Nozzle designs and processes introducing the regeneration air into a catalytic cracking unit are disclosed which reduce the probability of erosion induced nozzle failures. Novel features include nozzle length, tip design, and orientation with respect to the air headers.. In one aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles is positioned substantially vertically downwardly. In another aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles has a length greater than the outside diameter of the pipe. In another aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles is provided with a beveled tip. In still another aspect of the invention, at least one of the nozzles is provided with a baffle on its tip.

The invention relates to certain aspects of a regenerator in a catalytic cracking unit. In other aspects, the invention relates to regenerating a cracking catalyst.
Cracking catalyst is regenerated by burning off the coke deposits which were laid down during the previous cracking cycle. The coke burn-off usually occurs in a fluidized bed in the presence of air optionally containing steam. The air is distributed into the bed through hundreds of nozzles connected to a piping system. When the nozzles fail, catalyst is drawn into the air piping, cutting the pipes from the inside. The ability to distribute the air throughout the bed is lost. Catalyst can no longer be regenerated properly. Unit product value -falls until the unit must be shut down to repair. Damage could be very extensive due to uncontrolled discharge of air from eroded piping.


A probability estimating apparatus and method for peak-to-peak clock skews for testing the clock skews among a plurality of clock signals distributed by a clock distributing circuit, and for estimating the generation probability of the peak-to-peak value or peak value of the clock skews. The probability estimating apparatus for peak-to-peak values in clock skews includes a clock skew estimator for estimating clock skew sequences among the plurality of clock signals under test and a probability estimator for determining a generation probability of the peak-to-peak values in the clock skews among the plurality of clock signals under test based on the clock skew sequences from the clock skew estimator by applying Rayleigh distribution. The generation probability of the peak-to-peak value is estimated based on RMS values of the clock signals and the Rayleigh distribution.

Traditionally, the clock skews, as shown in FIG. 1, are statistically estimated by using a time interval analyzer or a frequency counter. The time interval analyzer measures the time difference of zero-crossing points between the clock signals under test and a reference clock signal, then measures the fluctuations of the time difference through histogram analysis. An example of such a clock skew measurement using a time interval analyzer is described in Jitter Analysis Clock Solutions, by Wavecrest Corporation, 1998.
When evaluating reliability of a microprocessor, for example, it is effective to determine whether the probability of peak-to-peak clock skews in the clocks distributed within the microprocessor exceeds a predetermined value, or to confirm that the generation probability of the peak-to-peak value in the clock skews will not exceed the predetermined value. However, since the generation probability of the peak-to-peak value of the clock skews have never been theoretically analyzed, the traditional method requires an enormous amount of data to estimate the generation probability of the peak-to-peak value of the clock skews, and thus, requiring a large amount of time.

Probability estimating apparatus and method for peak-to-peak clock skews


A paper towel dispenser which provides for hands free, automatic feeding of the first sheet of a primary web roll, such as a paper towel roll, into a feed mechanism when its cover is closed. The dispenser also automatically transfers its web feed supply from a primary roll to a reserve roll upon the exhaustion of the primary roll. The present invention eliminates the need for an attendant to thread the leading edge of a primary or reserve roll into the feed mechanism of the dispenser. The dispenser also eliminates wasted paper because it does not begin to feed the reserve roll until the primary roll has expired. The dispenser can include either a manual feed mechanism or a powered feed mechanism. The dispenser relies on a sensor for determining when a portion of the web is absent from a side of the feed mechanism proximate a web discharge opening. When such an absence is sensed, an automatic, powered web transfer mechanism contacts the web located in front of the feed mechanism and positions it between the rollers of the feed mechanism. The transfer mechanism includes a web transfer member and a motor for driving the transfer member in the direction of the feed mechanism. The dispenser also includes a retraction mechanism for returning the transfer bar to a rest position after the web has been introduced into the feed mechanism.

The present invention relates generally to a flexible web dispenser that includes a powered, hands-free web transfer mechanism and, more particularly, to a paper towel dispenser having a automatic, power transfer mechanism for introducing a primary towel roll into a towel feeding mechanism and for transferring the feed supply of a paper towel dispenser from a primary roll to a reserve roll upon the sensed exhaustion of the primary roll.
Industrial dispensers are widely used in public lavatories for dispensing paper towels to users. These dispensers can be designed to dispense either rolled paper towel sheets or folded paper towels arranged in a linear bundle. Rolled paper towels are continuous webs of paper toweling that are wound around a central core and, upon dispensing, are separated into and delivered as individual lengths of material. Folded towels are individual lengths of a paper web that have been pre-cut, folded into a predetermined configuration and arranged in a vertical or horizontal bundle for being individually dispensed.
Rolled paper towel dispensers typically include a user operated crank or lever that drives a feed mechanism to dispense the paper towels. However, as can be appreciated, these dispensers can also include an automatically operated feed mechanism as disclosed in copending U.S. Pat. applications Ser. Nos. 09/081,637 and 09/453,794 to Formon et al. titled xe2x80x9cPaper Towel Dispenserxe2x80x9d which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. The automatic feed mechanism includes a drive roller and a pressure roller, also known as a pinch roller, which form a nip. When the rolled paper runs out in a conventional roll dispenser, an attendant must replace the roll(s) and manually insert the leading edge of the rolled towel into the nip. This can require complex towel threading and complicated loading sequences. After the attendant has placed the leading edge of the roll into the nip, the feed mechanism is operated in order to advance the leading edge through the feed mechanism, unwind the paper towel from the roll core and deliver the paper towel to the user. The feed mechanism can be either manual or automatic.
In contrast to folded paper towel dispensers, there is no economical way to replenish a roll towel dispenser when only a portion of the reserve roll, or xe2x80x9cstubxe2x80x9d roll, remains within the dispenser. In some prior art dispensers, a new roll must be substituted for the stub roll, thereby wasting whatever paper remains on the stub. This can result in increased operational costs as a significant amount of paper maybe be wasted in facilities with many dispensers. To overcome the problem of stub roll waste, roll dispensers have been designed to dispense two rolls of web material sequentially such that upon depletion of a primary roll, feeding from a reserve roll is commenced.
Prior art systems have included different types of transfer systems to change between the primary and reserve rolls. One such transfer system uses the diameter of the primary roll as a gauge for activating a transfer mechanism when it reaches a predetermined size. U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,192 to Omdoll et al. discloses a system which includes a mechanical sensor that detects the amount of paper towel on a primary roll. When the primary roll is depleted to a predetermined level, the sensor mechanically activates a transfer apparatus which drives the free end of the reserve roll into the nip of a dispenser using a transfer bar. However, since the sensor detects the size of the primary roll, not the end of the rolled web, the reserve web may begin dispensing prior to the complete exhaustion of the primary roll. Thus, for a period of time, paper towel is simultaneously dispensed from both rolls. This results in wasted paper towels. Additionally, these types of mechanical sensors can become stuck within the dispenser and fail to operate.
To overcome these disadvantages, the systems of U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,138 to Hedge et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,611,768 to Voss, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,912 to Perrin et al. provide a transfer mechanism which is based on the feed rolls themselves. These systems utilize a transfer mechanism which senses the absence or presence of paper from around a feed roll. In one system, this is accomplished by a sensing finger which rides along the top surface of the web material and then drops down into a groove in the feed roll which is exposed when the trailing end of the primary web has been unwound from the roll. In response to the sensing finger moving into the groove, the reserve web is introduced into the feed nip between the drive roller and the pressure roller, and the dispenser begins to feed the reserve roll to the user. This type of transfer mechanism generally eliminates the false transfers associated with tension responsive systems and reduces the amount of double sheet dispensing which occurs in diameter sensing transfer systems. The use of sensing fingers on the web material, however, produces extra friction which can inadvertently tear the web. Moreover, the introduction of additional components to sense the absence of the web and transfer the reserve web to between the feed rollers creates opportunities for a transfer failure to occur.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art paper towel dispensers.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a web dispenser that includes a powered web transfer mechanism which eliminates the need for an attendant to feed a leading edge of a rolled web into the nip.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a web dispenser having a powered web transfer mechanism that automatically and reliably feeds a leading edge of a reserve roll into a nip.
The present invention relates to a paper towel dispenser which provides hands free, automatic feeding of the first sheet of a primary web roll, such as a paper towel roll, into a feed mechanism when its cover is closed. The dispenser also automatically transfers its web feed supply from a primary roll to a reserve roll upon the exhaustion of the primary roll. The present invention eliminates the need for an attendant to thread the leading edge of a primary or reserve roll into the feed mechanism of the dispenser. The dispenser also eliminates wasted paper because it does not begin to feed the reserve roll until the primary roll has expired.
The dispenser includes a chassis having a web discharge opening and a feed mechanism for advancing the web to the web discharge opening. The dispenser can include either a manual feed mechanism or a powered feed mechanism. The dispenser also includes a sensor for determining when a portion of the web is absent from a side of the feed mechanism proximate the web discharge opening. When such an absence is sensed, an automatic, powered web transfer mechanism contacts the web located in front of the feed mechanism and positions it between the rollers of the feed mechanism. The transfer mechanism includes a web transfer member and a motor for driving the transfer member in the direction of the feed mechanism. The dispenser also includes a retraction mechanism for returning the transfer bar to a rest position after the web has been introduced into the feed mechanism.
A method of positioning a web in a feed mechanism of a dispenser according to the present invention includes the steps of positioning a leading edge of a web proximate a first side of the feed mechanism, sensing the absence of the web on a second side of the feed mechanism and activating a powered transfer drive mechanism in response to the sensed absence. The method further includes the steps of automatically advancing a transfer bar in the direction of the feed mechanism when the drive mechanism is activated, engaging the web with a plurality of web positioning members on the transfer bar and advancing the web into the feed mechanism.


An overlay coating for articles used in hostile thermal environments. The coating has a predominantly gamma prime-phase nickel aluminide (Ni3Al) composition suitable for use as an environmental coating and as a bond coat for a thermal barrier coating. The coating has a composition of, by weight, at least 6% to about 15% aluminum, about 2% to about 5% chromium, optionally one or more reactive elements in individual or combined amounts of up to 4%, optionally up to 2% silicon, optionally up to 60% of at least one platinum group metal, and the balance essentially nickel. A thermal-insulating ceramic layer may be deposited on the coating.

This invention relates to coatings of the type used to protect components exposed to high temperature environments, such as the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. More particularly, this invention is directed to a predominantly gamma-prime (Y′) phase nickel aluminide overlay coating that is alloyed to exhibit enhanced environmental properties, and as a result is useful as an environmental coating and as a bond coat for a thermal insulating ceramic layer.
Certain components of the turbine, combustor and augmentor sections that are susceptible to damage by oxidation and hot corrosion attack are typically protected by an environmental coating and optionally a thermal barrier coating (TBC), in which case the environmental coating is termed a bond coat that in combination with the TBC forms what may be termed a TBC system. Environmental coatings and TBC bond coats are often formed of an oxidation-resistant aluminum-containing alloy or intermetallic whose aluminum content provides for the slow growth of a strong adherent continuous aluminum oxide layer (alumina scale) at elevated temperatures. This thermally grown oxide (TGO) provides protection from oxidation and hot corrosion, and in the case of a bond coat promotes a chemical bond with the TBC. However, a thermal expansion mismatch exists between metallic bond coats, their alumina scale and the overlying ceramic TBC, and peeling stresses generated by this mismatch gradually increase over time to the point where TBC spallation can occur as a result of cracks that form at the interface between the bond coat and alumina scale or the interface between the alumina scale and TBC. More particularly, coating system performance and life have been determined to be dependent on factors that include stresses arising from the growth of the TGO on the bond coat, stresses due to the thermal expansion mismatch between the ceramic TBC and the metallic bond coat, the fracture resistance of the TGO interface (affected by segregation of impurities, roughness, oxide type and others), and time-dependent and time-independent plastic deformation of the bond coat that leads to rumpling of the bond coat/TGO interface. Therefore, advancements in TBC coating system are concerned with delaying the first instance of oxide spallation affected by the above factors.
Environmental coatings and TBC bond coats in wide use include alloys such as MCrAlX overlay coatings (where M is iron, cobalt and/or nickel, and X is yttrium or another rare earth element), and diffusion coatings that contain aluminum intermetallics, predominantly beta-phase nickel aluminide (β-NiAl) and platinum aluminides (PtAl). Because TBC life depends not only on the environmental resistance but also the strength of its bond coat, bond coats capable of exhibiting higher strength have also been developed, a notable example of which is beta-phase NiAl overlay coatings. In contrast to the aforementioned MCrAlX overlay coatings, which are metallic solid solutions containing intermetallic phases, the NiAl beta phase is an intermetallic compound that exists for nickel-aluminum compositions containing about 35 to about 60 atomic percent aluminum. Examples of beta-phase NiAl overlay coatings are disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,975,852 to Nagaraj et al., 6,153,313 to Rigney et al., 6,255,001 to Darolia, 6,291,084 to Darolia et al., and 6,620,524 to Pfaendtner et al. These NiAl compositions, which preferably contain a reactive element (such as zirconium and/or hafnium) and/or other alloying constituents (such as chromium), have been shown to improve the adhesion of a ceramic TBC, thereby increasing the spallation resistance of the TBC. The presence of reactive elements such as zirconium and hafnium in these beta-phase NiAl overlay coatings has been shown to improve environmental resistance as well as strengthen the coating, primarily by solid solution strengthening. However, beyond the solubility limits of the reactive elements, precipitates of a Heusler phase (Ni2AlZr (Hf, Ti, Ta)) can occur that can drastically lower the oxidation resistance of the coating.
The suitability of environmental coatings and TBC bond coats formed of NiAlPt to contain the gamma phase (y-Ni) and gamma-prime phase (y′Ni3Al) has also been considered. For example, in work performed by Gleeson et al. at Iowa State University, Ni-22Al-30Pt compositions (by atomic percent; about Ni-6.4Al-63.5Pt by weight percent) were evaluated, with the conclusion that the addition of platinum to gamma+gamma prime coating alloys is beneficial to their oxidation resistance. It was further concluded that, because nickel-base superalloys typically have a gamma+gamma prime microstructure, there are benefits to coatings that also contain the gamma+gamma prime structure. Finally, Pt-containing gamma+gamma prime coatings modified to further contain reactive elements were also contemplated.
TBC systems and environmental coatings are being used in an increasing number of turbine applications (e.g., combustors, augmentors, turbine blades, turbine vanes, etc.). Notable substrate materials include directionally-solidified (DS) alloys such as René 142 and single-crystal (SX) alloys such as René N5. The spallation resistance of a TBC is complicated in part by the composition of the underlying superalloy and interdiffusion that occurs between the superalloy and the bond coat. For example, the above-noted bond coat materials contain relatively high amounts of aluminum relative to the superalloys they protect, while superalloys contain various elements that are not present or are present in relatively small amounts in these coatings. During bond coat deposition, a primary diffusion zone of chemical mixing occurs to some degree between the coating and the superalloy substrate as a result of the concentration gradients of the constituents. For many nickel-base superalloys, it is typical to see a primary diffusion zone of topologically close-packed (TCP) phases in the gamma matrix phase of the superalloy after high temperature exposures. The incidence of a moderate amount of TCP phases beneath the coating is typically not detrimental. At elevated temperatures, further interdiffusion occurs as a result of solid-state diffusion across the substrate/coating interface. This additional migration of elements across the substrate-coating interface can sufficiently alter the chemical composition and microstructure of both the bond coat and the substrate in the vicinity of the interface to have deleterious results. For example, migration of aluminum out of the bond coat reduces its oxidation resistance, while the accumulation of aluminum in the substrate beneath the bond coat can result in the formation of a deleterious secondary reaction zone (SRZ) beneath the primary diffusion zone. Certain high strength nickel-base superalloys that contain significant amounts of refractory elements, such as tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, chromium, and particularly rhenium are prone to the formation of SRZ containing y phase and deleterious TCP phases (typically containing rhenium, tungsten and/or tantalum) in a gamma-prime matrix phase (hence, characterized by a gamma/gamma-prime inversion). Because the boundary between SRZ constituents and the original substrate is a high angle boundary that doesn't tolerate deformation, SRZ and its boundaries readily crack under stress, drastically reducing the load-carrying capability of the alloy. Notable examples of superalloys prone to deleterious SRZ formation include fourth generation single-crystal nickel-base superalloys disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,120 and 5,482,789, commercially known as René N6 and MX4, respectively. There have been ongoing efforts to develop coating systems that substantially reduce or eliminate the formation of SRZ in high-refractory alloys coated with diffusion aluminide and overlay coatings.
In view of the above, there remains a considerable and continuous effort to further increase the service life of environmental coatings and TBC systems, while also mitigating any adverse affects they may have on the substrates they protect.

Coating systems containing gamma-prime nickel aluminide coating


The new blueberry plant variety ‘MG11654-24-001’ is provided. ‘MG11654-24-001’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘Duke’ (seed parent, not patented) and ‘Ridley 1403’ (pollen parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

The proposed new variety 'MG11654-24-001' was selected as a seedling from a controlled pollination involving northern and southern highbush varieties 'Duke' (seed parent) (not patented) and 'Ridley 1403' (pollen parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432) respectively. The cross was made in 2011 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia and the variety was selected in 2014 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. This new cultivar has been asexually propagated through cuttings since 2016 and grown in replicated field trials from 2017 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. The plants of 'MG11654-24-001' are tough and vigorous with an upright to whippy growth habit while the fruit is very crunchy, large and firm with a good flavor and bloom.


A lock structure for an electronic device includes a housing, a securing element, an entering portion, and a lock body. The housing has a cavity and a first through hole. The securing element has a retaining portion and an extension portion extending out of the housing by the first through hole and together forming a T-shaped structure, wherein the retaining portion has a length and a width. The entering portion is capable of moving back and forth with respect to the housing and the securing portion, and is parallel to an axis of the extension portion. When the lock body is in an unlocked status, the entering portion is moveable along the extension portion; when the lock body is in a locked status, the entering portion extends out of the housing and is fixed beside the extension portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a lock structure. Particularly, the present invention relates to a lock structure for securing an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Consumer electronic products have played an important role in modern life; moreover, because of fast modern lifestyle and the demand for instant information, portable electronic products have become one of the essentials for people. However, because of higher unit price and easy realizable characteristics, the possibility of portable electronic products being stolen accordingly increases.
To prevent from thieves, a lock structure had been developed, such as the notebook lock, which can connect an opening or a lock hole of electronic products through its lock fastener. The lock fastener is further controlled by a lock mechanism to accomplish the locking/unlocking operation. However, when using the lock mentioned above to secure an electronic product, it is required to insert the key into the key hole to control the lock fastener or to operate unlocking/locking of the lock body; on the other hand, the unlocking or locking operation may require both hands to simultaneously operate the lock structure. Therefore, the lock structure for electronic product can be improvable in operation or design.


A method includes selecting a subset of predictive frequencies from a set of disc drive frequencies consisting essentially of operational driving frequencies in the disc drive and system resonance frequencies in the disc drive. Correlation constants are determined that correlate sound power to mechanical vibration magnitudes at each of the frequencies in the subset of predictive frequencies. The method further includes acquiring mechanical vibration data from the disc drive while operating the disc drive and determining predictive vibration magnitudes at each of the frequencies in the subset of predictive frequencies from the mechanical vibration data. Finally, the method includes determining an estimated acoustic sound power value for the disc drive from the determined correlation constants and the predictive vibration magnitudes. A testing system determines an estimated acoustic sound power value for a subject disc drive from predetermined correlation constants and vibration magnitudes.

This application relates generally to predicting acoustic sound power and more particularly to predicting acoustic sound power from mechanical vibration in a disc drive.
Disc drive customers are demanding increasingly quieter disc drives. This is especially apparent with the advent of personal video devices that include disc drives and often reside in bedrooms, operating while people sleep. The standard measure of acoustic noise in disc drives is sound power (Lwa), which is measured in bels or decibels (dB). Lwa is independent of the measuring environment because it accounts for factors such as the distance of microphones from the sound source, atmospheric pressure, etc.
However, Lwa is extremely difficult to measure. Presently, Lwa measurements are performed in expensive anechoic chambers and require electronic equipment, such as spectrum analyzers, computers, microphones, and signal conditioners.
Attempts have been made to use mechanical vibration measurements to estimate Lwa. One such method involves measuring the vibration at one or more points on the disc drive and then summing the energy in the vibration as a time domain root mean square (RMS) signal. Other methods involve taking a fast Fourier transform of the mechanical vibration and summing all the peaks in the frequency domain. None of the prior methods produced an acceptable correlation between mechanical vibration and Lwa.
Accordingly there is a need for a method and testing system that uses mechanical vibration to accurately estimate Lwa. The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.
Against this backdrop the present invention has been developed. An embodiment of the present invention may be described as a method of estimating acoustic sound power produced by a disc drive. The method includes selecting a subset of predictive frequencies from a set of disc drive frequencies consisting essentially of operational driving frequencies in the disc drive and system resonance frequencies in the disc drive. Correlation constants are determined that correlate sound power to mechanical vibration magnitudes at each of the frequencies in the subset of predictive frequencies. The method further includes acquiring mechanical vibration data from the disc drive while operating the disc drive and determining predictive vibration magnitudes at each of the frequencies in the subset of predictive frequencies from the mechanical vibration data. Finally, the method includes determining an estimated acoustic sound power value for the disc drive from the determined correlation constants and the predictive vibration magnitudes.
An embodiment of the present invention may be alternatively described as a method of correlating mechanical vibration to acoustic sound power of disc drives using a representative is group of disc drives. The method includes selecting a subset of predictive frequencies from a set of disc drive frequencies consisting essentially of operational driving frequencies in the group of disc drives and system resonance frequencies in the group of disc drives. The method also includes acquiring mechanical vibration data while operating each disc drive in the group of disc drives, and determining predictive mechanical vibration magnitudes at each of the predictive frequencies for each disc drive in the group of disc drives. The method further includes determining an operating acoustic sound power value for each disc drive in the group of disc drives and determining a correlation between vibration magnitude at the predictive frequencies and sound power using the determined mechanical vibration magnitudes and the determined operating acoustic sound power values.
Another embodiment of the present invention may be described as a testing system for estimating sound power values in a subject disc drive. The system includes a transducer communicating with the subject disc drive and producing vibration data including vibration magnitudes of the subject disc drive at a subset of predictive frequencies selected from a set of disc drive frequencies consisting essentially of operational driving frequencies in the subject disc drive and system resonance frequencies in the subject disc drive. The system also includes means for determining an estimated acoustic sound power value for the subject disc drive from predetermined correlation constants and the vibration magnitudes.
These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings.

Predicting disc drive acoustic sound power from mechanical vibration


A system and method for maintaining connectivity between a host system running an Always-On-Always-Connected (AOAC) application and an associated remote application server. The system further includes circuitry configured to establish a communication link between the host system and the remote application server. The circuitry is configured periodically transmit keep-alive messages to the remote application server after the host system transitions to and remains in a low-power state. The keep-alive messages are configured to maintain connectivity and presence of the AOAC application with the remote application server while the host system is in the low-power state.

To reduce power consumption (and extend battery life), portable wireless devices (such as, but not limited to, laptops, netbooks, tablet computers, and the like) may toggle between an active-power state (for example the S0 state according to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification) and a low-power state (also known as a standby mode, sleep mode, suspend mode, or the like). When switched to the low-power state (also known as S3 mode according to the ACPI specification), power consumption is reduced by reducing and/or eliminating power to all unneeded portions of the platform and devices. In many situations it is desirable for one or more applications/services executing on the portable wireless device to maintain connectivity and presence so that the platform or end-user can always be reached.
One approach to maintain connection and presence with an application server involves periodically transitioning the platform from the standby mode to the active mode so that the platform may transmit presence data to the application server and/or receive any other data. Unfortunately, this approach requires a significant amount of energy as the entire platform is toggled between standby and active modes. Additionally, the periodic toggling between standby and active modes may have a negative impact on reliability of the standby-to-active transition. While technologies such as Wake on Wireless LAN (WoWLAN) have low power consumption, WoWLAN only maintains the data link (L2 link layer) connectivity to the local access point. As such, WoWLAN cannot maintain connectivity and presence to an application server.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the claimed subject matter be viewed broadly, and be defined only as set forth in the accompanying claims.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for maintaining connectivity to remote application servers


Some embodiments of the present invention provide a inkjet printhead having an internal ink reservoir, an ink via in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, a filter tower extending into the ink reservoir, and one or more walls at the base of the filter tower. In order to promote the movement of bubbles toward and into the ink via, the wall(s) at the base of the filter tower can converge and be inclined toward the ink via, and can have one or more protrusions thereon and/or recesses therein.

Conventional inkjet printing apparatuses (e.g., inkjet printers) typically include one or more printheads in which ink is stored. Such printheads have one or more ink reservoirs in fluid communication with nozzles through which ink exits the printhead toward a print medium. In many cases, the nozzles are located in one or more nozzle plates coupled to a body of the printhead.
A problem common to many inkjet printheads is the ability of air within the printhead to block the passage of ink. When an empty or partially empty printhead is filled with ink, air can be expelled from the printhead (e.g., through the printhead nozzles described above) to prevent such blockage. However, in many cases, some air can become trapped in one or more locations in the printhead. For example, air bubbles can become trapped within the ink reservoirs and/or between one or more filters and the downstream nozzles.
To promote evacuation of air from the printhead, many printheads are filled with ink when such printheads are at least partially inverted. In such orientations, ink can be introduced into the printhead, forcing air from the printhead through the nozzles. However, air bubbles can still remain trapped in corners, recesses, and other positions within the inverted printhead, and can move to block ink flow when the printhead is later installed in an operating orientation. For example, ink can be introduced into an inverted ink reservoir having a filter tower covered by a filter. However, air bubbles can remain in the filter tower after the ink reservoir has been filled with ink, and can later migrate to cover at least a portion of the filter when the printhead is later installed in an operating orientation. In such cases, the printhead can lose prime, thereby stopping ink flow and causing printhead failure.


A method, performed by a terminal, of transmitting or receiving a signal in a wireless communication system includes receiving control information including an uplink grant from a base station, determining whether there is a bandwidth part switching command based on the control information, and determining, based on the uplink grant, whether to transmit a physical uplink shared channel to the base station, based on whether there is the bandwidth part switching command.

To meet demand due to ever-increasing wireless data traffic since the commercialization of the 4G communication system, there have been efforts to develop an advanced 5th generation (5G) system or pre-5G communication system. For this reason, the 5G or pre-5G communication system is also called a beyond 4th-generation (4G) network communication system or post long term evolution (LTE) system. The 5G communication system defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is called a new radio (NR) system. Implementation of the 5G communication system using ultra-frequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, is considered to achieve higher data rates. To reduce propagation loss of radio waves and increase a transmission range of radio waves in the ultra-frequency bands, beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beamforming, and large-scale antenna techniques are under discussion for the 5G communication system and are applied to an NR system. To improve system networks, technologies for advanced small cells, cloud radio access networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks, device to device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul, moving networks, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP), reception-end interference cancellation and the like are also being developed in the 5G communication system. In addition, in the 5G system, an advanced coding modulation (ACM), e.g., hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM), sliding window superposition coding (SWSC), and an advanced access technology, e.g., filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) are being developed.
In the meantime, the Internet is evolving from a human-oriented connectivity network where humans generate and consume information to an Internet of things (IoT) network where distributed entities or things send, receive and process information without human intervention. Internet of everything (IoE) technologies combined with IoT, such as big data processing technologies through connection with a cloud server, for example, have also emerged. To implement IoT, various technologies, such as a sensing technology, a wired/wireless communication and network infrastructure, a service interfacing technology, and a security technology are required, and recently, even technologies for sensor network, machine to machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC) for connection between things are being studied. Such an IoT environment may provide intelligent Internet technology (IT) services that create new value to human life by collecting and analyzing data generated among connected things. IoT may be applied to a variety of areas, such as smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or connected cars, a smart grid, health care, smart home appliances and advanced medical services through convergence and combination between existing information technologies (IT) and various industrial applications.
In this regard, various attempts to apply the 5G communication system to the IoT network are being made. For example, 5G communication such as a sensor network, M2M communication, MTC, etc., is implemented by such techniques as beamforming, MIMO, array antenna, etc. Even application of a cloud radio access network (cloud RAN) as the aforementioned big data processing technology may be an example of convergence of 5G and IoT technologies.
With the development of the aforementioned technologies and mobile communication systems, it is possible to provide various services, and there is a need for a method to provide the services effectively.

Method and device for determining transmission time in wireless communication system


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing nitrosamines, formed in removal of CO2 from off-gases by means of an aqueous amine solution. A substream of the aqueous amine solution, loaded with nitrosamines, is branched off from a washing fluid circulation and is concentrated by evaporating water and low-boiling constituents. The concentrated amine solution is retained at the boiling point in a unit in which a liquid phase and a vapor phase are in contact to establish a vapor/fluid equilibrium between the phases. The vapor phase is irradiated with UV light, which decomposes nitrosamines entering the vapor phase. Following decomposition of nitrosamines, the concentrated amine solution is recycled to the washing fluid circulation for further use in the scrubber.

It is known from the literature that nitrosamines are formed in removal of CO2 from flue gases from power plants fired using fossil fuels. These nitrosamines result from reactions of the NOx gas components present in the flue gas and the amines present in the solvents for the CO2 scrubbing. According to the information available so far, these reactions preferentially take place with secondary amines, which are always present in the industrially synthesized amines. In addition, primary amines combine with the oxygen present in flue gas to form decomposition products which also include secondary amines. It may therefore be considered certain that nitrosamines are formed in the aqueous amine solution and also accumulate there, regardless of whether primary, secondary or tertiary amines are used for the CO2 scrubbing.
Nitrosamines are considered to be carcinogenic substances. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the nitrosamine content of the amine solution is limited to the extent that nitrosamine compounds are not discharged with the flue gas from the CO2 scrubbing. As long as the nitrosamine concentration in the amine solution is low, a secondary scrubbing stage installed in the CO2 absorption column is used to ensure that the nitrosamines are always backwashed and remain in the solution. However, if the nitrosamine concentration continues to increase, there is the risk that nitrosamines might enter the off-gas of the power plant.
It is known that nitrosamines decompose in the atmosphere, which reduces the environmental threat, but it is questionable whether nitrosamines decompose rapidly enough in the atmosphere. In comparison with off-gas consisting essentially of nitrogen, nitrosamines have a significantly higher molecular weight with a high boiling point accordingly and therefore have a tendency to settle to the ground because they are heavier than air. For health and safety reasons and also for environmental protection reasons, it is therefore necessary to ensure that no nitrosamines enter the environment from the solvent circulation. This can be achieved, as mentioned above, if the concentration of nitrosamines in the solvent circulation is limited and an unhindered increase in the amine solution is prevented.

Method and apparatus for decomposing nitrosamines formed in removing CO2 from flue gases using an aqueous amine solution


The present invention provides an ergonomic multi-positionable workstation having independently positionable and adjustable seating and work area components. The seating components can further comprise back, leg support, and head support components, and the work area components can further comprise a work surface or desk area and areas for accommodating a computer keyboard and monitor.

In the home, office, and elsewhere, chairs and tables are used for many purposes, and there has been a dramatic rise in their use as computing technology has transformed an expanding portion of the worldwide economy into an information economy. This trend has accelerated as consumers have increasingly attended to the Internet in all its forms for sundry activities (e.g., search, news, entertainment, education, at-work activities, remote work activities, video streaming, audio streaming, social media, gaming). Indeed, all use metrics consistently underscore that, worldwide, people are attending increasingly to computer "screen" technology in all its forms, whether it be on desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers (e.g., iPads), smartphones, electronic reading devices (e.g., Kindles) or other devices—in addition to conventional and intelligent televisions that incorporate computing and internet services within them.
As a result of this accelerating worldwide demand for, and consumption of, such screen devices and services, especially as these devices and services relate to the Internet, the need for ergonomic chairs and tables—for both health and comfort—has never been greater. Numerous studies consistently show that, worldwide, people are spending ever-greater amounts of time sitting and interacting with all these computers, smartphones, and intelligent televisions and other devices. Public health officials have regarded this worldwide trend with alarm, frequently noting the many health risks associated with these lengthy sedentary activities, including back pain, neck pain, repetitive stress injuries, eyestrain and other vision problems, as well as long-term increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.
Unfortunately, despite the great and growing demand for the most ergonomic chairs, tables, and, when combined, workstations to accommodate this worldwide trend and alleviate health problems and increase comfort, advances in workstation ergonomics have been limited. First, chairs and tables are often, and even usually, sold separately, inviting ergonomic mismatch when combined. Second, chairs themselves are largely limited in their range of motion to upright sitting and reclining positions, and tables often have their heights fixed. Third, even conventional workstations, which advantageously integrate a chair with a table, have been limited in their range of motion and other ergonomic positioning, as well as their accommodation to individual human preferences and anthropometrics. Fourth and moreover, even advanced and very expensive workstations remain limited in range of motion, ergonomic positioning, adjustability, and ready accommodation to the plethora of computing, smartphone, and intelligent television devices in use.
It has been found that the ergonomic workstation of the present invention accommodates and benefits an exceptionally broad range of human positioning, human activities, and new and old technologies due to (1) its two independently operational rotating rings for positioning the chair and work area components, (2) the many manual adjustments available in the various embodiments for ergonomic comfort and anthropometric fit, (3) configurations with electrical panels with standard ports and outlets that enable ready use with a plethora of devices, and (4) simple user control panels for ease of operation and use.
In terms of breadth of human positioning, the present invention enables at least eight distinct positions and features, including sitting, leaning back, supine, astronaut, inversion, perched, standing, and rocking, as well as a continuum of variations for each of these positions. In terms of breadth of human activities, the present invention readily accommodates and benefits (1) work, (2) entertainment (e.g., video gaming, movie binging), (3) rest and relaxation (e.g., short naps, long periods of rest), and even (4) health and healing (e.g., using inversion to alleviate back compression and pain). In terms of breadth of new and old technologies, the present invention accommodates and benefits not only the latest computing and video technologies but also "old school" activities, such as reading books (with or without bookstands affixed to the invention), drawing and painting on paper or canvasses (with or without easels attached to the invention), writing checks, and knitting and other arts and crafts. The present invention enables full inversion (hanging upside down in a fully vertical position perpendicular to the floor) and an automated rocking chair motion. With respect to these positions and features, the present invention provides for the independent positioning and adjustment of the seating and work areas with respect to each other, to provide for a wide range of positions for the user. As a consequence, the present invention transcends other dedicated, sole-use inversion tables and rocking chairs sold commercially today, thereby providing benefits for a healthy work environment and comfort as well.


Apparatus for screwing a writing instrument tip into a writing fluid reservoir in a writing instrument in which the connection from the reservoir to the tip, in order to supply the writing fluid to the tip, is made by the screwing action just prior to using the writing instrument, in which the writing instrument tip has at least a first working surface upon which at least a second working surface of a wrench acts, the working surfaces being formed as a ratchet and pawl which only engage in a screwing direction and permitting a relative rotation of the working surfaces in an unscrewing direction. As a result the tip cannot be unscrewed from the writing fluid reservoir, avoiding contamination, air entry or blockages.

In so-called single use or disposable writing instruments, the lives of writing instrument tip, adjustment system and content of the writing fluid reservoir are adapted to one another. Prior to using the writing instrument, the writing instrument tip is screwed onto the writing fluid reservoir. A protrusion, which penetrates a diaphragm on the writing fluid reservoir, is located at the threaded end of the writing instrument tip and, as a result of this, flow of the writing fluid to the tip becomes possible. In this respect, reference is made to of German Pat. No. 25 38 427.
As is previously known, a hexagon is provided on the writing instrument tip to enable the writing instrument tip to be screwed into the writing fluid reservoir. A wrench, which has a hexagonal recess, engages with this hexagon. This hexagonal recess can be formed on the cap of the writing instrument or on the writing instrument shaft. Examples of this structure are described in German Design Pat. No. 71 00 878, German Pat. No. 22 22 593 and Japanese Design Pat. No. 58-42132.
The disadvantage associated with these known devices is that the writing instrument tip can be partially or completely unscrewed from the writing fluid reservoir by means of the wrench. If the unscrewing takes place before the writing fluid is completely used up, then contamination, air entry or blockages can occur. When the tip is completely unscrewed, attempts are usually made to reuse an already useless writing tip.

Device for screwing a writing instrument tip into a writing fluid reservoir


The present invention relates to an improved container for food and non-food products. The container utilizes a novel combination of materials to overcome polymer odor-emission problems that detract from the packaged product. The novel material structure includes a polymer flavor/fragrance concentrate which imparts an enhanced fragrance to the product when the container is opened, increasing consumer appeal.

The present invention relates to novel container, side-seamed blank, and laminate structures which contain flavor/fragrance concentrates. More particularly, this invention relates to laminate structures, extruded or molded, which contain specific polymeric carriers having high load levels of flavors or fragrances which effectively address the problem of unwanted odor emissions from polymers, and effectively enhance the aroma of the packaged liquid or solid, food or nonfood product by enhancing the aroma of its container.
Various structures have been utilized to store liquid or solid, food or non-food, products. A widely known and used container is a paperboard based structure which is coated with various barrier and sealant materials. One basic structure is utilized in the half-gallon juice carton. This structure makes use of a three-layer laminate wall structure. The laminate comprises a paperboard substrate coated on both sides by a layer of low density polyethylene. A second widely known structure makes use of a five-layer laminate wall structure. The half-gallon container laminate is comprised of a paperboard substrate, a layer of low density polyethylene coated on the exterior atmosphere-contact side of the substrate, a layer of a barrier material, such as aluminum foil, laminated onto the interior product-contact side of the substrate with a polymer layer of low density polyethylene, and a third layer of low density polyethylene coated onto the foil layer rendering the structure heat-sealable from front to back Adhesive tie layers, such as ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, have also been used in the structure to better secure the foil layer in the structure. In addition, various other barrier materials have been utilized to combat the transfer of various gases, light, and flavors into and out of the container.
The outer atmosphere-contact and inner food contact layers, whether merely a heat sealable polymer material such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) or a heat-sealable barrier material such as an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), can emit unwanted odors when heat is applied during extrusion coating or package converting/sealing. These odors can detract from the packaged product's organoleptic appeal.
A second popular container used to store liquid or solid, food or non-food products is a high density polyethylene (plastic) container. The half-gallon size container is constructed of high density polyethylene (HDPE) with a 21 mil. average wall thickness. The molding processes which are involved in producing such containers can often initiate degradation (oxidation) of the HDPE, causing the emission of unwanted odors which can be detrimental to the packaged product.
Consequently, in both plastic containers and/or existing commercial structures for paperboard cartons for liquid and solid, food and non food products odor-emission problems can occur as a result of thermal degradation of polymers. These odors detract from the packaged product.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the conventional paperboard container and blow-molded thermoplastic container by incorporating into the product-contact layer, unique flavor/fragrance concentrates which enhance the aroma of the packaged product through enhancement of the aroma of its container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide flavor/fragrance concentrate product enhancement for all sizes and types of liquid or solid, food or non-food containers including four-ounce to 128-ounce paperboard or plastic containers, as required by the packager to improve the market appeal of the product.
A further object of this invention is to incorporate a flavor/fragrance concentrate polymeric carrier into a paperboard or plastic container alone or along with a barrier material such as an aluminum foil, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified PET, acid-modified PET, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polybutylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride copolymer, polyvinyl chloride polymer, vinyl chloride copolymer, polyamide polymer, polyamide copolymer or polycarbonate polymer.

Flavor/fragrance enhanced composite structures


An opener according to the invention comprises a vertical displacement mechanism for moving a capsule to a position in which the capsule is to be opened. The opener also includes a holding mechanism for holding the capsule, a cutting mechanism for cutting the capsule, and a casing. The cutting mechanism includes three roller cutters rotatably supported by a cutter holder by means of a pin. Each of the roller cutters is disposed so as to be rotated around the capsule and to be movable radially of the capsule for the purpose of cutting the capsule. The capsule, vertical displacement mechanism, holding mechanism and cutting mechanism are all contained in the casing and are actuated by a manipulator within the lead cell.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an opener for irradiation capsules in which samples for irradiation are sealingly contained. More particularly, the invention relates to an opener which functions to open such capsules after irradiation of radiation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a nuclear reactor, irradiation of radiation onto a sample is usually conducted, with the sample sealingly or shieldingly enclosed within capsules of metal or synthetic resin material. After irradiation, such a capsule is opened so as to take the sample out of the capsule. The capsule, however, should not be touched directly by an operator, since radiation has been irradiated to the capsule. Accordingly, it is necessary for the operator to put the radiation contaminated capsule in a lead cell for the purpose of radiation shielding. Thereafter, the operator may open the capsule by remotely controlling a capsule opener by means of a manipulator so as to remove the sample from the capsule using a tool such as a tong.
Conventionally, openers for irradiation capsules are known in the art. An example of such openers is shown in FIG. 6. The illustrated opener includes drive rollers 100, 110 adapted to be rotated in the same direction so as to rotatively drive a capsule A, a lever 130 for pivotal movement around a pin 120, a roller cutter 140 attached to one of the longitudinal ends of the lever 130, a cam member 50 disposed adjacent to the longitudinal other end of the level 130 for actuating the lever 130 to cause the roller cutter 140 to force against the capsule A, and a motor (not shown) for rotatively driving the drive rollers 100, 110 and cam member 150. Reference numeral 160 in FIG. 6 indicates a cam follower attached to the longitudinal other end of the lever 130.
When it is intended to open the capsule A, the capsule is first clamped between the drive rollers 100, 110 and the roller cutter 140 and then the motor is energized. By this, the drive rollers 100, 110, as well as the cam 150, is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow in FIG. 6. Thus, the longitudinal other end of the lever 130 is pushed away by means of the cam 150, while, at the same time, the longitudinal one end of the lever is pivotally driven so as to approach the capsule A. Accordingly, the roller cutter 140 causes the capsule A to force against the drive rollers 100, 110 so as to be rotated by the drive rollers 100, 110, whereby the roller cutter 140 penetrates into the capsule A so as to open the capsule A.
It is true that the above opener may actuate to securely cut or sever the capsule A in the initial stage of cutting or opening of the capsule. In the final stage of cutting, however, the force acting on the capsule A so as to urge the capsule against the drive rollers 100, 110 tends to become insufficient to rotate the capsule A. Thus, there would be possibility in that the capsule A would not be cut or opened completely.
Further, it is possible for the sample enclosed within the capsule A to be damaged due to vibration caused from rotation of capsule A, when the sample is fragile or brittle in nature.
Furthermore, it is difficult to increase displacement or movable distance of the roller cutter 140 due to the use of the cam member 150. This restricts application of a particular opener to capsules having a diameter within a specific range. Thus, it is not contemplated for conventional opener to have flexibility or universality.


The invention relates to a device and a process for connecting at least one optical fiber (F) with an optoelectronic component. The device comprises at least one housing (8) provided with at least one mobile arm (9, 10), the housing comprising:

This invention relates to a process and a device for connecting/disconnecting an optical fiber with an optoelectronic component.
The process according to the invention aligns at least one optical fiber and at least one optoelectronic component in order to make a high precision assembly. This assembly may be temporary.
The optoelectronic component may be a photo-emitter, a photo-detector, another fiber, a wave guide network, and more generally any optical or electrical circuit that can be connected to an optical fiber.
Different techniques are known in prior art to align and assemble an optical fiber with an optoelectronic component. The most frequently used techniques are broken down into two distinct groups, namely xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d techniques and xe2x80x9cpassivexe2x80x9d techniques.
In an xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d technique, the alignment of the optical fiber and the optoelectronic component is done in two steps. In the first step, the optical fiber and the optoelectronic component are aligned with each other approximately. In a second step, the optical fiber and the optoelectronic component are powered to check that they actually work (optical and/or electrical supply). The precise alignment between the fiber and the component is then made by optimizing optical and/or electrical measurements. Once the optimum position has been found, the fiber and the component are fixed to each other by bonding, soldering or any other known means of mechanical support. For example, it is thus possible to align an optical fiber and a laser by measuring the light output from the laser that is coupled in the fiber.
In a xe2x80x9cpassivexe2x80x9d technique, the components to be aligned include self-alignment means. For example, this is the case for the self-alignment method using solder beads, commonly called the xe2x80x9cflip-chipxe2x80x9d method.
FIG. 1 shows a principle diagram for the self-alignment device according to prior art described in the document entitled xe2x80x9cThrough-etched silicon carriers for passive alignment of optical fibers to surface-active optoelectronic componentsxe2x80x9d (Sensors and Actuators 82 (2000), 245-248).
The device in FIG. 1 comprises an optoelectronic component 1 provided with an access port 2, an optical fiber 3 to be aligned with the access port 2, a plate 4 through which a conical hole 5 is drilled and solder beads 6.
The alignment between the fiber 3 and the access port 2 is made by inserting the fiber in the conical hole 5. The conical shape of the hole facilitates alignment between the fiber and the access port.
However, there are several disadvantages related to this technique. Firstly, it is relatively difficult to make the hole conical and the alignment precision is not as good: the precision is lower as the taper increases. Furthermore, there is no force to hold the fiber in place once the fiber has been inserted in the hole. The fiber then has to be fixed by bonding and held in place mechanically during bonding.
The invention does not have the disadvantages mentioned above.
The invention relates to a device for connecting at least one optical fiber with an optoelectronic component. The device comprises at least one housing provided with at least one mobile arm, the housing comprising:
a first zone to insert the fiber into the housing without applying any pressure on the mobile arm, the first zone being delimited by a part of the wall of the housing and by the mobile arm, and
a second zone to fix the fiber in the housing after pressure is exerted by the fiber on the mobile arm.
The invention also relates to a process for connection of at least one optical fiber with an optoelectronic component. The process comprises the following steps in sequence:
the fiber is inserted in a first zone of a housing in which there is at least one mobile arm, the fiber being inserted without applying any pressure on the mobile arm(s),
the fiber is moved towards one end of the mobile arm(s),
the optical fiber applies pressure to the end of the mobile arm(s) such that the mobile arm(s) (is) are eventually fixed in a fiber retention position in a second zone (Z2) of the housing.
The invention also relates to an attachment structure for a connector fitted with optical fibers to an optoelectronic component, the connector comprising at least one guide pin. The structure comprises at least one housing provided with at least one mobile arm, the housing comprising:
a first zone to insert the guide pin into the housing without applying any pressure on the mobile arm, the first zone being delimited by a part of the wall of the housing and by the mobile arm, and
a second zone to fix the guide pin in the housing after pressure is applied by the guide pin on the mobile arm.
The invention also relates to a process for attachment of a connector equipped with optical fibers to a microelectronic component, the connector comprising at least one guide pin. The process comprises the following steps in sequence:
the guide pin is inserted in a first zone of a housing provided with at least one mobile arm, the guide pin being inserted without applying any pressure on the mobile arm(s),
the guide pin is moved towards one end of the mobile arm(s),
the guide pin applies pressure to the end of the mobile arm(s) such that the mobile arm(s) (is) are eventually fixed in a guide pin retention position in a second zone (Z2) of the housing.

Process and device for connection/disconnection of an optical fiber with an optoelectronic component

Abstract: a first zone (Z1) to insert the fiber into the housing without applying any pressure on the mobile arm, the first zone being delimited by a part of the wall of the housing and by the mobile arm, and

Abstract: a second zone (Z2) to fix the fiber in the housing after pressure is exerted by the fiber on the mobile arm.

Abstract: The invention is applicable to any type of connection between an optical fiber and an optoelectronic component such as a photo-emitter, photo-detector, wave guide, etc.


An adjustable base to hold garden flag banner poles includes a base and two cylinders with holes for the two legs of the garden flag pole, the legs held in place with set screws on the side of the cylinders, the cylinders sit in a slot within the base, are attached to the base with two carriage bolts on the bottom of the base, one for each cylinder, the slot within the base allows the each cylinder holder of a leg components to slide to fit the multiple distances between flag pole legs.

In general, many kinds of garden flag banners poles are pushed into the ground. The garden flag banner typically have on major pole with a leg, and near the bottom of the pole there is rod, attached at a 90 degree angle with a leg going down at a 90 degree angle to provide additional upright support. With two legs in the ground the garden flag pole banners have some stability. But the current solution doesn't work on windy days, or where no ground is available or when banners need to be on a hard surface, or when the ground is very hard.

Adjustable base holder for garden flagpoles


Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for measuring a performance of a program running on a processing unit of a processing system. In one embodiment, the method comprises informing a logic unit of each instruction in the program that is executed by the processing unit, assigning a weight to each instruction, assigning the instructions to a plurality of groups, and analyzing the plurality of groups to measure one or more metrics. In one embodiment, each instruction includes an operating code portion, and the assigning includes assigning the instructions to the groups based on the operating code portions of the instructions. In an embodiment, each type of instruction is assigned to a respective one of the plurality of groups. These groups may be combined into a plurality of sets of the groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing, and more specifically, the invention relates to counting instructions executed by programs running on data processing systems.
2. Background Art
In analyzing and enhancing performance of a data processing system and the applications executing within the data processing system, it is helpful to know which software modules within a data processing system are using system resources. Effective management and enhancement of data processing systems requires knowing how and when various system resources are being used. Performance tools are used to monitor and examine a data processing system to determine resource consumption as various software applications are executing within the data processing system. For example, a performance tool may identify the most frequently executed modules and instructions in a data processing system, or may identify those modules which allocate the largest amount of memory or perform the most I/O requests. Hardware performance tools may be built into the system or added at a later point in time.
Currently, processors have minimal support for counting carious instruction types executed by a program. Typically, only a single group of instructions may be counted by a processor by using the internal hardware of the processor. This is not adequate for some applications, where users want to count many different instruction types simultaneously. In addition, there are certain metrics that are used to determine application performance (counting floating point instructions for example), that are not easily measured with current hardware. Using the floating point example, a user may need to count a variety of instructions, each having a different weight, to determine the number of floating point operations performed by the program A scalar floating point multiply would count as one FLOP, whereas a floating point multiply-add instruction would count as 2 FLOPS. Similarly, a quad-vector floating point add would count as 4 FLOPS, while a quad-vector floating point multiply-add would count as 8 FLOPS.

Opcode counting for performance measurement

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods, compositions and cells are provided that identify and isolate a population of adult non-embryonic progenitor cells having multilineage potential, physical diameters of about 2 μm to about 8 μm in size or about 4 μm to about 6 μm, and expressing at least one of the stem cell associated genes among Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3 or Stella. Methods are also provided that identify and isolate populations, which are subsets or subpopulations of progenitor adult stem cells within the population of the adult stem cells which is a heterogeneous population, the methods including contacting the adult stem cells with a ligand specific for at least one of: CD99, tetraspan, ICAM4, full-length MUC1, and truncated MUC1 receptor, in which a presence of a surface protein on the cells that bind to the ligand identifies the population which is the subset of the differentiated progenitor adult stem cells.

Stem cells have the remarkable capacity to self-renew, differentiate into multiple cell lineages, and reconstitute tissue in vivo [Weissman, I. L., Science, 2000. 287(5457): p. 1442-6]. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), a pluripotent cell type, are established from early embryonic cells and possess the ability to differentiate into all three germ layers [Martin, G. R., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1981. 78(12): p. 7634-8; Evans, M. J. et al. Nature, 1981. 292(5819): p. 154-6; Thomson, J. A., et al. Science, 1998. 282(5391): p. 1145-7; Thomson, J. A., et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1995. 92(17): p. 7844-8]. In contrast, adult stem cells (ASCs) are found in the developing fetus with the formation of renewing tissues and postnatally [Keating, A. Cell Stem Cell, 2012. 10(6): p. 709-16; Keating, A. Curr Opin Hematol, 2006. 13(6): p. 419-25]. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), one of the most characterized types of ASCs, have been studied for over 50 years and are known progenitors of various blood cell types [Huang, X., et al. Cell Death Differ, 2007. 14(11): p. 1851-9; Chute, J. P., et al. Mol Endocrinol, 2010. 24(1): p. 1-10; Zon, L. I., Nature, 2008. 453(7193): p. 306-13]. HSCs have been used clinically to reconstitute bone marrow (BM) cells destroyed by BM ablation therapy for cancer [Bentley, S. A., et al. Bone Marrow Transplant, 1997. 19(6): p. 557-63; Greinix, H. T., et al. Bone Marrow Transplant, 1994. 14(2): p. 307-13]. There is also a heterogeneous population of non-hematopoietic stem cells in the BM. In particular, mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) are also thought to originate from the BM and comprise 0.01-0.001% of nucleated BM cells [Sakaguchi, Y., et al. Arthritis Rheum, 2005. 52(8): p. 2521-9]. MSCs are found in the peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver, lungs, synovium, dental pulp, apical papilla, amniotic fluid, and fetal blood.
Because MSCs are found in extremely low numbers in the BM, sustained ex vivo culture on tissue culture plastic is required to generate sufficient cell numbers for phenotypic characterization. MSCs most commonly express surface markers such as CD29, CD44, CD49a-f, CD51, CD73, CD105, CD106. CD166, and Stro1 and lack expression of hematopoietic lineage markers such as CD11b, CD14, and CD45 [Dominici, M., et al. Cytotherapy, 2006. 8(4): p. 315-7]. MSCs are multipotent ASCs capable of differentiating into various mesodermal tissues, such as adipose, cartilage, and bone [Dominici et al. supra; Quesenberry, P. J., et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2007. 1106: p. 20-9; Quesenberry, P. J., et al. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2012:123:152-66]. Other groups have reported that MSCs are capable of differentiating into ectodermal and endodermal tissues, such as lung, skin, pancreas, and liver tissue [Prockop, D. J. Mol Ther, 2009. 17(6): p. 939-46; Antonov, J., et al. Lab Invest, 2005. 85(8): p. 1040-50]. A precursor cell of size less than one micron has been described in Young et al., isolated from adult skeletal muscle and testis which is capable of developing into all somatic tissue and spermatogonia, and has been designed as a gblastomere-like stem cell [Young et al., Minerva Biotec 205, 17: 55-63; Young et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/574,622 filed Aug. 24, 2005 and Ser. No. 12/280,833 filed Jan. 26, 2009]. These however are quiescent and fail to replicate in vivo. There is a need for adult non-embryonic stem cells for repair of tissues and genetic defects.

Adult stem cell compositions and methods of identification and isolation


A ramp toe system for use with a ramp of an aircraft, the ramp having internal and external surfaces and being pivotally attached at one end of the aircraft. A ramp extension having a proximal end fixed to the other end of the ramp and extending therefrom to a distal end, has an inside surface generally co-planar with the internal surface of the ramp, and an outside surface convergingly extending from the proximal end to the distal end. A ramp toe having first and second opposed ends and first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface convergingly extending from the first end to the second end, is pivotally attached to the distal end of the ramp extension at the first end, for selective movement between a stored position wherein the first surface is generally contiguous with the outside surface of the ramp extension, and an extended position wherein the first surface is disposed to be generally contiguous with the aircraft support surface and the second surface is generally co-planar with the inside surface of the ramp extension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ramp toe system which is designed to retract a ramp toe of an aircraft ramp between a stored position contiguous with an outer surface of a ramp extension, and an extended position.
2. Description of Related Art
In the aircraft industry, a ramp is normally used to allow wheeled or tracked vehicles to drive on and off an aircraft to facilitate movement of cargo and other equipment. In order for the ramp to have proper strength and stability the end of the ramp needs to be fairly thick, usually about 8 to 10 inches. To bridge the height of the ramp end to the ground during loading or unloading, a ramp toe is needed, as shown in FIG. 1.
Previously, various types of conventional ramp toes have been used. FIG. 2 shows a pair of portable ramp toes. These ramp toes do not extend the entire width of the ramp, thus, making it difficult to align the vehicles upon the ramp toes while loading and unloading cargo. These ramp toes must be manually removed by the aircraft crew and stored inside the aircraft during flight.
Ramp toes that are hinged at the ramp often are stored above the ramp when not in use, as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,399 to Shorey and FIG. 3. This type of stowage is bulky, inconvenient, and prevents airdrop and parachute extraction of cargo. To alleviate problems, a stowage system can incorporate mechanisms to detach the toe from the ramp and stow the toe above the cargo door. Such a mechanism is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,291 to Evans et al., and in FIG. 3A. These systems require relatively heavy hardware and are difficult to maintain.
U.S.S.R. 265,726 discloses a ramp toe hinged on the end of a ramp and stored external to the aircraft's fuselage. Such an arrangement forces the ramp to be much longer, heavier, and cumbersome.
The improved ramp toe of the present invention is lightweight and extends the entire width of the ramp. The ramp toe retracts in such a way that it leaves the ramp surface and ramp end clear and operates conveniently; the ramp toe extends and retracts quickly without undue effort by the operator.
Advantages of the invention are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.


Disclosed is a method of producing an output signal from a signal generator, comprising: determining a driving input to the signal generator, the driving input for driving the signal generator to provide a predetermined output signal, wherein the output signal includes at least one frame, the at least one frame comprising an active period and a dummy period and wherein the active period and dummy period are determined by the driving input. Also disclosed is a method of producing an output signal from a signal generator, comprising: receiving a synchronisation signal; obtaining an input signal for controlling the signal generator to generate an output signal comprising at least one frame wherein the at least one frame comprises at least one active period and at least one dummy period; producing the output signal comprising a series of frames; and, synchronising the output signal with the synchronisation signal by varying a duration of the at least one of the dummy period or active period.

A signal generator may generally be considered to a device which generates electronic signals and waveforms for various purposes and is well known in the art. Signal generators come in many different forms and can create repeating and non-repeating waveforms. Some signal generators may be referred to as a function generator which may be employed to generate more complex waveforms over a wide variety of wavelengths. Signal generators may include one or more voltage controlled oscillators, a direct digital synthesiser, DDS, or an arbitrary waveform generator, AWG. These and others which are applicable to this disclosure are well known in the art.
The applications of signal generators vary tremendously. In one example application which is pertinent to the present disclosure, signal generators may be employed in signal jammers which transmit electromagnetic radiation (i.e. radio waves) with the aim of disrupting local radio communications. In some applications, it may be necessary for signal jammers to operate in close proximity such that the signals issued from one jammer may interfere with the operation of another.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved signal generator and method of operation.


The present invention concerns a method of preparing an alkali metal diffusion-preventive layer by applying one of three specific methods in a method of forming an alkali metal diffusion-preventive layer containing phosphorus at the inside of the substrate containing silicon by ion implantation of phosphorus, thereby enabling to prepare an alkali metal diffusion-preventive layer having higher alkali metal diffusion-preventive performance than that of the alkali metal diffusion-preventive layer prepared by the conventional method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method of preparing an alkali metal diffusion-preventive layer comprising a silicate glass layer at the inside of a substrate such as a Si substrate and silicate glass substrate by using an ion implantation method and, more in particular, it relates to a method of preparing a phosphor silicate glass layer having a performance for preventing high alkali metal diffusion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Inorganic glass with improved surface property by implantation of ionized phosphorus from the surface has been known in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho No. 56-84344 and Sho No. 56-116034. Further, as a method of manufacturing glass plates for producing semiconductor device, there has been known a method of ion implantaion of phosphorus to the surface of a glass plate made of an alkali metal containing silicate glass, applying heat treatment, further implantation of nitrogen ions and then applying heat treatment again by, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho No. 63-222046.
The method of ion implantation of phosphorus to the surface of the glass plate and applying heat treatment as described above has a merit of forming an apparent phosphor silicate glass layer at the inside of the glass plate thereby enabling to improve the surface property of the glass plate, but the effect of preventing the diffusion of alkali metal to the surface of the glass substrate (so-called gettering effect of the alkali metal) can not be attained as expected and there has been a problem that the gettering site is not efficiently formed on account of insufficient oxidation of implantated phosphorus.

Method of preparing an alkali metal diffusion preventive layer


The present invention relates to a feed supplement or a food supplement which comprises a resin acid based composition comprising over 10% (w/w) resin acids for use in in the prevention of intestinal disorders. The invention further relates to a use of the feed supplement or the food supplement and a feed composition or a food composition comprising the feed supplement or the food supplement, respectively.

Imbalances in microbial populations and growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive tract of animals can cause significant losses in animal growth and production. These imbalances manifest themselves as intestinal disorders such as diarrhea. While microbial infections of animals have been prevented by the use of e.g. antibiotics and other agents that prevent the growth of microorganisms, stricter regulations on their use are expected. Ruminant animals can utilize fiber-rich raw materials which have little or no nutritional value for monogastrics like the human. However, the feed conversion efficiency of ruminants is relatively low and their methane production represents a remarkable share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing demand of food there is a need to improve the feed conversion efficiency of ruminants and to lower their methane production. Generally, there is an increasing demand for ingredients for use in animal feeding that can modulate the microbial population in the animal digestive tract but which are readily available, well tolerated and environmentally friendly.
Fractional distillation of crude tall oil (CTO), obtained as a by-product of the Kraft process of wood pulp manufacture, produces depitched tall oil which typically comprises over 10% resin acids and less than 90% fatty acids. Further refinement of depitched tall oil produces tall oil fatty acid (TOFA), Distilled Tall Oil (DTO) and Tall Oil Rosin (TOR) which are available in a variety of compositions differing in the fatty acids and resin acids content. Because TOFA is an inexpensive source of fatty acids, it has previously been used in animal nutrition as an energy source. For instance, GB 955316 discloses the use of alkali metal salts of tall oil fatty acids to improve weight gain and nitrogen retention in ruminant animals.
Toxins are poisonous substances produced within living cells or organisms. Toxins such as mycotoxins are a chemically variable group of secondary metabolites of fungi, which can be found in grains and other feedstuffs even in the absence of any visible fungal growth. High temperature and air humidity during the storage increase the likelihood of fungal growth, but mycotoxin contamination can also occur already in the field. Visible appearance or smell of grains or silage does not indicate the presence or absence of mycotoxin contamination. Effects of toxins such as mycotoxins to farm animals are very variable, and range from increased mortality to decreased fertility and performance. Mycotoxins may also disturb the immune system of animals and make them more susceptible to diseases.
Due to the chemical variability of mycotoxins, analysis of all feedlots for even the most common mycotoxins would be too expensive. Therefore mycotoxin adsorbents are often used to give extra insurance against mycotoxin contamination in feeds. Mycotoxin adsorbents are substances that are itself not digested or absorbed by the animal. They are assumed to bind toxins during the passage through the alimentary canal. Thus, instead of being absorbed by the animals, the toxins get eventually voided via feces.
Toxin binders can also adsorb other types of toxins, like bacterial toxins or secondary metabolites of plants from the digestive tract. Activated carbon (charcoal) is an efficient toxin binder. It is a recommended general toxin binder in various poisonings. However, charcoal also binds vitamins and minerals, which makes it unsuitable for continuous use in feeds.


A method of determining locations of at least two pointers in a captured image frame comprises generating a vertical intensity profile (VIP) from the captured image frame, the VIP comprising peaks generally corresponding to the at least two pointers; determining if the peaks are closely spaced and, if the peaks are closely spaced, fitting a curve to the VIP; analyzing the fitted curve to determine peak locations of the fitted curve; and registering the peak locations as the pointer locations.

Interactive input systems that allow users to inject input (i.e. digital ink, mouse events etc.) into an application program using an active pointer (e.g. a pointer that emits light, sound or other signal), a passive pointer (e.g. a finger, cylinder or other suitable object) or other suitable input device such as for example, a mouse or trackball, are known. These interactive input systems include but are not limited to: touch systems comprising touch panels employing analog resistive or machine vision technology to register pointer input such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,448,263; 6,141,000; 6,337,681; 6,747,636; 6,803,906; 7,232,986; 7,236,162; and 7,274,356 assigned to SMART Technologies ULC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, assignee of the subject application, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; touch systems comprising touch panels employing electromagnetic, capacitive, acoustic or other technologies to register pointer input; laptop and tablet personal computers (PCs); personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other handheld devices; and other similar devices.
Above-incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,906 to Morrison et al. discloses a touch system that employs machine vision to detect pointer interaction with a touch surface on which a computer-generated image is presented. A rectangular bezel or frame surrounds the touch surface and supports digital cameras at its corners. The digital cameras have overlapping fields of view that encompass and look generally across the touch surface. The digital cameras acquire images from different vantages and generate image data. Image data acquired by the digital cameras is processed by on-board digital signal processors to determine if a pointer exists in the captured image data. When it is determined that a pointer exists in the captured image data, the digital signal processors convey pointer characteristic data to a master controller, which in turn processes the pointer characteristic data to determine the location of the pointer in (x, y) coordinates relative to the touch surface using triangulation. The pointer coordinates are conveyed to a computer executing one or more application programs. The computer uses the pointer location data to update the computer-generated image that is presented on the touch surface. Pointer contacts on the touch surface can therefore be recorded as writing or drawing or used to control execution of an application program executed by the computer.
In interactive input systems that employ machine vision technology to register pointer input, when only a single pointer exists in captured image frames, the location of the pointer in (x, y) coordinates relative to the touch surface can be readily computed using triangulation. However, when multiple pointers exist in captured image frames, computing the positions of the pointers in (x, y) coordinates relative to the touch surface is more complicated as pointer ambiguity and/or pointer occlusion conditions may exist. For example, when multiple pointers are contacting the input surfaces, there are positions where one pointer may partially or completely obscure another pointer from the view of an imaging device, giving rise to ambiguity as to the location of the pointers.
Several approaches for improving detection of multiple pointers in interactive input systems have been considered. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0143690 to Jang et al. discloses a display device comprising a plurality of cameras positioned at the corners of a touch surface. Each camera takes images of the touch surface, on which multiple touch locations are present. The image data are then sent to a signal processor of a control board. The signal processor detects the touch locations from the image data of the cameras and the angle of each touch location with respect to each camera and finds the coordinate of each touch location. During the calculation, the angle measured, which has been distorted by the lens of the camera is compensated by a look-up-table stored in the control board. Therefore, each location of multi-touch can be accurately detected.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0116333 to Dempski et al. discloses a system and method for determining positions of multiple targets on a touch surface. At least two cameras are positioned at the corners of the touch surface to acquire images of the multiple simultaneous targets on the touch surface. The information from the cameras is used to generate possible targets. The possible targets include both "real" targets (a target associated with an actual touch) and "ghost" targets (a target not associated with an actual touch). Using an analysis of tracking a history of previous targets, such as finding the distance and direction of a present target relative to its associated previous target, the real targets are found and the ghost targets are deleted from the list of the potential targets.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0291164 to Tanaka discloses a coordinate input apparatus for detecting multiple inputs. A plurality of sensor units for receiving arrival light detects the light-shielding ranges caused by pointers present on the coordinate input apparatus. The information of each end of the light-shielding ranges, such as the coordinate and the angle are calculated on the basis of the number of the ranges in the respective sensor units. An input transient state in which two light-shielding ranges are partially or totally overlapped is detected. True coordinative values of the pointers are finally determined based on a selection of a coordinate-calculation first data and a coordinate-calculation second data, which is angle information of the ends of the light-shielding ranges.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0201812 to McGibney et al. entitled "Active Display Feedback in Interactive Input Systems" filed on Feb. 11, 2009 and assigned to SMART Technologies, ULC, discloses a method for distinguishing a plurality of pointers in an interactive input system and an interactive input system employing the method. During the method, a plurality of potential coordinates for a plurality of pointers in proximity of an input surface is calculated. Visual indicators associated with each potential coordinate on the input surface are displayed and real pointer locations and imaginary pointer locations associated with each potential coordinate are determined from the visual indicators.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0006981 to Chtchetinine et al. entitled "Interactive Input System" filed on Jul. 10, 2009 and assigned to SMART Technologies, ULC, discloses an interactive input system and method for resolving ambiguities between at least two pointers in a plurality of input regions defining an input area. The method comprises capturing images of the plurality of input regions, the images captured by plurality of imaging devices each having a field of view of at least a portion of the input area, processing image data from the images to identify a plurality of targets for the at least two pointers within the input area and analyzing the plurality of targets to resolve a real location associated with each pointer.
Although the above-mentioned interactive input systems allow multiple pointer contacts to be determined, alternative methods to resolve multiple pointer contacts are desired. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel interactive input system and method.


A laboratory sample distribution system and to a laboratory automation system comprising a printed circuit board arrangement and a coil are presented. The printed circuit board arrangement and the coil are configured such that assembly and maintenance of the laboratory automation system are greatly simplified.

The present disclosure relates to a laboratory sample distribution system and to a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system.
Laboratory automation systems typically comprise a number of laboratory stations, such as pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations, and a laboratory sample distribution system. The laboratory stations can typically be used in order to analyze medical samples such as blood samples. The laboratory stations can also be used in order to perform other tasks like decapping or centrifugation.
The laboratory sample distribution system can typically be used in order to transport sample containers containing samples to be analyzed between the laboratory stations. A typical laboratory sample distribution system discloses a number of sample container carriers moving on a transport plane driven by electro-magnetic actuators being positioned below the transport plane and being controlled by a control unit. Usage of such a laboratory sample distribution system significantly increases throughput of a laboratory automation system and minimizes the need for manual interaction.
In typical laboratory sample distribution systems, the electro-magnetic actuators are embodied as coils. In order to provide for the possibility to energize a coil, each coil is connected via a connector to respective complementary connectors e.g. on a printed circuit board. However, it has been discovered that mounting such connectors imposes a significant risk of producing false or unreliable electrical connections.
Therefore, there is a need for a laboratory sample distribution system and a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system providing simplified electrical connections.

Laboratory sample distribution system and laboratory automation system


A modular loading platform for a vehicle, comprising a frame composed of a plurality of interconnected extruded frame members, wherein the members are each provided with at least two parallel grooves extending along the members and facing away from the frame. The platform further includes a set of mounting elements having parallel protrusions which have been inserted into engagement with said parallel grooves in one of the members. The mounting elements form a structure on which additional parts of the loading platform may be mounted.

Some transport vehicles, such small and medium sized trucks and lorries, are equipped with loading platforms, i.e. a flat surface on which goods can be placed. The loading platform may be equipped with a variety of different body structures depending on the use of the vehicle.
In some cases, the loading platform is provided with movable sides, so called dropsides. Such dropsides are typically rotatable around one of their longitudinal sides, and releasably connectable to posts or pillars fixed to the platform. One example of a system comprising such pillars and dropsides is the Armaton® system from Forankra AB in Sweden.
In other cases, the loading platform is provided with a body forming a closed loading compartment. There are also numerous other examples of different structures which are mounted to the loading platform of a truck.
Different structures and bodies have different mounting requirements, and some customization of the loading platform, in particular the sides thereof, is often required. In some cases, the entire platform has to be made-to-measure for a specific type of body structure, and therefore becomes relatively expensive.
Based on this, it would be desirable to have a more versatile loading platform, which can be easily adapted depending on the specific type of body structure.