An apparatus for optical imaging of a low radiance object is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fixed polychromatic imaging device, the optical path between the polychromatic imaging device and the low radiance object being defined by a first section extending from the polychromatic imaging device to a fixed point, and a second section extending from the fixed point to the low radiance object. The apparatus also comprises a fixed high-sensitivity imaging device, the optical path between the high-sensitivity imaging device and the low radiance object being defined by a third section extending from the high-sensitivity imaging device to the fixed point, and the second section; and a focus controller arranged to control the focus of the high-sensitivity imaging device based on the focus of the polychromatic imaging device and the respective lengths of the first and third sections.

Optical imaging of objects emitting very low light levels, for example <106 photons/s/cm2, has applications ranging from scientific research to medical imaging. Biological objects of interest include fluorescently stained biological targets, phosphorescing objects, light passing through human tissue, surgical samples, in vitro experiments, and in vivo experiments.
One source of light of particular interest is the light emitted from charged particles passing through dielectric materials at a speed greater than the phase velocity of light in that material. This phenomenon is commonly known as Cerenkov luminescence. Radiopharmaceuticals which emit energetic alpha and beta particles can be a source of these Cerenkov photons. Radiopharmaceuticals can also be designed to accumulate at the site of a wide range of diseases. Therefore, the ability to quickly and accurately image Cerenkov luminescence has wide ranging application in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases.
In order to achieve this, high sensitivity cameras can be used to image the very weak light emitted from Cerenkov luminescence. Such cameras may be based around an electron multiplying charge-coupled device (emCCD), an intensified CCD, a photon multiplier tube (PMT) array or micro-channel plates with electron collection by one or more electrodes. Typically, the object to be imaged and the highly sensitive camera are enclosed in a substantially light-tight enclosure. An image of the object can then be reconstructed from the signal average over tens of seconds up to tens of hours of exposure, depending on the luminosity of the object.
Optionally, these same high sensitivity cameras may also take high resolution photographic (white light) images of an object with the aid of a conventional light source to illuminate the object. The two images may then be digitally superimposed onto each other to aid interpretation of the images. Many commercially available cameras sufficiently sensitive to image low luminosity samples are also capable of taking such polychromatic images. However, there is a significant delay experienced when switching between imaging modes, to allow for the necessary cooling and dissipation of charge needed for high sensitivity imaging. This can be difficult to achieve in clinical/surgical environments. Additionally, a lens which is optimal for high-sensitivity imaging may not be suitable for white-light imaging and vice versa.
In order to overcome these issues, it is possible to introduce a second, high resolution, camera into the optical system. Doing so however introduces several technical challenges into the design of the optical path, as discussed in related patent application publication number WO2014020360.
For example, because the time required to capture an image of a given signal to noise ratio is proportional to the inverse of the photon intensity squared, in order to capture an image of a low luminosity sample in a reasonable/quick/useable time frame, it is imperative to capture as many of the emitted photons as possible. The above-described imaging systems have a number of problems to overcome to achieve this.
Two related parameters which affect the proportion of photons received at the imaging chip must be optimised. Firstly, the larger the lens aperture, the greater the amount of collected incident light. The amount of light collected rises proportionally with an increase in the diameter of the aperture squared. Ideally a large aperture lens (f/#<1, where f/#=(2 sin(φ)−1, and φ is the cone half-angle at the image) is therefore required. Secondly, it is desirable to adjust the optical system so that the region of interest of the sample fills as much of the field of view of the lens/camera as possible, in order to ensure that the imaging chip is fully utilised.
One problem with the above parameters is that as the aperture size of a lens increases, the depth of field of the resultant image reduces proportionally. In a system with a very large depth of field, for example, the location of the sample is not important as it will be acceptably in focus across a range of positions. As the depth of field decreases however, the range of acceptable focus rapidly narrows. Thus, with a very large aperture lens (f<1), the depth of field can be as narrow as 2 mm (depth of field of a 17 mm f/0.95 lens focussing at 15 cm using a sensor consisting of 16 μm pixels). Therefore, using a large aperture lens to capture as much light as possible means the object distance must be very accurately known as the lens focus will need to be frequently adjusted.
In a conventional imaging system, the object distance can be determined by viewing a captured image and adjusting for best focus. This can be done automatically by, for example, taking the first spatial derivative of an image, adjusting the axial position of the lens, and then taking further images until a maximum in the derivative image is achieved. As discussed above, the typical integration time for a low light image is tens of seconds to hours, which means that it is not possible to determine the object distance in this way. Therefore, known methods of automatically focusing a lens are not suitable for low light imaging systems as described above.
Moreover, large aperture lenses also give rise to significant problems in altering the field of view. Altering the field of view (magnification) ensures that the region of interest of the sample fills as much of the field of view of the lens/camera as possible. The field of view of a camera system is determined by three parameters—the size of the imaging chip, the focal length of the imaging lens and the distance from the imaging lens to the object; wherein the focal length and distance from the imaging lens to the object determines the image magnification.
In a conventional imaging system, the field of view is readily varied by the movement of a series of imaging lenses which varies the focal length. The series of imaging lenses in combination are commonly known as a "zoom lens". As the aperture size increases in relation to the focal length of the lens, the number and size of lens elements increases to correct for, inter alia, spherical and chromatic aberrations. Consequently, the complexity of the zoom lens rises exponentially to the size of the aperture. Because of this requisite complexity, zoom lenses with very large apertures are not commercially available/viable.
In the absence of a zoom lens, the field of view can be varied by cycling through a series of lenses with set focal lengths (i.e. a turret lens system). For similar reasons as to the absence of low f-number zoom lenses, the commercial availability of low f-number fixed lenses with different focal lengths is also very limited. With the shallow depth of field required for optimal light collection, the number of lenses required for a turret system is unfeasibly large, notwithstanding the fact that the variety of lenses are not currently commercially available.
One way of avoiding the need for complex lens systems is to vary the distance between the sample and the high sensitivity camera, i.e. the object distance, and re-focussing the lens for the new object position. There exist a number of significant technical problems associated with varying the object distance and refocusing a high sensitivity camera in a low light clinical/surgical environment.
While in conventional imaging systems the object and the camera can easily be moved, high-sensitivity imaging systems deployed in clinical or surgical environments pose particular problems in this regard, as users typically do not have time to make such adjustments. Moreover, even if the object distance can been adjusted, the problem remains of how to quickly re-focus the high sensitivity camera in a low light environment, when the time needed to take a single image is tens of seconds to hours.

Method and apparatus for imaging of low radiance objects


An assembly includes a vehicle frame having a crossmember defining a passage. The assembly includes a drive unit supported by the crossmember in the passage. The assembly includes a stabilizer fixed to the drive unit, the stabilizer permitting movement of the drive unit in a first direction relative to the passage and restricting movement of the drive unit in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A vehicle includes a frame. The frame may be of a unibody construction. In the unibody construction, a body of the vehicle, e.g., rockers, pillars, roof rails, etc., serve as the frame the body is unitary, i.e., a continuous one-piece unit. As another example, the frame may have a body-on-frame construction (also referred to as a cab-on-frame construction). In other words, the body and frame are separate components, i.e., are modular, and the body is supported on and affixed to the frame. Alternatively, the frame may have any suitable construction. The frame may be formed of any suitable material, for example, steel, aluminum, etc.
The frame supports other components of the vehicle, such as components of a propulsion system, e.g., a drive unit, a drive shaft, an energy storage device, etc. During an impact to the vehicle the components supported by the frame may be moved relative to the frame and each other.


Input light incident into fiber end is separated by a light separator. Light traveling straight through the light separator is guided through an optical fiber to a light amplifying and deflecting section, where only components with deflection angle in a predetermined range are amplified and deflected then to be extracted. The extracted components are output as output light through an optical fiber. The other part of light separated by the light separator is received by a photo detector. The light received by the photo detector is converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal is then input into the light amplifying and deflecting section. Using the electric signal generated from the photo detector, desired wave shaping may be effected by adjusting a light amplification factor of the light amplifying and deflecting section, a change speed of deflection angle, and/or a range of deflection angle selected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light pulse intensity regenerating apparatus enabling wave shaping.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 1 is a drawing to show a construction of a conventional electro-optical streak camera in which a light control device for effecting light deflection is built (as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open (Kokai) Patent Application No. 1-287425). Signal light input into the device is split by a half mirror. Signal light traveling straight through the half mirror is amplified by a traveling wave amplifier (as will be referred to as TWA) then to enter a light deflector. The other signal light reflected by the half mirror is converted into an electric signal by a photoelectric tube, and the electric signal is used as a trigger signal for light deflector. Light output from the light deflector travels at an output angle according to sweep of the light deflector. The light is subjected to selected filtering through a slit, and the light through the slit is then detected by a detector.
There are other conventional techniques, for example, a waveform processor using a light amplifier (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,142), a semiconductor light amplifier (see References "Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 6 No. 11, p1656-p1664, 1988" and "OPTICS, Vol. 18 No. 6, p297-p362, June 1989"), and a semiconductor light deflector (see Reference "Appl. Phys. Lett. 56 (14), p1299-p1301, 1990").
The conventional light controlling apparatuses do not serve as a wave shaping device. Specifically, the other light thus separated is merely used as a trigger, but is not used to effect deflection in accordance with a waveform of the separated light.

Light pulse intensity regenerator, light tranforming repeater, pre-amplifier for light signal, light intensity change measuring apparatus, and stabilized light source


A high-transverse-curvature tire (1), in particular to be mounted on the front wheel of a motor-vehicle, which includes a belt structure (6) including, in a radially external layer (9a), a plurality of circumferential coils (7a), axially arranged side by side, of a cord (7) wound at a substantially zero angle with respect to the equatorial plane (Xxe2x80x94X) of the tire. An area occupied by rubber blocks (10) formed in a portion of the tread band (8), having a length equal to the pitch (p) of the tread pattern and a width equal to the axial development of the tread band (8), is between 70% and 90% of the total area of the portion.

The present invention relates to a high-transverse-curvature tire, having a curvature ratio not lower than 0.3, in particular for use in motor-vehicles, comprising:
a carcass structure of toric form having a high transverse curvature and provided with a central crown portion and two sidewalls ending in a couple of beads for anchoring onto a corresponding mounting rim;
a belt structure, circumferentially inextensible, coaxially extended around the carcass structure;
a tread band coaxially extended around the belt carcass and comprising a plurality of rubber blocks defined between a plurality of grooves extending along a direction substantially transverse to the running direction of the tire, the tread band being free from any groove extending along a direction substantially parallel to the running direction of the tire, said grooves comprising a bottom connected to opposite inlet and outlet sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly to said bottom.
In the following description and in the appended claims, the expression: xe2x80x9csidewalls substantially perpendicular to the groove bottomxe2x80x9d is used to indicate walls that formxe2x80x94with respect to a plane perpendicular to the bottomxe2x80x94an angle varying from 0xc2x0 to 40xc2x0.
More particularly, the invention relates to a front tire for two-wheeled motor-vehicles, wherein the high transverse curvature is defined by particular values of the ratio between the height of the tread crown from the line passing through the tread axial ends or xe2x80x9ccamberxe2x80x9d of the tread band, said line being measured at the equatorial plane, on the one hand, and the distance between said tread band ends on the other hand. Said value, preferably not lower than 0.3, is anyhow higher than the value related to the corresponding rear tire, usually not lower than 0.15.
In the following description and in the appended claims, said ratio will be indicated by the term: xe2x80x9ccurvature ratioxe2x80x9d.
As is known, tires for two-wheeled vehicles have been manufactured for a long time with a carcass structure comprising a couple of plies of rubberized fabric reinforced with cords symmetrically inclined with respect to the tire equatorial plane, which structure is usually known as cross-plies carcass, and possibly a belt structure also comprising couples of strips of rubberized fabric provided with cords inclined with respect to the tire equatorial plane.
While such tire structure could ensure an extremely regular curve holding of the motor-vehicle, the use of this type of tires involved problems of comfort, stability, road holding of the vehicle and weariness of the driver, due to their excessive stiffness.
The structure of these tires, in fact, accumulatedxe2x80x94under the effect of an imposed deformationxe2x80x94elastic energy which was given back almost instantaneously upon termination of the stress, amplifying the unevennesses transmitted by the road surface layer, with ensuing stability loss of the vehicle.
In particular, during the straightaway running such excessive stiffness causes, at low speeds, high frequency (8-10 Hz) oscillations on the front tire (shimmy effect), causing driving to be precarious.
To try to obviate these problems, it has recently been proposed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/857,305, filed on May 16, 1996 by the same assignee, the use of a radial-ply tire provided with a belt structure comprising circumferentially-oriented cords, preferably metal cords, also indicated by the term: zero-degree cords.
This type of tire has unquestionably improved the situation in terms of comfort and driving stability: in fact, the oscillations of the vehicle at straightaway high speeds have disappeared and in particularly the shimmy effect has been substantially eliminated.
However, even if improvements as to the comfort and reduction of the driver""s weariness have been achieved, the tires of the aforesaid type have not allowed, at least so far, neither to improve the wet grip of the vehicle nor to increase the wear resistance and, consequently, the kilometric yield of the tread band.
According to the present invention, the inventors have now realized that the problem of achieving such desired characteristics can be solved by combining a belt structure having zero-degree cords and a particular pattern of the tire tread, such as to provide a given ratio between the area occupied by the rubber blocks and the area occupied by the grooves (or solid/hollow area ratio).
Therefore, the present invention provides a tire of the type indicated hereinabove, which is characterized in that:
a) said belt structure comprises at least a radially external layer including a plurality of circumferential coils, axially arranged side by side, of a cord wound at a substantially zero angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire; and in that
b) the area occupied by said rubber blocks in a portion of tread band having a length equal to a pitch of the tread pattern and a width equal to the axial development of the tread band is between 70% and 90% of the total area of said portion.
According to the invention, the Applicant has found that by adopting a belt structure with zero-degree cords it is possible to obtain a higher degree of freedom in the design of the tread pattern, substantially overcoming the limit represented by the need of having a large solid area (i.e. a large area occupied by the rubber blocks) to ensure an adequate wear resistance of the tire.
According to the invention, in fact, it has surprisingly been found that by adopting a belt structure with zero-degree cords, it is possible to reduce the area of the rubber blocks, and therefore the solid/hollow area ratio, with respect to that of the tires of the prior art without affecting the wear resistance of the tire and achieving at the same time the following important advantages:
a) an improvement of tire capacity of draining off the water present under the tire ground-contacting area (aquaplaning);
b) an improvement of shimmy behavior of the tire in spite of the presence of a greater hollow area under the tire ground-contacting area;
c) maintenance of a high directional stability of the tire, whatever the use conditions, and especially while traveling over a curvilinear path;
d) an improvement of braking behavior of the vehicle with a reduction of the vehicle braking distance.
More particularly, according to the invention, such characteristics are achievable when, as indicated hereinabove, the area occupied by the rubber blocks formed in a portion of the tread band having a length equal to the pitch of the tread pattern and a width equal to the axial development of the tread band, is between 70% and 90% of the total area of said portion.
In the following description and in the appended claims, the term: axial development of the tread band, is used to indicate the extension in width of the latter as measured along the peripheral surface of the tire.
In the following description and in the appended claims, the term: pitch of the tread pattern, is used to indicate the length, measured along the circumferential development of the tread band, of a portion of the tread pattern which periodically repeats for a finite number xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d of times throughout the whole circumferential development of the tread band.
In the present case, therefore, the pitch of the tread pattern is equal to the distance between the starting points of two subsequent repetitive portions of the tread pattern, measured along the circumferential development of the tread band.
Preferably, the solid area is between 80% and 85%, and, still more preferably, it is equal to about 83% of the total area of said portion having a length equal to the pitch of the tread pattern and a width equal to the axial development of the tread band.
Advantageously, furthermore, the adoption of a belt structure with zero-degree cords in a radially external layer of the same allows to increase both the directional stability and the tire ground-contacting area, i.e. the area where the tire gets in touch with the ground, in any use condition of the tire.
Thanks to this feature, both the stresses due to sliding on the road and the stresses due to hysteresis dissipation in the rubber composition of the tread band are reduced, with an advantageous increase in wear resistance of the tire.
Preferably, the cord coils comprise high elongation cords made from high carbon content steel wires.
Alternatively, the cord coils may comprise aramidic textile cords.
Preferably, furthermore, the cord coils arranged at a substantially zero-degree angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire are distributed with variable density along the axial development of the belt structure.
According to this embodiment of the invention, the distribution density of the cord coils changes progressively along the belt structure, preferably progressively increasing from the equatorial plane towards the ends of the belt structure according to a predetermined relation.
In this way, it is advantageously possible to obtain a belt structure which is at the same time flexible in the middle, to absorb and damp the vibrations due to the ground roughness, and rigid at the sides, to develop high slip thrusts.
In accordance with the experiments of the Applicant, such relation may conveniently have the following expression:   Nx  =      K                      R        2                    r        2                  No
wherein:
No is the number of cord coils arranged in a central portion of unitary length located on either side the equatorial plane;
R is the distance between the center of said portion and the rotation axis of the tire;
r is the distance between the center of the unitary portion between the equatorial plane and the axial ends of said radially external layer and the rotation axis of the tire;
K is a parameter that takes into account the constituent material and the cord formation, as well as the amount of rubber around the cord and the weight of the radially-internal layer portion at said unitary portion, which is variable with variations in the material type and structural features of the belt strips along the crown profile that diverge from a reference value.
This parameter K may take a value substantially close to 1 if the cords have the same formation and all the connected materials are the same throughout the layers, or different values according to variations in the materials and formation of the reinforcing elements along the peripheral extension of the belt structure.
A distribution of the cords in accordance with such relation ensures both the uniformity of the stress acting on the belt structure during use of the tire, as a consequence of the centrifugal force applied, and the necessary differentiated stiffness along the axial direction.
Clearly, those skilled in the art may find other relations which, according to the aforementioned design variables, would allow to achieve at the same time a differentiated stiffness along the axial direction and a stress uniformity in the belt structure of the running tire, by varying in a controlled manner the density of the above cords.
Preferably, the winding density of the cords at zero-degree in the area located on either side of the equatorial plane, where the maximum thinning out takes place, is not greater than 8 and more preferably is between 3 and 6 cords/cm.
The axial width of said zone varies preferably from 10% to 30% of the axial development of the belt.
Preferably, the quantity of cords in said central area is equal to a value between 60% and 80% of the quantity of cords near the tire shoulders, where the density of said cords is preferably not greater than 10 and more preferably included between 6 and 8 cords/cm.
The cord coils of the aforesaid radially external layer are wound on a reinforcing layer in a radially internal position, which, in a preferred embodiment, is essentially consisting of a sheet of elastomeric material placed between said cord coils and the carcass ply, possibly filled with binding agents dispersed in said material.
Preferably, said binding agents comprise reinforcing fibrous fillers of a material selected from the group comprising: textile, metal and glass fibers or short fibrillated aramid fibers, randomly arranged or oriented according to a preferred direction, inclined with respect to said equatorial plane.
Preferably, said reinforcing fibrous fillers are homogeneously distributed in said elastomeric matrix with a density per volume unit of from 0.5% to 5% of the total volume.
Still more preferably, the reinforcing fibrous fillers are short fibers formed with fibrils of aramid homogeneously distributed in the sheet of elastomeric material in a quantity of from 1 and 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr).
According to a further embodiment, the radially internal layer may comprise two strips axially arranged side by side, provided with reinforcing elements oriented according to inclined directions in each strip and opposite to one another in the two strips with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire.
Alternatively, the radially internal layer may comprise two radially superposed strips provided with reinforcing elements parallel to one another in each strip and crossed with the elements of the adjacent strip, symmetrically inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire; in this case, the reinforcing elements in one of said strips can be of a different material from that of the reinforcing elements of the radially adjacent strip.
Conveniently, the reinforcing elements of said radially internal layer are selected from the group comprising textile cords and metal cords.
Advantageously, and in any embodiment, said radially internal layer may be interrupted in correspondence of the equatorial plane for a portion of width preferably ranging from 10% to 30% of the axial development of said belt.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grooves transversely extend along the tread band according to a curvilinear path substantially parallel to the so-called wear waves (also known by the term xe2x80x9cSchlamack wavesxe2x80x9d, after the name of the researcher who has theorized the phenomenon) of the tread band.
Such a conformation of the grooves, in fact, advantageously allows to reduce the wear of the tread band and contributes to reduce the tire noise during running of the vehicle.
Preferably, just to better follow the aforesaid wear waves, the grooves have at least a curvature center positioned upstream of the same at the opposite side zones of the tread band, external to said equatorial zone.
In such side zones, the grooves preferably have a curvature radius of from 120 to 180 mm.
Preferably, the tire of the present invention comprises at least a groove substantially extending throughout the whole axial development of the tread band according to a substantially double-inflection curvilinear path, including opposite lateral portions having their respective curvature centers positioned upstream of the groove and on opposite sides with respect to said equatorial plane of the tire.
Also in this case, the opposite lateral portions of such a groove preferably have a curvature radius of from 120 to 180 mm.
Preferably, furthermore, at least one of the lateral portions of such double-inflection path groove transversely extends along the tread band through substantially the whole width of the equatorial zone of the tire and the whole width of one of said side zones of the tread band.
Preferably, said opposite lateral portions of the groove having a double-inflection path are connected through an intermediate portion, having a curvature center positioned downstream of the groove, extending externally to the equatorial zone and in at least a part of one of the side zones of the tire tread.
Preferably, such intermediate connecting portion has a curvature radius of from 20 to 40 mm.
According to this embodiment of the invention, the grooves having a double-inflection path act as connecting elements between grooves formed in opposite parts of the tread band and shaped according to the wear waves.
Advantageously, the double-inflection grooves, not only optimize the wear of the tread band in terms of uniformity and reduction of wear velocity, but also contribute to a still more effective evacuation of the water present under the tire ground-contacting area.
In this way, the draining capacity of the tire improves to such an extent that, when it is mounted on the front wheel of a motor-vehicle, the rear tire travels on a xe2x80x9ctrackxe2x80x9d substantially free from water.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, particularly preferred in case of high performance tires, in an equatorial zone of the tire the outlet wall of the grooves is inclined with respect to their bottom towards a direction opposite to the running direction of the tire and forms with respect to a plane (xcfx80) tangent to said bottom an angle (xcex1xe2x80x2) of from 100xc2x0 to 130xc2x0.
In the following description and in the appended claims, the terms: xe2x80x9cinletxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9coutletxe2x80x9d are used to indicatexe2x80x94with reference to the structural features of the groovesxe2x80x94the parts of the grooves which are stressed first or get in touch first with the ground during tire rolling and, respectively, the parts of the grooves that are stressed after a predetermined angular rotation of the wheel.
In the same way, in the following description and in the appended claims, the terms: xe2x80x9cupwardsxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdownwardsxe2x80x9d are used to indicatexe2x80x94with reference to the position of the groovesxe2x80x94those parts of the tread band, for instance the rubber blocks, that are stressed or get in touch with the ground during the tire rolling before and, respectively, after said grooves.
In the following description and in the appended claims, furthermore, all the angular values measured, starting from a plane (xcfx80) tangent to the groove bottom will be measured in counterclockwise direction.
According to the invention, when the value of angle xcex1xe2x80x2 formed by the inlet wall of the grooves is within the range of values mentioned hereinabove, it has been noticed a rigidity increase of the rubber blocks positioned downwards of the grooves in the very zone of the tread band subject to greater stresses during running of the vehicle and in particular during braking, with a substantial reduction of wear phenomena and a simultaneous achievement of a more uniform wear of the tread band.
Thanks to this conformation of the grooves outlet walls, the following additional advantages have also been achieved:
a) possibility of reducing the weight of the tire and, along therewith, of reducing both the disturbing effects on vehicle trim caused by impacts or ground roughness and the braking distance because of the lower inertia of the tire;
b) an increase in braking capacity of the tire, which allows a further reduction of the braking distance of the vehicle;
c) a greater wear uniformity of the tire tread, with an ensuing advantageous increase in road holding of the same;
d) a lower rolling resistance of the tire, with an ensuing consumption reduction.
Preferably, the angle xcex1xe2x80x2 is between 110xc2x0 and 120xc2x0 and still more preferably, it is equal to about 115xc2x0: in fact, an optimum rigidity of the rubber blocks positioned downstream of the grooves has been found within such range of values, while above 130xc2x0 the tire has shown an undesired and progressive loss of grip, a wear increase and rolling unevenness.
Preferably, the equatorial zone of the tread band interested by the desired inclination of the outlet walls of the grooves extends on either side of the equatorial plane of the tire for a portion having a width of from 10% to 35% of the axial development of said tread band.
Still more preferably, such equatorial zone extends on either side of the equatorial plane of the tire for a portion having a width of from 25% to 30% of the axial development of the tread band.
Preferably, the inclination of the outlet walls of the grooves, i.e. the value of angle (xcex1xe2x80x2), is substantially constant within the equatorial zone of the tread band, as specified hereinabove.
It has in fact been found that such feature contributes to achieve, in the very tread zone more stressed during braking, the rigidity of the rubber blocks necessary to obtain a substantial reduction in the aforementioned phenomena of wearing irregularity, accompanied by a quick degradation of the outlet edges of the grooves and loss of braking capacity of the tire.
At the opposite side portions of the tread external to said equatorial zone, on the contrary, the value of angle (xcex1xe2x80x2) linearly reduces as one moves away from the equatorial plane (Xxe2x80x94X), and according to the chord of the tire, down to a minimum value of from 90xc2x0 to 100xc2x0, which value is reached near opposite end portions of the tread band.
In other words, the inclination of the outlet walls of the grooves progressively increases with respect to plane (xcfx80) tangent to their bottom, until it is reachedxe2x80x94only and solely in correspondence of opposite end portions of the tread bandxe2x80x94the configuration of xe2x80x9csubstantial perpendicularityxe2x80x9d shown by the grooves formed on the tires of the prior art throughout the whole axial development of the tread band.
Since the length of the grooves, according to the special tread pattern one wants to realize, may also be shorter than the whole axial development of the tread band, it ensues that the inclination of the outlet wall of the grooves takes a predetermined value, in accordance with the variation rule defined hereinabove, depending on its position (equatorial zone rather than side zones) on said tread band.
This means that the aforementioned variation in the inclination of the grooves inlet walls from 130xc2x0 to 90xc2x0 will take place only for those grooves having such a length as to span along the whole axial development of the tread band, while for those grooves positioned only in the side zones of the tread band and having such a length as to be outside of the equatorial zone, the variation of the values of xcex1xe2x80x2, inversely proportional to the inclination of the outlet walls with respect to plane xcfx80, may be limited to a range from, for instance, a maximum value of 115xc2x0 (minimum inclination of the wall) to a minimum value of 95xc2x0 (maximum inclination of the wall) as one moves away from the equatorial plane of the tire.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, furthermore, in the equatorial zone of the tread band, the inlet wall of the grooves formed in the tread band is inclined with respect to their bottom towards the rolling direction of the tire and forms, with respect to a plane (xcfx80) tangent to said bottom, an angle (xcex1) of from 80xc2x0 to 90xc2x0.
In other words, the inlet walls of the grooves show in the equatorial zone of the tread band a configuration of xe2x80x9csubstantial perpendicularityxe2x80x9d which imparts to the rubber block upstream thereof the mobility necessary to ensure an adequate road holding.
In the same way as has been illustrated hereinabove with reference to angle xcex1xe2x80x2 formed by the outlet wall of the grooves, angle xcex1 as well is preferably substantially constant throughout the whole equatorial zone of the tread band.
In accordance with a further preferred feature of the invention, the angle xcex1 formed by the inlet wall of the grooves linearly decreases as one moves away from the equatorial plane (Xxe2x80x94X), and according to the chord of the tire in the opposite side zones of the tread band external to said equatorial zone, down to a minimum value of from 50xc2x0 to 80xc2x0, reached at opposite end portions of the tread band.
Preferably, said angle xcex1 is between 60xc2x0 and 70xc2x0 and, still more preferably, it is equal to about 65xc2x0.
In other words, the inlet walls of the grooves progressively reduce their inclination with respect to the plane (xcfx80) tangent to their bottom and towards the tire rolling direction, until they reach, at opposite side zones of the tread band, a configuration xe2x80x9csymmetricalxe2x80x9d to that shown by the grooves of the equatorial zone of the tread band.
In this way, an optimum rigidity of the rubber blocks positioned upstream of the grooves, whichxe2x80x94coupled with the mobility of the downstream positioned rubber blocksxe2x80x94causes both an adequate directional stability and an adequate road holding of the tire, has been achieved in the side zones of the tread band.
In a further embodiment of the invention, it has been found that, by making the carcass beads of aramidic fiber, a tire structure is obtained that has an improved flexibility of the beads which makes the operation of mounting the tire on the rim easier.
Further characteristics and advantages will be more readily apparent by the following description of a preferred embodiment according to the invention, solely provided by way of non limiting indication, reference being made to the attached drawings.

High-transverse-curvature tire, in particular for use in front wheels of motor-vehicles


An optimized thermal/catalytic combuster for the efficient oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in air. As an example, the invention is directly applicable to remedial action for clean-up of ground sites contaminated by spills or leaks of gasoline, organic paint solvents and the like, by a process known as air extraction. A thermal combuster and a catalytic oxidizer are interconnected by piping and control valves so that when one such element operates, the other is quiescent, depending on the concentration of combustible vapors in the extracted air. A dilution air valve, a heat exchanger, an electric heater, or a connection to a supplemental supply of clean-burning fuel, or all these devices, may be provided to ensure efficient operation. In an alternative embodiment, an internal combustion engine may be used in place of the thermal combuster. The engine can be used to supply power for other uses within the system or for external use. In a further alternative, a basic vapor contamination abatement system addressed specifically to extraction vapors from contaminated soils comprises a vacuum pump/compressor transmitting the vapors from the soil to a catalytic oxidizer, without use of a thermal combuster.

It has been found, whether due to leaks or spills, that the soil conditions under and around underground fuel storage tanks frequently included fuel or other VOC contaminants. Test borings can be advantageously employed to determine the presence of such contamination, as determined by the concentration of hydrocarbons and other compounds. Such tests can be used to determine total fuel hydrocarbons, as well as concentrations of specific contaminants such as benzene, toluene and xylene. The tests have shown that often the majority of such contaminants reside in the soil above a depth of forty feet. However, soil and leak rate conditions or volume of spill determine the depth of contamination.
The normal procedure when soil contamination is detected is to determine the cause and achieve a remedy. Then the soil must be decontaminated. A common practice for doing so has been to excavate the contaminated soils and dispose of them at a facility approved for acceptance of hazardous waste. That, of course, has high direct costs, and could interrupt normal business operation for several days, possibly even as long as several weeks
Vapor extraction systems for removing VOC contaminants from soil in situ have been developed and proven to be effective. The vapors are collected as extraction gas and removed therefrom by several possible means, including carbon adsorption, incineration and catalytic oxidation. Catalytic combustion may be the preferred process according to some experts but applicability is constrained within certain limits For example, if the concentration of hydrocarbon vapors exceeds 25% of the lower explosive limit (L.E.L.) for gasoline, heat given off during oxidation raises the temperature of the catalytic combuster to a point of destruction. To a certain extent control of the temperature may be obtained by using dilution air ahead of the catalytic combuster, but this method of temperature control is not practical at the high concentrations of VOC vapor expected during the early phase of the vapor extraction process.
Adsorption of VOC vapors on activated carbon has been found not to be a satisfactory solution for the disposal of recovered vapors. In this process vapors are merely concentrated on a solid bed which must be periodically backflushed to rejuvenate the carbon. The problem of dealing with hydrocarbon contaminants then arises all over again.


A circuit may include a splitter, a controller, and a termination. The splitter may generate, based upon input signals, a plurality of output signals, wherein at least one of the input signals is in more than one different modes at different times and the output signals comprise a first set of the output signals generated based upon comparison of pairs of signals of the first set against each other and a second set of the output signals generated based upon comparison of each signal of the second set to a predetermined threshold voltage. The controller may determine, based upon the second set of the output signals, whether the input signals are in the one of the more than one different modes to generate one or more control signals. The termination may connect loads to each of the input lines, based upon the one or more control signals.

Some modern data interfaces may carry data signals in different modes at different times. For example, in digital camera interfaces, according to the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Display Interface (DSI)/Camera Serial Interface-2 (CSI-2) specification, Low Power (LP) mode single-ended signals and High Speed (HS) mode differential signals may be carried through the MIPI DSI/CSI-2 interface bus lines at different times. This may allow the interface to adjust trade off between power saving and high speed.
Normally to implement the protocol layer decoding, both LP mode signals and HS mode signals need to be converted from input lines to allow parallel and separate mode signal processing combined for use in protocol decoding, but the data interface carrying different mode signals at different times may require different bus line loading or termination. These requirements of loading and processing add complexity to the overall interface hardware.
Thus, there is a need for improved data interface compatible to standards like MIPI DSI/CSI-2 that can provide the correct bus line loading and signal processing while reducing overall hardware complexity.

Pure differential signal based MIPI DSI/CSI-2 receiver systems


An adjustment method according to an embodiment of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, including a transmission coil configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) pulse and an RF amplifier configured to transmit an RF pulse signal to the transmission coil, includes steps of detecting and adjusting. The detecting step detects an output power level of the RF amplifier. The adjusting step adjusts a line length of a transmission line to be provided between the RF amplifier and the transmission coil such that the output power level of the RF amplifier exceeds a predetermined value in a state where there is a load on the transmission coil, or such that the output power level of the RF amplifier falls below a predetermined value in a state where there is no load on the transmission coil.

The MRI apparatus performs an imaging of an object placed on a table, and acquires internal data of the object as image data.
The MRI apparatus includes a transmission coil, such as a whole body (WB) coil, for transmitting high frequency pulses, that is, radio frequency (RF) pulses. The WB coil receives RF pulse signals from an RF transmitter, and excites atomic nuclear spins of an imaging site placed in the static magnetic field with high frequency pulses of Larmor frequency, that is, the RF pulses. Then, the MRI apparatus receives magnetic resonance signals, that is, MR signals generated from the imaging site with the excitation by a receiving coil, for example a local coil, and generates the image data based on the MR signals.
A transmission line for transmitting the RF pulses is provided between the RF transmitter and the WB coil which is a load of the RF transmitter. The impedance (that is, a load impedance) of the WB coil is set so as to coincide with the characteristic impedance (for example, 50 [Ω]) of the transmission line.
However, the load impedance varies depending on a weight of a patient placed in the WB coil and the imaging site of the patient.

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and adjustment method thereof


Methods for manufacturing a medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation include coupling distal portions of each of a pair of lead bodies to one another. The distal portions each include a plurality of electrode surfaces coupled thereto. Each of the distal portions may further include a column of conductive rings coupled thereto, wherein each electrode surface of the first and second portions is coupled to a corresponding conductive ring of the first and second portions, respectively.

Electrical stimulation of a spinal cord, which induces pain-relieving paresthesia, can be provided by implantable systems that include electrodes coupled to elongate electrical leads. Such electrodes may be percutaneously or surgically introduced into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord. Medical electrical leads which include an array of electrodes provide flexibility for selection from a variety of stimulation patterns upon implantation without having to physically reposition the lead within the epidural space. Such leads, wherein the electrode array is coupled along a body of the lead or along a distal paddle-like termination of the lead body, are known in the art. However, there is still a need for new spinal cord lead assembly methods providing improved manufacturing flexibility.

Assembly method for spinal cord stimulation lead


A flip-chip packaging process is disclosed. The present invention is featured in forming a copper pillar on a wafer, forming a solder on a substrate; and enabling the solder to substantially cover the entire externally-exposed surface of the copper pillar, thereby connecting the copper pillar to the substrate. The copper pillar of the present invention can be such as a prism or a cylinder.

Whenever an integrated circuit (IC) is fabricated, it still needs to be connected to other elements; implemented with heat dissipation function; and protected by a housing, and thus a semiconductor packaging process follows. Semiconductor package structures can be relatively simple or complicated, and the number of pins in a semiconductor package is rapidly increasing due to the increasing integration from the development of ultra large-scale integration (ULSI). Conventional package structures generally provide IC chips with protection, power, heat dissipation and connections to other elements, but the purpose of modern package structures is changed to enabling the packaged IC chips to be compatible with next-level packaging.
For dealing with the trend of 3C products towards shortness, smallness, lightness and thinness, the flip-chip technology has become one of the most important packaging technologies. In the flip-chip technology, the technique for fabricating solder bumps is quite critical to the connection performance of semiconductor devices.
Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are schematic diagrams showing the structure of a conventional solder bump and the fabrication process thereof. Such as shown in FIG. 1A, a bond pad 30 is formed between a wafer 10 and a passivation layer 20, and an under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer 22 is formed over the passivation layer 20 and the bond pad 30. Thereafter, such as shown in FIG. 1B, a high lead solder 50 is formed on the bond pad 30 under via the blocking of a photoresist layer 40 by electroplating or printing. Then, the photoresist 40 and a portion of the UBM layer 22 thereunder are removed, and a reflow step is performed subsequently for melting and forming the high lead solder 50 as a spherical solder bump 60 shown in FIG. 1C.
Referring to FIG. 1D to FIG. 1F, FIG. 1D to FIG. 1F are schematic diagrams showing a conventional flip-chip packaging process. Such as shown in FIG. 1D, the wafer 10 having the solder bumps 60 is turned upside down with flux applied on the solder bumps 60, and then the solder bumps 60 are mounted on a substrate 70. Such as shown in FIG. 1E, a reflow step is then performed under the reflow temperature of 320° C. to melt the solder bumps 60 for being attached to the substrate 70. Thereafter, such as shown in FIG. 1F, due to large stress difference between the wafer 10 and the substrate 70, cracks are easily to be caused at junction surfaces, i.e. the solder bumps 60, so that an underfill material 80 is filled among the solder bumps for distributing the stress on the entire underfill material 80, thereby reducing the stress exerted on each of the solder bumps 60, thus promoting reliability, wherein the underfill material 80 can be such as epoxy resin.
However, since the etching selectivity between the solder bumps 60 and the UBM layer 22 is poor, the step of etching the UBM layer 22 is difficult to be controlled. Further, the strength and capacitance density of the solder bumps 60 are not sufficient for fabricating high-speed charging and discharging elements. In addition, the conventional process needs to use the reflow steps, thus making the entire process quite complicated.
Hence, there is a need to develop a flip-chip packaging process using a copper pillar as a bump structure for overcoming the conventional process's disadvantages of insufficient strength and capacitance density of the solder bumps; having difficulty in controlling the step for etching the UBM layer; and requiring the relfow steps.

Flip-chip packaging process using copper pillar as bump structure


A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a route based on at least one of (a) an amount of snow accumulation, and (b) a predicted amount of remediation material, for each of a plurality of road segments, actuate a vehicle to follow the route, and actuate at least one of a snow plow and a material spreader on the vehicle.

Roadways can accumulate snow during winter. Snow on roadways can affect vehicles driving on the roadways. For example, tires of the vehicles may slip on the snow, increasing a probability of an accident on the roadway. Typically, a dedicated vehicle can include a snow plow and remediation material to remove and/or mitigate the snow accumulation on the roadway. However, it is a problem to identify and analyze snow accumulation on specific portions of the roadway that require snow removal and to determine to clear various portions.


A soft medical boot having an articulated splint bar for adjusting the angle of the foot of a patient disposed in a supine position.

This invention is related to a medical boot and a supporting splint for treating or avoiding decubitus ulcers, especially for patients with heel, toe and foot pressure ulcers.
Decubitus ulcers are pressure sores commonly found in patients of hospitals and other institutions. Such sores add considerably to patient nursing time and to the cost of medical care. Complications associated with pressure sores may be life-threatening. Many devices are known in the prior art, some of which are commercially-available, for treating or avoiding such sores, however, they are frequently unsatisfactory because they are not responsive to the underlying causes of the sores.
Pressure sores can develop over any bony prominence or area subjected to prolonged pressure, such as on the heel. A pressure gradient in the area of the sore is one of the causes of such sores. Blood vessels, muscles, subcutaneous fat and skin frequently are pressed between a bone and a sleeping surface. Pressure is transmitted from the body toward the bone. Soft tissue compressed between a bony prominence and a firm external surface is susceptible to tissue destruction. The external surface produces pressure, and the bone produces counter pressure. These opposing surfaces result in a pressure gradient involving the tissue between the external surface and the skeletal anatomy involved. The greatest tissue destruction is beneath the skin surface.
Another factor that contributes to the mechanical destruction of tissue is a shear effect, which mainly occurs in deep tissues. The tissue attached to the bone is pulled in one direction because of the body weight while the surface tissue sticks to the bed linen and remains stationary. The body skeleton actually slides inside the skin. A shearing force can occur when patients are dragged along the surface of the sheets during repositioning.
Friction is another factor that develops pressure sores. Two surfaces moving across one another create friction. Friction commonly occurs in patients who are unable to lift themselves sufficiently for repositioning. If a patient is pulled across the bed linen, the outer protective layer of skin may be rubbed away by abrasion. This mechanical wearing away of surface tissue increases the potential for deeper tissue damage. Patients who have appliances that rub against the skin are also at high risk for tissue damage by friction.
Other factors such as exposure to moisture can macerate the skin. Maceration contributes to pressure ulcers because the excessive moisture softens the connective tissue.
Many commercial devices are available on the market for avoiding or treating pressure sores. These include for example, "The Vascular Boot" available from Lunax Corporation of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; the Jerome 0355 "Bed Boot" available from Orthopedic & Sports Medicine; the "Rooke Vascular System"; the "Foot Waffle" available from EHOB Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind.; the "Heeler" available from BioMedical Systems; the "Cradle-Lite" available from Bird and Cronin Inc.; the Posey "Heel Protector" and "Foot Guard"; the "L'Nard Multi-Podus Orthosis System" available from L'Nard Restorative Concepts Inc. of Clearwater, Fla.; the "California Ankle Foot Orthosis--C.A.F.O." available from Capra Resources; the "E-Z Boot" foot splint available from Medassist-Op Inc. of Palm Harbor, Fla.; the "Pressure Relief Ankle Foot Orthosis" available from Anatomical Concepts, Inc. of Boardman, Ohio; and the "Pillo-Boot" Lower Leg Positioning Device available from BioPlasty Inc. of St. Paul, Minn.
Other similar devices have been disclosed in the prior art, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,214 which was issued Oct. 23, 1984 to William D. Lamont for "Medical Boot Apparatus and Methods of Constructing and Utilizing Same"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,845 which was issued Apr. 15, 1980 to Edward G. Browning for "Device for Prevention of Decubitus Ulcers on the Human Heel"; U.S. Pat. No. RE 3390 which was re-issued Oct. 17, 1989 to Ramon Berguer for "lsothermic Protective Boot"; U.S. Pat. No. 2,911,657 which was issued Nov. 10, 1959 to George W. Streeter III for "Leg and Foot Rest"; U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,233 which was issued May 12, 1970 to Elbert Holy Jr. for "Foot Protector"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,022 which was issued Feb. 28, 1978 to James Walker for "Therapeutic Foot and Leg Protector"; U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,884 which was issued Sep. 21, 1971 to Mary A. Peter for "Foot-Boot Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,162 which was issued Mar. 21, 1989 to Evelyn D. Gliege and Edward A. Martin for "Device for Receiving an Orthotic Insert".

Protective medical boot and orthotic splint


In a novel computation device, a plurality of partial product generators is communicatively coupled to a binary number multiplier. The binary number is partitioned in the computation device into non-overlapping subsets of binary bits and each subset is coupled to one of the plurality of partial product generators. Each partial product generator, upon receiving a subset of binary bits representing a number, generates a multiplication product of the number and a predetermined constant. The multiplication products from all partial product generators are summed to generate the final product between the predetermined constant and the binary number. The partial product generators are constructed by logic gates and wires connected the logic gates including a AND gate. The partial product generators are free of memory elements.

Multiplication is a fundamental arithmetic operation one can do with pen and paper and with computer. How to do it fast and with high accuracy has been a subject of intense research in the art of computer science and engineering.
Multiplication involves two operands—the multiplicand and the multiplier. Traditionally one performs multiplication in three steps: first one multiplies the digits of the multiplier sequentially to the multiplicand digit by digit to generate partial products. Next, one aligns the partial products by properly "shifts" them according to the position of the digits in the multiplier. Finally one "adds" the partial products to arrive at the final product.
Pen-on-paper is viable when the operands are simple, but it becomes only practical to use a computer or other electronic computational devices when they are not, especially when calculation speed and accuracy are important.
Even though the "add and shift" algorithm is straight forward, its implementation in a traditional electronic computer may involve a fair amount of hardware components and still takes lengthy machine time to execute the necessary steps when the operands are non-trivial such s irrational numbers and when high accuracy is required.
Computer scientists and engineers have endeavored to speed up the operation. For example, Andrew Donald Booth published an important work in 1951 directed to a multiplication algorithm suitable for machine implementation. It has been followed and expanded ever since. The following is a brief account of the Booth's algorithm commonly known as Booth 2 is presented below for illustrative purposes.
First, the multiplier is partitioned and decoded into overlapping groups of 3-bit binary numbers, which may be stored in a memory unit. When the multiplicand then arrives at the computing unit, it is multiplied by each of the 3-bit multiplier groups in succession and the resulting partial products are stored, for example, also in a memory unit. All partial products then go through the "shifted and aligned" in a binary adder and are manipulated there to arrive at the final product of the multiplication.
Comparing to the rudimentary digit-by-digit approach, the Booth 2 method reduces the number of partial products by almost, a half, or more precisely, from n to (n+2)/2, where n is the multiplier in binary bits. Other versions of the Booth's algorithm, such as Booth 3, Booth 4, and Redundant Booth are known in the art. These successively sophisticated algorithms incrementally improve the speed of multiplication.
In 1991 Wolf-Ekkehard Blanz et al. of IBM proposed a method for multiplying an N bit number X by an M bit number C. With this method, the N bit number is partitioned into K non-overlapping bit groups. Each bit group functions as an address for accessing a look-up-table (LUT). The values from the LUT represent a sum of a constant and the product of the M bit number C and the binary value of the bit group to which the LUT corresponds. The values are added together after bit shifted in accordance with their relative priorities in an adder until to arrive at a single result, which is the (N+M) bit product of C and X. Many later works adopted the LUT approach with further improvements.

Methods and apparatuses for performing multiplication


A viewer of an audio video display device (AVDD) and transition from a nine panel graphical user interface (GUI) showing a summary degree of metadata to a six panel GUI showing a higher degree of metadata using a horizontal motion.

The nature of a dynamic society propels an ever-increasing variety of tastes for forms of entertainment, such as television. Rarely does a viewer find enjoyment in literally every TV program available, and thus the necessity to hone in on a specific genre in programming emerges. The current generation of program guides has enabled viewers to rapidly search through programs on an increasing number of channels rather than "surfing" by selecting one channel at a time in sequence.
A viewer may never elect to watch a particular program because of a preconceived notion about the nature of the show. For example, a person with an interest in medicine but a lack thereof in government may chose not to watch a show involving government agencies involved in the medical industry simply because the show contains a portrayal of a government-related issue. The complexity of modern TV programming calls for a corresponding complex user interface that will help guide the viewer to make a program selection.

Next generation user interface for audio video display device such as TV


A method is disclosed for fixing at least one location in an examination field (9) with respect to a coordinate system (13). The method includes determining, in response to a request (65), coordinates of a first location (59) as a first coordinate set (x, y, z) allocated to the first location (59). A first recording and a second recording of topological data (69) in a spatially extended area around the first location (59) in the examination field (9) are obtained. The first and second recordings are compared to determine a displacement (xcex94x, xcex94y, xcex94z) of the first location (59) of the examination field (9) with respect to the coordinate system (13), the coordinates of the first coordinate set (x, y, z) allocated to the first location (59) are changed dependent upon the determined displacement (xcex94x, xcex94y, xcex94z) such that the changed coordinates substantially correspond to the coordinates of the first location (59) in the examination field (9) after the displacement thereof.

The invention relates generally to a method and an apparatus for fixing a location in an examination field, in particular in a surgical operating field. In particular, the invention relates also to obtaining data dependent upon the fixed location as well as displaying such data for a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,295 discloses a surgical microscope comprising an optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus with which a surgeon who observes an examination field through the microscope can obtain additional data from the operating field, the data being then displayed on a monitor. Moreover, it is known to obtain additional data from the examination field by means of an X-ray imaging device, an X-ray tomography device (CT) or a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography device (NMR).
In tomography systems known in the art a location within an examination field is fixed or identified, respectively, with respect to a coordinate system. After the location has been fixed, further determinations, examinations or tasks are carried out on the basis of the fixed location. A problem may exist in that the examination field moves relative to the coordinate system, or a field of view of a user observing the examination field moves relative to the coordinate system, so that, after such movement, coordinates of the fixed or identified location are no longer readily determinable.
One aspect of the invention is a method for fixing the position of a first location with respect to a coordinate system of an examining field. First, coordinates of the location to be fixed in the examination field are obtained as a set of coordinates which is allocated to the location to be fixed. A user identifies the location to be fixed in that the user views the examination field, in certain embodiments, through a microscope and aligns the location with respect to the examination field such that the location to be fixed is positioned in a graticule or in the center of the field of view of the microscope. The user then, in some embodiments, makes a corresponding input to the system which constitutes a request to the system determine the coordinates of the location within the examination field thus positioned in the center of the field of view. The coordinates determined are designated as a first coordinate set. Next, a first recording of topological data is obtained from a spatially extended area close to the identified location within the examination field. After a certain period of time has elapsed, a second recording of topological data of this area is obtained. If the examining field has been displaced relative to the coordinate system during that time, it is possible, by a comparison of the two recordings, to determine the magnitude of the displacement of the identified location with respect to the coordinate system. Next, the coordinates of the first coordinate set are changed, depending upon the determined displacement, such that the coordinates of the first coordinate set substantially correspond to the coordinates of the first location within the examination field after the displacement thereof. It is thus possible to track an identified location within the examination field such that after a displacement of the identified location has occurred, the latter need not be identified again.
In some embodiments, it is advantageous to periodically obtain further recordings of topological data and to determine a current displacement of the identified location with respect to the coordinate system by a comparison of the obtained recordings and to change the coordinates of the coordinate set such that these coordinates indicate the current coordinates of the identified location in the examination field.
In order to identify the location to be fixed, in some embodiments, the user may view the examination field directly, i.e., with the naked eye. In other embodiments, the user may use an imaging device to view the examination field. The imaging device in some embodiments includes a camera and a visual display unit, or a microscope or spectacles, in particular a binocular loupe.
In order to identify the location, in some embodiments a pointer is advantageously provided. The pointer includes a pointer tip which can be contacted by the user at the identified location. Moreover, in such embodiments a position detecting apparatus for determining the position of the pointer tip with respect to the coordinate system is included.
If the user employs an imaging device, some embodiments advantageously include, in addition, a marker which the user may bring into coincidence in the imaging device field of view with the location to be identified in order to identify the same. For example, this marker may be a marking, such as a graticule, which is fixedly positioned in the field of view of the imaging device, or the marker can be displaced by the user in the field of view of the imaging device.
Advantageously, some embodiments include a sightline detecting device or eye-tracker which detects the sightline of the user on basis of an eye position of the user, so that the user can simply identify the location to be fixed by his eye position, i.e., the sightline.
In the embodiments described herein, for the identification of the location to be fixed, the coordinates of the identified location are incorporated in the coordinate set upon a corresponding request made by the user. The user can make this request, for example, by actuating an electrical or mechanical switch, such as a foot-switch, by a voice command or by an eye movement.
After the location to be fixed has been identified, the user may give his attention to other tasks. The identified location is tracked even if it is displaced, in that the coordinate set is changed such that its coordinates substantially correspond to the coordinates of the identified location. In this respect, in some embodiments it is also possible to supply the coordinate set to a data recording apparatus which performs measurements at the location indicated by the coordinate set, i.e., substantially at the identified location, in order to determine at least one magnitude which is correlated with the examination field and is advantageously displayed in the field of view of the user.
Moreover, in some embodiments it is possible to identify, after the first location referred to above is identified, one or more further locations within the examination field and, if desired, to track the one or more further locations as well by means of recordings of topological data and corresponding displacements. An advantageous application of the invention resides in that the determined magnitude incorporates a value which indicates a distance between two identified locations.
Furthermore, in some embodiments it is advantageous for the at least one determined magnitude to incorporate a data set which is obtained from a plurality of measurements performed along a connecting line between two identified locations. This data set may, for example, comprise a depth profile of the examination field taken along the connecting line or a cross-section which is obtained by means of a three-dimensional imaging method, such as computer tomography. In some embodiments, these are advantageously displayed in the field of view of the user as well.
Advantageously, in some embodiments the topological data comprise coordinates of a plurality of surface points within the examination field which are obtainable, for example, by means of laser triangulation or the like. It is also possible to obtain the recordings of topological data by means of a camera, such as a CCD camera, and to compare these recordings to determine the displacement of the location in the examination field.
Moreover, in some embodiments it is also advantageous to use as topological data measuring data which are obtained from points below the surface of the examination field. Such data may, for example, be obtained by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) or X-ray computer tomography (CT) or nuclear magnetic resonance tomography (NMR) or the like.
A further aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for displaying a magnitude obtained from within an examination field. The magnitude is to be displayed when determined at a location within the examination field which has been previously identified by a user, in the surroundings of such a location or dependent upon such a location. In one embodiment, the user can determine the location to be identified with his eyes by means of a sightline detecting apparatus for determining the eye position of the user. The magnitude to be determined in connection with the identified location is then detected by the apparatus and is displayed in the field of view of the user such that both the display of the magnitude and the examination field as such are in the field of view of the user at the same time. On the one hand, this enables a particularly simple identification of the location in the examination field by the user and, on the other hand, the user can perceive the magnitude measured at the identified location in his field of view without having to turn his eyes away from the examination field, for example, to a conventional display of the measuring value on monitor screen provided outside of the examination field. To this end, in some embodiments the display of the magnitude is advantageously faded into the beam path of a display device such as a microscope or a binocular loupe which the user employs to view the examination field.
In some embodiments, a position detecting device is advantageously provided in order to detect the position of the binocular loupe or the microscope with respect to the coordinate system, so that the coordinates of the location to which the user""s eyes are directed can be determined as well by the sightline detecting device.

Method and apparatus for fixing a location


A horizontal inlet section of a jet engine diffuser extends to a transitional curved section which, in turn, extends to a horizontal outlet section offset from the horizontal inlet section to shield observation of infrared and microwave signals from a downstream jet engine. A vane between the inlet and transitional curved sections further shields the observable signals and deflects inlet airflow against the interior wall of the diffuser for minimizing separation of boundary layer airflow from the wall. A backward facing slot is formed in the wall transversely adjacent the vane for effecting low energy boundary airflow to further minimize boundary layer airflow separation.

The air intake ducts for a modern jet aircraft are structurally preceded with a diffuser that reduces air velocity entering a jet engine compressor intake so that the engine thrust is maximized. For military aircraft it is well known that, for forward sector engagement, the inlet for the aircraft's propulsion system contributes to a high radar cross section signature which is easily detectable. In addition, fore and aft visible "hot spots" produced by propulsive machinery can provide bright targets for heat-seeking missiles. Thus, there is a need for drastic reduction of infrared emission and radar cross section for the aircraft inlet and engine nozzle.
One of the instinctive methods to minimize the infrared emissions and microwave reflections of aircraft propulsive inlets is to introduce considerable offset between the centerlines of the entry and exit, thereby creating an elongated S-shaped diffuser. Other methods are to design the air inlet as narrow, high aspect ratio lenticular slits or apertures that conform to the external structural surfaces of the aircraft.
However, these techniques may lead to nonuniform flow profiles (i.e., flow "quality") and inadequate ram air pressure recovery at the compressor inlet station. The air supply needs of the engine throughout the flight envelope pose consideration of innovative fluid dynamical solutions for both aspects of the overall problems, i.e., reduced observables and adequate propulsion performance to perform and survive a military mission.


A working tool holder for a drilling or chiseling device includes a holder sleeve with an axially extending conically shaped section within a holder opening or bore. A working tool to be secured in the holder sleeve, has a tool shaft with a conically shaped section to engage the conically shaped section in the holder opening. Grooves are formed in the tool shaft to receive inwardly projecting ridges in the holder opening. The tool shaft has recesses to receive the pins mounted in the holder sleeve. The tool shaft and an actuating sleeve extending around the holder sleeve each have connecting threads for securing the working tool in the holder.

The present invention is directed to a working tool holder for a drilling or chiseling device and to a working tool. The working tool holder includes a holder sleeve with an opening for the insertion shaft of a working tool. An axially extending section of the opening tapers conically inwardly. Pins mounted in the holder sleeve can be moved generally radially into the holder opening by means of a spring force. The pins extend tangentially or chordally relative to the holder opening. Inwardly projecting ridges are located in the holder opening for engagement in corresponding grooves in the insertion shaft. Further, the insertion shaft has recesses for seating the pins. An actuating sleeve axially displaceable relative to the holder sleeve is arranged for moving the pins relative to the holder opening.
A working tool holder is known in DE-A No. 1-34 34 076 and insures an exact centric guidance and reliable axial support of the inserted working tool during a drilling operation. At the commencement of the drilling operation, such high transverse or shearing forces develop, due to the lack of lateral guidance of the working tool, that the working tool may become loosened.

Working tool holder for a drilling or chiseling device


A modular stackable shelf storage apparatus for stacking with other units with a top shelf providing a base for mounting a facsimile machine, wherein a body unit is adapted to be interlockably stacked together with the units to provide segregated shelf spaces for storing documents such as are produced by a facsimile machine, the body unit having a flat top surface, first and second sides and an open front to define an open space within the body unit including a centrally disposed hollow finger serving as a space divider and as a mounting device; whereby in stacking two or more units together a firm base mount is provided for a facsimile machine and a plurality of shelf storage spaces are provided for segregated storage of documents.

The introduction of facsimile document producing machines in modern offices already crowded with computer related equipment, for example wor processors, monitors, keyboards and printers, has created two additional separate and distinct space demands on the office, i.e. space for the facsimile machine and space for the documents produced. The facsimile machine to operate must be connected by a telephone cable line to a telephone outlet located in the office, thereby limiting its location to a position relatively near the telephone outlet. Furthermore, inasmuch as a facsimile machine includes complex and fragile circuitry and has greater weight than a telephone, it should be placed in a well supported stand or table for mounting for it cannot withstand the shock of being dropped, as most telephones can. It is for this reason that the typical telephone stand has not proven satisfactory as a facsimile machine stand. Rather the facsimile machine requires a new more stable stand constructed for adequate support.
Of equal significance to space planning, the facsimile machine is adapted to produce a large quantity of documents requiring prompt attention by a plurality of recipients having differing local addresses and differing subject matter which should be segregated upon receipt, for example separated by client, subject matter, content, recipient, sender, etc. Furthermore, the typical facsimile paper is itself very supple and bends readily requiring adequate storage lest it be damaged. When facsimile machines were first introduced it was common to have the output of the facsimile machines pile up in bins or in heaps on the floor to be picked up and segregated at various intervals. This has not proved an effective manner of handling the receipt of what should be considered priority electronic mail. Facsimile transmissions, furthermore, being high priority documents should receive the immediate attention of the recipient, and therefore place special demands on prompt and early segregation of the documents such that the recipient will be able to identify the incoming documents to deal with them in a timely manner. Heretofore, standard document holders used to hold incoming mail have had open tops, two or more sides and a base. Such storage device requires individual space in addition to that required for the facsimile machine. Therefore, it is desirable to provide for a compact, simple shelf document storage apparatus which provides for storage for documents and a mount for a facsimile machine.

Stackable shelf document storage apparatus


A system and method for extracting and presenting useful data from calls received by a client is disclosed. The resulting “telephone call inbox” is a way for a client view pay per call advertising as a stream of consumers with information available to understand the call activity of the consumers and for the client to navigate their call history. The system automatically filters non-consumer fraudulent calls, extracts the identity of a consumer, aggregates several calling entities into a single consumer, transcribes the call into a call stream using voice recognition software, extracts patterns and draws conclusions from the call stream, and presents a list of call streams in a user friendly set of web pages configured as the telephone call inbox. The telephone call inbox includes, for each call, the caller ID, one or more key words, phrases or major conclusions concerning the call, and the voice recognized call stream.

When a business (hereinafter, the "client(s)") uses pay per call advertising, the client may receive a number of calls from consumers seeking their products or services, etc. When business is good, the number of calls may be overwhelming and too time intensive to monitor. What is desirable to monitor includes determining the number of consumers and extracting significant data from consumer interactions, such as the number and type of products sold, the state or phase of a complicated transaction, or the type of consumer that is interested in a particular product or service.
To keep track of telephone calls and their content (hereinafter, the "consumer(s)"), the client may subscribe to an audio recording and or transcription service. Unfortunately, if the client receives, for example, 30 phone calls a day, and playing the recorded phone messages takes on average five to ten minutes apiece (or a similar amount of time in transcribed form) it may take three hours to listen/read all of the calls, which becomes tedious. Moreover, the client may receive only the caller ID number and a short string identifying the name of the consumer on their telephone, which provides little information about the consumer. The client also needs to manually and mentally extract relevant information from each call, yet may have no tools for finding patterns in the calls that may affect their business.
Accordingly, what would be desirable, but has not yet been provided, is and method and system that simplifies the management of call streams from consumers to a client. The method and system would be capable of providing useful data extracted from the call streams that is presented to the client in a user-friendly form.


A communication arrangement, a gate device and method for data communication between a mobile operating unit and a field device provides a certain ease in handling. The method involves a user program being loaded onto or activated on the mobile operating unit. Furthermore, data from the mobile operating unit is transmitted to a data communication device and from the data communication device to a gate device and from the gate device to a transmitting device of the field device and/or is transmitted in the opposite direction.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for data communication between at least one mobile operating unit and at least one field device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a communication arrangement for data communication between at least one mobile operating unit and at least one field device. Finally, the invention is related to a gate device having at least one input interface and at least one output interface.
Description of Related Art
In modern process automation, it is often typical to monitor processes or media, in that measurement variables are determined, in particular, using field devices in the form of measuring devices, or to monitor in respect to changes. Thus, it is known, for example, to determine the flow of a flowable medium through tubes or channels, in that, for example, measuring devices are used that operate according to the Coriolis or vortex method, in which ultrasonic signals are used or which determine the flow using calorimetry.
In order to determine the fill level of a medium, which can be a liquid or a bulk material, it is known from the prior art to evaluate the transit time of electromagnetic signals using the radar method, or more specifically using the TDR method. The Doppler Effect can also be applied, or plumb lines are used. Furthermore, there are many designs for recognizing certain fill levels, either capacitively, inductively or by using elements capable of swinging.
In order to obtain further information about the media or processes, measuring devices are also used, with which pH, temperature, viscosity, electric conductivity or electric resistance are measured.
On the other hand, field devices are used that allow for intervention in the corresponding process. Such field devices are called actuators or control elements. An example of such is valves that allow for the regulation of a medium being filled and/or drained. Furthermore, a field device can also be an element that affects the temperature, for example, in that it heats. Additionally, an actuator can be a stirring device.
In order to be able to optimally supervise, control and regulate complex processes, field devices are generally in contact with a control room (also called control station, switch room or measuring station), which are thus part of a process control system (PCS).
In the field of industrial application, so-called fieldbuses having corresponding protocols are often used for contact between field device and control room. Contact with cables or without cables, e.g., wireless, is known. Common fieldbuses or protocols are Ethernet, foundation fieldbus (FF), Profibus DP or PA, Modbus, etc.
Data from field devices is transmitted to the control room from the field devices or data, e.g., parameter values, or software components, etc., is received by the field devices from the control room.
This also means that many field devices do not allow direct access, but communicate only with the control room.
For this reason, many field devices have neither their own display device (also called display) nor an input device, e.g., in the form of a keypad or a minimal configuration of keys (e.g., arrow key+confirmation key).
However, many field devices have so-called human machine interfaces (often abbreviated to HMI, or also user interface) that allow a direct display of e.g., the measured value or also allow direct influence on the particular field device.
Some field devices have interfaces that allow e.g., the application of software or firmware even in field devices already installed in the process, or allow the access to deeper layers of the field device for specially trained staff. Such interfaces are sometimes so-called service interfaces.
In order to make working with the field devices possible or simpler for operating staff, it is also known to use so-called handhelds.
These mobile—i.e., mostly portable—hand devices allow, at least in part, immediate contact directly with a field device or they can be directly connected to the field device in order to influence the field device or, for example, to read data via this connection.
The parameterization of different field devices occurs, for example, by using special device description language (DDL) data files.
Since field devices from different producers, and even sometimes from the same producer, require different programs, access data, data processing possibilities, etc., it is possibly thus necessary to have to use different hand devices or for the hand devices to have correspondingly large libraries of control data or programs or other access data or programs.
In addition to the costs for hand devices, it is often a disadvantage that such devices are more complicated in operation or do not offer the ease that the operating staff is used to from their experiences as consumers, in particular in comparison to modern consumer electronics. An example of such is the rather intuitive handling as is common in modern, so-called smartphones.
It is common in so-called smartphones, to load so-called apps (abbreviation for application software), which allow special applications on the smartphone.
The simpler handling from the field of consumer (also user) electronics has not yet found access into the field of process automation or, more specifically, the interaction with individual field devices.
However, especially in the case of data communication between a mobile unit and a field device that is installed in a process system, it would be advantageous if at least the interaction with the mobile operating unit were as simple as possible. The reason for this is that the operation of such process systems is usually rather unpleasant for the operating staff (e.g., very high or very low temperatures, extreme humidity or air dryness, irritating noise levels, or unpleasant odors, etc.).
Furthermore, careful handling of the field device itself requires a high measure of concentration, so that the tools used (here, in particular, the mobile operating unit) should be as simple as possible.
If the operating staff is faced with a field device with the task of creating an at least generally temporary communication arrangement for data communication between the mobile operating unit and the field device, then, depending on the specific application, data is entered into the field device via the operating unit or data is received by the field device.
The data entered is, for example, a parameter for measurements by a measuring device as field device or for influencing the process using an actuator as field device. Further possibilities are calibration data or other correcting data. Alternatively or additionally, it is software or firmware that is installed in the field device.
On the other hand, there are applications, in which the mobile unit receives data from the field device. This is, for example, current measured values or history data. Furthermore, it can also be relevant to read data, with which the field device operates, such as, e.g., the version number of the software used, etc. Finally, depending on the specific application, access of a mobile operating unit to a field device allows for storage of data associated with previous access to the field device.

Method and communication system for data communication