Provided is an inspecting apparatus for inspecting a photovoltaic devices by applying a current to the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction to make the photovoltaic devices emit EL light which is simple in structure and capable of shortening inspection time in inspecting a defect from a photographed image with a perfect resolution. The inspecting apparatus includes a darkroom (110) provided with an upper surface (111) having an opening portion (112), a support device provided at the upper surface of the darkroom (110) to support the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object (200) on the opening portion (112), cameras (121, 122 and 123) disposed inside the darkroom (110) for photographing the inspecting object (200), and a moving device configured to move the cameras in the darkroom (110). The moving device includes an x-axial guiding portion (140), a motor (142) and a timing belt (144).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspecting apparatus which is employed to inspect general performance of a photovoltaic devices, such as a photovoltaic cell, a photovoltaic devices string which is formed by connecting the photovoltaic cells in series, a photovoltaic devices panel which is formed by disposing a plurality of photovoltaic strings in parallel, and the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is well known that a silicon photovoltaic devices is employed to harness solar energy. In the manufacture of the photovoltaic devices, it is important to evaluate whether the photovoltaic devices has predetermined power generation capacity. The evaluation is usually performed by measuring output characteristics thereof.
The output characteristics are the photovoltaic conversion characteristics obtained by measuring current-voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic devices under light irradiation. As a light source, it is desired to use the solar light. However, since the intensity of the solar light varies in relation to weather, a solar simulator is employed. In the solar simulator, a xenon lamp, a metal halide lamp or the like is employed as an alternative to the solar light. If the aforementioned light source has been lighted for a long time, the temperature thereof rises or the like, leading to a variation on the light intensity thereof. Therefore, by using the flash light of the aforementioned light source, it is able to plot the output characteristic curve of the photovoltaic devices on the basis of collected data by setting a voltage as the lateral axis and a current as the vertical axis (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-88419).
The following method different from the solar simulator is disclosed in the Patent Document WO/2006/059615. By applying a voltage to a polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic devices element in a forward direction, the photovoltaic devices element emits an electro-luminescence (hereinafter, referred to as "EL") light. The same occurs in a thin-film typed photovoltaic devices. By studying the EL light emitted from the photovoltaic devices element, it is able to obtain the distribution of current density of the photovoltaic devices element. The defect of the photovoltaic devices element can be determined on the basis of the uneven distribution of current density. Namely, a portion which emits no EL light is determined to be a defective portion, and the photovoltaic devices element is determined to have the predetermined power generation capacity if the total area of the defective portions is smaller than a predetermined amount.
The structure of an inspecting apparatus described in the Patent Document WO/2006/059615 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. The inspecting apparatus 10 includes a darkroom 11, a CCD camera 12 which is disposed at an upper portion of the darkroom 11, a power source 14 which applies a current to a photovoltaic cell 13 disposed on the floor of the darkroom 11, and an image processing apparatus 15 which processes image signals from the CCD camera 12.
The darkroom 11 is provided with a window 11a where a finder 12a of the CCD camera 12 is disposed. Therefore, an image to be photographed by the CCD camera 12 can be confirmed by watching with an eye from the finder 12a. As the image processing apparatus 15, a computer is employed.
In the inspecting apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 9, the photovoltaic cell 13 is disposed at a lower position and is photographed by the camera from an upper position. However, since the EL light emitted from the photovoltaic cell 13 is a weak light ray of wavelength between 1,000 nm and 1,300 nm, it is not able to be detected unless the photovoltaic cell is disposed inside the darkroom 11. In case that the inspecting object is a piece of photovoltaic cell, the dimension thereof is about 100 nm×100 nm, and the darkroom 11 in which the photovoltaic cell is disposed is small sized.
However, in case that the inspecting object is a photovoltaic devices panel, the dimension thereof is about 2 m×1 m; therefore, the darkroom 11 has to have a dimension capable of housing the photovoltaic devices panel. Further, the photovoltaic devices panel as the inspecting object has to be disposed inside the darkroom so as to be photographed by the CCD camera 12; therefore, a door has to be disposed in the darkroom for transporting the photovoltaic devices panel into or carrying out from the darkroom. If the inspecting apparatus is configured so as to transport the inspecting object into the darkroom, shading effect has to be secured when the disposed door is closed. It is also necessary that the inspecting apparatus is provided with a positioning member and a guide member for transporting the photovoltaic devices in the darkroom. Furthermore, it is also necessary to dispose an electrifying means in the darkroom for applying a current to the photovoltaic devices. Thereby, the inspecting apparatus becomes complicated in structure and expensive in price.
To photograph a large photovoltaic devices panel with one camera, the distance from the camera to the photovoltaic devices panel has to be kept greater, which makes the darkroom become large sized. By moving the camera to photograph the photovoltaic devices panel part by part for several times, the distance from the camera to the photovoltaic devices panel can be kept smaller, making the darkroom become small sized; however, the inspection time become longer. In order to shorten the inspection time by reducing the photographing times, the area of the photovoltaic devices panel to be photographed in one image will become greater; consequently, the resolution of the photographed image will become lower, and therefore it is impossible to inspect the defect accurately.

Inspecting apparatus for photovoltaic devices


An interface system that allows for tactile manipulation of a touch screen for people with disabilities and which provides appropriate tactile marking for the action they wish to carry out and that may afford a sensation that a button is being pressed to a user, is provided. The system includes a touch screen and a tactile button assembly that extends over at least a portion of the touch screen. The tactile button assembly includes tactile buttons with tactile indicia that can be felt by a user. The tactile buttons are arranged with respect to the touch screen so that when a tactile button is pressed by a user, a contact end of the tactile button contacts a button on the touch screen to perform a predetermined task associated with pressing such button on the touch screen.

The electronic touch screen is representative of current innovative HMIs for electronic devices. With a touch screen, the user enters data by touching virtual buttons displayed on the computer display. With a touch screen system, the type, size, and number of the virtual buttons may be readily changed by changing the computer's program without changes in the associated hardware. Thus, the touch screen system offers a user-interface that may be flexibly tailored to a particular application. The ability to divide virtual buttons among different screens and to display only those screens needed by the user's particular task can simplify data entry. The combination of text and graphical elements on the screen, along with the virtual buttons, can help to further guide the user through the steps of data input.
Normally, a touch screen system uses a touch screen panel which is placed directly over the viewing area of a standard computer display, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). The touch screen panel provides a signal to a computer associated with the computer display indicating where on the surface of the display a stylus or finger is placed. This signal may be generated, for example, by acoustic systems detecting absorption of sound by a finger on the surface of the display; by systems using crossed beams of infrared light arrayed along x and y axes which are broken by the finger; or by laminated transparent electrodes which are physically compressed against each other to provide a point electrical contact that may be interpreted as an x and y coordinate. Frequently, a touch screen will be used with a computer contained within a device to be used by the public. The computer may have so-called multi-media capabilities providing both a visual and an audio program intended to help members of the public obtain information or directions.
Despite the advantage of touch screen systems in many applications, like many novel interface controls, they may present a barrier to many people with disabilities. Those with impaired vision perceive only the featureless surface of the display screen knowing that it may contain one or more virtual buttons of arbitrary placement and function. Those unfamiliar with the language of the legends on the buttons or those who cannot read, are also foreclosed from much of the information presented by touch screen systems. It can be appreciated that the use of buttons, keyboards, or other mechanical controls in conjunction with a touch screen system may be of significant assistance to those persons with disabilities. However, in many touch screen systems, the addition of buttons, keyboards, or other mechanical controls is limited by a lack of space, expense, or various other constraints. Hence, it would be desirable to provide a device for improving access to the functions of HMIs for people with disabilities.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide an interface system for tactile manipulation of a touch screen for people with disabilities which provides appropriate tactile marking for the action they wish to carry out and which provides a user with the sensation that an actual button is being pressed.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide an interface system for improving access to the functions of HMIs for people with disabilities that is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide an interface system that includes a device for improving access to the functions of HMIs for people with disabilities that may be utilized without altering operation of the HMIs or the electronic devices controlled by the HMIs.
In accordance with the present invention, an interface system for allowing cross-disability manipulation of a computer touch screen that is operably connected to an electronic computer is provided. A software program is stored on the computer and the computer and computer touch screen can be incorporated into a kiosk. The interface system includes a tactile button assembly that can be used for manipulating the touch screen, without requiring the user to physically touch graphically displayed virtual buttons on the computer touch screen. The tactile button assembly extends over at least a portion of the computer touch screen and includes at least one tactile button that has tactile indicia that can be tactilely perceived by a user. The tactile button(s) can be moved between a non-actuated position and an actuated position and includes a contact end. In the non-actuated position of the tactile button(s), the contact end is spaced from the computer touch screen. In the actuated position of the tactile button(s), the contact end is relatively closer to and may contact the computer touch screen.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the computer touch screen defines a virtual button that is graphically displayed on the computer touch screen. The virtual button can be seen by a user with sight, thus be within a line-of-sight view of the user, and can be touched by a finger of the user to perform a predetermined task of the software program. A hidden button is defined upon the computer touch screen and is arranged so that at least a portion of the hidden button underlies at least a portion of the tactile button, thus being at least partially covered from line-of-sight view of the user, and arranged so that the tactile button contact end contacts the hidden button when the tactile button is in the actuated position for performing the predetermined task of the software program. In this way, the same task that can be performed by pressing the virtual button can also be performed by pressing the tactile button.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the tactile button assembly includes a panel that supports the tactile button at a support end of the button that is opposite the contact end of the tactile button. The support end of the tactile button can be transversely spaced from the computer touch screen so that the support end of the tactile button does not overlie the computer touch screen.
The support end of the tactile button can be fixed with respect to the panel so that the contact end of the tactile button is arranged in a cantilevered manner with respect to the panel. An intermediate portion of the tactile button that extends between the tactile button support and contact ends can be configured to bend while the tactile button moves between the non-actuated and actuated positions so that the tactile button actuates like a diving board with its own material providing a biasing force that tends to return the tactile button to the non-actuated position. Alternatively, a pivot connection can be provided between the tactile button support end and the panel, and that defines a pivot axis about which the tactile button pivots when moving between the non-actuated and actuated positions. A spring can be arranged between the tactile button and the panel that biases the tactile button toward the non-actuated position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a bezel extends about and outwardly from a perimeter of the computer touch screen and the panel of the tactile button assembly is mounted to the bezel. The panel can be non-permanently mounted to the bezel by way of, for example, adhesives, magnetic fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or other non-permanent mounting techniques that may allow the interface system to be retrofitted to existing kiosks and other touch screen systems that are currently in use. The panel can also be permanently or semi-permanently mounted to the bezel by way of, for example, screws, pins, or adhesives. It could also be molded directly into the bezel for such permanent mounting.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the tactile button assembly panel includes a front portion that is proximate the computer touch screen, a back portion that is distal the computer touch screen, and an intermediate portion that extends between the front and back portions. The intermediate portion includes slots extending therethrough and multiple tactile buttons are respectively arranged within the slots of the panel intermediate portion. The panel front portion can include slots that are interconnected with the slots of panel intermediate portion. The contact ends of the tactile buttons can be arranged to move within the slots of the panel front portion while the tactile buttons move between the non-actuated and actuated positions.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the panel front portion may include at least one hook that engages a bezel of the kiosk and provide registration and alignment of the tactile button assembly and thus the contact end(s) of the button(s) with the hidden button(s), without the at least one hook touching the screen. Multiple hooks may be defined on the panel front portion to provide and maintain registration and alignment of the tactile button assembly from multiple locations of engagement with the kiosk bezel. Pairs of hooks may be provided on opposing sides of the tactile buttons so that the panel can be supported at multiple engagement locations with the bezel and lower surfaces of the hooks may be spaced from but closely adjacent to the screen, which may help prevent objects other than the contact ends of the tactile buttons from contacting the hidden buttons and may protect the movable contact ends of the tactile buttons.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the contact ends of the tactile buttons may include resilient tips that are made from a resilient material, such as an elastomeric material. For some types of touch screen technology, such as capacitive touch screens, the resilient material would be electrically conductive. The resilient tips can be molded to the contact ends of the tactile buttons. This may be done by way of co-molding, dual-injection or over-molding a resilient material over the contact ends of the tactile buttons.

Tactile interface system for manipulation of a touch screen


An image display apparatus which displays, as a virtual image, image in a visual field of a user, including an image generation section to generate image; an illumination section to illuminate light to the image generation section; and a projection section by which the image generated by the image generation section is projected, as a virtual image, into the visual field of the user, the projection section includes: a prism lens formed by integrating, by predetermined unit, a lens to generate the virtual image, with a prism provided thereon with a half mirror film which bends, in the direction of the pupil, a signal light from the image generation section; and aperture restriction unit which is provided on the incident surface of the prism lens, and which allows light in a predetermined area of the signal light from the image generation section to pass therethrough.

The present invention relates to a head mounted display which displays an image in a visual field of a user by using an image display apparatus.
There have been proposed various methods related to an optical system configuration of a so-called wearable information display apparatus which displays predetermined information by using a goggle type or glasses type head mounted display.
For example, JP-A-2006-3879 describes a method related to a head-mount type image display apparatus which is compact and lightweight although having see-around and see-through mechanisms and which has a large visual field of the outside world and high luminance of electronic images with a low power consumption.
A head mounted display as a wearable device is assumed to be used in a mounted state in daily life work, maintenance work, and the like. Therefore, it is necessary that the head mounted display have a high see-through function in order not to obstruct the user's visual field, and enable high-quality images to be visually recognized even when the sight line of the user moves during work.
Further, in addition to the see-through function, low power consumption for realizing long-time operation, and miniaturization for enhancing the portability and wearability are important for enhancing the convenience of the user.
For example, JP-A-2006-3879 describes that, when, in the image display apparatus, the width of the projected cross-section of a member, which configures an eyepiece window holding section, and which faces the visual axis direction of the user, is set to 4 mm or less, and when the eyepiece window holding section is made thinner than the average human pupil diameter (4 mm), the image display apparatus can obtain a see-through effect because the visual field for the outside world is not completely blocked by the apparatus even when the apparatus is arranged in the visual field.
However, in this case, there is a problem that, when the width of the projected cross-section in the visual axis direction of the user is set to 4 mm which is the same as the pupil diameter, and when the pupil moves with the sight line movement, signal light is not incident on the pupil, so that the image projected in the visual field is invisible or partly invisible.

Image display apparatus and head mounted display


To improve the traveling functionality of a traveling device equipped with dual, rotating, negative-pressure suction seals. Provided is a traveling device equipped with dual, rotating, negative-pressure suction seals, which is characterized in that: a single, rotating, negative-pressure suction seal is respectively provided to the left and the right of the axis of travel of the traveling device; the distance between the rotational axis of one of the negative-pressure suction seals and the axis of travel is substantially equal to the distance between the rotational axis of the other negative-pressure suction seal and the axis of travel; the outer peripheral shape of each negative-pressure suction seal forms a shape comprising a farthest outer peripheral end portion, which is the outer peripheral end portion farthest from the rotational axis, and a nearest outer peripheral end portion, which is the outer peripheral end portion nearest to the rotational axis; and a driven wheel is provided inside each negative-pressure suction seal.

As this kind of well-known technology, the "Device capable of suction-adhering to a surface and moving therealong" disclosed in the Japanese patent No. 2689127 and the "Device capable of suction-adhering to a surface and moving therealong" disclosed in the Japanese patent No. 2805614 are known. These patents were invented by the inventor of the present invention.
The Device comprises the main casing, the wheels secured to the main casing as a means for mobility, the negative-pressure suction seal connected to the main casing having the peripheral end portion which is caused to contact the surface of an object, the negative-pressure suction seal which rotates the axis of rotation perpendicular to the object surface as an axis, the negative pressure forming means to discharge externally the liquid contained in the negative pressure area defined by the main casing, the surface and the negative-pressure suction seal, and the vacuum breaker which makes envelopment fluid flow into the inside of the negative pressure area and maintains the pressure of the area to the predetermined vacuum pressure.
That is, the vacuum breaker is a kind of the relief valve for maintaining vacuum pressure to a fixed degree of vacuum.
The main casing must not necessarily be directly equipped with the relief valve. In the suction hose which connects the main casing, and a negative pressure generation means, the portion close to the main casing of the suction hose may be equipped with the relief valve.
In such a device, the energization of the negative pressure forming means causes the liquid inside the said area to be discharged externally, and the pressure of the liquid that acts on the main casing because of the liquid pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the said area is transmitted to the surface of an object via the wheels, such liquid pressure allowing the Device to adhere to the surface. Additionally, the rotation of the wheels by way of a driving means, such as an electric motor, during such adhesion state allows the Device to move along the surface by the action of the wheels.
Further, if the negative-pressure suction seal in which it was equipped with polish components, such as abrasive cloth, is rotated, polish cleaning of the object surface can be carried out.
And suction recovery of the particulates generated in the case of the polish cleaning work is altogether carried out by the action of the negative pressure generation means. In this device, various cleaning on the object surface can be performed safely and efficiently by remote control, without generating particulates.    [Patent Reference 1]
Japan Patent No. 2689127    [Patent Reference 2]
Japan Patent No. 2805614
In order to use the "Device capable of suction-adhering to a surface and moving therealong" disclosed in Japan Patent No. 2689127 and Japan Patent No. 2805614, there are following problems to be solved.
"Device capable of suction-adhering to a surface and moving therealong" is equipped with the negative-pressure regulating means so that the contact pressure of the surface and the negative-pressure suction seal may be maintained by the small value.
However, when the negative-pressure regulating means is not efficient, the torque of the seal to be rotated is increased by increasing of the friction between the surface and the seal. The reaction of the torque of the seal tends to make the device to rotate. Therefore, it is difficult for the device to travel straight.
Accordingly, the subject of the present invention is offering "Traveling device equipped with dual, rotating, negative-pressure suction seals" which is equipped with the means by which the straight travel function of the device is not obstructed when the device travels along the surface of the structures.

Travelling device equipped with dual, rotating, negative-pressure suction seals


A telecommunication system includes a source private branch exchange (12) that transmits telephone calls from a source to a destination private branch exchange (26) over a public switched telephone network (18). As an alternative to transmitting the calls over the public switched telephone network, the private branch exchange is coupled to a telephony Internet server 30 that can transmit telephone calls over a global wide area computer network such as the Internet (32). The private branch exchange (12) queries the destination private branch exchange (26) to determine if it similarly coupled to a telephony Internet server. If so, the bandwidth used by the telephony Internet server will allow the transmission of the telephone call, the call is routed over the Internet (32) to the intended recipient.

The present invention relates to communication systems, and in particular to systems for selecting alternative routes for telephone calls.
As business is conducted over ever expanding geographical areas, the use of telecommunication services to transmit voice and data signals is continually increasing. As a result of the increased use of these services, the cost for such services becomes a significant part of the cost of doing business. Therefore, most businesses are continually looking for ways to reduce their communication costs.
One known method of obtaining xe2x80x9cfreexe2x80x9d telephone calls is to transmit the calls via a global wide area computer network such as the Internet. In effect, these calls are not free because the user leases the telephone lines that are used to provide their Internet access, however, calls placed over the Internet are not separately billed.
In the past, it has not been possible to seamlessly integrate the Internet as an alternative route for transmitting telephone calls because there is no way of knowing whether an intended recipient has the ability to receive such calls.
Given the shortcomings in the prior art, there is a need for a telephone communication system that can reduce communication costs by automatically determining when it is possible to transmit calls on the Internet to utilize excess bandwidth.
To reduce the cost associated with transmitting telephone calls over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the present invention is a communication system that transmits calls from a source private branch exchange or central office to a destination private branch exchange or central office. The source private branch exchange is coupled to a telephony Internet server that can transmit a call over a global wide area computer network such as the Internet. To determine whether the call can be transmitted over the Internet, the source private branch exchange transmits a message to the destination private branch exchange over the PSTN to determine whether it is similarly equipped with a telephony Internet server. If so, and the bandwidth available on the Internet will accommodate an additional call, then the telephone call is routed to the Internet.
The quality of the call placed on the Internet is continually monitored. If the quality drops below a predetermined threshold, the call is rerouted from the Internet back to the public switched telephone network.

Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.


A magnetoencaphalogram (MEG) detects the neuromagnetic brain signals of a subject by bringing a set of magnetic sensors, preferably SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference device), close to the scalp of the subject. The adverse effect of environmental magnetic noise is reduced by using a second set of magnetic sensors which are placed near the subject. The system includes a bandpass filter, to divide the signals from the various sensors into predetermined frequency bands, and a computer to provide a least squares noise component estimate of the noise from each brain wave sensor and to calculate therefrom a filtered brain wave signal having reduced noise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to medical instruments and more particularly to a low noise magnetoencephalogram (MEG) system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The human brain produces both electrical and magnetic signals. It is conventional to detect both ongoing spontaneous electrical brain activity and evoked electrical brain activity (EP) by non-invasive electrodes connected to the scalp of the patient using an electroencephalograph (EEG). For example, evoked brain activity (EP) may be stimulated by an external stimulus such as a flashed light.
The weak magnetic fields at the scalp, produced by the flow of electrical current within the brain, may be detected by a non-invasive magnetoencephalogram (MEG) whose detecting coils are positioned close to the scalp. There are indications, for example, that the magnetoencephalogram may be used to locate the origin of seizures within the human brain. The earliest MEG devices were constructed inside a magnetically shielded room, since the magnetic fields sought to be detected are much weaker than environmental fields. The environmental field, which is "noise" in the system, changes character over time. Even when the magnetic detecting instrument is brought up close to the patient's scalp, the brain's magnetic signals are so faint that they may be drowned out, even after compensating for the earth's magnetic field, by the stronger magnetic field of a truck passing by outside the building. Unfortunately, a properly magnetically shielded room is expensive. The room must be large enough for the patient, the operators and the sensitive equipment and may cost over two hundred thousand dollars.
An alternative to the use of a magnetic shielded room is to improve the signal sensitivity and noise suppression of the magnetic field detector. The preferred type of MEG uses a "SQUID" (superconducting (S) quantum (QU) interference (I) device (D)). The SQUID operates at cryogenic temperature at which metal loses its electrical resistivity. In one type of SQUID a metal film is deposited on a cylindrical quartz cylinder having a narrow bridge "weak link". A magnetic field will increase the energy, making the superconducitng state unstable so that the weak link converts to its normal state (non-superconducting), allowing one flux quantum to enter. The conduction of the ring is monitored by a radio frequency circuit whose sensitivity is increased with a feedback current circuit. Generally a "flux transporter" is used in which a primary coil ("detection coil"), of superconductive wire, is connected to a secondary coil ("input coil") contained in the superconducting chamber with the SQUID. For example, the chamber is a "dewar" vacuum chamber filled with liquid helium. For example, five primary coils are placed closely about the patient's head to detect the brain' s magnetic fluxes. Those fluxes create responses in the detection coils which are communicated to the SQUIDS, which produces a voltage proportional to the net magnetic flux on each detection coil. The flux transporter and the SQUID constitute a "magnetometer". When used to detect brain activity, the system is called a "magnetoencephalograph" or "MEG".
It has been suggested that a MEG system may be used in a magnetically unshielded room by forming the detection coil with oppositely directed loops (a "gradiometer"), so that external magnetic flux will be detected in both loops and their effects will be canceled. The loops may be arranged, for relative insensitivity to spacially uniform fields and gradients, in a "second derivative gradiometer".
However, the brain's spontaneous neuromagnetic activity is weak (10.sup.-12 Tesla) and the neurpmagnetic evoked response is even weaker (10.sup.-13 Tesla). Consequently, it is difficult to detect such activity in the presence of external magnetic fields which produce noise in the system. It has been suggested that the signal/noise ratio may be improved by using an averaging computer which passes signals which are in synchronism with the stimulus. Since the noise is random, the cumulative average should represent the signals as the random noise cancels itself out. Improvements of signal/noise ratio of 10:1 have been reported. However, that technique is applicable only to evoked response (EP) and not to spontaneous brain activity.
Efficient and effective noise cancellation is critical to the development of the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) as a clinical tool. This noise contamination from environmental magnetic fields is a major factor, even in the latest generation, multichannel, second-order gradiometer of DC SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) systems. For example, for the Biomagnetic Technology Inc. Model 607 magnetometer, removal of this environmental magnetic field contamination requires using the information from four SQUIDS (which act as environmental noise reference sensors) to filter the corresponding noise out of the seven channels which sense both bonafide brain signals and environmental noise. The channels used only to detect environmental noise will be called the noise reference signals or channels, and the channels which detect both neuromagnetic brain signals and environmental noise will be called the brain signals or channels. The noise reference channels monitor the three orthogonal components of the ambient (environmental) magnetic field and, usually, the gradient of the field along the axis of the dewar. In the current commercial systems, these noise reference signals are scaled through a manual procedure which involves static setting of eight independent parameters, four for the noise amplitude and four for the time derivatives of the noise, for each of the seven brain signal channels. This is a total of 56 manual adjustments. Such manual adjustments necessarily are suboptimal and cannot compensate for rapid variations in the relationship between the noise reference and brain signal channels, for example, due to changes in the environment or movement of the dewar from one position to another.
The book, H. Weinberg et al, BIOMAGNETISM: APPLICATIONS AND THEORY (Pergamon Press 1985) contains a chapter, Williamson et al, FIVE CHANNEL SQUID INSTALLATION FOR UNSHIELDED NEUROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS (pgs. 46-51, incorporated by reference herein). In Williamson nine SQUIDS are used in an unshielded environment. Five SQUIDS, having second order gradiometers, monitor brain activity (5-channel magnetometer) and four SQUIDS monitor three components of the ambient field and one component of the gradient. The four SQUIDS attempt to cancel background (environmental) noise by an analog noise cancellation system requiring 40 static adjustments for the 5 brain signal channel magnetometer. The results from this cumbersome procedure are that MEG recordings are often unusable because of overwhelming residual contamination by environmental noise sources. In practice, users of MEG devices often must purchase magnetically shielded recording rooms costing about as much as the MEG instrument itself.

Low noise magnetoencephalogram system and method


A process for the continuous production of vinylchlorosilanes by reacting vinyl chloride with chlorosilanes at elevated temperature consists of a heatable reaction tube having an internal diameter d.sub.1 and a tubular displacement body having an external diameter d.sub.2 mounted within the reaction tube in an axially symmetrical arrangement and extending over the entire length of the reaction tube, the diameter d.sub.2 being smaller than the diameter d.sub.1.

Vinylchlorosilanes, in particular vinyltrichlorosilane, are useful products which are widely used in industry. For instance, they are used for sizing of glass fabrics and in the production of vinylpolysiloxanes.
German Patent No. 936,445, German Offenlegungsschrift No. 22 10 189 and particularly German Patent No. 20 02 258 disclose that when mixtures of vinyl chloride and chlorosilanes and in particular mixtures of vinyl chloride and trichlorosilane are passed through appropriately heated tubes made of ceramics, glass or iron, industrially acceptable yields of vinylchlorosilanes or vinyltrichlorosilane are obtained. In the case of vinyltrichlorosilane, yields of about 50 to 98% are reached, depending on the ratio of the starting components to one another, based on the conversion of the component which is used in less than a stoichiometric amount. These results are achieved when reaction tubes having an internal diameter of 2.5 to 3.5 cm and a length of 122 to 150 cm, mean residence times of the reactants of 0.2 to 20 seconds, reaction temperatures of 400.degree. to 750.degree. C. and pressures of 1 to 3 bar are used. Depending upon the choice of dimensions of the reactor tube and on the reaction parameters, 0.8 to 3.2 tons per month of vinyltrichlorosilane can be produced in such reactors.
The sudden increase in the demand for vinylchlorosilanes, especially for vinyltrichlorosilane, made it necessary to try to increase the output per reaction unit.
According to German Patent No. 20 02 258, particularly good yields are obtained if the internal diameter of the reactor is about 35 mm. In an attempt to increase the output of the unit by enlarging the internal diameter of the reactor, and thus to increase the throughput per unit time, it has been determined that, although a limited increase in the output of the reactor unit occurs up to an enlargement of the internal diameter to 50 mm, this is far from proportional to the increase in the cross-sectional area of the reactor tube. With a further enlargement of the internal diameter of the reactor tube, even a decrease in the achievable output of vinyltrichlorosilane relative to the cross-sectional area of the reactor occurs. Consequently, it is impossible to increase the space-time yield of vinylchlorosilanes in the known tube reactors by enlarging the internal diameter of the reactor tube.

Process for the preparation of vinylchlorosilanes


A method of automatically optimizing a printing apparatus based on media type of a substrate, comprising: (A) inputting a substrate into the printing apparatus; (B) determining the media type of the substrate; (C) automatically adjusting calibration settings according to at least one calibration setting preset, responsive to the determining; and, (D) performing image transfer.

The quality of the image transfer from an intermediate transfer member ("ITM") to a substrate is sensitive to the pressure between the ITM and the substrate which is governed, inter alia, by the spacing (usually negative spacing) between the undeformed ITM and an impression roller. If contact pressure between the substrate and ITM is too high, the blanket can lose its release capability.
On the other hand, if contact pressure between the ITM and substrate is too low, fixing of the ink to the substrate is marginalized, and blanket contamination can cause early blanket failure. If pressure is not substantially the same for all regions along the nip, a section of the print and blanket can fail for the same reasons as the low and high pressure failures.
In existing printers the (negative) spacing and (indirectly) the pressure between the ITM and the substrate on the impression roller is performed manually. It is known that different pressures are required for different print media depending, depending inter alia on the type of media (material, surface finish, smoothness, coating) to which the image is transferred in second transfer. However, due to the variations in other parameters, such as ITM blanket thickness, in the end, the process of second transfer calibration is essentially a manual one.

Apparatuses and methods for automatic printing press optimization

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method in one example implementation includes generating a plurality of transformed views of an object in a network environment and generating a plurality of filtered information sets. The method further includes detecting a suspect correlation based on an analysis of at least some of the plurality of transformed views and of at least some of the plurality of filtered information sets. In a more specific embodiment, the analysis includes an original view of the object. Other more specific embodiments include applying filters to selected views of the object, where each of the filters is associated with a different obfuscation type. Applying the filters includes transforming obfuscation elements in the plurality of transformed views, where the object contains the one or more obfuscation elements.

The Internet has enabled interconnection of different computer networks all over the world. The ability to effectively protect and maintain stable computers and systems, however, presents a significant obstacle for component manufacturers, system designers, and network operators. This obstacle is made even more complicated due to the continually-evolving array of tactics exploited by malicious software authors. Malicious software authors create malicious software ('malware') to disrupt or stop computer operations, steal information, gain unauthorized access to system resources, and conduct other unauthorized abusive, hostile, intrusive, or annoying activities.
Malicious software authors often attempt to avoid detection by transforming or obfuscating malware, making it appear variable and, therefore, unrecognizable to security software such as anti-virus software. Undetected malware can infect computer systems and networks and often propagates to other computers and networks. For example, malware could send out spam or malicious emails from an infected network host, steal sensitive information from a business or individual associated with an infected network host, propagate to other computers, and/or assist with distributed denial of service attacks.
In one example obfuscation technique, web browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, etc.) that automatically remove ASCII NUL bytes from HTML files can enable malware authors to hide malware from security software by scattering random NUL bytes through HTML files, such as a malicious scripts and web pages. This is referred to as the NUL HTML Exploit. In years past, McAfee, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., has provided security software targeting the NUL HTML Exploit in which a different view of an object is presented to a malware scanning engine. The different view shows a filtered HTML file with all ASCII NUL bytes removed. In addition, a map (or maps) shows where NUL bytes were removed and a count of the NUL bytes removed. By comparing the view and map, an irregular pattern of NULs could possibly be identified as malware. Additionally, the map could be evaluated to determine whether strings of interest identified in the filtered view had any NUL bytes filtered out. While this may be effective for a simple case of a NUL HTML Exploit, it is inadequate for accurately detecting more complicated forms of obfuscation in which multiple obfuscation types may be present. Security professionals need to develop innovative tools to combat such tactics that allow malicious software authors to exploit computers.

System and method for detecting malware by transforming objects and analyzing different views of objects


A media stream comprising rich media scene packets and scene update packets is complemented with a data packet defining an exit point for interrupting rendering rich media of the stream and a scene update packet associated with the data packet and defining an entry point back to rendering rich media of the stream. The exit-entry point pair defines an alternative media rendering route that can be used by user terminals to recover from errors in the media stream.

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) based language for representation of static and dynamic vector graphics. SVG is vector-based which means that the content is not made for certain screen resolutions but can be easily scaled. SVG is standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The mobile profile of SVG version 1.1 was adopted by 3GPP Release 5 and it is today supported by roughly 100 million mobile handsets.
SVG Tiny 1.2 [1] is a more powerful version of SVG that is specifically designed for mobile devices and terminals. It is currently a W3C candidate recommendation and has been adopted by 3GPP Release 6. Support for a variety of new multimedia features, including full control of audio and video, is included along with micro Document Object Model (μDOM) and scripting.
In addition to being a media type for vector graphics, SVG can also be used as a scene description language, where a scene can be composed temporally as well as spatially. In fact, SVG Tiny 1.2 is currently under consideration as the presentation format for the 3GPP work item on Dynamic and Interactive Multimedia Scenes (DIMS) as well as for the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) work item on Rich-Media Environment (RME). The standardization of DIMS and RME are currently active and it is expected that the work items will produce aligned deliveries. For DIMS (and also for RME), the main competing proposals are the Mobile Open Rich media Environment (MORE) [2] building on technologies from W3C and the Lightweight Application Scene Representation (LASeR) [3] standardized by MPEG. Both use SVG Tiny 1.2 as basis.
DIMS (RME) content, as opposed to pure SVG content, can be streamed using the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) [4]. The rendered SVG document is referred to as an SVG scene and will typically be updated with smaller scene updates. MORE and LASeR specify how SVG scenes can be transported over RTP. The mechanisms for scene updates are conceptually similar, albeit not identical. LASeR specifies its own mechanisms, whereas MORE uses Remote Events for XML (REX) [5] by W3C.
The ability to recover from errors is essential, especially when unreliable protocols such as RTP are used. Random Access Points (RAPs) are defined in both the MORE and LASeR proposals for this purpose. When an error occurs, one must wait for the next RAP to recover. This RAP is decoded the same way as if one was tuning in for the first time. Everything from the old scene is deleted, and a new tune-in is performed.
The prior art technique of using a RAP to recover from an error is a way of discarding all data and starting again from scratch. All media from before the RAP is destroyed and reinitialized, and all interactivity is lost. This means that even a small error will cause a complete re-initialization of the client.
In order to rely on recovery by using RAPs, it is also necessary to include RAPs frequently in the bit stream. As RAPs typically are large compared to differential scene information, there will be a substantial overhead of redundant data.
Complete re-initialization of a client causes a severe negative impact on user experience. A pause in the audio and video is almost inevitable and the client will revert to default settings.


The electric machine comprises at least one winding made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. The temperature of the winding is monitored using the resistance therein. Temperatures or resistances indicative of a fault can be sensed, and corrective action taken, without the need for dedicated temperature sensors.

In the unlikely event of a turn to turn short-circuit or other electrical fault inside an electric machine such as a motor or generator, the temperature at the faulted winding can become significantly elevated and thereby pose a risk to the continued operation of the machine. However, no other symptoms may be evident initially, until the insulation of the winding deteriorates to a significant level, after which a more serious thermal condition may result. Providing temperature sensors to sense a high temperature within a faulted winding can detect a fault, however, such arrangement adds complexity to the electric machine. Room for improvement exists.

System and method for monitoring temperature inside electric machines


In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for routing items in a warehouse. A computing system receives a request to assign an inbound truck to a transport bay and determines an available subset of unloading paths, by removing any unloading path directed from a transport bay or inbound storage area that is currently occupied/assigned. The computing system determines an available subset of loading paths, by removing any loading path directed to a transport bay or outbound staging area that is currently occupied/assigned. The computing system identifies multiple available path combinations that each include an unloading path from the available subset of unloading paths and a loading path from the available subset of loading paths. The computing system determines a selected path combination based on the selected path combination having a most favorable score.

Warehouses often store physical goods on pallets within racks of the warehouses. Pallets may be flat transport structures that each support a collection of physical goods, and that are configured to allow forklifts and other machines to pick up and move the pallets with the physical goods are stored thereon. In some warehouses, forklifts directly put pallets into the warehouse racks and directly pull pallets from the warehouse racks.
Some warehouses are automated, and in such warehouses a variety of systems automatically (e.g., without human manipulation) put pallets into the racks and pull pallets from racks. Such systems are sometimes called Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). Example systems include conveyor belts to transport pallets from a warehouse dock at which the pallets are unloaded to vertical lift devices that are designed to lift pallets to different levels of a warehouse rack. The racks may be equipped with a cart on each level, and the cart may be designed to carry pallets from the vertical lift device to a final warehouse storage location in the racks. The systems may work in reverse order to pull pallets from the racks and move the pallets to the warehouse dock.
Trucks with pallets designated for storage at a warehouse may be able to dock at any of multiple transport bays at a docking area of the warehouse. Once a truck is docked, forklifts may unload the truck by moving pallets located within the truck to conveyer belts that transport the pallets to vertical lift devices and ultimately the warehouse racks. These same trucks once unloaded, or other trucks that arrive empty, may be loaded with pallets that the warehouse systems pull from the racks and transport to the warehouse dock.

Assigning warehouse resources to an inbound truck to maximize warehouse throughput


A method for charging a battery includes (a) applying a charging current pulse to the battery, (b) after the step of applying the charging current pulse to the battery, measuring a first voltage across the battery, (c) estimating an equilibrium voltage of the battery, (d) determining a Nernst voltage of the battery from a difference between the first voltage and the equilibrium voltage, and (e) controlling charging of the battery at least partially based on the Nernst voltage.

Batteries are used to provide electrical power in a wide variety of applications. A battery includes one or more electrochemical cells which store energy in chemical form. This stored energy is converted to electrical energy via a redox chemical reaction when an electrical load is connected to the battery. Some batteries are intended for single-use and are discarded after their stored energy is depleted. Such batteries are referred to as primary batteries. Other batteries can be recharged after their stored energy is depleted, and these batteries are referred to as secondary batteries.
One popular secondary battery is a lithium-ion battery, which includes one or more lithium-ion electrochemical cells. Each lithium-ion electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode, and electrolyte separating the anode and cathode. Lithium ions move through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode during cell discharging, and lithium ions move through the electrolyte from the cathode to the anode during cell charging. Lithium-ion batteries advantageously have a high energy density, negligible memory effect, and low rate of self-discharge. However, the batteries have some significant drawbacks.
For example, lithium-ion batteries can be easily damaged by overcharging, potentially resulting in battery leakage, fire, and/or explosion. Therefore, it is critical that the batteries not be overcharged. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries can be damaged when used outside of their intended voltage range. Thus, power management circuitry must ensure that voltage of lithium-ion batteries remains within an acceptable range at all times. Furthermore, the batteries degrade over time, such as due to chemical reactions in the anodes and cathodes of constituent electrochemical cells, resulting in reduced battery capacity and increased likelihood of catastrophic battery failure.

Battery chargers and associated systems and methods


The present invention discloses a speaker unit, a speaker system, and a method for adjusting a vibration displacement of a vibration diaphragm. The method for adjusting a vibration displacement of a vibration diaphragm comprises: obtaining a vibration displacement of a vibration diaphragm; when the vibration displacement is less than a designed amplitude of the vibration diaphragm, increasing an output voltage output by a smart PA to a vibration voice coil till the vibration displacement is equal to the designed amplitude; when the vibration displacement is equal to the designed amplitude, maintaining the output voltage output by the smart PA to the vibration voice coil to enable the vibration displacement to be equal to the designed amplitude; and when the vibration displacement is greater than the designed amplitude, reducing the output voltage output by the smart PA to the vibration voice coil.

As sound generation devices used in electronic products such as mobile phones, televisions, and computers, speakers are widely applied in people's daily production and life. At present, common speakers mainly comprise moving-coil speakers, electromagnetic speakers, capacitive speakers, piezoelectric speakers, and the like. The moving-coil speakers are widely applied because of the characteristics such as relatively simple fabrication, low costs, and desirable low-frequency sound generation advantages.
An existing moving-coil speaker usually comprises a speaker module housing and a speaker unit. A typical structure of the speaker unit comprises a vibration system, a magnetic circuit system, and an auxiliary system. The auxiliary system usually comprises a housing that can accommodate the vibration system and the magnetic circuit system. The vibration system comprises a vibration diaphragm, a vibration voice coil fixed on a side of the vibration diaphragm, and a dome (rounded roof portion) fixed at the center position of the vibration diaphragm. The magnetic circuit system comprises a frame and a magnet and a washer that are fixed on the frame.
To improve the acoustic performance of a speaker and prevent a speaker from damages, smart PAs (smart power amplifiers) are increasingly applied to the field of speakers. A smart PA increases an output voltage output to a vibration voice coil to increase a vibration displacement of a vibration diaphragm, and a waveform returned by the vibration voice coil can be monitored. In an algorithm processing mechanism, the output voltage output to the vibration voice coil is analyzed and adjusted according to the waveform of an electrical signal, so as to achieve the objective of protecting the vibration diaphragm while increasing the volume of a speaker. In particular, to prevent a voltage value output by the smart PA from becoming excessively large to cause an excessively large vibration displacement of the vibration diaphragm, an upper limit value of the output voltage is preset in the algorithm processing mechanism of the smart PA. The algorithm processing mechanism ensures that the vibration displacement of the vibration diaphragm under the effect of the output voltage output to the vibration voice coil remains less than a preset safe displacement. In this method, an actual value of the vibration displacement of the vibration diaphragm is not used, so that an actual vibration displacement of the vibration diaphragm may be less than or even greater than an amplitude of the vibration diaphragm. As a result, the performance of the vibration diaphragm cannot be maximized, and the acoustic performance of a speaker is directly affected. Moreover, when an actual displacement is excessively large and fails to be effectively recognized by using this method, the vibration diaphragm may also fail, and the speaker may consequently fail.

Speaker unit, speaker system, and method for adjusting vibration displacement of vibration diaphragm


A solid adhesive composition which has an excellent applying performance even after an applying part of the solid adhesive is left to stand in the atmosphere for a long time and which is excellent in a cap-off performance and which comprises at least an adhesive component, a gelling agent and a solvent, wherein contained in the above composition are at least one selected from the group consisting of waxes such as paraffin waxes and olefin waxes which are a solid at room temperature and have a solubility of 20% or less in the solvent at room temperature and/or a substance absorbing moisture contained at least in the atmosphere and/or the adhesive composition to form an evaporation-inhibiting film.

The present invention relates to a solid adhesive composition having an excellent applying performance even after an applying part of the solid adhesive is left to stand in the atmosphere for a long time.
Conventional solid adhesive compositions such as solid pastes have such a defect that if they are left in a cap-off state, the solvents evaporate, and the adhesive resins contained in the pastes are solidified on the surface layer of the applying part, so that the pastes are less liable to be applied when used next time.
In order to avoid this state, it has so far been tried to add scarcely-volatile solvents or change the composition of an adhesive resin, but the problem therewith is that a drying time for an applied paste is extended or the adhesive strength is lowered.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 53-42343 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 53-67739 are adhesive compositions suited particularly to flooring materials, for example, vinyl chloride-made tiles which are improved in an adhering workability by blending organic solvent solutions of vinyl acetate base polymers with glycerin monostearate, diglycerin monostearate and diglycerin distearate to extend open time (time spent until stuck together after applied and left uncovered) in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 53-42343 and usable time (time spent until it becomes impossible to use adhesives from the time of preparing them) in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 53-67739.
However, the adhesives disclosed in these official gazettes are adhesives of a solution type prepared by dissolving vinyl acetate base polymers in organic solvents.
On the other hand, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 61-293276 are solid pastes for office uses prepared by mixing 60 to 100 parts by weight of resins such as petroleum resins and natural resins with 100 parts by weight of waxes such as paraffin, stearic acid, carnauba wax and low molecular weight polyethylene wax using plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate in combination therewith.
However, in the solid pastes for office uses disclosed in this official gazette, solvents and water are avoided being blended in order to remove a factor of losing the adhesive function caused by evaporation of the solvents and water. In addition thereto, it is positively disclosed that wax is used as a base material.
In light of the problems of the conventional techniques described above, the present invention intends to solve them, and an object of the present invention is to provide a solid adhesive composition having an excellent applying performance even after an applying part of the solid adhesive is left to stand in the atmosphere for a long time.
Intensive investigations of the problems on the conventional techniques described above repeated by the present inventors have resulted in finding that a solid adhesive composition meeting the object described above can be obtained by adding a specific substance to a solid adhesive composition containing at least an adhesive component, a gelling agent and a solvent, and the present invention has come to be completed.
That is, the solid adhesive composition of the present invention comprises the following items (1) to (8).
(1) A solid adhesive composition comprising at least an adhesive component, a gelling agent and a solvent, wherein contained in the above composition is at least one selected from the group consisting of waxes which are a solid at room temperature and have a solubility of 20% or less in the solvent at room temperature.
(2) A solid adhesive composition having an excellent cap-off performance, comprising at least an adhesive component, a gelling agent and a solvent, wherein contained in the above composition is a substance absorbing moisture contained at least in the atmosphere and/or the adhesive composition to form an evaporation-inhibiting film.
(3) A solid adhesive composition comprising at least an adhesive component, a gelling agent and a solvent, wherein contained in the above composition are at least one selected from the group consisting of waxes which are a solid at room temperature and have a solubility of 20% or less in the solvent at room temperature and a substance absorbing moisture contained at least in the atmosphere and/or the adhesive composition to form an evaporation-inhibiting film.
(4) The solid adhesive composition as described in the above item (1) or (3), wherein the waxes which are a solid at room temperature and have a solubility of 20% or less in the solvent at room temperature are at least one selected from the group consisting of paraffin waxes, olefin waxes, microcrystalline waxes, petrolatum, animal waxes, vegetable waxes, mineral waxes, polyethylene waxes and Fisher.Tropsch waxes.
(5) The solid adhesive composition as described in the above item (2) or (3), wherein the substance absorbing moisture contained at least in the atmosphere and/or the adhesive composition to form an evaporation-inhibiting film is at least one selected from the group consisting of glycerin fatty acid esters, polyglycerin fatty acid esters, alkyl phosphates, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, sorbit fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbit fatty acid esters and lecithin.
(6) The solid adhesive composition as described in the above item (1) or (4), wherein the waxes have a content of 0.1 to 15% by weight based on the total amount of the composition.
(7) The solid adhesive composition as described in the above item (2) or (5), wherein the substance absorbing moisture contained at least in the atmosphere and/or the adhesive composition to form an evaporation-inhibiting film has a content of 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the composition.
(8) The solid adhesive composition as described in any of the above items (3) to (5), wherein a content ratio of the waxes to the substance absorbing moisture contained at least in the atmosphere and/or the adhesive composition to form an evaporation-inhibiting film is 1/1 to 100/1 in terms of a weight ratio, and the total content thereof is 0.1 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the composition.


An apparatus for supporting and dispensing a pipe roll. The apparatus includes a frame that has opposite one and other frame ends; a first pair of rollers that are spacedly disposed and mounted at the one end of the frame; and a second pair of rollers that are spacedly disposed and mounted at the other end of the frame. The second pair of rollers are disposed in spaced relationship to the first pair of rollers. The first and second pairs of rollers all extend substantially in parallel to each other and define a circular locus with corresponding support points for the pipe roll. A free standing spool support structure is also disclosed.

Plastic piping is provided in rolls that may be of different length, different size and different diameter. This pipe material is used for a great number of different applications including underground service. It is typical for the roll to be held together by being taped around the roll at certain intervals. When the roll is to be used, the tape is removed. A problem associated with handling the roll is that, once the tape is removed, the roll tends to unwind quickly in a somewhat uncontrollable manner. That makes the overall handling of rolls of this type quite difficult, thus a need for a support system that can be used for holding and dispensing the roll material.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe or tubing dispenser that is particularly adapted for assisting in an unwinding of the roll of pipe or tubing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable cart apparatus that functions as a dispenser for rolls of piping and that can furthermore support a spool of wire or the like that can be dispensed concurrent with the dispensing of the piping.
A further object of the present invention is to also provide an improved spool structure for support of a spool of wire or the like.


Multiple free-piston Stirling (FPS) machines are arranged in a group and connected for preventing or minimizing vibration. A first set of identical beta FPS machines are arranged in a mechanically co-directional orientation and configured to reciprocate in thermodynamically synchronous reciprocation with each other. The first set has axes of reciprocation intersecting a first point. A second set of beta FPS machines are arranged in a mechanically co-directional orientation that is the same as the mechanical orientation of the first set of beta FPS machines and are configured to reciprocate in thermodynamically synchronous reciprocation with each other but in thermodynamically opposed reciprocation to the first set. The FPS machines of the second set are identical to the FPS machines of the first set and have axes of reciprocation intersecting a point, which may be a point at infinity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to Stirling cycle machines and more particularly to groups of beta free piston Stirling cycle engines and beta free piston Stirling cycle coolers that are balanced to prevent or minimize vibration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stirling machines have been known for nearly two centuries but in recent decades have been the subject of considerable development because they offer important advantages. Modern versions have been used as engines and heat pumps for many years in a variety of applications. In a Stirling machine of the type used in the invention, a working gas is confined in a working space comprised of an expansion space and a compression space. The working gas is alternately expanded and compressed in order to either do work or to pump heat. Each Stirling machine has a pair of pistons, one referred to as a displacer and the other referred to as a power piston and often just as a piston. The reciprocating displacer cyclically shuttles a working gas between the compression space and the expansion space which are connected in fluid communication through a heat accepter, a regenerator and a heat rejecter. The shuttling cyclically changes the relative proportion of working gas in each space. Gas that is in the expansion space, and/or gas that is flowing into the expansion space through a heat exchanger (the accepter) between the regenerator and the expansion space, accepts heat from surrounding surfaces. Gas that is in the compression space, and/or gas that is flowing into the compression space through a heat exchanger (the rejecter) between the regenerator and the compression space, rejects heat to surrounding surfaces. The gas pressure is essentially the same in both spaces at any instant of time because the spaces are interconnected through a path having a relatively low flow resistance. However, the pressure of the working gas in the work space as a whole varies cyclically and periodically. When most of the working gas is in the compression space, heat is rejected from the gas. When most of the working gas is in the expansion space, the gas accepts heat. This is true whether the machine is working as a heat pump or as an engine. The only requirement to differentiate between work produced or heat pumped, is the temperature at which the expansion process is carried out. If this expansion process temperature is higher than the temperature of the compression space, then the machine is inclined to produce work so it can function as an engine and if this expansion process temperature is lower than the compression space temperature, then the machine will pump heat from a cold source to a warm heat sink.
Stirling machines can therefore be designed to use the above principles to provide either: (1) an engine having a piston and displacer driven by applying an external source of heat energy to the expansion space and transferring heat away from the compression space and therefore capable of being a prime mover for a mechanical load, or (2) a heat pump having the power piston (and sometimes the displacer) cyclically driven by a prime mover for pumping heat from the expansion space to the compression space and therefore capable of pumping heat energy from cooler mass to a warmer mass. The heat pump mode permits Stirling machines to be used for cooling an object in thermal connection to its expansion space, including to cryogenic temperatures, or heating an object, such as a home heating heat exchanger, in thermal connection to its compression space. Therefore, the term Stirling "machine" is used to generically include both Stirling engines and Stirling heat pumps.
Until about 1965, Stirling machines were constructed as kinematically driven machines meaning that the piston and displacer are connected to each other by a mechanical linkage, typically connecting rods and crankshafts. The free piston Stirling machine was then invented by William Beale. In the free piston Stirling machine, the pistons are not connected to a mechanical drive linkage. A free-piston Stirling machine is a thermo-mechanical oscillator and one of its pistons, the displacer, is driven by the working gas pressure variations and differences in spaces or chambers in the machine. The other piston, the power piston, is either driven by a reciprocating prime mover when the Stirling machine is operated in its heat pumping mode or drives a reciprocating mechanical load when the Stirling machine is operated as an engine. Free piston Stirling machines offer numerous advantages including the ability to control their frequency, phase and amplitude, the ability to be hermetically sealed from their surroundings and their lack of a requirement for a mechanical fluid seal between moving parts to prevent the mixing of the working gas and lubricating oil.
Because free-piston Stirling machines can be constructed and operated as an engine, such engines have been linked as a prime mover to a variety of mechanical loads. These loads include linear electric alternators, compressors and fluid pumps and even Stirling heat pumps. Similarly, because free-piston Stirling machines can be operated in a heat pump mode, they have been driven as a load by a variety of prime movers, including linear motors.
Consequently, a Stirling machine, like a linear motor or alternator, are energy transducers that can each be operated in either of two modes. A Stirling machine can be driven mechanically in reciprocation by a prime mover to pump heat from a lower temperature mass to a higher temperature mass. A Stirling machine can be driven by the energy of the temperature difference between two masses and provide an output of mechanical reciprocation. Similarly, a linear motor or alternator structure can be mechanically driven in reciprocation by a prime mover to generate electrical power output or a linear motor/alternator be driven by a source of alternating electrical power to operate as a motor providing a mechanical reciprocating output. Therefore, a Stirling machine operating as an engine can be used to drive a linear alternator and a linear motor can be used to drive a Stirling machine operating in a heat pumping mode. In both of these cases, the power piston of the Stirling machine is ordinarily directly connected to the reciprocating member of the linear motor or alternator so that they reciprocate as a unit.
Stirling machine have been developed in a variety of configurations. A common form of the modern Stirling engine is the alpha configuration, also referred to as the Rinia, Siemens or double acting arrangements. A second Stirling configuration is the beta Stirling configuration characterized by a displacer and piston in the same cylinder. The third is the gamma Stirling configuration characterized by locating the displacer and piston in different cylinders. The present invention deals with beta configuration, free-piston Stirling machines.
Beta FPS machines have reciprocating masses which are principally the power piston, the displacer and structures attached to each of them that reciprocate with each of them. Consequently, there are two reciprocating composite masses in a beta FPS machine that reciprocate along the axis out of phase with each other. The masses are the composite mass of the piston together with structures that are fixed to the piston and therefore reciprocate with the piston and the composite mass of the displacer together with structures that are fixed to the displacer and therefore reciprocate with the displacer. The oscillating acceleration and deceleration of the composite masses of each machine create an axial force (F=ma) alternating between opposite axial directions. These axially alternating forces cause axially oscillating vibration. Because the two composite masses reciprocate along the same axis, they create a resultant axial force alternating between opposite axial directions. Because a resultant axial force is created, for purposes of the explanation of the present invention and discussion of the invention, a FPS machine can be thought of as simply a machine having a single resultant mass reciprocating inside it and along a longitudinal axis. For that reason, FPS machines can be and are symbolically illustrated as a simple cylindrical body with the resultant axial force of each FPS machine resulting in vibration forces causing vibration which is often considerable.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate prior art beta FPS machines. FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a single beta FPS machine 10 with an axis 12 of reciprocation. The phase of its composite, resultant vibration force can be illustrated by an arrow and/or + or − symbols for purposes, in some situations, of comparison to the phase of other FPS machines.
In the prior art it is known that a pair of two identical beta FPS machines can be positioned coaxially (coaxial axes of reciprocation) in an end to end relationship although they can have space between the ends. This prior art arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 4. There are two identical FPS machines 14 and 16 mounted coaxially along a common axis 18. The two machines 14 and 16 are physically oriented so they are in a mechanically opposed orientation, but they are operated thermodynamically in phase. Because they are mechanically opposed, the expansion spaces or alternatively the compression spaces of both are near (proximal) the center of this arrangement. The other space of each is at the opposite ends.
Because the FPS machines are mechanically opposed but operated thermodynamically in phase, the reciprocating masses of each machine move in the opposite direction from the corresponding masses of the other machine. Therefore, the resultant vibration forces of each machine are equal and opposite and cancel to eliminate or at least minimize net vibration. Of course multiple replications of this arrangement can be combined and also provide a balanced group.
There are several ways known in the prior art for controlling the relative thermodynamic phasing of two or more associated FPS machines. The relative phasing of their operation is controlled by their physical connections and structural characteristics. A simple example known in the prior art is that each FPS machines can be an engine connected to drive a linear alternator. Connecting such alternators together in the same polarity, forces the FPS engines to run in phase. Connecting such alternators together in opposite polarity forces the FPS engines to run in anti-phase. Therefore, for a group of 4 machines, all four linear alternators can be electrically connected together in parallel with two connected at the same polarity and the other two connected at a polarity opposite to the first two. Similarly, for a group of 6 machines, three may be connected in one polarity and three in the opposite polarity giving the result that the three FPS machines of each subgroup will run in phase with each other and in anti-phase to the other three FPS machines of the other subgroup. The same parallel connection for forcing phase relationships can be accomplished with linear motors driving FPS coolers. Other prior art means for forcing the two FPS machines to operate at a selected phase relationship include fluid couplings and thermodynamic cycle couplings. A connection from the inner end of one acceptor to the opposite engine's expansion space in an opposed pair forces the desired equal motions of displacers that uses the gas cycle as a forcing link. The gas from the acceptor of one engine must go to the other engine's expansion space. Two beta FPS machines can be forced to run in phase by connecting their expansion spaces together by a tube or passageway.
Consequently, the thermodynamic phase of operation of two or three beta FPS machines is not merely their manner of operating. It is the result of their structure and connection as known in the prior art. This is like a storage battery in the sense that the polarity of a storage battery, which determines the direction it pushes electrons through the external circuit, is not merely its manner of operation but rather is a characteristic of the machine that is a result of its structure, including its chemical structure. Because the structural characteristics of beta FPS machines that determine the relative thermodynamic phase of their operation is known in the prior art, it is not further described. The thermodynamic phase of each FPS machine may be viewed as and indicated by a polarity.
As described above and known in the prior art, an arrangement of two coaxially positioned beta FPS machines that are in a mechanically opposed orientation and operating in thermodynamically synchronous phase cancels vibration forces. However, if two beta FPS machines are not positioned coaxially, they either form a couple or they have a net translational vibration force. A couple is two parallel forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. A couple applies a torque to the entire composite mass of the machines which results in a vibrational torque.
The problem with FPS machines that are on non-coaxial axes of reciprocation is illustrated in FIGS. 15-18 for parallel axes of reciprocation. When the axes are neither parallel nor coaxial, the problem is made more complicated by the effect of the oblique resultants of the net vibrational forces and couples. In FIGS. 15-18 the E and C represent the expansion space end and the compression space end of the beta FPS machines and therefore represent the mechanical orientation of the machines. Referring to FIG. 15, if the axes of two parallel FPS machines are in a mechanically opposed orientation, and are operated in thermodynamically opposite reciprocation, their reciprocating masses move in mechanical synchronism and therefore they have a net vibrational translation force. Referring to FIG. 16, if the axes of two parallel FPS machines are in a mechanically opposed orientation, and are operated in thermodynamically synchronous reciprocation, their reciprocating masses move in mechanically opposed directions and they have a net vibrational couple and therefore a net vibrational torque. Referring to FIG. 17, if the axes of two parallel FPS machines are in a mechanically co-directional orientation, and are operated in thermodynamically opposite reciprocation, their reciprocating masses move in mechanically opposed directions and they have a net vibrational couple and therefore a net vibrational torque. Referring to FIG. 18, if the axes of two parallel FPS machines are in a mechanically co-directional orientation, and are operated in thermodynamically synchronous reciprocation, their reciprocating masses move in mechanical synchronism and therefore they have a net vibrational translation force.
The main purpose of the invention is to position and orient each beta, free piston Stirling machine of a group of beta, free piston Stirling machines in arrangements other than end to end coaxially and still cancel all the vibration forces and vibration torques that result from the acceleration and deceleration of their internal reciprocating masses. In other words, the sum of all acceleration forces (F=ma) from all reciprocating components and the sum of all couples (torque) both sum to zero. The arrangements that embody the invention provide groups of beta FPS machines that have a different aspect ratio than the long thin arrangement that characterizes the end to end coaxial arrangement while still canceling all force and torque vibrations. Different aspect ratios are preferred for different applications or implementations of FPS machines. For some applications or implementations of multiple FPS machines, it is desirable to have the machines in a long thin arrangement. For those applications, the prior art arrangement for canceling vibration forces is preferred. However, for some applications it is desirable to have an arrangement in which the FPS machines are more nearly or completely side by side so that the arrangement is more compact and not long and thin.
Another advantage of the present invention is that, unlike the end to end coaxial arrangements of the prior art, arrangements that embody the invention also allow the hot ends and/or the cold ends of such machines to be placed in nearby adjacent or laterally spaced positions. For example, the ends that accept heat can be conveniently located near the source of heat and/or the heat rejecting ends can be located near a heat sink. An example of this location of the respective ends is true for the examples of FIGS. 17 and 18, although they are not balanced because they do not embody the invention.
Yet another advantage of the present invention arises because the inventors believe that in the future, for some applications, multiple smaller beta FPS machines in a group will be a preferable implementation than a single or a few larger machines. Smaller machines are much less expensive to construct. Therefore, in some cases, economies of scale and mass production are likely to give a lower cost final product when comprised of multiple smaller machines.

Balanced multiple groupings of beta stirling machines


A multiple thermocouple assembly with a reduced wire count is configured for use in an ablation catheter tip. In at least one embodiment, the assembly comprises a first metal material comprising a plurality of junctions; a plurality of conductors comprising a second metal material, each conductor connected to the first metal material at one of the plurality of junctions; and a common conductor that is physically paired with at least one of the plurality of conductors at a corresponding common conductor junction such that the common conductor forms a thermocouple pair with each of the plurality of conductors.

a. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to multiple thermocouples sharing a common wire.
b. Background Art
Electrophysiology catheters are used in a variety of diagnostic and/or therapeutic medical procedures to diagnose and/or correct conditions such as atrial arrhythmias, including for example, ectopic atrial tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter. Arrhythmias can create a variety of conditions including irregular heart rates, loss of synchronous atrioventricular contractions, and stasis of blood flow in a chamber of a heart, which can lead to a variety of symptomatic and asymptomatic ailments and even death.
A medical procedure in which an electrophysiology catheter is used includes a first diagnostic catheter deployed through a patient's vasculature to a patient's heart or a chamber or vein thereof. An electrophysiology catheter that carries one or more electrodes can be used for cardiac mapping or diagnosis, ablation and/or other therapy delivery modes, or both. Once at the intended site, treatment can include, for example, radio frequency (RF) ablation, cryoablation, laser ablation, chemical ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound-based ablation, or microwave ablation. An electrophysiology catheter imparts ablative energy to cardiac tissue to create one or more lesions in the cardiac tissue and oftentimes, a contiguous, and transmural lesion. This lesion disrupts undesirable cardiac activation pathways and thereby limits, corrals, or prevents errant conduction signals that can form or sustain arrhythmias.
The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate the present field and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope.

Multiple thermocouple assembly with reduced wire count

St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.


Straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers including 1,4-dicyanobutene, 1,4-dicyanobutadiene and adiponitrile are produced at a high selectivity rate and yield by dimerizing acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one ruthenium compound, for example dichloro-tetrakis (dimethylsulfoxide) ruthenium, and in the presence of at least one organic acid, for example, propionic acid, and optionally in the further presence of a basic compound, a reducing compound and/or a sulfoxide compound.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers including 1,4-dicyanobutene, 1,4-dicyanobutadiene and adiponitrile at a high selectivity and yield.
The above-mentioned straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers are useful as an intermediate for producing hexamethylene-diamine which is an important material for producing nylon 66, rust-inhibiting agents and vulcanization promoters for rubber materials.
2) Description of Related Art
A method of producing 1,4-dicyanobutene compounds and adiponitrile by using a catalyst comprising a ruthenium compound is well-known from A. Misono et al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., Vol. 41 No. 2, 396-401 (1968). In the method, acrylonitrile is dimerized in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst in a hydrogen gas atmosphere, Misono et al., disclose that if this method is carried out not using the hydrogen gas atmosphere, no dimerization of acrylonitrile occurs, and the dimerization of acrylonitrile can proceed only within the hydrogen gas atmosphere. This method is, however, disadvantageous in that acrylonitrile is brought into contact with the ruthenium catalyst in the hydrogen gas atmosphere, wherein dimerization of acrylonitrile proceeds and hydrogenation of acrylonitrile, which is not desired, occurs as a side reaction and a large amount of propionitrile is produced as a by-product. Therefore, to utilize the by-product consisting of propionitrile for practical use, it is necessary to return propionitrile to acrylonitrile by a dehydrogenation of propionitrile in the presence of a catalyst. However, this dehydrogenation of propionitrile exhibits a low selectivity and the dehydrogenation catalyst has poor catalytic activity. Therefore, the conversion of propionitrile to acrylonitrile is difficult and it is disadvantageous to industrialize, same.
JP-B-44-24,585, JP-B-45-4,048 and JP-B-54-12,450 disclose methods of producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers with an enhanced selectivity. In these methods, the selectivity of the straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers is 55 to 67%. Nevertheless, since the dimerization of acrylonitrile in these methods is carried out in the presence of hydrogen, it is unavoidable that propionitrile be produced as a by-product at a high selectivity of 33 to 45%. This by-production of propionitrile in a large amount renders the methods of the above-mentioned Japanese publication for producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers industrially inapplicable.
JP-B-54-12,450 discloses a method of dimerizing acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalyst and hydrogen comprising an inorganic ruthenium compound, ruthenium carboxylate, or ruthenium complex. In this method, the dimerization reaction of acrylonitrile is promoted by adding, to the reaction system, a carboxylate of a specific metal selected from lead, zinc, cadmium, tin, iron and manganese. This prior art method, is disadvantageous in that since the dimerization reaction of acrylonitrile is carried out in the presence of hydrogen, the undesirable by-production of propionitrile is unavoidable.
JP-A-51-146,420 discloses that acrylonitrile can be dimerized into dinitrile at a reaction temperature of 300.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst in the absence of hydrogen. Nevertheless, this method is disadvantageous in that catalytic activity is unsatisfactorily low and thus when propionitrile is produced as a by-product in a low yield, the conversion of acrylonitrile to intended dimers is also poor, for example, several percent. Where acrylonitrile is converted at a high conversion rate, the by-production of propionitrile is increased, and the selectivity of C.sub.6 dinitrile products is reduced. Further, the resultant dinitrile product comprises a mixture of straight-chain dimers and branched-chain dimers. Therefor, the selectivity of the intended straight-chain dimers is unsatisfactorily low.
Accordingly, there is a strong demand for the provision of a method of producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers while restricting the undesirable production of propionitrile that cannot be easily converted to acrylonitrile.
In the prior art methods, the use of hydrogen causes an undesirable high risk of explosion when the reaction is mixed with air or oxygen, and thus a complete sealing of the reaction system is necessary.
The above-mentioned causes the reaction procedures and apparatus to be complex and costly.
Therefore, there is a strong demand for the provision of a new method of safely producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers without using hydrogen.

Method of producing straight-chain acrylonitrile dimers