Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products for capturing elements of a negotiable instrument and generating a thumbnail image of the negotiable instrument for use in image recreation. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving an image of the negotiable instrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises one or more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrument; (b) capturing, using the image capture device, images of one or more elements of the negotiable instrument; (c) generating a thumbnail image of the negotiable instrument based at least partially on an image of the negotiable instrument; and (d) storing the images of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument and the thumbnail image of the negotiable instrument in the database.

Today, many financial institutions are required by federal and some state regulations to maintain image file records of all deposited checks and other negotiable instruments. In many instances, financial institutions are required to maintain this information for up to seven years. Currently, in the domestic market, tens of billions of dollars in checks are processed every year. The result of such a high volume of check processing by banks and other financial institutions is that very large amounts of storage space is required for properly maintaining image file records as required by law. Thus, there is a need to provide systems, methods, and computer program products that enable financial institutions to reduce the amount of storage space required for maintaining image file records of deposited checks and other negotiable instruments.

Systems and methods for capturing and storing image data from a negotiable instrument


An air bag (50) comprising: a piece of material (52) suitable for use as an air bag or cushion defining a main panel; the main panel formed with opposing triangular portions (70,72) and a plurality of transition edges (100), wherein adjacent edges of the various triangular portions are sewn together and certain ones of the transition edges are sewn together to yield the assembled air bag.

The present invention relates to an improved air bag for a passenger safety system and more particularly to an air bag formed of a single piece of material and method of fabricating same.
Air bags or cushions have been proposed for use in passenger safety restraint systems for automotive vehicles. The type of air bag used to protect the driver typically has a generally circular balloon type shape when inflated. This bag, formed of two connecting pieces, is relatively small since its primary purpose is to protect only the driver. The passenger side air bag is typically used to protect the outboard seated passenger and, if applicable, the middle seated passenger. A passenger side air bag or cushion presents a relatively large frontal area to protect these passengers, and it has a relatively complicated shape. FIG. 1 is illustrative of a prior art passenger side air bag fabricated from a main panel 20, having a narrowed neck portion 22 and two isoconic (kidney) shaped side panels 26 (only one of which is shown). Each side panel includes a narrowed neck portion 28. The main panel 20 is stitched about a long, arcuate seam 24 to each side panel 26. The main panel forms a top 30, front 32, and bottom 34 of this type of air bag. The significance of the dotted line 150 is discussed below.
The attachment of the main panel 20 to the two side panels 26 is accomplished by sewing along the seam 24. If sewing is done manually, the procedure is cumbersome and complicated due to the length and curved nature of the seams. It has been proposed that the sewing be performed in an automated manner which could require use of three-dimensional sewing machines utilizing at least three axis movements (X,Y,Z). The capital investment in this type of machine is very costly and the process of sewing utilizing these three-dimensional sewing machines is relatively complicated.
The present invention provides an air bag or cushion fabricated of a single piece of material. The material is configured in a manner such that the resulting sewing operations are along straight or slightly curved stitch or sewing patterns. These stitch or sewing patterns when sewn will define the shape of the bag and can be performed utilizing standard sewing machines avoiding the necessity of utilizing the more costly three-dimensional sewing machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag that is simple to manufacture and one that can be fabricated from a single piece of material. Another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag which utilizes a minimum amount of material.
Accordingly, the present invention comprises: an air bag formed of a single piece of material having a plurality of triangular portions extending outwardly from a main section of material. The edges of adjacent triangles are joined together such as by sewing to form parts of the side panels of the air bag. More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the air bag comprises: a generally oblong piece of material suitable for use as an air bag or cushion including: first and second ends, and first and second sides opposingly situated when the material is laid flat. The first side includes a plurality of adjacent first triangular-like shapes and the second side includes another plurality of adjacent second triangular-like shapes. Each side includes a transition edge extending from a respective end to an edge of certain triangular-like shapes. Adjacent edges of the various triangular-like shapes and certain pairs of the transition edges are sewn together to form the material into the desired shape of an air bag.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.


An ultrasonic flaw detecting apparatus comprises an array prove, an element-group defining circuit, a calculator, a signal receiver and a generator. The array probe comprises a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave to and from an inspection object. The element-group defining circuit is configured to select, as an element group, plural consecutive piezoelectric elements from the plurality of piezoelectric elements, set a reference position of the element group based on array arrangement information of the plurality of piezoelectric elements in the element group and based on a weighting value of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements in the element group, and calculate a propagation path of an ultrasonic beam from the element group based on the reference position and a predetermined refraction angle. The calculator is configured to calculate a delay time of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements in the element group in such a manner that the ultrasonic beam is configured to propagate along the propagation path. The signal receiver is configured to receive respective ultrasonic waves received with the plurality of piezoelectric elements as detection signals. The generator is configured to generate at least one composite signal for the ultrasonic beam having the propagation path based on the detection signal and the delay time.

An ultrasonic flaw detection test is an inspection technology that can nondestructively inspect soundness of a surface and interior of a structural material or the like to be used as a product, and the ultrasonic flaw detection test is used in various fields.
A phased array-type ultrasonic flaw detection test is performed in such a manner that an array probe constituted by arraying plural compact piezoelectric elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is directly or indirectly brought into contact with an inspection object. By driving the plural arrayed piezoelectric elements at different timings, ultrasonic waves can be internally transmitted from the array probe to the inspection object at an arbitrary angle.
For this reason, the phased array method can detect flaws in a wide range and multiple angles while fixing the array probe, as compared with the monocular probe method in which ultrasonic waves can be transmitted only at a predetermined angle. Thus, the phased array method for the ultrasonic flaw detection test is possible to target a structural material having a complicated shape and to reduce the number of working steps.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-002360
For instance, when ultrasonic flaw detection is performed on an inspection object having coarsened crystal grain and/or anisotropy such as a welded portion, the frequency of an ultrasonic wave transmitted to the inside of the inspection object is sometimes set to a small frequency in order to reduce the influence of noise. In the case of transmitting a low-frequency ultrasonic wave to the inside of the inspection object by the phased array method, it is required to increase the size of each piezoelectric element constituting the array probe in order to secure the detection sensitivity of a flaw.
As one of the driving methods of the piezoelectric elements in the phased array method, there is known a linear scan method. In the linear scan method, the position of the beam line of the ultrasonic beam (i.e., the reference position or the incident position on the inspection object) is moved along the surface of the inspection object while the flaw detection direction (i.e., the direction of the ultrasonic beam, such as the refraction angle, transmitted to the inside of the inspection object) is being kept constant. In the case of executing this linear scanning method, the array pitch of the piezoelectric elements becomes large when the size of each piezoelectric element is increased. As a result, the interval of the ultrasonic beams discretely arranged according to the size of each piezoelectric element is expanded, and there is a problem that the spatial resolution of flaw detection is reduced.
When the size of each piezoelectric element is reduced in order to solve the above-described problem, it is necessary to simultaneously drive plural piezoelectric elements for securing detection sensitivity, which further leads to another problem that the control channels of the piezoelectric elements become enormous.
In view of the above-described problems, an object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic flaw detection technique with improved spatial resolution of flaw detection and to provide a manufacturing method of a product based on this ultrasonic flaw detection technique.

Ultrasonic flaw detecting apparatus, ultrasonic flaw detecting method, and manufacturing method of product

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation


A method and system for automated testing and/or measurement of a plurality of substantially identical components by means of X-ray radiation comprises a testing/measuring device with an X-ray device, a protection cabin surrounding the testing/measuring device, a conveying device for continuously conveying components to or away from the testing/measuring device, and a control/evaluation unit, which is set up for automated control of the system and for evaluation of the X-ray signals. The testing/measuring device comprises a support and a rotor mounted on the support so as to be continuously rotatable, the X-ray device being arranged on the rotor and the conveying device being set up for serial conveying of the components through the rotor and the control/evaluation unit for computer tomographic evaluation of the X-ray signals.

The invention relates to a method and system for the automated testing and/or measuring of a plurality of substantially identical components using X-ray radiation.
Such systems are used for example for automatic serial testing of castings, the system being connected into the manufacturer's production line (inline testing). With known systems of this type the X-ray source and detector are arranged on a multiaxial manipulator, wherein by means of simple radiography, X-ray images of the test object are recorded and evaluated. However, the projection of the volume of the tested component onto the X-ray image allows only limited conclusions to be drawn as to the internal structure of the component.
To obtain precise information about the three-dimensional internal structure of components, it is known to laboratory test individual components by means of high resolution microtomography systems. X-ray tube and detector are mounted on a fixed support so as to be adjustable about a plurality of translational axes and the component is rotated about a vertical axis by means of a rotary table. Such systems are not suitable for automatic serial inline testing of components, in particular because the long period of time required for handling and high resolution investigation of a component is incompatible with the cycle times in a production line.

Method and system for the automated testing and/or measuring of a plurality of substantially identical components using X-ray radiation

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH


A fuel cell based system for the generation of electrical energy employs a drive unit that includes at least two electric motors sharing a common rotor which is mechanically coupled to drive a compressor to provide oxidant and/or fuel to a fuel cell. An electrical storage device such as a battery produces a voltage in at least a low voltage one of the electric motors to startup the system, and the fuel cell supplies a voltage to a high voltage one of the electric motors to drive the compressor, one or more loads such as a traction motor, and/or recharge the electrical storage device during standard operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure is generally related to fuel cell systems for generating electrical energy, and more particularly to the startup of fuel cell systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell system of this class is known from DE 199 51 584 A1. The use of the two synchronous machines such as two permanent-magnet electric motors, as specified in DE 199 51 584 A1, eliminates the previous need for DC/DC converters, so that the overall fuel cell system becomes less complicated and thus better suited for practical application.
A drawback of this approach is that the synchronous machines require collector rings for field excitation, which are subject to high wear and tear, and thus present a problem to the practical commercial embodiments of the proposed system. A further disadvantage of this approach is the requirement of an additional controller, which results in higher costs and makes the resulting system unnecessarily complicated.
Many applications for fuel cell based power generation systems are extremely price sensitive. Further, high reliability must be demonstrated to establish the fuel cell based power generation system market. Thus, a fuel cell based system for the generation of electrical energy that possesses a simple design and at the same time ensures reliable starting and problem-free operation of the fuel cell is desirable.


According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of removing dissolved contaminants from an aqueous liquid. The aqueous liquid is contacted with an adsorbent which comprises a finely divided lignocellulosic material, which has been subjected to extraction to remove hemicellulose and/or other components therefrom, to bind at least a portion of the organic compounds to the adsorbent. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing or separating dissolved contaminants from a liquid and to a method for producing a liquid containing hemicellulose and/or an adsorbent containing lignin and/or other components. In particular the invention concerns the use of an adsorbent lignocellulosic material for removing dissolved contaminants from a liquid.

Water pollution occurs when pollutants, such as chemical contaminants, are directly or indirectly discharged into bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater.
Chemical contaminants include both organic and inorganic substances.
Examples of organic contaminants include detergents, disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform, food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, such as fats and grease, insecticides and herbicides, comprised of for example, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and lubricants (motor oil), and fuel combustion byproducts, from storm water runoff, volatile organic compounds, such as industrial solvents, from improper storage, chlorinated solvents, for example polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and trichloroethylene, perchlorate, various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products, and pharmaceutical drugs and their metabolites as well as compounds dissolved from wood in different treatments such as lignin and its derivatives and wood lipophilic and phenolic extractives.
Inorganic contaminants include sulfur dioxide from industrial discharges, ammonia from food processing waste, industrial by-products, nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers, and heavy metals from e.g. acid mine drainage.
The pulp and paper industry is one of the heaviest users of water in the industrial economy using even tens of cubic meters of water for every ton of product depending on the product and process. Pulp and paper mills produce wastewater in volume which must be treated before water can either be recycled for use in the mills or safely discharged. Improving the recovery of contaminants stemming from pulp and paper mill process and waste water is therefore imperative.
The production of new biobased products such as hemicelluloses from lignocellulosic materials needs also large volumes of water and purification of final products from impurities is needed.
In the art, there are a number of solutions for removing, for example pollutants in municipal waste water treatment plants (WWTP). Suitable methods include the use of active sludge, filtration and the addition of chemical components. For removing micropollutants it has recently been suggested to use of powder activated carbon (PAC) as a complement to municipal WWTP in order to achieve a significant reduction of micropollutants and ecotoxicity in receiving waters.
The conventional technologies are hampered by the costs of providing suitable absorbents. In case of mechanical technologies, such as filtering, clogging is a conventional problem which is encountered in particular when the aqueous streams contain colloidal impurities. In membrane filtration fouling of the filtration material is also caused by adsorption of organic compounds on the membrane structure.

Extracted lignocellulosic material as an adsorbent and uses thereof

Lappeenrannan—Lähden teknillinen yliopisto LUT


An axle driving apparatus including a housing which houses an input shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation, axles having a lateral axis of rotation and a power-take-off shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation. The housing may include a first housing member, a second housing member and a third housing member longitudinally joined with one another. A partition is disposed at a vertical center of the first and second housing members and divides the interior thereof into a first and a second chamber. A third chamber is formed between the second and third housing members. An hydrostatic transmission is disposed in the first chamber. A transmitting mechanism drivingly connecting the hydrostatic transmission with the axles is disposed in the second chamber. Another transmitting mechanism drivingly connecting the input shaft with the power-take-off shaft is disposed in the third chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an axle driving apparatus including a hydrostatic transmission (HST), axles and a transmitting mechanism transmitting power to the axles, all of which are integrally provided in a housing of the axle driving apparatus. A power take off (PTO) transmission system for driving four wheels of a vehicle is compactly included in the housing.
The axle driving apparatus of the present invention also relates to the placement of a filter for filtering supply oil for the HST, and to the placement of a reserve tank regulating the volume of oil which varies with an increase of temperature of the HST.
Furthermore, the axle driving apparatus of the present invention relates to a compact arrangement of a differential locking system, which prevents bending or tilting of a differential input gear under heavy loads.
2. Related Art
A conventional axle driving apparatus includes axles and a transmitting mechanism interconnecting an HST to the axles housed in a housing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,068, discloses an axle driving apparatus wherein an input shaft, namely a pump shaft of an HST, is disposed vertically and an output shaft, namely a motor shaft of the HST, is disposed horizontally and parallel to the axles.
Conventionally, a PTO unit is attached to such an axle driving apparatus described above. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,367,877 and 5,515,677, for example, disclose a PTO unit separate from an axle driving apparatus and attached to a rear surface of the axle driving apparatus, projecting from the rear of the axle driving apparatus.
In cases where the input shaft of the HST is disposed vertically, as in the above-mentioned patents, the housing is vertically shorter, however, it is longitudinally and laterally longer. The input shaft necessarily projects upward, thereby requiring a predetermined space for a pulley or a sprocket above the housing. In cases where the axle driving apparatus has a vertically disposed input shaft and a PTO shaft, directional control of the axle driving apparatus requires a gear train of bevel gears or similar means because the PTO shaft is necessarily disposed horizontally. Thus, a housing including such a gear train is large. Furthermore, a casing supporting the PTO shaft projects rearwardly thereby also requiring a large space.
In an operating oil circulation system of an HST housed in a conventional axle driving apparatus, an oil filter for filtering operating oil of the HST is located in a lower portion in the housing. A reserve tank is conventionally located in an upper portion of the housing or adjacent the axle driving apparatus via piping, whereby the reserve tank is distant from the oil filter.
Accordingly, the mounting structure of the reserve tank is separate from that of the oil filter. Also, when the oil filter needs to be removed due to clogging or periodic maintenance, it can be removed only after all the operating oil is drained from the housing. Thus, removing the oil filter is a time consuming, costly and complicated process.
Furthermore, conventional differential gearing of the transmitting mechanism interconnecting the HST with the axles housed in the housing is occasionally provided with a differential locking system to restrict rotation of the differential and enable the vehicle to easily travel on a soft field.
To lock the conventional differential gearing, a differential casing is locked with a differential input gear, a differential side gear and a differential pinion via pins or other suitable means. A conventional driving apparatus housing is large when a differential casing is also disposed in the housing along with the HST, the axles and the transmitting mechanism. However, if the differential locking system is not provided with a differential casing, the differential input gear lacks adequate strength and support in cases of heavy traction. In this case, the differential input gear generates eccentric forces due to partial engagement of teeth thereof thereby reducing durability of the differential gearing.


A semiconductor integrated circuit including a clock signal propagation gate capable of reducing clock signal skew and controlling a clock signal is provided. The clock signal inputted at a clock origin propagates through buffers (30, 31) to a clock propagation control gate (32). The two-level clock propagation control gate (32) includes an inverter at the first level, and a NAND gate at the second level. The clock signal passed through the clock propagation control gate (32) propagates through buffers (33, 34) to reach a sequential circuit (35) at an end point. The NAND gate (39) at the second level of the clock propagation control gate (32) includes nMOS transistors (42, 43) and pMOS transistors (40, 41). The inverter (36) at the first level includes a pMOS transistor (37) and an nMOS transistor (38).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit including a clock signal propagation gate. More particularly, the invention relates to techniques for reducing clock signal skew (or a time difference between clock signals arriving at respective end points) and for facilitating the delay adjustment of the clock signals.
2. Description of the Background Art
Design of a clock distribution circuit is important in synchronous pipeline design of LSI circuits. Techniques for the clock distribution circuit are mainly of two types: a single-buffer scheme and a clock-tree scheme. The clock-tree scheme can achieve reductions in power consumption and in area as compared with the single-buffer scheme, and also can easily control clock signals.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a typical clock distribution circuit of the clock-tree type. A clock signal inputted at a clock origin (or a starting point of a clock) is distributed through a buffer 200 to buffers 201 and 202. The clock signal passed through the buffer 201 is further distributed to buffers 203 and 204. Finally, these distributed clock signals reach sequential circuits (e.g., latches and flip-flops (FFs)) at the end points of the clock tree. Buffers 200 to 212 are shown in FIG. 5. Sequential circuits 213 to 216 each including a plurality of flip-flops operating on the rising edge of the clock signal are shown at the end points of the clock tree.
Various structures of the clock distribution circuit of the clock-tree type have been proposed. Recently, an H-tree scheme has been proposed which can provide a uniform layout of paths from the clock origin to the sequential circuits at the end points. The H-tree scheme is disclosed in xe2x80x9cA Clock Distribution Network for Microprocessors,xe2x80x9d 2000 Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a clock distribution circuit of the clock-tree type capable of controlling the clock signal. The clock distribution circuit of FIG. 6 includes a control OR gate 224 and a control AND gate 226 in paths. These control gates 224 and 226 can stop feeding some or all of the clock signals to the sequential circuits at the end points. Buffers 220 to 223, 225, and 227 to 232 and sequential circuits 233 to 236 are shown in FIG. 6.
A path including the control AND gate 226 will be described. FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial circuit diagrams of the clock distribution circuit having the control AND gate. FIG. 7A shows a path from the clock origin to the sequential circuit 236 at one end point in the clock distribution circuit shown in FIG. 6. A clock signal inputted at the clock origin propagates through the buffers 220 and 222 to the control AND gate 226. The two-level control AND gate 226 includes an NAND gate 240 at the first level, and an inverter 245 at the second level.
FIG. 7B is a circuit diagram of the control AND gate 226. The NAND gate 240 at the first level includes pMOS transistors 241, 242 and nMOS transistors 243, 244. The inverter 245 at the second level includes a pMOS transistor 246 and an nMOS transistor 247.
The clock signal outputted from the control AND gate 226 propagates through buffers 228 and 232 to the sequential circuit 236 at the end point. The sequential circuit 236 shown in FIG. 7A is driven upon receipt of the rising edge of the clock signal.
The operation of the control AND gate 226 will be described. A control signal controls the propagation of the rising edge of the clock signal inputted to the control AND gate 226. When the control signal is LOW, the output from the control AND gate 226 remains LOW independently of the occurrence of a rising edge (or a LOW-to-HIGH signal transition) of the input clock signal. Thus, no rising edge of the clock signal propagates when the control signal for the control AND gate 226 is LOW.
On the other hand, when the control signal is HIGH, the input clock signal is inverted by the NAND gate 240 at the first level, and is then inverted again by the inverter 245 at the second level. Thus, the rising edge of the clock signal propagates when the control signal for the control AND gate 226 is HIGH.
Next, a path including the control OR gate 224 will be described. FIGS. 8A and 8B are partial circuit diagrams of the clock distribution circuit having the control OR gate. FIG. 8A shows a path from the clock origin to the sequential circuit 233 at one end point in the clock distribution circuit shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8B is a circuit diagram of the two-level control OR gate 224 which includes a NOR gate 250 at the first level and an inverter 255 at the second level. The NOR gate 250 at the first level includes pMOS transistors 251, 252 and nMOS transistors 253, 254. The inverter 255 at the second level includes a pMOS transistor 256 and an nMOS transistor 257.
A control signal controls the propagation of the rising edge of the clock signal inputted to the control OR gate 224. When the control signal is LOW, the input clock signal is inverted by the NOR gate 250 at the first level, and is then inverted again by the inverter 255 at the second level. Thus, the rising edge of the clock signal propagates when the control signal for the control OR gate 224 is LOW.
On the other hand, when the control signal is HIGH, the output from the control OR gate 224 remains HIGH independently of the occurrence of a rising edge of the input clock signal. Thus, no rising edge of the clock signal propagates when the control signal for the control OR gate 224 is HIGH.
In the clock distribution circuits of the clock-tree type shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, differences exist in length of interconnect lines, in the number of adjacent interconnect lines and in the number of gate levels, depending upon the paths from the clock origin to the sequential circuits at the end points. This produces a delay difference between clock signals, depending on the interconnect line paths, to result in a tendency toward higher clock signal skew (or a greater time difference between clock signals arriving at respective end points). Further, when the sequential circuit at the end point is driven by the rising edge of the clock signal, there is a need for the clock distribution circuit to propagate the rising edge of the clock signal.
Each of the buffers in the clock distribution circuits shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a two-level buffer including two inverters 260 and 263, as shown in FIG. 9. The first-level inverter 260 includes a pMOS transistor 261 and an nMOS transistor 262, and the second-level inverter 263 includes a pMOS transistor 264 and an nMOS transistor 265. Since an interconnect line connected to the output of the buffer has a large parasitic capacitance, the pMOS transistor 264 for driving the interconnect line is designed to have a greater current-driving capability than that of the pMOS transistor 261, and the nMOS transistor 265 is designed to have a greater current-driving capability than that of the nMOS transistor 262. In general, the driving capability of the pMOS transistor 264 of the inverter 263 is less than that of the nMOS transistor 265 of the same inverter 263. Thus, if the rising edge of the clock signal is applied to the buffer shown in FIG. 9, the propagation delay of the clock signal increases after the clock signal passes through the buffer.
To solve the higher clock signal skew problem, it is necessary to increase the driving capability of the second-level inverter 263 or, particularly, the driving capability of the pMOS transistor 264. In other words, a solution to the problem is to increase the gate width of the pMOS transistor 264 of the second-level inverter 263. However, this solution increases the area of the pMOS transistor 264 to accordingly increase the area of the buffer itself. This results in the increase in the area of the clock distribution circuit to give rise to the problem of accordingly increasing power consumption of the clock distribution circuit.
Another solution is the use of a clock distribution circuit disclosed in xe2x80x9cP-boosted Source Followers: A Robust Energy-efficient Bus Driver Technique,xe2x80x9d 2001 Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers. However, this clock distribution circuit is constructed to involve the need for the addition of a new nMOS transistor to present a problem such that it is impossible to reduce the area of the clock distribution circuit. Further, a pMOS transistor in this clock distribution circuit also participates in the propagation of the rising edge of the clock signal.
The control AND gate 226 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has a drawback to be described below. When the control signal is HIGH and the rising edge of the clock signal is inputted to the control AND gate 226, the clock signal inputted to the NAND gate 240 at the first level makes a LOW-to-HIGH transition. The clock signal which is HIGH turns OFF the pMOS transistor 241 of the NAND gate 240 at the first level. The turning-OFF of the pMOS transistor 241 causes the nMOS transistors 243 and 244 to drive the inverter 245 at the second level. The buffer structure shown in FIG. 9 does not have the series-connected nMOS transistors 243 and 244. Thus, the control AND gate 226 cannot provide current characteristics and the like similar to those of the buffer shown in FIG. 9 in response to the rising edge of the clock signal.
The control OR gate 224 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B has a drawback to be described below. When the control signal is LOW and the rising edge of the clock signal is inputted to the control OR gate 224, the clock signal inputted to the NOR gate 250 at the first level makes a LOW-to-HIGH transition. The clock signal which is HIGH turns OFF the pMOS transistor 252 of the NOR gate 250 at the first level. The turning-OFF of the pMOS transistor 252 causes the nMOS transistor 253 to drive the inverter 255 at the second level. Since the nMOS transistors 253 and 254 are connected in parallel and the nMOS transistor 254 is OFF, the control OR gate 224 becomes similar in construction to the buffer shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the control OR gate 224 can provide current characteristics and the like close to those of the buffer shown in FIG. 9 in response to the rising edge of the clock signal.
However, if the waveform of the input clock signal has a gentle slope, a short circuit current flows for a long time. Then, the influence of the pMOS transistors 251 and 252 becomes non-negligible, and the control OR gate 224 cannot provide the current characteristics and the like close to those of the buffer shown in FIG. 9 in response to the rising edge of the clock signal.
As described above, the clock distribution circuit which includes both the control AND gate 226 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and the control OR gate 224 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B finds difficulties in adjusting the delay of the clock signal since the control AND gate 226 and the control OR gate 224 have different current characteristics and the like than those of the buffers. For this reason, the clock distribution circuit shown in FIG. 6 has clock signal skew higher than that of a clock distribution circuit comprised of only similar buffers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a clock signal propagation gate capable of reducing clock signal skew, facilitating clock signal delay adjustment and controlling a clock signal, and a semiconductor integrated circuit including the clock signal propagation gate.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a clock signal propagation gate includes an inverter, and a logic gate. The inverter includes: a first MOS transistor of a first conductivity type having a drain, a gate receiving a clock signal, and a source connected to a first potential point; and a second MOS transistor of a second conductivity type having a source connected to a second potential point, a drain connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first MOS transistor. The logic gate includes: a third MOS transistor of the second conductivity type having a gate connected directly to the drain of the first MOS transistor and to the drain of the second MOS transistor, a source connected to the second potential point, and a drain, the third MOS transistor having a current-driving capability greater than that of the first MOS transistor; a fourth MOS transistor of the first conductivity type having a gate, a drain connected to the drain of the third MOS transistor, and a source; a fifth MOS transistor of the first conductivity type having a drain connected to the source of the fourth MOS transistor, a source connected to the first potential point, and a gate; and a sixth MOS transistor of the second conductivity type having a drain connected to the drain of the third MOS transistor to serve as an output of the logic gate, a source connected to the second potential point, and a gate; The gate of one of the fourth and fifth MOS transistors is connected to the gate of the third MOS transistor. The gate of the other of the fourth and fifth MOS transistors is connected to the gate of the sixth MOS transistor. A transition of the clock signal from a first potential at the first potential point to a second potential at the second potential point propagates to the output of the logic gate when a logic corresponding to the second potential point is applied to the gate of the other of the fourth and fifth MOS transistors and to the gate of the sixth MOS transistor.
The clock signal propagation gate produces the effects of controlling the clock signal in a clock distribution circuit, providing current characteristics and the like close to those of a buffer, and reducing the influence of a short circuit current upon the slope of the waveform of the rising edge of the clock signal.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a clock signal interconnect line, a buffer, at least one clock signal propagation gate, and a sequential circuit. The clock signal interconnect line propagates a rising edge of a clock signal. The buffer is on the clock signal interconnect line. The at least one clock signal propagation gate is the clock signal propagation gate as defined in the first aspect, and is on the clock signal interconnect line. The clock signal propagation gate propagates the clock signal when the first conductivity type is an n type, the second conductivity type is a p type, and a logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d is applied to the gates of the fourth and fifth MOS transistors. The sequential circuit is at an end point of the clock signal interconnect line. The sequential circuit is operated on the rising edge of the clock signal propagating through the clock signal interconnect line.
The semiconductor integrated circuit, which includes the clock signal propagation gate as defined in the first aspect, produces the effects of controlling the propagation of the rising edge of the clock signal in a clock distribution circuit, and providing clock signal skew as low as that of a clock distribution circuit comprised of only buffers.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a clock signal interconnect line, a buffer, at least one clock signal propagation gate, and a sequential circuit. The clock signal interconnect line propagates a falling edge of a clock signal. The buffer is on the clock signal interconnect line. The at least one clock signal propagation gate is the clock signal propagation gate as defined in the first aspect, and is on the clock signal interconnect line. The clock signal. propagation gate propagates the clock signal when the first conductivity type is a p type, the second conductivity type is an n type, and a logic xe2x80x9clow xe2x80x9d is applied to the gates of the fourth and fifth MOS transistors. The sequential circuit is at an end point of the clock signal interconnect line. The sequential circuit is operated on the falling edge of the clock signal propagating through the clock signal interconnect line.
The semiconductor integrated circuit, which includes the clock signal propagation gate as defined in the first aspect, produces the effects of controlling the propagation of the falling edge of the clock signal in a clock distribution circuit, and providing clock signal skew as low as that of a clock distribution circuit comprised of only buffers.

Clock signal propagation gate and semiconductor integrated circuit including same


A method of manufacturing a center electrode of a spark plug, comprising the steps of forming a cylindrical electrode member having a medium diameter portion and a small diameter portion and forming a barrel portion by extruding the medium diameter portion when the value of (S1−S2)/S1×100) is 30 or more, S1 being the cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the medium diameter portion perpendicular to an axial direction, and S2 being the cross-sectional area of a cross-section of each small diameter portion perpendicular to the axial direction.

A center electrode of a spark plug, in general, includes a flange-like large diameter portion at a rear end side portion of the center electrode. The leading end side of the large diameter portion includes a barrel portion that is smaller in diameter than the large diameter portion and a small diameter portion that is smaller in diameter than the barrel portion. Heretofore, when manufacturing this kind of center electrode having multi-step diameters, a cylindrical electrode member is first prepared, and then the barrel portion is formed by an extrusion process, after which a small diameter portion is formed at the leading end portion of the barrel portion by an extrusion (for example, refer to JP-A-8-213150).
However, depending on a difference between the diameter of the barrel portion and the diameter of the small diameter portion, the barrel portion may bulge in a radial direction due to a pressure applied to the rear end of the electrode member by a punch when extruding the small diameter portion.

Method of manufacturing center electrode and spark plug


Apparatus for performing mechanical tests on structures, in particular on energy absorber elements in the field of railways, wherein a pyrotechnics launcher comprising a launch tube slidably receiving a thrust rod is disposed at one end of a segment of rail track, said pyrotechnics launcher being supported in its central portion by a support element and being prevented from moving backwards by a buffer stop element disposed behind the pyrotechnics launcher, said support element and said buffer stop element including fixing means making it possible to hold said pyrotechnics launcher at various heights relative to the rails of the rail track.

The invention relates to apparatus for performing mechanical tests on structures, and in particular on energy absorber elements in the field of railways. Such tests have the particularity of requiring energy levels that can be relatively high, and of the order of 6 megajoules (MJ).
In the field of railways, impact testing apparatus is known in which a vehicle is put in motion on a rail track by means of a locomotive or else by gravity, using a track segment on a gradient. Once in motion, the vehicle hits an obstacle disposed on the rail track. Unfortunately, such testing apparatus suffers from the drawback of requiring a run up distance that is long, and generally longer than 500 meters (m), when the vehicle is xe2x80x9claunchedxe2x80x9d by a locomotive, or else a difference in level that is considerable when gravity is used to put it in motion, which makes the facilities dedicated to such testing very costly.
Document FR 2 765 685 discloses acceleration and deceleration apparatus using a pyrotechnics launcher. Such a pyrotechnics launcher offers the advantage of being capable of propelling moving equipment on a test track with programmed acceleration and with high energy. However, the testing apparatus disclosed in that document is unsuitable for launching a variety of different types of vehicle (in particular different types of rail vehicle), and does not make it possible to perform a wide variety of mechanical tests involving a variety of quantities of energy.
In the field of railways, it is necessary to test different types of energy absorber having widely different absorption capacities. The most recent rail vehicles are equipped with energy absorber elements disposed in alignment with the underframe of the vehicle and dimensioned to absorb large quantities of energy, e.g. to damp an impact with another rail vehicle, but they can also be provided with energy absorber elements dimensioned to deform as from lower energy levels, and often associated with the structure of the driver""s cab, making it possible to absorb an impact involving less energy, such as an impact with a road truck.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for performing mechanical tests on structures, and in particular on energy absorbers in the field of railways, which apparatus includes a pyrotechnics launcher that makes it possible to launch moving elements of widely differing sizes under high energy while also minimizing the risk of the moving elements pitching. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for performing impact tests that is very adaptable by making it possible to test absorber elements of widely differing ratings and strengths.
To this end, the invention provides apparatus for performing mechanical tests on structures, in particular on energy absorber elements in the field of railways, wherein a pyrotechnics launcher comprising a launch tube slidably receiving a thrust rod is disposed at one end of a segment of rail track, said pyrotechnics launcher being supported in its central portion by a support element and being prevented from moving backwards by a buffer stop element disposed behind the pyrotechnics launcher, said support element and said buffer stop element including fixing means making it possible to hold said pyrotechnics launcher at various heights relative to the rails of the rail track.
In particular embodiments, the apparatus of the invention for performing mechanical tests may have one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or in any technically feasible combination:
the buffer stop element and the support element stand on a concrete slab, said concrete slab also supporting a portion of the segment of rail track;
the concrete slab is anchored in the ground by means of anchoring piles driven into the ground and embedded in part in said concrete slab;
the concrete slab is provided with a pit extending between the rails of the rail track, said pit receiving a launch trolley which is mounted to slide between the rails and which can be propelled by the thrust rod;
the fixing means for fixing the pyrotechnics launcher to the support element and to the buffer stop element make it possible to lower the pyrotechnics launcher below the level of the rails of the rail track, and the pit has a wall facing towards the pyrotechnics launcher and that can receive an energy absorber element which is to be tested and against which said launch trolley crashes;
the support element is a gantry frame comprising two vertical elements provided with multiple holes making it possible to fix brackets at various heights for supporting a ring surrounding the launch tube, it being possible for the ring to pivot on the brackets about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of the launch tube;
the buffer stop element is constituted by a block of concrete having a substantially vertical wall against which a fixing plate is fixed that is disposed accurately perpendicular to the plane of the rails of the rail track, said fixing plate being provided with multiple holes making it possible to fix, at various heights, an abutment bracket to the end of which the rear end of the pyrotechnics launcher is fixed; and
the thrust rod is supported directly by a vehicle by means of interface apparatus provided with means for adjusting the alignment of the thrust rod on the axis of the launch tube.


A new distinct variety of grapevine named ‘ARDFORTYONE’ abundantly forms attractive meaty seedless berries with a black skin coloration, lax small clusters which display a natural flavor, the fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during June in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A, and displays good eating qualities as a table grape as the fruit firmness renders the fruit well amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

A breeding program was initiated during the late 1990's near Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In 2013, during this breeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from another male origin. The female parent of the new variety was 8-7+7, which is a red natural sweet flavored variety with very good berry attachment (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety was 10-20+4, a black variety with large berries and a natural taste (non-patented in the United States).
TABLE 1'ARDFORTYONE' compared with parents & closely relatedvariety:SummerRoyal (non-'ARDFORTYONE'8-7+710-20+4patented)Berry skinThinThinMediumMediumBerryObtuse ovoidBroadOvoidRound - OvalshapeellipsoidCap stem/Medium/MediumThin/LongMedium/Thin/LongbrushMedium
The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:8-7+7 X 10-20+4
An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryo which possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting from the above pollination were embryo rescued.
In 2014 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California.
It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:                (a) Forms attractive meaty seedless berries with a black skin coloration; in lax small clusters, which display a natural flavor,        (b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of June in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A., and        (c) Bears fruit that is firm and is well amenable for storage, handling, and shipping.        (d) Produces 88 bunches per vine, and an average of about 2 bunches per shoot, at a total of 73 lbs. fruit per vine.
The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visible disease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought, heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of the new variety has been found to display excellent handling and shipping qualities combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.
The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergo asexual propagation beginning in 2015 near Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A. by bud grafting on mature Thompson rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexual propagation has been conducted thereafter in successive years to date and has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true to type manner.


An aeration/ventilation device to be mounted on an aperture of a soffit may include a mounting platform to cooperate with the aperture of the soffit, a motor housing connected to the mounting platform, and a fan motor connected to the motor housing to a.) pull/draw cooler air in from the exterior of the soffit (under-eave) area of the building structure thus forcing the cooler air into the soffit interior and on into the attic space. b.) pull/draw hotter air out from the attic space into the interior of the soffit area thus forcing the hotter air out from the under-eave area of the structure. The aeration/ventilation device my use a double, single or multiple fan motors. These fan motors may be fixed to or be adjustable to the pitch angle of the roof structures. The aeration device my also include an electronic control housing to control the operation of the fan motors. The exhaust side of the motors may be fitted with adjustable air thruster device to create the effective exhaust velocity for improved air ventilation and circulation, along with a domed intake screens designed for improved air intake velocity. As well as being equipped with an intake rain guard(s).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the art and science of ventilating building structures, and in particular to an apparatus that provides an attic aeration/ventilation method by powering, forcing, pushing or drawing cooler air into the attic space from the soffit or under-eave area location/region of a building structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of climate changes related to global warming and the continued rapid demand and rising cost of energy, along with the incentives to preserve our energy resources, conservation is paramount for both domestic and the industrial/commercial end user.
For most end users located around and in between the earth's circle of latitude parallel planes 40 degrees north and 40 degrees south, air conditioning accounts for a substantial portion of the annual energy expense, Although most building structures are insulated, a substantial amount of energy is expended by the air conditioning compressor to pump the radiant absorbed by the building structure out of the air conditioned living space into the outside ambience.
As an air conditioning systems compressor load is being intensified by the heat gain forces/thermal storage effects associated within the attic air space found in building structures, temperature can continue to rise rapidly as solar radiation is absorbed.
The results are a large amount of heat is transferred from the exposed roof structure to the air trapped within the attic air space. This body of trapped air in the attic space acts as a thermal reservoir which transfers heat through the ceiling and into the air conditioned living space.
Because of the large thermal mass associated within the attic air space and the roof structure, heat can start transferring through the ceiling and into the air conditioned space beginning in the early morning hours and not substantially subside until late night.
The thermal mass storage effect of trapped or stagnant attic air in the past has been address by the actions found in two different types of attic vents which are classified as Intake and Exhaust Attic Vents.
Intake vents allow fresh air from outside the structure to enter the attic, and the Exhaust vents allow the air to escape.
Intake vents are static vents that are typically found in the soffit or the under eave area of a structure and are used for air intake. These static type vents typically consist of soffit vents, under eave vents along with other variations of continuous perforated venting materials.
This type static ventilation technology meets the minimum in building ventilation requirements and is also minimally efficient in regards to intake air performance.
Exhaust vents are the attic vents that allow air to escape. Exhaust vents may be static or powered.
Static exhaust vents allow the air to escape with no powered assistance, while exhaust powered ventilators use power to move the air out of the attic space.
These types of exhaust vents are located on or near the peak of the roof.
Static Exhaust Vents that are used on or near the peak or the roof typically consist of Ridge Vents, Roof Louvers, Wall Louvers and Wind Turbines.
Powered Exhaust Ventilators that are used on or near the peak of the roof typically consist of Powered Attic Ventilators and Powered Side Wall Ventilators types.
The Powered Vents are typically mounted on or near the peak roof area of the building structure and use an "Exhaust Method" for vacating hot air by a "drawing air up effect" along with using the typically static intake vents located in the soffits as described above.
This method of ventilation is also not as efficient as it should be because the air that is being generated up through the static vents below for ventilation is being heated up by the thermal environment and radiation effect of that found in the attic at a comparable rate.
Because the air is being "drawn up" from a large distributed area, in an uncondensed volume and rate the air has the propensity to heat up rapidly.
Also the air flow is typically drawn toward the underside of the roof through the joist and does not necessarily directly affect any of the thermal loading trapped in the insulation at the ceiling level of the structure.
Although the past prior art of Power Attic Ventilation methods have held out the promise of reducing energy consumption in building structures, through research funding by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have found and have expressed concerns that these devices do not necessarily realizing their perceived benefits and that they are:
Costly to operate/Uses more electricity than their benefits
Pull or suck air conditioned air from your living area into the attic space
Removes air from the home through ceiling leaks and associated bypasses
Increasing electricity cost and operation of the air conditioning compressor
Threat of back drafting combustion gases into a house living area
Pull pollutants from the crawlspace such as mold, radon, and sewer gases into the home
Back drafting fireplaces, water heaters as well as other fuel burning appliances

Hyper-aeration apparatus for attic ventilation


A gas discharge tube 10 of the present invention generates an electric discharge between an anode part 24 and a cathode part 52 disposed inside a sealed container 12 in which gas has been sealed. The gas discharge tube 10 includes an electric discharge path restricting part 28 which is cylindrical and disposed between the anode part and the cathode part, and which has a throughhole 46 for narrowing an electric discharge path between the anode part and the cathode part; and a supporting part 30 which supports the electric discharge path restricting part and which is electric insulating. The electric discharge path restricting part is provided at its tip portion with a projecting part 44 which is cylindrical and projects toward the cathode part side. Letting the outer diameter and height of the projecting part 44 be “D” and “H,” respectively, then D/H is in the range of 0.5 to 2.0. With this structure, it is possible to generate an intense electric field in the vicinity of the tip of the projecting part. This can decrease a startup voltage, thereby ensuring the generation of an electric discharge.

As conventional techniques in the above-described field, those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H7-288106 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-64479 are known. In either gas discharge tube, a barrier wall made of metal is disposed on an electric discharge path between an anode part and a cathode part, and a small hole is formed on the barrier wall so as to narrow the electric discharge path. In such a structure, light with high brightness can be obtained by the small hole on the electric discharge path. In particular, in the gas discharge tube of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H7-288106, brightness is further increased by extending the length of the small hole, that is, a portion of the electric discharge path that is narrowed. On the other hand, in the gas discharge tube disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-64479, higher brightness is achieved by disposing a plurality of barrier walls in addition to extending the length of the hole to be used.
The demand for higher brightness in the technical field of gas discharge tubes has been comparatively satisfied by the techniques disclosed in the above-described patent publications.
However, when a portion of the electric discharge path that is narrowed is extended in length, an electric discharge is less liable to occur. To avoid this problem, in the gas discharge tube disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-64479, a plurality of metal barrier walls are disposed to generate an electric discharge step by step; however, this results in complicating a power supply circuit.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gas discharge tube which can securely generate an electric discharge, regardless of the length of a portion of the electric discharge path that is narrowed.


A device to stimulate and measure a response from the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve of a patient may include a first surface electrode to apply a stimulating signal to the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve, a second surface electrode to record the response from the stimulating signal after applying the stimulating signal to the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve, and a third surface electrode to reference the stimulating signal. The second surface electrode may be placed over the fifth metacarpal joint, and the device may include a ground electrode positioned over the dorsal surface of the hand. The device may include a inactive stimulating electrode positioned near to the first surface electrode. The inactive stimulating electrode may be positioned within 3 cm of the first surface electrode, and the first electrode may be placed substantially above the tendon the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. The first electrode may be placed substantially at the level of styloid, and the second surface electrode may be placed in an area supplied by the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve. The first surface electrode may be placed substantially proximal to the styloid.

The dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve is a large sensory nerve which arises from the distal third of the forearm. It carries fibers from the C8 (cervical eight nerve root), T1 (thoracic first nerve root) via the medial cord of the brachial plexus. It innervates the dorsal skin over the medial metacarpal region and the medial one and one half digits but not the terminal phalanges. The latter is innervated via palmar branches of the ulnar nerve (more specifically the superficial branch).
The course of the dorsal cutaneous nerve becomes superficial approximately 5 cm above wrist where it lies between the flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulna. The dorsal cutaneous nerve is spared in lesions at the wrist, but may be involved with more proximal lesions, for example, at the medial epicondyle or cubital tunnel.
Clinically, sensory involvement of the dorsum of the digits implies the lesion above the wrist involving the dorsal cutaneous branch which is given off in the forearm. Sensory abnormalities restricted to the skin of the hypothenar eminence and volar ulnar digits with some distal dorsal digital involvement suggest a wrist lesion implicating the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve. See, e.g., Reference 1 cited below.
Clinical and electrophysiological (sensory nerve conduction studies) evaluation of the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve is useful in topographical analysis of the ulnar mononeuropathies. See, e.g., References 2 and 3 cited below. The finding of preserved normal function of the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve is detrimental to the diagnosis of ulnar mononeuropathy at the proximal Guyon's canal.
The ulnar nerve is the main continuation of the medial cord of the brachial plexus. Its fibers are usually derived from the eight cervical and first thoracic roots although occasionally the seventh cervical root makes the contribution via the lateral cord. In the axilla the nerve runs between the axillary artery and vein. In the arm, it stays between the brachial artery and vein, sharing the neurovascular bundle with median nerve. At the midarm, it leaves the neurovascular bundle and passes posteriorly through the medial intermuscular septum to descend on the medial aspect of the medial head of the triceps. The nerve is superficial throughout its course and innervates no muscle in the arm. At the elbow, the nerve lies in the groove formed by the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the olecranon process of the ulna (the retrocondylar groove). It enters the forearm through the aponeurotic arcade (the cubital tunnel) joining the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris, which it innervates. The nerve travels through the belly of the flexor carpi ulnaris and then exits by piercing aponeurosis of the anterior surface of the muscle. It then lies in the plain between the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum profundus (to digits 4 and 5), which it innervates. See, e.g., Reference 4 cited below.
The nerve is joined by the ulnar artery in the upper forearm to form a neurovascular bundle. About the middle of the forearm the ulnar nerve gives rise to the palmar cutaneous branch, which descends to provide sensory innervation to the medial aspect of the proximal palm. About 7 cm proximal to the wrist it also gives off a dorsal cutaneous branch, which provides innervation to the medial aspect of the dorsum of the hand and dorsal proximal aspect of the fifth and medial fourth digits. The ulnar nerve provides no sensory innervation above the wrist. See, e.g., Reference 4 cited below.
At the wrist, the ulnar nerve and artery lie in a canal formed by the pisiform medially and the hook of the hamate laterally (Guyon's canal). In this region the nerve divides into superficial and deep branches. Although, the superficial branch is generally considered a sensory branch, it supplies the palmaris brevis, a thin muscle beneath skin of the proximal medial palm, which cannot be studied electromyographically. It then provides sensory innervation to the distal palm and terminates into two digital branches that are distributed to the ulnar side of the fifth digit and the adjoining sides of fourth and fifth digits. The deep muscular branch gives of a hypothenar branch to innervate the abductor, opponens, and flexor digiti minimi. It then follows the course of the deep palmar arch across the hand and as it crosses it supplies dorsal and palmar interossei and third and fourth lumbricales. At its termination between the thumb and index finger it supplies the flexor pollicis brevis (deep head) and adductor pollicis. Although the ulnar nerve or its branches may be involved by penetrating injuries at any level, there are certain sites where the nerve is prone to injury. Compression neuropathies of the ulnar nerve at the elbow are common and widely recognized. In the retrocondylar groove, the nerve lies on a bone covered only by a thin layer of skin and is subject to chronic compression from multiple etiologies. At 1-2 cm distally, the nerves may be trapped at the cubital tunnel. Compression at either side may result in the clinical presentation known as ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Rarely, the nerve may be entrapped in the proximal forearm as it pierces the deep aponeurosis investing the undersurface of the flexor carpi ulnaris of the distal forearm by a fibrovascular band and hypertrophied flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. Entrapment at wrist (Guyon's canal) may present with a different pattern of sensory and motor deficit depending on the degree of the involvement of the superficial (sensory) or deep (motor) branches. See, e.g., Reference 4 cited below.
Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow (Retrocondylar Groove).
Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow can be caused by compression in the retrocondylar groove due to repeated trauma (e.g., habitual leaning on the elbows), traumatic joint deformity, distal humerus fracture, elbow dislocations, recurrent subluxations of the nerve, callus formation, rheumatic and degenerative joint disease, congenital anomalies of the medial epicondylo-olecranon ligament, valgus deformity, and immobilization during surgery.
Originally the term Tardy Ulnar Palsy referred to antecedent traumatic joint deformity or recurrent subluxation. Many clinicians now use the term for any entrapment of the ulnar nerve in the elbow. It appears that ulnar neuropathy may herald the onset of more generalized neuropathy. Ulnar neuropathy at the retrocondylar groove should be distinguished electrodiagnostically from cubital tunnel syndrome. The distinction can be important in surgical management; the former may require surgical transposition of the nerve whereas the latter may warrant simple decompression of the nerve in the tunnel without transposition. See, e.g., Reference 4 cited below.
Clinical features are paresthesia, pain, or numbness that occurs in the sensory distribution of the ulnar nerve including the dorsum of the hand. There is pain or tenderness at the elbow with weakness and wasting of the first dorsal interosseous and other ulnar innervated hand muscle that may occur in severe cases. Clinical evidence of weakness may preferentially involve the first dorsal interosseous. Weakness of the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum profundus (to digits 4 and 5) may be variable. Radiographic studies may be reveal rheumatic, arthritic, or post-traumatic changes around the elbow. Routine nerve conduction studies may, among others, demonstrate absent or reduced ulnar dorsal cutaneous response. See, e.g., References 4 and 5 cited below.
Ulnar neuropathy of the elbow (Cubital tunnel syndrome).
Entrapment of the ulnar nerve occurs in the tunnel formed by the tendinous arch connecting the humeral and ulnar heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris one to two cm distal to the medial epicondyle. The cubital tunnel narrows when the elbows are flexed, and this is important in the development of the compression neuropathy. There is no joint deformity or prior trauma to the elbow. Bilateral ulnar neuropathy occurs frequently. Ulnar neuropathy at the retrocondylar groove should be distinguished electrodiagnostically from the cubital tunnel syndrome. As discussed above, the former generally requires surgical transposition of the nerve whereas the latter may warrant simple decompression in the tunnel without transposition.
Paresthesia, pain, and numbness occur in the sensory distribution of the ulnar nerve, including the dorsum of the hand. There is pain or tenderness at or slightly distal to the elbow. In severe cases, weakness and wasting of the first dorsal interosseous and other ulnar innervated hand muscles may occur. Clinical evidence of weakness may preferentially involve the first dorsal interosseous. Weakness of the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum profundus (to digits four and five) may be variable. Radiographic studies are normal. Routine nerve conduction studies may, among others, demonstrate absent or reduced ulnar dorsal cutaneous response. See, e.g., Reference 4 cited below.
Ulnar neuropathy of the Wrist (Guyon's canal).
Entrapment of the ulnar nerve occurs in the tunnel formed by the pisiform bone medially and the hook of the hamate laterally. The floor consists of thick transverse carpal ligament and subjacent bone. The distal roof is rigidly bound by the piso-hamate ligament. Entrapment may be associated with a lipoma, ganglion cyst, ulnar mass lesion, or chronic compression to the hypothenar region (e.g., due to bicycle bars, crutches, or occupation).
Within the canal the nerve divides into superficial (sensory) and deep (muscular) branches.
Nerve or branch lesions in the four different locations within Guyon's canal produced distinctive patterns of symptoms and signs.
Pattern 1.
A deep branch lesion distal to the hypothenar motor branch produces weakness in the interossei and lumbricales, but not in the hypothenar muscle; and there are no sensory deficits.
Pattern 2.
A lesion at or proximal to hypothenar motor branch produces weakness in the interossei, lumbricales, and hypothenar muscles; and there are no sensory deficits.
Pattern 3.
A lesion at or proximal to bifurcation into the deep and superficial branches produces weakness in the interossei, lumbricales and hypothenar muscle and sensory deficits in the distal palm, fifth digit, and ulnar side of the fourth digit.
Pattern 4.
The lesion limited to the superficial branch produces only sensory deficit in the distal palm, fifth digit, and ulnar side of the fourth digit.
The lesion that is comprised of deep nodal branch pattern 1 and 2 may be confused with focal onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis particular in all-ulnar hand. The lesion that comprises of superficial branch (pattern 3 and 4) do not produce loss of sensation over the ulnar dorsal surface of the hand (ulnar dorsal cutaneous distribution.)
Nerve Conduction Studies.
Prolonged distal latencies in motor or sensory responses, reduced amplitudes with normal sensory nerve conduction studies of the ulnar dorsal cutaneous branch. See, e.g., Reference 4 cited below.
Sensory Nerve Conduction Studies.
The sensory nerve conduction study measures the conduction of the nerve impulse along the sensory nerves. The routine method measures the conduction velocity of the large diameter sensory nerve fibers of the nerve being tested. There are two methods of obtaining sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) orthodromic and antidromic. The orthodromic method includes recording of the sensory nerve action potential proximally and stimulating the nerve distally whereas in the antidromic method the location of the stimulating and recording electrodes is reversed. The latency and conduction velocities are identical with the orthodromic and antidromic methods if the recording and stimulating electrode positions are constant. One disadvantage of the antidromic method is that an accompanying motor response (because motor fibers are also stimulated) may distort the small SNAP. See, e.g., Reference 6 cited below.
The most commonly referenced method (See, e.g., References 2,7,8,9,10 cited below) to test ulnar dorsal sensory branch is described in the article by Joe F. Jabre, "Ulnar Nerve Lesions at the Wrist: New Technique For Recording from the Sensory Dorsal Branch of the Ulnar Nerve." Neurology vol. 30 (1980): 873-6. In the Jabre method, ulnar dorsal cutaneous branch is stimulated at least 5 cm proximally to the ulnar styloid. The recording electrode is placed between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones with the reference electrode placed distally at the base of fifth digit. Under Technical Comments in the book by J.A. Liveson, "Laboratory Reference for Clinical Neurophysiology." Oxford University Press (1992), the author describes how to use the Jabre method. The author states that, "Stimulation may best be accomplished with the arm fully supinated, if the stimulator with angulated probe is available, pronation of the arm will be equally convenient." The book further states that, "The stimulator should be positioned between the ulnar bone and tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris. Pressure should be exerted toward the bone. If this is not successful, some experimentation may be necessary. The stimulator can be directed laterally and pressed towards the tendon. Alternatively, it may be placed lateral to the tendon and pressed medially." The Jabre method may not be suitable for surface stimulating electrodes as it requires angulated probe and 'some experimentation'.
Another popular method is described in the article by Dae Joo Kim, M. D., "Dorsal Cutaneous Ulnar nerve Conduction." Archives of Neurology vol. 38 (1981): 321-22. In this method, the nerve is stimulated proximally 8-10 cm above the ulnar styloid.
In another study described in the article by A.L.C.R. Dutra De Oliveira, "Limitation of The Clinical Utility of The Ulnar Dorsal Cutaneous Sensory Nerve Action Potential", Clinical Nerve Physiology vol. 111 (2000): 1208-1210. The author used the method of recording sensory nerve action potential from ulnar dorsocutaneous nerve using noninsulated subdermal needle electrodes and recording from the fourth intermetacarpal space.
References.
1. Laboratory Reference for Clinical Neurophysiology" by J. A. Liveson, published by Oxford University Press in 1992, page 159.
2. Dorsal Cutaneous Ulnar Nerve Conduction. Dae Joo Kim, M. D. from Archives of Neurology, volume 38 May 1981 pages 321 and 322.
3. Limitation of The Clinical Utility of The Ulnar Dorsal Cutaneous Sensory Nerve Action Potential., by A. L. C. R. Dutra De Oliveira published in Clinical Nerve Physiology 111 2000 1208-1210.
4. Atlas of Electromyography. A. Arturo Leis, M. D., Vincente C. Trapani, M. D. Oxford University Press, pages 23-28.
5. The limitation of dorsal ulnar cutaneous sensory response in the patient with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow" by S. Venkatesh, M. D. published in Muscle and Nerve, March 1995, 18:345-347.
6. Clinical Electromyography: Nerve Conduction Studies. Shin J. Oh, M. D., pages 44-47.
7. Radial Sensory Conduction in Hand" by Henry A. Spindler, published in Archive of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, volume 6, 7 Nov. 1986, Pages 821 through 823.
8. Paired study of the Dorsal Cutanous Ulnar and Superficial Radial Sensory Nerves. Martin D. Hoffman, M. D. published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, volume 69, August 1988, pages 591 to 594.
9. Dorsal ulnar cutaneous nerve conduction studies in asymptomatic population" by Sherry H. Young, M. D. published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, volume 81, September 2000, pages 1171 through 1172.
10. Dorsal Ulnar Cutaneous Nerve Conduction, Reference Value" by Solange Garibaldi, published in Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2002; 60 (2-b): 349-352.

Method of stimulating and recording from ulnar dorsal cutaneous sensory nerve


An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for sensing at a seabed is provided. The AUV is configured to be grounded in a stationary condition on the seabed. The AUV comprises a body (100), a sensing module configured to acquire data when the vehicle is grounded on the seabed, and a multiplane wing configuration (200) extending from the body. The multiplane wing may be a box wing.

A known propulsion and steering mechanism for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,255. Two propellers are independently driven by motors, while the orientation of the propellers is simultaneously controlled by a third motor.
AUVs are typically configured to move through water, such as an ocean, at and between varying depths. Such AUVs are typically significantly neutrally buoyant to allow the AUV to easily ascend or descend. To ensure the stability of an AUV, the centre of buoyancy of the AUV is typically disposed above the centre of gravity. Furthermore, it is preferable to maximise the distance between the centre of gravity and the centre of pressure generated by the AUV, and so it is known to provide an elongate AUV, in which the length of the AUV is much greater than the width, and to provide a small fin or wing in an aft position, to help provide a restorative hydrodynamic moment.