An apparatus for tuning PM optical fiber connections has a first assembly including a light source which is connected to a first coupling stage having a rotatable polarizer, and a second assembly having a second coupling stage and a rotatable polarization analyzer for directing light transmitted through a terminated PM jumper cable coupled between the first and second coupling stages to a power meter. The output of the power meter is applied to a processing unit which, in turn, controls a rotation arrangement for the polarizing and analyzer. Crosstalk of this jumper is determined by ascertaining the angular positions of the maximum and minima outputs of the rotating analyzer, and the terminating connectors of the jumper are turned to the maximum value by aligning with a connector key. The process similarly applies to the connections between two jumper cables, with the alignment of the slow wave vectors thereof having achieved by determining the difference in the angular positions of the maximum output, and determining therefrom the positions of the reference keys of both connectors.

This invention relates to connectorizing and tuning polarization maintaining (PM) optical fibers.
In optical fiber communications, connectors for joining fiber segments at their ends, or for connecting optical fiber cables to active or passive devices, are an essential component of virtually any optical fiber system. The connector or connectors, in joining fiber ends, for example, has, as its primary function, the maintenance of the ends in a butting relationship such that the core of one of the fibers is axially aligned with the core of the other fiber so as to maximize light transmissions from one fiber to the other, or, put another way, to reduce insertion loss. Another goal is to minimize back reflections. Alignment of these small diameter fibers is extremely difficult to achieve, which is understandable when it is recognized that the mode field diameter MFR of, for example, a singlemode fiber is approximately nine (9) microns (0.009 mm). The MFR is slightly larger than the core diameter. Good alignment (low insertion loss) of the fiber ends is a function of the transverse offset, angular alignment, the width of the gap (if any) between the fiber ends, and the surface condition of the fiber ends, all of which, in turn, are inherent in the particular connector design. The connector must also provide stability and junction protection and thus it must minimize thermal and mechanical movement effects.
In the present day state of the art, there are numerous, different, connector designs in use for achieving low insertion loss and stability. In most of these designs, a pair of ferrules (one in each connector), each containing an optical fiber end, are butted together end to end and light travels across the junction. Zero insertion loss requires that the fibers in the ferrules be exactly aligned, a condition that, given the necessity of manufacturing tolerances and cost considerations, is virtually impossible to achieve, except by fortuitous accident. As a consequence, most connectors are designed to achieve a useful, preferably predictable, degree of alignment, some misalignment being acceptable.
However, in connecting or terminating polarization maintaining (PM) fibers, such is not the case. Many optical fiber components, such as, for example, interferometers and sensors, lasers, and electro-optic modulators, are extremely sensitive to and dependent upon, for proper operation, the polarization of the light. Even very slight alterations or changes in the light polarization orientation can result in wide swings in the accuracy of response of such devices. PM fiber has polarization-dependent refractive indices, and the speed of light in an optical fiber is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the refractive index. A birefringent optical fiber is one having two polarizations having different velocities of propagation, thus giving rise to a xe2x80x9cfastxe2x80x9d wave and a xe2x80x9cslowxe2x80x9d wave. In a PM fiber, the polarization of a linearly polarized light wave input to the fiber, with the direction of polarization parallel to that of the one of the two principal polarizations, will remain or be maintained in that polarization as it propagates along the fiber, hence the term xe2x80x9cpolarization maintaining.xe2x80x9d If the polarization of the light wave is to be maintained at a splice or other connection, the principal axes of birefringence of the two joined fibers must be aligned in parallel, otherwise there will be polarization cross-coupling, i.e., crosstalk, which is highly undesirable. Thus, where two PM fibers, for example, are to be connected together, they should be terminated carefully to reduce the crosstalk during the connectorization process. Also, the connectors must be capable of aligning then maintaining the fiber orientation to the connector key position. Connectors with tolerances adequate for connecting non-PM fibers usually are inadequate for maintaining polarization alignment at the connector junction.
Typical PM connector requirements are an insertion loss of less than 0.3 dB, and the prior art PM connector arrangements comprise numerous, different connector configurations aimed at meeting these requirements for different connectors, such as an SC type connector as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,733 of Ryo Nagase et al. The connector of that patent comprises a ferrule body and a ring shaped flange having a keyway mounted on the periphery of the ferrule body. Alignment is achieved by rotating the ferrule body with respect to the flange keyway. The combination of ferrule and flange comprises a plug which is inserted into a push-pull SC connector having a key therein for mating with the flange keyway and springs bias the flange in the longitudinal direction to maintain the alignment.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,458 of Horowitz, a splice joint for PM fibers is shown wherein aligned fibers are joined with UV curing epoxy, and the joint is overlaid with epoxy cement for rigidity. Such a joint is permanent, and does not function as a connect-disconnect optical fiber connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,726 of Yao discloses an apparatus for controlling the polarization state of the light within a fiber by squeezing a portion of the fiber to produce a birefringent fiber, and the squeezer is then rotated to change the polarization of the light within the fiber. The device is not a connector, but is intended for use with polarization sensitive devices such as interferometers and electro-optic modulators, however, it may also be used with connectors for connecting two PM fibers.
It is common practice in the prior art for creating PM fibers to include a pair of rods in the fiber cladding which extend parallel to the core as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,436 of Howard et al. Such rods, which are preferably of glass, are, in manufacture of the fiber, included in the fiber preform from which the fiber is drawn. As the fiber is drawn, the rods are accordingly diminished in diameter and are located within the cladding, preferably on either side of the core. The rods have different thermal expansion characteristics than the surrounding glass, and the stress they exert on the core causes the index of refraction to change along that axis. The axes then have different indices of refraction value and thus propagate light at different speeds. Variations on the two rod arrangement are also known, such as the elliptical stress member disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,683 of Michal et al. Also, squeezing the fiber to create birefringence, as shown in the aforementioned Yao patent is feasible. The two rod PM fiber, so called xe2x80x9cPandaxe2x80x9d type PM fiber, however, has proven quite satisfactory in use, and it is toward the connectorization of such a fiber that the present invention is directed, although other types of PM fibers may be used with the present invention.
In the copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/151,613 of Lampert, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,856 of Lampert, et al, are shown, respectively, a PM connector plug and an adapter therefor the principles of which are applicable to any of a large number of optical fiber connectors, but are embodied in a modified LC connector in those applications. For optimum performance, i.e., maximum transmission of a polarized beam, it is highly desirable to provide accurate rotational positioning of better than xc2x11xc2x0 or even as accurate a  less than xc2xcxc2x0 between connectors equipped with polarization maintaining fibers.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for tuning the PM connectors of those applications to achieve this desideratum.
When a PM jumper cable, for example, is terminated by connectors, it is most desirable that the cable/connector combination be tuned to align the fiber slow axis with the connector key which serves as a reference point. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tuning apparatus for performing the tuning method of the invention which yields extremely accurate rotational positioning of the connectors.
The apparatus, which is similar to that shown in TIA/ETA Standard FOTP-193, comprises a first assembly including a coupling stage comprising a light source, and a polarizer interposed between first and second connector adapters and connector plugs. A second assembly having a second coupling stage, spaced from the first coupling stage comprises a connector adapter (the second coupling stage), a power meter, the output of which is connected to a PC, and another polarizer (or analyzer). Both polarizer and analyzer can be rotated to any angle and controlled by a rotation controller connected to the PC. In use, a jumper cable, for example, terminated by connector plugs, is inserted into the adapters in the first and second coupling stages, and the polarizer in the first stage is rotated to match the slow polarization axis of the connector, determined by the increased power reading. Linear polarized light is then launched into the slow axis of the PM fiber. The analyzer in the second stage is rotated and the output power varies between maximum and minimum, as indicated by the power meter. As will be discussed hereinafter, the crosstalk in dB is calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum power.
The tuning of the PM connector is to set the PM fiber slow axis to correspond to the key position of the connector, which preferably is the connector latch or latching arm. Therefore, two joined PM jumpers can have the same slow axis alignment according to key position to minimize crosstalk due to misalignment. Once the polarization direction of the analyzer is aligned to the connector key which can be regarded as a master position, the tuning process can easily be done by matching the fiber slow axis to the analyzer direction as indicated by output light power. In order to align the analyzer to the key or master position, a pair of PM jumper cables are connected to each other and to the first and second stages, and the crosstalk of the connection is then measured, and one connector is tuned for the lowest crosstalk in the connection of two jumpers.
One of the jumpers is then moved and the other is connected between the first and second stages. The angle of the maximum output is defined as zero degrees. By measuring the crosstalk, the analyzer can be aligned to the slow axis of the fiber and the analyzer position is recorded. The one jumper is then removed and the second is connected between the stages and the analyzer is also aligned to the second jumper""s slow axis which generally will occur at a different angle than that of the one jumper.
The position of the key will be midway between the two angles and the analyzer is rotated to the master position and thus the ferrules of the connectors are rotated to this value, which is designated as zero. At this point the slow wave orientation of the connectors is parallel to the connector key, and the connector of the PM jumpers are optimally lined. With the master analyzer position thus determined, subsequent alignment of connectors becomes a single rotation of the ferrules to conform.
With the connector plug and adapter of the aforementioned Lampert, et al applications, the ferrules of the connector plug are maintained, with very slight possibility of variation, in the optimum tuned position.

Polarization maintaining optical fiber connector and method of tuning (PM connector)


An end-of-arm tool is described and includes an outer sheet and an inner sheet. The end-of-arm tool may be reinforced with a backing plate attached to the inner sheet and a front plate attached to the outer sheet. The end-of-arm tool may also include spacers to provide structure and rigidity to the end-of-arm tool at passages configured for the installation of workpiece interface tools, for example, spring plungers.

The present disclosure relates generally to an end-of-arm tool for use on a robot, and more particularly, to a lightweight end-of-arm tool useful for packing glass sheets at faster cycle times.
Conventional end-of-arm tools for use with a robot are adjustable and designed to accommodate different work piece configurations. Such adjustable tools, however, are complicated and typically heavy. Thus, a robot handling such complicated, heavy tools is subjected to increased wear resulting in reduced life and lost production. There exists a need for an improved, lightweight end-of-arm tool that would reduce such wear on the robot. An advantage to such a lightweight tool is a decrease in cycle times. Furthermore, as modern glass sheets become larger and thinner, a lightweight end-of-arm tool must also become larger and still provide the support that modern glass sheets require while maintaining a lightweight capability and reduction in wear.


Aspects of the present invention provide an approach for aurally delivering environmental visual information. In an embodiment, a set of images that is within the field of view of the user is captured from a video capture device worn by the user. Environmental text that is within the set of images is identified. An aural contextual indicator that corresponds to the environmental text is then generated. This aural contextual indicator indicates the informational nature of the environmental text. This aural contextual indicator is forwarded to the user via an aural device worn by the user accompanied by, in some embodiments, a vocalization of the content of the environmental text.

In the modern environment of today, a large amount of information is delivered through written communications. These written communications can include street signs, location indicators, alerts, billboard advertisements, scrolling information tickers, and/or the like. Generally, this type of environmental visual information allows for efficient delivery of information to a large number of people in an area. However, this delivery solution breaks down if the intended recipient is unable to read the visual information located in the environment. For example, the intended recipient may be visually impaired. Alternatively, the intended recipient may be illiterate, may not understand the language, etc.
For example, with respect to people who are visually impaired, there currently exist mechanisms for them to be able to read at close range (e.g., Braille); however these only deliver information to the person when the person is in direct contact. As such, visually impaired people frequently live without the knowledge of what is around them. They may recognize things when they hear or touch them, but they are currently unable to recognize environmental visual information—on the streets, malls, restaurants, beach, parks, etc., that are based on text signs or signs with particular symbols on them to deliver descriptions or alerts—unless someone else reads it to them.

Aural delivery of environmental visual information

International Business Machines Corporation


An implant for a human includes a body having a superior surface, an inferior surface, a distal surface, and a proximal surface. The proximal surface is configured to engage the talus and the calcaneus of an adult human, and the distal surface configured to engage at least the first and fourth metatarsals of the adult human. The distal surface has a largest distal height and a largest distal width that is greater than the largest distal height, and the proximal surface has a largest proximal height and a largest proximal width that is greater than the largest proximal height.

Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CN), commonly referred to as the Charcot foot, is a condition causing weakening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have significant nerve damage (neuropathy). More particularly, Charcot foot is commonly found in diabetic patients, with between 1 and 5 percent of diabetic patients developing Charcot foot, though this number may be higher due to Charcot foot frequently going undiagnosed. The weakening of the midfoot bones causes dislocations and fractures in the midfoot bones. Left untreated, Charcot foot can result in the foot developing a rocker-bottom shape, which can cause severe health complications and potentially require amputation of the foot.
Currently there are a number of solutions for fixating and fusing bones of the midfoot to assist in bone healing and repair of Charcot foot. Some of these solutions attempt to repair midfoot bones by fixating implants or devices and bones to one another or to the calcaneus or talus, or to fixate or fuse bones by means of external fixation. However, fixing the bones to one another or externally fixating the bones requires subsequent surgical interventions to add and/or remove additional hardware, can cause patient emotional and physical decline, and require prolonged recovery periods. Moreover, such methods are reliant on the bone quality or sustainability of the structures of the midfoot, which may be compromised or deteriorate due to progression of the Charcot foot disease. In addition, conventional internal or external fixation surgeries are very costly and may be avoided by patients due to the cost, insurance and/or patient cost load, extensive procedure and recovery time, liability concerns, and poor outcomes.
Another solution to Charcot foot is to attempt to fixate some of the midfoot bones to bones of the hindfoot or forefoot. However, fixating bones to the hindfoot or forefoot still rely on the diseased bones and/or joints to maintain sufficient bone quality for fixation, often require subsequent surgeries with prolonged recovery periods, and can also be very costly for the patient, insurance provider, surgeons, and the hospitals.
Moreover, the known surgical remedies for Charcot foot are often unsuccessful, and may result in irreparable damage to the midfoot region and the adjacent bones, which requires amputation of the foot. Amputation, however, often results in the patient's health deteriorating due to surgical complications or the inability of the patient to engage in physical activity after amputation of the foot, with studies showing a 73% 5-year mortality rate after diabetic foot amputation.
What is needed, therefore, is a device that can improve patient outcomes, increase the stability of feet impacted by Charcot foot, reduce the number and length of surgical procedures to treat Charcot foot, and reduce the cost of treating Charcot foot.


A transformer apparatus provides a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is divided into multiple primary winding layers. Each primary winding layer includes a number of primary layer turns. The secondary winding includes several secondary winding layers. In some embodiments, the transformer includes alternating primary and secondary winding layers wound around a bobbin structure. At least one secondary winding layer is positioned adjacent a primary winding layer. In some embodiments, the number of primary layer turns in each primary winding layer is equal to the total number of primary winding turns divided by the number of primary winding layers. A method of winding a transformer is also provided.

The present invention relates generally to magnetic circuit components, such as transformers and inductors. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods for reducing leakage inductance in magnetic components.
Power converters are used in a variety of applications in electronic devices such as lighting ballasts and drivers for high voltage lamps. Historically, conventional high voltage power converters can include an isolated transformer. In some applications such as flyback transformers and traditional or modified buck-boost type power converters, the isolated transformer can act as a bridge between primary and secondary circuits. In some applications, the primary circuit includes a voltage source and can be referred to as an input circuit, and the secondary circuit includes a device to be powered and can be referred to as an output circuit. The secondary circuit can also be coupled to a device to be powered by the power converter. Conventional transformers of this type can be used in high voltage applications where the transformer acts as a step-up or step-down transformer and can include a rectifier or an inverter. In some conventional applications, transformers of this type are used for increasing an input voltage to a much higher output voltage. For example, conventional plasma lamp power supplies and high voltage ballasts for other types of conventional lighting driver circuits include isolated transformers.
One problem associated with conventional power converters that utilize isolated transformers is leakage inductance. Leakage inductance can occur when the windings in the primary and secondary transformer coils are either improperly positioned, improperly insulated, or make improper contact. Other defects in one or more windings, in the bobbin structure, or in the inter-layer insulation can also cause leakage inductance. Conventional transformers known in the art are particularly susceptible to leakage inductance because of their winding configurations. The effects of leakage inductance can include reduced magnetic flux between primary and secondary coils and inefficient power regulation in high voltage applications. Leakage inductance also causes power loss and can reduce transformer efficiency.
Because an isolated transformer is generally formed between the input and output circuits in some conventional power supplies, managing leakage inductance is important for maximizing power conversion efficiency and for providing proper power regulation to the output circuit. For example, if the leakage inductance is too high in a flyback converter, switching transitions are slowed down, energy is lost, and in some applications a high voltage ring can occur when the main switch is turned off, causing a large voltage stress on the switch and an undesirable power loss. Such stress can cause a switch to fail or can permanently damage other circuit components.
Others have attempted to solve the problems associated with leakage inductance in high voltage power converters, switching power supplies, and specifically in flyback converters and flyback transformers, by splitting the primary and secondary windings into discrete insulated layers and interleaving the layers. The conventional layer interleaving technique mitigates leakage inductance in some applications. However, in other applications, especially where the number of primary turns is greater than the number of secondary turns, or vice versa, conventional interleaving configurations become impractical and do not adequately control leakage inductance.

Reduced leakage inductance transformer and winding methods


Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wind turbine and a method of operating thereof. The wind turbine includes a central rod comprising an electrical coil and at least one rotating assembly configured to rotate around the central rod. The rotating assembly includes a wheel and a plurality of airfoils disposed around a perimeter of the wheel. The wind turbine also includes a magnet coupled to the at least one rotating assembly and configured to rotate around the central rod.

Wind-based electricity generation has grown dramatically over the last decade, with the pace of growth accelerating over the last few years. Wind serves as an alternative to more conventional electricity generation sources such as coal, gas, and nuclear. Wind turbines can convert wind energy, to mechanical energy, to electrical energy. Some traditional models of wind turbines include three blades that rotate on a horizontal axis. These turbines and others have various disadvantages, including noise and undesirable overall efficiency.

Wind turbine having multiple power generating elements


Electronic elements that include a weak current source are configured to enable different selected levels of weak current to be delivered to a circuit. A control input is connected to the electronic element to receive control signals that specify a selected level of weak current. The identities and the timing of the control signals are determined by signals delivered through a scan register.

This invention relates to weak current generation.
Weak current generation plays a part, for example, in a weak write test mode (WWTM) for static random access memories (SRAMs). The WWTM uses test circuitry that attempts to overwrite data stored in cells of an SRAM. Cells in which the data is successfully overwritten are considered to be defective. (See Weak Write Test mode: A SRAM Cell Stability Design for Test Technique, IEEE Intentional Test Conference, July 1997, incorporated by reference).
As shown in FIG. 1, an SRAM column, for example, can be driven by an SRAM column write driver 10. Driver 10 uses conventional inverters 16, 18 (comprised of devices 20, 22, 26, 28) to invert, respectively, input signal din 24 to produce bit #12 and input signal din #30 to produce bit 14.
In normal operation, a weak write control signal weak #32 is held high (logic 1), keeping p-device 34 on and (through inverter 38) p-device 36 off. n-device 40 is also kept on.
Driver 10 is placed into WWTM mode by driving weak #32 low, which switches device 34 on and device 36 off. Device 40 also turns off. Diode-connected transistor 44 then supplies a weak write current onto either bit 12 or bit #14, depending on which of the inputs din or din # is on. By a xe2x80x9cweakxe2x80x9d current we mean a current in the range of tens of nano-amperes to a few micro amperes.
The diode-connected transistor 44 is carefully sized using SPICE simulations, but mismatches can occur between the simulation and the related physical device (e.g., a fabricated chip).
Multiple diodes can be stacked to obtain different current values.


A solar cell assembly, a solar cell array, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The solar cell assembly may include a solar cell and an interconnection member, the interconnection member comprising a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion with an angle formed therebetween. The solar cell array may comprise at least two said solar cell assemblies. In an embodiment, the top surfaces of the first solar cell and the second solar cell are arranged such that the second portion of the first interconnect member and the second portion of the second interconnection member are adjacent to each other, and at least the end portion of the second portion of the first interconnection member is bended together with at least the end portion of the second portion of the second interconnection member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solar cell assembly, solar cell panel, and method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, solar cells have been widely used in various fields and applications. For example, solar cell assembly and solar cell array which include one or more solar cells can be applied in communication devices, electric/electronic appliances, industrial facilities, and military and aerospace applications.
For increasing the total power amount of the solar cell array, it is a possible way to increase the numbers of the solar cells in a unit area. For example, an aerospace craft (satellite, aerospace station, aerospace telescope, or the like) may have very limited area (for example, solar wings) to mount solar cells or solar cell array thereon. Thus, density of solar cells would be a particularly important aspect for aerospace applications.
On the other hand, reliability becomes a critical issue especially for aerospace applications because it is very hard, if not impossible, and costly to repair, replace, or even maintain the solar cell array mounted on an aerospace craft.
Further, since the solar wings of aerospace craft generally are folded or curled/rolled when the aerospace craft is launched into the space by a rocket or a space shuttle, it is advantageous if the aspect ratio of the solar cell array can be reduced to minimum. In other words, it is desirable to reduce the height of the solar cell array.
In addition, an aerospace craft, on which the solar cell assembly or array is mounted, generally operates in an aerospace environment in which there is no air circumference to block the space particle rays (cosmic rays). In such applications, a tip on the solar cell array may possibly cause electrical spark discharging in an aerospace environment, for example, due to the cosmic rays.

Solar cell assembly, solar cell panel, and method for manufacturing the same


The present invention provides certain [3.1.0] bicyclic oxazolidinone derivatives of formula I

Due to ever-increasing antibiotic resistance, structurally novel antibacterials with a new mode of action have become increasingly important in the treatment of bacterial infections. Effective antibacterials should exhibit potent activity against a number of human and veterinary pathogens, including gram-positive aerobic bacteria such as multiply-resistant staphylococci and streptococci, anaerobic organisms such as bacteroides and clostridia species, and acid-fast organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium. The present invention provides structurally novel pharmaceutical compounds with expanded spectrum of antibacterial activity.
Among newer antibacterial agents, oxazolidinone compounds are the most recent synthetic class of antimicrobials active against a number of pathogenic microorganisms. However, oxazolidinones generally do not demonstrate useful levels of activity against aerobic gram-negative organisms. Thus, the use of these oxazolidinone antibacterial agents is limited to infectious states caused by gram-positive bacteria. We have now discovered that [3.1.0] bicyclohexylphenyl oxazolidinone derivatives and analogues of the present invention possess enhanced anti-gram-positive activity and/or expand the spectrum of antimicrobial activity to include gram-negative organisms such as Haemophilus influenza and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Antimicrobial [3.1.0] bicyclohexylphenyl-oxazolidinone derivatives and analogues

Abstract: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof that are antibacterial agents, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their use, and methods for preparing these compounds.


A system for providing transducer(s) including a disk structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The disk structure resides a distance from the ABS and has a disk dimension substantially perpendicular to the ABS. Lapping control and disk windage ELGs are provided. The lapping control ELG has first and second edges first and second distances from the ABS. The disk windage ELG has edges different distances from the ABS. A difference between these edges corresponds to the disk dimension. A windage resistance of the disk windage ELG is measured and a disk windage determined. The disk windage corresponds to a difference between designed and actual disk dimensions perpendicular to the ABS. A lapping ELG target resistance is determined based on the disk windage. The transducer is lapped. Lapping is terminated based on a resistance of the lapping control ELG and the lapping ELG target resistance.

Conventional magnetic heads typically employ lapping to fabricate structures within the head. In order to control lapping an electronic lapping guide (ELG) is typically used. FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a conventional ELG 10. The conventional ELG 10 is essentially a resistive stripe. Thus, the conventional ELG 10 is coupled with pads/leads 14 and 16 that are used to provide electrical connection to the conventional ELG 10. Using the pads/leads 14 and 16 the resistance of the conventional ELG 10 may be determined. The conventional ELG has a length l from the surface 12 being lapped. As lapping continues, the surface 12 is worn away, and the length of the conventional ELG 10 decreases. As the length is reduced, the resistance of the conventional ELG 10 increases. Using the resistance of the conventional ELG 10, it can be determined when lapping should be terminated.
For example, energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer is typically lapped during fabrication. A conventional EAMR transducer includes not only magnetic components, such as poles, coils, and shields, but also energy-delivery components. An EAMR transducer may include optical components gratings, waveguides and near-field transducers (NFTs). FIG. 2 depicts a portion of a conventional NFT 20. A conventional NFT 20 typically includes a disk portion 22 and a pin portion 24. The disk portion 22 is wider in the direction parallel to the air-bearing surface (ABS) than the pin portion 24. Lapping may be used to control the length, l, of the pin portion 24 of the NFT, as well as other lengths such as the throat length of the pole (not shown in FIG. 2).
FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a conventional method 30 for performing lapping using the conventional ELG 10. The lapping performed in the method 30 may be used in fabricating the conventional NFT 20. The resistance of the conventional ELG 10 is measured during lapping of the transducer, via step 32. The current length of the conventional ELG 10 is determined based upon the resistance measured in step 32 and the sheet resistance of the conventional ELG 10, via step 34. Thus, after step 34, the length corresponding to a particular measured resistance for the conventional ELG 10 is known. Alternatively, step 34 could simply convert a desired length of the pin portion 24 to an ELG length and the ELG length to a desired target resistance of the conventional ELG 10.
The lapping is terminated when the resistance of the conventional ELG 10 indicates that the desired length or target resistance of the conventional ELG 10 has been reached, via step 36. Because the conventional ELG 10 and structure, such as a read sensor or pole, both exist on the transducer being lapped, the lengths of the conventional ELG 10 and the structure change with lapping. Consequently, the lengths of the read sensor or pole may also be set in step 36.
Although the conventional method 30 and conventional ELG 10 function, the desired length of the NFT may not be easily controlled to the desired length. The dimensions of the conventional NFT 20 are desired to be carefully controlled. For example, the distance between the disk portion 22 of the NFT 20 and the ABS (i.e. the length of the pin portion 24) is desired to be closely controlled. Such control may be difficult to achieve using conventional manufacturing and lapping methods. Thus, fabrication of the conventional EAMR transducer may be challenging.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved method for providing and using an ELG in a magnetic transducer such as an EAMR transducer.

System for adjusting lapping of a transducer using a disk windage


A viewing apparatus having a photographing function includes a viewing system including a viewing optical system, the viewing optical system having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system; and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object image viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently of the viewing optical system. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms, which operate independently from each other, for changing both absolute positions of the first lens group and the second lens group and a relative position of the first lens group and the second lens group on an optical axis of the photographing optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a viewing apparatus which includes a viewing optical system (e.g., a viewing optical system of a telescope or a binocular) and a photographing optical system for photographing an object viewed through the viewing optical system, wherein a distant object can be viewed through the viewing optical system, and recorded as image data at the same time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Telescopes and binoculars are known as viewing apparatuses for viewing distant objects. However, such conventional viewing apparatuses do not have a function of recording object images which are viewed therethrough. Although there have been various proposals of combining a viewing apparatus such as a telescope or a binocular with a camera to achieve such an image recording function, none of these proposals are practical for ordinary users due to, for example, an unavoidable increase in size of the viewing apparatus.
The ideal magnification of a binocular for general use is approximately seven times (xc3x977). This degree of magnification is advantageous for viewing a distant object closely with a decreased influence in hand shake. Nevertheless, the field of view of a binocular corresponds to that viewed through a long-focus telephoto lens system of over 300 mm attached to a 35 mm camera. Accordingly, if the function of recording an image viewed through a binocular is achieved simply by combining a typical binocular with a conventional camera, the system becomes bulky.
In addition, the photographing lens system of such a multi-function viewing apparatus is required to have a high optical performance if high-resolution object images are to be recorded. This inevitably increases the number of lens elements to thereby increase the cost of production and the weight of the entire optical system.
In such a multi-function viewing apparatus, to maintain adequate operability as a viewing apparatus, it is desirable for the focusing mechanism of the photographing optical system to operate in association with the focusing operation of the binocular. However, in a long-focus telephoto lens system such as the aforementioned long-focus telephoto lens system having a focal length of over 300 mm, it is impossible to achieve a focusing operation with a sufficient degree of accuracy simply by the focusing mechanism of the photographing optical system operating in association with the focusing operation of the binocular since such a long-focus telephoto lens system is required to be focused on viewing objects with a high degree of accuracy.
In a focusing operation of a viewing apparatus, it is normally the case that a user visually finds a sharp focal point on an object image while manually operating the apparatus. However, vision varies greatly between individuals, and accordingly, the focal point varies greatly between individuals.
The present invention provides a viewing optical system having both a distant-object viewing function and a distant-object image recording function with a low cost of production without increasing the size of the optical system, and further provides such a viewing optical system which achieves easy operability in a focusing operation.
As an aspect of the invention, a viewing apparatus having a photographing function is provided, including a viewing system having a viewing optical system, the viewing optical system having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system; and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently of the viewing optical system. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms, which operate independently from each other, for changing both absolute positions of the first lens group and the second lens group and a relative position of the first lens group and the second lens group on an optical axis of the photographing optical system.
It is desirable for the first lens group and the second lens group to be arranged in that order from an object, the two focusing mechanisms moving the first lens group and the second lens group along the optical axis independent of each other to shift an image of the object to a predetermined point. It is also desirable for the following conditions (1) and (2) to be satisfied:
0.1 less than ft/f0 less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (1)
0.4 less than |TI/TII| less than 2.5xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (2)
wherein
xe2x80x9cftxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system,
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the positive objective optical system of the viewing optical system,
xe2x80x9cTrxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the first lens group necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to a finite object distance, and
xe2x80x9cTIIxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the second lens group necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to the finite object distance.
It is desirable for the eyepiece optical system to have a positive power, wherein the following condition (3) is satisfied:
5 less than f0/fexe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (3)
wherein
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system, and
xe2x80x9cfexe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the eyepiece optical system of the viewing optical system.
The reason why the viewing optical system can be prevented from increasing in size while satisfying conditions (1) through (3) (even though the focal length of the photographing optical system in particular is shortened) is that digital cameras using an image pick-up device (e.g., CCD) instead of conventional cameras using a silver-halide film have become popularized in recent years. The scale of integration of the CDD has increased rapidly; the size of the image plane (picture plane) of a typical CCD is approximately one tenth of the size of a conventional 35 mm film frame. Moreover, even if the focusing mechanism of the photographing optical system operates in association with the focusing mechanism of the viewing optical system, a sufficiently high focusing sensitivity can be obtained by making the focal length of the photographing lens system shorter than the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system. Furthermore, providing the viewing optical system with a focus system for independently moving the first and second lens groups along the optical axis to shift an image focal point of an image of a viewing object to a given point makes it possible to correct deviation of the focal point set by a manual operation of the user with an auxiliary device such as an autofocus system.
The viewing system can include a first focusing mechanism for moving at least one optical element of the viewing optical system along the optical axis to shift an object image formed by the photographing optical system to a given point to focus the viewing system on the object, a second focusing mechanism for moving one of the first lens group and the second lens group to shift an image formed by the photographing optical system, and an association mechanism which interconnects the first focusing mechanism with the second focusing mechanism to allow the first focusing mechanism to operate in association with the second focusing mechanism.
The viewing system can include a telescope, wherein the eyepiece optical system has positive power, and wherein an image formed through the positive objective optical system is viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system.
As another aspect of the invention, a viewing apparatus having a photographing function is provided, including a viewing system having a pair of viewing optical systems, each of the pair of viewing optical systems having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system; and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object image viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independent of the pair of viewing optical systems. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms, which operate independently from each other, for changing both absolute positions of the first lens group and the second lens group and a relative position of the first lens group and the second lens group on an optical axis of the photographing optical system.
It is desirable for the optical axis of the photographing optical system to be provided between two optical axes of the pair of viewing optical systems Furthermore, the photographing system can include an image pick-up device, an object image being focused on the image pick-up device through the photographing optical system to be recorded as image data.
A Petzval lens system is known as an optical system used as a telephoto lens system. A Petzval lens system includes a positive first lens group and a positive second lens group, wherein each of the first and second lens groups is constituted by a positive lens element and a negative lens element. The Petzval lens system is often used as a telephoto lens system since a preferable optical performance is obtained with a relatively less number of optical elements.
Accordingly, it is desirable that the Petzval lens system serve as the photographing optical system. Namely, it is desirable for the photographing optical system to include a positive first lens group having a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a positive second lens group having a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and wherein the following condition (4) is satisfied:
0.15 less than DI-II/f less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (4)
wherein
xe2x80x9cDI-IIxe2x80x9d represents the space between the first lens group and the second lens groups when an object at infinity is in an in-focus state, and
xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system.
It is desirable for the following conditions (5) and (6) to be satisfied:
1 less than ACI/ACIIxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (5)
20 less than xcexdIp/xcexdInxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (6)
wherein
xe2x80x9cACIxe2x80x9d represents the sum of the absolute values of the reciprocals of the products of the focal length of each lens element and Abbe numbers thereof (|1/(fi*xcexdi)|)in the first lens group,
xe2x80x9cACIIxe2x80x9d represents the sum of the absolute values of the reciprocals of the products of the focal length of each lens element and Abbe numbers thereof (|1/(fi*xcexdi)|) in the second lens group,
xe2x80x9cxcexdIpxe2x80x9d represents Abbe number of the positive lens element of the first lens group, and
xe2x80x9cxcexdInxe2x80x9d represents Abbe number of the negative lens element of the first lens group.
The positive lens element of the first lens group and the negative lens element of the first lens group can be cemented to each other.
It is desirable for the first lens group and the second lens group to be arranged in that order from an object; wherein one of the two focusing mechanisms moves the photographing optical system along the optical axis, wherein the other of the two focusing mechanisms moves the first lens group independently, and the following conditions (7) and (8) are satisfied:
0.1 less than ft/f0 less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (7)
0.2 less than |TA/TI| less than 1.5xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (8)
wherein
xe2x80x9cftxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system,
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system,
xe2x80x9cTAxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the photographing optical system necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to a finite object distance, and
xe2x80x9cTIxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the first lens group necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to the finite object distance.
It is desirable for the eyepiece optical system to have a positive power, and wherein the following condition (9) is satisfied:
5 less than f0/fexe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (9)
wherein
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system, and
xe2x80x9cfexe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the eyepiece optical system of the viewing optical system.
The viewing apparatus can include a first focusing mechanism for moving at least one optical element of the viewing optical system along the optical axis in accordance with a variation of an object distance to shift an image of the object image to a predetermined point to focus the viewing system on the object, a second focusing mechanism for moving one of the photographing optical system and the first lens group, and an association mechanism which interconnects the first focusing mechanism with the second focusing mechanism to allow the first focusing mechanism to operate in association with the second focusing mechanism.
The viewing system can include as a telescope, wherein the eyepiece optical system has a positive power, and wherein an image formed through the positive objective optical system is viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system.
As another aspect of the invention, a viewing apparatus having a photographing function is provided, including a viewing system having a pair of viewing optical systems, each of the pair of viewing optical systems having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system, and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently from the pair of viewing optical systems. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group, in that order from an object. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms which operate independently from each other. One of the two focusing mechanisms moves the photographing optical system along the optical axis, and the other of the two focusing mechanisms moves the first lens group along the optical axis independently. Furthermore, the following conditions (7) and (8) are satisfied:
xe2x80x830.1 less than ft/f0 less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (7)
0.2 less than |TA/TI| less than 1.5xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (8)
wherein
xe2x80x9cftxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system,
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system,
xe2x80x9cTAxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the photographing optical system necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to a finite object distance, and
xe2x80x9cTIxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the first lens group necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to the finite object distance.
It is desirable for the optical axis of the photographing optical system to be provided between two optical axes of the pair of viewing optical systems.
Furthermore, the photographing system can include an image pick-up device, an object image being focused on the image pick-up device through the photographing optical system to be recorded as image data.
The photographing optical system can include a positive first lens group having a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a positive second lens group having a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and wherein the following condition (10) is satisfied:
0.15 less than DI-II/f less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (10)
wherein
xe2x80x9cDI-IIxe2x80x9d represents the space between the first lens group and the second lens groups when an object at infinity is in an in-focus state, and
xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system.
It is desirable for the following conditions (11) and (12) to be satisfied:
1 less than ACI/ACIIxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (11)
20 less than xcexdIp/xcexdInxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (12)
wherein
xe2x80x9cACIxe2x80x9d represents the sum of the absolute values of the reciprocals of the products of the focal length of each lens element and Abbe numbers thereof (|1/(fi*xcexdi)|)in the first lens group,
xe2x80x9cACIIxe2x80x9d represents the sum of the absolute values of the reciprocals of the products of the focal length of each lens element and Abbe numbers thereof (|1/(fi*xcexdi)|) in the second lens group,
xe2x80x9cxcexdIpxe2x80x9d represents Abbe number of the positive lens element of the first lens group, and
xe2x80x9cxcexdInxe2x80x9d represents Abbe number of the negative lens element of the first lens group.
The positive lens element of the first lens group and the negative lens element of the first lens group can be cemented to each other.
It is desirable for the first lens group and the second lens group to be arranged in that order from an object, wherein one of the two focusing mechanisms moves the photographing optical system along the optical axis, and the other of the two focusing mechanisms moves the second lens group along the optical axis independently. The following conditions (13) and (14) are satisfied:
0.1 less than ft/f0 less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (13)
0.2 less than |TA/TII| less than 1.5xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (14)
wherein
xe2x80x9cftxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system,
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system,
xe2x80x9cTAxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the photographing optical system necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to a finite object distance, and
xe2x80x9cTIIxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the second lens group necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to the finite object distance.
The eyepiece optical system can have a positive power, wherein the following condition (15) is satisfied:
5 less than f0/fcxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (15)
wherein
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system, and
xe2x80x9cfexe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the eyepiece optical system of the viewing optical system.
The viewing apparatus can include a first focusing mechanism for moving at least one optical element of the viewing optical system along the optical axis in accordance with a variation of an object distance to shift an image of the object to a given point; a second focusing mechanism for moving one of the photographing optical system and the second lens group; and an association mechanism which interconnects the first focusing mechanism with the second focusing mechanism to allow the first focusing mechanism to operate in association with the second focusing mechanism.
The viewing system can serve as a telescope, wherein the eyepiece optical system has a positive power, and wherein an image formed through the positive objective optical system is viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system.
As a further aspect of the invention, a viewing apparatus having a photographing function is provided, including a viewing system having a pair of viewing optical systems, each of the pair of viewing optical systems having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system, and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object image viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently from the pair of viewing optical systems. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group in that order from the object. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms which operate independently from each other. One of the two focusing mechanisms moves the photographing optical system along the optical axis, and the other of the two focusing mechanisms moves the second lens group along the optical axis independently. The following conditions (13) and (14) are satisfied:
0.1 less than ft/f0 less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (13)
0.2 less than |TA/TII| less than 1.5xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (14)
wherein
xe2x80x9cftxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system,
xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the objective optical system of the viewing optical system,
xe2x80x9cTAxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the photographing optical system necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to a finite object distance, and
xe2x80x9cTIIxe2x80x9d represents the traveling distance of the second lens group necessary for achieving focus from an infinite distance to the finite object distance.
It is desirable for the optical axis of the photographing optical system to be provided between two optical axes of the pair of viewing optical systems.
Furthermore, the photographing system can include an image pick-up device, an object image being focused on the image pick-up device through the photographing optical system to be recorded as image data.
The photographing optical system can include a positive first lens group including a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a positive second lens group including a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and wherein the following condition (16) is satisfied:
0.15 less than DI-II/f less than 0.7xe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (16)
wherein
xe2x80x9cDI-IIxe2x80x9d represents the space between the first lens group and the second lens groups when an object at infinity is in an in-focus state, and
xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d represents the focal length of the photographing optical system.
It is desirable for the following conditions (17) and (18) to be satisfied:
1 less than ACI/ACIIxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (17)
20 less than xcexdIp/xcexdInxe2x80x83xe2x80x83. . . (18)
wherein
xe2x80x9cACIxe2x80x9d represents the sum of the absolute values of the reciprocals of the products of the focal length of each lens element and Abbe numbers thereof (|1/(fi*xcexdi)|)in the first lens group,
xe2x80x9cACIIxe2x80x9d represents the sum of the absolute values of the reciprocals of the products of the focal length of each lens element and Abbe numbers thereof (|1/(fi*xcexdi)|) in the second lens group,
xe2x80x9cxcexdIpxe2x80x9d represents Abbe number of the positive lens element of the first lens group, and
xe2x80x9cxcexdInxe2x80x9d represents Abbe number of the negative lens element of the first lens group.
The positive lens element of the first lens group and the negative lens element of the first lens group can be cemented to each other.
As a further aspect of the invention, a viewing apparatus is provided, including a binocular optical system including a pair of viewing optical systems, each of the pair of viewing optical systems having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system, and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently from the pair of viewing optical systems. The photographing optical system includes a first movable lens group and a second movable lens group. The photographing system can include two focusing mechanisms, which operate independently from each other, for changing both absolute positions of the first lens group and the second lens group and a relative position of the first lens group and the second lens group on an optical axis of the photographing optical system. One of the two focusing mechanisms is interconnected with, and operates in association with, a manual focusing mechanism of the binocular optical system, and the other of the two focusing mechanisms includes an autofocus system.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-301870 (filed on Sep. 28, 2001) which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety.

Viewing apparatus having a photographing system


A tape cassette is arranged to have its size reduced by arranging its tape reels to have a small flange diameter and by arranging a partition wall located opposite to a cassette aperture part across the tape reels to be close to the tape reels. A casing of the tape cassette is composed of two bodies including a first body which is disposed on the side of the aperture part, and a second body which is disposed on the side of the partition wall and is arranged to be movable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape cassette which contains a tape-shaped recording medium to be used by a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing image or sound information by means of a rotary head drum which is provided with a head or heads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reduction in sizes of camera-integrated type video tape recorders or the like has made rapid progress of late. However, the size of the tape cassette and the diameter of the rotary head drum are laying limits to the possible reduction in size of the mechanism of a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as the VTR).
Therefore, in the case of the VTR of the kind adopting the VHS system, a compact tape cassette which is arranged for short-time recording and is called "VHS-C" is developed so as to reduce the size of the mechanism with the reduced size of the tape cassette. The compact tape cassette VHS-C is arranged to require the use of a cassette adapter. The arrangement, however, presents the following problems:
(1) In loading the compact tape cassette on a VTR arranged for a standard cassette, it is necessary to use the cassette adapter which is expensive. The user of the VTR is required to purchase the cassette adapter and is forced to do the troublesome work of inserting and taking the compact tape cassette into and out of the cassette adapter.
(2) In attaching the compact tape cassette to the cassette adapter, the structural arrangement of a front lid of the compact tape cassette is greatly restricted and is not provided with a locking mechanism for the front lid. This is because the compact tape cassette is not allowed to protrude from the cassette adapter with the front lid thereof left in an open state.
As to a reduction in size of a VTR of the 8 mm type, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. SHO 60-171684 has disclosed an arrangement which is as follows: FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings is an oblique view showing the reverse side appearance of a short-time recording cassette 30 to be used by the VTR. The short-time recording cassette 30 is arranged to have a wider aperture part 39 on its bottom side 30' than the aperture part 5 of a standard cassette 1 which is shown in FIG. 1, while the outside dimensions of the cassette 30 are the same as the standard cassette 1. To make the aperture part 39 wider, the flange diameters of reels 31 and 32 are reduced by shortening the recordable time of the tape-shaped recording medium. The aperture part 39 is thus widened to allow the mechanism of the VTR to be placed within the outside dimensions of the cassette.
The above-stated arrangement eliminates the shortcomings of the method of using the cassette adapter. However, this arrangement has the following shortcomings:
(1) In order to attain the advantageous effect of the arrangement, the mechanism, particularly the rotary head drum, must be arranged to enter the tape cassette at a position below the upper end of the cassette. This requirement then causes the thickness of the mechanism to increase as a whole. Further, the arrangement limits the latitude of a tape path and also tends to result in a complex mechanism.
(2) The short-time recording cassette has about the same outside shape as the standard cassette. Therefore, the user tends to mistake the former for the latter. To prevent the mistake, the VTR must be arranged to have different loading positions for both the standard cassette and the short-time recording cassette.
As described by way of example in the foregoing, the prior art arrangements for reducing the size of the tape cassette have been hardly satisfactory.


Apparatus and methodology for the low coupling of optical fibers in high power applications. An end of a single mode optical fiber, or a polarization maintaining fiber, is cut and spliced to a relatively short segment of an index matched multi-mode fiber or an optical fiber without cladding (air cladded) having approximately similar diameter as the single mode fiber which in turn is coupled to the external device. The free end of the multi-mode fiber may be cleaved, polished and have an anti-reflection applied to it. The beam emitted by the small core of the single mode optical fiber expands into the larger core of the multi-mode fiber providing low loss high power coupling of the optical fiber to the external device.

This application relates to optical fibers, and more specifically to apparatus and methodology for the efficient coupling of optical fibers in high power applications.
High power performance of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers is increasingly being required for a wide variety of applications and operating optical powers have increased enormously in recent years. Components used in these products are generally based on passive micro-optical parts assembled by attaching optical fibers (polarization maintaining fibers or single mode fibers) to them through input and output lenses. Such components, originally designed for low power applications (typically in the mW range), are now required to operate at powers ranging from several watts to kW levels. These components are not designed for, and cannot reliably operate at, such high optical intensities. Many of the passive optical components used in these products require polished fiber ends, radiating into the air directly from the polished (or cleaved) fiber tip, through an anti-reflection (AR) coating directly deposited on the polished (or cleaved) fiber tip, or using an anti-reflection coated plate epoxied on the fiber tip (by way of example: a glass plate, previously anti-reflection coated, mounted to the end of the fiber with an index matching epoxy).
At these fiber tip junctions, the optical intensities are at their highest (reaching many GW/cm2), easily exceeding the maximum allowable damage levels of the bare fiber tip, the direct anti-reflection coating or anti-reflection plate bonding epoxy. Therefore, these points represent the weakest points in the transmission path and are likely to be damaged with the exposure to high optical power.
At present, there are two ways to reduce the optical intensity at the fiber tips in such situations. Firstly, by fusion splicing the optical fibers directly to the lenses, and secondly by means of locally expanding the fiber core by excessive localized thermal heating. The first solution has the drawback that the lens needs to match the index of the fiber perfectly (to reduce undesirable and problematic back reflections), resulting in limitations in choice of lens and lens performance. The fiber also needs to be placed exactly in the focus of the lens for optimum optical coupling, requiring tight tolerances in lens lengths and fiber to lens positioning. The process is also tedious and not cost effective.
The second solution has the drawback that the area over which the core is being expanded is relatively short, thus requiring great care when polishing or cleaving the fiber end, to avoid shortening the length over which the core is expanded. Shortening the length over which the core is expanded will reduce the size of the expanded beam, resulting in less than optimal reduction of the optical intensity. This process may also not be compatible with polarization maintaining fibers (PMF) because the severe thermal treatment will also deleteriously affect or destroy the internal stress originally induced and frozen into the polarization maintaining fiber thus severely reducing the polarization maintaining properties of the fiber. Furthermore, the fiber cores on both sides of the device need to be matched in mode size, and therefore also in the length over which the core is expanded, in order to optimize optical coupling.

Expanding single mode fiber mode field for high power applications by fusion with multimode fiber


A tapping valve having a housing which can be electrically welded to a pipe and which includes a connection piece (2) with a drill (24) therein for drilling the pipe. The connection piece has an inner surface (34). The drill or a bushing (70) in which the drill can be moved axially by a threaded connection (74, 76; 80, 82) is provided with an external thread which engages the inner surface of the connection piece. Inner surface (34) is constructed such that it is initially cylindrical adjacent the external thread (32) and an inner thread can be formed in the inner surface (34) using the external thread (32) by rotating the drill (24) or the thread (70) in an axially forward direction (30). The tapping valve is easy to manufacture and yet offers a high degree of functional reliability.

The present invention relates to a tapping valve comprising a housing which can be connected to a pipe and a connection piece with a drill arranged therein for tapping the pipe.
Friedel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,964 (=EP 572,817) discloses a tapping valve including a housing which can be connected to a pipe, particularly by welding. The housing of the valve and the pipe are preferably made of a weldable plastic, particularly polyethylene. A saddle of the housing includes a heating coil for electric welding. The housing further comprises a connection piece in which a metal guide sleeve is integrated, particularly by injection molding. Along its outer surface, the guide sleeve has ribs, pins or the like to secure it rotationally and axially in the plastic material of the connection piece. The guide sleeve is provided with an internal thread for a drill whose external thread engages this internal thread. After the valve and the pipe have been joined together, the guide sleeve makes it possible to drill a hole into the pipe. Furthermore, a branch socket to connect a branch conduit is coupled to the connection piece. This valve makes it possible to tap a pipe under pressure, i.e., without having to block the medium flowing through the pipe, particularly water or gas. The normal pressure in water supply networks can be as high as 16 bar and in gas supply networks 10 bar.
Louthan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,742 discloses a plastic tapping valve, which does not include a guide sleeve for the drill. The drill is screwed directly into an internal thread of the connection piece. The internal thread is formed in the connection piece after production or injection molding of the plastic housing, and the drill is subsequently screwed into the internal thread, which extends over the entire length of the connection piece. Tapping of pipes under pressure is not readily possible with such a tapping valve, since after tapping, the flowing medium under pressure can inadvertently escape through the thread area between drill and connection piece due to manufacturing tolerances. If the specified tolerances are too tight, substantial torques will be required to carry out the tapping, so that there is a possibility of damage to the tapping valve or even the pipe.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tapping valve.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tapping valve which assures a high degree of functional reliability without adding a lot of structural complexity.
A further object of the invention is to provide a functionally reliable tapping valve which can be manufactured at low material and production cost.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure tapping valve which enables pipes to be tapped under pressure without any problem.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a tapping valve which requires only a low torque to tap the pipe.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tapping valve which assures a high degree of functional reliability.
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a tapping valve comprising a housing which can be connected to a pipe, and a connection piece with a drill arranged therein for tapping the pipe, wherein the connection piece has an initially cylindrical inner surface, and the drill or a sleeve in which the drill can be moved axially by a threaded connection, has an external thread which engages the inner surface of the connection piece, and rotation of the drill or sleeve in a forward direction causes the external thread on the drill or sleeve to form an internal thread in the inner surface of the connection piece.
The tapping valve according to the invention is distinguished by its simple, functionally suitable structure. It permits tapping of a pipe with a high degree of functional reliability, including the tapping of pipes under pressure. The drill, or a sleeve that is provided to guide the drill, has a self-cutting thread, which during the tapping process directly cuts or presses into the otherwise cylindrical interior surface of the connection piece. The flanks of the thread are configured with an acute angle to facilitate penetration into the inner surface of the connection piece. The plastic thus displaced flows into the root of the thread where it provides a seal. The penetration depth of the flanks of the thread into the inner surface of the connection piece is selected so as to ensure an automatic seal against the medium under pressure underneath the drill.
At the front end of the thread, in the direction of forward movement, the external thread diameter is specified to be larger by a predetermined amount than the diameter along the rest of the thread. Thus, the front end of the thread causes an increased displacement of plastic, particularly polyethylene, compared to the rest of the thread area, which is significantly longer. This substantially reduces the torque required to screw the thread into the plastic since the long thread area with the smaller diameter, compared to the front thread area, easily passes through the thread that has previously been cut or pressed into the plastic of the inner surface of the connection piece by the larger diameter front thread area.
Compared to tapping valves that contain a prefabricated thread in the inner surface of the connection piece, manufacturing tolerances are practically insignificant, and a reliable seal is ensured between the external thread of the drill or the sleeve and the thread that is produced in the inner surface of the connection piece as the drill or sleeve is screwed in. When the drill or sleeve is reversed, its external thread automatically finds the previously created thread in the inner surface of the connection piece, so that the drill or sleeve can return to the desired end position while still being reliably sealed.
In one advantageous embodiment, the drill or the sleeve which receives the drill is directly integrated into the connection piece during production of the tapping valve. It is particularly preferred to integrate the drill or sleeve into the connection piece by injection molding. The inner surface of the connection piece into which the thread is later to be cut is cylindrical. Thus, the inner surface of the connection piece comprises an integrated thread area corresponding to the thread of the drill or the sleeve.
During tapping by the drill, or during rotation of the sleeve, the drill or sleeve is screwed out of the molded thread area of the connection piece, also referred to as a mandrel, into the cylindrical inner area of the connection piece. According to the invention, the driving thread is cut in this area. The displaced plastic material is compressed into the thread flanks and is formed into a thread. As the drill or sleeve is reversed, the thread flanks again cut into the precut thread profile in the inner surface of the connection piece and compress the plastic material in the flanks. This ensures a reliable seal even during reverse motion.
The thread geometry according to the invention prevents chip formation, which would normally result in a metric ISO or fine-pitch thread. It should be noted that in a tapping valve, chip formation during or after the tapping process or rotation of the sleeve is not acceptable, as it would contaminate the pipe network. Advantageously, in the forward movement direction, in front of the first thread area with the enlarged thread diameter, there is a thread inlet area in which the diameter of the xe2x80x9cthread toothxe2x80x9d increases continuously starting from the thread root diameter of the drill or sleeve, until the outside diameter of the first area is reached. Consequently, there is no cutting edge or the like, which would lead to an undesired chip-forming removal of plastic.
The thread inlet area extends over a predetermined circumferential angle, preferably at least 90xc2x0, and advantageously at least 180xc2x0. Advantageously, the thread inlet at maximum extends up to a circumferential angle of 360xc2x0, preferably up to 180xc2x0.
The thread is initially cut into the cylindrical inner surface of the connection piece or mandrel by means of the first thread area, and after being formed is compressed in the subsequent turns of the second thread area. According to the invention, the plastic thus displaced is compressed in the thread flanks and is formed as a thread in the inner surface of the connection piece. This achieves an economically efficient production of the tapping valve overall and ensures the sealing function as the drill or sleeve is moved while subjected to the pressure of the medium flowing through the tapped pipe after the pipe has been tapped.
Further aspects and preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, systems, and software for assessing contaminant quantities in a fluid. Fluid enters a reaction chamber. A controller then signals two different sheets with different reagents to move into the reaction chamber. One sheet contains reagents to form a contaminant byproduct or gas, while the other sheet is saturated with reagent that will have a photometric effect upon reacting with the contaminant byproduct or gas. After the photometric effect has occurred, the controller moves the reacted portion of the other reagent sheet into alignment with a photometric sensor. This photometric effect is calculated to contaminant concentration. The concentration is recorded and the data is transmitted to memory. The fluid sample in the chamber is drained and the remaining solid waste is collected onto the first reagent sheet. Both sheets are individually collected into separate controllable collectors.

Access to clean water can often evade even those in the developed world. More than 783 million people around the world suffer because of contamination of their water supply. For example, arsenic is a toxic substance due to its threat to human health and the high likelihood of being exposed. Over 140 million people have arsenic contamination in their water supplies. Prolonged arsenic poisoning has been linked to various cancers, reproductive disorders, dermatological problems and more. Technological advances can play a vital role in addressing this and other water contamination issues.
By detecting contaminants at 'point of source', toxic exposures can be avoided and sources of contamination can be identified and mitigated in a timelier manner. Thus, there is a need for enhancing field test methods as well as creating automatic 'on the tap' monitors for consistent, rapid, and affordable data collection of contaminants in drinking water.


The present application is directed to a medical instrument with a hollow shaft, a handle arranged at the proximal end of the shaft and a tool tip with a tool arranged at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the tool can be actuated via an actuating element mounted in the shaft, the element being in an operative connection with the handle and the tool tip being pivotable relative to the shaft via a joint mechanism, the joint mechanism having pivoting members, wherein inside the hollow shaft at least one guide device is arranged for the steering wires connecting the pivoting members to the drive. In order that the steering wires can be installed easily and without crossing, the at least one guide device is arranged coaxially on the actuating element, and the at least one a guide device is mounted on the actuating element so that it cannot rotate.

Pivoting members with three, four or more external steering wires/steering cables for bendable medical instruments are known in practice for hand-held and/or robotic instruments. For a sensitive control of the distal end of such a medical instrument, many thin steering wires/steering cables have proven to be more advantageous than a few thicker steering wires/steering cables since, among other things, a more even distribution of force can be achieved in all directions of deflection, and, moreover, thinner steering wires/steering cables allow for more space in the interior for electrical cables and the like.
A medical instrument with pivoting members controlled via steering wires/steering cables is known, for example, from US 2013/0218141 A1.
In addition to the advantages mentioned, the use of many thin steering wires/steering cables also has the disadvantage that the assembly is made significantly more difficult because it is very difficult to thread all steering wires/steering cables together through the hollow shaft tube in a crossing-free and sorted manner from the distal direction through the hollow shaft tube.
WO 2004/052171 A2 discloses a generic medical instrument with guide devices for the steering wires arranged in the interior of the shaft. This known design is very complicated to handle and manufacture.


A method for transforming a scalar sub-query to join with non-provable singleton output, responsive to receiving a parsed representation of a statement, containing a scalar operation, which is correlated to predetermined types of objects, by analyzing the parsed representation to determine eligibility for transformation of any scalar operations. Responsive to a determination of eligibility, a query engine injects additional processing into the parsed representation to defer checking of a 1 row condition required by statement semantics. The query engine further injects processing to utilize a result of the additional processing to validate a single row is produced for each GROUPING/PARTITION key. The parsed representation is modified to remove the 1 row condition. The query engine decorrelates the parsed representation using a predetermined method absent a requirement for a unique key to be present in a predicate of the scalar operation.

The present invention relates generally to decorrelation techniques used in a relational database management system, and more specifically, to extending a decorrelation technique for a scalar subquery to a join in a relational database management system.
Database management systems (DBMSs) are used to organize and manage large amounts of information. The data stored in databases is normally structured into records with predetermined fields. These fields identify the information in the records, and are normally organized into tables having rows and columns such that a query may be executed by a DBMS and the DBMS may generate a query response having query-satisfying information retrieved from the row(s) and column(s) associated with the tables.
A DBMS is an executable program stored on a data processing system. As is known to those skilled in the art, such a data processing system may include different hardware and software combinations. Users may access tabled information stored within a database which is operatively coupled to the DBMS by way of a user interface using, for example, a structured query language (SQL) or an XQuery and the like.
A given query or statement may be parsed and compiled by a compiler contained within the DBMS, and as a result of compiling the given query the DBMS generates executable code, which may be used for retrieving query-satisfying data, which may satisfy the requirements of the given query or statement. Typically, the DBMS may include a user command processor for processing user commands, such as queries, and executing such user commands against the database. Data processing system usable medium may contain executable code for directing the DBMS to perform algorithms related to operations of the DBMS. The data processing system usable medium may also store the database.
One way to manipulate and access a data collection stored within the database is to use a query, such as an SQL query. SQL queries may be of varying structure and complexity. Many such queries however, are often structured to utilize query predicates, which cannot be evaluated until execution of the SQL query at runtime. A query predicate is generally known as an element of a search value that expresses or implies a comparison operation. In effect, a predicate specifies a condition about a row of data or group of data to be manipulated by a SQL query.
In relational database systems, decorrelation techniques have become commonplace, and are in wide use in the industry. These techniques allow for removal of dependencies in processing order and open up a wider set of access plan and optimization choices. In columnar database systems, such techniques have become even more important due to lack of indexes and requirements faster data access.
A correlated subquery is a subquery for which processing depends on the data values from other parts of a SQL statement outside a scope of the subquery, referred to as an outer query block. The subquery is evaluated for each row of the outer query block.
Decorrelation is a process used to remove a dependency on the outer query, which allows for a large set of data to be read and processed and typically leads to substantially higher performance than without the application of decorrelation.
A scalar subquery is a subquery that is guaranteed to produce a single data value. Subqueries and/or scalar subqueries may be present in either a predicate context or an output expression context. When a result of more than one value is generated then a SQL error must be produced.
A typical approach to optimization of correlated SQL queries in a relational database management system implements decorrelation to achieve faster query processing. However, a requirement of the implementations uses an extra set of joins, which as a result, have performance and optimization limitations because the data typically needs to be read twice or preserved in a temp table.
In another typical approach, involving the transforming of correlated scalar subqueries there is a requirement for the presence of a uniqueness constraint, for example, a primary key, or a unique key, to be able to prove in advance that the output of the subquery will be a singleton. This requirement is a constraint that imposes significant limitations for the applicability of prior work to a relatively small set of SQL queries.
There is a need to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned optimization techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Methods for creating a data structure for a dynamic web page that is associated with an account are provided. The methods include providing a setup form for a data structure associated with the account, wherein the data structure includes at least one data format and at least one field. Additionally, the methods can include receiving a data structure name for the data structure, receiving at least one field name related to the at least one field, and receiving at least one data format related to the data in the at least one field.

As the Internet has become more mainstream, Internet patrons have become more demanding of the web sites they visit. While Internet patrons once were satisfied with static web pages that provide only textual information, now web sites are expected to provide much more. As more information is demanded from a web site and as market competition on the Internet has increased, web site owners have responded by providing dynamic web pages that include not only text, but also pictures, video, and other data on their web sites.
While this configuration can cause inefficiency in developing web sites, another problem that can result is the inefficiency in the management of the dynamic data on a web site. When an advertiser (web site owner) provides an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other entity with a desired web site format and included data, the advertiser generally expects that the data can change over time. As a nonlimiting example, an automobile dealer who owns a web site will generally expect that the inventory will change. Therefore, to remain current, the data on the web site will also likely change.
One implementation of a web site with dynamic data includes a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script that provides the dynamic data. The CGI can receive a request from an Internet user and provide the desired information. The web site can include a database for the customer and have the CGI access the data when the web page is requested. A web site developer can create such a web site, however when creating multiple web sites, the web site developer (or web site designer) can encounter any of a number of problems, including efficiency issues with regard to creation and management of each web site.
There are presently various ways to remedy these problems. First, the web developer can customize an application and database for the web site. This usually takes a lot of time and includes a significant increase in programming that is generally not reusable between web sites. Another option is to build a generic system that can work for many web sites. A problem with this approach is that the data usually does not have the same flow as the other pages on the web site. Additionally a generic system also generally has limited customization. Field names are frequently generic names and the database can handle only certain types of data. Regardless of which implementation is utilized, an on-staff Database Administrator (DBA) is normally desired to manage data that is being displayed. A developmental team including a DBA, CGI programmer, and a web designer is generally desired to build a tool for an advertiser to dynamically update a web site. Since the data in the web site is changing, the presentation of the data may also change, and therefor the Web designer can be consulted by the advertiser to change the HTML code associated with the web site to facilitate the change in data. In fact, significant changes such as adding a new field to the database could require the efforts of the entire team to implement. Inefficiencies in this process can become costly for the advertiser.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.


A coated conductor has a conductor and a covering disposed over the conductor. The covering is made, at least in part, from a thermoplastic composition. The thermoplastic composition has a poly(arylene ether); a polyolefin, a block copolymer; and flame retardant.

Automotive electrical wire located under the hood in the engine compartment has traditionally been insulated with a single layer of high temperature insulation disposed over an uncoated copper conductor. Thermoplastic polyesters, cross-linked polyethylene and halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride have long filled the need for the high temperature insulation needed in this challenging environment that requires heat resistance, chemical resistance, flame retardance, and flexibility.
Thermoplastic polyester insulation layers, with outstanding resistance to gas and oil, are mechanically tough and resistant to copper catalyzed degradation but can fail prematurely due to hydrolysis. The insulation layers in thermoplastic polyester insulated electrical wires have also been found to crack when exposed to hot salty water and have failed when subjected to humidity temperature cycling.
There is an increasing desire to reduce or eliminate the use of halogenated resins in coverings. In fact, many countries are beginning to mandate a decrease in the use of halogenated materials. However, as much of the wire coating extrusion equipment was created based upon the specifications of halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride, it is desired that replacement materials be capable of being processed in manners similar to polyvinyl chloride.
Cross-linked polyethylene has largely been successful in providing high temperature insulation but this success may be difficult to sustain as the requirements for automotive electrical wire evolve. The amount of wiring in automobiles has increased exponentially, as more electronics are being used in modern vehicles. The dramatic increase in wiring has motivated automobile manufacturers to reduce overall wire diameter by specifying reduced insulation layer thicknesses and specifying smaller conductor sizes. For example, ISO 6722 specifies, for a conductor having a cross sectional area of 2.5 square millimeters, that the thin wall insulation thickness be 0.35 millimeters and the ultra thin wall insulation thickness be 0.25 millimeters.
The reductions in insulation wall thickness pose difficulties when using crosslinked polyethylene. For crosslinked polyethylene the thinner insulation layer thickness results in shorter thermal life, when aged at oven temperatures between 150° C. and 180° C. This limits their thermal rating. For example, an electrical wire having a copper conductor with an adjacent crosslinked polyethylene insulation layer having a 0.75 millimeter wall thickness is flexible and the insulation layer does not crack when bent around a mandrel after being exposed to 150° C. for 3,000 hours. But a similar electrical wire having a crosslinked polyethylene insulation layer with a 0.25 millimeter wall thickness the insulation layer becomes brittle after being exposed to 150° C. for 3,000 hours. The deleterious effects created by these extremely thin wall requirements have been attributed to copper catalyzed degradation, which is widely recognized as a problem in the industry.
It is possible to coat the copper core with, e.g., tin in order to prevent the copper from contacting the crosslinked polyethylene but the additional cost of the coating material and the coating process are expensive. In addition, many automotive specifications require that the copper conductor be uncoated. It is also possible to add stabilizers, also known as metal deactivators, to the insulation material but it is recognized that stabilizers yield only partial protection for electrical wire having thin wall thicknesses.
It has been proposed to employ bilayer or trilayer insulation materials wherein a protective resin based layer is disposed between the crosslinked polyethylene and the copper conductor. However, manufacture of bilayer and trilayer insulation materials is complex, requires increased capital expenditure and the multilayer material presents new issues of inter layer adhesion.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for electrical wires having a halogen free covering that are useful in the automotive environment.

Thermoplastic composition, coated conductor, and methods for making and testing the same