An imaging apparatus including an imaging device, an iris control circuit, and a gradation compensation circuit is disclosed with the iris control circuit operated with a priority to the gradation compensation circuit. That is, during generating the gradation control data for gradation compensation circuit, if the iris controlling is required, generating the gradation control data is stopped. Generating the gradation control data is started after completion of the iris controlling.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an imaging apparatus for receiving an image and generating a video signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An imaging apparatus for generating a video signal in response to a received image with automatic exposure controlling is known. Such a first prior art imaging apparatus is disclosed in Japanese patent application provisional publication No. 5-56377. In the first prior art imaging apparatus, automatic exposure controlling is made in accordance with three control parameters such as an iris, a shutter speed, and a gain. A second prior art imaging apparatus discloses a gradation correction circuit for rich gradation expression in Japanese patent application provisional publication No 6-253176.


A retractable wiring harness device attaches to the trailer frame near the trailer hitch and contains a length of retractable wiring harness which extends from a housing member to install within the wiring connection on a towing vehicle, the trailer wiring harness wired into the lighting and braking wiring harness of the trailer. When the trailer is disconnected from the towing vehicle and the retractable wiring harness is disconnected from the wiring connection of the vehicle, the wire cable is withdrawn into the housing member to retain the retractable wiring harness, keeping it off the ground and out of the way of the trailer hitch.

1. Field of Invention
A retractable wiring harness device attaches to the trailer frame near the trailer hitch and contains a length of retractable wiring harness which extends from a housing member to install within the wiring connection on a towing vehicle, the trailer wiring harness wired into the lighting and braking wiring harness of the trailer. When the trailer is disconnected from the towing vehicle and the retractable wiring harness is disconnected from the wiring connection of the vehicle, the wire cable is withdrawn into the housing member to retain the retractable wiring harness, keeping it off the ground and out of the way of the trailer hitch.
2. Description of Prior Art
The following United States patents were discovered and are disclosed within this application for utility patent. All relate to wire and cord reel devices. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,060 TO Hibbs, an extension cord reel is disclosed having a single sided mounting reel upon which a cord is wound with an outer retaining ring attached to the reel. The reel in mounted on a frame and is held in place by a single pin axle. The winding of the cord in performed by manual means.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,657,491 to Ryder and 3,432,623 to Blanch disclose cord reels with a ratchet and pawl mechanism to retain the reel in place while the wound cord is deployed. Ryder also discloses a constant connection between the fixed end of the cord and the reel mechanism. A coil spring is disclosed in the retractable reel of U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,234 to Morey, which also includes an electrical cord with a fixed end and an extendable free end of the electrical cord.
A rotary transmission device which allows for the transmission of current between two rotary plates is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,138 to Kettenring, which appears to demonstrate four conductor wires mounted to a first rotary plate, with a second rotary plate having some means of contact with the first rotary plate for the transmission of current between the two rotary plates to provide current to a four wire harness. Another reel device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,243 to Yamamoto which discloses a retractable reel within a housing with a wire harness wound upon a central reel with one end of the harness attached to a fixed support arm and the other end of the wiring harness being free to extend from the housing to a desired length from the housing, providing the wiring harness at extendable lengths from the housing.


A method and apparatus for maintaining and dispensing chilled or frozen products including a plurality of dispensing apparati each within a chilled chamber and each having a valve outlet through which the chilled or frozen product is dispensed. In another aspect the chilled or soft frozen product dispensing apparatus utilizes gas pressure extrusion of the chilled or soft frozen products wherein the chilled or soft frozen product passes along a heat extrusion head projection as it is extruded which results in a dispensing of uniformly chilled flowable food products.

In the past, refrigerated mixing and dispensing machines were bulky due to the fact that the drive train for the machine was offset from the drive shaft of the motor. These drive trains usually utilize belt drives which result in power loss, slippage and inefficient use of space. In addition many prior refrigerated mixing and dispensing machines have the food product fed to a dasher assembly with erratic performance and dispensing. When equipped with a pump, existing refrigerated mixing and dispensing machines are frequently difficult to dissemble and clean.
Another existing problem for prior refrigerator mixing and dispensing machines is the inability of the dasher blade assembly to keep the mix from freezing on the interior wall of the freezing cylinder thereby causing inefficient heat transfer. Most of these machines have fixed blades that maintain a constant pressure and present wear problems. Other approaches have been to create a motor-gear driven system which avoid shaft and clutch assemblies thus affording elimination of problems associated with offset belt drives such as power loss, slippage and inefficient use of space. All of these mechanical approaches are subject to wear and generally do not present a simple to remove apparatus for inspection and cleaning.
Independent of the dispensing mixing refrigerated machines, the dispensing of soft frozen food products frequently results in nonuniformity of viscosity of the dispensed product. The dispensing apparatus of the prior art fails to dispense uniformly chilled flowable food product, for example, when the product valve is initially opened, the first dispensed product is of a warmer temperature than the remainder of the product, producing a melted product which is not desirable. Substantial food product waste is created by these dispensing apparatus since the initial dispensing food product must be caught separately and discarded due to the nonuniformity of temperature and viscosity.
Flowable food dispensing problems relating to thermodynamics have also been encountered by confectionery dispensers as well wherein the viscosity or flowability of the produce is dependent upon the temperature. Chilled confectionery dispensers operate under conditions very close to safety limits of solidification temperatures. Various attempts have been made in resolving these problems, for example, through the use of nozzle assemblies with the nozzle assembly being insulated from surrounding components and having portions which are heat controllable in order to accommodate the sensitive thermal limitations in confectionery dispensing.
Similarly, dispensing of uniform viscosity chilled food products requires careful control of the thermodynamics of the apparatus. The key for dispensing uniformly chilled flowable food products utilizing a dispensing assembly of a simple design has resulted in the present invention wherein the principle object is to provide a new apparatus for cooling and dispensing uniformly chilled flowable food products through a dispensing tube extrusion head past a heat sink extrusion head projection for release of the uniformly chilled product. The apparatus utilizes simple chilled gas pressure as a driving force for extrusion thus eliminating the need or the problems associated with pumps, gear drive motors, shafts, clutch assemblies and the like.


A laser system includes two separate active laser-resonators. A first of the laser-resonators delivers laser-radiation at a first wavelength, and the second generates fundamental laser-radiation at second wavelength. The second resonator includes an optically-nonlinear crystal. The radiation delivered by the first laser-resonator is mixed in the optically-nonlinear crystal with the fundamental radiation circulating in the second resonator thereby generating radiation having the sum frequency of the first and second wavelengths. In one example, an OPS-laser-resonator having a fundamental wavelength of 976 nm includes a CLBO crystal. 244 nm radiation from an intracavity-frequency-doubled 488 nm argon-ion laser is mixed in the CLBO with the 976 nm radiation to provide 195 nm radiation.

Optical systems are used in optical lithography for patterning or "writing" on photoresist for lithographic masking operations. The resolution of these optical systems is inversely related to the wavelength used for the patterning or writing. In so-called direct-writing systems, where photoresist coated wafers are directly patterned by an optically-steered, focussed, beam of radiation rather than being exposed the, the quality of the beam is as important as the wavelength of the beam for obtaining highest possible resolution, and, accordingly smallest possible feature size. Smaller features, of course, lead to higher component packing densities. One particularly useful light source for direct writing operations is an intracavity frequency-doubled argon ion-laser. having an output wavelength of 244 nm. Such a laser is used in a direct writing system manufactured by Etec, Inc., of Hayward, Calif.
Because of a continuing demand for ever smaller and faster semiconductor devices, there is a similar need for a laser system having a shorter wavelength than the 244 nm of existing direct-writing systems. Such a laser system, of course, should have a beam-quality comparable to existing 244 nm laser systems and provide sufficient power such that exposure times are not unacceptably protracted.

CW far-UV laser system with two active resonators


A scoop device having a scoop and a handle with an articulated connection that allows for a sift plate to be operated by manual manipulation of an actuator bar. The actuator bar is operatively connected to the sift plate by means of a reciprocating bar in an articulating manner. The sift plate is positioned to slide along the bottom of the scoop. The actuator bar, which is contained within and a part of the handle, may be spring biased. The scoop bottom and sift plate may include slotted openings. Manipulation of the actuator bar causes the reciprocating bar to rotate, in turn causing the sift plate to move back and forth, thereby sifting, straining or otherwise separating fresh particulate from scoop.

The care of pets is a substantial undertaking. In addition to feeding and general healthcare, a pet owner must also tend to pet waste disposal. This is particularly true for cats, which are often house bound animals. A conventional method of addressing cat waste product is to provide a tray or similar container that holds particles or granules of absorbent litter. The cat is trained to urinate and defecate in the "litter box," thereby affording the owner a more convenient opportunity to retrieve and dispose of the waste and soiled litter.
Different types of litter are known in the art. One type of litter is often referred to as "clumping litter." This type of litter forms "clumps" when wetted, as when a cat urinates in the litter box. The clumps can be removed from the box along with any feces and soiled litter to leave the remaining fresh litter available for future use.
It is well known to provide a scoop or other hand-held device to facilitate the removal of feces, soiled litter and litter clumps. In fact, a wide variety of litter scoops are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,627 discloses a "Scoop for Cat Litter" that includes a shovel-like end portion with a bottom panel, two side panels, and a rear panel that allow the user to dig out waste and soiled litter from a litter box or the like. The disclosed panels include elongated slotted openings to sift on strain the litter for disposal. The slots thus allow the user to strain waste material and soiled litter from the fresh litter, and return the fresh litter to the litter box for future use. The operation may entail shaking the scoop, which can result in spilling some of the litter. A shield is provided at the rear panel to protect a user from contact with litter as a result of the straining or sifting operation. A user of such a device may not vigorously shake the scoop in order to avoid spills.
As a further example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,549 discloses a "Dual Action Scooper for Clumping and Non-Clumping Cat Litter" that is configured to segregate and lift-away wet cat litter. The rear portion of the scooping blade provides a containment-bowl area, effectively holding wet cat litter when the handle is tilted down. Yet another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,058, which discloses a "Vibrating Cat Litter Scoop." That disclosed scoop provides a vibrating mechanism activated by a thumb switch located at the handle of the device. Upon activation, the vibrating mechanism imparts an oscillating movement to accelerate the manual steps of insertion, pushing, lifting and sifting the litter.
A further example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,973, which discloses a "Thermoformed Litter Scoop." That disclosed scoop provides a generally concave scoop portion having a plurality of openings defined to allow the passage of litter particulates therethough. That disclosed invention is characterized by reinforcing ribs. More particularly, the disclosed scoop discloses at least two handle supporting ribs that extend along substantially the entire length of the handle portion and into the central portion of the scoop portion, and at least two scoop supporting ribs extending outwardly into the handle-scoop connecting region along an upper portion of each side of the rear wall of the scoop portion.
Yet another scoop is offered under the trademark "DuraScoop," which provides a slotted, concave scoop portion with an integral handle. The slotted scoop portion is fitted with a matingly-configured slotted, concave closure panel that sits immediately below the scoop. The closure panel includes an integrally formed button that extends both above and below the handle of the scoop so as to be manipulated by a user. Manipulation of the button relative to the handle slides the closure panel relative to the scoop. In a first position, the closure panel slots are aligned with the scoop portion slots so that litter can exit the scoop. Thus, the "DuraScoop" device provides for manual sifting or straining of the litter along the line of that addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,627. However, in order to avoid spillage, the "DuraScoop" product provides a button that may be depressed toward the handle so as to slide the closure panel forward relative to the scoop. When fully depressed to a second position, the slots in the scoop are covered by the closure panel so that neither litter nor waste material may spill out of the concave scoop. The user of this "DuraScoop" device is thus provided with the ability to selectively retain all material captured by the scoop, including waste material and soiled litter, for disposal. If the user wishes to sift or strain the litter, the "DuraScoop" product's slidable closure panel may be returned to the first position by an upward movement of the user's index finger on the button portion below the handle, which operates to return the button to its original, first position and aligns the scoop's and closure panel's respective slots to facilitate sifting and straining. Consistent therewith, the "DuraScoop" product's advertising states: "Slots close to prevent spills" and "Waste goes in trash not on floor." See http://www.durascoop.com/original.php?productid=2#iding. The purpose and effect of the "DuraScoop" product's closure panel is to provide a mechanical cover that precludes material from exiting the scoop prematurely; it prevents spillage.
It is, of course, desirable to scoop soiled litter, clumped litter and waste material in such a manner as to prevent spills. Even so, it is also desirable to facilitate the straining and sifting of used (or clumped) litter and waste from the fresh, still useable litter. While each of the foregoing devices provides utility, there is a need in the art for a scoop that not only prevents spills, but also assists and facilitates, even enhances, the straining and sifting operations routinely associated with the use of a standard scoop.

Scoop device with articulated-arm sifting action


A continuous seal ring member fitted in a ring groove of a piston of a compressor. The seal ring member has a washer-like initial shape with an internal diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the piston, whereby the inner peripheral portion of the seal ring member is expanded when the seal ring member is fitted in the ring groove. The outer peripheral portion of the ring seal member is then axially and inwardly collapsed relative to the inner peripheral portion thereof so that one of the side surfaces of the initial seal ring member constitutes an outer sealing surface for engagement with the cylinder bore and the outer peripheral portion in the original shape is arranged on the side of said compression chamber. A backup ring member fitted in the ring groove on the side of the continuous seal ring member remote from the compression chamber has a surface area abutting against the side surface of the ring groove on the side remote from the compression chamber and sufficient to retain the continuous seal ring member in the ring groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piston in a compressor, and in particular, it relates to an improvement of a sealing arrangement of a piston in a compressor such as used in an air conditioning system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a compressor, a piston seal ring is provided in a ring groove of a piston to seal an annular gap between the piston and the cylinder bore. A typical piston seal ring is a discontinuous metal ring with a slit and can be used under tension. Recently, a continuous plastic seal ring has been developed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,227. Such a continuous plastic seal ring is referred to as a washer-like seal ring, and examples thereof are shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B of the attached drawings. The washer-like continuous seal ring 2 has an initial shape with a relatively thin width t.sub.0, like a washer used in various mechanical fields, as shown in FIG. 8A, and in use is deformed into a generally barrel-like shape, as shown in FIG. 8B. The initial seal ring 2 has an inner peripheral portion 2a, an outer peripheral portion 2b, and side surfaces 2c and 2d; the internal diameter of the inner peripheral portion 2a being smaller than an outer diameter of a piston 1 on which the seal ring 2 is to be attached Accordingly, the inner peripheral portion 2a of the seal ring 2 is radially expanded when the seal ring 2 is urged toward the piston 1, for example, in the direction of the arrow X, to fit the seal ring 2 in a ring groove of the piston 1.
When the seal ring 2 falls in the ring groove, it is further deformed, for example, by a suitable conical tool, in the reverse direction to the arrow X and the outer peripheral portion 2b is axially and inwardly collapsed relative to the inner peripheral portion 2a, so that one of the side surfaces 2d of the initial washer-like seal member 2 changes to an outer sealing surface of a barrel-like ring member 2 to be engaged with an inner surface of a cylinder bore in which the piston 1 is to be inserted. In this final shape, one of the side surfaces 2b (i.e., the outer peripheral portion 2b of the initial washer-like seal ring 2) has a thickness t.sub.1, which is generally equal to the width t.sub.0 of the initial seal ring 2, but the other side surface 2a (i.e., the inner peripheral portion 2a of the initial washer-like seal ring 2) has a reduced thickness t.sub.2 because the inner peripheral portion 2a has expanded. This seal ring 2 is advantageously used in a position, as shown in FIG. 8C, in which the thick side surface 2b is arranged on the side of the compression chamber A, i.e., on the side of the piston head la, to increase a sealing function of the compressed gas in the compression chamber A, and the thin side surface 2a is arranged on the opposite side. As shown in FIG. 8D, this barrel-like ring member 2 receives the high pressure of the compressed gas in the compression chamber A during a compression stroke of the compressor from the inner peripheral surface thereof, and is radially expanded into close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder bore 4. In this way, the barrel-like ring member 2 can hermetically slide in the inner surface of the cylinder bore 4 to provide a good sealing function, and be retained in the ring groove 15 by an abutting thereof against the side surface of the ring groove 15.
It will be understood that arrangement of the seal ring member 2 so that the thick side surface 2b faces toward the compression chamber A, as shown in FIG. 8C, is intended to minimize an outer clearance between the seal ring member 2 and the inner surface of the cylinder bore 4 (preferably to zero) and to provide an inner clearance between the seal ring 2 and the bottom of the ring groove 15 such that an escape of the compressed gas from the compression chamber A toward the unti-pistonhead area is prevented and is held in an inner gap between the inner surface of the seal ring 2 and the bottom of the ring groove 1 during the compression stroke of the compressor.
Nevertheless, the arrangement of the seal member 2 fitted in the ring groove 15 causes a problem in that the thickness t.sub.2 of the thin side surface 2a is reduced not only by the initial expansion of the inner peripheral portion 2a during insertion of the seal ring member 2 but also by a further expansion during the compression stroke of the compressor by the internally applied high pressure of the compressed gas, and thus the seal ring member 2 does not remain in the ring groove 15 and may be forced out into a gap between the inner surface of the cylinder bore 4 and the seal ring. 2.

Sealing arrangement for a piston in a compressor

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


A cellular phone provided with a camera that comprises an imaging optical system, a lens barrel, a drive mechanism, and a reception informing processor, is provided. The lens barrel holds the imaging optical system. The drive mechanism drives the lens barrel in order to carry out one of a focusing operation and a zooming operation of the imaging optical system. The reception informing processor informs of a reception of a communication when the reception is detected. The reception informing processor comprises a mechanism to inform of the reception by actuating the lens barrel by using the drive mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cellular phone provided with camera functionality.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some cellular phones are provided with camera functionality as well as phone functionality and mail functionality. This type of cellular phone (camera cell phone) comprises an imaging optical system and an imaging device such as a CCD. An optical image of an object is formed on an imaging surface of the CCD via the imaging optical system. The optical image produced on the imaging surface is subjected to photoelectrical conversion so that image data of the object is obtained.

Cellular phone provided with camera and reception informing method


In various embodiments, a connector for a lighting device is provided. The lighting device has a planar support with at least one electrical contact formation at an edge of the planar support. The connector includes a fork-shaped shell with a notch coupleable with said planar support edge with said planar support edge inserted in said notch, and an electrical contact structure on at least one side of said notch configured to provide electrical contact with an electrical contact formation on said edge inserted in said notch.

In the field of lighting applications the use is spreading of lighting devices including a planar support (e.g. an optionally flexible ribbon-shaped support comparable to a Printed Circuit Board, i.e. a PCB), whereon there are arranged light radiation sources optionally provided with drive circuits.
For the power supply of such modules connectors may be used which may be coupled to the module extremities. Such connectors may be quite bulky and/or may have a fixed number of poles, so that they allow for a single position of the electrical connection. In the case of certain lighting modules (e.g. operating at 24 V), an electrical connector may therefore be coupleable only to one module extremity and not to the other (lest the exact match of colours and supply wires be lost).
Mounting the connector at an extremity may be disadvantageous e.g. when the module must be mounted with one or both extremities at corner positions, e.g. between two converging walls: in such conditions the extremity of the lighting module is located at an edge position within the dihedral angle formed by the walls.

Connector for lighting devices, corresponding accessory and method


A notification device includes a processing module configured to determine a communication mode capability of an alarm panel. The processing module communicates with the control using the determined communication mode. The notification device also includes an output module that is in electrical communication with the processing module. The output module is configured to produce an output signal in response to a signal communicated by the alarm panel.

I. Field
The present invention relates generally to emergency alerting systems installed in buildings. More specifically, the present invention relates to a configurable notification device.
II. Background Details
During construction of new buildings, various devices such as smoke detectors and fire alarm notification devices are mounted and wired throughout the structure. This work usually occurs before the drywall and painting has been completed. The various devices may be wired to an alarm panel that monitors the status of the devices. Some systems utilize an addressable communication protocol to monitor the status of the notification devices. In these systems, each notification device is assigned a unique address and the alarm panel may monitor the status of the device by communicating a status request message to the notification device and by receiving a response to the status request from the notification device.
Other systems utilize a non-addressable communication protocol. In these systems, a first polarity DC voltage is communicated during a supervisory mode of operation from the alarm panel to the notification devices. In this mode, a rectifier in each of the respective notification devices prevents activation of the notification device. A passive component such as a resistor is placed at the end of a given circuit to provide a path for current to flow. The alarm panel monitors this current flow to determine whether there is a break in the continuity of the wiring that connects the notification devices to the alarm panel. In an active mode, the polarity of the DC voltage is reversed, which in turn forward biases the rectifiers in the respective notification devices thus enabling activation of the notification devices.
One problem with addressable and non-addressable notification devices is that they are not interchangeable. That is, a non-addressable notification device cannot be utilized in a system that utilizes an addressable communication protocol and vice versa. This burdens the field installer with having to carry both types of notification devices when on a repair call.


A method for the manufacture of paper faced foam which comprises (a) applying a foam-forming mixture to at least one advancing cellulosic sheet or composite thereof with an air- and/or moisture-impermeable material, the cellulosic sheet (i) being impregnated with cured polyisocyanate, (ii) being sufficiently flexible for unwinding from a roll for conveyance along a production line and (iii) having a moisture content which does not exceed about 10 percent and is evenly distributed throughout the cellulosic sheet, and (b) foaming and curing the faced foam-forming mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for continuously producing a rigid plastic foam insulation board having on at least one major surface thereof a cellulosic facing member which has been impregnated with polyisocyanate.
2. Description of the Art
The usefulness of foamed plastics is well known. The rigid types, because of their especially good thermal insulation properties, find extensive application in the manufacture of laminated articles for the building industry.
These laminated articles can be made continuously or discontinuously, for example, batchwise in a mold. In either case, the, process usually involves deposition of a foam-forming mixture onto a facing sheet and bringing a second such sheet into contact with the mixture before formation of the finished article.
Particularly suitable facing sheets for such laminates from the standpoint of their inexpensiveness and ease of handling are cellulosic materials. The production of paper-faced rigid foams is described in many patents, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,686,047, 3,903,346, 3,940,517, 4,121,958, 4,292,363, 4,366,204, and 4,764,420.
Recent U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,008,359 and 5,140,086 describe the production of polyisocyanate-impregnated cellulosic materials, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,176 discloses the use of such materials to form relatively rigid and strong hydrophobic sheets as siding layers for structural siding products. The sheets are said to provide weather protection, impact resistance and wind penetration resistance to a structure, and to contribute to its racking strength. Structural siding products made with the sheets can substitute for the conventional let-in braces, plywood or oriented strandboard corner sheeting used to furnish racking strength in building structures, thus saving time, labor and expense in construction.
It would be a considerable advance in the art to provide a method for the continuous production of a rigid foam insulation board which is faced with cellulosic material having a full range of facer properties desired in the art, including strength akin to that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,176's siding layers but without their rigidity.

Method for continuous manufacture of foam boards with isocyanate-impregnated facers


A push-type expandable fixture provided to secure a work-piece to a rotatable machine. An expandable sleeve is inserted within a bore of a hollow work-piece. The work-piece together with the expandable sleeve is disposed about a pair of wedge members which are in turn secured to a first rotatable portion of the machine. The wedge members engage a corresponding tapered internal surface of the expandable sleeve. The second wedge member is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first wedge member and together extends through the work-piece to engage a second rotatable portion of the machine. As the first and second rotatable portions of the machine are brought toward one another, the wedge members act on the tapered surfaces of the sleeve forcing the sleeve to radially expand and firmly grip the work-piece. The arrangement provides the ability to firmly secure a work-piece to a rotatable machine tool by a simple push-type action without the need to induce compression forces on the work-piece. The arrangement is especially suited for securing a differential side gear to a rotatable machine tool to allow roll forming of the side gear""s bevel gear teeth.

a) Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to an expanding sleeve fixture and more particularly to a push-type expanding fixture to secure a work-piece to a rotatable machine without inducing compression forces.
b) Background of the Related Art
Numerous devices have been developed to hold and center work-pieces. These devices include collapsible-type mechanisms wherein a collet or chuck tightens onto a portion of a work-piece, and expansible-type mechanisms wherein an expandable collet or chuck member is inserted into an internal bore or opening of a work-piece and expanded therein to grip or hold the work-piece on the expandable member. However, previously known devices for holding and centering work-pieces have proven deficient in various respects. Particularly, the procedures for attaching and detaching the work-piece from the devices are relatively time consuming and complex, and can require the tightening and loosening of multiple parts with special chuck tools in order to attach and detach the work-pieces, which adds to the time and cost ultimately required for preparation of machined parts. Another problem is that many devices are complex in design and include numerous movable parts which are subject to wear and failure. A further drawback is that prior art devices induce a compression force on the work-piece when attempting to expand an internal mandrel. The drawbacks of the prior art hinder the effective use of currently available holding devices with the advanced machine tools used in modern manufacturing operations. Moreover, the prior art devices do not facilitate the holding of a side gear to facilitate a roll forming process.
Accordingly, there is a need for a push-type expanding mandrel apparatus which quickly and releasably holds a work-piece, which does not induce a compression force on the work-piece, and is suitable for use with high precision machine tools. The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and other related art.
The present invention alleviates the drawbacks of the related art. A push-type expandable fixture is provided to secure a work-piece to a rotatable machine. Two rotatable portions of the machine are capable of longitudinally moving in toward each other. An expandable sleeve is inserted within a bore of a hollow work-piece. The work-piece together with the expandable sleeve is disposed on a pair of wedge members which are in turn secured to a first rotatable portion of the machine. The second wedge member is longitudinally displaceable relative to the second wedge member. The pair of wedge members together extend through the work-piece to engage the second rotatable portion of the machine. The expandable sleeve has tapered surfaces extending radially inward and converging toward a radial inward most portion intermediate the sleeve. As the first and second rotatable portions of the machine are brought toward one another, the sleeve is forced to radially expand and thus firmly grip the work piece. The arrangement provides the ability to firmly secure a work-piece to a rotatable machine tool by a simply push-type action without the need to induce compression forces on the work-piece. The arrangement is especially suited for securing a differential side gear to a rotatable machine tool to allow roll forming of the side gear""s bevel gear teeth.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings.


An electronic display includes an active area including multiple pixels. The electronic display also includes a first row driver set including a first column of row drivers and a second column of row drivers. A first active row driver in the first column of row drivers drives a first portion of the multiple pixels, and a first spare row driver in the second column of row drivers is in an inactive state. The electronic display also includes a second row driver set including a third column of row drivers and a fourth column of row drivers. A third active row driver in the third column of row drivers drives a second portion of the multiple pixels, and a second spare row driver in the fourth column of row drivers is inactive.

The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for driving a display and, more particularly, to techniques for driving the display using row drivers.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Electronic displays may include row drivers and column drivers. Generally, either the row driver or the column drivers send data to pixels of the display, and the other driver (column or row) controls which pixel in the row or column actually latches and displays the data. Thus, pixels may be programmed at an intersection that is connected to a specific row driver out of multiple row drivers and a specific column driver out of multiple column drivers. However, when a row driver fails, the pixels in the row controlled by the row driver may not be accessed using the row driver, and the display may need to be disposed of or repaired.


An optical transmission system for an optical communications system that has an optical source, an optical modulator for modulating an optical output of the optical source, and an optical filter arranged to substantially remove one of the upper and lower sidebands of the modulated optical output of the optical source. The optical transmission system further includes a control means to control at least one of the optical source and the optical filter to ensure that substantially only half of the power of the modulated optical output of the optical source is transmitted by the filter, thereby reducing the bandwidth of the optical signals transmitted by the system.

The present invention relates to an optical transmission system and in particular to an optical transmission system for use in an optical communications system such as a submarine optical communications system or a terrestrial optical communications system.
In submarine optical communications systems there is an increasing demand for transmission capacity due for example, to the ever increasing use of the internet around the world. This can be achieved by increasing the bandwidth of the communications system or by increasing the information content transmitted within the existing system bandwidth. In Dense Wavelength Dependent Multiplexed communications systems (DWDM) having a plurality of transmission channels, channel spacings are approaching the spectral linewidths of individual channels and so in such systems it is not possible simply to increase the volume of information transmitted as there are no available free wavelengths. This problem is exacerbated by the use of return-to-zero (RZ) format for the information transmission and the phase modulation techniques that are widely used which give rise to a relatively broad channel spectrum.
One proposed method of addressing this problem is to use the L-band of the optical frequency spectrum ie transmit information at wavelengths between 1570 nm and 1610 nm. However, this would require the redesigning of optical amplifiers and the consequential replacement of components in existing systems since these were not originally designed for operation in the L-band. This would be expensive and would lead to inevitable disruption of traffic whilst the system was being upgraded.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an optical transmission system for an optical communications system, comprises: an optical source; an optical modulator for modulating an optical output of the optical source; an optical filter arranged to substantially remove one of the upper and lower sidebands of the modulated optical output of the optical source; and, control means to control at least one of the optical source and the optical filter to ensure that substantially only half of the power of the modulated optical output of the optical source is transmitted, thereby reducing the bandwidth of the optical signals transmitted by the system.
The present invention provides an optical transmission system arranged to provide an optical signal having had either its upper or lower sideband removed by an optical filter. By removing one of the sidebands, the bandwidth of the signal and therefore the required wavelength separation of individual wavelength channels can be substantially reduced so that the number of channels can be increased and/or the power of each channel can be increased.
Preferably, a vestige of either the upper or lower sideband is also transmitted.
Since the wavelength spectrum of the modulated output of the optical source is symmetrical about the carrier wavelength, the information content in the spectrum is duplicated.
Therefore, when one half of the signal is removed, leaving only a single sideband and a vestige of the removed sideband, very little information is lost.
Preferably, the control means is arranged to move the wavelength spectrum of the modulated optical output of the optical source and a transmission profile of the optical filter relative to each other to control the power of the transmitted signal.
More preferably, the control means comprises a feedback loop arranged to detect reflected light from the optical filter and transmitted light from the optical filter and to move the wavelength spectrum of the modulated optical output of the optical source and the transmission profile of the optical filter relative to each other to ensure the detected power of the transmitted light and the detected power of the reflected light remain substantially equal. The use of a feedback loop enables the control of the power of the transmitted and reflected light in the system to be effected automatically.
Preferably, the feedback loop comprises a first branch having an optical sensor arranged to detect the intensity of the reflected light from the optical filter and a second branch having an optical sensor arranged to detect the intensity of the transmitted light from the optical filter. Preferably the feedback loop comprises control means arranged to receive outputs from optical sensors in the first and second branches of the feedback loop, respectively, and vary the wavelength of the laser source and/or the position of the rising edge of the transmission profile of the optical filter accordingly.
Preferably, the optical modulator is a data driven optical modulator such as a Mach Zehnder modulator, for example.
Preferably, the optical filter is an optical fibre grating. Preferably, the optical filter comprises an optical fibre grating having a notch transmission profile, wherein a carrier frequency of the modulated optical output is controlled to substantially coincide with the rising edge of the notch transmission profile, thereby ensuring that substantially half of the modulated optical output of the optical source is transmitted and half is rejected.
In one example, the control unit is arranged to control the temperature of the optical fibre grating, thereby controlling the position of the rising edge of the transmission profile relative to the wavelength spectrum of the modulated optical output of the optical source.
Preferably, a first optical coupler, for example an optical circulator, is included in the transmission system arranged to couple the modulated optical output of the optical source from a transmission path in the transmission system to the optical filter positioned in the first branch of the feedback loop, and couple reflected light from the optical filter back to the transmission path in the transmission system.
More preferably, a second optical coupler is provided arranged to couple light from the first optical coupler to the optical sensor positioned in the second branch of the feedback loop.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a line terminal endstation for a wavelength division multiplexed communications system, comprises a number of optical transmission systems for generating a number of individual channels, in which at least one of the optical transmission systems is an optical transmission system according to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an optical communications system comprises at least one line terminal endstation according to the second aspect of the present invention.
Preferably, the communications system is a submarine communications system. Preferably the communications system is a terrestrial communications system.


A vehicle control system including: a driving operator on which an operation used for manual driving is performed by a vehicle occupant; an output device that outputs information; an automated driving controller that executes automated driving automatically controlling at least one of acceleration/deceleration and steering of a vehicle; and a switching controller that causes the output device to output request information for requesting an operation on the driving operator when automated driving using the automated driving controller ends and is switched to manual driving and sets a control gain for the operation performed on the driving operator to be lower in at least a predetermined period after causing the output device to output the request information to than in a period other than the predetermined period.

In recent years, research has been conducted on automated driving automatically performing acceleration/deceleration and steering. In relation to this, technologies (see Patent Literature 1) for giving a notification for prompting a driver to release automated driving in a case in which it is determined by a determination means that conditions for performing automated driving are not satisfied during automated driving have been disclosed.

Vehicle control system, vehicle control method, and storage medium


Provided are a radiation treatment planning system and a radiation treatment system that are capable of achieving time shortening and labor saving of treatment planning making when a radiation treatment is planned. A predicted DVH calculation portion 4034 of an arithmetic processing device 403 in a radiation treatment planning system 400 anisotropically enlarges a target region 501 in an irradiated body image which is input to the radiation treatment planning system 400, and calculates an overlap volume OV with an organ-at-risk region 502 per the number of times of enlargement. A DVH (Dose Volume Histogram) is predicted from a volume of the calculated OV, and a dose histogram in the OV per the number of times of enlargement which is calculated from a past treatment planning data group, and is displayed on a display device 401.

For the purpose of shortening the time required for treatment planning and for reducing the labor of required for treatment planning making, in NPL 1, a technology of predicting a dose volume histogram (DVH) is implemented when a particular irradiation is carried out based on a positional relationship between a target and an organ-at-risk, and a past treatment planning data group. The operator is assisted in the treatment planning by indicating the DVH as a target value in an intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment.

Radiation treatment planning system and radiation treatment system

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY


Metal phosphide used as a raw material in the synthesis of alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor activated by antimony and manganese acts as a reducing agent to prevent oxidation of the antimony and manganese. The result is maximum availability of trivalent antimony and divalent manganese for incorporation into the phosphor lattice.

Synthesis of alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor activated by antimony and manganese requires that the activators be provided in their lowest oxidation states, that is, trivalent (3.sup.+) antimony and divalent (2.sup.+) manganese. However, during firing the antimony and manganese tend to oxidize to form pentavalent (5.sup.+) antimony and tetravalent (4.sup.+) manganese. Pentavalent antimony and tetravalent manganese are not incorporated into the phosphor lattice and are thus wasted. The presence of antimony which is not in the trivalent state during the synthesis of alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor activated by antimony and manganese has been associated with reduced luminescence efficiency.
The desirability of maintaining a high concentration of trivalent antimony content during synthesis of alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor has been recognized. U.S. Pat. No. 3,468,812 to Wanmaker et al. discloses the use of antimonite, (SbO.sub.2).sub.n.sup.n-, instead of the more volatile antimony trioxide, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, as the source of antimony in order to retain more trivalent antimony during synthesis of alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,499 to Hickok discloses that greater concentrations of trivalent antimony may be obtained in calcium halophosphate phosphor if calcium chlorospodiosite is used as the chloride source instead of ammonium chloride. British Patent 1,371,968 to Philips discloses the use of two firing steps to ensure the availability of sufficient amounts of trivalent antimony in the resulting phosphor.
While such methods do increase the amount of trivalent antimony during synthesis of the phosphor, they do not ensure that all of the antimony and manganese which are present during synthesis are available in the trivalent and divalent forms, respectively. Optimum performance of the phosphor cannot be obtained unless the activators are present in their lowest oxidation states.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,089 to Sarver et al. discloses the addition of divalent zinc to calcium halophosphate phosphor to improve light output and maintenance.
We have determined that optimum improvement in light output and maintenance is obtained when the divalent zinc compound is zinc phosphide. Additionally, greater amounts of input zinc are retained when zinc phosphide is used as the source of zinc. The use of other divalent zinc compounds, including zinc oxide, does not provide the benefits previously associated with the use of divalent zinc generally.
It would be an advantage in the art to provide a method of making an improved alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor activated by antimony and manganese.
It would also be an advantage in the art to provide a method of making alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor activated by antimony and manganese in which the activators are present during synthesis in their lowest oxidation states.

Method of making alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor using metal phosphide reducing agent


The present disclosure provides an apparatus, a system and a method for a rear windshield for a vehicle, comprising an integral backlight having a combined surface, wherein the combined surface has an internal surface and an external surface, a plurality of illumination source disposed in a predefined pattern over the combined surface, a conductive grid disposed uniformly on the combined surface, and an apparatus capable of receiving signals disposed on the combined surface.

Conventionally the tail light assembly generally comprises of stop light, reverse light, fog light, and turn indicator and all these components are mounted in a cavity on the chassis or vehicle body, independent of backlight or rear windshield. The registration plate illumination is mounted on a trunk or rear bumper just above the registration plate. Assembling of these parts conventionally on the vehicle involves excessive weight, increased cost of packaging, manufacturing complexities, and vulnerability of illumination to likely damages.
With the development in automobile technology and the desire of higher safety standards rear wiper, rear demister (de-fogger or de-froster) and centre high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) became standard accessory in a vehicle. Mounting of these accessories, on a vehicle added to the exiting problem of manufacturing complexities.
In recent years, use of polycarbonate (PC) and polymethylmethyacrylate (PMMA), as manufacturing material for automotive glazing components has increased and so is the use of light emitting diode (LED) for all illumination needs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,829 issued to Hans Cordes et al. teaches a method for glazing and for providing a fixture for mounting rear accessories like demister or rear wiper. However, it fails to disclose integration of all units into a single piece backlight. Hans Cordes et al., teaches a method of glazing of windshield or tail light assembly and mounting on a vehicle. The disclosure does not particularly disclose use of light emitting diode (LED) for tail light assembly.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,444 issued to Weiss Keith D teaches high performance defrosters for transparent panels which employs an apparatus for mounting a conductive heating grid on a windshield. It teaches a method of integration of heating grid with a windshield. The patent further teaches a use of polycarbonate (PC) and polymethylmethyacrylate (PMMA), as manufacturing material for automotive components like windshield and using the conductive heating grid as a means for de-frosting.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,486 issued to Bloemen et al., teaches a use of light emitting diode (LED) as an illumination source for rear light or tail lamp assembly. It teaches a method to enable the LED to act as a source of illumination for stop light, turn indicator, or tail light.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,862,220 issued to Cannon, et al., teaches an integration of light emitting diode with vehicular trims. Its further teaches a method and apparatus for mounting a LED into the vehicle trim.
The illumination arrangements disclosed hitherto are not integrated and vulnerable to damages as they mostly project outwardly from the external surfaces of the vehicle and rear windshield. Hence necessitating an integral backlight with an inherent protection against damages and ease of access for repair.

System, method, and apparatus for integral backlight for an automotive


An oral cleaning device that can fit onto a human finger is provided. The oral cleaning device, or dental wipe, is at least partially made from an elastomeric material, such as an elastomeric nonwoven, so that the wipe can more aptly fit onto a finger. Furthermore, the wipe, in some instances, can possess a barrier that is liquid-impervious, but vapor-permeable so that the finger of a user is more comfortable during cleaning. Various additives can be applied to the wipe to aid in the cleaning process.

Teeth cleaning is regularly required to maintain dental hygiene. Various films and residues, such as plaque, can build up on teeth and gums over a period of time, thereby adversely affecting oral health. In the past, toothbrushes have been utilized to remove such films and residues. Conventional toothbrushes typically have two ends with one end being a handle and the other containing bristles designed to disrupt and remove plaque and other residues from the surfaces being cleaned.
Although conventional toothbrushes are useful in a wide variety of environments, in some circumstances, they are less than desirable. For example, some individuals desire to maintain dental hygiene by cleaning their teeth throughout the day. Unfortunately, many daily environments do not provide a setting which fosters or even allows such activity. Moreover, travelers and those working in office environments may not find it convenient to use a toothbrush during the day. For instance, toothbrushes are not generally well-suited to be carried by persons on a day-to-day basis because of their bulky shape and the need to have access to a restroom lavatory.
In response to this desire for more frequent dental hygiene and for a cleaning device that can be easily used in public, various portable toothbrushes have been developed. In particular, a number of finger-mounted teeth cleaning devices were developed that could be placed on or over a finger and wiped over the teeth and gums. These devices are typically small, portable, and disposable.
One example of such a disposable teeth cleaning device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,509 to Tundermann et al. This device is made of a high wet strength material, such as a woven or nonwoven fabric, laminated to or coated with, a water-impervious material. The water-impervious material could be a thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene. Additionally, various materials, such as flavoring materials, bacteriostats, dentrifices, or detergents could be applied to the device. To use the device, one could simply place it over a finger and rub the surface of the device over the surfaces of the teeth to remove food and plaque films.
A similar oral hygiene finger device was more recently described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,825 to Copelan et al. In particular, this device includes a packet of protective material that contains a membrane therein. The membrane could, for example, be made from a nonwoven cellulose fiber mat with an embossed striated texture. The device described in Copelan et al. is dry and utilizes only the moisture in a user""s own mouth. This packet could also be made from foil or moisture-impervious sheet plastic material.
These teeth cleaning devices, although portable, often fail to remain tightly fitted on a user""s finger during cleaning. However, some finger-mounted teeth cleaning devices were developed to contain an elastomeric material that could help prevent the device from slipping or falling off the user""s finger during cleaning. Examples of such teeth cleaning devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,068,941 to Dunn; 5,348,153 to Cole; 5,524,764 to Kaufman et al.; and PCT Publication No. WO 95/31154 to Mittiga et al. Despite the apparent benefit of such elastic teeth cleaning devices, these devices remain deficient in a variety of ways. For instance, these devices are often difficult to process using high speed manufacturing techniques, thereby necessitating higher production costs. Moreover, these devices can also fail to adequately fit onto the finger of a user, can be allergenic to a user, and in some cases, lack an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, these devices are often not suitable for application with various additives useful for cleaning teeth or otherwise improving oral hygiene. Furthermore, these devices are typically not breathable nor moisture-impervious.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cbiconstituent fibersxe2x80x9d refers to fibers which have been formed from at least two polymers extruded from the same extruder as a blend. Biconstituent fibers do not have the various polymer components arranged in relatively constantly positioned distinct zones across the cross-sectional area of the fiber and the various polymers are usually not continuous along the entire length of the fiber, instead usually forming fibrils or protofibrils which start and end at random. Biconstituent fibers are sometimes referred to as multiconstituent fibers. Fibers of this general type are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,827 and 5,294,482 to Gessner. Biconstituent fibers are also discussed in the textbook Polymer Blends and Composites by John A. Manson and Leslie H. Sperling, copyright 1976 by Plenum Press., a division of Plenum Publishing Corporation of New York, IBSN 0-306-30831-2, at pages 273 through 277.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cbreathablexe2x80x9d means pervious to water vapor and gases. In other words, xe2x80x9cbreathable barriersxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cbreathable filmsxe2x80x9d allow water vapor to pass therethrough. For example, xe2x80x9cbreathablexe2x80x9d can refer to a film or laminate having water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least about 300 g/m2/24 hours measured using ASTM Standard E96-80, upright cup method, with minor variations as described in the following Test Procedure.
A measure of the breathability of a fabric is the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) which, for sample materials, is calculated essentially in accordance with ASTM Standard E96-80 with minor variations in test procedure as set forth hereinbelow. Circular samples measuring three inches in diameter are cut from each of the test materials, and tested along with a control, which is a piece of ACELGARDxe2x80x9d 2500 sheet from Celanese Separation Products of Charlotte, N.C. xe2x80x9cCELGARDxe2x80x9d 2500 sheet is a microporous polypropylene sheet. Three samples are prepared for each material. The test dish is a No. 60-1 Vapometer pan distributed by Thwing-Albert Instrument Company of Philadelphia, Pa. 100 milliliters of water is poured into each Vapometer pan and individual samples of the test materials and control material are placed across the open tops of the individual pans. Screw-on flanges are tightened to form a seal along the edges of the pan, leaving the associated test material or control material exposed to the ambient atmosphere over a 6.5 cm diameter circle having an exposed area of approximately 33.17 square centimeters. The pans are placed in a forced air oven at 100xc2x0 F. (32xc2x0 C.) for one hour to equilibrate. The oven is a constant temperature oven with external air circulating through it to prevent water vapor accumulation inside. A suitable forced air oven is, for example, a Blue M Power-O-Matic 600 oven distributed by Blue M Electric Company of Blue Island, Ill. Upon completion of the equilibration, the pans are removed from the oven, weighed and immediately returned to the oven. After 24 hours, the pans are removed from the oven and weighed again. The preliminary test water vapor transmission rate values are calculated as follows: Test WVTRxe2x80x2(grams weight loss over 24 hours)xc3x97(315.5 g/m2/24 hours).
The relative humidity within the oven is not specifically controlled. Under predetermined set conditions of 100xc2x0 F. (32xc2x0 C.) and ambient relative humidity, the WVTR for the xe2x80x9cCELGARDxe2x80x9d 2500 control has been defined to be 5000 grams per square meter for 24 hours. Accordingly, the control sample was run with each test and the preliminary test values were corrected to set conditions using the following equation:
WVTRxe2x80x2(test WvTR/control WVTR)xc3x97(5000 g/m2/24 hrs.).
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cconjugate fibersxe2x80x9d refers to fibers which have been formed from at least two polymers extruded from separated extruders but spun together to form one fiber. Conjugate fibers are also sometimes referred to as multicomponent or bicomponent fibers. The polymers are usually different from each other though conjugate fibers may be monocomponent fibers. The polymers are arranged in substantially constantly positioned distinct zones across the cross-section of the conjugate fibers and extend continuously along the length of the conjugate fibers. The configuration of such a conjugate fiber may be, for example, a sheath/core arrangement, wherein one polymer is surrounded by another or may be a side by side arrangement, a pie arrangement or an xe2x80x9cislands-in-the-seaxe2x80x9d arrangement. Conjugate fibers are taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,820 to Kaneko et al., and 4,795,668 to Krueger et al., 5,336,552 to Strack et al. Conjugate fibers are also taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,400 to Pike et al. and may be used to produced crimp in the fibers by using the differential rates of expansion and contraction of the two (or more) polymers. Crimped fibers may also be produced by mechanical means and by the process of German Patent DT 25 13 251 A1. For two component fibers, the polymers may be present in ratios of 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, or any other desired ratios. In addition to fibers having a circular diameter, the fibers may also have distinct shapes such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,277,976 to Hogle et al. 5,466,410 to Hill, 5,069,970 to Largman et al., and 5,057,368 to Largman et al.
As used herein, the terms xe2x80x9celasticxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9celastomericxe2x80x9d are generally used to refer to materials that, upon application of a force, are stretchable to a stretched, biased length which is at least about 125%, or one and one fourth times, unstretched length, and which will retract at least about 50% of its elongation upon release of the stretching, biasing force.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cfilamentxe2x80x9d refers to a type of fiber that is described as a continuous strand that has a large ratio of length to diameter, such as, for example, a ratio of 1000 or more.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cmeltblown fibersxe2x80x9d refers to fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity, usually hot, gas (e.g. air) streams which attenuate the filaments of thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly disbursed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al. Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than 10 microns in average diameter, and are generally tacky when deposited on a collecting surface.
As used herein, a xe2x80x9cmoisture barrierxe2x80x9d refers to any material that is relatively impermeable to the transmission of fluids, i.e. a fabric having a moisture barrier can have a blood strikethrough ratio of 1.0 or less according to ASTM test method 22. As used herein, unless otherwise denoted, all ASTM test methods refer to the methods as they exist in 1999.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cneck-bondedxe2x80x9d refers to an elastic member being bonded to a non-elastic member while the non-elastic member is extended in the machine direction creating a necked material. xe2x80x9cNeck-bonded laminatexe2x80x9d refers to a composite material having at least two layers in which one layer is a necked, non-elastic layer and the other layer is an elastic layer thereby creating a material that is elastic in the cross direction. Examples of neck-bonded laminates are such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,226,992, 4,981,747, 4,965,122, and 5,336,545, all to Morman, all of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cnonwoven webxe2x80x9d refers to a web having a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. Nonwoven webs or fabrics have been formed from many processes, such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, and bonded carded web processes. The basis weight of nonwoven fabrics is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm) and the fibers diameters are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiply osy by 33.91).
As used herein, xe2x80x9cspunbond fibersxe2x80x9d refers to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine, usually circular capillaries of a spinneret with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced as by, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., 3,338,992 to Kinney, 3,341,394 to Kinney, 3,502,763 to Hartman, and 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. Spunbond fibers are generally not tacky when they are deposited on a collecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and have average diameters (from a sample of at least 10) larger than 7 microns, and more particularly, between about 10 and 40 microns.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cstretch-bonded laminatexe2x80x9d refers to a composite material having at least two layers in which one layer is a nonelastic gatherable layer and the other layer is an elastic layer. The layers are joined together when the elastic layer is in an extended condition so that upon relaxing the layers, the gatherable layer is gathered. For example, one elastic member can be bonded to another member while the elastic member is extended at least about 25 percent of its relaxed length. Such a multilayer composite elastic material may be stretched until the nonelastic layer is fully extended. One type of stretch-bonded laminate is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,415 to Vander Wielen et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Other composite elastic materials are described and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,789,699 to Kieffer et al., 4,781,966 to Taylor, 4,657,802 to Morman, and 4,655,760 to Morman et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ctexturizedxe2x80x9d refers to a base web having projections from a surface of the web in the Z-direction. The projections can have a length, for instance, from about 0.1 mm to about 25 mm, particularly from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm, and more particularly from about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm. The projections can take on many forms and can be, for instance, bristles, tufts, loop structures such as the loops used in hook and loop attachment structures, and the like.
The present invention is generally directed to an oral cleaning device. The oral cleaning device includes a hollow member having at least one open end for the insertion of a finger. The hollow member includes a base web and defines a cleaning surface, such as a texturized surface, configured to clean the teeth and gums of a user. The texturized surface can include looped bristles, elevated tufts, or can be made from crimped fibers.
In accordance with the present invention, any material commonly used in the art to manufacture cloths, such as wipes, can be used as the base web. In particular, the base web of the present invention is typically made from a nonwoven web. Alternatively, the base web can include a woven material, such as a knitted material. More particularly, the base web of the present invention can be made from pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, thermomechanical pulp, or mixtures thereof such that the web has cloth-like properties. For instance, the base web can be made from various types of fibers, including meltblown, spunbond, bonded carded, bicomponent, and crimped fibers. Various laminates, such as elastic and film laminates, can also be used in the base web. For instance, suitable elastic laminates can include stretch-bonded and neck-bonded laminates.
In general, the dental wipe of the present invention can have various structures. For instance, in one embodiment, the dental wipe can have a unitary structure. In particular, the dental wipe having a unitary structure can comprise an elastic nonwoven material such that the base web can possess form-fitting properties to help the wipe effectively fit onto a finger, while also remaining breathable.
Besides a unitary structure, the dental wipe of the present invention can be made from different panels or sections. The panels or sections can be attached together by an adhesive, through stitching or by thermal bonding. The different panels or sections can be made from the same material or can be made from a different material. For example, in one embodiment, the dental wipe can include an elastic component and a non-elastic component. The non-elastic component can be attached to the elastic component in a manner that allows the elastic component to be stretched and contracted for providing the dental wipe with form-fitting properties.
In one embodiment, the dental wipe can include a first panel attached to a second panel. The first panel can include an elastic component while the second panel can include a non-elastic component. The first panel and the second panel can be connected together in any suitable manner. For example, the panels can be bonded in a way that forms a pair of seams. If desired, the attached panels can be inverted so that the seams are located on the inside of the dental wipe.
As described above, the dental wipe can further include an abrasive surface to facilitate cleaning. The abrasive surface can be made from various texturized materials. For example, as stated above, in one embodiment, the base web includes looped bristles on at least a portion of the cleaning surface. The loop bristles can have a size or height less than about 20 mm, particularly from about 1 to about 5 mm, and more particularly from about 1.5 to about 3.5 mm. As used herein, the size or height of a loop bristle refers to the size or height of the bristle in an extended state, as opposed to a relaxed state. The loop bristles can be oriented in columns, in rows or in any other suitable pattern or can be randomly arranged on the cleaning surface. The loops can be positioned perpendicular to the surface or at any angle to the surface. Further, the loop bristles can be sparsely positioned with respect to each other or can be densely packed together.
The loop bristles can be formed according to various methods. For instance, a knitted or woven fabric containing loop bristles can be used. Alternatively, looped bristles can be needle-punched into a base web. Alternatively, the loop bristles can be formed through a hydroentangling process or can be formed through a molding process.
The loop bristles themselves can be formed from various types of yarns. For instance, the loop bristles can be formed from a multi-filament yarn, a monofilament yarn, or a spun yarn. Further, the yarn used to form the looped bristles can be texturized and/or can be shaped. A shaped yarn, for instance, can have a multi-lobal shape, which may provide increased friction for facilitating cleaning.
Besides looped bristles, the texturized surface of the dental wipe can be made from various other materials. For instance, the texturized surface can be made from a nonwoven web containing crimped fibers. In another alternative embodiment, the texturized surface can be made from a point unbonded material. The point unbonded material can define a plurality of elevated tufts. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the tufts can have a height of at least 0.02 inches.
Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the dental wipe can also include a moisture barrier that is incorporated into or applied as a layer to the base web. In general, a moisture barrier refers to any barrier, layer, or film that is substantially impermeable to liquid water. In particular, the moisture barrier of the present invention can prevent the flow of liquid through the dental wipe so that a finger inserted therein remains dry when the wipe is being used. In some embodiments, the moisture barrier can remain breathable, i.e., permeable to vapors, such that a finger within the wipe is more comfortable. Examples of suitable moisture barriers can include films such as plastic films, fibrous materials, microporous films, laminates, and the like. In one embodiment, the moisture barrier can be a multi-layered laminate. The laminate can be made from nonwoven webs and/or films. For example, the moisture barrier can be a laminate including a nonwoven web attached to a vapor-permeable film.
In accordance with the present invention, various additives can also be applied, if desired, to the dental wipe during manufacturing and/or by the consumer. For example, cationic materials, such as chitosan (poly-N-acetylglucosamine), chitosan salts, cationic starches, etc., can be applied to the wipe of the present invention to help attract negatively charged bacteria and deleterious acidic byproducts that may be present on the teeth and gums of the user. Moreover, various other additives can also be applied. Examples of other suitable additives include, but are not limited to, dental agents, such as fluorides, peppermint oil, mint oil and alcohol mixtures; flavoring agents, such as xylitol; anti-microbial agents; polishing agents; hemostatic agents; surfactants; anti-ulcer components; and the like.
Additives can be applied to the wipe of the present invention in the form of an aqueous solution, non-aqueous solution (e.g., oil), lotions, creams, suspensions, gels, etc. When utilized, the aqueous solution can, for example, be coated, saturated, sprayed, or impregnated into the wipe. In some embodiments, the additives can be applied asymmetrically. Moreover, in some instances, it may be desired that the additives comprise less than about 80% by weight of the wipe, and in some embodiments, less than about 50% by weight of the wipe and particularly less than 10% by weight of the wipe.
It should be noted that any given range presented herein is intended to include any and all lesser included ranges. For example, a range of from 45-90 would also include 50-90; 45-80; 46-89 and the like. Thus, the range of 95% to 99.999% also includes, for example, the ranges of 96% to 99.1%, 96.3% to 99.7%, and 99.91 to 99.999%.
Various features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.


A method and system for reliably performing extra-long operations in a reliable state-full system (such as a file system). The file system includes a separate portion of the file system reserved for files having extra-long operations in progress, including file deletion and file truncation. This separate portion of the file system is called the zombie file space; it includes a separate name space from the regular (xe2x80x9clivexe2x80x9d) file system that is accessible to users, and is maintained as part of the file system when recording a consistency point.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to file server systems, including those file server systems in which it is desired to maintain reliable file system consistency.
2. Related Art
In systems providing file services, such as those including file servers and similar devices, it is generally desirable for the server to provide a file system that is reliable despite the possibility of error. For example, it is desirable to provide a file system that is reliably in a consistent state, regardless of problems that might have occurred with the file server, and regardless of the nature of the file system operations requested by client devices.
One known method of providing reliability in systems that maintain state (including such state as the state of a file system or other set of data structures) is to provide for recording checkpoints at which the system is known to be in a consistent state. Such checkpoints, sometimes called xe2x80x9cconsistency points,xe2x80x9d each provide a state to which the system can retreat in the event that an error occurs. From the most recent consistency point, the system can reattempt each operation to reach a state it was in before the error.
One problem with this known method is that some operations can require substantial amounts of time in comparison with the time between consistency points. For example, in the WAFL file system (as further described in the Incorporated Disclosures), operations on very large files can require copying or modifying very large numbers of file blocks in memory or on disk, and can therefore take a substantial fraction of the time from one consistency point to another. In the WAFL file system, two such operations are deleting very large files and truncating very large files. Accordingly, it might occur that recording a consistency point cannot occur properly while one of these extra-long operations is in progress.
The fundamental requirement of a reliable file system is that the state of the file system recorded on non-volatile storage must reflect only completed file system operations. In the case of a file system like WAFL that issues checkpoints, every file system operation must be complete between two checkpoints. In the earliest versions of the WAFL file system there was no file deletion manager present, thus very large files created a problem as it was possible that such large files could not be deleted between the execution of two consistency checkpoints.
This problem was partially solved in later versions of the WAFL file system, where a file deletion manager was assigned to perform the operation of file deletion, and a consistency point manager was assigned to perform the operation of recording a consistency point. The file deletion manager would attempt to resolve the problem of extra-long file deletions by repeatedly requesting more time from the consistency point manager, thus xe2x80x9cputting offxe2x80x9d the consistency point manager until a last-possible moment. However, at that last-possible moment, the file deletion manager would be required to give way to the consistency point manager, and allow the consistency point manger to record the consistency point. When this occurred, the file deletion manager would be unable to complete the file deletion operation. In that earlier version of the WAFL file system, instead of completing the file deletion operation, the file deletion manager would move the file to a xe2x80x9czombie filexe2x80x9d list to complete the file deletion operation. At a later time, a zombie file manager would re-attempt the file deletion operation for those files on the zombie file list.
While this earlier method achieved the general result of performing file deletions on very large files, it has the drawbacks that it is a source of unreliability in the file system. First, the number of files that could be processed simultaneously as zombie files was fixed in the previous version.
Second, the file deletion manager and crash recovery mechanism did not communicate. The file deletion manager did not notify the crash recovery mechanism that a file was being turned into a zombie and the crash recovery mechanism was unable to create zombie files. Thus, to allow a checkpoint to be recorded, a long file would have to be turned into a zombie. If the system crashed at this point, the crash recovery mechanism might not be able to correctly recover the file system since it is unaware that a zombie file should be created and was incapable of creating zombie files should the need arise.
Third, since the file deletion manager and replay mechanism did not communicate the free space reported could be inaccurately reported. Attempts to restore state could fail, because the amount of free space could be different than that actually available.
Fourth, the earlier method is non-deterministic in the sense that it is not assured whether any particular file deletion operation will be completed before or after a selected consistency point. Moreover, the earlier method does not resolve problems associated with other extra-long file operations, such as requests to truncate very large files to much smaller length.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a technique for extra-long operations in a reliable state-full system (such as a file system), that is not subject to the drawbacks of the known art. Preferably, in such a technique, those parts of the system responsible for recording of consistency points are fully aware of the intermediate states of extra-long operations, the performance of extra-long operations is relatively deterministic, and performance of extra-long operations is atomic with regard to consistency points.
The invention provides a method and system for reliably performing extra-long operations in a reliable state-full system (such as a file system). The system records consistency points, or otherwise assures reliability, notwithstanding the continuous performance of extra-long operations and the existence of intermediate states for those extra-long operations. Moreover, performance of extra-long operations is both deterministic and atomic with regard to consistency points (or other reliability techniques used by the system).
The file system includes a separate portion of the file system reserved for files having extra-long operations in progress, including file deletion and file truncation. This separate portion of the file system is called the zombie file space; it includes a separate name space from the regular (xe2x80x9clivexe2x80x9d) file system that is accessible to users, and is maintained as part of the file system when recording a consistency point. The file system includes a file deletion manager that determines, before beginning any file deletion operation, whether it is necessary to first move the file being deleted to the zombie file space. The file system includes a zombie file deletion manager that performs portions of the file deletion operation on zombie files in atomic units.
The file system also includes a file truncation manager. Before beginning any file truncation operation, the file truncation manager determines whether it is necessary to create a complementary file called an xe2x80x9cevil twinxe2x80x9d file. The truncation manager will move all blocks to be truncated from the file being truncated to the evil twin file. Moving blocks is typically faster and less resource-intensive than deleting blocks. The xe2x80x9cevil twinxe2x80x9d is subsequently transformed into a zombie file. The file system includes a zombie file truncation manager that can then perform truncation of the zombie file asynchronously in atomic units. Furthermore, the number of files that can be linked to the zombie filespace is dynamic allowing the zombie filespace the ability to grow and shrink as required to process varying numbers of files.
An additional advantage provided by the file system is that files having attached data elements, called xe2x80x9ccompositexe2x80x9d files, can be subject to file deletion and other extra-long operations in a natural and reliable manner. The file system moves the entire composite file to the zombie file space, deletes each attached data element individually, and thus resolves the composite file into a non-composite file. If the non-composite file is sufficiently small, the file deletion manager can delete the non-composite file without further need for the zombie file space. However, if the non-composite file is sufficiently large, the file deletion manager can delete the non-composite file using the zombie file space.
The invention provides an enabling technology for a wide variety of applications for reliable systems, so as to obtain substantial advantages and capabilities that are novel and non-obvious in view of the known art. Examples described below primarily relate to reliable file systems, but the invention is broadly applicable to many different types of systems in which reliability and extra-long operations are both present.

File deletion and truncation using a zombie file space


Apparatus, method, and storage medium for testing a network. A network card may include four transmit engines and four receive engines to respectively generate and process packets at a data rate of 10 GHz. The network card may be configured in a first mode to also include four 10 GHz network interface units coupled to respective ones of the four 10 GHz transmit engines and the four 10 GHz receive engines. The network card may be configured in a second mode to also include a coherent multiplexer to combine packets generated by the four 10 GHz transmit engines into test traffic at a 40 GHz data rate, a packet distribution engine to accept packets at a 40 GHz data rate and distribute the accepted packets between the four 10 GHz receive engines, and a 40 GHz network interface unit coupled to the coherent multiplexer and the packet distribution engine.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to testing a network or network device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many types of communications networks, each message to be sent is divided into portions of fixed or variable length. Each portion may be referred to as a packet, a frame, a cell, a datagram, a data unit, or other unit of information, all of which are referred to herein as packets.
Each packet contains a portion of an original message, commonly called the payload of the packet. The payload of a packet may contain data, or may contain voice or video information. The payload of a packet may also contain network management and control information. In addition, each packet contains identification and routing information, commonly called a packet header. The packets are sent individually over the network through multiple switches or nodes. The packets are reassembled into the message at a final destination using the information contained in the packet headers, before the message is delivered to a target device or end user. At the receiving end, the reassembled message is passed to the end user in a format compatible with the user's equipment.
Communications networks that transmit messages as packets are called packet switched networks. Packet switched networks commonly contain a mesh of transmission paths which intersect at hubs or nodes. At least some of the nodes may include a switching device or router that receives packets arriving at the node and retransmits the packets along appropriate outgoing paths. Packet switched networks are governed by a layered structure of industry-standard protocols. Layers 1, 2, and 3 of the structure are the physical layer, the data link layer, and the network layer, respectively.
Layer 1 protocols define the physical (electrical, optical, or wireless) interface between nodes of the network. Layer 1 protocols include various Ethernet physical configurations, the Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) and other optical connection protocols, and various wireless protocols such as WIFI.
Layer 2 protocols govern how data is logically transferred between nodes of the network. Layer 2 protocols include the Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, and Point to Point Protocol (PPP).
Layer 3 protocols govern how packets are routed from a source to a destination along paths connecting multiple nodes of the network. The dominant layer 3 protocols are the well-known Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and version 6 (IPv6). A packet switched network may need to route IP packets using a mixture of the Ethernet, ATM, FR, and/or PPP layer 2 protocols. At least some of the nodes of the network may include a router that extracts a destination address from a network layer header contained within each packet. The router then used the destination address to determine the route or path along which the packet should be retransmitted. A typical packet may pass through a plurality of routers, each of which repeats the actions of extracting the destination address and determining the route or path along which the packet should be retransmitted.
In order to test a packet switched network or a device included in a packet switched communications network, test traffic comprising a large number of packets may be generated, transmitted into the network at one or more ports, and received at different ports. Each packet in the test traffic may be a unicast packet intended for reception at a specific destination port or a multicast packet, which may be intended for reception at two or more destination ports. In this context, the term "port" refers to a communications connection between the network and the equipment used to test the network. The term "port unit" refers to a module with the network test equipment that connects to the network at a port. The received test traffic may be analyzed to measure the performance of the network. Each port unit connected to the network may be both a source of test traffic and a destination for test traffic. Each port unit may emulate a plurality of logical source or destination addresses. The number of port units and the communications paths that connect the port units to the network are typically fixed for the duration of a test session. The internal structure of the network may change during a test session, for example due to failure of a communications path or hardware device.
A series of packets originating from a single port unit and having a specific type of packet and a specific rate will be referred to herein as a "stream." A source port unit may support multiple outgoing streams simultaneously and concurrently, for example to accommodate multiple packet types, rates, or destinations. "Simultaneously" means "at exactly the same time." "Concurrently" means "within the same time."
For the purpose of collecting test data, the test traffic may be organized into packet groups, where a "packet group" is any plurality of packets for which network traffic statistics are accumulated. The packets in a given packet group may be distinguished by a packet group identifier (PGID) contained in each packet. The PGID may be, for example, a dedicated identifier field or combination of two or more fields within each packet.
For the purpose of reporting network traffic data, the test traffic may be organized into flows, where a "flow" is any plurality of packets for which network traffic statistics are reported. Each flow may consist of a single packet group or a small plurality of packet groups. Each packet group may typically belong to a single flow.
Within this patent, various descriptive names (i.e. engine, scheduler, generator, receiver, interface unit, etc.) may be given to functional hardware blocks. Each of these names refers to a collection of hardware, which may be augmented by firmware and/or software, which performs the described functions. A functional hardware block may typically be designed using a hardware description language (HDL) that defines the functional hardware block primarily in functional terms. The HDL design may be verified using an HDL simulation tool. The verified HDL design may then be converted into a gate netlist or other physical description of the functional hardware block in a process commonly termed "synthesis". The synthesis may be performed automatically using a synthesis tool. The gate netlist or other physical description may be further converted into programming code for implementing the functional hardware block in a programmable hardware device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a programmable logic arrays (PLA). The gate netlist or other physical description may be converted into process instructions and masks for fabricating the functional hardware block within an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
The names given to functional hardware blocks do not imply any physical separation or demarcation. All or portions of one or more functional hardware blocks may be collocated on a common card, such as a network card 106, or within a common FPGA, ASIC, or other circuit device.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in block diagrams are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a block diagram may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.
In block diagrams, arrow-terminated lines may indicate data paths rather than signals. Each data path may be multiple bits in width. For example, each data path may consist of 4, 8, 16, 64, 256, or more parallel connections.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for establishing a VPN with a client device is provided. In the method, an AP can receive an access request directed to an OpenRoaming (OR) Service Set Identifier (SSID) from the client device. The AP can send the access request to an OR connector. In response to the access request, the AP may receive an access response from the OR connector. The access response can include an attribute indicating an address to connect to a company Virtual Private Network (VPN) headend. The AP may then use the attribute to establish the VPN connection with the company VPN headend.

In computer networking, a wireless Access Point (AP) is a networking hardware device that allows a Wi-Fi compatible client device to connect to a wired network and to other client devices. The AP usually connects to a router (directly or indirectly via a wired network) as a standalone device, but it can also be an integral component of the router itself. Wireless networks can provide access for workers to work in remote locations.
However, providing access for these remote workers is not easy, especially for small and medium businesses, where Information Technology (IT) staff is limited and usually have limited experience in domains like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and authentication. Some existing solutions rely on specific devices owned and managed by the company to be deployed in the employee's home. These devices are often expensive and require management and expensive support. Due to these problems, many companies fail to take advantage of the benefits of allowing workers to work remotely.