed and substantially unsealed position corresponding to the second position of the guides wherein the lid is free to be slid upon the guides. The lid can slide or roll on the guides, and preferably is carried on rollers that are captive in the guides, above and below, and permit the lid to be moved to either side and upended to open the container. Preferably, the guides are displaceable perpendicularly toward and away from the plane of the closure, such that the lid is either pulled down onto container seals or lifted from the seals for movement without interference with or from the seals.
In another embodiment of the invention, a container is provided that comprises a plurality of walls bounding a volume wherein one of the walls defines a door panel that is movable so as to define an opening into the volume. At least two hinges are mounted between the door or movable sidewall and a support plate, and enable displacement of the hinge axis along a line perpendicular to the closure plane of the opening. The support plate is located on a sidewall adjacent to the movable sidewall or door, and is movable between a first position and a second position thereby enabling the movable sidewall to shift between (i) a closed and substantially sealed position corresponding to the first position of the support plate and (ii) a closed and substantially unsealed position corresponding to the second position of the support plate.
The lid in the first embodiment and the movable sidewall or door in the second embodiment are independently movable toward and away from the closure plane to engage or disengage the seal, and via their respective guides or hinges to clear the opening in a manner that does not interfere with the seal.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a container is provided having walls and an open end defined by edge portions of the walls, and a moveable rear wall that has a peripheral frame mounted on the container adjacent to the edge portions so as to sealably engage and disengage the edge portions. An adjustable door stop assembly is mounted to a portion of the door, and includes a first stop blade fixedly positioned on the peripheral frame and a second stop blade removably fastened to the first stop blade. In this way, when the moveable rear wall is arranged in a first sealed engagement with the edge portions, the second stop blade engages the edge portions; and when the second stop blade is unfastened and removed from the first stop blade and then the moveable rear wall is arranged in a second sealed engagement with the edge portions, the first stop blade engages the edge portions.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a pressure release assembly for use on a container is provided including a vent panel sized so as to be mounted within a wall of the container so as to allow for air flow communication with an interior volume. A cover plate is arranged in spaced relation to the vent panel so as to define an enclosed void space therebetween. A flapper assembly is positioned in the void space, and includes a flapper-plate pivotally mounted on the wall of the container so as to define an entrance into the void space. In this way, when a differential in air pressure exists between the interior volume of the container and the ambient environment outside of the container, the flapper-plate pivots between a closed and substantially sealed first position and an open second position.

Waste container with displaceable panel closure


A modular weight training bag system, made up of a main bag constructed of heavy pliable fabric with a zipper-less closure, an inner lining that holds a granular material which adds weight and volume to the main bag, and also has a uniquely designed closure, using various size pouches to increase weight, an add-on weight attachments installed on the main bag for the purpose of quickly increasing the weight of the bag, a capsule sleeve for securing two main bags together, and a soft shell constructed to cover the main bag or capsule sleeve.

This invention relates to modular exercise weights that can be modified to increase or decrease its weight, while providing safety for the user and insuring that the contents of the weights do not spill out.
Frequent users of heavy weights for resistance exercises run into a multitude of problems in a gym setting. One such problem deals with the inflexibility of the weight apparatus that may be designed for a very specific exercise. Usually, the premade exercise weights are not compatible with use for other exercise routines. This severely limits the user's ability to use one exercise equipment for working on different muscle groups or incorporating different exercise routines. For new set of exercises, new types of equipment are necessary to accomplish the goal. This increases cost and invariably the user ends up wasting space to store specialized equipment designed for limited types of use.
Moreover, other limitations exist with specialized equipment. Namely, they are usually made as a static structure that do not allow the user to vary the weights within, or if they do allow for that expansion, the profile of the exercise weights change. For example, a typical kettle bell has a long handle that connects to a fixed weight. Using a fixed weight kettle bell limits the user's ability to increase the intensity of the exercise routine such that a new kettle bell is needed for progression of the exercise. Thus, the user has no choice but to upgrade the fixed weight to yet another fixed weight kettle bell. Once the user graduates from using that weight, he or she has no other choice but to go on to the next, higher weight kettle bell. It is worthy to note that in such a scenario, the kettle bell's increase in weight requires the handle to be elongated or made to be bigger to account for the increased weight. This structural change also affects the way a kettle bell exercise is performed. The elongated handle requires maneuvering the hands and body in a different way in order to maintain balance and posture while making sure the user does not hurt themselves or other people around them. Thus, the profile of the exercise equipment changes as the weight is increased.
Furthermore, increasing the capacity of the fixed rigid weights also increases the chance that the exercise object can impact the user's body as well as areas that were not intended to come into contact with the fixed rigid weights. For example, if one uses a kettle bell, going from a rest stance to an engagement stance can cause the bulk of the kettle ball to twist unto and rotate around the user's hand and arm. This brief contact can cause some damage or at least discomfort to the user. Over time, a rash may appear when the user constantly initiates this routine exercise. Worse yet, the limited maneuverability of the handle can cause the wrist to collapse on itself causing the kettle bell to drop on the floor or unto the user's limbs.
Yet another issue prevalent with fixed weight exercises is the danger of dropping them unto the floor. Because these types of weights are rigid in nature, dropping them on the floor, accidentally or intentionally, makes a lot of noise. Besides the noise factor, the weights bounce on the floor causing damage over time. This is why gyms install layers upon layers of foam or rubber mats in order to minimize the impact of typical fixed weights. These impacts notoriously create excess noise, vibrations in the building structure and show permanent depressions unto the floor. Assuming adequate cushioning is employed in a gym, there is still a risk that the user will drop the weight unto someone's limbs. Because of this eventuality, a certain population of gym patrons may stay away from using fixed weights such as kettle bells or dumb bells. The crushing impact a typical fixed weight apparatus can have on someone's bones and muscles psychologically causes some patrons to not engage with those weights for fear of getting hurt.
The same problems also exist when using dumb bells for various exercises such as for bicep curls. The user has to progressively increase the weights by adding metal plates and/or using heavier dumb bells. Usually, adding metal plates or using higher fixed-weight dumbbells also changes the maneuverability of the weight itself. The bulky weights cause the arm box area to be constricted so the user has less room to flex his arm and hand. Therefore, the whole exercise profile changes making the exercise routine less uniform from one weighted system to another.
These, among others, are the areas of concern that this invention aims to solve. Therefore, novel exercise weights have been envisioned here to allow for the apparatus to maintain a low-profile handle, allow the user to increase weights, allow the user to integrate another modular weight while keeping a low-profile structure, allow the user to manipulate the weights without risk of injuring himself, other people or causing damage when dropped onto the floor, and ultimately securing the contents of the weights and making it spill-proof.
The invention of this application also has ancillary components that further improve the usability of the exercise weight. One such component is incorporation of a weight sleeve for adding incremental weights on the fly without changing the contents of the bag. Another aspect is the ability to customize the physical appearance of the bag using a shell which can display the weight of the bag, color and insignia of the gym. The conjoining of the modular weights can be accomplished by using a sleeve capsule that may further show the weight contents of the bags and/or insignia of the gym. A transparent window may also be incorporated unto the sleeve capsule or the shell, showing the weight contents of the bag and/or the gym insignia.
Various technologies exist in the market that purport to solve the problems addressed above; however, they all fall short of what is envisioned here. One such example is discussed in United States Published Patent Application No. US 2012/0058863A1 filed by Brizard. In the Brizard publication, a pouch is shown to have a unitary body that can be filled with granular substances such as pellets or beads. The pouch, once filled with these granular substances, can be closed with use of a hook and loop fasteners, placed both inside the funnel as well as outside of the funnel. The combination of these hook and loop fasteners are provided to secure the contents in place and seal it from the environment. However, Brizard does not show inserting a mix of granular medium along with metal beads. Moreover, Brizard does not show the ability to combine it with other weights in a conjoined fashion. Additionally, the hook and fastener mechanism employed is not adequate to make it completely spill-proof. Furthermore, Brizard does not talk about having an external wrap around sand filled pouch to be used to add incremental weights. Finally, Brizard does not describe the particular internal funnel mechanism that can have a hook and loop fastening system that stays shut due to the medium's ability to compress the two halves together as envisioned by this application.
In another reference, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,863B2, filed by Gilberti, shows the internal and external seals described such that they can be combined to provide a seal from the elements. However, the particular hook and loop mechanism envisioned by this application is absent from Gilberti, which extends inside of the weight pouch and is sealed shut by the fact of the weights enclosing around the closed hook and loop fastener.
In another publication, filed by Henkin under U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,351B1, discloses a weight training exercise apparatus with a particular sealant system. The sealant system uses both stitching and hook and loop fasteners to contain the contents of the apparatus. In particular, the stitched sections can be inverted to put on reverse pressure by the medium to further secure the contents. The hook and loop fasteners are also used to secure the contents at another end of the pouch in a more traditional sense unlike the specific mechanism envisioned by this application. In this application, the hook and loop fastener use internal pressure supplied by the granular medium and/or beads to provide a complete seal. Combined with the outer double layered hook and loop fasteners of the invention of this application makes the pouch impermeable.
All of these various technologies in the field are inadequate in solving the issues identified above. Some of these technologies attempt to increase the weight by using granular weighted materials. However, this simple addition fails to address the core problem existing in such applications because simply the size and shape of the weight increase makes them a specialty piece of equipment that makes it difficult to use them during traditional strength training exercises. Other technologies aim to fill the need for a varied stimulus during single arm movements. However, this integration exacerbates the problem because all that results from it is that the size and shape of the weights vary across different weighted weights. This invariably affects the way some exercises can be done as the functional movement is impacted by the varied sizes. The heavier and bulkier the weights get, the different an exercise movement has to be engaged in order to properly achieve results. Thus, one exercise routine can become a set of exercise routines just to target a certain muscle group. This is because purely adding weight changes the profile of the exercise weights. Causing the user to retrain the way they perform the exercise.

Modular handheld weight training apparatus and closure system


Data files can be backed up by copying, in response to a backup request, files from a client device to a backup archive and recording the status of the files. Transformed copies of files in the backup archive can be created by automatically applying a transform to the files received from the client device. Upon receiving a subsequent backup request, differences can be identified between transformed files in the backup archive and files on the client device, and in response to identified differences in the files, the transformed files can be copied back to the client device.

The present disclosure generally relates to backing up files on an electronic system. In particular, this disclosure relates to enhancing, through transforming, copies of files that are backed up, and managing the transforming and updating of the backed up files.
A process of backing up electronically stored data files can include the copying and/or archiving of data files stored on a computer or other electronic system, so the files may be restored to the electronic system after a data loss event. In certain applications, data backups may be regularly scheduled and/or automated, and may be supplemented by manually initiated backups.

Backup service with managed file transformation

International Business Machines Corporation


A validation system includes: a source agent for storing a plurality of test patterns; a drain agent for performing a validation operation according to a test result; and a device under test (DUT). The device under test includes: a first interface electrically connected to the source agent for communicating with the source agent and receiving the test patterns outputted from the source agent; a target system electrically connected to the first interface for processing the test patterns to generate a plurality of test results; and a second interface electrically connected to the target system and the drain agent for communicating with the drain agent and transferring the plurality of test results to the drain agent.

The invention relates to a validation system, and more particularly, to a validation system with flow control for validating a target system.
Validation plays a very important role in a design work as design gets bigger and bigger with degree of complexity. Typically, the C model and CAD Tool are conceptual and behavior simulator for a target design which provide basic function validation. However they do have their own limitations when design get too big to keep the simulation time acceptable or one needs to examine the practical function in a real-time manner. For some cases, e.g. a multimedia processor that needs to deal with 30 frames of video per second, using CAD tool to simulate and validate the function of the multimedia processor typically takes a long, long time and hence is hardly a feasible way to be practically used.
In general, the conceptual design starts from the C model. The C model operates in a software environment therefore it relies on execution by a CPU. However, it is also well known that the C model has also lots of limitations, e.g. it is hard to examine the real-time functionality of a target system, to simulate the target system having high-rate input data usually needs a long time that is hardly acceptable for a commercial design schedule.
Another method for validation is to utilize the Field-Programmable-Gate-Array (FPGA) technology. The FPGA is a technology for making integrated circuits. The FPGA is field programmable. This is the key difference that diferentiates it from other conventional chip technologies. Field programmable means that you can re-use chip during design and validation phase whenever you have design change. Using FPGA, it saves tremendous time and money by the way of fast turn-around without highly non-recurring engineering (NRE) cost. At the same time it can provide real-time validation capability.
The invention provide a soltuion which make use of FPGA fast turn-around time, cost saving at the same time provide solution improve FPGA debugging capability in real time application.

Validation system with flow control capability


A system and method for automatically positioning an antenna aperture on a mobile platform in a manner to avoid blockages created by other components/subsystems on the mobile platform between the line of sight of the antenna aperture and a satellite and to avoid interference with other systems that share the mobile platform. In one embodiment, one or more linear support elements are moved by one or more corresponding motors to allow the antenna aperture to be re-positioned between a plurality of different positions. Methods for creating and using a blockage database are also disclosed.

There is increasing interest in implementing broadband communication systems on various forms of mobile platforms, for example, maritime vessels. With a broadband satellite communication system that has an antenna mounted on a maritime vessel (for example, a tanker, freighter, passenger ferry, etc.), the antenna is used to help form a communications link with a space-based satellite in geosynchronous orbit. The antenna forms part of a communications terminal that is carried by the vessel.
With such systems, maintaining closure of the communications link between the antenna and the satellite depends upon an unobstructed and uninterrupted line of sight between the vessel-mounted antenna and the satellite. However, this requirement for an unobstructed line of sight between the vessel antenna and the satellite is rarely completely satisfied for any vessel installation. This is because of intermittent obstruction of the line-of-sight path by other portions of the vessel as the vessel travels. This problem is compounded by the number of antennas and tower-mounted components that are typically used on maritime vessels. Such obstructions may be caused by various fixed objects (for example, a tower or wall) that interferes with the line-of-sight path to the satellite. Intermittent line-of-sight obstruction can occur when the vessel rolls into the view of the antenna because the antenna is space stabilized, whereas the vessel is not. In this instance the obstruction would be temporary.
Obstruction with the line of sight can be partial or complete. In FIG. 1, a front view of a vessel indicates that the broadband satellite antenna may experience at least partial blockage by the Inmarsat C antenna supporting structure, the Inmarsat B antenna, or other components (not shown), such as a radar antenna or various other components supported above the vessel's bridge. The degree of blockage caused by any one of the above structures with the line of sight will depend upon numerous factors, including the location and/or heading of the vessel, the pitch, roll or yaw of the vessel, and the azimuth and elevation pointing angles being used to point the broadband antenna at the satellite. Depending upon the route of the vessel, one or more of the above-described structures may periodically partially or completely interfere with the line of sight between the broadband antenna and an orbiting satellite.
FIG. 2 presents a simplified diagram of the obstructed field in the azimuth plane caused by a given obstruction, for example, the stage of the vessel in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates how the degree of the obstructed field of view in FIG. 2 is significantly reduced simply by increasing the distance D3>D2 separating the broadband antenna and the obstructing component.
When several potentially obstructing objects are factored in, the broadband antenna may suffer varying degrees of blockage depending on its position. This is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. FIG. 4 illustrates an azimuth view for the areas of blockage of a single broadband antenna for two different positions. FIG. 5 illustrates a azimuth coverage diagram indicating the areas of coverage and blockage for position 1. FIG. 6 illustrates the areas of azimuth coverage and blockage for position 2.
One method that could be employed to eliminate the line-of-sight blockages is by locating the broadband antenna well above the highest point on the vessel. However, this is not always possible. Moreover, locating the broadband antenna at the highest point of the vessel may cause the broadband antenna itself to interfere with the line of sight of other antennas or lights on the vessel (for example, radar antennas or the Inmarsat B antenna) that may be performing critical navigation and/or mission functions.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a means for moving the broadband antenna between two or more positions when it is determined that a line of sight between the antenna and a satellite in communication with the antenna is being partially blocked, so as to affect the quality of the communications link between the antenna and the satellite.
It would also be highly desirable if such a system can be used to predict when partial or complete blockages will be (or are) occurring, and to determine which one of two or more different antenna positions will provide optimum performance for the broadband antenna (and minimize blockage of other antennas aboard the same vessel). Such a system and method would also enable greater flexibility with regard to the installation of other antennas or components on the vessel, the positions of which would otherwise have to be carefully considered for blockage by the satellite antenna with regard to the routes that the vessel is expected to travel. Such a system and method would also eliminate the need for multiple antennas located at different positions on the vessel to achieve continuous closure of the communications link in view of the blockages that are likely to occur during travel of the vessel, or even while the vessel is stationary at anchor or at a port. It should be noted that blockages can arise in port due to external structures (e.g., a bridge or a building, or even an airplane) that are not part of the vessel's on-board blockage structures. These blockages may also be addressed by the present invention.


An expansion bank linkage of the type having an outer row of outer links and an inner row of staggered inner links, clips conencting each of the links of one row with two links of the other row and a spring in each of the links for resisting displacement when the linkage is stretched longitudinally. The improvement comprises a plurality of first and second clips having flat inner and outer legs connected by a central portion arranged to skew the legs with respect to one another. The first clips are skewed in an opposite sense than the second clips, the clips being arranged so that a first clip leg and a second clip leg are disposed adjacent one another in each of the links whereby the inner and outer links are held in laterally spaced relationship along the length of the linkage when it is in a relaxed position.

This invention relates generally to an expansion linkage suitable for making fashion watchbands, bracelets and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved expansion linkage permitting nested decorative shells attached to the top links of an expansion linkage.
Expansion linkages are known of a general type represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,226 - issued June 28, 1971 to Rieth, wherein outer and inner rows of links are attached by U-shaped clips, the legs of the clips being resiliently biased against the walls of the generally rectangular links. This construction permits expansion of the linkage in a direction generally along the length of the linkage and contraction by the resiliently biased clips when tension on the linkage is relaxed. In order to decorate the outer row, shells of different metals, patterns and shapes are attached to the outer links.
Greater flexibility in design is possible if the shells can be manufactured so as to provide nested or offset sections along the length of the linkage. This permits construction of fashion watchbands and the like which disguise the underlying expansion linkage construction. However, the nested sections of the shells require extra space between expansion links.
Various means have been employed to provide the added spacing between links along the length of the linkage. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,406 - issued Feb. 9, 1988 to Ripley discloses a construction in which the inner links are wider than the outer links so as to hold the outer links spaced apart from one another. This adds lateral spacing to provide for nesting of decorative top shells attached to the outer links. This construction requires links of two different widths.
It would be desirable to provide a standard expansion linkage which automatically provides spacing between links to allow for more flexibility in creating decorative top shells permitting simulation of link bracelets or interwoven designs of the links. It would also be desirable to provide an expansion linkage wherein outer and inner links have the same width.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention it to provide an improved expansion linkage suitable for fashion watchbands and the like which provides spacing for nested top shells.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved expansion linkage using links of the same width for inner and outer rows.

Expansion linkage for fashion watch band