A fluid level controller flexibly set up according to the number of level steps to be controlled and the pitch between such level steps, which comprises a plurality of joint pipes connected in series to form a pipe assembly; a ring-shaped magnetic floating member sleeved on such a pipe assembly to follow fluid level to move up and down; a plurality of reed elements having each a reed switch connected in series with one another and received in the joint pipes; a main control circuit comprising latching relays in quantity one less than the quantity of the reed elements and a plurality of controlled actuators respectively connected to the reed elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to fluid level controllers and more particularly to a fluid level controller which comprises a pipe assembly formed of a plurality of joint pipes for receiving therein a plurality of reed elements to incorporate with a main control circuit for controlling the operation of controlled actuators so as to achieve fluid level controlling operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional level controllers generally utilize a magnetic element to trigger a reed switch to control an actuator to start or stop an operation.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a known design of fluid level controlling system in which two fluid level controlling devices (the number of the controlling devices may be increased when more level steps are to be controlled) are respectively fastened in a fluid container at two different level positions. The controlling devices are each comprised of a float, a magnet and a reed switch. One disadvantage of this fluid level controlling system is the difficulty in installation, because mounting holes must be made on the side wall of the fluid container for the fastening of the controlling devices. In fastening controlling devices in the mounting holes, care must be taken to avoid leakage. Any mounting error may affect the normal fluid level control operation. Therefore, the mounting of controlling devices must be made by an experienced professional technician. When more level steps are to be controlled, more controlling devices must be used, and the installation procedure will become more complicated. After controlling devices are fastened in a fluid container, they can not be adjusted. If it is desired to change the position of fixed controlling devices, a new fluid container must be used or the mounting holes of the original fluid container must be sealed and new mounting holes must be made again. Further, while stirring fluid in a fluid container for mixing, the reed stitches of the fluid level controlling devices therein may be erroneously triggered due to swaying of fluid.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another reed type of fluid level controllers which comprise each a single magnetic floating member and are vertically fastened in a fluid container by securing to the top cover of a fluid container without drilling any mounting hole. However, when several level steps are to be controlled, the quantity of controllers must be relatively increased. As a consequence, the installation process is complicated and more space occupation is required.

Structure of fluid level controller of piping type


The door lock with a clutch having a cam-styled axle sleeve comprises mainly of an outer lock part and an inner lock part, both the housings of the outer and the inner lock parts are provided with a handle to rotate the internal rotation axle thereof. The rotation axle of the outer lock part is provided thereon with the cam-styled axle sleeve; the rotation axle of the inner lock part is further connected with a second rotation axle. The axle sleeve of the outer lock part is controlled for positioning and moving by a control device. When the axle sleeve is positioned, the rotation axle of the outer lock part and the second rotation axle of the inner one are separated. Therefore, a dead bolt and a latch bolt protruding out of the door are not influenced by the rotation of the handle of the outer lock part; when the axle sleeve is moved forwards, the second rotation axle of the inner lock is integrally connected with the axle sleeve to control extending/contracting of the dead bolt and the latch bolt on the door.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a door lock with a clutch having a cam-styled axle sleeve, and especially to providing a cam-styled axle sleeve on a rotation axle of an outer lock part. By controlling whether the cam-styled axle sleeve is connected with a rotation axle of an inner lock part with a control device, the effect of opening and closing of the door lock is controlled, which particularly suits the lock structures of a gate, a room door etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional lock structures are mainly mounted on door panels with an inner and an outer side, such a door lock is generally comprised of a dead bolt, two fixing seats, a restoring mechanism with a torsional spring in a receiving chamber, a restoration mechanism to move back a linking-up column by means of a torsion spring, a connecting mechanism to fix the two fixing seats on the door panel, and two handles respectively on the two fixing seats to be linked up with a control rod. Such a door lock structure needs multiple operating steps to open the lock indoors, and will delay the time for fleeing from danger; thereby it is not an ideal device.
The inventor of the present invention develops a novel door lock with a clutch having a cam-styled axle sleeve, which can be easily opened indoors, and can be opened outdoors electrically or manually.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a door lock with a clutch having a cam-styled axle sleeve. By controlling the cam-styled axle sleeve through an outer lock part provided with a control device, the cam-styled axle sleeve moves forwards to connect with a second rotation axle of an inner lock part to control opening and closing of the door lock.
The secondary object of the present invention is to provide a door lock with a clutch having a cam-styled axle sleeve, wherein through the inner lock part, the door can be opened indoors any time by directly pressing down the inner handle on the door, especially favor fleeing from danger in an emergency.
To achieve the objects stated above, the present invention is comprised mainly of an inner lock part and an outer lock part integrated with each other, and are further combined with a dead bolt and a telescopic spring-loaded latch bolt mounted on a lateral side of a door panel. The outer lock part is mounted on the outer side of a door panel, and the inner lock part on the inner side; both the housings of the inner and the outer lock parts are provided with a handle to drive the internal rotation axle thereof. The rotation axle of the outer lock part is provided thereon with a cam-styled axle sleeve which is controlled for forwarding or positioning by another element of the outer lock partxe2x80x94a control device; the rotation axle of the inner lock part can drive an inner pull rod, where the remote end connects another axle of the inner lock part and is linked up with the dead bolt. The front end of the rotation axle of the inner lock part is further connected with a second rotation axle in addition to being linked up with the latch bolt. The second rotation axle can be telescopically connected with the cam-styled axle sleeve of the rotation axle of the outer lock part to make integration of the rotation axle of the outer lock part with the rotation axle of the inner lock part. By rotation of the handles to control extending and contracting of the dead bolt and the latch bolt on the door; the door is opened by pressing down the handle of the inner lock part or the outer lock part. When the cam-styled axle sleeve of the outer lock part is controlled and positioned by the control device, the rotation axle of the outer lock part and that of the inner lock part are separated, therefore the dead bolt and the latch bolt on the door are not influenced by the revolving direction or prizing of the handle of the outer lock part. By virtue that the rotation axle of the inner lock part can be linked up with the dead bolt and the latch bolt, so that in any state, rotation of the handle of the inner lock part can control extending and contracting of the dead bolt and the latch bolt on the door. And the control device can allow the lock to control displacement of the cam-styled axle sleeve of the outer lock part manually, or automatically by providing with an electric circuit board, a motor and a gear etc. to cooperate with an externally connected card reader, a code reader, a remote control etc. to open the lock in a more convenient and safer way.
The present invention will be apparent in its features and specific structure after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.

Door lock with a clutch having a cam-styled axle sleeve

13 Fl.-3, No. 266, Sec. 1, Wenhua 2nd Rd.


A roller apparatus for dispensing the contents of a flexible tube may include a housing, a shaft and a cap. The shaft being positioned in the housing and mounted to thereto by rotation in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The shaft may then be enclosed in the housing by placement of a cap on the housing that also functions to engage an end of the shaft. Following insertion of the sealed end of a flexible tube though openings in the housing and the shaft, the tube is taken up into the housing by further rotation of the cap, and thus the shaft. To remove the tube, the cap may be counter rotated to release the shaft (and the tube now wrapped around the shaft) from the housing.

Since the creation of the flexible walled tube, their have been some that have had a need to squeeze the last possible drop of material from each tube. To assist with this goal, in 1928 E. L. Rostier received U.S. Pat. No. 1,770,946, which disclosed a key for collapsible folding tubes. Then in 1950, A. A. F. Kruger was issued U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,060 for an adapter for collapsible tube winding. Kruger's adapter included a housing into which an associated winding key (fitted to the end of a flexible tube) could be inserted and easily rotated. In 2001, Liberatore received U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,618 for a roll-up tube dispenser with shell housing. In Liberatore, the adapter like housing had a clam-shell design that allowed a key to be easily inserted into the housing.


An organic electrolytic solution containing an organic solvent, and a metal salt having at least one electron attractive group and an anion which contains at least one element selected from the elements of the IIIb to VIb group of the Periodic Table and a charge-center atom of which is bonded to the electron attractive group by an intermediate backbone, in which a maximum distance between the center of the charge-center atom and the center of other atom in the anion is at least 4 .ANG.,. and a cell comprising this organic electrolytic solution, both having improved shelf stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electrolytic solution and an organic electrolytic solution cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic electrolytic solution cells, a typical example of which is a manganese dioxide-lithium cell, are increasingly used, since they generate a voltage of 3 V or higher and have a high energy density.
LiClO.sub.4 is generally use as an electrolyte to be contained in a electrolytic solution used in such organic electrolytic solution cell. Recently, in view of safety of the cells, it is undesirable to use dangerous materials such a LiClO.sub.4 in the cells.
Apart from LiClO.sub.4, boron lithium salts such as LiBF.sub.4 or LiB(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.4 are used as the lithium salt electrolytes.
However, when such boron lithium salt is used as the electrolyte, the electrolytic solution tends to be discolored or polymerizes some kinds of media of the electrolytic solution during storage. When such electrolytic solution is used in the cell, a shelf stability of the cell is shortened.

Organic electrolytic solution and organic electrolytic solution cell


A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and a circuit board carried by the housing and including Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor carried by the housing and operative with each other. A Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit is positioned on the circuit board and operative with the processor for communicating in accordance with the NFC communication protocol. A touch activated sensor is supported by the housing and operative for enabling operation of the NFC circuit when touched to establish NFC communications from the communications device.

Cellular communication systems continue to grow in popularity and have become an integral part of both personal and business communications. Cellular telephones and similar devices allow users to place and receive phone calls most anywhere they travel. Moreover, as cellular telephone technology has increased, so too has the functionality of cellular devices. For example, many cellular devices now incorporate Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) features such as calendars, address books, task lists, calculators, memo and writing programs, etc. These multi-function devices usually allow users to send and receive electronic mail (email) messages wirelessly and access the internet via a cellular network and/or a wireless local area network (WLAN), for example.
Some cellular devices incorporate contactless card technology and/or Near Field Communication chips. Near Field Communication technology is commonly used for contactless short-range communications based on radio frequency identification (RFID) standards, using magnetic field induction to enable communication between electronic devices, including mobile wireless communications devices. These short-range applications include payment and ticketing, electronic keys, identification, device set-up service and similar information sharing. This short-range high frequency wireless communication technology exchanges data between devices over a short distance, such as only a few centimeters.
Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is an extension of the ISO 14443 proximity-card standard as a contactless card, RF ID standard that incorporates the interface of a smart card and a reader into one device. A NFC device such as a mobile phone typically includes an NFC integrated circuit (IC) chip that communicates with both existing ISO 14443 smart cards and readers and other NFC devices and compatible with any existing contactless infrastructure. The NFC IC chips use magnetic field induction where two loop antennas are located near each other and form an air-core transformer. The technology operates on the unlicensed radio frequency ISM band of about 13.56 MHz and has a bandwidth of about 2 MHz. The working distance is usually about 0 to 20 centimeters and a user of the NFC device touches another NFC device or tag to initiate communication, with data rates ranging from 106 to about 424 kbit/s. Most mobile wireless communications devices operate in an active communications mode using a modified Miller and 100% amplitude shift keyed (ASK) code unless a passive mode is used in which a Manchester and ASK code is used. Further details are set forth in the Mobile NFC Technical Guidelines, Version 2.0, November 2007 by GSMA, the disclosure which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mobile wireless communications device having touch activated near field communications (NFC) circuit


The present invention permits users to obtain detailed information concerning those portions of web contents in which they are most interested and provides an information extraction system. In an embodiment, the information extraction system comprises a server and a client, connected via a communication network, wherein the server provides a data file for a client to browse; and wherein the client includes a browser for displaying the contents of the data file that is received from the server via the communication network, an operation event detection analyzer for detecting a predetermined specific operation based on a user's operation when the user reads the contents of the data file displayed by the browser, and a text extractor for extracting information that is displayed at a location whereat the specific operation that is detected by the operation event analyzer is performed on a display screen of the browser.

Because the commercial use of the Internet, such as for on-line shopping or for the dissemination of advertising material using banner ads, has become so popular, there is great interest in improving and maximizing the effects produced by this Internet application. Web site managers perform research to obtain the reactions of users (web audience ratings) to web page content, and the results provided by the research are reflected in the subject matter published on web pages or in the design of web sites, or are used for One-to-One marketing.
In order to obtain information concerning the web site subjects or themes users are most attracted to, conventional web audience rating research methods include the provision of questionnaires that site visitors are requested to complete, and means for garnering browser access information, including page display time and the number of page visits, that is subsequently used to prepare estimated user reaction profiles. The access information referred to here is the number of HTTP access requests (the number of hits) received by a server, and other information concerning the browsing of specific web contents that are acquired by a client.
According to the web audience rating method according to which users are requested to complete questionnaires, the research is conducted by asking the users for informative entries. Specifically, a questionnaire page, for example, is prepared in advance for inclusion in web contents, so that users can select interesting topics and keywords. Either this, or distributed across web pages are buttons labeled "Interesting" or "Boring" that viewers are invited to select and click on. According to this method, since the information is obtained as a result of informative input operations performed by users, the obtained information can be used to very reliably track user interest trends.
As one type of information that can be obtained by a server for use in web audience rating research, the count of HTTP access requests (the number of hits) issued for web page contents is heavily relied on. When a web page is available and can be read using a web browser, and when an image is embedded in a web page or framing is employed, the number of hits received for the specific page is counted. In this case, a web server does not accept an HTTP access request when it is moving from one set of web page contents to another.
According to this method, all the content (resource) accesses initiated by a user can be recorded. And when this data is combined with information concerning the resource type (HTML files, images, etc.) involved, the length of time the user spent viewing the predetermined web contents can be estimated.
Since a client can monitor the state of a window that is displayed by a web browser, a client is able to obtain more detailed information than is a server. For example, a client can measure the display time for each page, and for windows can record and examine all changes in location and all sizes and resolutions used for focusing, while at the same time recording keywords selected by a user's manipulation of a data entry device. Additionally, the browsing history of a user can be recorded, without it being limited to a specific web site. Based on the information obtained by employing such a method, user interest trends can, to a degree, be estimated.
In addition, available for use for research are the search engines that users employ to obtain desired information. When using a search engine, a user enters a keyword and clicks on a start button or presses enter, and the search engine then scans a number of web pages for the keyword. Subsequently, if web pages containing the keyword are found, the search engine displays them in a listing. For this process, however, because of the huge number of web pages that are available, it is important that some restriction be applied that can appropriately reduce the number of pages scanned. As a technique for accomplishing this, of the pages listed as a result of one search a user selects a new keyword from a page that best matches his or her interest, and uses the new keyword to initiate another search. In this case, by using a keyword extracted from a document that the user selected as the one that most nearly matched the purpose of the search, the search conditions are automatically changed. Thus, the trend corresponding to of the user's interest will be reflected in the search results. In this case, a keyword that is employed is one that is representative of the entire page that is selected.

Information extraction system, information processing apparatus, information collection apparatus, character string extraction method, and storage medium

International Business Machines Corporation


A power train control system includes circuitry which, during the delay between the issuance of a shift command signal and the actual initiation of shift and/or during non-shifting modes of operation, monitors the outputs of sensors. If the sensors are found to be out of order, steps are subsequently taken to inhibit prime mover torque variation so as to avoid erroneous shock attenation control. The line pressure is controlled in accordance with the presence or absence of a torque variation signal to provide an improved match between the engine torque and transmission line pressure controls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention to a power train which includes a prime mover in the form of an engine and a transmission which is operatively connected therewith and more specifically to a shift shock attenuation arrangement which varies the amount of torque produced by the engine during shifts and which features a sensor malfunction diagnostic function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
JP-A-58-77138 discloses an arrangement which sought to reduce shift shock by selectively varying the torque output of the prime mover during periods when the transmission is undergoing a shift.
However, this arrangement has proven only partially effective in that in the event of a sensor malfunction the shock attenuation function tends to be lost completely.
JP-A-62-88624 discloses an arrangement wherein in the event that one of an engine speed sensor, a throttle position sensor, a transmission output shaft rotational speed sensor and a torque converter turbine shaft rotational speed sensor, malfunctions, the sensor outputs are not used and the shift decision and engine torque variation control are generated in accordance with a timer.
However, this control tends to deteriorate shift shock attenuation and further tends to increase the rate of wear of the friction elements.

Power train control sensor malfunction detection and control arrangement


A method for manufacturing a turbine assembly, which includes at least two aerofoils arranged adjacent towards each other and embodied as a twin vane segment, is provided. The method includes: processing the turbine assembly with a first protection technique providing a first protection for the at least two adjacent aerofoils, wherein at least one region of one aerofoil remains unprocessed; pre-processing of the at least one region that will remain unprocessed or post-processing of the at least one region that remained unprocessed with a second protection technique to provide a second protection for the at least one region of the one aerofoil, wherein the first and the second protection techniques differ from one another.

Modern gas turbines often operate at extremely high temperatures. The effect of temperature on the turbine blades and/or stator vanes can be detrimental to the efficient operation of the turbine and can, in extreme circumstances, lead to distortion, oxidation and possible failure of the blade or vane. In order to overcome this risk, components, like blades or stator vanes, of high temperature turbines may be coated with a thermal barrier coating (TBC).
Often, blades and vanes are designed as single components allowing them to be coated individually to obtain satisfactory coating results. This leads to a higher number of parts to handle and also increased cost. Thus, to reduce time and costs as well as to provide an assembly with a low leakage flow and that is more stable in assembly and operation multiple aerofoils are processed in a single casting. When coating such a casting, using a so called line-of-sight coating approach the quality of the coating in some areas can be poor.
Problems arise in this approach when the aerofoils of the turbine assembly are arranged in such a way that specific regions of one or several aerofoils are covered or blocked by another aerofoil during the coating process. This creates so-called Blind spots where local uncertainty with the coating quality and thickness may occur. This may negatively affect the life and integrity of the component due to excessive temperature for the state of the surface or coating.
It is a first objective of the present invention to provide an advantageous method for manufacturing a turbine assembly, which comprises at least two aerofoils that are arranged adjacent towards each other. A second objective of the invention is to provide a thus manufactured and advantageous turbine assembly for high temperature applications.

Method for manufacturing a turbine assembly


A display device comprising at least two display layers at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar configuration to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced.

A method of creating the appearance of depth in video displays is to use a multilayer display system typically comprising at least two parallel coaxial video screens separated by between 10 and 100 millimetres in depth. The rear screen can be larger than the front screen and the screens are preferably separated by a slab of clear material of refractive index substantially greater than 1 which both supports the two screens and helps avoid the effect of looking through a window in that the edges of the view between the screens are made to largely disappear. The front screen is transparent except where its pixels are activated to create a display so that it is possible to see behind much of the front screen to the background shown on the rear screen. Backlighting for the front screen is provided by illumination from the rear screen or more commonly a common backlight is used for both screens, being placed behind the rear screen which for this case is also transparent except where pixels are activated. The front screen can also be formed from transparent electro-luminescent technology where pixels and sub-pixels produce their own light. With the backlit system it is found that there is sufficient diffusion of light from the back screen even when activated to allow normal colour vision on the front screen as well.
Multi-layered display (MLD) units provide a significant improvement over existing single layer display (SLD) units or displays. MLD units may be used to nest display content over spacially displaced or stacked layers to provide an enhanced mechanism for information absorption and analysis by users. An example of an existing multi-layer display is discussed for example in WO9942889 A.
Reference throughout this specification will also be made to the present invention being used in conjunction with multi-layer displays of the type disclosed in WO9942889A. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the present invention may also be adapted for use with other types of MLD units and reference to the above only throughout this specification should in no way be seen as limiting.
It is known from studies of human vision that the human eye is more sensitive to intensity than colour in interpreting detail in images. Furthermore, of the primary colours red green and blue, the eye is least sensitive to blue. The relative sensitivity of the eye to red is 0.51 compared to green and to blue is 0.19. Accordingly a video image in which the blue sub-pixels are up to 5 times the area of the green sub-pixels shows no obvious visual loss of resolution compared to an image in which the blue sub-pixels are the same size as the green sub-pixels. Therefore it is possible to reduce the cost of a video pixel system by using a smaller number of larger blue sub-pixels without losing resolution.
A pixel is defined as the smallest resolvable area of an image on a display device. Each pixel in a monochrome image has its own brightness, from 0 for black to the maximum value (e.g. 255 for an eight-bit pixel) for white. In a colour image, each pixel has its own brightness and colour, usually represented as a triple of red, green and blue intensities. To turn on a pixel, the integrated circuit sends a charge down the correct column of one substrate and a ground activated on the correct row of the other. The row and column intersect at the designated pixel and that delivers the voltage to untwist the liquid crystals at that pixel. A sub-pixel is the colour filter and its components.
Liquid Crystal Displays depend on thin film transistors (TFT). Thin film transistors are tiny switching transistors and capacitors. They are arranged in a matrix on a glass substrate and often referred to as the black matrix. To address a particular pixel, the proper row is switched on, and then a charge is sent down the correct column. Since all of the other rows that the column intersects are turned off, only the capacitor at the designated pixel receives a charge. The capacitor is able to hold the charge until the next refresh cycle. And if the amount of voltage supplied to the crystal is carefully controlled, it can be made to untwist only enough to allow some light through. By doing this in very exact, very small increments, Liquid Crystal Displays can create a grey scale. Most displays today offer 256 levels of brightness per pixel.
The basic form of the multilayer display as described above suffers from certain problems. When similar liquid crystal display screens are used for both the front and rear screens the display suffers from a Moiré fringe pattern which makes it unusable. Moiré interference is usually described as "an independent usually shimmering pattern seen when two geometrically regular patterns (such as two sets of parallel lines or two liquid crystal display screens) are superimposed especially at an acute angle". The independent pattern seen is the result of the interference between the two or more regular patterns. This can be circumvented as disclosed in patent WO9942889A such as by placing at least one light diffusing layer immediately in between display layers. However one effect of the diffusion screen is to reduce the sharpness of the rear screen to viewers. Another undesirable effect is to reduce the contrast of the rear screen to viewers.
A further problem with the system is that it is difficult to get sufficient brightness from the backlighting for the display. By improving the transparency of one or more of the pixel patterns the brightness of the image seen in the display can be improved.
The contrast sensitivity of the human visual system is the capability of the latter to detect the difference in brightness between neighboring regions in a scene. A high sensitivity means the ability to distinguish small differences in brightness. Human visual contrast sensitivity is largely dependent upon the sizes of the neighboring regions in question. That is, the sensitivity is a function of spatial frequency. Many psychophysical experiments have been conducted to determine how the human visual contrast sensitivity varies with spatial frequency. Most often used as test scenes are bar patterns or gratings with different spatial frequencies and contrast. For each frequency, gratings of different contrast are shown to human subjects to determine the lowest contrast discernible. It turns out that the human visual contrast sensitivity also varies with the orientation of the grating; it achieves the highest value when a grating is horizontally or vertically oriented and achieves the lowest value when a grating is oriented at 45 degrees from horizontal. Different results are obtained by different experimenters due in part to different experimental conditions and assumptions. However, all the results show that the human visual contrast sensitivity, as a function of spatial frequency, varies in a curve. The curve has the normalized sensitivity and is based on the data obtained by several experimenters. In most experimental results the spatial frequency is expressed in terms of cycles per degree of a subject's field of view. This unit is translated to cycles per inch (cpi) at a normal viewing distance of 12 inches. The peaks of the curves from different experimenters range from about 10 cycles per inch to 50 cycles per inch with an average of about 20 cycles per inch. The sensitivity drops rapidly at frequencies away from the peak frequency.
Reference throughout this specification will now be made to the present invention as applying to video screens for a multilayer display system. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of displays using one or more screens may be used in conjunction with the invention.
All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.
It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising ' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.


The present disclosure describes short antisense compounds, including such compounds comprising chemically-modified high-affinity monomers 8-16 monomers in length. Certain such short antisense compound are useful for the reduction of target nucleic acids and/or proteins in cells, tissues, and animals with increased potency and improved therapeutic index. Thus, provided herein are short antisense compounds comprising high-affinity nucleotide modifications useful for reducing a target RNA in vivo. Such short antisense compounds are effective at lower doses than previously described antisense compounds, allowing for a reduction in toxicity and cost of treatment. In addition, the described short antisense compounds have greater potential for oral dosing.

Targeting disease-causing gene sequences was first suggested nearly 40 years ago (Belikova et al., Tet. Lett., 1967, 37, 3557-3562), and antisense activity was demonstrated in cell culture a decade later (Zamecnik et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1978, 75, 280-284). One advantage of antisense technology in the treatment of a disease or condition that stems from a disease-causing gene is that it is a direct genetic approach that has the ability to modulate expression of specific disease-causing genes.
Generally, the principle behind antisense technology is that an antisense compound hybridizes to a target nucleic acid and effects modulation of gene expression activity or function, such as transcription, translation or splicing. The modulation of gene expression can be achieved by, for example, target degradation or occupancy-based inhibition. An example of modulation of RNA target function by degradation is RNase H-based degradation of the target RNA upon hybridization with a DNA-like antisense compound. Another example of modulation of gene expression by target degradation is RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a form of antisense-mediated gene silencing involving the introduction of dsRNA leading to the sequence-specific reduction of targeted endogenous mRNA levels. Sequence-specificity makes antisense compounds extremely attractive as tools for target validation and gene functionalization, as well as research tools for identifying and characterizing nucleases and as therapeutics to selectively modulate the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of any one of a variety of diseases.
Antisense technology is an effective means for reducing the expression of one or more specific gene products and can therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications. Chemically modified nucleosides are routinely used for incorporation into antisense compounds to enhance one or more properties, such as nuclease resistance, pharmacokinetics or affinity for a target RNA.
Despite the expansion of knowledge since the discovery of antisense technology, there remains an unmet need for antisense compounds with greater efficacy, reduced toxicity and lower cost. Until the present disclosure, high-affinity modifications have not been employed in the design of short antisense compounds for reducing target RNA in vivo. This is because of concerns regarding the degree of target specificity that a sequence 15 nucleotides or shorter would have when employed to reduce target in a living system. Previous studies have described that greater specificity, and therefore greater potential for potency, is achieved by antisense compounds between 16 and 20 nucleobases in length.
The present disclosure describes incorporation of chemically-modified high-affinity nucleotides into antisense compounds allows for short antisense compounds about 8-16 nucleobases in length useful in the reduction of target RNAs in animals with increased potency and improved therapeutic index. Thus, provided herein are short antisense compounds comprising high-affinity nucleotide modifications useful for reducing a target RNA in vivo. Such short antisense compounds are effective at lower doses than previously described antisense compounds, allowing for a reduction in toxicity and cost of treatment.

Compounds and methods for modulating expression of GCCR


An apparatus includes an optical splitter configured to receive an optical signal and to split the input optical signal to provide a first and a second optical signal. The apparatus further includes an interferometer comprising a first arm and a second arm, with the first arm being configured to receive the first optical signal, and the second arm being configured to receive the second optical signal. Notably a portion of the first arm is exposed to a reference gas that attenuates light of a characteristic wavelength. The apparatus further includes an optical coupler configured to receive an output optical signal from the first arm, and an output optical signal from the second arm and to provide a third optical signal; and a photodetector configured to receive the third optical signal, and to provide a photocurrent. The photocurrent increases when the difference between the characteristic wavelength and the wavelength of the optical signals increases. The apparatus also comprises a feedback control circuit configured to change the properties of the laser to be locked until an error signal indicative of the difference between the characteristic wavelength and the wavelength of the laser is substantially zero.

Wavelength stabilized lasers are used in a variety of applications. For example, such lasers may be used as a reference laser for interferometers that are either used for length measurement or for wavelength measurement using a scanning Michelson Interferometer. Without such stabilization, the wavelength of the signal output from the laser may drift during operation. This alteration, or drift, can be caused by one of a number of factors, such as changes in temperature of the laser during operation. Regardless of the source of the drift, in order to maintain accuracy of the laser, continuous monitoring and adjustment of the laser is needed to maintain the output of the laser to a desired wavelength and tolerance.
Often, Helium-Neon (He—Ne) gas lasers are used as the wavelength stabilized laser. However, He—Ne lasers are comparatively expensive, and have a comparatively short lifetime, further adding to the cost of their use. Other wavelength reference lasers available include tunable semiconductor distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. Wavelength control of the output of such lasers often is based on a dither free locking scheme, which is referred to as a side-lock with high short-term stability. However, such lasers have a lower absolute stability.
Alternatively, wavelength control of the output of such lasers often is based on a center-lock scheme that requires a small dithering of the actual wavelength. Dithering renders these lasers impractical in certain applications since sidemodes are created by the dither combined with the finite velocity of the scan. As such, these lasers are impractical for use in a scanning Michelson Interferometer.
Other devices and methods to provide a wavelength stabilized laser include the Pound-Drever-Hall scheme. Such devices avoid the modulation of the laser, but require expensive high-speed modulators, detectors and electronics.
What is needed, therefore, is a center-lock wavelength stabilized semiconductor laser that is comparatively inexpensive and overcomes the shortcomings of known lasers such as discussed above.

Laser wavelength center lock using photonic integrated circuit


Premixes of a polyol suitable for polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam preparation and 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane require no stabilizer to inhibit reaction between the fluorocarbon and the polyol. These premixes are useful for polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam preparation.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams can be prepared by reacting and foaming a mixture of ingredients, consisting in general of an organic polyisocyanate (including diisocyanate) and an appropriate amount of polyol or mixture of polyols in the presence of a volatile liquid blowing agent, which is caused to vaporize by the heat liberated during the reaction of isocyanate and polyol. It is also well known that this reaction and foaming process can be enhanced through use of amine and/or tin catalysts as well as surfactants. The catalysts ensure adequate curing of the foam while the surfactants regulate and control cell size.
In the class of foams known as low density rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam the blowing agent of choice has been trichlorofluoromethane, CCl.sub.3 F, also known as CFC-11. These types of foams are closed-cell foams in which the CFC-11 vapor is encapsulated or trapped in the matrix of closed cells. They offer excellent thermal insulation, due in part to the very low thermal conductivity of CFC-11 vapor, and are used widely in insulation applications, e.g. roofing systems, building panels, refrigerators and freezers. Generally, 1-40 and typically, 15-40 parts of blowing agent per 100 parts polyol are used in rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate formulations.
Flexible polyurethane foams on the other hand are generally open-cell foams and are manufactured using a diisocyanate and polyol along with catalysts and other additives with various combinations of water, methylene chloride and CFC-11 as the blowing agent. These foams are widely used as cushioning materials in items such as furniture, bedding and automobile seats. The quantity of CFC-11 used as an auxiliary blowing agent in flexible foam manufacture varies from 1-30 parts by weight per 100 parts of polyol according to the grade of foam being prepared.
It is common practice in the urethane foam systems area to prepare so-called pre-mixes of certain components used to prepare the foam, i.e. often the appropriate quantities of polyol, blowing agent, surfactant, catalyst, flame retardant and other additives, are blended together and sold along with the stoichiometric quantity of polyisocyanate component in two separate containers. This is convenient for the end user who then only has to combine the two reactants in order to create a foam. It is also common practice for large foam manufacturing plants to pre-mix the polyol with the blowing agent in bulk storage containers. This liquid mixture possesses a lower viscosity than the pure polyol and is therefore easier to pump and meter into the mixing zone of the foam manufacturing equipment.
Special precautions must be taken when following these practices if the blowing agent is CFC-11, namely, the CFC-11 must have a stabilizer added to it in order to inhibit a reaction which can occur between the fluorocarbon and the polyol resulting in the production of acids such as hydrogen chloride and other organic products such as aldehydes and ketones. These reaction products have a detrimental effect on the reactivity characteristics of the foam ingredients which in the worst case results in no foaming action at all. Stabilizers found useful in stopping the reaction between fluorocarbon and polyol have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,183,192 and 3,352,789. Use of such stabilizers with CFC-11/polyol based blends, although successful when measured in terms of fluorocarbon stability, have disadvantages such as added expense and sometimes cause odor problems which persist even in the finished foam.
For the above reasons, it would be advantageous to identify useful fluorocarbon blowing agents which do not require stabilizers in the presence of polyols. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any reliable scientific basis upon which to predict such stability.
The propensity for a fluorocarbon species to react with an OH containing species, like a polyol, is dependent, in the fundamental sense, on the electronic and molecular structures of the fluorocarbon and the OH species involved. Studies of certain reactant systems, such as CFC-11 and ethanol by P.H. Witjens. Aerosol Age Vol. 4. No. 12 (December 1959). P.A. Sanders "Mechanisms of the Reaction Between Trichlorofluoromethane and Ethyl Alcohol", Proc. of the CSMA 46th Mid-Year Meeting, (May 1960), and J.M. Church and J.H. Mayer, J. of Chem. and Eng. Data, Vol. 6 No. 3 (JuIy 1961), have shown that the reaction products include hydrochloric acid acetaldehyde CHCl.sub.2 F. Sanders, in Soap and Chemical Specialties, (December 1965) has shown that these reactions are further promoted by the presence of metal and water.
H.M. Parmelee and R.C. Downing in Soap Sanitory Chemicals, Vol. 26, pp. 114-119 (July 1950) have shown that fluorocarbons such as chlorodifluoromethane (FC-22). 1,1-difluoroethane (FC-152a). 1,1,1-chlorodifluoroethane (FC-142b) and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1,2-dichloroethane (FC-114) undergo reactions in aqueous and ethanol and isopropanol solutions in the presence of steel and aluminum. Church and Mayer, supra, state that mixed polyhalogenated hydrocarbons containing both chlorine and fluorine on the same carbon atom are less stable than the polyfluoro derivatives.
The molecular structure of FC-141b (CCl.sub.2 FCH.sub.3) suggests that CFC-141b is amenable to dehydrochlorination due to the presence of hydrogen and chlorine atoms on adjacent carbon atoms. On the other hand CFC-123 (CHCl.sub.2 CF.sub.3) is amenable to dehydrofluorination, a process requiring a greater activation energy. Therefore it would be expected that CFC-141b would be less stable than CFC-123.
The prior art evidence therefore suggests that chlorine and fluorine substituted hydrocarbons as a class react with organic OH containing species such as alcohols and polyols.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,644 discloses that CFC-123 may be used as a blowing agent and does not require a stabilizer in the presence of polyols. Thus. CFC-123 may be an exception to the rule that fluorocarbons require stabilizers.
However, stability tests on CFC-123 in the of a variety of polyols show that CFC-123 may not be stable in the presence of some polyols which are commonly used in the preparation of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams.
It is accordingly an object of this invention to identify another fluorocarbon useful as a blowing agent for polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams which is stable in the presence of polyols.
It is another object of this invention to identify such a fluorocarbon which is also considered to be a stratospherically safe substitute for CFC-11 which is thought to be a contributor to ozone depletion and global greenhouse warming.
Yet another object of the invention is to identify such a fluorocarbon which may have a wider or at least different range of applicability to polyols than does CFC-123.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

Polyol-blowing agent compositions with improved storage stability


A pixel circuit and a method for driving the pixel circuit, a display panel and an electronic device are provided. The pixel circuit includes a drive circuit, a storage circuit, a discharge control circuit, a storage control circuit, and a data writing circuit. The drive circuit is configured to control a driving current for driving a light-emitting element to emit light; the storage circuit is connected to the control terminal of the drive circuit; the discharge control circuit is configured to control a voltage across the storage circuit and to control the second terminal of the drive circuit to discharge; the storage control circuit is configured to control the storage circuit to store a voltage of the drive circuit; the data writing circuit is configured to write a data voltage into the storage circuit to control the drive circuit.

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices have attracted more and more attention gradually due to the advantages such as wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio, fast response speed, higher brightness and lower driving voltage than inorganic light-emitting display devices and the like. Due to the above characteristics, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) can be applied to devices, which have a display function, such as mobile phones, displays, notebook computers, digital cameras, instruments, meters and the like.
Pixel circuits in the OLED display devices generally adopt a matrix driving method, which is divided into an active matrix (AM) driving method and a passive matrix (PM) driving method according to whether or not a switching component is used in each pixel circuit. Although PMOLED has advantages such as simple process and low cost, it cannot meet the requirements of display with high resolution and large-size due to PMOLED's shortcomings such as crosstalk, high power consumption, short lifetime and the like. In contrast, AMOLED integrates a set of thin film transistors and storage capacitors in the pixel circuit of each pixel. By controlling the thin film transistors and the storage capacitors, it can be realized to control currents flowing through the OLED, so that the OLED can emit light as needed. Compared with PMOLED, AMOLED requires less driving current, lower power consumption and have longer lifetime, which can meet the needs of the large-size display with high resolution and multi-gradation. Also, AMOLED has obvious advantages in terms of viewing angle, color reduction, power consumption, response time and the like, and is suitable for display devices with high information content and high resolution.

Pixel circuit including discharge control circuit and storage control circuit and method for driving pixel circuit, display panel and electronic device

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


This invention discloses a parallel optical fiber transceiver module, comprising a laser array, a photodetector array, a driving circuit board and a two-dimensional optical fiber array; the laser array and the photodetector array are mounted in two rows on the driving circuit board, and aligned and coupled with two rows of optical fibers in the fiber array respectively, and glue is used for fixing; the two-dimensional optical fiber array is fabricated on a positioning substrate with both sides etched; the invention has the following beneficial effects: through the double-sided exposure technology in the microelectronic process, a mask pattern is made on both sides of a piece of quartz glass, and then a high-precision optical fiber positioning slot array is etched through the chemical etching process. The double-exposure photoetching machine in the microelectronic process can ensure that the mask pattern on the same side has a high positioning accuracy, thus meeting the technical requirements of the parallel optical fiber transceiver module.

With the advent of the big data era, large data centers have seen rapid growth. Data centers are composed of a large number of servers. Large amounts of data exchange are required between servers. The data interconnection technology is crucial to the efficient operation of large data centers. The traditional electronic interconnection technology can not satisfy the transmission bandwidth and distance requirements, so parallel optical fiber interconnection technology is widely used in the data center. Supercomputer system is composed of a large number of parallel computing modules, a large amount of data exchange is required between the cabinets in which the computing modules are placed, and the parallel optical fiber transmission module becomes the preferred interconnection technology for the supercomputer system.
The core part of the parallel optical fiber transmission system is the parallel optical fiber transceiver module. It consists of a laser array, a photodetector array, a driving circuit board and an optical fiber array. The laser array and the photodetector array are mounted on the driving circuit board, and precisely aligned with the optical fiber array to ensure efficient coupling of optical signal. With respect to the existing parallel optical fiber transceiver modules, the first solution is that the laser array and the photodetector array are mounted in a linear array, and aligned with a one-dimensional optical fiber array; its advantage is that the manufacturing process of the one-dimensional optical fiber array is relatively simple, and its disadvantage is that the number of transceiver ports which can be achieved is reduced by half within a limited module width, thus not satisfying the market demand for high-density parallel interconnection. The second solution is that the laser array and the photodetector array are mounted in two rows, and coupled and aligned with two one-dimensional optical fiber arrays respectively; this method can increase the number of transceiver ports within a limited width, but its disadvantage is that two one-dimensional optical fiber arrays are stacked together, thus increasing the thickness of the transceiver module.
In the parallel optical fiber transceiver module, as the optical receiving aperture of the optical fiber is very small (for example, it is usually about 10 micrometers for the single-mode optical fiber), high-precision alignment between the laser array and the optical fiber array is required to ensure the coupling efficiency of the optical signal from the laser to the optical fiber; with respect to the coupling of optical signal from the optical fiber to the photodetector, as the photodetector has a larger receiving area (usually about 75 microns in diameter), there is a larger alignment tolerance.
This invention proposes a parallel optical fiber transceiver module structure, where the laser array and the photodetector array are mounted in two rows, and directly coupled with a two-dimensional optical fiber array to improve the optical fiber port alignment density; the two-dimensional optical fiber array is fabricated based on a positioning substrate with both sides etched, which can meet the requirements of the transceiver module on optical fiber positioning accuracy.

Parallel optical fiber transceiver module


An amplifier for electric guitar including a Cut control for attenuating high frequencies whose operation is expanded via a switch to alternately function as a Master Volume control.

Guitar players are often fickle with competing requirements for their amplifiers. On the one hand they want simplicity while on the other hand they need versatility. They revere vintage amplifiers for their "classic purity," but then lament the lack of modem features. They demand a certain type and model of amplifier in order to duplicate influential recordings but are then frustrated by the typical limitations of these early designs, the most common being the "one-good-sound-at-one-volume" syndrome. And that's usually too loud!
The fundamental limitation of these vintage amplifiers is that tone is inseparably related to volume. Many of the vintage amplifiers popularized in the 1960s by famous bands such as the Beatles produce preferred tones only when set at or near maximum volume. While such settings are acceptable for many live venues, they are too loud to be useful in a typical home or small club setting. When adjusted to lower volume, the tone suffers as the overdrive, which alters the tone, evaporates completely.
One such vintage amplifier is the Vox AC-30 and its sibling the AC-15. These amplifiers are revered for their unique performance and simple appearance. As testimony to their lasting impact, a modernized version has been introduced by a firm resurrecting the Vox brand name. Furthermore, several copies and derivatives of the original design that have been produced by other manufacturers. But all of these suffer from either being versatile but complex or being faithful to the original but limited in functionality.
Even though the Vox AC-15 and AC-30 amplifiers are rated at a mere 15 or 30 watts respectively, they are surprisingly loud. Moreover, their iconic tones really don't materialize until they are set near the top of the output range via the one simple Volume control
This limitation has been dealt with successfully in the past with other circuits, typically by the inclusion of separate controls to regulate preamp output amplitude independent from preamp gain. In many amplifiers one or more extra stages of amplification are added as well. U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,893 ("the '893 patent") of Randall C. Smith presented one such solution by allowing Gain and Loudness to be preset independently and providing two different foot-switchable sounds—a clean one for Rhythm and an overdriven one for Lead. This solution is adequate for many players but necessitates four separate controls, it is a clear departure from the simplicity of an AC type amplifier with its single Volume control. Furthermore, this design may be inadequate for some players and musical styles because the Rhythm mode of the '893 design may have insufficient gain while the Lead mode has too much.
Despite the bare-bones simplicity of the Vox circuit and control panel, the range of gain available from the single Volume control is impressive. Clean sounds at lower settings give way to semi-broken-up sounds to moderately overdriven sounds when the single Volume control is turned up to its maximum. While this range of gain is adequate for many popular styles of music, the most desired sounds only occur at very loud levels, severely limiting the Vox's usefulness especially in smaller venues.
Compounding the problem is that a typical Master attenuator control, coming at the end of the preamp, will not work with the Vox AC type amplifier circuitry. Their original preamp circuit is far too deficient in gain, comprised of only a single triode gain stage ahead of the phase splitter and power tubes. Later Vox AC models added Bass and Treble controls plus a second triode to recover amplitude lost through those tone controls. Even so, there is still not nearly enough gain to obtain usable overdrive characteristics from the preamp alone.
The Vox AC amplifiers compensated for this lack of preamp gain by employing a long-tail driver and push-pull output stage and operating them "open loop," with no negative feedback. The cathode coupled, long-tail phase splitter uses two separate triodes to furnish push-pull drive signals and contributes substantial gain in the process. What's more, it is this "wide open" output section that is clearly fundamental to the unique character and success of the Vox's musical performance.
Another unique aspect of the Vox was the inclusion of a so-called "Cut control" to partially compensate for the initial lack of tone controls and to allow some taming of the brash sounding wide-open output section. This consisted of a capacitor and variable resistor functioning as a high pass filter between the input grids of the push-pull output tubes. Advancing the Cut control clockwise increasingly attenuates high frequencies by decreasing the resistance between the opposing grids such that the high frequencies were selectively cancelled through the capacitor.

Amplifier with selectable master control


There is provided a communication device capable of improving a decline in the usability caused by an angle of view of a camera. The communication device includes: a camera capturing a picture; an information processing section detecting a face image from the picture captured by the camera, to generate a partial picture including the detected face image; a transmitting section encoding the partial picture to generate encoded data, and transmitting the encoded data to a counterpart; and a first receiving section receiving data transmitted from the counterpart, and decoding the received data to generate a picturephone picture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication device applicable to a picturephone using the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various electronic devices including a personal computer have become capable of accessing the Internet. With this trend, picturephones using the Internet have become widespread, and lately, even TV sets have become equipped with a picturephone function (see http://www.skype.com/intl/ja/allfeatures/tv/).


A fuel mixer box is provided for supplying a fuel mixture to each cylinder of an engine. The fuel mixer box includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving combustion gases generated by the engine during the operation thereof. Input conduits have inputs connectable to a fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and outputs. Output conduits have inputs communicating with the outputs of corresponding input conduits and outputs connectable to corresponding cylinders of the engine. In addition, the output conduits communicate with the chamber to receive combustion gases to be mixed with the fuel to provide the fuel mixture. In addition, fuel may be supplied directly to the output conduits through corresponding venturis within the housing.

This invention relates generally to internal combustion engines, and in particular, to a fuel mixer box for balancing the air/fuel mixture provided to each cylinder of an internal combustion engine.
As is known, internal combustion engines are used in a wide variety of applications including stand-by electrical generators. When used in connection with a stand-by electrical generator, the engine is supplied with a pressured fuel source such as diesel, liquid propane and/or natural gas. The engine is directly connected to the fuel source in order that the generator may be automatically activated in the event of a power outage. It can be appreciated that various types of systems have been developed to interconnect the engine to the fuel source in order to provide the proper volume of fuel to the engine.
Heretofore, prior systems, typically incorporated a regulator having a supply chamber operatively connected to an input of an intake manifold. The intake manifold is interconnected to the corresponding cylinders of the engine. When the engine is started, fuel is drawn into the intake manifold, and hence each cylinder of the engine, by a vacuum generated by the engine during its operation. While functional for its intended purpose, the use of an engine manifold and regulator having a single chamber is inefficient since fuel is provided to each cylinder of the engine at a common pressure. As a result, each cylinder of the engine does not receive an optimum volume of fuel during operation and the engine does not generate maximum power. In addition, it has been found that the individual cylinders of the engine may not be filled equally with the fuel. This, in turn, may adversely effect the starting and operation of the internal combustion engine.
As is known, pistons are housed within corresponding cylinders of the internal combustion engine for reciprocal movement therein. During operation, fuel and air enter a combustion chamber in a corresponding cylinder on a first side of the piston. The fuel in each combustion chamber is ignited so as to cause linear motion of the pistons within their corresponding cylinders. The linear motion of the pistons is converted into vertical motion by a crankshaft.
Ideally, all of the gases in the combustion chambers after ignition of the fuel are exhausted from the combustion chamber via an exhaust pipe for the engine. However, a portion of the combustion gases may pass between the piston rings and the cylinder walls of the cylinders housing the pistons. These combustion gases contain various bi-products of combustion which may be harmful if vented into the environment. As such, in order to prevent discharge of the combustion gases directly into the environment, the combustion gases are routed through the crankcase and into the air intake system of the internal combustion engine.
In view of the foregoing, it is highly desirable to provide a mechanism for mixing the combustion gases generated by the engine during the operation thereof with the pressurized fuel supplied to the engine to provide a fuel mixture for the cylinders of the internal combustion engine. It is also highly desirable to provide a mechanism that allows for the fuel and air mixture to be provided independently to each cylinder of the engine. Further, it is also desirable to provide a mechanism that allows for control of the amount of fuel provided to each cylinder of the internal combustion engine.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a fuel mixer box for supply a fuel mixture to each cylinder of an engine.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a fuel mixer box that allows for the fuel mixture provided to each cylinder of an engine to be balanced.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a fuel mixer box wherein the fuel mixture demanded by each cylinder of an engine does not effect the fuel demanded by the other cylinder.
In accordance with the present invention, a fuel mixer box is provided for supplying a fuel mixture to each cylinder of an engine. The fuel mixer box includes a first input conduit having an input connectable to a fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and an output. A first output conduit has an input communicating with the output of the first input conduit and an output connectable to a first cylinder of the engine. An injection conduit has an input connectable to the fuel source and an output communicating with the output conduit.
The fuel mixer box includes a housing defining an interior and having an opening therein for allowing combustion gases generated by the engine to be received within the housing. The housing also defines a fuel mixture chamber interconnecting the output of the input conduit and the input of the output conduit. The fuel mixture chamber communicates with the interior of the housing. A butterfly valve may be disposed in the first output conduit. The butterfly valve is movable between a full throttle position and a closed position.
The fuel mixer box may include a second input conduit having an input connectable to the fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and an output. A second output conduit has an input communicating with the output of the second input conduit and an output connectable to a second cylinder of the engine. The fuel mixer box also defines an injection chamber having an interior. The output of the injection conduit communicates with the interior of the injection chamber. The injection chamber includes a first venturi having an input communicating with the interior of the injection chamber and an output communicating with the first output conduit. The injection chamber also includes a second venturi having an input communicating with the interior of the injection chamber and an output communicating with the second output conduit.
It is contemplated that the fuel mixer box include a first combustion gas conduit having an input communicating with the interior of the housing and an output communicating with the first output conduit. A second combustion gas conduit has an input communicating with the interior of the housing and an output communicating with the second output conduit. A partition may be disposed within the housing between the inputs of the first and second combustion gas conduits.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a fuel mixer box is provided for supplying a fuel mixture to each cylinder of an engine. The fuel mixer box includes a housing defining an outer chamber and an inner chamber that is isolated from the outer chamber. The housing has an opening therein for allowing the outer chamber to receive combustion gases from the engine during the operation thereof. A first input conduit has an input connectable to a fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and an output. A first output conduit has an input communicating with the output of the first input conduit and an output connectable to a first cylinder of an engine. A first combustion gas conduit has an input communicating with the interior of the outer chamber and an output communicating with the input of the first output conduit. An injection conduit has an input connectable to the fuel source and an output communicating with the interior of the inner chamber. A first venturi has an input communicating with the interior of the inner chamber and an output communicating with the first output conduit.
The fuel mixer box may also include a second input conduit having an input connectable to the fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and an output. A second output conduit has an input communicating with the input of the second input conduit and an output connectable to a second cylinder of the engine. A second combustion gas conduit has an input communicating with the interior of the outer chamber and an output communicating with the input of the second output conduit. A second venturi has an input communicating with the interior of the inner chamber and an output communicating with the second output conduit. A partition is positioned within the outer chamber between the inputs of the first and second combustion gas conduits. In addition, a butterfly valve may be disposed in the first and second output conduits. The butterfly valve is movable between a full throttle position and a closed position.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a fuel mixer box is provided for supplying a fuel mixture to each cylinder of an engine. The fuel mixer box includes a housing defining an outer chamber. The housing has an opening therein for allowing the outer chamber to receive combustion gases generated by the engine during the operation thereof. The first input conduit has an input connectable to a fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and an output. A first output conduit has an input communicating with the output of the first input conduit and an output connectable to a first cylinder of the engine. A first combustion gas conduit has an input communicating with the interior of the outer chamber and an output communicating with the input of the first output conduit. A second input conduit has an input connectable to the fuel source for receiving fuel therefrom and an output conduit. A second output conduit has an input communicating with the output of the second input conduit and the output connectable to a second cylinder of the engine. A second combustion gas conduit has an input communicating with the interior of the outer chamber and an output communicating with the input of the second output conduit. A partition is disposed within the outer chamber between the inputs of the first and second combustion gas conduits. An injection structure is operatively connectable to the fuel source for injecting fuel directly into the first and second output conduits.
The housing may also define an inner chamber isolated from the outer chamber. The injection structure includes an injection conduit having an input connectable to the fuel source and an output communicating with the interior of the inner chamber. The injection structure also includes a venturi having an input communicating with the interior of the inner chamber and an output communicating with the first output conduit. A second venturi has an input communicating with the interior of the inner chamber and an output communicating with the second output conduit. A panel may be provided within the housing. The panel is movable between the first opened position allowing access to the interior of the inner chamber and a closed position isolating the inner chamber from the outer chamber.

Fuel mixer for internal combustion engine


An optical input/output (I/O) device is provided. The device includes a substrate including an upper trench; a waveguide disposed within the upper trench of the substrate; a photodetector disposed within the upper trench of the substrate and comprising a first end surface optically connected to an end surface of the waveguide; and a light-transmitting insulating layer interposed between the end surface of the waveguide and the first end surface of the photodetector.

1. Field
Devices, apparatus, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present disclosure relate to a butt-coupled-type optical input/output (I/O) device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
An optical input/output (I/O) device is a device configured to transmit/receive data using light. The optical I/O device may include a waveguide configured to transmit an optical signal, and a photodetector (PD) optically connected to the waveguide. The PD may convert the optical signal and an electrical signal into each other.
Optical I/O devices may be classified into a butt-coupled-type optical I/O device in which a PD is optically connected to an end surface of a waveguide, and an evanescent-coupled-type optical I/O device in which a PD is optically connected to a lateral surface of a waveguide.

Optical input/output device and method of fabricating the same


A wallet card adapted for use in reading externally stored information includes a transparent, substantially non-foldable semi-rigid base. The semi-rigid base comprises a magnifying lens. One or more lights are disposed in the card base to provide illumination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pocket magnifiers and is specifically directed to a wallet card, such as a credit card, having a magnifying lens and light.
2. Prior Art
There have long been reading lenses and magnifying glasses available to assist people in reading books, documents and the like without the use of reading glasses. These are particularly useful when the person encounters small print during an activity which makes it inconvenient or difficult to stop and put on reading glasses.
As an example, a book mark such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,883 issued to R. L. Anthony on Jul. 14, 1964 may be integrally attached to a book such as a telephone directory or a dictionary, wherein the end of the book mark is provided with a sealed pocket for receiving a plastic magnifying lens. The magnifying lens may be moved up and down the page as desired to provide magnification of the text in the book. This permits the user to read the text without first putting on his eyeglasses.
A pocket magnifier such as that shown in U.S. Pat. 3,409,347 issued to R. Vogel on Nov. 5, 1968 includes a pocket pouch adapted to be carried in the breast or hip pocket of the user or in a purse or wallet. The lens is formed of a transparent plastic sheet material having a substantial degree of stiffness and having fresnel lens contours molded into its upper surface. The lens unit may be slidably retracted into and extended out of the pocket The pocket magnifier may be easily utilized to magnify small print and the like when the user is in a location where it is not feasible or desirable to stop an activity in order to put on reading glasses.
Other examples of special purposes magnifying lens structures are shown, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,889 entitled xe2x80x9cCosmetic Container Including Integrated Lens Structure,xe2x80x9d issued to S. Orentreich et al. on Aug. 30, 1977, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,610 entitled xe2x80x9cCard Carrying Microfilm and Associated Reading Lens and Process of Forming Same,xe2x80x9d issued to D. Adrian on Jul. 19, 1983.
With the ever expanding use of credit cards and other transaction cards, there is an increasing requirement that the card user be able to verify a transaction at the point-of-use. This means the user must be able to read the card invoice to determine the accuracy of the information before he signs the invoice to indicate his acceptance. Since most of the information on the invoice is impact printed either on a carbon set or carbonless form, the print is not only controlled in size but is often of a low contrast with respect to the base form paper. This makes the form difficult to read, particularly for those who normally require reading glasses. Also, when the transaction card is used, it is often not convenient to take the time to put on reading glasses before reviewing the card invoice. While the pocket magnifiers of the prior art could be used for this purpose, use of such devices requires a separate activity which does not provide a great improvement over the use of reading glasses. As a result, many credit card users simply do not take the time and effort to accurately verify a transaction at the point-of-sale, relying on the sales clerk for the accuracy of the information. A transaction card incorporating a magnifying lens has been proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai No. 2-56680 published Apr. 24, 1990.
It is, therefore, an object and feature of the subject invention to provide for a financial transaction card having an integral magnifying lens permitting the user to immediately verify financial transactions at the point-of-sale without first requiring that the user put on reading glasses or the like.
It is another object and feature of the invention to enhance the use of credit cards by permitting immediate verification of credit card transactions by users normally having difficulty in reading small print, without requiring an additional activity of locating a magnifying lens or putting on reading glasses.
It is another object and feature of the subject invention to provide for a credit card having an integral magnifying lens and adapted for enlarging the small print generally used in the confined space of the credit card transaction form.
It is yet another object and feature of the invention to provide for an integral lens in a financial transaction card wherein the lens does not interfere with the machine readable information required on the card in order to complete a point-of-sale transaction.
The subject invention is directed to a wallet card, such as a credit card or the like, which incorporates an integral magnifying lens. Use of the card of the subject invention automatically places a magnifying lens at the disposal of the user, whereby, for example, the user may immediately verify a financial transaction at the point-of-sale without first locating a magnifying glass or taking the time and effort to put on reading glasses. As an illustrative example, the invention is particularly useful when making credit card transactions during an activity where the user would not normally be wearing his reading glasses. For example, during sports activities or other types of activities where a person does not normally encounter reading material, it may be desirable to make a credit card transaction in order to pay for rental of equipment or user fees or the like. By using the credit card of the subject invention, the user can immediately read and verify the financial transaction at the point-of-sale by placing the magnifying lens incorporated in the credit card over the printed material on the transaction form. Thus, the print is magnified with the card used for the transaction, eliminating the need to locate a pocket magnifier or the time and effort required to put on reading glasses in order to verify the transaction.
In a preferred form of the invention, a typical card blank is subdivided into a plurality of zones, specifically a data zone and a non-data zone. The data zone is adapted for receiving and carrying machine readable information as prescribed by ISO standards. Information may be carried on the card in the form of a strip such as a magnetic strip including magnetically encoded information, embossed alpha numeric lettering for creating an imprint on the credit card transaction form, a bar code or variants thereof, and for electronic data, smart card IC contact area or contactless smart card keep out area, or a combination of smart card contact areas and contactless smart card keep out areas for so-called combi-cards. The non-data zone is generally free of any information required to be machine read, although this zone often includes identifying indicia, logo types and other information relating to the issuing institution. In one preferred form of the invention, a portion of the non-data zone includes an integral magnifying lens carried in and forming a part of the card. It has been found that a substantially rigid, transparent plastic material of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the card base may be incorporated in a window provided in the base. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transparent plastic includes fresnel lens contours on one of its surfaces for defining a magnifying lens. By placing the lens in the non-data zone, the lens does not interfere with the machine transactions required in order to use the card for its primary purpose.
In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the lens is an elongated rectangle generally placed in parallel with the magnetic strip which is commonly attached to the back of the card. In this embodiment, there is no alteration of the data zone as commonly incorporated on cards.
A second embodiment of the invention incorporates a lens with a larger usable area. However, this particular embodiment requires alteration of the data zone. Depending on the issuing institution, one embodiment may be more desirable over the other, depending on the flexibility of the location and format of the data zones on the card.
In a typical wallet card, the base is made of a substantially semi-rigid plastic material which is printed on one or both sides and laminated with a thin material on both the top surface and the bottom surface thereof. The card may include identifying indicia, logotypes and the like on the top, a magnetic strip, a signature strip and various terms and conditions on the bottom. In one embodiment of the invention, the lens may be placed in the card prior to the laminating process, whereby the laminate cover materials may be used to overlap the edge of the lens and help retain it in the card. The lens may be sonically welded, adhesively secured or otherwise mounted in a window in the card base, with or without utilizing the laminate material of the card to assist in framing and mounting the lens in the card.
In another embodiment, the lens is integral with the card base. In this embodiment, the card base is formed from a transparent material, such as an amorphous plastic. The stamped card base can be overprinted, laminated with printed material, etc. Thereafter, fresnel lens contours are stamped on a surface of the blank in a selected area to define the magnifying lens. A hologram may also be added after the lamination.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the inventive card comprises a substantially non-foldable yet still flexible semi-rigid base. The semi-rigid base comprises a magnifying lens. The card further comprises a strip, such as a magnetic tape strip, for carrying machine readable information, and optionally other features such as a signature strip or hologram patch.
The semi-rigid base can be a laminate formed from a plurality of layers, or can be a single layer. The magnifying lens may be formed by stamping fresnel contours directly onto a surface of the semi-rigid laminate, or a surface of a single layer. The fresnel contours are stamped into a transparent area of the laminate or single layer, and together with the transparent area form the magnifying lens.
There are also provided methods of producing a wallet card as described above. One such method comprises the steps of providing a transparent, substantially non-foldable semi-rigid base; forming a shallow cavity in the base; partially filling the cavity with a radiation or heat curable liquid resin; impressing a lens pattern on the surface of the resin with a die; and exposing the resin to radiation or heat of sufficient intensity to cure the resin.
Another method of producing a wallet card in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of making a card blank having a transparent window region; heating a lens-forming die to a first temperature sufficient to soften the card blank; impressing the lens-forming die into the window region of the card blank; cooling the lens-forming die to a second temperature at which the card blank is not significantly softened; and withdrawing the lens-forming die to leave a lens pattern on the surface of the card blank. This procedure can be realized by providing the heat to soften the card blank with a sonic source as well as more conventional heat sources to imprint the lens pattern.
In yet another embodiment, a wallet card with a magnifying lens also includes one or more lights to illuminate objects being viewed in a darkened environment. The lights are activated by a pressure switch on the card.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

Wallet card with a magnifying lens and light


A cooling system for cooling an integrated, high pressure, motorcompressor unit, the cooling system including a second motorcompressor unit and at least a first duct fluidly connecting a process fluid connection point located at the second motorcompressor unit to at least one process fluid injection point located at the first motor area of the first motorcompressor unit.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cooling system for cooling a motorcompressor unit for processing a working fluid.
The cooling system of embodiments of the present invention is particularly conceived for improving the efficiency of motorcompressor for subsea applications, but any other motorcompressor may be considered.
Integrated motorcompressor units here considered comprise, integrated in a casing, a motor and a compressor.
Generally a motorcompressor unit of the type here considered comprises a centrifugal compressor processing a process gas, the compressor being arranged in a housing together with a motor, usually consisting of an electric motor.
The compressor of the motorcompressor unit could be fluidly connected with an external separator machine placed between the well and the inlet of the unit. A separator device is present also inside the casing at the inlet of the compressor.
The motorcompressor unit of the kind of embodiments of the present invention comprises a motor which drives the compressor via a shared rotating shaft supported on each end by magnetic bearings. Said shaft connect the rotor of the electric motor and the rotor of the centrifugal compressor on which are installed the impellers of the compressor, said shaft usually does not project outside the casing(s). The compressor generates a flow of compressed process gas.
When used to directly drive a compressor, such as a centrifugal compressor, the shaft is required to rotate at relatively high speeds. In addition to the heat generated by the electrical loss mechanisms that are characteristic of electric motor drivers, operating the motorcompressor device at high speeds increases windage frictional losses generated by the rotating components.
Motorcompressor units used in the production or transport of hydrocarbons are provided with a shared rotating shaft supported by a rotor-bearing system.
In case of electric motor, heat is also generated by the electrical systems that are characteristic of electric motor drivers. Heat is also generated through the windage friction resulting from the rotating components operating in pressurized gas.
If this heat is not properly dissipated, it negatively affects the performance of the motor and can damage the insulation of the stator. Increased temperatures can also adversely affect the rotor-bearing systems of both the compressor and motor, thus leading to bearing damage and/or failure.
For cooling the motor and bearings in a motorcompressor unit, is provided a cooling circuit which may be an open loop cooling circuit or a quasi-closed-loop cooling circuit where gas is drawn from the process stream at some point in the compression process.
An example of such cooling circuit is shown in FIG. 1.
Only a small amount of process gas is fed into the cooling circuit from the process stream. The quasi-closed-loop cooling circuit often uses a small blower to circulate the cooling gas through the cooling circuit. In subsea applications, the cooling gas is typically cooled in a sea water-cooled heat exchanger.
This process gas is then passed through the motor and bearing areas to absorb heat.
According to the current art, motorcompressor unit, in particular motorcompressor for subsea applications, uses as cooling media the process gas which may be cooled through an external cooler.
In these applications the cooling gas may be circulated in a quasi-closed loop: the process gas of the compressor is used to cool the bearing of the rotary shaft positioned at the compressor and the intermediate diaphragm positioned between the motor and the compressor.
The process gas then enters the motor area where a blower pressurizes the gas and forces it to flow into cooling ducts, thus cooling the bearings provided inside the motor area and the motor itself. The process gas is then circulated through an external cooler where is cooled.
When the machine works at low-medium pressure, the cooling efficacy is still good using the same process gas handled by the machine in a quasi-closed loop described above. When the machine works at high pressure, the cooling efficacy of the process gas would be higher due to the increasing of the gas density, but on the other hand, over a certain level of pressure, the windage losses of the motor becomes very high due to the gas density, consequently a very high rate of the electric power which operates the motor is lost for moving the process cooling gas inside the motor area of the machine, and the cooling method becomes ineffective.

Cooling system for cooling a motorcompressor unit


A bent member having excellent dimensional accuracy is manufactured by stably forming a high temperature portion uniformly in the circumferential direction of a steel tube and in a narrow region in the axial direction of the steel. The bent member is manufactured by supporting a steel tube at a first position while feeding it, performing induction heating of the steel tube at a second position with an induction heating coil, cooling the steel tube at a third position to form a high temperature portion which moves in the axial direction of the steel tube, and three-dimensionally varying the position of a gripping mechanism for the steel tube in a region to apply a bending moment to the high temperature portion.

Strength members, reinforcing members, and structural members made of metal are used in automobiles and various types of machinery. A high strength, a low weight, and a small size are demanded of these members. In the past, these members have been manufactured by welding of press worked steel parts, punching of thick steel plates, or forging of aluminum alloys. Decreases in the weight and size of bent members achieved by these manufacturing methods have reached a limit. In Patent Document 1, the present applicant disclosed a manufacturing apparatus for a bent member.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing that manufacturing apparatus 0. The manufacturing apparatus 0 manufactures a bent member 8 by bending a metal tube 1 (in the following explanation, an example will be given of the case in which the metal tube is a steel tube) which is supported by a support mechanism 2 so as to be able to move in its axial direction, the bending being performed on the downstream side of the support mechanism 2 while feeding the steel tube 1 from the upstream side to the downstream side with a feed mechanism 3.
On the downstream side of the support mechanism 2, an induction heating coil 5 rapidly carries out induction heating of the steel tube 1 being fed in the axial direction to a temperature range (to at least the Ac3 point) at which the steel tube 1 can be locally quench-hardened. A water cooling mechanism 6 rapidly cools the steel tube 1 immediately downstream of the induction heating coil 5. As a result, a high temperature portion 1a which moves in the axial direction of the steel tube 1 is locally formed in the steel tube. The resistance to deformation of the high temperature portion 1a is markedly lower than the resistance to deformation of other portions.
A movable roller die 4 has at least one roll pair 4a. The roll pair 4a supports the steel tube 1 while feeding it. In a region downstream of the water cooling mechanism 6, the movable roller die 4 moves two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting the steel tube 1, thereby applying a bending moment to the high temperature portion 1a of the steel tube.
In this manner, the manufacturing apparatus 0 manufactures a bent member 8 having a desired shape and a high strength (such as a tensile strength of at least 780 MPa) by bending the steel tube 1 with a high operating efficiency by simple steps using relatively inexpensive components 2-6.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing a bent member

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation