A disposable paper pouch enclosing a small supply of cream or other flowable food product, the pouch being both biodegradable and recyclable. The pouch is made up of two superposed paper plies which are rendered liquid impervious by water-based acrylic layers coated on the inner and outer faces of the plies, the acrylic inner layer having a low melting temperature and the acrylic outer layer having a high melting temperature. The superposed plies are subjected to heat and pressure by standard sealing bars that have no effect on the outer layers but cause the inner layers which face each other to fuse together in a predetermined sealing pattern to define an inner pocket that is fillable with the cream and a spout leading from the pocket to an outlet adjacent one end of the pouch. The outlet is normally blocked, but when the pouch is to be put to use, it is torn along a line intersecting the outlet to open the outlet whereby the cream may then be expelled therefrom by squeezing the pouch.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to miniature, disposable containers for flowable food products, such as cream, ketchup and mustard as well as salad dressing, and more particularly to a coated paper pouch for this purpose which is liquid impervious, yet is biodegradable and recyclable.
2. Status of Prior Art
Because of rising environmental concerns, in recent years stress has been placed on disposable containers that can be recycled. Thus a strong preference now exists for bags, cartons and other containers made entirely of paper, for these are biodegradable and also can be recycled. This is not true of those containers or other articles made entirely or in part of synthetic, polymeric plastic materials. Thus a cardboard carton lends itself to recycling, but not if it is lined with synthetic plastic films so that it may contain a liquid.
In recycling a paper carton or other paper product, use is made of broke beaters and pulpers which act to shred the waste paper and to produce a paper slurry for further processing. But if the paper product fed into the broke beater includes liners or tapes of synthetic plastic film material, the plastic will contaminate the slurry and render it unusable.
It is now common practice, when serving coffee, to supply cream therefor in a miniature plastic container. A typical container for this purpose is shown in FIG. 7 of the Tokuda et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,842, the container being in the form of a small plastic cup having a rim to which is marginally adhered a plastic cover which can readily be peeled off the rim. In some cases, a metal foil cover is used.
Various forms of disposable, small plastic containers for dispensing food products are disclosed in the Fukushima U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,429, as well as in the Redmond U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,640 and 4,724,982. Where the containers disclosed in these patents are of plastic construction or formed of a laminate of plastic and metal foil, they are not biodegradable nor can they be recycled. And where the containers are made of plastics such as polystyrene, should they be incinerated to get rid of them, they will give off noxious fumes.
One well known form of pouch for a hot dog relish is made up of a laminate whose outer ply is a clear polyester film, the inner face of which is printed to identify the contents of the pouch. The inner face of the outer plastic ply is laminated by an adhesive to a foil ply, which in turn is laminated by an adhesive to a polyethylene inner ply. The polyester in this laminate is for exterior strength and tear resistance, the foil is included because it acts as a moisture barrier, and the polyethylene is for sealing purposes.
The manufacturing procedure for this well known pouch involves several steps and is a relatively costly process, for it requires the application of adhesives and the lamination of the polyester ply to the foil ply and then the lamination of the foil ply to the polyethylene ply. This plastic metal foil pouch is neither biodegradable nor can it be recycled.
The reason metal foil has heretofore been used in pouches for flowable food products in which the foil is laminated to a plastic film is that a film, even one of high strength, has some slight degree of porosity. It therefore exhibits a moisture-vapor transmission rate (MVTR), which is unsuitable for a food container, for it reduces the shelf life of the food.


Provided herein are methods for calibrating a camera. The method may include capturing an image that includes at least a traffic sign. The location of the traffic sign using the image may then be determined, which may include taking as input the location and direction of the vehicle and the location and the direction of the camera relative to the vehicle. The method may also include obtaining an actual location of the traffic sign. The camera may be determined to require recalibration if the determined location is different from the actual location.

Vehicles, especially autonomous vehicles, often operate with the assistance of multiple on-board cameras to supplement and bolster the vehicle's field of vision by providing accurate image information. Often, images captured by the on-board cameras utilize a coordinate system to determine the distance and angle of the contents and objects captured in the image. Such real-time space information may be acquired near the vehicle using various on-board cameras located throughout the vehicle, which may then be processed to calculate and to determine the safe driving operation of the vehicle. As a result, it is imperative that the on-board cameras are mounted and adequately calibrated to the correct location, placement, and angle in order for the on-board cameras to properly detect and measure objects without error.
Current solutions include installing calibration panels in select areas (e.g., garage) to calibrate the on-board cameras However, this requires not only the installation of hardware, but also severely restricts the number of calibrations that may be performed throughout the day, especially since the vehicle must be parked or stationed near the calibration panel. As a result, the on-board cameras may then go uncalibrated for an extended period of time.

System and method for calibrating on-board vehicle cameras


A skin treatment method which includes ionizing oxygen and then mixing the ionized oxygen with saline solution to produce an energized saline solution is disclosed. The method further includes applying the energized saline solution to the skin as a mist-like spray to treat the skin. The system used to carry out the method includes an oxygen concentrator for generating oxygen and an ionizer for imparting an electric charge to the oxygen to produce ionized oxygen. The system also includes a bag of saline solution as well as a peristaltic pump for pumping the saline solution from the bag to a spray nozzle mounted in a handheld wand. The concentrator further includes apparatus for pumping or delivering the oxygen and ultimately the ionized oxygen to the spray nozzle. The spray nozzle mixes and atomizes the ionized oxygen and saline solution to produce a spray-like mist of the same which is then applied to an individual's skin.

Mens' and womens' desire to improve the appearance of their skin is relentless—as demonstrated by the fact that one cannot watch television very long today without viewing a commercial advertising some sort of product for controlling acne or eliminating skin lines caused by aging or the effects of too much exposure to the sun.
Almost all of these commercials claim that their particular product or treatment is superior to others on the market. Some commercials claim that the use of their products or treatments will not traumatize the skin in any way. Other than moisturizers, as a general rule, this is not the case. For example, many acne creams or alpha hydroxy acids cause the skin to dry out or peel. In addition, micro-dermabrasion treatments often traumatize the skin, dehydrate the face, and produce uneven results. Microdermabrasion propels aluminum oxide crystals at a high speed directly across the surface of the skin which often results in the crystals becoming imbedded into the tissue. Likewise, lasers and chemical peels damage the skin in order to stimulate collagen production. While use of some of these products and treatments may yield results, they do little to heal the tissue, and have various risks and side effects.
Thus, there remains a need and certainly a desire for products and treatments that will in fact treat various skin problems such as sun damaged or rough textured skin, aging or dehydrated skin, acne, rosacia, oily skin and scar tissue without traumatizing the skin.


An information processing system and method for gathering and interpreting information includes capturing information from at least one of a plurality of information streams/sensors wherein the information includes video, audio, seismic, radio frequency (RF), and/or text then applying a standardized tag to an event at a predetermined time or over a predetermined period of time and storing the standardized tag in a repository which can be interrogated rapidly for situation/scene understanding. The information processing system and method include providing a plurality of segmentation algorithms, determining the type of information to be processed and selecting one or more of the segmentation algorithms to process the information based upon the type of information to be processed.

As is known in the art, homeland security, urban operations and intelligence applications all have a need for technology which allows the searching of large amounts of information. After subway bombings in London England occurred in 2005, for example, there was a need to review hours of video from several thousand surveillance cameras. This was a relatively difficult task made even more difficult and tedious because it had to be done manually. In order to ease the burden of such a task, there is an effort underway with Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) "Multimedia Content Description Interface" standard (MPEG-7) to tag scenes of video with metadata.
In today's world where the asymmetric warfare threat is real (i.e. the enemy adjusts its tactics to neutralize intrusion detection systems), video surveillance is a key asset. These video surveillance systems however, generate large amounts of video that need to be monitored and searched for an event or person of interest. There are new multi media standards, such as MPEG-7 which provide the needed functionality to transmit objects and metadata. Thus, one challenge will be to analyze large streams and stored data for information (e.g. incidents) of interest.
So-called "Homeland Defense" and "Homeland Security" solutions will require knowledge-assisted content analysis and annotation in order to mitigate new threats and challenges posed in net-centric warfare. State of the art intelligent video systems today use digital signal processor (DSP) chipsets with proprietary software in order to detect objects and associate alarms with predefined events. While such an approach is acceptable, its intended use is as an alarm situation for abnormal object detection in a command room scenario. It does not facilitate real correlation or forensic examination of a scene or set of scenes.

System and related techniques for detecting and classifying features within data


Exemplary systems and methods associated with trans-tissue substance delivery using non-thermal plasma to porate skin or tissues using contoured dielectrics/electrodes and grounding techniques. In some embodiments, a substance delivery system may be incorporated into the plasma generating device for automatically controlled skin treatments. In other embodiments, a skin treatment patch may include the electrode and the treatment substance.

Transdermal delivery of a treatment substance is localized, non-invasive, and has the potential for sustained and controlled release of various substances, including, for example, drugs and other molecules. In addition, transdermal delivery avoids first-pass metabolism, which reduces the concentration of certain substances before the substance reaches the circulatory system. In addition, percutaneous absorption can minimize the risk of irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and minimize pain and other complications associated with parenteral administration.
Transdermal delivery, however, requires molecules to pass through the skin. The outer layer of the skin is the stratum corneum ("SC"). The SC is composed of dead, flattened, keratin-rich cells, called corneocytes. These dense cells are surrounded by a complex mixture of intercellular lipids—namely, ceramides, free fatty acids, cholesterol and cholesterol sulfate. The predominant diffusional path for a molecule crossing the SC appears to be intercellular. The remaining layers of the skin are the epidermis (viable epidermis), the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue.
Only a small percentage of substances or compounds can be delivered transdermally because skin has barrier properties, namely the highly lipophilic SC, that prevents molecules from penetrating the skin. As a result, only, molecules with a molecular weight (MW) of less than 500 Dalton can be administered topically or percutaneously. Often, for pharmaceutical applications, the development of innovative compounds is restricted to a MW of less than 500 Dalton when topical dermatological therapy, percutaneous systemic therapy or vaccination is the objective. In addition, transport of most drugs across the skin is very slow, and lag times to reach steady-state fluxes are measured in hours. Achievement of a therapeutically effective drug level is therefore difficult without artificially enhancing skin permeation.
A number of chemical and physical enhancement techniques have been developed in an attempt to compromise the skin barrier function in a reversible manner. These attempts may be classified as passive and active methods.
Passive methods for enhancing transdermal drug delivery include the use of vehicles such as ointments, creams, gels and passive patch technology. In addition, there are other passive methods that artificially damage the barrier in order to allow improved permeation of active substances, such as, for example, micro-needles that produce small physical holes having a depth of approximately 100-200 μm in the skin to allow improved permeation. The amount of substance that can be delivered using these methods is limited because the barrier properties of the skin are not fundamentally changed.
Current or other mode of delivery techniques may include injection using a needle, administering drugs through the skin via electroporation, and administering drugs using microneedles. Needles have the disadvantage of being painful and are invasive to the skin. Electroporation is both painful and invasive. Other attempts to enhance transdermal drug delivery, including using sonoporation, iontophoresis, etc., have inherent limitations as well, including, for example, long lag times to reach therapeutic levels or are limited by the physicochemical properties of the drug being delivered. Active methods for enhancing transdermal drug delivery systems involve the use of external energy to act as a driving force and/or act to reduce the SC barrier resistance and enhance permeation of drug molecules into the skin. Iontophoresis and electroporation are two common methods of active transdermal drug delivery systems.
Iontophoresis is the process of increasing the permeation of charged or polar drugs into skin by the application of an electric current. The amount of a compound delivered is directly proportional to the quantity of charge passed; i.e., it depends on the applied current, the duration of current application and the surface area of the skin in contact with the active electrode compartment. Advantages of iontophoresis include an improved onset time and also a more rapid offset time—that is, once the current is switched off, there is no further transportation of the compound.
To deliver drugs using iontophoresis, a drug is applied under an electrode of the same charge as the drug and return electrode having an opposite charge is placed on the body surface. A current below the level of the patient's pain threshold is applied for an appropriate length of time. Because like charges repel one another, the electrical current increases the permeation of the drug into surface tissues, without altering the structure of the SC. Iontophoresis transports drugs primarily through existing pathways in skin, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. Iontophoresis is typically used when a low level delivery is desired over a long time period. Iontophoresis involves the use of relatively low transdermal voltages (<100 V). Iontophoresis cannot be used to deliver molecules or drugs that do not carry a charge.
Transdermal absorption of drugs through iontophoresis is affected by drug concentration, polarity of drugs, pH of donor solution, ionic competition, ionic strength, electrode polarity, etc. Iontophoresis has safety concerns due to the use of electrical contacts on the skin, which may result in patient discomfort, pain and, sometimes, even skin damage and burns.
Electroporation is a method for transdermal drug delivery that consists of applying high-voltage pulses to skin. The applied high-voltage plays a dual role. First, it creates new pathways for enhancing drug permeability and second, it provides an electrical force for driving like charged molecules through the newly created pores. Electroporation is usually used on the unilamellar phospholipid bilayers of cell membranes. However, it has been demonstrated that electroporation of skin is feasible, even though the SC contains multilamellar, intercellular lipid bilayers with phospholipids and no living cells.
Electroporation of skin requires high transdermal voltages (˜100 V or more, usually >100 V). In transdermal electroporation, the predominant voltage drop of an applied electric pulse to the skin develops across the SC. This voltage distribution causes electric breakdown (electroporation) of the SC. If the voltage of the applied pulses exceeds a voltage threshold of about 75 to 100 V, micro channels or "local transport regions" are created through the breakdown sites of the SC.
DNA introduction is the most common use for electroporation. Electroporation of isolated cells has also been used for (1) introduction of enzymes, antibodies, and other biochemical reagents for intracellular assays; (2) selective biochemical loading of one size cell in the presence of many smaller cells; (3) introduction of virus and other particles; (4) cell killing under nontoxic conditions; and (5) insertion of membrane macromolecules into the cell membrane.
The presence of electrodes in contact with skin/tissue (or inserted into skin/tissue) and the delivery of current into skin/tissue in this manner leads to patient discomfort, muscle contractions, moderate to severe pain and, sometimes, even skin damage and burns. In addition, electroporation often takes hours, e.g., 6 to 24 hours, to drive therapeutic amount of drugs or other molecules transdermally.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,455,228, entitled "Method to Facilitate Directed Delivery and Electroporation Using a Charged Steam," state that "the method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention are effective in using an electrical field to adjust the electrochemical potential of a target molecule thereby providing molecular transport of the target molecule into and/or across the tissue by a diffusive transport mechanism." The '228 patent discloses a first embodiment with dielectric properties to assure that it will hold a charge sufficient to polarize charged entities contained within a vessel and a plurality of electroporation applicators. The process described in the '228 patent disclosure suffers from several deficiencies. First, it requires molecules that may be polarized or charged, second it requires electroporation applicators, and third, the molecule is contacted with plasma during the process, which may irreversibly modify the molecular structure leading to adverse results. In addition it is well known that interaction of molecules with plasma leads to the oxidation of such molecules, which may irreversibly alter the structure and function of the molecules.
The '228 patent also discloses a second embodiment utilizing a plasma jet with a ground ring around an inner chamber. The disclosure related to this device includes containing cells suspended in fluid in the inner chamber and promoting uptake into the cells; or injecting plasmid intradermally and exposing the injection site to plasma.
US patent publication No. 2014/0188071 discloses a method of applying a substance to the skin and applying plasma to the same area. The '071 publication discloses an open cell foam to hold a drug, water, etc., and applies plasma through the open cell foam. Applying plasma through the open cell foam and contacting the drugs with plasma may irreversibly alter the molecular structure and/or function of the drugs and cause undesirable side effects and/or render the drug ineffective.
US patent publication 2012/0288934 discloses a plasma jet and the active substance is applied to the skin with the gas stream of the plasma jet and is transported onto the region of the living cells through the barrier door that has been opened by the plasma. Applying the active substance with the gas stream of the plasma jet may irreversibly alter the molecular structure and/or function of the active substance and cause undesirable side effects and/or render the active substance ineffective.

Methods and systems for trans-tissue substance delivery using plasmaporation


This application provides an uplink access method and a device. The method includes: a network device receiving indication information sent by a terminal device when the terminal device goes online, where the indication information is used to trigger the network device to send uplink registration window indication information on a first port; the uplink registration window indication information indicates a registration window location at which the terminal device sends uplink registration information; and the network device sends the uplink registration window indication information on the first port according to the indication information. According to the technical solutions provided in embodiments of this application, in a P2MP working mode, a network device may be prevented from periodically indicating a registration window, thereby reducing resource overhead and power consumption.

In fiber to the home (FTTH) represented by a passive optical network (PON), an optical network unit (ONU) may be located at a user's home, to provide higher bandwidth and a higher access network transmission rate. However, the FTTH has insurmountable limitations in aspects such as investment costs, deployment, operation and maintenance, and stability.
To reduce construction costs of the FTTH, the international telecommunication union (ITU) sets up a G.fast project, to study provision of internet access with a higher rate between the ONU and an end user by using a large quantity of laid copper telephone lines and by using obvious advantages of a copper wire access technology such as a digital subscriber line (DSL) in terms of investment, operation and maintenance, and the like in a fiber to the distribution point (FTTdp) scenario. To provide a higher rate for the user, the ITU uses a G.MGfast project to study an application scenario that supports a shorter copper wire distance. To reduce device costs, a G.MGfast system may support point-to-multipoint (P2MP).
In the conventional technology, in a system that supports point-to-multipoint P2MP, a network device periodically sends an uplink random access indication signal to the user, and a newly-online user may send a random access signal in an indicated random access window, so that the new user performs online registration. However, in the conventional technology, when the network device periodically sends the uplink random access indication signal to the user, unnecessary resource overhead are caused.
Therefore, avoiding resource waste caused when the network device periodically indicates the uplink random access indication signal to the user is a problem that needs to be resolved.


A card edge connector (10) for electrically interconnecting a daughter board to a mother board includes an insulating housing (11), a plurality of contacts (16) retained in the housing, a pair of side arms (14) integrally extending from opposite ends of the housing, and a pair of metal springs (17) attached on corresponding side arms. Each side arm forms a platform (12) for supporting the daughter board, each platform defining thereon a reversed L-shaped, retention slit (15). Each metal spring has a retention member (174) retained in corresponding retention slit and a board-mounted member (173) for soldering on the mother board. The board-mounted member has substantial resilience which can be deformable when soldering the contacts on the mother board to thereby facilitate the stability of the assembly of the card edge connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical card edge connector for connecting a daughter board, such as a card memory module, to a mother board.
2. Description of Prior Arts
Memory modules that comprise memory chips mounted on a daughter board are often connected to a mother board of an electronic device, such as a personal computer, by means of a card edge connector, for example, a memory socket connector. The card edge connector provides electrical connection between the daughter board and the mother board. An example of the memory socket is the so-called SO DIMM connector which allows the daughter board to be mounted to the mother board in such a way that the daughter board and the mother board are substantially parallel to each other. As known to the skilled person in the art, the card edge connector is mounted on the mother board through Surface-mount Technology. Before soldering the contacts to the surface of the mother board, metal springs are often employed to be assembled to the side arms of the connector. The metal springs share pressures exerted on the contacts to thereby protect the contacts from deformation/distortion. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,464,514, 6,419,513, 6,030,245, 6,162,069, and 5,997,330 disclose such type card edge connectors. However,the metal springs described in the above-mentioned patents are all integrally formed with an ejector which complexes the manufacture of the connector. On the other hand, the structure of the conventional metal springs is easily subject to a deformation when used in a heightened card edge connector by way of increasing the whole height thereof directly.
Hence, it is desirable and more cost effective to have an improved metal spring to be employed in a heightened card edge connector.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-rise card edge connector with metal springs that increase the stability of assembling the connector on a mother board.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high-rise card edge connector with metal springs that facilitate the soldering of the contacts on a mother board.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a card edge connector in accordance with the present invention, which is adapted for electrically interconnecting a daughter board to a mother board, includes an insulating housing defining a central slot for receiving an edge of the daughter board, a plurality of contacts retained in the housing, a pair of side arms integrally extending from opposite ends of the housing, and a pair of metal springs attached on corresponding side arms. Each side arm has an inner surface forming a platform for supporting the daughter board, each platform defining thereon a reversed L-shaped, retention slit. Each metal spring has a retention member retained in corresponding retention slit and a resilient, board-mounted member for soldering on the mother board. The resilient, board-mounted member has substantial resilience which can be deformable when soldering the contacts on the mother board to thereby facilitate the whole stability of the assembly of the card edge connector on the mother board.


In a BH laser which uses InGaAlAs-MQW in an active layer, Al-based semiconductor multi-layer films including an InP buffer layer and an InGaAlAs-MQW layer, and an InGaAsP etching stop layer are formed in a mesa shape, and a p type InP burial layer is buried in side walls of the mesa shape. An air ridge mesa-stripe of a lateral center that is substantially the same as that of the mesa shape is formed on the mesa shape. According to the present structure, a leakage current can be considerably reduced, the light confinement coefficient can be made to be larger than in a BH laser in the related art, and thereby it is possible to implement a semiconductor laser with a low leakage current and a high relaxation oscillation frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical semiconductor device which is a laser device using a semiconductor, and particularly to a communication semiconductor laser used as a transmission light source of an optical fiber.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet becomes established as an infrastructure which is vital for modern society from the business to the home life, and enlarges its range of applications from data communication and blogs to mail order sales, moving pictures, electronic books, SNS (Social Network Service), and the like. With the enlargement of the range of applications, the traffic volume of the optical network supporting the Internet keeps on increasing. Thereby, there has been an increase in demands for optical communication transmission and reception modules which connect between high-speed router devices at a relatively short distance. A transmission rate becomes increasingly high up to 25 Gb/s to 40 Gb/s or more from 10 Gb/s in the related art. At 100 Gb/s which has been recently standardized, four different wavelengths are wavelength-multiplexed at a rate of 25 Gb/s for each channel, thereby realizing large capacity transmission. Currently, an absorption modulator integrated laser is put into a practical laser at a lane speed of 25 Gb/s or more. However, there are strong requests for miniaturization, low power consumption, and low costs, and there are wishes for high speed of a direct modulation laser, a low threshold current, a low current driving operation, and an operation at a wide range temperature from room temperature to high temperature. Particularly, the low threshold current of a semiconductor laser and the high speed in a low current driving condition are important in reducing power consumption of the overall high-speed optical module.
As disclosed in IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 22, pp. 159 to 165, 2004 by the inventor Kouji Nakahara, et al., in a communication semiconductor laser of a transmission rate of 10 Gb/s or more, a ridge type laser is mainly used in which an InGaAlAs-MQW layer where a relaxation oscillation frequency is high and thus high speed can be realized is applied to an active layer.
A well-known structure which restricts leakage of a current in a semiconductor laser is a burial type (BH: buried heterostructure) laser, and there are a semi-insulating semiconductor BH laser in which a high resistance InP laser is grown up to an upper p type contact layer side, which is disclosed by Takeshi Kurosaki, et al. (IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology Vol. 14, pp. 2558 to 2566, 1996.), and a pn type BH layer using reverse current blocking of a pn junction as disclosed in JP2010-135506A or disclosed by Y. Ohkura, et al. (Electronics Letters, Vol. 28, pp. 1844 to 1845, 1992.). In recent years, in order to improve characteristics of the ridge type laser, research and development of a BH laser which uses InGaAlAs-MQW in an active layer has been activated, and there has been proposed a semi-insulating semiconductor BH laser disclosed by Koji Otsubo, et al. (IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in QuantumElectronics, Vol. 15, pp. 687 to 693, 2009.) or a pn type BH laser disclosed in JP2008-053649A.
In addition, there are configurations disclosed in JP9-45999A and JP63-169094A as similar laser structures for reducing a leakage current. The configuration disclosed in JP9-45999A has a structure in which an Fe—InP layer is buried in both sides of the ridge structure in a stripe shape. In JP63-169094A, current constriction is realized by putting disordering the vicinity of an active layer outside a ridge using impurities.


Provided is a low-pressure chip packaging type junction box for a solar power generation assembly and a processing method thereof, and more particularly, relates to a low-pressure chip packaging type junction box for a solar power generation assembly integrating techniques relating to development and manufacturing of junction boxes with semiconductor packaging techniques to increase a degree of product automation and a processing method thereof. The low-pressure chip packaging type junction box for a solar power generation assembly comprises a box body, N chips, N connection members, and N+1 copper conductors, where N≥1. At least one accommodation recess is arranged at the box body. The box body is provided with a transverse bar. Chip installation positions are arranged at N copper conductors. The N+1 copper conductors are provided with lead-out positions positioned at a top surface of the transverse bar. The chip is welded and fixed to the installation position at the copper conductor.

A junction box for a solar power generation assembly is an important component installed in a solar power generation assembly. It plays a role in providing bypass protection for cells in the assembly and transmitting out power generated by the assembly. A solar power system connects a number of power generation assemblies in series and/or parallel via output cables in the junction boxes of the assemblies as well as connectors to realize power generation in high power, and provide power for users or connects the grid to supply power through power accumulation or inversion.
Principle of bypass protection of cells provided by junction box: The solar power generation assemblies in a solar power station system generate power under normal irradiation of sunlight and output electric energy, but when the sunlight irradiating a location of a power generation assembly is blocked by an object or a shadow of an object, the state of the silicon cell at this location will be changed from a power generation state into a resistance state. Other power generation assemblies connected to the silicon cell in series generate power normally under irradiation of sunlight and current passing the cell in a resistance state will generate large heat, burning down the cell and backing sheet of the assembly. This phenomenon is called hot spots of assemblies. In order to prevent hot spots, a bypass diode is reversely connected in parallel with each silicon cell pack in solar power generation assemblies. When conditions for hot spots appear, the diode is connected in a normal direction and current is output via the bypass diode, thereby protecting the silicon cells from burn-down and the safety of the power generation assembly.
Bypass diodes are designed to be installed inside a junction box. Currently, three bypass diodes are typically installed in a common junction box, and each of them provides bypass protection for one third of the cells in the solar power generation assembly. Therefore, junction boxes for solar power generation assemblies simultaneously have functions of bypass protection and power output.
Over the years, junction boxes have undergone multiple improvements and developments.
A junction box made in the known art typically comprises an individual diode packaging device, a junction box body (box body and box cover), internal copper conducting heat sinks (copper conductors), output cables and connectors. Diodes are assembled by means of buckling or surface-mounted diodes are used, which are assembled by means of reflow soldering to copper conducting heat sinks inside the junction box; and the copper conducting heat sinks assembled with the diodes are installed inside the junction box body by means of hot riveting of plastics. Therefore, the manufacturing and installation processes of the junction box have many steps and are labor consuming.
There is a high access threshold to manufacturing and sale of junction boxes. Currently, IEC-61215 standard is executed. Junction boxes produced in the known art meet with difficulty in solving problems about sealing performance, temperature rise and internal gas expansion.
In the current market, there are many photovoltaic module products packaged with a plurality of diode chips.
The solution is to integrate three diode chips into an injection molding body. It can simplify the process steps of diode soldering and assembly of the junction box manufacturer. However, in terms of structure and application requirements, the module is fixed inside a junction box still by mounting method, sealant still needs to be filled in the inner chamber of the box body after the solar power assembly manufacturer installs the junction box into a power generation assembly, and the product does not have obvious advantages in production and application.
Due to the impact of structure and process on the photovoltaic module, a large packaging volume and different materials, materials will be expanded in case of changes of temperature, generating a stress on the chips and affecting the service life of the product to some extent.
The photovoltaic bypass diode module is fixed and connected to the junction box body via a plastic tray in a buckled manner. As a result, the limited heat dissipation space inside the junction box cannot be effectively utilized, thus limiting the passing capacity of working current. Complex production equipment is required in the production and application of junction boxes to achieve automatic assembly.
Photovoltaic module products have the following defects in actual production and application:
1. Most photovoltaic module products adopt an ultrasonic aluminum wire wedge bonding process as shown in FIG. 35. An ultrasonic bonding tool 10 is used to connect aluminum wires to diode chips and photovoltaic modules. This method has two problems. The first, all photovoltaic diodes adopt Schottky process chips. PN junction of a diode in this process is located under a surface aluminum metal layer of the chip. The ultrasonic bonding stress will act on the diode chip. If the pressure and amplitude are large, it is prone to damaging the PN junction and affecting the service life of the product, while if they are small, it is prone to false connection. Therefore, very expensive process equipment needs to be used to meet process requirements and realize stability; the second, as aluminum wires are used as a welding material and inferior to copper and silver in terms of electric conductivity and thermal conductivity, the voltage drop of the photovoltaic module product is high and during work, the photovoltaic module product shows high heat generation, large power consumption and poor heat dissipation.2. A process of high pressure injection is adopted, as shown in FIG. 36, to wrap a thermosetting resin material around a soldered chip. In this injection process, plastics driven by injection head is sprayed at an extremely high jet speed and pressure into the mold cavity, and directly acts upon the diode chip and the connecting aluminum strip, resulting in a compressive stress of the chip and a pull stress of the aluminum strip from the resin material. The stress concentration in the injection molding process causes deformation of the internal structure of the module, impairing the reliability of the module.3. As a common practice among existing photovoltaic module products, three diode chips are distributed on one side of a copper conductor and this side is sealed with a thermosetting resin material. When a hot spot effect is locally generated in a photovoltaic assembly, one or two of the chips will start working to generate heat. Owing to the thermal conductivity of the external packaging material and the copper conductor, temperature of heated chips will be quickly transferred to adjacent chips to raise temperature of the adjacent chips. On the moment, the local area of the photovoltaic assembly without a hot spot effect still generates power normally and its power generation voltage reversely acts on the corresponding diode chips. Based on the high temperature characteristics of the Schottky diode chips, the reverse leak current will increase. As the leak current will not be saturated, temperature of the PN junction of the chips will rise further. Hence the reverse leak current increases again, forming a vicious cycle of heat generation of the diode chips. In a serious case, the balance point is exceeded, the diode chips are broken down, and the photovoltaic module product loses effect.4. In an existing photovoltaic module product, diode chips are put together and wrapped with thermosetting resin. In a working state, heat generated by the diode chips cannot be dissipated fast, restricting the working current of the junction box.5. Junction boxes produced in the known art all have a process of secondary machining of semiconductors: an individually packaged diode needs to be connected to a copper conductor by means of crimping or reflow soldering; a photovoltaic module needs to be fixed and connected to a plastic tray inside a junction box body by means of push mounting; high temperature of reflow soldering causes various expansions of different materials, which will affect internal stress and compactness of devices; crimpling will make the devices be affected by external pressure, causing plastic burst and cracking of the photovoltaic module and potential quality hazard from pressure;6. Photovoltaic modules need high development cost and the corresponding relations with junction boxes are singular, unable to adapt to the development of j unction boxes. The requirements for installation match between the two are high, adding difficulty of development match between them.

Low-pressure chip packaging type junction box and processing method thereof for solar power generation assembly


Systems and methods are presented for generating statistics associated with a performance of a participant in an event, wherein pose data associated with the participant, performing in the event, are processed in real time. Pose data associated with the participant may comprise positional data of a skeletal representation of the participant. Actions performed by the participant may be determined based on a comparison of segments of the participant's pose data to motion patterns associated with actions of interests.

Professional games, such as combat sports, generate an abundance of information that is hard for viewers to follow and appreciate in real time. For example, in a boxing match, the occurrence of a play action carried out by a player (such as a jab, a cross, an undercut, or a hook) as well as the play action's forcefulness and effectiveness may be hard for a viewer to immediately recognize and quantify by mere visual inspection of the player's performance during the game. Likewise, comparative and cumulative analyses of the movements of performing participants during a live event cannot be accomplished without an automated system. Analyses of the live event's video to detect and to measure the participants' performances, can facilitate statistics in real time. In a sporting event, for example, game statistics, generated as the game unfolds, may support commentary and may provide insights into the development of the game by intuitive visualization of the game statistics.
Analyzing a live event to detect play actions performed by participants of the event requires techniques for real time detection of actions of interest, employable on video feeds that capture the live event. Various action recognition techniques have been proposed for applications such as human-machine interfaces, video indexing and retrieval, video surveillance, and robotics, for example. However, detecting play actions in real time, that by their nature are of high motion and spatiotemporally variant and complex, calls for techniques that are efficient and capable of dynamically updating a database of learned actions of interest used for recognition of the actions to be detected.

Real time kinematic analyses of body motion


A medical imaging system is provided that includes a plurality of circuit boards configured to be tested using boundary scan test vectors. A controller of the medical imaging system is configured to test the plurality of circuit boards. The controller is further configured to access test profiles to perform boundary scan tests on the plurality of circuit boards based on the test profiles.

This invention relates generally to testing circuit boards, and more particularly, to testing systems of circuit boards.
The testing of circuit chips and circuit boards is becoming more standardized. For example, the Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) members introduced an IEEE standard 1149.1, Test Access Port and Boundary-Scan Architecture, in 1990. The JTAG standard reduces the need to design a test fixture (e.g., a bed-of-nails tester) to test circuit chip and board functionality.
The test fixture approach includes hardware to connect to the circuit board to be tested. Typically, a bed-of-nails test fixture is attached to the underside of a circuit board with contact points allowing access to test points within the circuit board, including testing of circuit board chips. Through the test fixture, opens and shorts may be produced to test the circuit board functionality. However, the designing and building of separate test fixture hardware to access and test circuit boards and circuit chips may be very expensive (e.g. $100,000 per test fixture). Further, the test fixtures are usually customized to the particular circuit board and chips to be tested, which limits the testing capabilities of the test fixture. Additionally, when modifications to the circuit board and/or chips are made, the existing test fixture may need modification, redesigning or in some cases, building a new test fixture.
The bed-of-nails approach to testing circuit boards has further disadvantages. As circuit chips become smaller, difficulty in accessing the internals of chips and circuit boards has increased. Further, smaller components has lead to the production of very complex chips that are increasingly hard to test with a bed-of-nails approach.
With the development of the JTAG IEEE 1149.1 standard (herein referred to as JTAG), a new approach has evolved. JTAG introduces a boundary-scan approach to testing. A boundary scan determines a boundary defined by, for example, a circuit board or some set of chips on a circuit board, and provides controls, such as observe/control cells that results in a bound internal net of circuitry within the boundary. The observe/control cells provide inputs to the bounded circuitry for observing the response outputs. A boundary scan (BScan) process is used to define a control and observation (e.g. a scan) of a net of circuitry (e.g. digital logic) within a boundary. Using BScan, a bed-of-nails is replaced with virtual nails or boundary scan cells. Further, board/chip manufacturers are building test points (e.g. BScan cells) into silicon chips and circuit boards. A JTAG 4/5-wire interface is often supported on the circuit board to supply a standard test access point (TAP). Essentially the hardware of a bed-of-nails test facility is replaced with software. Additionally, test access is not limited to the main I/O ports of the board, but test access is provided down to a chip I/O (pin) level through the JTAG 4/5 wire interface and the BScan cells.
Thus, the complexity of the chip is less of an issue. Boundary scan essentially partitions digital logic to facilitate control and observation of the functionality of test chip or board. For example, the BScan process partitions boards at chip I/Os for control and observation of board-level nodes. Test generation also requires less manual operation compared to previous testing methods. The BScan process provides a testing method to arbitrarily generate source test stimulus to the net structure and observe test results. The BScan testing of the net structure (e.g., a circuit board or a sub-logic of the circuit board) is independent of the integration complexity of the individual chips.
JTAG boundary scan testing has improved chip and board testing, but most of the JTAG testing is performed by manufacturers and at the chip and board level specific to those certain manufacturers. Further, JTAG testing is typically not performed to test the connectivity of a set of boards and/or a system of interconnected boards (e.g., system level testing).
Thus, JTAG testing is limited to testing of specific components within a system or board.

Method and apparatus for testing an ultrasound system


Systems and methods for separating one or more olefins are provided. In one or more embodiments, the method for separating one or more olefins can include separating at least a portion of one or more C3 and heavier hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing C1 to C20 hydrocarbons to provide a first mixture that can include methane, ethane, ethylene, and/or acetylene. At least a portion of the first mixture can be hydrogenated to convert at least a portion of the acetylene to ethane and ethylene. At least a portion of the methane can be separated from the hydrogenated mixture to provide a second mixture that can include ethane and ethylene. At least a portion of the ethylene can be separated from the second mixture to provide a first product that can include at least 95 mol % ethylene and a second product that can include at least 95 mol % ethane.

Field
Embodiments described generally relate to systems and methods for separating olefinic hydrocarbons.
Description of the Related Art
Olefins are typically produced by converting a hydrocarbon feed at a high temperature to provide a hydrocarbon mixture containing various alkane, alkene, and alkyne hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon mixture is then fractionated using a series of distillation columns, fractionation columns, compressors, and refrigeration systems to cool, condense, and separate the various hydrocarbon products. Due to the relatively low boiling points of low molecular weight hydrocarbons, ethylene and propylene are frequently employed as refrigerants while separating and fractionating the hydrocarbon mixture.
Many olefin production processes provide a hydrocarbon mixture rich in C2-C4 alkanes and alkenes. The C3 and C4 hydrocarbons can be separated from the hydrocarbon mixture, in part, due to the higher boiling points of C3 and C4 hydrocarbons relative to other compounds in the hydrocarbon mixture. However, the separation of the C2 hydrocarbons into relatively pure (e.g., greater than 95 mol %) ethane and ethylene products requires the use of very low temperature (e.g., about −50° C. to about −140° C.) vapor-liquid flash and fractional distillation processes due to the relatively similar boiling points of ethylene (e.g., about −103.7° C.) and ethane (e.g., about −88.6° C.). Two or more refrigeration systems employing low temperature propylene and ethylene refrigerants are required to separate the methane, hydrogen, and ethylene from ethane. The need for dual refrigerant, low temperature, refrigeration systems requires both significant capital costs and significant operating costs. Further, the low operating temperatures and high operating pressures require the use of special metallurgies and equipment construction imposing additional capital and operating costs.
There is a need, therefore, for improved methods and systems for separating ethane and/or ethylene from a hydrocarbon mixture that in addition to ethane and/or ethylene also includes one or more additional C1 to C20 hydrocarbons.

Methods and systems for separating olefins


A work tip for an ultrasonic surgical hand piece has a solid knife with a sharp distal edge. A first fluid tube located on one side of the knife and has open ends to receive or discharge fluid. A second fluid tube is located on the other side of the knife and is slidably connected with the knife. The second fluid tube has an opening at a distal end and a smaller side hole. During phacoemulsification the knife is vibrated independent of the fluid tubes. The second fluid tube has irrigation fluid passing from the opening and side hole, and the first fluid tube is positioned so as to receive fluid from the second tube. During I/A cleanup the second fluid tube receives aspiration fluid only through the side hole because the knife is positioned to block the aspiration fluid from entering through the opening.

The use of instruments in ocular surgical applications is well known. One widely used type of instrument is an ultrasonic hand piece that is used in ophthalmic applications, such as in the removal of cataracts from the eye by phacoemulsification.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show a work tip for a prior art ultrasonic hand piece as shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/783,806 filed Oct. 13, 2017 for Dr. William Banko, the present inventor. This design has a handpiece 200 with an ultrasonic vibration part 210 connected to a work tip 220. The vibration part has a housing 214. A transducer 212 is provided in part 210 for generating ultrasonic linear mechanical vibrations upon excitation with an alternating-current electrical signal. The transducer is supported within the housing 214 by flanges 211. A metal connecting body 216 having a reduced diameter distal end portion is attached to the transducer 212. The connecting body forms an acoustic impedance transformer for conveying the longitudinal vibrations of the transducer 212 for application to the operative working tip 220 connected to the distal end of the connecting body 216. Further, the housing has a part 213 that engages the connecting body 216 at a null point in its vibration to provide further support.
The work tip 220 has a hub 222 connected to the distal end of the connecting body 216. The distal end of the hub narrows down to form a solid knife, blade or scalpel 224 with a sharp edge. Flexible tube 230 extracts aspiration fluid from a rigid plastic tube 250 that is located along the blade 224 in the assembled condition. Similarly, a flexible tube 242 provides irrigation fluid to a rigid plastic tube 250′ that is located along the blade 224.
A sterile sheet 232 surrounds the vibration part 210, housing 214 and connecting body 216 to isolate them from the non-sterile conditions at the work tip 220. In this design the sheet 232 is attached to the hub 222 of the blade which is detachable from the connecting piece 216. As a result, after an operation the hub can be detached from the work piece and it, the blade and the sheet can be discarded as a one-use product. Since the vibration part 210, housing 214 and connecting body 216 did not come into contact with any tissue or fluids from the last patient and will not contact the tissue or fluids from the next patient, there is no need to sterilize these elements between operations on different patients. As a result, multiple operations can be conducted in a shorter period of time and at less expense.
Rigid tubes 250, 250′ are captured in tube holders 240, 240′ with the sterile sheet between them. That is, the holders are within the sheet and are not exposed to the operating environment. As shown in FIG. 1B there is a sleeve 226″ around the blade 224. This sleeve has channels 250, 250′ which are extensions of the plastic tubes 250, 250.′ The space 225 for the blade 224 is adjacent to the channels so the blade is adjacent to the fluid channels but does not touch them. Further, sleeve 226″ includes a third channel 282 that is located on the side of the work pieces while the irrigation tube 250′ is on the top and aspiration tube 250 is on the bottom. The tubes are all located on sleeve 226″. The proximal end of the blade channel 225 is blocked by an O-ring 223 so that fluid from the operating site does not pass through this channel of the work tip.
During an operation, the hub 222 and blade 224 of work tip 220 are longitudinally vibrated by the transducer 212. The tubes 250, 250′ remain stationary and are supported with respect to the hub and blade by means of the O-ring 223 at the interface between the hub and the tubes. The surgeon places the work tip 220 within the eye and the sharp edge of the blade against the cataract tissue. The ultrasonic vibration of the blade 224 causes the cataract tissue to emulsify. During this process irrigation fluid, e.g., saline solution, is injected into the site from tube/channel 250′ since flexible tube 242 is connected to a source of irrigation fluid which may be moved by gravity flow or a pump. Also, the emulsified tissue is removed from the site by aspiration through tube/channel 250 because flexible tube 230 is attached to an aspiration pump. The tube 282 can be used to assist either the irrigation or aspiration flow.
In FIG. 1B the aspiration channel 250 is small compared to the irrigation channel 250′. This can be balanced out using channel 282 to augment aspiration. During an A/I clean up procedure after the cataract has been broken up into little pieces, a low aspiration force is needed to remove the remaining pieces of lens and lens epithelial cells while preventing the tearing of the capsular bag of the eye. Under those circumstances the channel 282 can be closed or used to augment irrigation so that aspiration only occurs though channel 250.
The cross section shown in FIG. 1B has the channel 282 protruding from one side of sleeve 226″. Since this structure is required to pass through an incision in the eye, it would be beneficial if the cross section were more uniform but provided the same functional benefits.
Further, there is a prior art work tip known as the "Cobra" tip that has a cone shape. In particular, a cylindrical work tip has an area in which its diameter is increased going from the proximal to the distal end. An early discussion of this tip can be found in the article "New Phaco Tip Geometry Balances Power, Suction," Ophthalmology Times, Jul. 15, 1992, Vol. 17, No. 14. As reported in the article the shape concentrates ultrasonic energy within the tip, improving safety and efficiency. In effect the sloped walls of the cone shape provide additional force when the tip is vibrated at ultrasonic rates. See also, the article "Funnel-shaped tip Controls Ultrasound Energy during Phaco," Ocular Surgery News, Jul. 1, 1992, Vol. 10, No. 13. It would also be beneficial if the enhanced performance of the Cobra tip could be incorporated into more modern work tips.
During phacoemulsification two types of fluid flow are created in the eye: 1) the irrigation flow from the irrigation tube and 2) the flow created by the ultrasound vibration (pushing fluid forward—with the back and forth vibration of the tip. The backward motion is not enough to cancel the forward pushing of the fluid so there is a net forward flow from the mechanical action of the vibrating tip. The evacuation or aspiration (i.e., the bringing of particles to the tip and removing them through the aspiration tube) must overcome the irrigation and vibration flow. See Banko, "Dynamics of intraocular flow and ultrasound power," Ocular Surgery News, May 1, 1986.
Controlling irrigation fluid has two general components: 1) getting irrigation fluid into the eye from an external source and 2) controlling the flow of irrigation fluid within the eye. There are two different ways to get irrigation fluid into the eye, i.e., from a bottle that is hung above the eye so as to create hydrostatic pressure and from a pressurized sterile bottle or bag containing the irrigation fluid. The size and durometer (hardness of the plastic tubes) of the aspiration and irrigation tubes make a big difference in how the fluid is delivered or removed from the eye. For example, a very high negative evacuation pressure (suction) in the eye can only be safely achieved when using a very rigid, small internal diameter tubing for aspiration. If the tubing is not rigid it will collapse with the high suction. Also, the diameter must be small to minimize the volume of fluid removed from the eye (the evacuation flow is better controlled with a small diameter).
When using high suction, the irrigation tubes are the opposite, i.e., they should be soft and flexible to accommodate a large amount of fluid in them at the location of the eye. In particular, for irrigation you want a volume of fluid in the tube. The more flexible the irrigation tubes the more fluid is held in them ready to enter the eye. Also, large diameter irrigation tubes create a larger fluid reservoir within the irrigation tube which can be ready for release into the eye, especially if fluid is removed rapidly with high suction. See Devine, "Preferred Technique Employs High-Vacuum," Ocular Surgery News, Sep. 15, 1994 and Singer, "High Vacuum Phaco System Allows Better Intraocular Control," Ophthalmology Times, Sep. 15, 1994.
One technique for controlling the direction of flow of irrigation fluid outside of the handpiece is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,498 of Strukel and Banko in which baffle's can be located on the interior and/or exterior surfaces of irrigation tubes. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 9,439,807 of Koplin includes tabs or protrusions on the irrigation tube to direct the irrigation fluid as it leaves the tube. Other patents that disclose the adjustable pressurized control of irrigation fluid in the eye are U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,855 of Banko, U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,014 of Banko; U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,742 of Banko, U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,842 of Banko and U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,514 of Banko.

Surgical hand-piece with a bottom fluid tube convertible from irrigation to aspiration


There is described an improved method for treating crankcase emissions from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of directing the emissions from the crankcase to an emissions separator, subjecting the emissions in the separator to a series of cleansing operations for removal of contaminants, directing the flow of cleansed emissions through a one way check valve back to the engine for combustion and collecting the separated contaminants for disposal.

The present invention relates to an enhanced and self sustaining system for the management of the internal combustion engine""s crankcase, crankcase emissions and engine lubricating oil, more particularly a sequential method and apparatus for reducing crankcase operating pressures, removing contaminates from the crankcase, prolonging engine lubricating oil life and cleansing the crankcase emissions flow, including a bi-functional remote collector for residuals storage and maintenance of volumetric efficiency for the inventive apparatus. Additionally, the invention optimally relates to a method and apparatus to evenly distribute the cleansed emission flow to the engine""s intake manifold air runners, and a method and apparatus to maintain an operable negative pressure to the PCV system at wide open engine throttle.
Historically, engine lubricating oil efficiencies have been bolstered at the production level by the introduction of specific additives to the virgin oil. Engine oil is basically contaminated and degraded by the following: a) engine piston(s) blow-by (undesirable bi-products of engine combustion, a portion of which escapes past the pistons and piston rings into the crankcase) comprising fuel soot, partially burned and unburned fuel, steam and various gases and acids; b) foreign liquids, abrasive silicones (dirt), engine component wear particles and oil oxidation by-products; c) the emulsification of the foreign liquids with chemical elements common to the oil e.g., sulfur combines with liquids and elevated engine temperatures to produce corrosive sulfuric acid. The only form of management afforded to the oil in this hostile environment is the physical inclusion of an oil filter. Although the oil filter is effective in removing solids from the oil, its inability to remove dilutants such as moisture and acids leaves oil vulnerable to viscosity breakdown and eventual loss of lubricity. Further, filters that become plugged with sludge and other solids, force the filter by-pass valve to open, allowing unfiltered oil to circulate to downstream engine components. Thus a primary cycle of undue engine wear and over contamination of oil commences. Problems generated are diverse in nature, however of major concern in this instance is increased cylinder bore and piston ring wear. Consequently, the percentage of piston blow-by increases impacting a heavier than normal contaminant load upon the crankcase oil which accelerates degradation. The problem has now gone full cycle. Crankcase pressures increase accordingly and can force oil past engine gaskets and seals. The condition also facilitates the ejection of oil from the engine crankcase via the aspiration conduit fouling the air cleaner, culminating in elevated carbon monoxide emissions. Also oil is vented along with the contaminated crankcase emission vapours, migrating via the PCV system and engine intake manifold en route to the engine combustion chambers, adversely fouling the combustion process. Again, this results in undue component related wear and a higher percentage of piston blow-by entering the crankcase. Relevant PCV problems will be referred to later in this document. This phenomena continues to compound itself with every engine revolution. Increased fuel consumption; loss of engine power; elevated exhaust emissions and a host of other engine operating problems result. An additional compounding factor is the human element, and is a real world problem, in that many owner/operators do not regularly change their engine oil and filter as per OEM specified. They simply top-up the engine oil, sometimes to excess. Resultant problems are similar in nature to the aforementioned.
It has now been the law for approximately 40 years that crankcase emissions from internal combustion engines must be recirculated back to the engine""s air-fuel induction system for recombustion in the piston chambers. The return flow of the emissions is normally through the oil return lines extending between the crankcase and the engine""s valve or cam covers, and from the valve or cam covers through an external hose or tube to the engine""s intake manifold where the emissions are blended with the air-fuel mixture from the carburetor/fuel injectors (in normally aspirated engines) for delivery to the combustion chambers. A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve controls the flow of crankcase emissions into the fuel-air induction system, normally in response to engine running speeds.
The PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve is usually located in one of three engine locations: 1) at the engine crankcase vent in the valve/cam covers; 2) in line with the return conduit; or 3) screwed directly into the engine intake manifold. The valve meters and blends the flow of contaminated crankcase emissions into the engines air/fuel delivery system (intake manifold) in response to existing negative pressures within the manifold at various engine load requirements. The path of the emissions from the crankcase via the PCV valve/system, intake manifold and combustion chamber (where they undergo a change of state) and partially re-enter the crankcase as piston blow-by, is the secondary engine cycle of wear and contamination. The PCV valve is also intended to arrest a dangerous back flow condition to the crankcase that could arise as a result of an engine intake manifold backfire. This could cause a crankcase explosion.
The source and nature of crankcase emissions is well known and need not be discussed in further detail. Suffice is to say that in addition to unburned and partially burned fuel and volatile gases that are desirably recycled for combustion, the emissions also include a number of entrained contaminants that, even if combusted, are harmful to the engine or the environment or both. To the extent that the contaminants are combusted, they are exhausted from the engine as harmful pollutants. On the way in and out of the engines combustion chamber(s) they impair the function of critical engine components including critical emission controls such as the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter(s). To the extent that the contaminants are not combusted, they simply remain in the engine, for example as efficiency destroying combustion chamber deposits, jamming piston rings open, hindering their function or they partially return to the crankcase where they contaminate the oil as previously mentioned. As a consequence, this culminates in a loss of lubricating efficiency, sludge build-ups and a host of other problems that degrade engine performance, increase fuel consumption, elevate exhaust emissions and shorten engine life. These problems increase cumulatively over time and are the result of the second cycle of wear and contamination originating within the engine crankcase. The first cycle exiting the crankcase via the oil filter by-pass valve and, the second exiting via the Crankcase vent and PCV valve/system.
Prior art inventions involving superseded carburetted engines have made a variety of attempts to recycle combustible volatile matter in crankcase emissions through insertion of various PCV system filtering devices, without also recycling the entrained contaminants. Varying degrees of success were achieved in this theatre of operations. However, due to their disposition between the PCV valve and the engine intake manifold, many of these inventions have been impractical and commercially unsuccessful. This was due primarily to imbalances that arose to the design calibrations of the intake manifold (air/fuel induction system) by their devices. This had the adverse affect of increasing the cubic capacity of the manifold, externally, which subsequently generated imbalances to the air/fuel ratios, of which the manifold is synergistic. As a consequence, either fuel efficiency or exhaust emissions or both were compromised. As previously stated, some devices attained limited success on older generation carburetted engines, and the technology of the day utilized in the static measurement of such fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions supported this. However, in today""s high-tech world and with the availability of vastly advanced and sophisticated test models, procedures and measuring equipment e.g., Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Test Procedure (EPA/FTP), which subjects the engine to a variety of driving and load conditions on a chassis dynamometer for testing, and is the only full and acceptable standard for measuring true engine performance in relation to the subject matter, indicate otherwise. Further, when attempts have been made to apply this class of older technology to xe2x80x98state of the artxe2x80x99 modem day computer controlled engines, they have been found to compromise OEM related fuel and exhaust emission efficiencies. The engine""s oxygen sensor, located in the exhaust manifold, detects the additional air from the prior art devices and consequently additional fuel is injected into the intake manifold to counter the imbalance.
For example, Bush in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,309, describes an open crankcase emission device that requires the use of an auxiliary air intake structure 43 that draws outside ambient air into the device for initial cooling of crankcase emissions. This introduces uncalibrated oxygen into the PCV system which, as previously indicated, is detected by the oxygen sensor utilized in today""s computerized engine management systems and causes the system to inject fuel that is surplus to requirement. Bush, in a later U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,971, abandons the previous system configuration in favour of repositioning the system between the PCV valve 27 and the intake manifold entry port 36. In doing so, Bush not only retains the auxiliary air intake structure 69 with attendant problems but also subjects the whole configuration to a negative pressure environment. This, claims Bush, relates to improvements in the control of crankcase emissions, without due concern to the detrimental affects on the intake manifold design and operation. Specifically, Bush""s later configuration is now in direct communication with the interior of the engine intake manifold and unbalances the manifold calibrations by externally increasing its cubic capacity. This avails additional oxygen to and unbalances the stoichiometric air/fuel mixture within the manifold. Again, this condition is detected by the engine""s oxygen sensor, and further confuses the computer which can only respond by injecting additional fuel to counter the imbalance. Even therefore if Bush removed and plugged the auxiliary air intake structure 69 to accommodate modern-day engines, his system""s disposition would still fail it.
A similar approach is taught by Costello in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,018 to that of Bush in U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,971. Costello""s device is similar in structure, operation and disposition to that of Bush, with all the attendant disadvantages, including creating an uncalibrated increase in the volume of the engine""s intake manifold.
A self sustaining crankcase management system capable of removing contaminants from the crankcase, crankcase emissions and engine lubricating oil is important to maintaining and protecting OEM component and oil manufactures design efficiencies. These corrective steps help preserve and prolonged fuel efficiency, overall engine performance and exhaust emission standards. The contaminant removal steps reduce the presence of foreign liquids, reduce the formation of residual corrosives and negate the existence of constituents to sludge buildup. The process would further mitigate the existence of the primary and secondary cycles of wear and contamination and allow uncombusted volatiles and ketones to migrate beyond the crankcase management system to the engine combustion chamber(s) via the PCV system and intake manifold.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a supplementary crankcase vessel having an internal crankcase emissions separator that obviates and mitigates from the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a supplementary crankcase vessel that reduces and equalizes the operating pressure of the crankcase thereby maximizing the uninhibited removal of crankcase contaminants and emissions from the crankcase. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a supplementary crankcase vessel and separator which is invisible to the engine""s computer management system and which does not disrupt the design calibrations of the engine""s intake manifold or stoichiometric air/fuel ratios.
It is a further object of the present invention to optionally provide a remote bi-functional vessel to collect liquid and solid residuals draining from supplementary crankcase vessel and its separator to sustain their design efficiencies.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the aforementioned apparatus that operates under the influences of positive rather than negative pressures.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide optional apparatus which will provide an operable negative pressure to the engine PCV system at wide open throttle condition. This previously has not been an OEM engine design feature.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide optional apparatus to the engine PCV system for even distribution of cleansed crankcase emissions to individual air runners of the intake manifold.
It is a further object of the present invention in a preferred embodiment that it be adaptable to internal combustion engines that consume gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane (LPG), ethanol, methanol and all other forms of fuels. Moreover, the broad principles of the invention can be applied to the separator of contaminants from bulk fluids such as, for example, the removal of water from compressed natural gas.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the aforementioned apparatus that is economical to produce and install either as original equipment or as an after market addition, and which is easily and readily serviceable.
According to the present invention then, there is provided a method of treating crankcase emissions from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of directing emissions from said crankcase to an emissions separator; subjecting the emissions flowing through said separator to a cleansing operation for removal of contaminants; directing the flow of cleansed emissions through one way check valve means back to the engine for combustion; and collecting the separated contaminants for disposal.
According to the present invention, there is also provided an apparatus for treating crankcase emissions from an internal combustion engine, comprising a first housing having an inlet for the inflow of crankcase emissions, an outlet for the return flow of treated emissions to the engine for combustion therein and drain means for drainage of contaminants separated out from said crankcase emissions; a second housing disposed in said first housing, said second housing including an inlet in fluid communication with said inlet in said first housing, and an outlet in fluid communication with both said outlet and said drain means in said first housing; and treatment means disposed in said second housing for subjecting the crankcase emissions flowing therethrough to cleaning operations for separation of contaminants from said emissions.

Method and apparatus for treating crankcase emissions


A buffer circuit includes first to sixth transistors. The first transistor is coupled between a first power source and a first node, and has a gate for receiving a first signal having a first signal level. The second transistor is coupled between the first node and a second power source, and has a gate for receiving a second signal having a second signal level, which is an inverse of the first signal level. The third transistor has a gate coupled to the first node, and is coupled between the first power source and a second node. The fourth transistor is coupled between the second node and the second power source, and has a gate for receiving the first signal. The fifth transistor has a gate coupled to the second node, and is coupled between the first power source and an output end. The sixth transistor has a gate coupled to the first node, and is coupled between the output end and the second power source. In addition, a capacitance is formed between the gate of the sixth transistor and the output end.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buffer circuit and an active matrix display using the same.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Active matrix displays, image sensors, and semiconductor memories use a shift register circuit and a buffer circuit to supply scan signals. When the shift register circuit has a large load or capacitance, a buffer circuit is installed between the shift register circuit and the load. The usage of the buffer circuit increases the magnitude of the current for charging and discharging the load, thereby increasing operation rates. If the buffer circuit becomes larger according to the load size, the capacitance at an input end of the buffer circuit increases, thereby reducing the operation rates.
Accordingly, the buffer circuit usually has a plurality of inverters coupled in series as shown in FIG. 1, and the inverters coupled in series gradually increase the magnitude of the current, thereby increasing the operation rates. The number of the inverters is generally within four.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a conventional buffer circuit will be described in detail.
As shown, the conventional buffer circuit includes two inverters respectively including two PMOS transistors M1 and M2, and two PMOS transistors M3 and M4. Sources of the transistors M1 and M3 are coupled to a high power source that supplies a high-level voltage VDD, and drains of the transistors M2 and M4 are coupled to a low power source that supplies a low-level voltage VSS. A drain of the transistor M1 and a source of the transistor M2 are coupled together, and their coupling node is coupled to the gate of the transistor M3. A drain and a gate of the transistor M2 are coupled together; and a drain and a gate of the transistor M4 are coupled together. In other words, each of the transistors M2 and M4 is diode-connected. Also, the drain of the transistor M3 and the source of the transistor M4 are coupled together, and their coupling node is defined to be an output Vout of the buffer circuit.
In this instance, when a signal Vin input applied to a gate of the transistor M1 is high-level, a gate of the transistor M3 becomes low-level because of the transistor M2. Hence, the transistor M3 is turned on. Therefore, the output Vout of the buffer circuit is determined by an on-resistance ratio of the transistors M3 and M4 to be lower than VDD. Since the transistors M3 and M4 are concurrently turned on, a static current flows through the transistors M3 and M4, thereby increasing power consumption.
When the signal Vin input to the gate of the transistor M1 is low-level, a high-level voltage, based on the on-resistance ratio of the transistors M1 and M2, of less than VDD is input to the gate of the transistor M3. Hence, the transistor M3 is turned off, thereby reducing the output voltage Vout, and a source-gate voltage at the transistor M4 accordingly reduces. Therefore, the load driving current is decreased. In this instance, when the output voltage Vout reaches VSS+|VTH4| (VTH4 is the threshold voltage of the transistor M4), current rarely flows to turn off the transistor M4, and the output voltage Vout is fixed to be VSS+|VTH4|. Since the transistors M1 and M2 are concurrently turned on, a static current flows through the transistors M1 and M2.
In order for the buffer circuit to have sufficient driving performance even if the source-gate voltage reduces, a channel width of the transistor M4 should be increased. When the channel width increases, the on-resistance of the transistor M4 reduces, thereby decreasing the high-level output of the buffer circuit, and therefore, the channel depth of the transistor M3 should be further increased.
As described, the buffer circuit shown in FIG. 2 has a high-level output of less than VDD, and a low-level output of greater than VSS. Also, when an input is high-level, a static current flows through the inverter in the second stage, and when the input is low-level, a static current flows through the inverter in the first stage. As a result, the power consumption increases due to the static current flowing through inverters which is great for the second stage according to characteristics of the buffer circuit.

Buffer circuit and active matrix display using the same


A method for monitoring a plurality of rack systems is provided, which includes the following steps. The rack systems are provided, in which each rack system includes an integrated management module (IMM) and a plurality of servers. The IMM is communicatively connected to the servers in each rack system and manages and controls the servers. The rack systems are distributed into at least one rack group, and one of the IMMs in each rack group is selected to serve as a primary IMM, in which the IMMs in each rack group are communicatively connected to each other. The primary IMM monitors other IMMs than the primary IMM in the corresponding rack group. When an anomaly occurs in one of the other IMMs, the primary IMM sends a warning message including the abnormal IMM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a technology for centralized management of servers, in particular, to a method for monitoring a plurality of rack systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Many enterprises provide many servers according to cloud services provided by the enterprises or service requirements, and integrate the servers into rack systems that can be managed in a centralized way. The rack systems are also placed in a fixed local area, for example, a container, in a unified way, so as to reduce the management cost of the servers. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a rack system 100. A network switch 120 and a plurality of servers 110_1-110—n are placed inside the rack system 100. The servers 110_1-110—n each have a network port, and the network ports are all connected to the network switch 120.
The servers 110_1-110—n are connected to an Internet 10 through the network switch 120, and the Internet 10 can also be referred to as a serving network. Each server is an independent computer system. For example, the servers 110_1-110—n each include a power supply, a baseboard management controller (BMC), and a plurality of fans for heat dissipation. In the conventional rack system 100, each of the servers 110_1-110—n manages its own power supply and fans through the BMC, so as to manage and control the power consumption and temperature therein.
Since relevant equipment in the entire rack system 100 needs to be managed, the rack system 100 is further provided with a management module. Since an integrated management module (IMM) is very important to the rack system, a failure message must be gotten in time if the IMM is failed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for monitoring a plurality of rack systems


Multi-pass recording is performed to record an input image by plural scans of a recording head over a recording medium in a main scan direction with at least one interposed sub-scan. A thinned image is provided in each scan. Recording data for the input image is produced by creating mask patterns having a resolution lower than the recording resolution in the main scan direction and/or the interposed sub-scan direction on the basis of a random number array. The created mask patterns or enlarged forms of the created mask patterns are combined with input image data to produce the thinned images. A logical AND of the mask patterns and the input image data may be computed for use as recording data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording control method, and more particularly to a recording apparatus and a recording control method wherein ink droplets are ejected onto a recording medium by using an ink jet recording head, for example, to record an image in accordance with the multi-pass recording technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
As color recording techniques, there are known at the present, for example, the thermal transfer type in which recording is performed by transferring ink on an ink ribbon to a recording medium, e.g., a sheet of recording paper, with thermal energy, the ink jet recording type in which recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets to be deposited on a recording medium. Above all, attention is focused on the ink jet recording type because it is based on the non-impact recording technique generating no noise during the recording operation, permits high-speed recording, and enables an image to be recorded on plain paper without a need for a special fixing process.
In a serial printer wherein an image is completed by reciprocally scanning a recording head, which employs the above-stated ink jet recording technique, plural times while ink is ejected from the recording head toward a recording medium, e.g., a sheet of recording paper, the accuracy of feed of the recording medium and the ejection ability of the recording head may adversely affect recording quality. For example, unevenness in density of a recorded image may result from poor accuracy in feed of the recording medium, and undesirable streaks, that is, banding may result from variations in ejecting operation of the recording head.
To solve the above drawback, there has been proposed a multi-pass recording technique wherein the same area of a recording medium is scanned multiple times by different portions of a recording head to completely record an image in that area of the recording medium. Specifically, in such a multi-pass recording technique, a mask matrix of predetermined size is applied to original image data to compute a logical AND of the two for thinning the number of pixels (picture elements) to be recorded per scan, and ink is ejected from different nozzles of the recording head for each scan. In addition, the distance over which the recording medium is fed per unit time is set in the recording operation to be shorter than the recording width of the recording head. This holds down unevenness in density and undesirable streaks which would otherwise be caused by the fact that variations in ejecting ability between the nozzles of the recording head are concentrated on a particular portion of the recording medium, as well as by poor accuracy in feed of the recording medium.
FIGS. 12A and 12B show examples of a mask matrix of 8 dots.times.8 dots for use in a recording technique (2-pass recording) with which image recording is completed by scanning the same area of a recording material two times by different portions of a recording head. FIG. 12A represents a pattern of the mask matrix (hereinafter referred to as "MASK 1") used for the first scan (first pass), and FIG. 12B represents a pattern of the mask matrix (hereinafter referred to as "MASK 2") used for the second scan (second pass). In each of the MASKs, a pattern of 4 bits.times.4 bits shown surrounded by wide lines is repeated.
Assuming, for example, that the number of nozzles of the recording head is 256 and the nozzles are arrayed in a line in the direction of feed of the recording medium, multi-pass recording using the mask matrixes shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B is performed under recording control described below.
Initially, in a first-pass recording cycle, the logical AND of original image data corresponding to the 256 nozzles and the MASK 1 is computed and upper-half data of the computed result is output, as data for the first pass, to the 128 nozzles in the lower half of the recording head. As a consequence, the recording is made by using the lower-half 128 ones of the total 256 nozzles of the recording head.
Then, the recording medium is fed through a distance corresponding to the recording width covered by a half, i.e., 128 nozzles, of the total 256 nozzles of the recording head. Subsequently, the logical AND of the original image data corresponding to the 256 nozzles and the MASK 2 is computed and the computed result is output, as data for the second pass, to the recording head. As a consequence, the recording is made in the recording width corresponding to the total 256 nozzles by using the image data masked by the MASK 2. The recording of the first pass and the recording of the second pass are thus superposed in the upper half of the total recording width of the recording head.
Further, the recording medium is fed again through a distance corresponding to the recording width covered by a half, i.e., 128 nozzles, of the total 256 nozzles of the recording head. Subsequently, the computed result for the lower-half 128 nozzles obtained from the above-stated logical AND operation between the original image data corresponding to the first set of 256 nozzles and the MASK 1 and the computed result of the logical AND operation between those of the original image data corresponding to the next set of 256 nozzles, which are associated with the lower-half 128 nozzles thereof, and the MASK 1 are output, as data for the third pass, to the 256 nozzles of the recording head. As a consequence, a half of the image corresponding to the original image data for the first set of 256 nozzles, which results from masking it by the MASK 1 and using the upper-half 128 nozzles of the recording head, and a half of the image corresponding to the original image data for the next set of 256 nozzles, which results from masking it by the MASK 1 and using the lower-half 128 nozzles of the recording head, are both recorded. The recording of the second pass and the recording of the third pass are thus superposed in the upper half of the total recording width of the recording head.
Through the above process, the recording of the image with a recording width corresponding to the 256 nozzles of the recording head is completed.
Meanwhile, when the mask matrices shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B are used, the same nozzles are employed at the same timing at a 4-dot period in both the main scan direction in which the recording head is moved and the sub-scan direction in which the recording medium is fed. Suppose now that a printer has resolution of 300 (in the main scan direction).times.300 (in the sub-scan direction) DPI and an A4-size sheet of recording paper is used as the recording medium with its long side extending in the sub-scan direction, the same nozzles are employed at the same timing repeatedly (2480.div.4) times because the number of recording dots in the main scan direction is about 2480 dots. Accordingly, variations in ability of the nozzles are repeated at the 4-dot period, which makes it difficult to perfectly eliminate unevenness in density and undesirable streaks. In addition, because the mask pattern is fixed, the effect of the multi-pass recording is not obtained if recording data is synchronized with the mask pattern.
To solve the above problem, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-52390 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 266,498), the inventors proposed a method of using a mask matrix with a mask pattern distributed at random in an area of predetermined size (e.g., 2400.times.8 dots). In the proposed method of using such a mask (random mask), random values in predetermined number of bits are stored in a ROM beforehand, and the random values are read out of the ROM depending on the number of recording passes to create a pattern of each random mask on a RAM. Using the random mask makes the period of ink ejection irregular in both the main scan/sub-scan directions, and hence contributes to preventing unevenness in density and undesirable streaks. In addition, since the mask pattern is random, the possibility that recording data may synchronize with the mask pattern is very low.
The inventors however found that even the above-proposed recording method on the basis of the multi-pass recording technique using the random mask raises a problem described below for a printer having recording resolution as high as 1200.times.600 DPI, for example.
Specifically, the positions where ink droplets ejected from the recording head are deposited on the recording medium are shifted in units of each pixel of 1200.times.600 DPI corresponding to the mask resolution, and the shift appears on a recorded image as unevenness in density with high spatial frequency which is easily recognized by human eyes. Elimination of such unevenness in density requires not only highly accurate mechanical control relating to the movement of the recording head and the feed of the recording medium in both the main scan/sub-scan directions, but also high standards in ejection ability of the recording head as well. But there are limits to improving the accuracy of the mechanical control and the ejection ability of the recording head. Even if an improvement is realized to some extent in those points, the technique permitting such an improvement necessarily pushes up cost of the entire recording apparatus.

Multi-pass recording system using random mask