A device supports a platform that is used to lift loads or persons the height of a structure. Together with a platform, the device includes winch-type platform-lifting elements and modular mast-forming elements. Each mast element is attached using the load platform which can be connected to the masts by: (i) the winch-type lifting elements which can be disconnected at will from the masts, and (ii) elements for temporarily blocking the movement of the platform in relation to a modular element of each mast. In this way, when the movement of the platform is blocked, a modular element can be added to, or removed from the top of the masts in accordance with the desired platform lifting height. The platform is positioned between two modular independent masts which form a lifting and guiding path.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a platform support device for lifting loads or individuals over the height of a structure, especially for performing work on said structure, this device comprising, in combination with a platform, platform lifting elements of the hoist type for controlling the raising level of the platform as required, combinable modular components forming the mast for reaching a desired height, each mast element being installed from the load platform that can be connected to the masts on the one hand by hoist-type lifting elements that can be disconnected from said masts as required, and on the other hand by means for temporarily immobilizing the platform relative to a modular element of each mast to allow the addition or the removal of at least one modular element at the top of the masts depending on the desired raising height of the platform, with the platform immobilized.
2. Description of the Related Art
Working over the height of facades of structures of great height is usually done using so-called suspended scaffolds. Such scaffolds are composed of a platform on which hoists are carried, the platform being suspended from the roof of the structure via fixed cables with parts connected to the roof. Such an approach is satisfactory when the roof is easily accessible and when it is possible to install anchoring elements of the cable and counterweights necessary for proper operation of the assembly. In the opposite case, the operators are powerless.
Another approach would be to position a lifting platform from the ground. However, no existing approaches are satisfactory, since they do not allow a great height to be reached in spite of using a hoist. Such is the case of the scaffolding described in the patent FR-A-2,624,173. This document describes a scaffolding of the type comprising at least one essentially vertical mast that is supported, on the one hand, on an essentially horizontal surface and, on the other hand, on an essentially vertical surface, the mast being used to anchor the cable of a hoist suited to raising or lowering, over the height of a mast, a sliding sleeve that belongs to a bracket supporting a working platform. Besides the fact that the installation of the masts is not addressed in this document, it is stated that the position of the masts that extend along one longitudinal edge of the platform comprises a limitation on the raising of the platform because they must necessarily be joined to the facade of the structure to prevent any overturning of the assembly of the structure. Thus, in this document, the masts are connected by the anchor piece shown at 9 in the figures, this anchor piece indicating the end of raising of the platform and making it impossible to use such a scaffolding for working at great heights.
The system described in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,616 is composed of a platform moving along two masts formed from telescoping modular elements requiring assembly or respectively disassembly of two masts simultaneously. Again, a sleeve belonging to a bracket supporting the working platform slides along the mast, making impossible any anchoring of the mast to the facade and necessitating synchronous movement of the platforms. Since this system cannot include means allowing its attachment to a facade, this system is not suited to working at great heights.
The system described by the patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,219 is composed of two ladders and one platform. The ladders are cross-braced to allow them to be kept in the upright state, thus making independent disassembly impossible from one of the ladders. The platform that is raised by the hoists carried on the platform is not guided along the ladders, making such a system unsuited for raising to great heights.
The patent FR-A-625,646 describes scaffolding whose platform is carried by independent masts that can be attached to a facade by means of buttresses. In this case, the platform is formed again by a bracket and two sleeves that each slide along a mast as shown in FIG. 1 of this patent or in the passage column 2—lines 19 to 26 of the description. Said buttresses thus constitute an obstacle to the lowering of the platform that can only be completely lowered when the masts are dismantled and the buttresses are removed. This approach therefore prevents free raising and lowering of the platform along the masts. Moreover, the platform/mast link using a sliding sleeve in the case of a structure with three masts requires synchronous movement of the entire platform.
The patent EP-A-612,899 describes a plate attached to two ladders by means of pivoting hooks hanging on the rungs of said ladders. This device allows raising and lowering of the platform along the masts, this movement being controlled by means of a hoist from within the platform or from the ground. However, the system of guiding the platform along the uprights of the ladders is not described here. During vertical movement, the platform is also made free to move horizontally, which makes this system dangerous and unsuited to working at great heights. Moreover, since the ladders are made integral by the diagonals, one of the ladders cannot be removed without removing the other.
Thus, the documents that are discussed above do not describe scaffolding that can be used at great heights, of which the platform could be moved vertically over the entire height of the uprights without adversely affecting the safety of the assembly. Moreover, none of these documents describes a device allowing asynchronous movement of two plates along two guide surfaces of the same mast.

Platform support device for lifting loads or persons the height of a structure


An optical modulator of the invention includes a substrate having an optical waveguide and an electric waveguide formed therein, a driving circuit that generates a modulation electric signal, a relay circuit that gives the modulation electric signal to the electric waveguide via an electric filter circuit made of a capacitor and a resistor, and a terminal resistor that terminates the modulation electric signal that has propagated through the electric waveguide. The sum of the impedance of the electric filter circuit and the resistance of the terminal resistor is set to be substantially equal to the impedance of the driving circuit. Also, the resistance of the terminal resistor is set to be substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the electric waveguide. Then, deterioration of the electric reflection characteristic in a low-frequency region can be restrained even if the frequency characteristic of the optical response is flattened and leveled by application of the electric filter circuit.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical modulator that modulates the intensity or the phase of light by using the electro-optical effect, and particularly to an optical modulator provided with an electric filter circuit for flattening and leveling the frequency characteristic of optical response.
(2) Related Art
A conventional optical modulator is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 11. Referring to FIG. 11, an optical waveguide 101 of Mach-Zehnder type and an electric waveguide (progressive wave electrode) 102 for controlling the relative phase of each light that propagates through the two parallel arm sections 101A, 101B of the optical waveguide 101 are formed on a substrate 100 having an electro-optical effect. By applying a modulation electric signal S supplied from a driving circuit 110 to one end of the electric waveguide 102, the refractive index of one arm section 101A of the optical waveguide 101 is controlled and, by changing the optical path length difference between the two arm sections 101A, 101B, optical modulation of the input light LIN is realized. With this conventional optical modulator, the other end of the electric waveguide 102 is terminated by a resistor RT, and a DC bias VB for controlling the relative phase shift amount between the two arm sections 101A, 101B is applied to the other end of the electric waveguide 102 via a bias tee circuit 120. Such a conventional optical modulator using the electro-optical effect is used, for example, in an optical transmission system that performs a high-speed long-distance optical communication.
For the conventional optical modulator such as described above, in order to obtain output light LOUT modulated in a more preferable state, flatness of the optical response band of the optical modulator is required in a frequency region contained in the modulation electric signal. However, the driving voltage needed for realizing a suitable optical modulation and the optical response band are in a trade-off relationship with each other. Therefore, as one of the conventional techniques for restraining the rise of the driving voltage and realizing the widening of the optical response band, a configuration using a filter circuit that compensates for the dependency of modulation efficiency on the frequency, for example, is known in the art (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-287103).
FIG. 12 is a view showing a configuration example of a conventional optical modulator using the above-described filter circuit. In this optical modulator, a filter circuit 130 made of a capacitor C1 and a resistor R1 that are connected in parallel, for example, is inserted between the driving circuit 110 and one end of the electric waveguide 102. Typically, a chip capacitor and a thin film resistor, or a chip capacitor and a chip resistor are used as the capacitor C1 and the resistor R1.
FIG. 13 exemplifies a frequency characteristic of the reflection coefficient (S11) of an electric circuit and a frequency characteristic of the optical response in a conventional optical modulator. The top view shows a case with no filter circuit, which corresponds to the configuration of FIG. 11, and the bottom view shows a case with a filter circuit, which corresponds to the configuration of FIG. 12. Here, a driving circuit 110 of 50 Ω series is used at a bit rate of 10 Gbps, and the terminal resistance RT and the characteristic impedance Z of the electric waveguide 102 are respectively set to be 50 Ω which is equal to the impedance of the above driving circuit 110.
In order to realize a high-speed operation and a low-voltage operation in an optical modulator with no filter circuit, the length of the progressive wave electrode 102 must be sufficiently increased; however, in such a progressive wave electrode 102, it is difficult to realize a flat optical response characteristic, as shown in the right top view of FIG. 13, due to the influence of the attenuation of the microwave caused by the surface skin effect. Therefore, by attenuating the low-frequency component of the modulation electric signal S with the use of a filter circuit 130, the flatness of the optical response characteristic in a desired frequency band (for example, a frequency band of at most a little more than the half of the bit rate in a general NRZ modulation) is improved, as shown in the right bottom view of FIG. 13. In other words, a wide optical response band is realized.
However, with a conventional optical modulator such as shown in the above FIG. 12, by providing a filter circuit 130 having a transmittance characteristic that attenuates a low-frequency component, rise in the impedance of the whole electric circuit in the low-frequency region is invited, thereby provoking the deterioration of the electric reflection characteristic (S11), as shown in the left bottom view of FIG. 13. This deterioration in the electric reflection characteristic causes a multiple reflection of the electric signal, for example, between the driving circuit 110 and the filter circuit 130, thereby giving an adverse effect on the optical modulation operation.
As a countermeasure against such deterioration of the electric reflection characteristic in the low-frequency region, the above-mentioned prior art discloses a configuration in which a constant-resistance filter circuit 130′ is formed by connecting a shunt resistor RS to the parallel circuit made of the capacitor C1 and the resistor R1, so as to reduce the S11 in the low-frequency region, as shown, for example, in FIG. 14. However, such a constant-resistance filter circuit 130′ not only invites a complex configuration but also raises the following problem.
In other words, in driving of the optical modulator with the use of the electro-optical effect, a DC bias VB must be applied to the electric waveguide 102 as described above. However, when the above constant-resistance filter circuit 130′ is inserted, the DC bias VB cannot be efficiently applied to the electric waveguide 102, due to the presence of the shunt resistor RS. For this reason, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 14, an electrode 102′ for applying the DC bias VB is formed on the substrate 100, separately and independently from the electric waveguide 102 to which the modulation electric signal S′ is applied. This raises a problem of increase in the size of the optical modulator.
In addition, in a conventional optical modulator such as described above, a chip capacitor and a chip resistor are used as the components constituting the filter circuits 130, 130′. This leads to a disadvantage of inviting deterioration of the characteristic in a high frequency, aggravation of the producibility such as mounting a chip component, increase in the size of the filter circuits.


A method for repairing boiler tube walls by cutting out and replacing a worn or damaged section thereof involves the use of a power tool having a rotary milling head specially adapted to remove membrane material from between tube ends which are exposed when the damaged section is removed. The method and apparatus of the invention allows for the rapid and precise removal of membrane material from between the exposed tube ends to facilitate subsequent bevelling and welding operations, while substantially reducing the risk of weakening or damaging the tube wall by avoiding excess removal of material therefrom.

Steam-generating boilers, such as those typically used at electrical power generating plants, are generally large steel or masonry structures containing hundreds of vertically arranged steel tubes which are in thermal contact with a burning fuel, such as coal. The burning fuel heats water circulated through the tubes. The heated water or steam is used to drive turbines which generate electricity.
The tubes are generally organized in large panels or banks of parallel tubes which are connected together with a metal membrane or web continuously interposed between each pair of adjacent tubes in the bank to form a tube wall. The tubes generally have an outer diameter which can range from about 1 inch up to about 3 inches, with a wall thickness which can range up to about 0.5 inch. The web or membrane connecting adjacent tubes to each other generally has a thickness about equal to the wall thickness of the tubes, with the width of the webbing generally ranging from about 0.25 inch to about 0.75 inch. The webs or membranes can be welded to the outer walls of adjacent tubes to form the tube banks; however, the tube and connecting membranes can be, and preferably are, formed together in a single casting operation.
On account of deterioration due to corrosion and the like, the tubes occasionally require replacement. Ordinarily, repair of damaged or worn tubing involves cutting and removal of relatively large sections of the tube banks, and replacement with a new panel of tubes. The bank sections are generally replaced in large rectangular sections typically having sides ranging from a few feet to over 10 or even 20 feet in length.
The sections of tube banks which are to be replaced are generally cut out using a power saw or a cutting torch. A preferred method and apparatus for cutting out a section of boiler tube wall is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,347.
After the damaged or worn section of tube wall which is to be replaced has been cut out and removed, it is first necessary to properly prepare the tube ends exposed by removal of the old section before positioning the new tube bank section in the tube wall opening. Proper preparation of the exposed tube ends of the existing boiler tube wall requires chamfering or bevelling of the exposed tube ends to facilitate a good weld between the new tube wall section and the existing boiler tube wall. More specifically, the adjoining tube ends of the existing tube wall and those of the new or replacement section of tube wall should be provided with a frustoconical bevel so that when the adjoining tube ends are placed in alignment, a circumferential groove is formed to receive molten metal from the welding rod. The replacement section of tube wall is usually fabricated and prepared for welding off-site before the damaged or worn section of existing tube wall is removed. The exposed tube ends of the existing tube wall, however, must be prepared for welding on-site, often in a confined space. It is highly desirable that all work performed on the existing tube wall be conducted as quickly and efficiently as possible so as to minimize the period during which the steam generator is taken out of service for repair. Accordingly, preparation of the exposed tube ends of the existing tube wall for welding is generally accomplished using high-speed, portable, hand-held milling tools such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,449,871 and 4,889,454.
To facilitate rapid and efficient chamfering or bevelling of the exposed tube ends of the existing tube wall using conventional high-speed milling tools, and to provide ample space between vertically adjacent tubes for welding around the entire circumference of the tube ends, it is highly desirable and generally necessary to remove a portion of the membrane between each pair of exposed tube ends of the existing tube wall. Typically, it is desirable to remove the membrane, between adjacent tube ends which are exposed by removal of the damaged wall section, from the horizontally cut edge of the existing boiler tube wall to a depth which is at least equal to the depth of the frusto-conical bevel which is to be milled at the tube end. Typically, membrane material is removed from the horizontally cut edge between two adjacent tubes to a depth of from about 3/8 inch to about 3/4 inch from the cut edge. Heretofore, removal of the membrane material from the area between adjacent tube ends of the existing tube wall has been achieved using a cutting torch or portable power tools such as a grinding tool having a rotating abrasive disk or with a circular saw. None of the conventional methods of removing the membrane material from between tube ends is entirely satisfactory. Cutting torches are much faster and less prone to failure and damage than power tools, such as saws and rotating abrasive disks, but expose the tube walls to extremely high temperatures which can weaken or damage the tubes. The presently preferred method of removing membrane material from between the tubes is to make two vertical cuts, generally at the junctures between each of the two adjacent tubes and the intervening membrane, to form a tab which is folded or bent away from the area of the tube ends. When making the two vertical cuts along each side of the membrane, care must be taken to avoid removal of material which would reduce the nominal or effective thickness of the tube wall. After the pair of cuts have been made in the membrane, and the material between the cuts has been bent away from the tube ends, it is then generally necessary to grind the excess material from the tube to provide a uniform wall thickness around the circumference of the tube ends which are to be bevelled. These techniques are very time-consuming, generally requiring several minutes for each pair of tubes.


A falling shock absorbing apparatus for a wheelchair is provided capable of absorbing shock to the user in the case of falling of a wheelchair. In other words, the falling shock absorbing apparatus for wheelchair of the present invention includes an inflatable air bag for covering a predetermined parts of the wheelchair user when inflating, an inflation apparatus for inflating the air bag, an inclination detecting apparatus for detecting inclination of the wheelchair relative to the surface upon which the wheelchair is moved, and a controller for activating the inflation apparatus to inflate the air bag when inclination of the wheelchair is detected by the inclination detecting apparatus. Thus, the air bag inflates to cover the predetermined parts of the wheelchair user when the wheelchair is tilted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a falling shock absorbing apparatus for wheelchair for protecting body in the case of falling of a wheelchair.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A manual wheelchair propelled by its user or an attendant and a self-travelable electric wheelchair operated by its user are conventionally known for use by a person having difficulty in walking. The wheelchair permits a person having difficulty in walking to have a freedom of mobility within the travelable area of the wheelchairs.
However, a wheelchair may fall in an accident, etc., even if it is within its travelable area. In the event of falling of the wheelchair, there is such a problem that a conventional wheelchair is not provided with means for absorbing shock to the user, thus providing poor protection to the user. In particular, wheelchair users are often less agile than non-handicapped persons, and less able to protect themselves against shock in the event of falling of the wheelchair; therefore, there is an increasing need-to protect the wheelchair users.
In view of the above described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a falling shock absorbing apparatus for wheelchair capable of absorbing shock to the user in the event of falling of the wheelchair.
The falling shock absorbing apparatus for a wheelchair of the invention includes an air bag for covering predetermined parts of the wheelchair user when inflating, inflation means for inflating the air bag, inclination detecting means for detecting inclination of the wheelchair relative to the surface upon which the wheelchair is moved, and control means for activating the inflation means to inflate the air bag when inclination of the wheelchair is detected by the inclination detecting means.
Thus, the air bag may be inflated when the wheelchair is tilted and cover the predetermined parts of the wheelchair user to absorb shock to the user if the wheelchair falls; thus the apparatus is significantly advantageous in protecting the wheelchair user against a falling accident, etc.
Also, in accordance with the above described configuration, the air bag may be formed to cover at least human head when inflating so as to absorb shock to the head of the wheelchair user; thus the apparatus is advantageous when high regard is paid to protecting the head in a falling accident.
Further, according to the configuration, a body-worn gear may be provided which is detachably fitted to the wheelchair user, and to which the air bag is attached, to ensure that the air bag may cover the predetermined parts of the user; thus the apparatus works effectively when the user is thrown out of the wheelchair, e.g., in the event of falling.
Besides, according to the configuration, an air bag may be provided which inflates out to at least one of the back, front, right and left sides of the wheelchair when inclination of the wheelchair is detected by the inclination detecting means, to support the wheelchair which is to fall toward its declined direction; thus the apparatus is effective in preventing the wheelchair from tipping over.
Moreover, according to the configuration, the above described inclination detecting means may comprise plural distance sensors for measuring respective distances from plural points on the front and back, and the right and left of the wheelchair to the surface on which the wheelchair is moved so as to determine inclinations of the wheelchair based on respective differences in distances measured by the distance sensors both at the front and back and at the right and left of the wheelchair; thus the inclination detecting means may determine inclination of the wheelchair in any direction; backward, forward, rightward and leftward, based on a difference in distances measured by the distance sensors, making sure to inflate the air bag in the case of falling in any direction.
Furthermore, according to the configuration, the inclination detecting means may comprise an angular velocity sensor for measuring angular velocities on both the front-to-back and the right-to-left axes of the wheelchair so as to determine inclination of the wheelchair based on respective angular velocities measured by the angular velocity sensor; thus the inclination detecting means may determine inclination of the wheelchair in any direction; backward, forward, rightward and leftward, based on the corresponding angular velocity measured by the angular velocity sensor, making sure to inflate the air bag in the event of falling in any direction.
Still further, the inclination detecting means may comprise both the distance sensors and an angular velocity sensor, so that both the distance sensors and angular velocity sensor may detect inclination of the wheelchair, minimizing the chance of wrong operations.

Falling shock absorbing device for wheelchair

National Institute of Industrial Safety Independent Administrative Institution


According to some embodiments, a central controller receives a selection signal indicative of acceptance of an installment plan option for a transaction. The central controller determines an installment charge amount to include in at least two bills for a financial account. Thereafter, bills may be generated that reflect installment charges to be paid.

Many purchasers are often unable or unwilling to pay for a desired purchase. The purchase may be, for example, a single high-priced item or a number of lower priced items that together have a high purchase price. Unfortunately, the purchase price may be more than the purchaser is able or willing to spend at the time of sale.
Credit card accounts can allow greater flexibility in paying for purchases. When a purchase is paid for with a credit card, the purchaser need not tender cash or otherwise immediately forego money. Instead, the purchaser must pay the issuer of the credit card account within a predetermined period of time. Credit card accounts thereby allow purchasers to incur costs greater than those they are able to pay at the time of sale.
Costs that are "charged" (paid for using a credit card account) are added to a "balance" of the account. The purchaser may pay the balance with a single payment or in several smaller payments made over a period of time. Many purchasers prefer paying several smaller payments, instead of a single, larger payment. In return for allowing the purchaser to pay over a period of time, the issuer imposes interest on the balance. Typically, the balance is incremented by a predetermined interest rate at regular intervals, such as each month. In summary, payment amounts are subtracted from the balance, while interest and additional charged costs are added to the balance.
Each credit card account typically has a balance limit that is set by the issuer in order to deter or prevent a purchaser from incurring an unduly high balance. Exceeding the balance limit may not be allowed, or may impose a substantial penalty fee. Without such a balance limit, a purchaser may charge so many costs that the balance becomes unduly high. Consequently, the purchaser may not be able or willing to pay for the balance, and thus the issuer will not receive payments that are due.
The restrictions imposed by the balance limit are another reason why many purchasers are often unable or unwilling to pay for a desired purchase. Many purchasers are reluctant to maintain a balance that is near the balance limit, for fear of exceeding the balance limit. In addition, the purchaser may worry that a necessary but unanticipated purchase may not be allowed. For example, if a credit card account has a balance limit of $5,000 and a balance of $4,500, an "emergency" purchase of $1000 may not be allowed if exceeding the balance limit is forbidden.
Some sellers allow selected items to be paid for in a number of periodic payments ("installments"), rather than in one payment at the time of sale, as is more common. In return, the seller typically imposes a rate of interest on the purchase price, and interest thereby forms a part of each installment payment. For example, a seller may allow purchasers to pay for a $100 item with three installments of $35 per month. The seller receives 3×$35=$105 after the three installments are paid, which represents the $100 purchase price and $5 interest. Such smaller periodic payments are preferable to many purchasers, who may not be able to pay a single large payment.
Unfortunately, such installment type payment plans ("installment plans") suffer from several drawbacks. For example, a seller must be assured that a purchaser is financially reliable, otherwise one or more installments may not be received. Therefore, the purchaser typically must obtain and complete a credit application, undergo a credit check and await credit approval, which is annoying and inconvenient to the purchaser.
The seller is likewise inconvenienced by establishing such installment plans, processing credit applications, policing nonpayment of installments and incurring various other expenses. It is inconvenient to bill each month, and economically unfeasible to bill each month for small amounts. In addition, it is difficult for a seller to collect bad debt (unpaid installments), especially since most sellers are not accustomed to collecting bad debt.
Overall, such installment plans can be expensive for the seller and annoying to the purchaser. Consequently, not all sellers allow installment payments, and those that do typically allow installment payments only for a limited selection of high-priced items, rather than for each item. Sellers rarely, if ever, allow installment payments on lower priced purchases since the benefits to the seller are believed to be outweighed by the costs.
Banco Bilbao Vizcayo ("BBV") is a credit card issuer that allows some purchasers to pay their account balances in installments. A purchaser negotiates via telephone with a BBV representative to establish an acceptable installment plan, if possible, at a time after purchases are paid for. Since the installment plan is established after purchases are paid for, the purchaser does not know at the time of sale whether installment payments will even be allowed. In addition, the purchaser does not know at the time of sale what interest rate will be applied if installment payments are allowed. Consequently, at the time of sale the purchaser may not be able to determine whether the purchase price is acceptable, even with an installment plan. In summary, negotiating with BBV to pay for an existing balance in installments cannot permit purchasers to make informed purchasing decisions at the time of sale.
Many banks provide loans, wherein the loan may be used to pay for various purchases. Such loans are typically repaid in fixed installments. Unfortunately, requesting and obtaining such loans is expensive and time-consuming, and loans may not be dispensed frequently. In addition, interest accumulates on the entire loan amount, so it is not efficient to use such loans to pay for frequent and varying purchases.
Some credit card issuers offer pre-approved loans in which installment payments of the loan are applied to the credit card account balance. Such pre-approved loans are typically offered only to purchasers with strong credit histories. In addition, the offered loan is typically a large amount of money, such as thousands of dollars. Thus, as described above, it is not efficient to use such loans to pay for frequent and varying purchases. Accordingly, the usefulness of such a loan is limited for smaller purchase prices.
It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus that allowed purchasers to pay for a variety of purchases in installments. Such a method and apparatus would ideally overcome the drawbacks of known installment plans.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for providing and processing installment plans at a terminal


A method for removing downhole equipment installed in a well includes introducing an equipment dissolution mixture around the downhole equipment. The dissolution mixture includes one or more chemicals and/or materials suitable for the substantial dissolution of the downhole equipment.

Oil, gas, water and geothermal wells are being drilled into the earth and normally such a bore hole is lined with steel and anchored by casting cement at the outside of these steel linings. Inside these steel walls equipment such as tubing, packers, side pocket mandrels, sliding side doors, surface or subsurface controlled valves and measurement tools can be installed either permanently or semi-permanently.
After the well has reached the end of its life either because of technical problems or because of becoming uneconomic or because of a license expiration, the well must be abandoned. There is typically a legal or contractual obligation to abandon the well in a specific manner and typically governmental guidelines or law describe precisely how a well must be abandoned. The typical procedure comprises retrieval of the tubing followed by removing the top of the well. This is the common practice for vertical wells, where the equipment is normally removed by simple retrieval.
Over many years the industry has developed methods to drill horizontal wells and has deployed this well type throughout the world. At the same time the industry has developed permanently and semi permanently installed equipment in this horizontal section, which cannot be retrieved as easily as the tubing of a vertical well. In some cases it is even physically impossible to retrieve these components due to obstructions in the well or partial collapse of the cemented lining, or because parts of the well have been corroded.
If the equipment cannot be removed by simple retrieval, e.g. because of the above problems, a downhole milling tool can be employed, which can mill the downhole equipment into small particles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,995 describes a downhole milling tool. Removing downhole equipment by milling requires the introduction of more advanced downhole equipment, as well as operation and maintenance of the milling tool. Furthermore if parts of the well have been partially obstructed by a collapse, the milling tool will not be able to function as intended.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,198 discloses a method which relate to chemical removal of an acid soluble metal part in a deep well. One object of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,198 is to provide an improved method of, and composition for, chemically dissolving an aluminium or aluminium alloy part, such as a casing section, in the bore of a well whereby complete rapid removal is achieved. Dissolution of parts or equipment made of Al or Al-alloys in the well is achieved by subjecting the metal part of the corroding action of a hydrochloric acid solution to which has been added a relatively small amount of a phosphorus acid such as phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and hypo-phosphorous acid (H(H2PO2)). To prevent or reduce attack by the acid solution on adjacent ferrous metal parts, when such are present, an inhibitor of such action may be included in the acid solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,292 discloses a method for completing wells which traverse a plurality of producing horizons and has as particular object a completion procedure which will enable the operator to produce from various horizons simultaneously. According to the method comprise the string of casing which is set has one or more sections arranged so as to be opposite the upper producing horizons, and composed of a metal or a material which can be readily removed chemically. For example the material may be an aluminium alloy or a magnesium alloy or it may be an acid or alkali soluble resin. The chemical is an acid or a strong alkali e.g. hydrochloric acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,675 discloses a method for drilling of horizontal boreholes through formations traversed by a cased well. According to the method is provided a casing section adjacent to the formation which section is readily soluble in a selected chemical solution contacting the casing section with the selected chemical solution to dissolve the casing section and provide a "window" to the formation, and then drilling at least one generally horizontal borehole through the window into the formation. The removable section can be formed of Al or Mg, or an alloy of Al or Mg. The selected chemical solution may be an acid or an alkali. To minimize damage to the rest of the casing, a caustic solution is preferred. A strong hydroxide with alkali metal or ammonium nitrate is particularly effective in dissolving Al or Mg.
US 2005/0205266 relates to biodegradable downhole tools i.e. disposable tools, such as frac plugs and methods of removing such tools from wellbores. The disposable downhole tool or a component of the tool can comprise a degradable polymer e.g. an aliphatic polyester.
There exists a need for an improvement of the existing methods for the removal of downhole equipment that does not suffer the drawbacks described above.


The present invention provides a drive apparatus that is compact in size, low in cost, allows the attaining of a high degree of accuracy as well as high-speed driving, and suppresses the production of noise.. The present invention is composed so that a drive roller rolls along a track rail as a result of providing a torque generation device on a slider guided by said track rail, and attaching the output shaft of said torque generation device to said drive roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive apparatus for moving a certain object (driven object) in a desired direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of the prior art having this type of drive apparatus is the XY table indicated in FIG. 1.
As indicated in FIG. 1, said XY table is comprised of X table 1 installed on the floor or a mounting frame in a workshop, and Y table 2 moved by said X table 1. Furthermore, as X table 1 and Y table 2 have nearly the same constitution, the following detailed explanation will be provided with respect to X table 1 only, with an explanation of Y table 2 omitted. However, those constituent members of Y table 2 that correspond to the constituent members of X table 1 are indicated using the same reference numerals. Furthermore, an exploded view of the constituent members of X table 1 divided into suitable blocks is indicated in FIG. 2.
As indicated in FIG. 1, X table 1 has a long, roughly rectangular plate-shaped base 5, and side plate 6, provided on said base 5 and forming a box with said base 5. Motor 7 is mounted on one end of this side plate 6. In addition, as is indicated in FIG. 2, pulley 9 is fit onto output shaft 7a of motor 7. In addition, another pulley 10 is arranged on base 5, and is mounted to base 5 by means of brackets not shown. Endless belt 12 is wrapped around pulleys 9 and 10. A driven object the form of moving table 13 is fastened to this belt 12.
As indicated in the drawings, moving table 13 has a prescribed thickness and is composed to be of a size that allows it to be contained within the width of side plate 6. Two table projections 13a projecting above the upper surface of side plate 6 are provided in parallel on the left and right sides. These table projections 13a may be formed into an integrated structure with moving table 13 or may be composed in the form of separate structures. Above-mentioned Y table 2 is mounted on the upper surface of said table projections. Furthermore, cover 15 is arranged to the inside of these table projections 13a, acting to prevent entrance of dust and so on.
A driving device that drives belt 12 is comprised of the above-mentioned motor 7, pulley 9 and pulley 10.
On the other hand, as is indicated in FIG. 2, a pair of linear motion rolling guide units 17 are mutually arranged in parallel on the right and left sides of the above-mentioned belt 12, and are mounted on base 5. These linear motion rolling guide units 17 receive the load in all four directions (the directions indicated by arrows Z and Y as well as their respective opposite directions) applied to moving table 13, and also act as guiding devices that guide moving table 13. The drive apparatus that moves moving table 13, the driven object, is composed of these linear motion rolling guide units 17 and the above-mentioned belt 12 and its driving device.
More specifically, linear motion rolling guide unit 17 is composed of track rail 18, roughly in the shape of a square column, in which ball track rail groove 18a, having a cross-section in the shape of a semi-circle, is formed in the left and right shoulders of the side wall, slider 20, having a cross-section roughly in the shape of the letter "U", in which ball track rail groove 20a, having a semicircular cross-section, is formed in its inner surface in opposition to ball track rail groove 18a of track rail 18, and flat plate-shaped retainers (not shown), arranged at equal intervals in the mutual sliding direction between ball track rail grooves 18a and 20a, and holding the balls while allowing rotation. Furthermore, linear motion rolling guide units 17 are not limited to the use of balls, but may also use other devices such as rollers as long as they are of a constitution that uses a rolling object.
The following provides an explanation of the operation of the XY table having the above-mentioned constitution. Furthermore, as X table 1 and Y table 2 have the same constitution as described above, the following explanation will deal primarily with X table 1.
Firstly, when a power voltage is supplied to motor 7 of X table 1, output shaft 7a of motor 7, serving as the driving source, rotates which transmits torque to pulley 9. Then, belt 12, wrapped around pulley 9 and pulley 10, is driven in a prescribed direction, and moving table 13, mounted on the upper surface of this belt 12, also moves guided by linear motion rolling guide unit 17. Conversely, when the direction of rotation of motor 7 is reversed, belt 12 is driven in the opposite direction from that above, and consequently, moving table 13 also moves in that direction. In addition, the movement of moving table 13 is controlled by a control circuit comprised of a microcomputer and so on. A detector, which outputs a position detection signal to this control circuit, is composed to be able to be mounted to the inside of side plate 6 indicated in FIG. 1, and on the upper surface of base 5. In addition, detection may also be performed by an encoder mounted behind motor 7.
In addition, since Y table 2 is mounted on table projections 13a of moving table 13 equipped on X table 1, it moves in the X direction which is the same direction as moving table 13 of X table 1. As moving table 13 of Y table 2 is composed so as to be able to independently move linearly in the Y direction, by controlling these with a control circuit not shown, moving table 13 of Y table 2 can be moved in both the X and Y directions.
FIG. 3 indicates a second example of a drive apparatus of the prior art. This device can be incorporated in the XY table indicated in FIG. 1 in the same manner as the drive apparatus indicated as the first example of the prior art in FIG. 2.
As indicated in FIG. 3, said drive apparatus has long ball screw 26, provided in parallel with track rail 18 equipped with linear motion rolling guide unit 17, and attached at both ends to base 5 by means of bearings 25, motor 27 that rotates said ball screw 26, and nut member 28 engaging with ball screw 26 and mounted with respect to moving table 13, the driven object.
Furthermore, since the drive apparatus indicated in FIG. 3 is composed in the same manner as the first example of a drive apparatus of the prior art indicated in FIG. 2 with respect to portions other than those described above, an explanation of the entire apparatus will be omitted. In addition, in the above-mentioned explanation, the same reference numerals are used for those constituents that are identical to the constituents equipped on the first example of the prior art.
In said second example of a drive apparatus of the prior art, when ball screw 26 is driven to rotate by motor 27, moving table 13 moves together with nut member 28.
As described above, in addition to linear motion rolling guide unit 17 for guiding of the driven object, the drive apparatus of the prior art has a long component for transmission of driving force such as belt 12 or ball screw 26, motors 7 and 27 that serve as the driving source, and several other peripheral components, such as pulleys and bearings, related to these. Accordingly, this drive apparatus has the shortcomings of being large in size and having a large number of components resulting in high costs. In addition, since the driving force produced by motors 7 and 27, serving as the driving sources, is transmitted through numerous members, such as a long component for transmission of driving force, this drive apparatus has the additional shortcoming of it being difficult to attain a high degree of accuracy in movement and positioning of the driven object. Moreover, together with it not always being easy to attain high-speed driving with this drive apparatus, due to the large number of components operating relative to each other, this drive apparatus has the shortcoming of producing a relatively high level of noise.


An image forming apparatus that applies clear toner to an image to be formed based on image data being input and image information regarding the image data when forming the image, the image forming apparatus including a subject detection unit that detects a subject included in the image data based on the image information, the subject including plural pixels; and a setting unit that sets a first maximum value for amounts of the clear toner, each amount being an amount of the clear toner to be applied to a corresponding pixel included in the subject, based on a detection result of the subject.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus which applies a clear toner when forming an image based on image data being input and image information about the image data, an image forming method using the image forming apparatus, and an image forming program that is executed in the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as an electro-photographic technique, there is a technique to enhance glossiness of an image which is fixed. In the technique, a clear toner image is superimposed onto a color toner image including a yellow image, a magenta image, a cyan image, and a black image, so that the surface becomes even.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Published Unexamined Publication No. Hei 05-265287) discloses an image forming technique using clear toner. In the image forming technique, glossiness of an output image is controlled by regulating an amount of the clear toner depending on whether the clear toner is applied to a photographic area or a text area in a document.
However, in a conventional image forming apparatus described above, when changing an amount of the clear toner to be applied only to a predetermined area, a user may be required to designate the area. Thus an operation is complicated. Further, when the user does not designate the area, a constant amount of the clear toner is applied to the whole area of a recording paper, on which an output image is to be printed. Therefore, more of the clear toner may be consumed than required.
Embodiments of the present invention have been developed in view of the above situation. Objectives of the embodiments are to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming program that can vary an amount of clear toner to be applied to a predetermined area without user designation, and that can reduce consumption of the clear toner.

Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming program


An embodiment includes requesting, by a compiler responsive to execution of a first code segment, a first profile dataset associated with the first code segment. The embodiment also includes executing, responsive to receiving an indication that the first profile dataset is not available, a querying process that searches other code segments based on specified criteria relating to an attribute of the first code segment. The embodiment also includes receiving a search result from the querying process, where the search result includes a second code segment. The embodiment also includes generating an extrapolated profile dataset based at least in part on the second code segment. The embodiment stores the extrapolated profile dataset in memory associated with the first code segment, and the compiler performs an optimization process on the first code segment using the extrapolated profile dataset.

The present invention relates generally to a method, system, and computer program product for compiler optimization. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program product for deriving profile data for compiler optimization.
Computer programs are usually written in a programming language that an experienced programmer can readily comprehend and then converted to a machine language understood by computer processors. For many programming languages, a compiler or interpreter translates the computer program into machine language. In general, a compiler will attempt to translate the entire program file at once and report errors at the end of this process, whereas an interpreter will attempt to translate the program file one line at a time and will stop when encountering an error.
For programs written using the Java programming language, the source code is typically first translated into an intermediate language called bytecode, which is then translated into machine code. The primary compiler for Java is Javac, which translates Java source code into bytecode organized in class files. A utility called a class loader then loads the bytecode into a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). A JVM includes an interpreter and a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler that translate the bytecode and provides the resulting machine code to a computer processor for running the program.

Deriving profile data for compiler optimization

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


When a preview of a composed job is performed by composing data outputted from an application for printing, in order to provide a method for enabling the preview to be performed in consideration of a layout of each print job, one composed job is formed by composing the print jobs obtained by converting the data to be printed into the data in an intermediate code format and this method is realized by controlling so as to display the preview of the composed job on the basis of layout information of each print job in the composed job.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to print setting method and apparatus for a print job and a medium. More particularly, the invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, in which a control is made so as to display a preview in consideration of a print setting of text data which is formed by an application, and also relates to a storage medium in which a program for realizing such a method has been stored and a computer-readable program.
2. Related Background Art
In a client computer, when a document (text data) formed by a certain application is printed, various layouts can be designated and printed by using a printer driver having an advanced function in recent years. As the setting of the layout becomes complicated, a method whereby an output result is previously confirmed (previewed) on a screen of a host is an effective method in order to promptly and usefully obtain a desired print result.
Generally, each application uniquely provides a function for previewing on a screen of the client computer (host computer) prior to printing. In this case, a preview of a result obtained by adapting a layout function which the application has can be confirmed on the screen.
The conventional method, however, has a problem such that the layout functions which are provided by a printing apparatus such as a printer or the like and by a printer driver for such a printer cannot be confirmed on the application.
There is also software having a "collective print" function such that text data whose printing has been instructed by an application is held in a client without outputting to a printer and a plurality of text data is transmitted as one job to the printer.
There is a case where the user wants to collectively print print jobs formed by a plurality of applications, for example, an application A suitable to form a document, an application B suitable to form a table, an application C suitable to form a drawing, and the like. However, the "collective print" function is nothing but a function such that a plurality of print jobs are collectively set to one print job. Since an instruction to perform a collective print is issued and data is also outputted upon printing in order at which the data has been spooled for collective printing, there is a problem such that the user has to spool it to an outputted page and a use efficiency is low. For example, in the case where the user wants to print materials constructed one page by one such as document, drawing, document, table, and document, the user has to perform the following operations. That is, the first page is formed by the application A and spooled. The second page is formed by the application B and spooled. The third page is again formed by the application A and spooled. The fourth page is formed by the application C and spooled. The fifth page is formed by the application A and spooled.
Even in the case where the user wants to see a preview of one collected data to be printed, although he can see the preview provided by each application, he cannot see a preview which reflects a plurality of print settings which are set by the printer driver.
Further, in the case where the user wants to collect a plurality of files and print them as one job, even if the user wants to designate finishing to the collected job, there is no means for providing it and there is a problem such that an apparatus having a preview function in such a case does not exist. There is, consequently, a problem such that a state where they are actually printed and outputted by the printing apparatus cannot be recognized unless they are printed.
To solve the above problems, a method whereby a function such that print setting attributes of a print job which has once been spooled are further edited is provided is considered. By using such a function, not only the collective print of a plurality of print jobs can be performed but also a construction such that they are composed as one job and the print setting is edited as a composed job is possible.
However, there is also a problem such that a result obtained in the case where a plurality of jobs in which different layout settings have been designated are collectively printed in a state of the different layouts or the layouts are unified and collectively printed cannot be previewed.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program therein


The present technology relates to an audio processing apparatus and method and a program that make it possible to obtain sound of higher quality. An acquisition unit acquires an audio signal and metadata of an object. A vector calculation unit calculates, based on a horizontal direction angle and a vertical direction angle included in the metadata of the object and indicative of an extent of a sound image, a spread vector indicative of a position in a region indicative of the extent of the sound image. A gain calculation unit calculates, based on the spread vector, a VBAP gain of the audio signal in regard to each speaker by VBAP. The present technology can be applied to an audio processing apparatus.

Conventionally, as a technology for controlling localization of a sound image using a plurality of speakers, VBAP (Vector Base Amplitude Panning) is known (for example, refer to NPL 1).
In the VBAP, by outputting sound from three speakers, a sound image can be localized at one arbitrary point at the inner side of a triangle defined by the three speakers.
However, it is considered that, in the real world, a sound image is localized not at one point but is localized in a partial space having a certain degree of extent. For example, it is considered that, while human voice is generated from the vocal cords, vibration of the voice is propagated to the face, the body and so forth, and as a result, the voice is emitted from a partial space that is the entire human body.
As a technology for localizing sound in such a partial space as described above, namely, as a technology for extending a sound image, MDAP (Multiple Direction Amplitude Panning) is generally known (for example, refer to NPL 2). Further, the MDAP is used also in a rendering processing unit of the MPEG-H 3D (Moving Picture Experts Group-High Quality Three-Dimensional) Audio standard (for example, refer to NPL 3).

Audio processing apparatus and method, and program


Disclosed is a scroll compressor. As two side surfaces of a rotation preventing member are formed to be flat with keys, the rotation preventing member, a main frame, and an orbiting scroll may be easily processed and partial frictions and noise due to the keys may be prevented. Furthermore, since the orbiting scroll is entirely and stably supported by a ring portion of the rotation preventing member, the occurrence of a tilting moment of the orbiting scroll may be reduced. This may enhance the stability and the performance of the scroll compressor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an orbiting scroll, and more particularly, to a rotation preventing member of a scroll compressor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a compressor is an apparatus for compressing fluid such as a refrigerant gas, and may be classified into a rotary compressor, a reciprocating compressor, a scroll compressor, etc. according to a fluid compression method.
This scroll compressor indicates a compressor of a high efficiency and low noise, the compressor widely applied to an air conditioning system. In this scroll compressor, a plurality of compression chambers are formed between two scrolls as the two scrolls perform an orbital motion with respect to each other. While continuously moving toward the center, these compression chambers have a deceased volume. Accordingly, a refrigerant is sucked, compressed and then is discharged.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating one example of a scroll compressor in accordance with the conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state that an Oldham's ring has been separated from a main frame and an orbiting scroll of FIG. 1.
As shown, in the conventional scroll compressor, a main frame 2 and a sub frame 3 are disposed at an inner space 11 of a casing 1 with a predetermine gap therebetween in a horizontal direction. A driving motor 4 for generating a rotational force is installed between the main frame 2 and the sub frame 3. To the center of a rotor 42 of the driving motor 4, coupled is a crankshaft 5 passing through the main frame 2, and configured to transmit a rotational force of the driving motor 3 to an orbiting scroll 7 to be later explained by being coupled thereto. The main frame 2 is forcibly-coupled to the casing 1, and the sub frame 3 is integrally formed with the casing 1.
A fixed scroll 6 is fixedly-installed above the main frame 2, and the orbiting scroll 7 is coupled to the fixed scroll 6 to form a pair of compression chambers (P) which consecutively move, by being engaged with the fixed scroll 6. Between the orbiting scroll 7 and the main frame 2, installed is an Oldham's ring 8 for allowing the orbiting scroll 7 to perform an orbital motion with preventing a rotation of the orbiting scroll 7.
A suction pipe 12 and a discharge pipe 13 are coupled to the casing 1. The suction pipe 12 is directly communicated with a suction ort (not shown) via the casing 1, whereas the discharge pipe 13 is communicated with the inner space 11 of the casing 1. A discharge port 63 of the fixed scroll 6 for containing therein a discharge refrigerant is communicated with the inner space 11 of the casing 1.
A shaft accommodating hole 21 for supporting a crankshaft 5 in a radius direction is formed at the center of the main frame 2, and a first bearing 22 for supporting the crankshaft 5 in a radius direction is installed at the shaft accommodating hole 21.
The crankshaft 5 is forcibly-inserted into the rotor 42 of the driving motor 4, and upper and lower sides thereof are supported by the main frame 2 and the sub frame 3, respectively. Inside the crankshaft 5, an oil passage 51 is long formed along a shaft direction so that oil of the casing 1 may be sucked to be used to lubricate each bearing surface.
A fixed wrap 62 which forms a pair of compression chambers (P) is formed on a bottom surface of an end plate 61 of the fixed scroll 6 in an involute shape. A suction port (not shown) directly connected to the suction pipe 12 and sucking a refrigerant into the compression chambers (P) is formed on a side surface of the end plate 61. At the center of an upper surface of the end plate 61, formed is the discharge port 63 through which a compression gas compressed in the compression chambers (P) is discharged to the inner space 11 of the casing 1. On an upper surface of the fixed scroll 6, provided is a check valve 9 opening or closing the discharge port 63 and preventing backflow of a refrigerant gas.
On an upper surface of an end plate 71 of the orbiting scroll 7, an orbiting wrap is formed in an involute shape so as to form the pair of compression chambers (P) together with the fixed wrap 62 of the fixed scroll 6. At the center of a bottom surface of the end plate 71, formed is a boss portion 73 coupled to the crankshaft 5 and receiving a driving force of the driving motor 4. On an inner circumferential surface of the boss portion 73, installed is a second bearing 74 for supporting the crankshaft 5 and the boss portion 73 in a radius direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, a body of the Oldham's ring 8, a ring portion 81 is formed in a ring shape. At two sides of an upper surface of the ring portion 81, first keys 82 are radially formed so as to be slidably inserted into first key recesses 75 provided on a bottom surface of the end plate 71 of the orbiting scroll 7. At two sides of a bottom surface of the ring portion 81, second keys 83 are formed so as to be slidably inserted into second key recesses 23 of the main frame in a direction perpendicular to the first keys 82.
Unexplained reference numeral 31 denotes a third bearing for supporting the crankshaft in a radius direction, and 41 denotes a stator of the driving motor.
The conventional scroll compressor is operated as follows.
Once power is applied to the driving motor 4, the orbiting scroll 7 performs an orbital motion on an upper surface of the main frame 2 by the Oldham's ring 8 by an eccentric distance while the crank shaft 5 rotates together with the rotor 42 of the driving motor 4. And, the pair of compression chambers (P) which consecutively move are formed between the fixed wrap 62 and an orbiting wrap 72. The compression chambers (P) move toward the center by the continuous orbital motion of the orbiting scroll 7, thus to have a decreased volume. Accordingly, a refrigerant is sucked, compressed and then is discharged.
The first keys 82 and the second keys 83 of the Oldham's ring 8 disposed between an upper surface of the main frame 2 and a bottom surface of the orbiting scroll 7 are slidably inserted into the first key recesses 75 of the orbiting scroll 7 and the second key recesses 23 of the main frame 2, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to each other. This may prevent the orbiting scroll 7 having received a rotational force of the driving motor 4 from rotating with respect to the fixed scroll 6.
However, in the conventional scroll compressor, processing the Oldham's ring 8 is difficult due to the first keys 82 and the second keys 83. Besides, the first key recesses 75 and the second key recesses 23 for slidably inserting the first keys 82 and the second keys 83 have to be formed at the orbiting scroll 7 and the main frame 2, respectively. This may increase the fabrication costs of the orbiting scroll 7 and the main frame 2.
Besides, since the orbiting scroll 7 is supported by the main frame 2 by the first keys 82 and the second keys 83 of the Oldham's ring 8, a supportable area may be narrowed. If a tilting moment may occur at the orbiting scroll 7, the Oldham's ring 8 may be easily inclined to tilt the orbiting scroll 7. This may lower the stability and the performance of the scroll compressor, and may increase partial frictions and noise between the orbiting scroll 7 and the main frame 2 or between the orbiting scroll 7 and the fixed scroll 6.

Rotation preventing member of a scroll compressor


A laser apparatus includes an optic dispersion compensator. In another aspect, an optic (40, 45) uses phase wrapping to compress or stretch a laser pulse. A further aspect includes an apparatus and method for binary-phase compression of stretched laser pulses. In yet another aspect, a single monolithic transmissive or reflective optic (40, 45) provides compression or stretching of a laser pulse using a sinusoidal pattern for introducing binary steps. Another aspect provides a stretching or compressing optic (40, 45) for retarding a phase of multiple frequency regions of a laser pulse by a factor of 2? or less. Still another aspect employs a volume grating or multi-layer mirror including phase wrapping to obtain discontinuous phase jumps in a laser pulse compressor (45) or stretcher (40). Methods of using or making the laser apparatus are also provided.

The present application relates generally to a laser apparatus and more particularly to a laser apparatus including an optic dispersion compensator and a method of using same.
Energy scale-up of ultrafast laser sources relies on temporal stretching of laser pulses prior to amplification via chirped pulse amplification ("CPA"). As ultrafast sources gain acceptance in medicine and industry, the expense and robustness of pulse compressors need improvement. Lasers with pulse energies in the hundreds and even thousands of Joules are being considered, however, traditional compressors for those sources are extremely expensive because of the need for gratings and mirrors with areas exceeding 1 m2 that require precise alignment inside vacuum chambers, which is impractical in a commercial setting.
Binary pulse shaping has been previously utilized. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 8,861,075 entitled "Laser Amplification System" issued on Oct. 14, 2014, and PCT International Patent Publication No. WO 2017/059018 entitled "Laser Pulse Including Flat Top" published on Apr. 6, 2017, where are commonly invented by the present inventors. Furthermore, a fixed optic for use as a pulse shaper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,208,504 entitled "Laser Pulse Shaping System" which issued on Jun. 26, 2012, and is also commonly invented by the present inventors. All of these patents are incorporated by reference herein. While they are all significant advances in the field, there is further room for improvement especially for compressors and stretchers, in contrast to shapers, and since more powerful lasers are being utilized.
In accordance with the present invention, a laser apparatus includes an optic dispersion compensator. In another aspect, an optic uses phase wrapping to compress or stretch a laser pulse. A further aspect includes an apparatus and method for binary-phase compression of stretched laser pulses. In yet another aspect, a single monolithic transmissive or reflective optic provides compression or stretching of a laser pulse using a sinusoidal pattern for introducing binary steps. Another aspect provides a stretching or compressing optic for retarding a phase of multiple frequency regions of a laser pulse by a factor of 2π or less. Still another aspect employs a grating or mirror including phase wrapping to obtain discontinuous phase jumps in a laser pulse compressor or stretcher. Methods of using or making the laser apparatus are also provided.
Given that pulse compression is a process that brings in-phase all of the frequencies within the spectrum of the pulse, a frequency domain approach is employed in which out-of-phase components are brought into phase by a π step. The resulting binary spectral phases, containing values of zero and π, have ability to compress pulses. Furthermore, blocking certain regions of the spectrum through destructive interference leads to an increase in second harmonic generation ("SHG") via an approach that is analogous to Fresnel zone plates. In general, the delivery of large negative dispersion is analogous to creating a large lens, which was solved by the Fresnel lens in a general optical sense.
The present apparatus and method are advantageous over conventional designs. For example, the present optic is expected to be considerably less expensive to manufacture because as a single optic, and not a combination of two or more optics, it can be mass produced. The optic is significantly more compact compared to conventional compressors, this being especially beneficial when used with high power lasers of at least 1 mJ and be even more beneficial with those of 100 mJ. Furthermore, the present optic avoids the need to align multiple optical components. It is noteworthy that the optic design does not require the traditional total dispersion thickness of conventional dispersion optics because it takes advantage of phase steps that greatly reduce the need for overall thickness. Moreover, the present apparatus is expected to stretch or compress the laser pulse at least 100 times with an energy efficiency of at least 70%. Additional advantages and features of the present apparatus and method can be found in the following description and claims in addition to the appended drawings.

Laser apparatus including an optic dispersion compensator

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University


A pneumatic control device includes a base seat unit, a cylinder unit and a time-delay unit. The cylinder unit is mounted the base seat unit, and is able to drive rotational movement. The time-delay unit is mounted to the base seat unit, and includes sequentially interconnected delay switch, flow-limiting valve, pressure accumulator and a control valve. The delay switch is operable to move between an action position whereat the cylinder unit drives the rotational movement, and a non-action position. When the delay switch is moved to the non-action position, the cylinder unit keeps driving the rotational movement for a period of time and then stops.

A conventional pneumatic tool disclosed in Taiwanese Invention Patent No. I259865 utilizes pressured air to drive rotation of an output shaft thereof. However, such conventional pneumatic tool does not have a time-delay valve module. Another conventional pneumatic tool disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 201440965 does not have a time-delay valve module as well.


A cleaning system comprises a compressor for delivering pressurized air to an accumulator via a valve controlled line. An outlet line extends from the accumulator and terminates adjacent a furnace floor drain. Upon command the entire volume of pressurized air is instantaneously released from the accumulator for discharge out the outlet line and through the furnace drain. The relatively cooler, high pressurized air blasts impacts, vibrates and chills any slag deposits accumulating about the drain so as to remove the same. An alternative nozzle is disclosed which disperses the high impact blast about the drain.

This invention relates to a cleaning system for precluding the formation of obstructions about the drain of boilers or the like.
Various devices have been employed to clean the surfaces of furnaces, boilers and other heat exchange devices. Soot-blowing systems of the so-called "puff type" are utilized. These devices discharge steam in a succession of relatively short blasts against the surfaces to be cleaned. These devices present a "lance"/shaft having a nozzle at one end which is inserted into the boiler. The nozzle injects a cleansing fluid, such as steam, which is directed onto the surface, e.g. boiler walls, in an attempt to blow away accumulated soot and ash. Due to the high internal operating temperature of the boiler, the nozzle end of the lances are inserted into the boiler for a short period of time only so as to protect their operating mechanisms. Hundreds of such lances are required for use with huge power plant boilers.
In certain boilers such as those used in coal fired power plants, ash elimination is accomplished either by a carryover (dry particulate) method or by a bottom drain method depending on the state of the by-products of burning. In the latter method it is essential that the ash remain molten, i.e. slag. Otherwise, it will adhere to all metal surfaces. However, this molten slag tends to solidify at the furnace floor drain above the slag tank. This solidification will cause the subsequent slag deposits to flow over the previously solidified slag. If the slag deposits are not removed the deposits will eventually form layers and obstruct the furnace drain commonly referred to as the "monkey" hole. The formation of such obstructions results in a decrease in operating efficiency. In some cases it is necessary to shut the furnace down and remove the solidified slag deposits by air hammers and/or dynamite.
The above-described prior art soot blowers are not sufficient to preclude such obstructions of the "monkey" hole. Such prior art soot blowers rely on steam as a cleaning agent and are designed to operate in a "puff" like manner, i.e. a continuous flow of steam at a constant pressure is directed at the surface to be cleaned. Such fluid flow is designed to remove dry particulate ash from the interior boiler surfaces. However, these blowers are not designed for removal of the heavy molten slag forming at the "monkey" hole of the boiler.
In response thereto a cleansing system is presented which utilizes a blast of compressed high pressure air for removal of the accumulated molten slag. Compressed air is routed to an accumulator at high pressure for increasing the air volume. Extending from this accumulator is an air conduit having an open nozzle at the distal end thereof. The distal end terminates at the monkey hole from the underside of the surrounding drain floor. A control unit allows the large volume of pressurized air residing in the accumulator to be selectably or periodically directed at the monkey hole. This blast of air impacts the molten slag passing through the hole and/or accumulating therearound. The instantaneous impact of the large volume of relatively cold, high pressurized air chills and vibrates the molten slag. This action forms a plurality of particulate materials which fall into the slag tank therebelow. Various nozzle designs employing a primary blast of air through the monkey hole and optional, smaller concurrent air blasts for direction about the monkey hole can be utilized. The system precludes the formation of slag deposits in the monkey hole and subsequent obstruction thereof. Such system is adaptable for use in precluding the formation of deposits on other structures.
It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a device for elimination of molten slag/pluggage from boiler and/or furnace component surfaces, e.g. the drain/"monkey" hole of a furnace or the like.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which impacts and chills the molten slag in a manner to change the same into smaller particulates for subsequent removal.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which utilizes an instantaneous blast of a large volume of high pressurized air as the cleaning agent.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which uses blasting acoustics to preclude slag formation about the monkey hole.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which is suitable for use below the drain floor of the furnace proper.
A more particular object of this invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which either directs the entire volume of high pressure air through the monkey hole center and/or disperses the air in a succession of smaller blasts therearound.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.


The invention relates to an automatically adjustable spacer for a drum brake, comprising essentially a first part (10) bearing at one of its ends on a first shoe (3), a second part (16) bearing at the opposite end on the second shoe (2), the first and second parts (10, 16) being mounted slidably longitudinally relative to one another, a locking element (30), at least part of the periphery of which has a toothing, mounted movably on one of the first and second parts and capable of meshing with a corresponding toothing (28) provided opposite it on part of the periphery of the other of the first and second parts, so as to define a device for the automatic extension of the spacer as a function of the wear of the friction elements. The locking element (30) which is mounted movably in terms of rotation about a pin (32) and pin being mounted movably in terms of longitudinal translational motion in a slot provided in the part (10), is in form of a toothed cam the rotational movement of which results in an increase of the distance between the pin (32) and the meshing zone of the toothings, and a spring imparts a rotational movement to the locking element as soon as the toothing no longer mesh with one another.

The present invention relates to drum brakes for motor vehicles and more particularly to an automatically adjustable spacer for such a brake.
There are various known systems making it possible for the distance between the ends, moved by means of the brake motor, of two shoes fitted with friction elements of a drum brake to be lengthened automatically as a function of the wear of these.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,973 describes, for example, a system with a spacer of fixed length and with a lever articulated on one of the shoes. Such a system, although functioning perfectly well, has a disadvantage as regards the maintenance of the brake; in fact, the articulated lever has to be changed at the same time as the corresponding shoe in the event that the latter undergoes wear.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,949 describes a system with a spacer of variable length, possessing a screw/nut assembly controlled by a pawl exerting stress on a toothing. Such a system likewise functions perfectly well, but has the disadvantage of being costly.
The document GB-1,405,094 also describes a system with a spacer of variable length, but having an angle lever which is moved angularly and one of the arms of which interacts with a toothed element of another part of the spacer. Such a system has the serious disadvantage of considerable bulk because of the presence of this angle lever.
It is known that motor vehicle manufacturers would like to use drum brakes with a reliable but inexpensive automatic adjustment which does not occupy a large amount of space, so that the speed sensor required for the functioning of the wheel antilock devices can be arranged in the brake.

Automatically adjustable spacer for a drum brake


A mechanism is provided for authenticating and using a personal voice profile. The voice profile may be issued by a trusted third party, such as a certification authority. The personal voice profile may include information for generating a digest or digital signature for text messages. A speech synthesis system may speak the text message using the voice characteristics, such as prosodic characteristics, only if the voice profile is authenticated and the text message is valid and free of tampering.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to speech synthesis and, in particular, to using prosodic information for speech synthesis. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and program for transmitting text messages for synthesized speech.
2. Description of Related Art
Speech synthesis systems convert text to speech for audible output. Speech synthesizers may use a plurality of stored speech segments and their associated representation (i.e., vocabulary) to generate speech by concatenating the stored speech segments. However, because no information is provided with the text as to how the speech should be generated, the result is typically an unnatural or robot sounding speech.
Some speech synthesis systems use prosodic information, such as pitch, duration, rhythm, intonation, stress, etc., to modify or shape the generated speech to sound more natural. In fact, voice characteristic information, such as the above prosodic information, may be used to synthesize the voice of a specific person. Thus, a person's voice may be recreated to "read" a text that the person did not actually read.
However, recreating a person's voice using voice characteristic information introduces a number of ethical issues. Once an individual's voice characteristics are extracted and stored, they may be used to speak a text the content of which the individual finds objectionable or embarrassing. When voice characteristics are transmitted for remote synthesis of speech, the person receiving the voice characteristics may not even know if the characteristics did indeed come from the appropriate individual.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an improved speech synthesis system transmitting text messages and certifying voice characteristics profiles for synthesized speech.

Method, apparatus, and program for certifying a voice profile when transmitting text messages for synthesized speech


A method for dynamically adjusting parameter values of part heights to verify the distances between parts is provided. The method comprises, inputting multiple sets of limiting conditions for part heights through a setting interface; and verifying whether the parts are appropriately positioned in a circuit diagram according to the limiting conditions for part heights, thereby upgrading the quality of design of the printed circuit board and enhancing the reliability of electronic products.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a verification method for a layout design, and more particularly, to a method for dynamically adjusting parameter values of part heights to verify the distances between parts.
2. Related Art
A printed circuit board (PCB) is a kind of circuit board formed as follows. A wiring diagram is depicted for the wirings connecting electronic parts according to a circuit design; and the electric conductors are reproduced on an insulator by way of mechanical processing, surface processing, and the like. In other words, the printed circuit board is used to enable an electronic circuit with electronic parts to play the role of each electronic assembly, so as to process signals, with the main function of fixing circuits between parts for providing a stable circuit environment.
However, the circuit diagram is embodied on a computer after being designed. When the positions of the parts are configured with a layout software, the position of each of the parts will directly affect the quality of the design of printed circuit boards, thereby influencing the reliability of electronic products, as well as the overall performance and competitiveness of system products.
Each of the parts is positioned according to some regulations when the printed circuit board is configured, in order to provide the printed circuit board with superior quality of design when embodied. Generally, as for those regulations, the safe distance between parts is enlarged to avoid mutual interference between parts on the printed circuit board. However, the arrangements of the heights of the parts are neglected. Therefore, parts with different heights are positioned on the printed circuit board at random or they are positioned excessively closely, which will increase the difficulty of repairing the printed circuit board in the future.
Although the positions of the parts with different heights are confirmed manually at present, thousands of parts with different heights in the circuit design diagram may still be positioned inappropriately due to personal carelessness.
Accordingly, in the prior art, parameter values are set for a set of part heights, and slopes of the corresponding parameter values of heights are calculated, and then based on the slopes corresponding to the parameter values of heights, the slope corresponding to the parameter value of each of the part heights is used to judge whether or not each of the parts is positioned appropriately. However, the distance between the parts will increase with the increase of the corresponding slope, resulting in waste of the space of the printed circuit board.

Method for dynamically adjusting parameter values of part heights to verify distances between parts


A power augmented gas turbine starter system which has a starter including a casing rotatably mounting a turbine wheel therewithin. A low pressure air supply communicates with the casing. A combustor is associated with the low pressure air supply for receiving air therefrom and supplying a flow of hot gas to the starter for augmenting the power of the starter. The air supply may be a bleed air conduit from an auxiliary power unit or from a main propulsion engine, and the combustor may be removably mounted directly in-line within the air supply conduit. The invention contemplates the use of a single auxiliary power unit and a single combustor for supplying a flow of hot gas to two or more gas turbine starters associated with their respective main propulsion engines. A cross-bleed circuit may be provided so that cross-bleed from one main engine can be used to start another main engine by providing bleed air for the other engine's gas turbine starter.

Gas or air turbine starters have been used in many applications for purposes of providing torque to an engine, such as a main propulsion engine of an aircraft. Normally, the gas turbine starter is provided with a flow of air from some source, such as a bleed conduit from the main engine or an auxiliary power unit.
For instance, a frequent method of starting aircraft prime propulsion gas turbine engines is by means of a small auxiliary power unit providing compressed (bleed) air to an accessory drive gearbox mounted air turbine starter. The auxiliary power unit may be carried on-board, or mounted externally on ground support equipment. The majority of such auxiliary power units deliver a bleed pressure of approximately 4.0 psi at standard day conditions, as constrained by oil auto-ignition temperature limits no higher than 450.degree.-550.degree. F. for most commercial aircraft applications.
Requirements for in-flight cross-bleed starting of military propulsion engines at higher Mach numbers have necessitated accommodating bleed air duct internal temperatures of up to approximately 1200.degree. F. In accommodating these higher bleed air duct internal temperatures, lines have had to be extensively insulated to maintain tolerable external surface temperatures.
This invention is directed to an improved system which significantly increases the output of the gas turbine starter by providing an additional or supplemental in-flow of hot gas to the starter, principally from a combustor means.

Gas turbine starter system with power augmentation


A charged particle system such as a multi beam lithography system. A manipulator device manipulates one or more charged particle beams. The manipulator device includes at least one through opening in the plane of the planar substrate for passing at least one charged particle. Each through opening is provided with electrodes arranged in a first set of multiple first electrodes along a first part of a perimeter of the through opening and in a second set of multiple second electrodes along a second part of the perimeter. An electronic control circuit is arranged for providing voltage differences the electrodes in dependence of a position of the first and second electrode along the perimeter of the through opening.

The invention relates to a charged particle system, such as a multi beam lithography system, comprising a manipulator device for manipulation of one or more charged particle beams.
Charged particle systems, such as (multi) electron beam systems, are being developed for high throughput maskless lithography systems, (multi) electron beam microscopy and (multi) electron beam induced deposition devices. In particular for maskless lithography systems, individual beam modulation or manipulation is needed during the writing of a pattern on a substrate.
Those lithography systems comprise either continuous sources or sources operating at constant frequency or at a varying frequency. Pattern data can be sent towards a manipulator device (or modulation means), which may be able to completely or partly stop the emitted beams from reaching the target exposure surface when necessary. The manipulator device (or modulation means) can also be provided for changing other characteristics of the emitted beam, such as a position, a cross-section, an intensity, a direction and/or an opening angle of the beam.
Preferably, the maskless lithography system comprises one source which can emit a diverging beam of charged particles, which charged particle beam is directed to an aperture array. The aperture array splits the charged particle beam into a plurality of charged particle beams or beamlets. This method of producing a plurality of charged particles has the advantage that it yields a large number of closely spaced beams or beamlets.
However, any manipulator device for such closely spaced plurality of charged particle beamlets requires closely spaced arrays of manipulators. Such closely spaced arrays are difficult to produce. In particular electrical circuits for controlling many manipulators are difficult to arrange in the lithography system. In addition, cross-talk between manipulators and other circuits in the vicinity of the manipulators can cause errors in the manipulation of the beams.
Furthermore, it can be difficult to produce a manipulator device that is able to manipulate the charged particle beam with sufficient accuracy. The manipulation by a manipulation device can depends on the exact location of the projection of the beam on the manipulation device. Any misalignment of the charged particle beam will then result in large manipulation errors.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution, at least in part, for at least one of the above identified problems.

Charged particle system comprising a manipulator device for manipulation of one or more charged particle beams