LAN device and tools can be connected only by optical fiber cables without providing a space for additional LAN devices and tools and changing an electric connector interface of the LAN devices and tools already established. Heat radiation produced in a connector can be effectively discharged and electromagnetic wave can be prevented from radiating to an exterior of the connector

The present invention relates to an optical active connector plug for local area network (hereinafter, it is referred as xe2x80x9cLANxe2x80x9d) and its connector port. Particularly, the present invention relates to an optical active connector plug in a type of a modular plug having eight wires and eight wires/contacts (hereinafter, it is referred as xe2x80x9chaving eight wires/contactsxe2x80x9d) and its connector port, and specified ones of the four pairs of plug contacts, wherein an optical signal can be transmitted between LAN devices without converting electric interface of the modular plug having eight contacts of the LAN device and means for converting electric signals and optical signals is provided in an inside of a connector case.
It has been well known Ethernet type interconnects at speeds of up to 10 Mb/s and Fast Ethernet type interconnects at speeds of up to 100 Mb/s as a signal standard for transmitting signals between LAN devices, that is, between a respective terminal and a respective hub and between a respective patch panel and a hub, in a workstation and a personal computer in a LAN system.
In the LAN system satisfying the above standard, a high speed data transmission cable typically comprising four circuits defined by eight wires arranged in four twisted pairs or coaxial cable are connected between LAN device.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional connection between LAN devices constituting a LAN system. FIG. 2 shows a condition how a terminal of a personal computer (herein after, it is referred as xe2x80x9cterminalxe2x80x9d) is connected to a corresponding hub.
At both ends of the connection, a terminal 201 and a hub 202 are connected by an electric cable of which the both ends has modular plug type electric connectors 203 and 204 having eight wires, respectively, wherein the modular plug type electric connector 203 having eight wires is connected to an electric connector port 271 of the terminal 201 and the modular plug type electric connector 204 having eight wires is connected to an electric connector port (not shown) of the hub 202.
It is necessary for the hub 202 to be supplied from a battery source. Therefore, a power source cord 235 is provided.
Under the condition, electric signals can be transmitted between the terminal and the hub.
However, in the structure as shown in FIG. 2, it is difficult to transmit a signal for a long distance in accordance with characteristics of its electric cable. The maximum transmitting distance would be about 100 m.
For example, in the case of providing a LAN system in an office building, there would be some problems in view of providing a cable arrangement freely if the maximum transmitting distance should be designed within 100 m.
As one of the methods to resolve the above described subject, there is a method for employing an electric signal amplifier called as a repeater at a portion between a terminal and a hub as shown in FIG. 3.
That is, a terminal 301 and a repeater 313 are connected by an electric cable 307 of which each end has modular plug type electric connectors 303 and 305 having eight wires/contacts, respectively. The modular plug type electric connector 303 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port (not shown) of the terminal 301 and the modular plug type electric connector 305 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port (not shown) of the repeater 313.
Likewise, a hub 302 and repeater 313 are connected by an electric cable 308 of which each end has modular plug type electric connectors 304 and 306 having eight wires/contacts, respectively. The modular plug type electric connector 304 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port 372 of the hub 302 and the modular plug type electric connector 306 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port 373 of the repeater 313.
With respect to the hub 302 and the repeater 313, it is necessary to provide an external power source. Therefore, power source cords 335, 330 are provided for the hub 302 and the repeater 313, respectively.
Further, if a signal transmitting distance is long, a repeater is inserted every 100 m in the case of the fast Ethernet signal. In such a case, the repeater is connected in such a manner as described above.
In the structure as shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to provide a space for an additional repeater. It is a demerit in view of constructing a free-design LAN system.
In the structures as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, electromagnetic noise occurred in areas such as a factory and other places is apt to be baneful and be influential to an electric cable such that signals cannot be transmitted stably.
On the other hand, in an area such as a hospital, where electromagnetic noise should be shut, noise caused by an electric cable would cause malfunction of medical devices.
To resolve the problem in the LAN system as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, instead of the repeater (s), a pair of media converters for converting an electric signal and an optical signal are provided between a terminal and a hub. By connecting an optical fiber cable between the pair of the media converters, a signal transmitting distance is remarkably improved.
FIG. 4 shows a LAN connecting condition between a terminal and a hub employing the media converters.
A terminal 401 and a media converter 410 are connected by an electric cable 407 of which each end has modular plug type electric connectors 403 and 405 having eight wires/contacts, respectively. The modular plug type electric connector 403 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port (not shown) of the terminal 401 and the modular plug type electric connector 405 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port 473 of the media converter.
Likewise, a hub 402 and a media converter 411 are connected by an electric cable 408 of which each end has modular plug type electric connectors 404 and 406 having eight wires/contacts, respectively. The modular plug type electric connector 404 having eight wires/contacts is inserted into an electric connector port 472 of the hub 402 and the modular plug type electric connector 406 having eight wires/contacts is inserted in to an electric connector port 474 of the media converter 411.
With respect to the hub 402 and the media converters 410 and 411, it is necessary to provide an external power source. Therefore, battery source cords 435, 436, and 437 are provided for the hub 402 and the media converters 410 and 411, respectively.
The media converters 410 and 411 are connected by an optical fiber cable 412 of which each end has optical connectors 420 and 421, respectively. The optical connector 420 is inserted into the optical connector port 477 of the media converter 410 and the optical connector 421 is inserted into the optical connector port 478 of the media converter 411.
Under the foregoing structure, an electric signal is transmitted between a terminal and the media converter, an optical signal is transmitted between the two media converters and an electric signal is transmitted between the media converter and the hub. If the length of the electric cable is very short, a signal transmitting distance can be remarkably extended by an optical fiber cable for a long distance.
However, in the structure as shown in FIG. 4, it is necessary to provide a space for an additional media converter. It is a demerit in view of providing a free-designed LAN system.
Regarding a power source, it is necessary to provide a special power source cord for each media converter.
Further, even if the length of an electric cable is very short, a problem caused by electromagnetic noise cannot be resolved.
To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a modular plug type optical active connector plug having eight wires/contacts and its connector port with a simple power source, wherein LAN devices are connected by only optical fiber cables without providing a space for an additional LAN device and changing electric connector interface in the LAN devices already established and heat is effectively radiated in an inside of connectors and electromagnetic can be prevented from radiating to an exterior of the connectors.
An optical active connector plug for LAN may comprise an electric connector interface for transmitting/receiving an electric signal, an optical interface capable for transmitting/receiving the electric signal, an optical sub-module capable of converting the electric signal and the optical signal, an electrical circuit capable of driving, amplifying, and identifying the signals and a connector case for installing a wiring board on which the optical sub-module and the electrical circuits are mounted.
An optical active connector plug for LAN may comprise a modular plug type electric connector interface having eight wires/contacts wherein electrode terminals are formed to transmit/receive an electric signal, a receptacle for the optical interface, an optical sub-module having an optical element, the optical sub-module capable for converting the electric signal and an optical signal, an optical connector inserted into the receptacle, an electrical circuit electrically connected to the module, the electrical circuit for driving, amplifying, and identifying the signals and a connector case for installing a wiring board on which the optical sub-module and the electrical circuit are mounted, the wherein the connector case includes a metal piece covering the optical sub-module and a part of the wiring board, connected to a heat radiation via-hole provided on one surface of the wiring board and an uneven surface is partly provided on another surface of the metal piece opposite to the surface.
An optical active connector plug for LAN may comprise a modular plug type electric connector interface having eight wires/contacts wherein electrode terminals are formed to transmit/receive an electric signal, a pigtail for an optical interface, an optical sub-module having an optical element, the optical sub-module capable for converting the electric signal and an optical signal, an electrical circuit electrically connected to the module, the electrical circuit for driving, amplifying, and identifying the signals; and a connector case for installing a wiring board on which the optical sub-module and the electrical circuit are mounted, wherein the connector case includes a metal piece covering the optical sub-module and a part of the wiring board, connected to a heat radiation via-hole provided on one surface of the wiring board and an uneven surf,ace is partly provided on another surface of the metal piece opposite to the surface.
In the optical active connector plug for LAN, the wiring board may include at least one power supply pin of which a front end is protruded from the connector case.
In the optical active connector plug for LAN, battery power is supplied to the electrical circuits through the electrode terminal.
In the active connector plug for LAN, a battery supply element is fixed at a portion surrounding with the connector port and the battery supply pin and the battery supply element are contacted to supply power by adapting the electric interface.
In the optical active connector plug for LAN, the interface is a connector port adapted through a battery supply board and the battery supply pin contacts the battery supply element by adapting the electrical interface to supply power and the battery supply board is mechanically held.
By employing an optical active connector plug in accordance with the present invention, it is unnecessary to provide a space for additional LAN devices and tools. The LAN devices can be connected by only optical fibers without changing an electric connector interface of the LAN devices already established. Heat produced in a connector can be effectively radiated, electromagnetic radiation is prevented from radiating to an exterior of the connector and a supply battery source can be simplified.

Optical active connector plug for LAN and its connector port

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


An apparatus for controlling an operating speed of an electrically controlled device including an electrically operated member. The apparatus includes an error signal generator for generating an error signal indicative of an error between an actual and a target value of the operating speed, a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal, a comparator for generating an output signal based on a result of comparison between the error and reference signals, and an energy control device for controlling an energy supplied to the electrically controlled device by controlling the duty cycle of an electric current applied to the electrically operated member such that the energy varies with the output signal of the comparator. A device is provided for changing the reference signal depending upon a load currently applied to the electrically controlled device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus adapted to control an operating speed of an electrically controlled device including an electrically operated member such as an electric motor, by controlling the duty cycle of an electric current to be applied to the electrically operated member.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In various fields of art using an electrically controlled device which includes an electrically operated member, it is usually required to control the electrically operated member so as to maintain the operating speed of the electrically controlled device exactly at a desired or target value, irrespective of a variation in the operating conditions such as a load applied to the electrically controlled device, a line voltage used, and the ambient temperature. To this end, there is widely used a speed control apparatus for controlling the operating speed of the electrically controlled device, by regulating the duty cycle of an electric current to be applied to the electrically operated member. Generally, such a speed control apparatus includes (a) an error signal generator for generating an error signal indicative of an error between an actual and a target value of the operating speed of an electrically controlled device which includes an electrically operated member, (b) a reference signal generator for generating reference signal, (c) a comparator connected to the error and reference signal generators, for comparing the received error and reference signals with each other and thereby generating an output signal according to a result of the comparison, and (d) an energy control device connected between the comparator and the electrically operated member, for controlling an energy to be supplied to the electrically controlled device, by applying an electric current to the electrically operated member such that the duty cycle of the current is changed according to the output signal of the comparator.
An example of such a speed control device is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) device or pulse-duration modulation (PDM) device used for controlling a DC motor as an electrically operated member used in a certain electrically controlled device. This pulse-width or pulse-duration modulation device generally uses a triangle generator as the reference signal generator, and uses a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit as part of the error signal generator. The triangle generator generates a reference signal having a triangular waveform. The PLL circuit receives an output signal of a rotary encoder disposed to detect the operating speed of the DC motor, and an output signal of an oscillator, and generates an output signal indicative of a difference between the frequencies of the output signals of the rotary encoder and oscillator. In this arrangement, the operating speed of the DC motor may be maintained at a desired level if the frequency of the oscillator is held constant, or controlled to a desired level if the frequency of the oscillator can be changed as desired.
The electrically controlled device whose speed is controlled by the speed control apparatus in question is not limited to an electrically operated device which includes an electrically operated member such as an electric motor. The speed control apparatus is equally applicable to any electrically controlled device which is driven by an energy other than an electric energy. For example, the apparatus is applicable to a hydraulically operated device such as a hydraulic cylinder, which is electrically controlled by a solenoid-operated valve or valves for regulating a hydraulic pressure or a rate of flow of a working fluid in the hydraulic system. In this case, the energy supplied to the hydraulic cylinder is controlled by regulating the hydraulic pressure or fluid flow rate, and the operating speed of the hydraulic cylinder can be controlled by regulating the duty cycle of an electric current to be applied to the solenoid-operated valve or valves, i.e., the electrically operated member.
The known duty cycle control apparatus as described above is not capable of sufficiently accurately controlling the operating speed of an electrically controlled device, where the load to be applied to the device is changed over a wide range. To assure exact regulation of the operating speed to a desired level, the duty cycle of an electric current to be applied to an electrically operated member of the device should be controlled over a range which corresponds to a possible range of variation in the load to be applied to the device. Namely, the range of regulation of the duty cycle should be commensurate with the range of variation of the load. However, it is difficult to maintain the optimum operating characteristics of the components of the speed control apparatus over the entire range of variation of the duty cycle if this range is considerably wide. Accordingly, where the load varies over a relatively wide range, the known speed control apparatus is not sufficiently reliable to assure accurate regulation of the operating speed of the electrically controlled device by regulating the duty cycle of an electric current to be applied to the electrically operated member.
In view of the above drawback of the known speed control apparatus, the mass or moment of inertia of the electrically controlled device is increased to reduce the range of variation of the load to be applied to the device and thereby improve the speed control accuracy by regulation of the duty cycle of the electrically operated member. However, this solution gives rise to an increase in the cost of manufacture of the electrically controlled device.

Speed control apparatus having means for changing reference signal for error signal, depending upon load applied to controlled device


A motion sickness prevention eyewear presents a demarcation line in a field of view in a lens assembly. The demarcation line varies relative to the orientation of the eyewear to present a visual depiction corresponding to a natural horizon. The eyewear includes at least lens assembly that has an interior cavity defined between an inner lens, an outer lens, and a sidewall defined to join the lenses around the periphery of the lens assembly. A volume of liquid is carried in the interior cavity. The volume if liquid is responsive to changes in the orientation of the eyewear relative to the horizon.

The present invention relates to motion sickness, and more particularly to eyewear for reducing the incidence of motion sickness.
Motion sickness can be debilitating to travelers in land vehicles, water vessels, and aircraft. Often, motion sickness can be triggered by the victim losing a visual reference for the horizon while the craft they are traveling in is moving.
Other devices require technically difficult implementations to try to provide a visual reference for the horizon. These other devices, typically an attitude indicator, are generally incorporated in the control station of the craft for use by a crewmember responsible for operation of the craft, rather than for occupants of the craft. Accordingly, these systems would be expensive and difficult to provide for individual use.
As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus and method for reducing the incidence of motion sickness for a traveling occupant of a craft.


This application is directed to detecting touch events on a touch sensing surface coupled to a capacitive sense array and one or more force sensors. The capacitive sense array includes a plurality of sense electrodes configured to provide a plurality of capacitive sense signals. The force electrodes are configured to provide one or more force signals. In accordance with the capacitive sense signals, one or more candidate touches are detected on the touch sensing surface, and the detected candidate touches include a first candidate touch. When it is determined that force associated with the one or more force signals is associated with a grip on an edge area of the touch sensing surface, the first candidate touch is associated with the grip on the edge area of the touch sensing surface, and is designated as an invalid touch.

Touch screens that utilize capacitive sense arrays are widely applied in today's industrial and consumer product markets. Capacitive sense arrays can be found in cellular phones, GPS devices, set-top boxes, cameras, computer screens, MP3 players, digital tablets, and the like, replacing mechanical buttons, knobs, and other conventional user interface controls. A capacitive sense array is often disposed below a touch sensing surface of a touch screen, and includes an array of capacitive sense elements. Capacitances of these capacitive sense elements vary when an object (e.g., a finger, a hand, a stylus, or another object) comes into contact with or hovers above the touch sensing surface. A processing device coupled to the capacitive sense array then measures the capacitances of the capacitive sense elements and/or identifies capacitance variations of the capacitive sense elements for determining a touch or presence of the object associated with the touch sensing surface. The use of the capacitive sense array has offered a convenient and reliable user interface solution that is feasible under many harsh conditions, so capacitive sense arrays made of capacitive sense elements have been widely used in many industrial and consumer products.
Under some circumstances, touch locations cannot be determined from the capacitive sense arrays effectively and efficiently when one or more unwanted factors are involved in touch detection. For example, water present on the touch sensing surface can interfere with touch signals associated with normal touches. Finger temperature may also compromise touch signals associated with a touch of a finger. In some situations, false touches need to be suppressed when a user holds a touch sensing surface with a grip on or near an edge of the touch sensing surface or when touch signals are corrupted by noise. New touch sensing devices that overcome the detrimental impact from some or all of these unwanted factors are desirable.

Suppression of grip-related signals using 3D touch


A glazing adhesive product comprising a thermoplastic polyester material having trapped gas bubbles dispersed therein whereby the product has surface pores to provide a suction effect. Also provided is a method of installing/removing vehicle glazing.

The present invention relates to an adhesive for use in sealing together two surfaces, for use especially in the glazing industry in general and in securing vehicle windscreens and/or windows. The invention also provides a method of use for installing and/or replacing vehicle windscreens and/or other fixed glazing on vehicles.
Typically to install a window pane in a wooden/plastic/metal frame, the glass pane is firstly held in position against nails or other clasps and then fixed into position by putty or plasters material. Conventional putty is a cement made from whiting and linseed oil which hardens over time to provide a peripheral rim of the window pane, thus separating interior and exterior environments and preventing air, moisture and/or heat transfer. The installation is completed once the putty has dried and this usually takes up to 6 hours or so depending on the kind of plasters used.
To remove a window pane after it has been fixed in position in a frame requires the window itself to be shattered so that the hardened putty or plasters can be scraped/chiselled away from the frame. The removal operation can cause damage to the frame and varnishes.
In use, the window pane is held rigidly around its edges so that even relatively small vibrational mechanical movements such as with earthquakes or bomb blasts or strong winds can cause the window pane to shatter.
In the automotive industry, cars direct from the factory production line typically have the windscreens and other fixed windows, including light assemblies fixed into position by placing the glass against a frame rim and using adhesives so as to direct glaze the glass. The life span of a windscreen and other fixed windows are significantly shorter than that of the vehicle itself partially due to degradation or damage or being deliberately broken by vandals/car thieves. Thus a motorist may need to replace the windscreen several times during the vehicle""s lifetime.
Additionally, glued glazings have to be replaced any time the window, especially the windscreen, has been damaged in its optical performance by, for example, impact stones or other fractures or abrasion by wipers. Damage to the window surface can increase the scattering of light and may reduce the visibility to levels below safety limits. Moreover, regulations of motor worthiness stipulate that there can be no chips or visual impairments on laminated windscreens, so whereas recent improvements have made the windscreens shatter-proof, they are still prone to chipping and fracturing and thus will require replacement.
The process of replacing vehicle windscreens is both laborious and time consuming. The automotive glass fitter has first to remove the defective windscreen (usually in intact form), however the windscreen is firmly bonded in place and the adhesive sealant is hardened. Typically the fitter uses a device comprising a cheesewire. The cheesewire is used to cut/saw through the hardened rubber along the periphery of the windscreen. This process requires physical force and can lead to musculo-skeletal conditions in the fitters themselves as a result of repetitive strain injury. Further problems associated with this method are that the cheesewires can overheat due to friction, additionally the wires themselves can break and consequently injure the fitter""s limbs/hands/eyes.
Other methods of detaching the windscreen from the adhesive sealant include: the use of mechanical oscillator knives/cutters to cut through the hardened material or; directed heat such as a laser beam to soften the sealant prior to removing the windscreen with either cheesewire or specialised bladed tools. The problem with a method where heat is directly applied to the sealant is that the heat required to soften the hardened adhesive sealant can concomitantly and inadvertently damage the vehicle""s paintwork and/or other exterior surfaces. For example, a pulsed laser that is set to pulse too fast will not generate enough energy to char the adhesive sealant and a pulsed laser that is set too slow will burn the adhesive sealant and liquify it.
Once the windscreen has been freed from the rubber sealant it can be removed and the surround scraped before it is replaced. It is known from the prior art to use urethane based adhesives to fix/seal the replaced windscreen in place and to apply the adhesive from a dispenser gun to specific peripheral edges so as not to impinge on the viewing capacity of the windscreen. The adhesive typically takes about 8 hours to cure.
Recent advances to the industry have provided for the inclusion of fast cure agents/catalysts so as to speed up the time from vehicle drop-off to vehicle collection. The fast cure agents/catalysts can be provided pre-mixed in the adhesive composition or alternatively can be mixed with the adhesive at the point of exit from a dispensing gun. However the problem still remains that the removal of a defective windscreen and its subsequent replacement is a laborious and time consuming process which can result in damage to the dashboard interior or vehicle paint-work.
A further disadvantage associated with present adhesives such as polyurethanes and/or MS polymers and/or other adhesives is that before applying the adhesive around a window aperture, the aperture surface and glazing must be rigorously cleaned/degreased and primed. This process can be time consuming moreover the fitter can be exposed to liquid and/or volatile organic chemicals and associated health risks. In addition, polyurethane adhesives typically also comprise small amounts of isocyanates. Both polyurethanes and isocyanates are considered to be environmentally unfriendly. Disposal of car components, such as present windscreen glazing rims/rebates, at the end of the vehicle""s life can cause ecological damage.
An adhesive that could satisfy vehicle safety crush and crash standards and provide for easy, rapid, effective and damage-proof removal of a defective windscreen or other fixed glazing from a vehicle would offer immediate improvement to the industry and consumer. Additionally an adhesive that could be reused and be more envirornmentally safe than present adhesives would also be of great benefit.
In a completely different technical field it is known to provide polyesters containing air bubbles. These polyester sponges have inherent tackiness and anti-static properties and, in slab form, they have found use as anti-upset mats. In use, the mat is placed on a solid surface, for example, a desk, and the mat adheres by virtue of its tackiness to the desk surface. Office equipment or cups or other articles can be placed on top the mat. The lower surface of the article to be anchored, i.e. that in contact with the upper surface of the mat, adheres to the mat. Thus, the article remains fixed in position on the double-sided tacky mat and the fixed article is able to withstand shock, slide and earthquake motions. The mats are reusable in that they may be peeled off a surface and re-positioned/re-stuck to another surface. In the instance that the mat loses some of its tackiness, it can simply be washed with water to remove any dust and the tackiness is restored.
We have found that, by adapting the bubble size pattern, shape and overall bubble content of the polyester sponge and developing the material into a ribbon form, such a composition is surprisingly effective as a glazing adhesive. Moreover, the composition of the present invention overcomes many of the problems associated with prior art glazing adhesives.
We believe that the invention provides the first application/use of a polyester material in the automotive glazing industry.
It will be appreciated that the adhesive of the invention has application in other areas especially where two surfaces are to be bonded together and where one surface may subsequently need replacing following damage or wear, for example and without limitation, shower doors, picture framing, green houses and constructional double glazing.

Adhesive composition comprising thermoplastic polyester and trapped gas bubbles


The instant invention is best described as an emergency tank leakage control device for an ocean going tanker damaged (holed) tank. The proposed installed shipboard rolled curtains, haulage winches, cables, and controls must be manually operated by the ship's crew when needed to control leakage from a ruptured tank. Equipment is not shown or proposed to automatically deploy leakage control curtains however automatic operation is considered feasible.

The proposed arrangement of equipment to be installed on a conventional oil tanker will limit the outflow of the carried oil from a damaged oil tank.
The installed equipment consisting of a heavy rolled cable reinforced rubberized sheeting curtain would be drawn over the holed tank or tanks by deck-located cables and tightly secured by winches. This action would be accomplished manually and by power winches. This action would be taken when an accident occurred. It is possible that the deployment of the oil limiting curtains could be automatic. Since the oil tank pressure and the adjacent sea water pressure is essentially equal after tank rupture had occurred, oil flow from the tank with a curtain firmly in place would be kept at a minimum. As can be seen in the attached drawing, a rolled enclosed curtain could be located along the ship keel for an "upward draw." An alternate location for the rolled curtain could be at deck level for a "downward draw" by control cables coming up to the deck on the ship center line. Rupture leakage control curtains are required for each of the ship tanks for control of tank leakage.

Control and limiting of oil spills from an ocean going tanker


The present invention relates to a device for transferring media from an industrial robot to a tool, and an industrial robot including the device. The device comprises a swivel adapter (1) having a body (5) including a first coupling unit (7) arranged in one end of the body for coupling the swivel adapter to the robot, and second coupling unit (9) arranged in an opposite end of the body for coupling the swivel adapter to the tool, and a distance element (13) having a lower portion (15) attached to the first coupling unit and an upper portion (17) attached to the second coupling unit, wherein the first and second coupling units are spaced apart from each other along a common central axis (C1) so that a gap (11) is formed between them. The lower portion of the distance element is disposed at a distance the periphery of the first coupling unit, and the second coupling unit is provided with a penetration hole (19) in communication with the gap (11). The upper portion (17) of the distance element is arranged so that a space is formed between the upper portion of the distance element (13) and the first coupling unit (7). The penetration hole is formed between the distance element and the second coupling unit (9). The penetration hole is partly surrounding the distance element. The penetration hole extends an angle around the common central axis and in a curved direction around the distance element.

In many robot applications there is a need to transfer media to a tool mounted on a robot during operation of the robot. Such media can be compressed air, water, electrical and data signals, and power. The media transfer is difficult due to the rotational movement of the tool in relation to the closest robot arm. It is well known to use devices called swivels for transferring power, air supply and electrical signals from the robot to the tool. A conventional swivel comprises a first part fixedly connected to an arm of the robot rotatable about axis 5. A second part fixedly connected to a tool holder of the robot mounted on axis 6. The first and second parts are rotatable relative each other and the media is slidingly transferred between the first and second parts, for example, by means of sliding contacts. Conventional swivels are able to transfer the media to the tool with robot motion capabilities fully maintained and allow the tool to be rotated unlimited number of turns in relation to the robot. This allows axis 6 of the robot to rotate freely without limitations by hoses, cables or other obstacles, and there are no limits to axes 4 and 5 either. However, a problem with this type of prior art swivels is the extensive wear on the contact surfaces between the first and the second parts due to the sliding motions, and consequently a need of periodic maintenance of the swivel. This may also cause reduced life time of the prior art swivels. Conventional swivels often have large heights, which may cause large torques on the outer axes of the robot. Another problem with conventional swivels is that they cannot transfer all types of mediums, e.g. electric cables, signal cables, and hoses for transferring fluids.
A solution to this problem is to limit the ability to freely rotate the tool in relation to the robot. In many applications a limited rotation is sufficient. KR20160020694 discloses an example of a swivel that has an elongated cylindrical body with a first part connected to an arm of the robot and a second part fixedly connected to the tool. The second part is hollow and has a first opening facing a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body, and a second opening in a central portion of the cross-section of the second part and facing a direction opposite the first part. The swivel further comprises a bracket fixedly connected to a rotary ring, and the rotary ring surrounds the cylindrical body and is rotatably connected to the cylindrical body. An external tube comprising the media, which is to be transferred to the tool, passes through the bracket of the rotary ring and through the first and second opening and is connected to the tool. When the tool and body are rotated, the tube rotates the rotary ring and thus prevents the tube from entangling itself. The tube will possibly prevent the tool from further rotation. A problem with this solution is the height of the swivel, which may cause large torques on the outer axes of the robot. Another problem with this solution is that cables and hoses are positioned in the working area of the robot, and can be damaged by the robot during operation of the robot. This can also make it difficult to carry out a simulation of the robot since the position of the cables needs to be taken into account during the simulation.
JP2011115922 discloses a turning device for a robot. The turning device is rotatable and includes a crankshaft, having a turning plate connected to a turning part. The turning device also has a driving plate connected to a driving part for turnably driving a turning casing. The driving plate is connected to the turning plate at a distance by means of a column part disposed at the periphery of the turning plate and driving part so a gap is formed between the driving part and the turning plate. The turning plate has a through-hole in its center. A cable for transferring media is fed through the gap and the through-hole. A problem with this turning device is that upon rotation of the turning device, the column part will possibly obstruct the cable and thus prevent the turning device from rotating at larger angles. This could also damage the cable. Another problem is that the column part limits the movement of cables and hoses and thus the ability of the tool to rotate in relation to the robot is less than one turn, i.e. less than 360°. In many robot applications, there is a need to rotate the tool more than 360°. Another problem is that the column part decreases the stability of the turning device, and the turning device could easily be deformed.

Industrial robot and a device for transferring media from the robot to a tool


A device for firing projectiles comprising a housing having a chamber for retaining projectiles positioned therein and means for expelling the retained projectiles from the housing. An inverted cup is positioned within the chamber and includes an aperture connected to the expelling means. Compressed gas is provided within the chamber by a means for providing compressed gas and a means for activating the providing means is provided as well. Upon activating the activating means compressed gas is provided within the chamber by the providing means causing the projectiles to be caught by the inverted cup and forced through the aperture for expelling therefrom by the expelling means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to air guns and, more specifically, to, an airgun that fires round ball shot projectiles. The air gun of the present invention is operable using compressed gas provided in a cylinder separate from the airgun. The compressed gas cylinder is coupled to the housing of the airgun by means of pressure hose and fittings. A trigger valve allows the pressurized gas to pass into an air inlet jet and into a pressure canister forcing a plurality of pre-loaded ball shots into a feed cup and out through the barrel. When the trigger is not depressed, the device will not fire. A loading aperture is provided to allow a plurality of ball shot to be loaded into the pressure canister prior to use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While these airguns may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an airgun that fires round ball shot with no moving parts (which means virtually no maintenance), such as "BBs" and operates on compressed gas such as CO2, provided in a cylinder separate from the airgun. The compressed gas cylinder is coupled to the housing of the airgun by means of pressure hose and fittings. A trigger valve allows the pressurized gas to pass into an air inlet jet and into a pressure canister, forcing a plurality of pre-loaded ball shot into the feed cup and out through the barrel. When the trigger is not depressed, the device will not fire. A loading aperture is provided to allow a plurality of ball shot to be loaded into the pressure canister prior to use.


An underground drainage facility including a drainage pump adapted to be operated if an inflow water channel is constructed as a closed channel. Overflow weirs in water channels such as rivers or the like on an inflow side are less than a maximum water level. A vertical-shaft multi-stage adjustable-vane impeller is used as a drainage pump. Consequently, even a drainage pump of a high pressure head and large capacity can perform a waiting running and accommodate a variation in a quantity of inflowing water to the drainage facility.

The present invention relates to an underground drainage facility arranged such that influent fluids such as rainwater or the like flowing into water channels including small rivers is collected in an inflow channel and, more particularly, to a large capacity underground floodway with a slightly inclined inflow water channel which is provided in an underground location, with the floodway having a large depth of between 15 to 60 m, wherein the collected influent is lead to a drain pumping station, so as to be discharged into a river and the like where the influent is discharged and, with the underground drainage facility being suitable for reducing power consumption of drainage pumps, reducing volume or capacity of a pump well or time lag or delay in the following-up of flowing-down of the upstream influent at the start of the drainage pumps, and/or for measuring an upsurge at a suspension of operation of the pump. Recently, large underground drainage facilities have been proposed, wherein an inflow water channel having a large cross-sectional area is disposed at the deep location under the ground for a long distance. Underground facilities having a large depth in a solid or strong ground of a deep layer do not effect or influence an upper structure, and generally a depth equal to or greater than 50 m from the surface level is provided.
Conventionally, open channel flow operation drainage systems, wherein water flows down at a water level having a free surface in a conduit have been utilized, because inflowing water channels are not too deep and have a small distance, as compared with large underground drainage facilities of the type described hereinabove. However, closed channel flow operation wherein water flows down at a water level, in which the water fills the entire conduit have been proposed and the mixed flow operation of open channel and closed channels has also been considered. Either of these proposals however have a storage or reservoir tank for causing the same to have storage capabilities. If drainage pumps are installed in the open channel flow operation, pumps having a large capacity and pressure head are required, and the capacity of prime movers also increases. Furthermore, a valve on the discharge or delivery side is also required which has a large bore diameter and a high pressure, and a prime mover for opening and closing the valve also increases in size. If a large underground drainage facility is built in a conventional manner, in a relatively small underground drainage facility, not only do the constructional costs increase, but also there is an increase in the operating expenses. Thus, the conventional, relatively small underground drainage facility is uneconomical.
Moreover, it is necessary to provide a storage tank and to increase the capacity of the pump well because the storage advantages are reduced in the mixed flow operation of open channel and closed channel. This likewise increases construction cost.
Further, since the inflow water channel is lengthened considerably, water on the upstream side cannot be moved immediately following an operation of drainage pumps, even if the drainage pumps are operated. In a method in which drainage pumps are operated only in response to a level in a conventional pump well, there is a problem of delay or time lag in following flowing-down, which leads to an overflow of rivers or the like on the upstream side.
On the other hand, in the underground drainage facility, in order for a drainage of an estimated amount of water to be effected due to an abrupt increase in a quantity of inflow due to a rainfall a so-called waiting running is required in which running of drainage pumps starts before the influent reaches the pump well, that is, from a condition where a water level within the pump well is low. In a case of such waiting running, it is desired that a quantity of discharge of the drainage pumps is adjusted or regulated easily and economically in accordance with a change in a quantity of inflow. In order to satisfy such demand, a vertical-shaft adjustable vane pump in, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Application 57-1286092, is proposed in which a vane or blade angle of a pump impeller is variable.
Conventionally, a vertical-shaft adjustable-vane pump is used as a circulating pump, which circulating pump has a relatively low pressure head of, for example, equal to or less than about 30 m. However, a conventional vertical-shaft adjustable-vane pump is not used as a drainage pump which has a high pressure head such that the total pressure head reaches 50 to 60 m and which has a large capacity, for the following reasons.
When the total pressure head increases or becomes high, a fluid force applied to the adjustable vanes increases correspondingly. Accordingly, a load applied to a blade-angle operating mechanism which regulates a blade or vane angle of the impeller increases, so that the vane-angle operating mechanism increases in size. On the other hand, since there is a limitation in dimensioning, the blade-angle operating mechanism must be received in a limited space within a hub of the impeller, there is also a limit in an allowable load of the vane-angle operating mechanism. Accordingly, an adjustable vane pump cannot be applied to a drainage pump which is high in total head and which is large in capacity, as it is.
When a total pressure head increases, a specific speed Ns expressed by the following equation must be reduced to a value less than the conventional one. Accordingly, there is a problem that efficiency and suction performance are reduced. Specifically, in the following equation, the rotational speed N is determined by suction pressure of the pump and a cavitation condition, and a discharge Q and a pressure head H are given from the drainage plan. Accordingly, if the pressure head H increases, the specific speed Ns must necessarily be reduced to a low value. ##EQU1##
However, generally an adjustable impeller vane is arranged such that a shaft thereof is rotatably supported by a hub supported by a drive shaft, and is rotated about the axis of the shaft to adjust the vane angle. Accordingly, a tip surface on the side of a casing of the impeller and a hub surface on the side of a drive shaft must be formed respectively into concentric spherical surfaces to conform to an inner surface of the casing and an outer surface of the hub. In view of such restriction on shape, there is a problem that, if the specific speed is low, the efficiency and the suction performance are degraded.

Underground drainage facility, vertical-shaft multi-stage adjustable vane pump, and method of running drainage pump


An Ethernet multicast method and device are provided, which relate to the communications technology field, and improve the capability of distributing multicast data in the Ethernet. The method includes: receiving a request from a host/multicast source, wherein the request carries a multicast Media Access Control (MAC) address of a destination multicast group; selecting, according to the request, a switch satisfying a particular optimization condition as a multicast root node corresponding to the multicast MAC address of the destination multicast group when it is determined that the multicast MAC address of the destination multicast group does not have the corresponding multicast root node; transmitting an identification of the multicast root node to the host/multicast source. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to the process of the multicast data distribution in the Ethernet.

With the vigorous development of the Ethernet technology, the performances of Ethernet switches are being constantly improved. Since the Ethernet switches are low-priced and maintained and configured at low cost, a lot of large-scaled networks such as Data Centers and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) adopt a large amount of Ethernet switches to perform networking. In the network constructed by the Ethernet switches, the distribution of data in a multicasting manner is advantageous of network construction at low cost, high data distribution efficiency, and the like. However, since the scale of traditional Ethernet networks is restricted due to their poor expandability, the advantage of multicasting in the Ethernet networks cannot be exhibited.
In order to solve the expandability problem of the traditional Ethernet networks and better perform data distribution in a multicasting manner in the Ethernet networks, the conventional art provides a network architecture called SEATTLE, which is capable of both possessing the IP expandability and maintaining the simplicity of the Ethernet networks. SEATTLE uses a DHT (Distributed Hash Table) routing addressing mechanism to realize the expansion of the Ethernet networks. The specific implementation process is described below: on one hand, when the location of a host is being parsed, the host uses a Directory Service to release and maintain a mapping relationship between a MAC address and the current location, and forwards data through this mapping relationship. For example, when a host "_a_" whose MAC address is "_MACa_" arrives at its access switch "_Sa_" this switch must release in the Directory Service a mapping relationship between the MAC of the host a and the location thereof. The switch Sa instructs a switch "_ra_" to store (MACa, Sa) by operating F(MACa)=ra. Meanwhile, the switch Sa serves as a location parser of the host a. Then, when a host "_b_" is connected to a switch Sb and intends to send data to MACa, the host b forwards the data to an access switch Sb, the access switch Sb obtains information of the switch ra by calculating F(MACa)=ra and then forwards the data to the switch ra. Since there may be several hops from the access switch Sb to the switch ra, the switch Sb packages data packets with an address of ra as a header of a destination. After receiving the data packets, the switch ra queries about the access switch of the host a being Sa, and then forwards data to Sa. In order to limit the number of data packets passing through the parser, the switch ra also notifies the switch Sb that the current location of the host a is Sa. The switch Sb then stores in a buffer related information that the current location of the host a is Sa. When the data packets are forwarded subsequently, the switch Sb can forward the data packets by searching for the information in the buffer, thereby improving the data forwarding efficiency.
On the other hand, a host searches for a MAC address corresponding to an IP address by means of ARP in the traditional Ethernet networks, but SEATTLE avoids ARP flooding in the traditional Ethernet networks and expands the ARP, so that the ARP returns both the MAC address of the host and information of the switch connected to the host (the information reflects the location of the host). Since the location information of the host is sensed, the data packets can forward ARP requests by selecting the shortest path.
However, when performing multicast in Ethernet networks with the SEATTLE architecture, the inventors select a multicast root node, randomly map a multicast group to a switch using a hash function, and enable the switch to act as the multicast root node, but this manner of constructing a multicast tree does not take a network topology into consideration, as a result of which the selected multicast tree root node may be far from all the receiving hosts, thereby reducing the Ethernet multicast performance.


A display substrate includes a switching member, a color filter layer, an inorganic insulation layer and a pixel electrode. The switching member includes a gate line, a data line crossing the gate line, and a thin-film transistor (TFT) electrically connected to the gate line and the data line. The color filter layer is formed on the switching member. The inorganic insulation layer is formed on the color filter layer. The inorganic insulation layer has a hole formed thereon, which exposes a portion of the color filter layer in correspondence with the TFT. The pixel electrode is formed on the inorganic insulation layer.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a display substrate, a method of manufacturing the display substrate and a display device having the display substrate. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a display substrate used for a display device, a method of manufacturing the display substrate, and a display device having the display substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate, a color filter substrate facing the TFT substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate.
The TFT substrate includes a signal line formed on an insulation substrate, a TFT and a pixel electrode for independently driving a plurality of pixels. The color filter substrate includes a color filter layer including a red color filter, a green color filter and a blue color filter, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode of the TFT substrate. There may be a decrease in quality if the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are misaligned.
An LCD device having a color filter on array (COA) structure, in which a color filter layer is formed on the TFT substrate, has been developed in order to mitigate the decrease in quality due to misalignment between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate.
The TFT substrate having the COA structure may include an inorganic insulation layer covering the color filter layer in order to prevent harmful gas from flowing out of the color filter layer.
When the inorganic insulation layer formed on the color filter layer is harder than the color filter layer, the compressibility of the color filter layer corresponding to a contact portion of the column spacer may be reduced. As a result, the spreadability of liquid crystal molecules may be reduced, resulting in the formation of portions of the LCD between TFT substrate and the color filter substrate that do not fill up with liquid crystal molecules. The areas that are not filled with liquid crystal molecules may produce a reddish defect when that portion or the LCD is in a black state.

Display substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and display device having the same


A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. When the composition of a subject displayed on a display of the apparatus is changed during application of a first shutter-release signal, a current auto-focus (AF) region moves along with the subject and displayed on the display at the same time as the subject. The apparatus can further display an initial AF region on the display in a manner distinguishable from the current AF region. After the composition of the subject is changed, while the current AF region moving along with the subject is being displayed on the display, when the application of the first shutter-release signal is interrupted, an AF region is reset as the initial AF region. Also, an image file can be generated and stored after application of a second-shutter release signal which occurs after application of the first shutter-release signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a digital image processing apparatus and method in which the current AF region is displayed on a display unit if the composition of a subject is changed with application of a first shutter-release signal, while a current auto-focus (AF) region is moving along with the subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, digital image processing apparatuses process images of digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs), phone cameras, and personal computer (PC) cameras or employ motion recognition sensors. A digital image processing apparatus may receive a desired image via a photographing device, display the received image on an image display device, store the image as an image file by selection of a user, and print the stored image file.
The digital image processing apparatus extracts data required for auto focus (AF) from a predetermined region in order to enable an AF function. In this case, selection of a region is limited as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Specifically, a previously determined region may be selected or center AF or multi-AF may be selected. Also, before photographing an image, a complicated process including selecting a menu, selecting a region selection menu, and selecting a region is performed.
FIG. 1A is a bottom view of an example of a digital camera for explaining a center AF method. In the center AF method, a screen is divided into a plurality of fixed regions, a predetermined region is selected from the fixed regions, AF processing is performed on the selected region, and photographing occurs.
FIG. 1B is a bottom view of an example of a digital camera for explaining a multi-AF method. In the multi-AF method, a screen is divided into a plurality of fixed regions, AF processing is performed on the respective fixed regions, and photographing occurs.
Since the methods used in the digital cameras shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are complicated, when a user adjusts the focus centering on selection of a region, after the focus is adjusted by pressing an AF lock button, the digital camera is moved to a desired region to adjust the focus and then moved to obtain a desired composition before photographing begins. Also, when AF is performed using a touch pad as shown in FIG. 1C, it is convenient for photographers, but a liquid crystal display (LCD) for the touch pad is necessarily required.
As described above, a conventional digital image processing apparatus is limited in selecting an AF region. Also, the digital image processing apparatus moves from a predetermined region to another region only by operating a button, so that it is difficult to set the AF region.

Digital image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same


A carton includes a top casing and a bottom casing. The top casing includes plural first sidewalls and plural first tongue parts connecting to the first sidewalls. The first tongue stripes parts are used for fixing on the inner surfaces of the adjacent first sidewalls. The bottom casing includes plural second sidewalls and plural second tongue parts connecting to the second sidewalls. The second tongue parts are used for fixing on inner surfaces of the adjacent second sidewalls. The bottom casing further includes plural reinforcing pieces respectively connected to one of the second sidewalls. The reinforcing pieces are disposed at the outside of the second sidewalls. When the top casing is coupled to the bottom casing, the reinforcing pieces are utilized for filling the gap between the top casing and the bottom casing caused by the first tongue parts.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a package structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carton.
2. Description of Related Art
For high-precision and vulnerable electronic components, since they tend to be damaged by negative environmental factors, such as moisture, dust, and impact force, etc., during transportation, the requirements for their packaging structure must be strict. To decrease the damage rate of products during transportation, the protective packaging structure must have basic functions such as anti-moisture, anti-dust, and anti-vibration. Currently, the common practice is to put paper or plastic linings, and buffer materials such as plastic foam fillers or foam buffer pads, in the packaging box to space apart products. At the same time, products are prevented from colliding with walls of packaging box due to vibrations caused by transportation so as to protect contents in the packaging box.
A carton, for example, is a popular package box. However, when the cartons are utilized for packaging large size products in plate shape, due to the height of the carton is shallow, the cartons may be deformed and flattened after the cartons are stocked. Therefore the protection ability of the cartons would be failed.


A rail system for mounting a tarp enclosure to a platform, comprising a rail body having a channel and a bumper beneath thereof, and a carriage displaceable along the channel and attachable to the tarp enclosure so as to position the tarp enclosure over the rail body. A tubing system for the tarp enclosure, comprising a first member having four first tracks sized to slidably receive a cordon of the tarp enclosure, a second member having four second tracks sized to slidably receive the cordon, a tubing connector having four connector tracks sized to slidably receive the cordon. There is also provided a method for assembling a tubing assembly, comprising joining the first and second members to the tubing connector such that any one of the first tracks is in communication with a one of the second tracks via a one of the connector tracks.

Rolling tarp enclosures typically include a multi-stage, arcuate framework slidably mounted on rails and over which is supported a relatively flexible shell-like tarp. Such typical rolling tarp enclosures can be arranged with respect to various types of cargo-bearing platforms, whether stationary or disposed on a trailer among other examples, over which the framework is displaceable along the rails with the tarp so as to shield the platform and its cargo space. Typical rolling tarp enclosures are thus advantageous for covering specialised merchandise, materials and equipment stored inside their cargo space regardless of their shape and size. In contrast, manual tarping solutions require strapping a loose tarp to the platform and wrapping the tarp around the cargo, an operation that can be challenging and time consuming. Also, typical rolling tarp enclosures are incrementally displaceable so as to conveniently expose the platform as needed, either partially or in full. For instance, exposing the platform can allow full and direct access to the front of the platform and its cargo space, for example allowing to approach the cargo space from either side and from overhead. In the alternative, accessing the rear part of the enclosure and unloading items located rearward of the front part so as to clear the access thereto from the rear would be needed, as would be the case with non-collapsible, box-type enclosures typical of freight trailer. Despite the typical rolling tarp enclosures holding advantages over the rigid and seamless shell of such box-type enclosures, the former may lack some of the protective characteristics of the latter.


The disclosed computer-implemented method for thwarting unauthorized attempts to disable security managers within runtime environments may include (1) monitoring a runtime environment that (A) facilitates execution of an application and (B) includes a security manager that prevents the application from performing unauthorized actions while running within the runtime environment, (2) detecting, while monitoring the runtime environment, an attempt to disable the security manager such that the security manager no longer prevents the application from performing the unauthorized actions, (3) identifying a source of the attempt to disable the security manager, (4) determining that the source of the attempt is not authorized to disable the security manager, and then (5) blocking the attempt to disable the security manager such that the security manager continues to prevent the application from performing the unauthorized actions while running within the runtime environment. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Runtime environments (such as JAVA RUNTIME ENVIRONMENT) often facilitate the execution of applets. For example, a webpage may host an applet. In this example, a user of a computing device may access the applet by navigating to the webpage within a browser. As the user navigates to the webpage, a runtime environment installed on the user's computing device may launch a virtual machine that executes the applet in connection with the browser.
Some runtime environments may include a security manager that prevents applets from executing unauthorized actions. For example, a security manager may prevent applets running within a runtime environment from initiating unauthorized file downloads to a user's computing device. Additionally or alternatively, the security manager may prevent applets running within the runtime environment from accessing, exporting, and/or modifying certain data stored on the user's computing device. Unfortunately, the runtime environment may have certain vulnerabilities that allow applets to disable the security manager. Upon disabling the security manager, these applets may be able to perform unauthorized actions without supervision or restriction from the security manager.
The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for thwarting unauthorized attempts to disable security managers within runtime environments.

Systems and methods for thwarting unauthorized attempts to disable security managers within runtime environments


An apparatus and method for use in cooking bulbs of garlic are described. The apparatus (100) includes a bowl (102) and a top (104). An insert (122) that releases moisture during cooking is supported on a bottom (108) of the bowl (102). A holder (124), which is capable of holding garlic, is supported on the insert (122). A cooking chamber (118) is formed when the top (104) is positioned on the bowl (102). The escape of heat and vapor from the cooking chamber (118) are resisted by the engagement of a top rim (116) to a complementary bowl rim (112). A heating element (120) that is disposed near an outside surface of the bowl (102) provides the heat to cook garlic when the heating element (120) is connected to a power source by a cord (134).

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for cooking foodstuffs, including, but not limited to, a cooker for use in cooking garlic. Apparatus and methods for use in cooking garlic are known. Garlic is one of the oldest and most popular flavoring herbs in the world having been used as a food and medicine for centuries by all cultures. Over two hundred million pounds of garlic are produced annually in the United States. Roasted garlic is a favorite appetizer both in homes and restaurants and there are many recipes that call for its addition. Typically, garlic is cooked in a container or simply wrapped in aluminum foil that is placed in an oven. Usually oil is added to the container before the container with garlic inside is placed in a conventional oven at 350 to 400 degrees for approximately 45 minutes. At lower temperatures the cooking time is increased. Multiple compartment garlic cookers that are also placed in the oven allow for basting of the garlic, but cooking times are approximately the same.
There are a number of problems with existing cookers used to cook garlic. For cookers that are placed in a conventional oven, cooking times are long and the cooking wastes a large amount of energy, particularly, when cooking only one or a few bulbs of garlic. Garlic cooked in oil becomes soft and difficult to remove from the cooker of when cooked at high temperatures or for long times, garlic may dry out.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus for and method of more efficiently cooking small quantities of garlic that reduces garlic cooking time and energy, produces moist cooked garlic, and facilitates the removal of cooked garlic from the cooker.

Apparatus and a method for cooking garlic


A combination hot air furnace and hot water heater (10) having a furnace (20), a gas flow control valve (40) and a hot water heater (60) constructed as an integral assembly. Furnace (20) has furnace gas burner (33) supported below furnace heat exchanger (32). Furnace heat exchanger (32) is supported within conduit (24) through which air is passed for heating. Gas flow control valve (40) is sealingly mounted upon the top outlet (36) of furnace heat exchanger (32), and may selectively direct the heat of combustion from furnace gas burner (33) toward water tank (62) for heating water within the water tank. Gas flow control valve (40) may also seal off furnace heat exchanger (32) from the flow control valve and draw outside combustion air into valve body (42) through side wall opening (48) for providing combustion air for water tank gas burner (64).

Hot air furnaces and hot water tanks are well known in the art. Hot air furnaces and hot water tanks are typically considered to be separate fields of art, but there have been instances in which hot air furnaces have been used for generating hot water, and still other instances where hot water tanks have also been used for generating heated air.
Prior art hot air furnaces include furnaces fired by gas, such as natural gas or liquid propane gas, as well as furnaces fired by heating oil. These hot air furnaces usually are operated as forced air furnaces in which cold return air is drawn from throughout the building structure in which the furnace is installed and then passed across a heat exchanger within the furnace so that heated air exits out of the furnace and is forced through a duct system throughout the building structure. Hot water tanks, on the other hand, typically are heated by either gas, such as natural gas or liquid propane, or by electricity.
The situation thus arises that waste heat passing through the flue to the atmosphere, that is, the heat of combustion utilized to provide a source of heat for heating water in a water heater, and the heat of combustion for producing heated air in a furnace, is exhausted from the water heater or furnace through a flue and out of the building structure in which the furnace or water heater is installed. This can result in inefficiencies in that the waste heat exhausted from the structure to the atmosphere still contains a significant amount of heat energy which has not been otherwise put to a useful purpose.
Examples of earlier approaches undertaken in the effort to utilize waste heat from producing hot water can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,382 to K.M. Ronan, et al., which discloses an apparatus functioning as a combined water and space heater. An insulated housing encloses a hot water tank and air is passed through the space between the exterior surface of the hot water heater and its insulated housing, drawing heat from the exterior of the hot water tank. The heated air is then passed into the space surrounding the hot water tank.
Another attempt to provide both hot water and heated air is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,789,769 to D. Dalin, teaching an apparatus in which water is boiled to provide a heat exchange medium for heating air to be forced throughout the structure, and having a second heat exchanger contained within the water to be boiled for heating domestic water. U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,192 to S. Bogren discloses an apparatus in which heat from a forced air furnace is utilized to heat water held in a separate hot water tank through the use of dual heat exchangers, one located in the furnace, and one located in the hot water tank.
A more recent attempt to provide an apparatus for both heating air and water is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,478 to Clawson, which discloses a recuperative furnace in which the heat exchange medium, water, is heated beyond its dew point and passed over a heat exchanger in which water is contained, thus providing a heated water source for both domestic hot water and for a second heat exchanger located in the plenum of the furnace over which space air is blown for heating the structure in which the furnace is installed.
None of the prior art known to the inventor discloses a system in which the waste heat in the flue gases that would normally pass from the furnace to the atmosphere is selectively directed toward a hot water tank for heating the water. Moreover, none of these devices teaches an apparatus or a method in which the water tank has a separate burner for heating water when the heat of combustion from the hot air furnace is insufficient to heat water, or when the furnace is merely used for circulating ambient or cooled air throughout the structure in which the device is installed.

Combination hot air furnace and hot water heater


A method and system of projecting light on a planar surface to produce an image for tracing is disclosed. The system includes a projector that has a light source and a signal conditioner that is operably connected to the projector. A computer is operably connected to the signal conditioner. A scanner is connected to the projector. A test pattern from the computer is projected from the projector through the scanners to visually align an image to a sector on a work surface. A grid is operably aligned with the work surface. A geometric pattern from the computer is then projected by the projector on the planar work surface for tracing. The method comprises the steps of creating a pattern, tracing lines along the pattern on the planar work surface, cutting the pattern along the traced lines, discarding pieces of the planar surface outside the pattern, and placing edging along an outer edge of the pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the fields of building construction and interior decorating. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for projecting light on a work surface to produce an image for tracing. Specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to expediting the construction and installation of modular structures.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Traditional means of constructing geometric designs and constructing and installing modular structures with edge detail required a multiple person crew. Extensive man hours were wasted tediously pre-assembling the entire structure on the floor, mounting and dismounting the structure and the edge detail to make it fit the work surface, aligning the structure in the air, and then raising it and holding it in place for final installation. During some installations, crew members could also take portions of the edge detail and mark points on the modular structure in order to define the perimeter of the finished pattern. These procedures also often ultimately relied on in the air adjustments which at times compromised the intended integrity of the patterns.
Moreover, pre-assembly on the ground limited the size of the structure which could be safely raised. Larger patterns would be too awkward to be raised by a practically sized crew of two or three people. Any additional laborers also have the disadvantage of relatively high cost.
As the construction industry is a competitive business, a preferred solution will be seen by the end-user as being cost effective. A solution is cost effective when it is seen by the end-user as compelling when compared with other potential uses that the end-user could make of limited resources.
Historically, it was known in the prior art to use of light sources of the type hereunder consideration, such as lasers, to aid in building construction. For example, lasers used for leveling are well-known to those skilled in the art. Further, the construction of trusses by following a projected pattern has been used previously in the construction industry. This process will be discussed in greater detail below. However, the use of these lasers in construction applications does not generally involve very complex patterns.
The below-referenced U.S. patents disclose embodiments that were at least in part satisfactory for the purposes for which they were intended. The disclosures of all the below-referenced prior U.S. patents in their entireties are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application for purposes including, but not limited to, indicating the background of the present invention and illustrating the state of the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,662, entitled xe2x80x9cLaser Projection System for Truss Manufacturing,xe2x80x9d discloses a laser-enhanced design system for truss manufacturing. Lasers mounted on a ceiling project images onto a table below. The initial truss design is produced using a CAD system in conjunction with a work station or PC-microcomputer. A standard PC-microcomputer running MS-DOS software is used to control the laser system. Files required for the laser system are automatically created during the designing phase. An assembly line operator uses a mouse or keyboard to control and select the projected images while a worker places the truss elements over the projected images.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,318, entitled xe2x80x9cMethod for Defining a Template for Assembling a Structure,xe2x80x9d reveals a system for generating a template for use in assembling a structure such as a truss. One or more laser scanners mounted above a work surface are controlled by a computer to generate a scanning laser image of all or a portion of the structure. The computer receives data describing the relative location of the individual work pieces in their assembled positions and the position of the laser scanner relative to the work surface. The computer generates a set of template defining data which is converted to a control signal and transmitted to the laser scanner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,885, entitled xe2x80x9cProcedure and Device for Processing Cutting Material,xe2x80x9d discloses a procedure for optimizing the processing of cutting material, such as textiles, leather and technical fabrics and the like, as well as to a device to perform the procedure. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,885, the cutting patterns (T1, T2, T3) are first contained in the main memory of a computer (1) and then are selected. The selected patterns are projected on a cutting material on a working surface (AF) in their original size by means of direct laser projection, possibly with different colors, and are also projected on a control panel (4) in a scaled down size. The laser projections of the individual patterns are then interlocked on the cutting material by means of a control unit (5) actuated by an operator (P) positioned next to the cutting material. The patterns are interlocked to optimize use of the cutting material by accounting for the conditions of the cutting material, such as defective spots (F1, F2, F3, F4), and the shape of the cutting material. Once the patterns are finally positioned, data on these positions is then transmitted to a cutting unit, such as an automated cutter (C), by an instruction given by the operator and the citing operation is triggered.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,258, entitled xe2x80x9cLaser Projector for Projecting an Image Onto a Curvilinear Surface,xe2x80x9d discloses a laser projection system for projecting an image onto a surface comprises a laser projector operably connectable to a computer. The computer controls the operation of the system. The laser projector comprises a laser beam source for generating a laser light beam, a collimator comprising a focusing lens for focusing the laser light beam to a focal point, a collimating lens for collimating the laser light beam beyond the focal point and a wedge-shaped lens having an apertured interposed between the focusing lens and collimating lens. The aperture has a size for passing the laser light beam therethrough. Two scanners direct the light beam about a light path. A photo sensor receives light refracted by the wedge-shaped lens and generates a feedback signal. A plurality of target reflectors, each having a retroreflective material for retroreflecting light back to its source. The laser light beam is projectable in a predetermined pattern and if the laser light beam is retroreflected back to the laser light source, the retroreflected laser light beam is refracted by the wedge-shaped lens towards the photo sensor for generating a feedback signal for the computer. The plurality of target reflectors comprises a plurality of mountable targets for removably mounting on the surface. Upon striking the mountable targets with the laser beam, the photo sensor generates a plurality of feedback signals for establishing spatial coordinates of the mountable targets. The plurality of target reflectors further comprises a moveable target for inserting in the light path of the laser beam while projecting the image. Upon striking the moveable target with the laser beam, the photo sensor generates a feedback signal for limiting the area of projection of the image.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,183, entitled xe2x80x9cMethod for Controlling Projection of Optical Layup Template,xe2x80x9d reveals a projection system having a process utilizing three-dimensional data, thereby allowing the system to account for rotational and translational differences between the projector and the object upon which the laser light is directed. Reference sensors located on the object are in a known relationship to the three-dimensional data set to be projected, i.e., the reference sensors utilize the same coordinate system as the three-dimensional data set.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,500, entitled xe2x80x9cCalibration System for Large Tooling Fixtures,xe2x80x9d discloses a method for determining the position of a laser projector relative to a large tool which includes the use of posts having several reference points. A rotating tool is preferably also provided with a plurality of reference points. At least two of the reference points are spaced by a known distance. By identifying the location of the reference points, a control for the system is able to calibrate where the reference points are relative to the laser projectors. In this way, the laser projector is able to calibrate itself relative to the reference points on the large tool. The system initially determines the position of the reference points based upon known distances between the reference points.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,901, entitled xe2x80x9cDC Motor Actuator for Light Modification,xe2x80x9d discloses a light system which includes a laser light generator and an array of motor-driven mirrors aligned to deflect a beam of laser light in various directions to create a light show. The motors are operated in a controlled sequence by a motor controller. The motors are small DC permanent magnet motors which are driven from a DC source whose voltage is adjustable to vary the frequency of oscillation of the motors and, hence the mirrors. Connected to each motor is a small coil spring whose coil is carried on the motor shaft and which has two extended arms, one of which is secured to a nearly stationary member and one which is secured to the mirror shaft. The mirror shaft is movable between two stops. The spring acts to oppose the direction of motion of the motor such that the motor is normally stalled out and driven back to one of the stops before it can be moved for enough to impact the other stop.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,147, entitled xe2x80x9cMeans for Visually Indicating an X-Ray Field,xe2x80x9d discloses a visual indicator for an X-ray field which includes a light generator providing a beam of light. The light is provided to a first mirror that moves about an axis normal to the beam of light to deflect the beam. The deflected beam is applied to a second mirror that moves about an axis normal to the first axis and applies the beam of light to a mirror on the axis of the X-ray beam for reflection onto the X-ray field. The mirrors are controlled by signals indicative of the field defining collimator leaves to cause the light beam to trace out the field defining by the collimator leaves.
In one prior system, diode light sensors are used to align a structure to a laser projection coming from a projector mounted on a ceiling onto a gantry table. The table position is fixed. The projector and table never move. Whereas, for some particular jobs a system may be needed to cover an area (such as a ceiling) spanning thirty thousand square feet. Moreover, when one job is over, the system may be needed at another job site fifty miles away or a thousand miles away. Therefore, what is needed is a portable system which can be easily transported to another job. What is also needed is system which is able to project its own reference grid pattern onto the work surface (such as a ceiling) and can be easily aligned visually.
By way of summary, the present invention is directed to a system which brings accuracy and time savings to outlining a pattern for use in applications such as the construction and installation modular structures having edge trim detail. Preferably, this is accomplished by projecting an image of light onto a work surface. This light or laser projection system is compact and portable to allow mobility and flexibility when working within an occupied or active work environment.
Initially, a pattern or design is created by a designer, an artist, or architect. The design is then converted into a wire frame drawing file using any popular computer aided design (CAD) or bitmap drawing (BMP) software and a PC-based or Apple(copyright) Macintosh(copyright) based computer. The computer may be used to run both the CAD or BMP software and laser projection conversion software. The drawing file of the pattern is then dissected into workable sections. This dissection is necessary because of the limited available distance between the laser projector and the work surface at the installation site.
Next, the laser projection software loaded in the computer encodes the drawing file into a laser data file format. The software, aided by a specialized computer card, converts this digital laser data file information into an analog signal for output. The analog signal is then transmitted to a geometric signal conditioner. The geometric signal conditioner then transmits the analog signal to a laser projector. These analog signals control the positioning of scanners within the laser projector and the modulation of the laser light by on/off switching.
As the light projector emits an output image onto the work surface, the operator may physically move the projector into an optimal projection position. The xe2x80x9coptimal positionxe2x80x9d is in part defined by physical landmarks preferably identified during a site survey conducted at the installation location. Once this optimal positioning is roughed in, a second image is projected onto the work surface. This second image or target image is a grid pattern used to fine-tune the image""s, and eventually the pattern""s, precise alignment. A geometric signal conditioner is used for this procedure. The geometric signal conditioner is an electronic signal processor that modifies vector-scanning signals to compensate for oblique projection angles, non-planar surfaces, and scanner misalignment. Once the grid is visually aligned, the converted CAD file is loaded on to the computer and on to a specific sector of the pattern. That portion of the pattern is then projected onto the work surface.
The projected pattern image is then traced (usually by hand) onto the work surface. The projector may then be physically moved to the next sector. The projection of another test pattern allows the operator to once again roughly align the projector into place. The alignment grid is again manually or electronically fine-tuned with the geometric signal conditioner so that the next sector of the pattern is properly projected for tracing. Alternatively, multiple projectors can be simultaneously used to project the entire pattern upon the work surface for tracing.
An effect of the present invention is to provide greater placement accuracy during the installation of certain modular structures. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that allows for dial-in placement accuracy of structures in near real-time, unlike the projection through a lens which cannot easily correct for unforeseen work site problems. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system that is ruggedized and reliable, thereby decreasing down time and operating costs. Another object of the invention is to provide a system that has one or more of the characteristics discussed above but which is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble using a minimum of equipment. Still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus which is very mobile and easily transported from construction site to construction site.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system that incorporates many physical labor saving steps. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system that is predictable and reproducible, thereby decreasing the possibility of variance and reducing overall operating costs. Another object of the invention is to provide a system that has one or more of the characteristics discussed above, but which is relatively simple to setup and operate.
These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

System for projecting light on a work surface to produce an image for tracing


Acetyl L-carnitine, or of one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, is useful for the prevention of painful peripheral neuropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, in which symptoms are pain, paraesthesia or hyperaesthesia. The acetyl L-carnitine is administered orally at a dose of at least 3 grams/day.

Diabetic neuropathy is the most frequent peripheral neuropathy in the western world and includes different forms of neuropathy, the most common of which is diabetic polyneuropathy.
The anatomico-pathological picture of diabetic peripheral neuropathy consists in a focal or widespread non-specific loss of fibers, with demyelination associated with structural or endoneuronal abnormalities of the connective tissue or small vessels.
Various metabolic abnormalities and biochemical changes have been documented both in experimental models of diabetes and in diabetic patients, including an increase in glucose metabolism and a reduction in myoinositol.
The characteristic symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy include the presence of burning or lancinating pain accompanied by clinical signs of symmetrical impairment of sensitivity, motility, and/or deep tendon reflexes, such symptoms being predominant in the distal segments of the lower limbs.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is caused by hyperglycaemia, and metabolic imbalance secondary to hyperglycaemia and ischaemia of the vasa nervorum are the best known pathogenetic mechanisms.
Many variables may speed up or reduce the times when the characteristic symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in general, and painful peripheral neuropathy in particular, set in; for example, good metabolic control of blood serum glucose levels can certainly delay the onset of these symptoms.
The use of acetyl L-carnitine for the prevention of painful peripheral neuropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes has never been previously described.
In the literature one can find numerous publications that seek to demonstrate or clarify the therapeutic role of acetyl L-carnitine in the treatment of a number of symptoms, including neuropathic pain, in the course of diabetic neuropathy, but these publications do not claim or suggest that acetyl L-carnitine is a useful compound for the prevention of painful peripheral neuropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.
In Diabetes Care, 2005; Jan.; 28(1): 89-94 it is reported that treatment with ALC is useful for relieving the pain symptoms and for regenerating nerve fibers, in patients suffering from stabilized diabetic neuropathy.
In "Giornale Italiano di Diabetologia, 1998, V. 18, 30-31" the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from sensorimotor polyneuropathy.
In Drugs in Research and Development 2002, Vol 3 (4), pp 223-31, the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
In Diabetologia 1995, VOL/ISS/PG. 38/1 (123) the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
In "IL GIORNALE DEI CONGRESSI MEDICI, 5, 14-19, 1993" the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy on treatment with insulin or oral antidiabetic agents.
In J. of the American Diabetes Association June 2002, Vol 51, Supplement 2, the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
In CONGRESSO NAZIONALE DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI NEUROFISIOLOGIA CLINICA, ABSTR ACTS, PERUGIA 1-4 Jun., 1994, p 98, the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
In Clin. Drug. Invest, Vol 10 (6), pp 317-22 1995, the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
In Int. J. Clin. Pharm. Res. XV(1):9-15; 995, the use of acetyl L-carnitine is described for the treatment of pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
In Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 1997, Suppl. to Vol 150 it is reported that acetyl L-carnitine improves nerve conduction velocity in diabetic patients suffering from polyneuropathy.
In IX CONGRESSO NAZIONALE SOCIETA ITALIANA DI FARMACOLOGIA CLINICA; II CONGRESS MEDITERRANEAN SOCIETY CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY "THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES AND NEW HEALTH PROBLEMS", VENICE, Oct. 8-10, 1991 ABS, the effect of acetyl L-carnitine treatment on 500 patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy of various different origins is described.
In Drugs 1997 September: 54 (3) 414-421 it is reported that acetyl L-carnitine improves nerve conduction velocity in diabetic patients suffering from neuropathy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,242 describes the use of acetyl L-carnitine for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with peripheral neuropathy of various origins, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
WO 02 096409 refers to the use of acetyl L-carnitine for the preparation of a medicament with "pre-emptive-type" analgesic activity. What is meant by "pre-emptive" analgesia is a therapeutic strategy that involves the early administration of a substance, in relation to the painful event, capable of blocking the entry of the pain stimulus into the central nervous system, thus preventing the facilitating response evoked by the nociceptive impulse to the spinal cord. The efficacy of a "pre-emptive" analgesic drug according to the description in WO 02 096409 depends not only on the time treatment is initiated in relation to the painful event but also on the effective ability of the drug to prevent alterations of central pain sensitization mechanisms.
WO 02 096409, as an example of preventive pain therapy, indicates the prevention of pain that occurs after a surgical operation.
In these studies, there is never any description or suggestion of the use of ALC for the prevention of painful peripheral neuropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.
In the medical field no drugs are known which are useful for the prevention of painful peripheral neuropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Acetyl L-carnitine for prevention of painful peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A.