A measuring device is provided for measurement of parameters, in particular for measuring the temperature, in molten masses, in particular in molten metal or molten cryolite masses having a melting point above 500° C. The measuring device has an optical fiber for receiving radiation from the molten mass and a cable reel having an external circumference for winding up the optical fiber and an internal space surrounded by the external circumference. A distributor and a mode filter for the optical fiber are arranged in the internal space.

The invention relates to a measuring device for measurement of parameters, in particular for measuring the temperature, in molten masses, in particular in molten metal or molten cryolite masses having a melting point above 500° C. The device comprises an optical fiber for receiving radiation from the molten mass and a cable reel having an external circumference for winding up the optical fiber and an internal space surrounded by the external circumference. The invention further relates to a cable reel suitable for use in the measuring device according to the invention.
Similar measuring devices are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,702 B1 and German Patent DE 103 31 125 B3. Here, an optical fiber is used for measuring in molten masses, wherein the optical fiber is connected, on the one hand, to a measuring device and, on the other hand, to an immersion lance for immersion into the molten mass. The optical fiber is fed in through a feeding mechanism of the immersion lance and is guided, in a trailing manner, according to its consumption, wherein it is unwound from a type of cable reel. The measuring process is sufficiently well-known from the two patents cited above.
Regarding the relatively long optical fibers (up to several hundred meters) used, it has been evident that the fiber receives the radiation at its immersion end with a multitude of so-called modes, also called vibrational modes. The various modes are attenuated to different intensities along the extensive length of the fiber and are optionally modified by mutual interference. The process of attenuation, and thus of signal modification, is a function of the path length travelled by the light signal through the optical fiber. Overall, this may corrupt, for example, a temperature measuring signal of approx. 1,600° C. by distinctly more than 10° C. upon a change of the length of the optical fiber of approx. 100 meters, owing to it being consumed during the process. In order to keep the corruption effect as small as possible during multiple measurements, it is customary to keep a substantial length of optical fiber on the cable reel and not consume it, although this is expensive.
So-called mode filters, in which specific reduction of the diameter of an optical fiber in certain places eliminates modes, are known from the telecommunications industry. This can be done without difficulty in telecommunications, since the length of the fibers is relatively constant (the fibers are not being consumed) and the light is coupled into the so-called core of the optical fiber and not into its jacket. Like the core, the jacket consists of quartz glass. The length of the fibers used in telecommunications usually is distinctly more than one kilometer; modes in the jacket are deleted over such distances and have no interfering effect.
In metallurgy, in particular for measurements, substantially shorter optical fibers are used, usually less than 500 meters, wherein the light is coupled into both the core and into the jacket of the optical fiber and is very unstable as a result. The optical fiber being exposed to strongly varying temperature during its use can also impair the stability.

Measuring device for measurement of parameters in molten masses


A system for monitoring and managing devices on network comprising one or more managed devices connected to the network and storage means for storing a device management application program associated with each of the managed devices. The system further includes a management station which is in communication with each of the managed devices across the network, and the management station is in communication with the storage means. When a user wishes to monitor, configure, or manage one of the managed devices on the network, the user preferably selects the managed device to be managed and the management station retrieves from the storage means the device management application program associated with the selected managed device. By the management station processing the management application program for the selected managed device, the management station allows the user to monitor the status of the managed device, as well as change the configuration of and fix errors with the managed device.

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for managing heterogeneous storage devices, and more particularly to a network based system and software for monitoring and managing storage devices in a network environment.
Network computing systems typically require a variety of devices to construct and maintain a working storage system. In addition, companies with large networks typically have a number of different storage systems, many of which can be manufactured by different companies and/or run on different versions of operating software. Storage system devices may include, but are not limited to, host adapters, I/O chips, disk enclosures, and bridge controllers, to name a few.
Each of these components traditionally are managed by proprietary software that is supplied by its manufacturer. In addition, there are a number of third parties which have developed network management frameworks, such as Hewlett-Packard""Open View, IBM""s NetFinity, and Computer Associates"" Unicenter. Unfortunately, however, while these third party frameworks provide great benefit to the management of applications, servers, and network equipment, they have little success in managing storage devices because no single standard exists for configuring and monitoring storage devices produced by different manufacturers, as well as different versions of storage devices produced by the same manufacturer. Standards such as desk top management interface (DMI) and simple network management protocol (SNMP) are able to manage simple devices such as host adapters and the like, but they fall short when applied to complex devices such as disk array controllers. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, it is not likely that a standard for managing disk array controllers will be created in the future, because unlike host adapters and disk subsystems, each disk array vendor is constantly releasing proprietary features to distinguish itself in the marketplace. Thus, what is needed is a management framework which can monitor and manage all types of storage systems and devices on a network including complex disk array controllers and their associated storage systems.
According to the invention, a system for monitoring and managing devices on a network comprising one or more managed devices connected to the network and storage means for storing a device management application program associated with each of the managed devices. In addition, the system includes a management station, which is in communication,with each of the managed devices across the network, and the management station is in communication with the storage means. When a user wishes to monitor, configure or manage one of the managed devices on the network, the user preferably will select the managed device to be managed, and the management station will retrieve from the storage means, the device management application program associated with that managed device. By the management station processing the management application program for the particular managed device, the management station allows the user to monitor the status of the managed device, as well as change the configuration of and fix errors with the managed device. Because managed devices may operate with different control software or different versions of the same control software, each management application program associated with a particular managed device is configured to communicate with the control software for the associated managed device. Thus, by a management station processing different management application programs for each of the managed devices, one or more management stations can monitor, configure and manage any device on the network.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the managed device(s) comprise storage systems, such as RAID storage systems, or the like.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the management station preferably comprises a Java compliant web browser or other suitable Java run-time environment which can process Java applets. In addition, the device management application programs preferably are Java programs or applets, which can be processed in a suitable Java run-time environment, such as a Java compliant web browser. Thus, regardless of the operating system structure of the management station (i.e., Windows, UNIX, Macintosh, or the like), the management application programs can be run by the management station. Therefore, with the present invention, an organization is not restricted to a particular operating system environment or network architecture.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the management station preferably includes a graphical user interface (GUI), which allows a user to visualize the association of all of the storage systems and other devices on the network. In addition, as the user selects one of the storage system devices on the network, the graphical user interface will display the physical configuration of that device, as well as the status of the device. The user then can use the interface to submit error recovery commands, system reconfiguration commands, and other suitable storage system management commands to the selected device.
Preferably, in communicating with the managed device, the management station, and in particular, the management application program being run by the management station, sends remote procedure call (RPC) commands to the device. The managed device controller residing within the managed device enclosure, residing in a device external to the enclosure, or residing on a computer server attached to the managed device receives the RPC commands and converts them to device specific commands. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, devices manufactured by different companies, typically will require different management frameworks. Thus, it is in advantage of the present invention that one or a combination of a few communication protocols can be used for all managed devices on the network.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description of preferred embodiments and claims when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the figures.

Methods and apparatus for managing heterogeneous storage devices


A gas turbine engine comprising a core engine surrounded by a core casing, at least one C-duct having radially inner and outer walls and a thrust reverser unit; the engine is mounted to an aircraft pylon via at least one thrust member attached to the core engine; the thrust reverser unit is mounted within the outer wall of the C-duct; the C-duct is secured to the core casing via a vee-groove attachment comprising vee-groove and vee-blade parts, the attachment is arranged to transfer loads between the thrust reverser unit and the pylon; wherein one cooperating part of the attachment is mounted to a torsion box mounted on the inner wall of the C-duct.

Certain gas turbine engines are mounted to the pylon via thrust links attached to the core of the engine, such as the Trent 500 of Rolls-Royce plc, shown in FIG. 1. These arrangements employ only one vee-groove attachment feature to transfer thrust reverser (TRU) axial load into the engine core. The vee-groove itself is disposed around the outside of a fan casing and cooperates with a vee-blade feature on a conventional C-duct, thereby securing the TRU to the engine. This vee-groove is positioned at the rear of the rear fancase. The TRU axial load is transferred to the thrust links via an annular array of fan outlet guide vanes (OGV), through an OGV twin plane support and into the core of the engine. One problem of this arrangement is the high bending loads applied through the OGV, which in turn causes high bending stresses through the engine core. Notably the load path from the outer vee-groove is tortuous and thus the structure is required to be strong and therefore heavy. In particular, the OGV twin plane supports carry substantial bending and axial loads and are significantly heavy. Furthermore, clearance gaps between compressor and turbine blades and their casings must be increased to accommodate the core engine bending deflections and therefore the engine does not operate as efficiently as possible.
Other gas turbine engines, such as the Trent 800 of Rolls-Royce plc, shown in FIG. 2, employ a second and radially inner vee-groove. However, this arrangement is only possible as there is no pylon core mounting arrangement, which would otherwise obstruct the inner vee-groove.
A more serious problem with both the prior art arrangements is that the vee-blade of the C-duct is relatively weak compared to the circumferential stiffness of the engine core vee-groove, which is usually annular. Thus it is possible for the vee-blade to deflect significantly so that bypass air may enter the C-duct structure itself causing serious structural damage bend. Such bending might also lead to disengagement the vee-groove and vee-blade, which is clearly undesirable.


A controller determines a state of a switch unit based on a potential difference between a power supply side and a load side of the switch unit. Alternatively, when an electronic device is in a first operating state, the controller determines a state of the switch based on a result of a first detection unit. When the electronic device is in a second operating state that a power consumption of the device is lower than that in the first operating state, the controller determines the state of the switch based on a result of a second detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device, such as an image forming apparatus, and in particular to technology for detecting an open/closed state of an interlock switch thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses such as copiers or printers, which are electronic devices, are provided with an opening/closing cover by which a service operator can access the inside of the apparatus. Opening the cover, the service operator can execute a maintenance operation, such as exchanging consumable parts. Besides exchanging consumable parts, also when a malfunction occurs, for example when conveyance failure of paper occurs (also referred to as "jam"), the user may open the cover to retrieve the sheet that has caused the jam. There are also image forming apparatuses, in which a driving system, such as a motor and gears for driving a conveying system, is exposed when the cover is opened. Similarly, there are also image forming apparatuses, in which an electrode under high voltage is exposed when the consumable part has been retrieved. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-297812 proposes a mechanical switch mechanism (interlock switch), that cuts off the voltage supplied to the driving system or a high-voltage current source, when the cover is opened.

Method for detecting opening/closed state of an interlock switch provided in an electronic device


An electronics module for a filling-level measuring device is stated which evaluates a newly acquired data point on the basis of an expectation funnel and, if this data point is situated within the expectation funnel, replaces a preceding data point by this newly acquired data point. Otherwise a new expectation funnel is generated. As a result of this the presentation of echo signal waveforms can be created in a more efficient manner.

In present-day measuring methods for measuring filling levels, pressures or flows through a conduit, the measured values, if necessary following corresponding processing, can be stored in the form of so-called track lists.
In the case of filling level measuring that is, for example, based on the so-called frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) principle or the pulse transit-time method, these track lists correspond to measured echo curves. In the case of pressure measuring these track lists can, for example, reflect the chronological progress of the measured pressures, while in the case of flow measuring, they can reflect a flow rate at predetermined points in time.
These track lists often require a relatively large amount of storage space. Transmitting the track lists from the measuring device to an external unit is only possible if adequate transmission capacity is available.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,425 B2 describes a method for filling level determination in which a differentiation can be made between moving surfaces and stationary surfaces.
WO 2004/010093 A1 describes a method for determining an expectation range relating to future echoes, in which expectation range the chronological behaviour of echo data from the past is taken into account.
DE 4234300 C2 describes a measuring method according to the pulse transit-time method.
WO 2009/037000 A3 describes a method for finding and extracting echoes.


A hybrid simulation method uses a simulator tool feeding kinematics commands to a movement simulator on which a moving body is mounted and to a target representative of an objective to be reached by the moving body, and on detection of an event representative of overshooting or changing a first designated objective for this moving body, the method includes a positioning stage associated with a second designated objective for the moving body, including comparing positions executed by the movement simulator in response to transition kinematics commands with a first predetermined setpoint position and activating a first marker if a position substantially the same as the first setpoint position is detected; comparing positions executed by the target in response to transition kinematics commands with a second predetermined setpoint position and activating a second marker if a position substantially the same as the second setpoint position is detected; when the first and second markers are activated, a step of evaluating a difference between the current kinematics command supplied to the movement simulator and the target by the digital simulator tool; and, if this difference is below a particular threshold, a piloting stage including applying corrective terms linked to the setpoint positions to the kinematics commands coming from the simulator tool before they are fed to the movement simulator and to the target.

The field of the present invention is validating the operational capabilities of a moving or airborne body, for example a drone, a missile, etc.
The invention relates more particularly to estimating the trajectory of a moving body in a real navigation environment, notably after detecting an overshoot of a designated objective for the moving body or a change of objective. Here objective means a target or destination that the moving body is to reach, designated in the form of geographical coordinates, for example.
In the meaning of the invention, references to a moving body "overshooting" an objective mean that the moving body has not reached the objective (for example it has missed the objective). Similarly, the remainder of the description refers to a moving body "attacking" an objective while it is attempting to reach the objective.
Thus, although this is not limiting on the invention, the invention preferably enables evaluation of the ability of a moving body to re-attack an objective that has been missed and/or to change objective during a mission.
In the current state of the art, there are hybrid simulation methods for estimating the trajectory of a moving body such as an aircraft or a rocket accurately and at reasonable cost.
Those hybrid simulation methods rely:                firstly, on real subsystems, for example an angular movement simulator on which is mounted the moving body or part of the moving body comprising certain elements of the moving body such as its inertial navigation system, its computer, etc.; and        secondly, on mathematical models replacing elements of the moving body that are not used and modeling the navigation environment of the moving body, for example a mathematical model for its propulsion, its aerodynamics, the atmosphere, the Earth, etc.
One such simulation method is described in Document EP 1 909 067 and in Document FR 08/50793, published under the number 2 927 418, for example. It is used to validate an inertial navigation system on board of a moving body by comparing a trajectory of the moving body estimated by the hybrid simulation method with a reference trajectory.
Nevertheless, there is at present no hybrid simulation method or system that enables the trajectory of a moving body to be estimated after detection of an event representative of that moving body overshooting an objective to be reached or of a change of objective requiring to achieve it angular movements exceeding those offered by the means implemented in the hybrid simulation system, notably with a view to making it possible to evaluate the ability of the moving body to re-attack an objective or to change objective during a mission.

Method and a system for estimating a trajectory of a moving body


A computing device reduces the complexity of setting a preferred language on the computing device based on verbal communications with a user. The device may detect when a user is having difficulty navigating a device in a current language and detects the language spoken by a user to cause a language setting to change. The computing device may cross reference other information associated with user, such as other applications or content, when selecting a preferred language.

The use of wireless devices is widespread and growing. Many wireless devices are capable of operating in multiple languages. The language setting may be changed by following traditional device menu commands. After a language setting is changed, all further operation by the device is typically in the newly selected language until and unless the language is once again changed by the user.

Language recognition for device settings


Some embodiments of a data channel that interleaves read and write access to a frame buffer include a bit-plane storage device, a single frame buffer, a data controller and a digital pixel display. Transferring data through the single frame buffer by interleaving reads and writes includes (1) alternately writing to the frame buffer and reading from the frame buffer portions of each bit-plane of a sequence bit-plane data; and (2) writing to said frame buffer so as to replace each said portion of a bit-plane in the frame buffer with a corresponding portion of a next bit-plane. By interleaving read and write accesses, a single frame buffer and less interface logic are necessary to transfer data from a storage device to a digital pixel display. In a three channel digital color pixel imaging device, this reduces the number of frame buffer SDRAM units from six to three, and significantly reduces the overall cost associated with implementing data flow through the data storage and frame buffer blocks.

The present invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for interleaving read and write accesses to a frame buffer.
Digital imaging involves processing digital images to direct the time-dependent switching of an array of pixels in a digital display. In this application, digital imaging is described with respect to digital color displays, but it may be applied to any device that receives digital data and produces a pixelated digital image.
Color displays generate color images by modulating, analyzing, and combining component color bands. Color displays typically use several component colors (such as the primary additive colors, red, green and blue) to generate a multitude of colors for display. A component color band is a portion of the light spectrum corresponding to a component color.
Digital color imaging transfers a digital color image to a digital color pixel display The digital color image is typically separated into three sets of color intensity data corresponding to the three component colors. The three sets of color intensity data are processed through three separate data channels, and recombined at the display.
The color intensity data for each color band is preferably transferred to the display using inexpensive circuitry having limited bandwidth. It is thus advantageous to re-order the color intensity data and store it as a sequence of single-bit arrays of image data (referred to below as bit-planes). The bit-planes are commonly stored in a bit-plane buffer, and then delivered sequentially to frame buffers. Once stored in a frame buffer, the bit-planes are then read out to the display in order to control the display pixels.
Each bit of data in a bit-plane has a specific storage site in a frame buffer and controls a corresponding specific pixel on the display. Thus, a bit-plane can be subdivided into blocks of data that are stored in specified portions of a frame buffer called data banks. These data banks control discrete subdivisions (pixel banks) of the array of pixels in the display.
A data channel of a digital imaging device 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, digital imaging device 100 includes (1) a digital image processor 110; (2) a gamma corrector 120; (3) a bit-plane remapper 130; (4) a bit-plane buffer 140; (5) data select circuitry 150 and 155; (6) frame buffers 160 and 165; (7) memory controllers 170 and 175; and (8) a digital pixel display 180.
The digital image processor 110 receives either a digital input 102, or an analog input 104. Analog input is converted to digital input by an analog to digital (A/D) converter 115 that is connected to or is a part of the digital image processor 110. The digital image processor 110 can perform a number of processing operations on the digital image. For instance, it can perform scaling, frame rate conversion, smoothing, etc. The gamma corrector 120 receives the processed digital image from the digital image processor 110, and adjusts the image intensity data to correct for the data and display type. The gamma corrector 120 can, for example, receive 8-bit, 256 level intensity data from the digital image processor 110 and output adjusted level 10-bit intensity data. The bit-plane remapper 130 converts the gamma-corrected intensity data from a multi-bit single-array format to a format comprising a sequence of bit-planes. For example, the bit-plane remapper 130 can receive an array of 10-bit image intensity data from the gamma corrector 120 and remap it into 10 re-ordered bit-planes. These bit-planes are stored in a bit-plane buffer 140. The bit-plane buffer 140 can, for example, receive 10 re-ordered bit-planes from the bit-plane remapper 130, store them in order, and deliver their data to data select circuitry 150 when requested.
Data select circuitry 150 retrieves data from the bit-plane buffer 140 and stores it in the SDRAM of frame buffers 160 and 165, at locations in the frame buffer specified by addresses generated by the memory controllers 170 and 175. Data select circuitry 155 retrieves data from the locations in the frame buffer specified by the addresses generated by the memory controllers 170 and 175. Data select circuitry 155 commonly retrieves one bit-plane of data from one frame buffer (e.g., Frame Buffer A 160) while data select circuitry 150 is storing another bit-plane of data in the other frame buffer (e.g., Frame Buffer B 165)
At times specified by the memory controllers 170 and 175, data select circuitry 155 selects data from the specified data banks of the active frame buffer and transfers it to corresponding pixel banks of the display 180 to update parts of the image. The light valves of the display 180 are driven by the data retrieved from the frame buffers 160 and 165. The display 180 switches the pixel light valves of a pixel bank on or off as directed by each data set read out from a corresponding data bank of either Frame Buffer A 160 or Frame Buffer B 165.
Data is commonly transferred through Frame Buffer A 160 and Frame Buffer B 165 using the swing buffer approach illustrated in the swing buffer data flow diagram 200 of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the swing buffer data flow diagram 200 includes: (1) Frame buffer A 160; (2) Frame buffer B 165; (3) data write processes 211, 212, 213 and 214; (4) data read processes 221, 222, 223 and 224; and (5) a time line 230.
Frame buffers 160 and 165 store bit-plane image data as described in reference to FIG. 1. Data write processes (writes) (e.g., 211-214) comprise transferring data from the bit-plane buffer 140, through data select 150, to a frame buffer (160 or 165). Data read processes (reads) (e.g., 221-224) comprise transferring data from a frame buffer (160 or 165), through data select 155, to the digital pixel display 180. The time line 230 shows the relative time when writes and reads are performed on Frame Buffer A 160 and Frame Buffer B 165.
Under the swing buffer approach 200, one bit-plane is typically read out from a previously filled Frame Buffer A 160, at 221, while a second bit-plane is concurrently written to Frame Buffer B 165, at 212. At the completion of the read and write operations 221 and 212, the roles of Frame Buffer A 160 and Frame Buffer B 165 are reversed. The second bit-plane is then read out from Frame Buffer B 165, at 222, while a third bit-plane is written to Frame Buffer A 160, at 213. By this method, half of the bit-planes of a bit-plane sequence stored in bit-plane buffer 140 are transferred through Frame Buffer A 160, and the other half are transferred through Frame Buffer B 165. For example, the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth bit-planes of a ten bit-plane image may pass through Frame Buffer A 160 while the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth bit-planes pass through Frame Buffer B 165.
This swing buffer approach to data flow requires two separate frame buffer devices along with appropriate steering logic to route the data. Separate memory controllers are further used to generate the correct addressing and commands for each of the frame buffer SDRAM""s. Unfortunately, this circuitry is relatively complicated and expensive. Other prior known solutions to data flow through a frame buffer tradeoff cost for lower bus speeds that are attainable with programmable logic. These solutions exist in prototype form only.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for data flow through a frame buffer that requires less complicated circuitry. This data flow system should (1) require only one frame buffer per data channel; (2) require less interface logic; and (3) reduce the overall cost of a data flow solution for digital imaging.
Some embodiments of the invention comprise digital imaging devices that interleave read and write access to a frame buffer. By interleaving read and write access, a single storage device and less interface logic can be used to transfer bit-planes from a storage device to a display. In a three channel imaging device, this reduces the number of frame buffer SDRAM units from six to three, and significantly reduces the overall cost associated with implementing data flow through the data storage and frame buffer blocks of a digital imaging device.
A data channel having interleaved read and write access to a frame buffer includes (1) a storage device that stores sequences of bit-planes; (2) a frame buffer that stores the re-ordered bit-plane data in groups; (3) a data controller that directs the timing of data writes to and reads from the frame buffer; and (4) a display that turns pixels on and off as directed by received single-bit data.
In some embodiments, the process of transferring data through a single frame buffer by interleaving reads and writes to the frame buffer includes (1) alternately writing to the frame buffer and reading from the frame buffer portions of each bit-plane of a sequence of bit-plane data; and (2) writing to said frame buffer so as to replace each said portion of a bit-plane in the frame buffer with a corresponding portion of a next bit-plane.
In other embodiments, the process of interleaving reads and writes to the single frame buffer includes (1) alternately writing a portion of said data to said frame buffer and reading a portion of said data from said frame buffer; and (2) after reading a first portion of said data from said frame buffer, writing each said a portion of said data so as to replace a portion of said data in said frame buffer that had been previously read from said frame buffer.
In other embodiments, the process of interleaving reads and writes to the single frame buffer includes alternately writing a portion of said data to and reading a portion of said data from said frame buffer, wherein each said reading a portion of said data comprises reading a different portion of data than that written to said frame buffer during the immediately prior said writing a portion of said data.

Method and apparatus for interleaving read and write accesses to a frame buffer

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Main runner members and cross members having an inverted T-shaped configuration characterized by an outer edge of the flanges being bent upwardly at an angle to form a bevelled edge to give the flanges an appearance of being substantially thicker than the material used to form the flange. The cross members include a connecting element, preferably formed as a separate element, having spacer bumps, and a U-shaped tab extending from one surface, the U-shaped tab forming a first abutment and a portion of the element is cut and deformed out of the plane of the element on an opposite surface to form a second abutment surface to coact with the first abutment surface of an adjacent connecting element to hold the two aligned cross members in a slot of a main runner.

In a suspended ceiling system having main runner members and cross members arranged in a grid pattern to support ceiling panels, the present invention is directed to the structure of the members and to the connection used between cross members and the main runner.
Suspended ceiling systems utilizing inverted T-shaped members for both the main runners and the cross members are known. An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,153, whose disclosure is incorporated by reference. The runners, as disclosed in this patent, have an inverted T configuration with a central web connecting a bead portion to two outwardly extending flanges, which flanges extend substantially in a single plane, which is substantially the plane of the panels being supported on these flanges.
To interconnect the cross members into the main members, the members may be provided with a tongue-like connecting element, which may be integral as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent or may be a separate element, which is secured on the cross member such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,563.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,153, the connecting tongue has a portion cut out and bent out of the plane to form a first abutment surface, another portion pushed out of the plane of the tongue to form a second abutment surface, and is provided with a step to form a third abutment surface. When the tongue is inserted through a slot in the main runner from one direction and a second tongue of a second cross member is inserted in the opposite direction, the first abutment of the first tongue engages the second abutment of the second tongue on one side of the web of the main runner, while the second abutment of the first tongue is engaged by the first abutment of the second tongue, and the third abutments engage each side of the web to lock the cross members in the assembled position.
An advantage of having the connecting element as a separate element that is secured to the web of the flange is that the connecting elements can be made separately and used with different style cross members. This provides a greater flexibility in the manufacture of runners for a suspended ceiling grid to provide different shapes and structures. It is also desirable to construct the various flanges and abutment surfaces so that they may be passed through the slot in the web of the main runner without becoming hung-up or catching on portions of the runner.

Ceiling system with staked on connectors


Pipeline stopping tools for use in temporarily stopping flow in a pipeline have features for centering a conduit or cable within the pipeline. The conduit or cable is guided into a recess, to avoid damage as the pipeline is squeezed closed. Alternative pipeline stopping stools have features for sealing against both the inside walls of the pipeline and against the cable. In a first tool, a linkage on a handle drives seal lips on a seal ring to engage around and seal against the cable in the pipeline, while the outer edges of the seal ring seal against the inside walls of the pipeline. The linkage includes jaws which force the seal lips against the cable. In a second tool, a resilient seal is attached over a center plate and side plates pivotably attached to the center plate. A linkage drives the center plates from an open to a closed position. A cable recess in the seal ring seals against the cable while the outside edges of the seal ring seal against the pipeline. A third tool has a resilient plug and lips positioned around a cable recess. As the plug is forced into the pipeline, the lips seal around the cable, and the plug sidewalls bulge outwardly to seal against the pipeline.

The field of the invention is tools and techniques for servicing pipelines. More specifically, the invention relates to tools and techniques for temporarily stopping flow in a pipeline.
Various tools and techniques have successfully been used in the past to stop flow of liquids or gases in pipelines. These tools are typically used to temporarily stop flow, to allow a downstream section of pipeline to be inspected, repaired, changed, or otherwise serviced. Such stopping or sealing tools are often used in emergency situations to stop flow within a localized section of pipeline, when flow cannot be quickly or easily stopped using existing valves in the pipeline. These tools are also used for planned operations or maintenance. In pipelines made of materials such as polyethylene, or similar plastics which can be deformed without damage, squeeze or pinch tools have been used to temporarily stop flow. These types of tools squeeze or pinch the pipeline flat to stop flow. When removed, the pipeline returns to its original or near original typically round shape, allowing flow to resume. For rigid or non-deformable pipelines, made of e.g., steel or iron, various stopping or plugging tools have been used. Some of these stopping or plugging tools can also be used with plastic pipe if the pinch method is not desired. With these tools, typically an opening is cut or drilled into the pipeline through a pressure housing. The stopping tool then installs a plug or similar stopping element into the pipeline to stop flow. The stopping element is removed when service is complete, allowing flow to resume. Leakage of gas or liquid from the pipeline during the stopping operation is minimized or eliminated via the pressure housing.
As described in International Patent Application PCT/US/01/31468, incorporated herein by reference, fiber optic conduit or cable may be advantageously installed within existing pipelines, to provide high speed communication links, without the need for routing cable or conduit along new right of ways or without the drawbacks of new underground conduit installation.
Placing fiber optic cable or conduit within existing natural gas pipelines has recently become much more viable, with the development of systems and methods for installing the cables while the pipeline remains in service. Especially in urban areas where trenching to lay cable is difficult, time consuming, and costly, and where virtually all buildings are already connected to a natural gas pipeline network, the use of fiber optic cable within natural gas pipelines has many advantages.
However, existing tools and techniques used for stopping flow in a natural gas pipeline are not usable for pipelines containing a cable. With the cable or conduit laying on the bottom of the pipeline, the stopping or sealing elements currently in use cannot achieve an effective seal within the pipeline (since the flow area inside the pipeline is no longer a circular cross section). In addition, regardless of the lack of effective sealing characteristics, use of existing stopping or sealing tools and techniques in pipelines containing a cable involves significant risk of crushing, severing or otherwise damaging the cable.
Accordingly, with the introduction of cable into pipelines, there is a need for flow stopping tools and techniques, which are compatible with a cable or conduit in the pipeline.
The invention provides tools and techniques for stopping flow in a pipeline containing a cable. The tools may be used on pipelines above ground, or with minimum trenching and exposure of buried pipelines. The tools provide an effective seal within the pipeline, stopping flow, without damaging the cable in the pipeline. The tools may be used at any location along pipeline. Generally, each tool seals against the inside round walls of the pipeline, and also around the outside of the cable.
In a first aspect, a tool for pinching off flow of gas through a deformable or plastic pipeline includes an actuator on an armature. The actuator moves an upper plate towards a lower plate. Displacement members on the lower plate help to guide the cable within the pipeline into a recess in the lower plate. This allows the pipeline to be squeezed flat to stop flow, without crushing the cable. The displacement members are preferably rollers or lever arms. The displacement members are advantageously urged into an up or extended position by springs.
In a second aspect, a tool for sealing off gas flow, in a rigid (e.g., steel) pipeline, or in a deformable or plastic pipeline containing a cable, has a seal ring on a handle. A linkage on the handle drives seal lips on the seal ring to engage around and seal against the cable within the pipeline. The outside circular edges of the seal ring seal against the inside walls of the pipeline. Preferably, the drive linkage includes jaws engaged with the seal lips. A rod advantageously extends through the handle and is connected to the jaws, for remote operation of the jaws.
In a third aspect of the invention, a stopper tool for use in a pipeline containing a cable or conduit has first and second plates pivotably attached to a center plate. A resilient seal ring overlies the first, second and center plate. A linkage pivots the first and second plates from an open position, where the first and second plates are oriented at an angle to the center plate, to a second position where, the first and second plates generally lie within the same plane as the center plate. The tool is installed into the pipeline with the plates in the first position. Once appropriately located within the pipeline, the first and second plates are pivoted into the second position, creating a seal within the pipeline.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, a pipeline flow stopper tool has a resilient plug including first and second lips positioned to fit over a cable within a pipeline. As the plug is pushed into the pipeline, the plug deforms and seals against the pipeline walls. The first and second lips extend around and under the cable, forming a continuous seal around the cable within the pipeline.
Other and further objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description. The invention resides as well in subcombinations of the assemblies, components and steps described. Each of the tools described is intended for use in a pipeline having a specific inside diameter of e.g., 5-100 cm. Consequently, typically tools including any of the aspects described above will be available in a range of sizes. The tools are also intended for use with a cable or conduit of a known and specified diameter within the pipeline.
It is an object of the invention to provide tools and techniques for stopping flow within a pipeline containing a cable or conduit.

Service tools for pipelines containing conduit or cable


An electronic control unit (ECU), for use with an internal combustion engine, determines whether an abnormal combustion has occurred in the engine. The ECU uses a sensor signal amplifier to amplify a sensor signal from a sensor by changing an amplification power of the sensor signal and an A/D converter to convert the sensor signal amplified to a digital signal (i.e., a digitized sensor signal). The ECU uses an abnormal combustion detector to determine whether an abnormal combustion has occurred based on a characteristic of a waveform of the digitized sensor signal, and performs an abnormal combustion prevention control to prevent the abnormal combustion when an abnormal combustion is detected. An amplification controller is used to set the amplification power of the sensor signal amplifier based on the amplitude of the digitized sensor signal and a determination result of the abnormal combustion by the abnormal combustion detector.

The internal combustion engine (i.e., an engine, hereinafter) installed in a vehicle uses, for the most part, a knock control system for detecting knocking of the engine. The knock control system determines whether the engine is knocking or not based on the output signal of a knock sensor (e.g., a vibration sensor), and either advances or retards the ignition timing. That is, the ignition timing is advanced for the improvement of the torque when knocking is not detected, and the ignition timing is retarded for preventing the knocking when the knocking is detected.
In recent years, a knock detection method for detecting a small knock is desired for the improvement of combustion efficiency of the engine. For instance, according to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-177259 (JP '259), a knock detection method is disclosed for accurately detecting a knock that is smaller than a noise vibration (i.e., a vibration caused by a factor other than the knock). Such knock detection is based on a comparison result that compares a predetermined ideal knock wave form with an actually-output sensor signal wave form from a knock sensor.
The knock detection method based on the knock wave form described above needs to quantize (i.e., digitize) the sensor signal in an accurate manner for the accurate detection of knocking. One of such detection method having such accuracy may be a method using a high resolution A/D converter. Conventionally, a ΔΣ type A/D converter is known for its high resolution at a comparatively low cost.
Further, for more accurate quantization of the sensor signal that changes its amplitude depending on the engine operation state, use of a variable amplification power (i.e., switching of amplification magnitudes) depending on the engine operation state at a moment of sensor signal detection is effective. That is, an amplification circuit having the variable amplification power may be used in combination with a middle-to-high resolution A/D converter, which is less expensive than the high resolution A/D converter, for the improvement of the knock determination accuracy at a relatively-lower cost.
In such case, the higher the amplification power of the variable-amp-power amplification circuit is, the more detailed the acquired information becomes. However, if the amplification power of the amplification circuit is too high, the output signal from the amplification circuit is saturated, and may deteriorate the accuracy of the knock determination.
To prevent such deterioration, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H05-340331 (JP '331) discloses a method that switches an amplification power, i.e., a gain, by having a large knock determination means for determining a large knock in addition to a normal knock determination means, and by utilizing a determination output from such large knock determination means.
Further, according to a method disclosed Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H09-229823 (JP '823), a saturation of the signal from the amplification circuit is prevented by comparing the sensor output with a preset value and by inputting to the A/D converter the signal from a smaller-amp-power amplification circuit in a switching manner.
When the amplification power is switched in a period outside of the knock determination period, as disclosed in JP '331, it is important to quickly adjust/switch the amplification power to the change of the sensor signal amplitude in each of the knock determination period, for the accurate detection of a small knock.
Conventionally, the switching of the amplification power has been performed based on the engine rotation speed, the statistics of the amplitude of the past sensor signals, and the like. However, in such manner, the adjustment of the amplification power may not suitably be performed in response to the change of the sensor signal amplitude without delay, when the sensor signal amplitude drastically changes in each of the knock determination periods. That is, for example, when one ignition causing a large knock is followed by another ignition causing a small knock.
Therefore, the amplification power needs to have a smaller value, which includes a margin for accommodating a drastic change of the sensor signal amplitude, i.e., for preventing the saturation of the sensor signal output from the amplification circuit As a result, the accurate detection of the small knock becomes difficult, leading to the deterioration of the knock determination accuracy. Similar determination accuracy problem is also observed in a pre-ignition determination.

Electronic control unit of internal combustion engine


A connector cleaning system includes (a) one or more cleaning elements adapted to engage a connector and remove contaminants from a contact portion of the connector and (b) an image processing device adapted to capture an image of the contact portion after removal of contaminants.

The present invention relates to the cleaning of a connector for use with a medical device implanted within an animal; or, more particularly, for use with a connector that is attached to a ventricular assist device ("VAD") and implantable within a living body.
The heart is sometimes incapable of providing sufficient pumping capacity to meet the needs of the body. The effects of this inadequacy can be alleviated by providing a VAD with a mechanical pump adapted to supplement the pumping action of the heart. The pump, like all other elements of the VAD, preferably has the ability to be implanted in a living body for an extended period of time while the patient is awaiting a suitable donor for a heart transplant.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,575,423, 7,976,271, 8,007,254, and 8,419,609, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, disclose certain rotary blood pumps which can be used as ventricular assist devices. These pumps are electrically powered. Typically, these and other electrically powered implantable pumps are connected through a cable or wire (either being a "driveline") to a control device that supplies electric power to the pump and controls its operation. The control device must usually provide continuous electric power over the driveline. This power must be provided at relatively high current (0.5-2.0 Amps) and moderate voltage (3-40 Volts) for extended periods of time, such as years or decades, without losing electrical continuity or creating resistive heat losses that would cause physiological complications.
Each driveline may have one or more electrical connectors. For example, one end of the driveline may be attached to an electrical connector while the other end is attached to the control device. Multiple connector types may be used. For example, an exemplary set of male and female connectors is disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/093,208 (the "'208 Application), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Each of these connectors has a contact portion arranged to transmit electricity through the driveline when aligned with a corresponding contact portion on another mating connector. The male contact portion is on a connector shaft; whereas the female contact portion is in a connector bore.
For the VAD to perform effectively over time, the respective contact portions of each connector must remain free of contaminants such as interstitial fluid or blood. The risk of contamination is greatest during the initial implantation procedure and any subsequent replacement or upgrade procedures. For example, a connector may be moved through a tunnel in the body during one of these procedures. The contact portion of the connector may become contaminated by contacting blood in the tunnel. Because the connector may still be attached to an implanted control device, these contaminants must be typically removed in the operating room during the procedure. A technician is usually present to manually clean the contacts and document the cleaning.
These manual efforts can be very time consuming. This additional time increases the risk of unwanted complications by keeping the patient in surgery and medicated longer than might otherwise be required. Moreover, this additional time also increases the cost of the procedure by requiring every other member of the surgical team, including the operating surgeon, to stand by while the technician manually cleans the connector and documents the cleaning. If more than one implanted connector must be cleaned, which is often the case, then the amount of idle time will be increased proportionately. To alleviate these concerns, the technician may need to work in a rapid fashion, thereby increasing the risk of implanting an imperfectly cleaned connector. These additional time pressures may also render it difficult to control and document the cleaning.
The aforementioned concerns are not limited to medical procedures. Numerous other technologies also utilize similar connectors and drivelines to transmit electricity between electrical devices and control elements within a contaminant laden environment. For example, the respective contact portions of many connectors designed for aviation, marine, or other outdoor use must also remain free of contaminants, such as dirt, saltwater and living organisms. Furthermore, the safety and uptime requirements associated with these uses may also necessitate similar cleaning and documentation efforts, either of which can be similarly frustrated by time pressures.
Further improvements are required.


An emissions validation system is comprised of a plurality of sensors (42), (36), (26) and (34) for monitoring the various emissions and diagnostic aspects of a vehicle (10). An emissions validation system (18) is operable upon refuelling through a refuelling line (20) to interface through an interface (14) to a CPU (28). The CPU (28) retrieves the stored dam and transfers it through the interface (14), through an electrical line (22) to a main CPU (26) in the emissions validation system (18). The main CPU (26) then evaluates this dam, in addition to monitoring the amount of fuel that is placed back into the vehicle's tank (32). This allows a complete record of the vehicles history to be maintained.

In recent years, the reduction of emissions has received an increasing amount of attention. Although there have been a number of relatively low emission alternatives to the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine utilizing diesel or gasoline has survived, due in part to the ability of engineers to constantly improve emission controls and maintain the internal combustion engine at governmental specified standards. However, one problem that exists with respect to emission control systems is with respect to maintaining the controls in some state of repair. As such, an automobile when it leaves the factory may meet emission standards, but this can change over time such that the bulk of the vehicles on the road no longer come close to meeting emission standards. One method employed by municipalities to reduce emissions has been to require periodic inspections that utilize computerized systems to measure the emissions, with the result that a validation sticker is not provided to the owner of the vehicle unless the emission tests have been passed. If not passed, the owner of the vehicle is given a certain amount of time to repair the vehicle and bring it within the standards. Although the systems have improved the level of emissions entering the environment, they typically operate on a periodic basis and are relatively easy to tamper with.
Another alternative that has been looked into is alternative fuel systems such as natural gas and propane, as these are cleaner burning fuels. Typically, the average consumer does not purchase this type of fuel and the vehicles that can burn them, due to the relatively difficult access to these fuels. However, governments and large organizations do have the ability to switch over to these type of fuels, since they typically maintain their own fuel supply. Further, the government has introduced certain incentive plans that provide tax breaks, etc., for an organization or municipality that provides a plan for reducing overall emissions with vehicles that can burn these fuels.


A ferroelectric liquid crystal device which comprises at least one pair of counterposed substrates, a ferroelectric liquid crystal material provided between the substrates, means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal material and provided at the substrates, an alignment-controlling layer provided on the surface on the liquid crystal material side of each of the substrates, and a sealing member at the peripheral edges of the substrates, the alignment-controlling layer being a film of an organic polymer whose .beta. dispersion temperature is higher than the curing temperature of a sealant for the sealing member, preferably at least 200.degree. C., has a good alignment state of ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules achieved by cooling alone without any application of an electric field and has good display qualities such as a high contrast.

This invention relates to a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, and particularly to a ferroelectric liquid crystal with a good alignment of ferroelectric liquid crystal.
The liquid crystal devices so far used in watches, electronic pocket calculators, etc. are based mainly on the display according to the twisted nematic (TN) mode where the nematic liquid crystals are in a twisted structure, but the response speed is now limited to 20 milliseconds at the highest in this mode. On the other hand, display based on smectic liquid crystals has been actively tried, and particularly liquid crystals having a smectic C* phase, which may be represented also by Sm* C phase or called chiral smectic C phase, or a smectic H* phase, which may be represented also by Sm* H phase or called chiral smectic H phase, have been regarded as important owing to the ferroelectricity since Meyer et al discovered it [Le Journal de Physique-Letters 36, L 69 (1975)]. These liquid crystals were found to have a high speed response of less than 1 millisecond by Clark et al [Appl. Phys. Lett) 36, 899 (1980)] and new fields have been expected for these liquid crystals.
It is important that devices utilizing these ferroelectric liquid crystals must be aligned in some preferential directions in parallel to the substrate surface. The well known procedures for aligning the ferroelectric liquid crystals utilize an application of a strong magnetic field or a shear stress, but are less practical as a production process. Fukuda et al proposed an alignment from the spacer edge ["Shizen", July issue (1983), pages 36-46; "Optronics", September issue, (1983), pages 64-70], but the domain for uniform alignment is as narrow as 100 .mu.m from the edge and is practically not satisfactory.
On the other hand, the ferroelectric liquid crystal cannot have so far had a uniform alignment even by alignment used in the alignment of the conventional nematic liquid crystal or cholesteric liquid crystal such as oblique vapor deposition of silicon oxide (SiO) (Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-12067) or the so-called rubbing, i.e. rubbing of an organic polymer film with cloth, etc., in a specific direction (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-10180), and thus there is a problem of poor contrast ratio.
A process for aligning a ferroelectric liquid crystal by using an imide-based polymer and applying an electric field thereto together has been proposed [Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-open) No. 58-173718], where a PIQ (polyimidoisoindroquinazolinedione, trademark of a product made by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd., Japan) film is rubbed and a liquid crystal is once brought into an isotropic liquid state, and slowly cooled while applying a strong electric field thereto, thereby obtaining a uniform alignment.
To solve these problems, the present inventors have made extensive studies on the uniform alignment of a ferroelectric liquid crystal to be attained only by rubbing, as in case of the nematic liquid crystal of the conventional type, without any application of an electric field, and have found that a uniform alignment can be obtained without any application of an electric field when a specific organic polymer film is used as an alignment-controlling layer. The present invention is based on this finding.


The invention comprises a ratchet style open end wrench which incorporates an assembly to provide a torqueing function and ratchet effect. The assembly includes a wrench body capable of providing torque delivery through two or more rotating cylindrical cams which contact the nut. The cylindrical cams then rotate when reversing the direction of the wrench assembly so that a cutout portion of the cylindrical cams allows the nut points to pass by. In one embodiment, the direction of the ratchet effect is reversible by a reversing arc wire which is activated by use of a lever.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward open ended wrenches, in particular, to wrenches that incorporate elements and features that are useful for allowing a wrench to loosen/tighten a bolt (or nut) without removing the wrench from the fitted position on the bolt.
(2) Description of Related Art
Wrenches are useful for a variety of tightening or loosening situations when applied to nuts and bolts, and some are designed to provide a ratcheting effect. However, open ended wrenches are not easily configured to a ratcheting method, and it is difficult to incorporate a ratcheting method that is also reversible into an open ended wrench.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,665 teaches the use of an open end wrench along with multipoint cylinders around the perimeter of a bolt that is being loosened. The cylinders rotate about an offset axis, and recess between two chambers around the perimeter of the bolt for the ratchet effect. In one chamber, i.e., the tighter tool—bolt chamber clearance, the torque is applied. In the other chamber, the cylinder recess when the wrench is reversed in direction. This offset rotation is undesirable when the rotating cylinders bend, as may be caused by an applied user torque, which will cause the wrench to fail as the cylinders may fail to reposition. Also the cylinders tend to engage the bolt at the corners or points, which are often rounded, and is a less reliable method of rotating a bolt. U.S. Pat. No. 2,550,010 has similar cylinder features and has similar concerns.
It is desirable to incorporate a reversible feature for an open end ratchet wrench, as it is also frequently the case where a wrench is put on a nut only to discover that the bolt must be turned in the other direction. This occurs when the bolt is at an awkward position with respect to the user of the wrench, and where it is not instantly obvious which way the bolt should be turned. A reversible feature prevents the need for the user to remove the wrench and re-insert it back on the bolt, simplifying the task of loosening or tightening.


A robot arm link comprises a base, a first section rotationally coupled to the base, a second section pivotally coupled to the first section and a third section attached to the second section and having a fixed portion and a movable portion, the movable portion coupled to the fixed portion for movement between first and second portions, the movable portion having an attachment plate for attachment to another robot arm link. The links can be used to construct an arm with multiples of three degrees of movement. For example, three links are joined together and mounted on a rotation base and terminated with a pivot or wrist joint to provide a total of 11 degrees of movement.

Industrial robot arms having six axes are considered sufficient for most applications. However there are specialized applications that require more degrees of freedom. However, the way in which additional degrees of freedom are added can adversely affect the ability to precisely control the arm and do not necessarily provide more flexibility and dexterity.
The robot arm link disclosed herein obviates or mitigates at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages.


An array substrate includes: a base substrate; one or more first signal lines provided on the base substrate; a plurality of repair line sets also provided on the base substrate and configured to repair the first signal lines, each of the repair line sets comprising one or more repair lines which intersect with and are insulated from at least one of the first signal lines; and one or more second signal lines also provided on the base substrate, at least one of the one or more second signal lines having one end which is arranged to intersect with and be insulated from the one or more repair lines, and the other end which is connected to a driving circuit for supplying an electrical signal to the one or more first signal lines. The second signal line is different from the first signal line.

A conventional repair line structure typically includes one or two repair lines that extend across an entire panel area and intersect all data lines. Such a repair line structure can repair only two defective data lines, and has disadvantages of a small number of the repair lines, a low yield and the like.

Array substrate, method for repairing same, and display device


A one-way locking assembly having an axially moveable member extending through a locking structure. The locking structure including an engagement member contacting an exterior surface of the axially moveable member and being movable relative to the exterior surface of the moveable member in a first direction while being substantially immovable along the outer surface of the moveable member in a direction opposite to the first direction. The engagement member further including a pair of lock arms extending radially inward from a circumferential frame and terminating in distal ends engaging the exterior surface of the moveable member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to seatbelt restraint systems for motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a linear pretensioner of a seatbelt restraint system in a motor vehicle.
2. Related Technology
Seatbelt restraint systems used for restraining occupants in motor vehicle seats play an important role in reducing injury to the occupants in the unfortunate event of a vehicle crash. While there are several varieties of seatbelt restraint systems, the conventional "3-point" variety has a lap belt section extending across the pelvis and a shoulder belt section crossing the upper torso of a seated occupant. The lap and shoulder belt sections are each connected to the vehicle structure by anchorages and may be further fastened to each other or formed as portions of a continuous length of seatbelt webbing. Seatbelt restraint systems that are manually secured by the occupant ("active" types) also typically include a latch plate attached to the belt webbing. Such a system further includes a seatbelt buckle attached to the vehicle body structure by another anchorage. The latch plate is received by the buckle thereby allowing the seatbelt restraint system to be fastened, enabling restraint, and unfastened, allowing entrance and exit from the vehicle. Of the anchorages securing the lap and shoulder belt sections, one anchorage typically includes a belt retractor to store the belt webbing. This belt retractor may further act to manage belt tension loads during a crash situation. Seatbelt restraint systems, when deployed, effectively restrain the occupant during a collision.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) vehicle manufacturers often provide seatbelt restraint systems with pretensioning devices (usually referred to just as a "pretensioner"). These devices induce tension in the seatbelt, either prior to impact of the vehicle during a collision or at an early stage of a sensed impact/collision, so as to enhance occupant restraint performance. This pretensioning takes slack out of the webbing and permits the seatbelt restraint system to engage the occupant earlier in the crash sequence.
One class of pretensioning devices is a pyrotechnic linear pretensioner (PLP). A PLP can be implemented as a pyrotechnic buckle pretensioner (PBP) that is attached to and activated through the seatbelt buckle. In other implementations, the PLP can be attached to a webbing guide loop, either anchorage connected to the opposing ends of the seatbelt webbing or directly to the webbing itself. Since all of the above types of pretensioners linearly pull a seatbelt system component to induce tension in the seatbelt webbing, they are collectively referred to as PLPs.
When a collision occurs, a pyrotechnic charge in the PLP is fired, producing an expanding gas that pressurizes a gas chamber. This pressure forces a piston to move. The piston is connected with the belt system by a cable, a strap or the webbing of the restrain system, and the stroking of the piston tightens or "pretensions" the belt against the occupant. Various examples of PLP and PBP designs are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,068,664 and 7,823,924, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Designers of automotive components are constantly striving to reduce the mass of the components as part of the overall goal of providing higher fuel efficiency for motor vehicles. Additionally, these same designers are also constantly striving to reduce costs in automotive components. One way to achieve the above is to reduce packaging or sizing of components.
In accordance with one known design approach, the PLP includes a machined or die cast piston that is sealingly coupled to a tubular combustion cylinder. When activated, relative movement between the combustion cylinder and the piston occurs, with the combustion cylinder being extended out of the piston. The belt webbing is wound around an actuating profile defined on an end of the combustion cylinder, opposite of the piston, such that the length of the belt webbing is shortened by a distance corresponding to twice the distance of the mechanism's stroke. This doubling of the effect of the mechanism's stroke on the belt webbing enables the overall length of the PLP packaging to be shortened.
As the occupant begins to load the seatbelt webbing during an impact, the forces urge the reverse movement of the combustion cylinder relative to the piston, in other words the cylinder is urged back into the piston. Such a reversal of the relative movement of the piston and combustion cylinder is undesirable since it induces slack in the belt webbing and increases the momentum and movement of the occupant and, therefore, the potential risk to the occupant.
A method of limiting this reversal of movement is to provide a one-way clutch assembly associated with the piston assembly. One style of a one-way clutch includes conical and annular portions of the piston head as part of the clutch. In such a system, the piston is movable within a combustion cylinder and the components forming the clutch are located between a pair of piston heads traversing within that cylinder. Movement in the playback direction wedges BBs, retained between the heads of the piston, between the conical portion and the inner surface of the combustion cylinder. This wedging of the BBs results in locking of the piston.
The construction of the above system is complex and labor-intensive during manufacturing. A simplify construction for the one-way clutch would be beneficial in that it would reduce weight and packaging requirements as well as reduce labor intensity during manufacturing.


Medical tubing (T), such as a guidewire, a stent, a catheter or a hollow needle, made of a kinked rigid-rod polyarylene exhibiting a outstanding characteristics including high torqueability, high pushability and high flexibility and which can be easily thin-wall extruded under especially harsh conditions.

Medical tubings are made from a variety of materials. Glass, metal and polymers are used in a variety of medical applications. They are generally sterilized and small in diameter. Some medical tubings feature diameters that measure thousandths of an inch, with walls thinner than a human hair. These small, specialty tubes can cost many times more than conventional high-volume tubes, but are well-suited for catheters and other medical devices that are inserted into a patient's cardiovascular system. In general, medical tubing manufacturers seek to reduce the outside diameter of their tubings while maintaining as large an inside diameter as possible; tubes with larger inside diameters provide doctors and other medical personnel with more room to insert tools or deliver drugs.
Important specifications for medical tubings include not only outside diameter and inside diameter, but also wall thickness. To produce medical tubings with extremely thin walls, manufacturers force material to flow through the small orifices of processing equipment. Gear or melt pumps are often used in the extrusion of very small tubes. Aiming at minimizing flow problems, some manufacturers use special materials for thin-wall extrusion. Examples thereof include polyether block amides, which are plasticizer-free thermoplastic elastomers that are often used in catheter tubing for angiographies, angiopplasties, endoscopies, and biopsies. The problem is that, in many instances, such special materials do not exhibit the desired balance of properties; in particular, they provide medical tubing exhibiting a low rigidity, and additional reinforcement is then needed.
It has already been attempted to gain in rigidity by producing multilayer tubings that include reinforcements made from layers of different materials. Typically, tubings are extruded and braided over with a wire or a highly rigid polymer composition. Methods for producing multilayer tubings are by essence more complex, and further, the different layers are subject to delamination.
WO 2005/102406 (to Boston Scientific Scimed) and WO 2006/037078 (to Cordis Corp.), the whole content of which is herein incorporated by reference, describe medical devices, such as catheters, made from certain rigid-rod poly(1,4-phenylene)s, as developed by Mississippi Polymer Technology under the trademark Parmax® SRP (SRP for "Self-Reinforcing Polymers"). The so-produced medical tubings are supposed to include high compression and flexural strength without reinforcing agent, as well as high chemical and wear resistance, non combustibility, high corrosion resistance, high scratch resistance, and very low moisture absorption. Unfortunately, because of the intrinsic nature of the so-proposed rigid-rod polyparaphenylene, extruding it into catheters and other medical tubings with extremely thin walls is extremely difficult; in practice, such rigid-rod polyphenylene need to be solvent-casted into thin films from various solvent mixtures, such as NMP, with all the economic and environmental drawbacks linked to the use of solvents. Further, the torqueability and the flexibility of medical tubings made of rigid-rod poly(1,4-phenylene)s may be not as high as it would be desirable for certain applications.
Very small diameter medical tubings with very thin walls can be difficult to extrude through a standard extrusion head/die. Oftentimes, the viscosity of these materials in the die is so high and the die gap is so small that one must increase the temperature of the polymer in order to reduce the viscosity of the material so that they can get sufficient flow through the die. This practice can dramatically alter material properties. When extruding thin-walled tubing, specially designed heads are often required to produce high quality tubing without degradation, gels, black specs, or undesirable residual stress.
Many custom extruders have already tried to overcome the problems of producing tight tolerance, small diameter thin walled tubing by using high draw down ratios. This significantly improves dimensional tolerances, increases line speed and makes tooling much easier to fabricate. Unfortunately, running high draw down ratios also imparts significant orientation and residual stress/strain in the finished tubing. This orientation can significantly increase the tensile strength and reduce the elongation of the tubing in the machine direction. It can also reduce the tubing burst pressure due to the loss in hoop strength. The residual stresses from high drawn down ratios can wreak havoc during subsequent thermal processing, sterilization, or aging (natural or accelerated). These thermal processes can release the stresses built in during extrusion, causing the tubing to shrink significantly in length and increase in diameter and wall thickness.
The process used to produce medical tubing can thus be extremely important in high end diagnostic and therapeutic catheters where market pressures have driven tubing manufacturers to design smaller and smaller devices with thinner and thinner walls for end use applications where the mechanical, physical, chemical, electrical, or thermal properties are critical to the function of the finished medical tubings.
There is a need for medical tubings exhibiting a confluence of characteristics including high torqueability, high pushability and high flexibility, as well as all the above other listed beneficial properties of the rigid-rod poly(1,4-phenylene)s, and which can be easily thin-wall extruded under especially harsh conditions (e.g. by using an extruder with extremely small orifices).
Further, thin-walled tubings exhibiting the above confluence of characteristics could find useful applications in many other fields than the medical field, in particular building and automotive applications.
Hollow needles form a class of tubings of particular interest. Hollow needles are used in a variety of applications. Medical, surgical and cosmetic hollow needles are broadly used to penetrate into a human or animal body. Metal and metal alloys, especially stainless steel, has been for several decades the material of choice for hollow needles.
Stainless steel hollow needles have been appreciated for their high compression and flexural strength, high rigidity, high stiffness, high surface hardness, high ductility, high impact resistance, high chemical resistance, high corrosion resistance, non combustibility, low moisture absorption, good ability to hold a sharp edge and penetrability.
The penetrability of a needle can be defined as the ability or easiness for a needle to penetrate in a suitable manner into a substrate such as a skin or a vein; upon penetration, the hollow needle should neither break nor endorse a substantial deformation; it should not tear up in any manner the substrate that is penetrated (esp. it should not rip up the flesh). Further, needles for injection into human or animal tissue have to be terminated by a sharp edge (also named, point) and to be very small in diameter in order to limit the pain experienced by the patient, whilst retaining adequate penetrability of the skin, vein, muscle or the like.
As the skilled person will easily understand, this property is key for a hollow needle and is essentially specific to this end use. Insofar as the Applicant knows, it is extremely difficult to predict what the penetrability of a needle is based on more familiar properties of the material the needle is made of. Besides, without being bound to any theory, the Applicant is of the opinion that achieving the right penetrability likely requires a subtle and unelucidated balance of properties, among which it could possibly be cited among others high compression and flexural strength and high rigidity on one hand, and high ductility and a high impact resistance on the other hand; the penetrability depends further on the design of the hollow needle, including its length, aspect ratio and, last but not least, the sharpness of its edge.
With this regard, the ability to hold a sharp edge is another key property for a hollow needle. Indeed, this property does not only improve the penetrability of the hollow needle as above explained, but it also contributes as such to decrease or relieve the pain felt by a patient (or more generally by a human or an animal) when the needle penetrates and possibly goes through its skin, vein, muscle or other surface layer. As the skilled person will easily appreciate, it is also essentially specific to needle end uses. The Applicant is not aware of any study that would have addressed so far the question of the ability for a needle to hold a sharp edge as function of the chemical nature of the plastic material the needle would have been made of. Finally, to the best of the Applicant's knowledge, it is also extremely difficult to predict the ability of a needle to hold a sharp edge, relying on more familiar properties of the material the needle is made of. Finally, without being bound to any theory, the Applicant is of the opinion that the ability for a needle to hold a sharp edge likely requires a complex and obscure balance of properties, among which it could possibly be cited among others a high compression and flexural strength and a high rigidity on one hand, and a high stiffness and a high surface hardness on the other hand; it depends further on the machinability of the material the needle is made of, in particular of the melt processability of the plastic material in case of plastic needles.
Because of this confluence of properties, the hollow needles of the prior art have been generally made of metal. However, metal hollow needles, once they have been used, cannot be easily disposed of, and this gives rise to a sanitary health problem because of contamination accidents arising from contact with or accidental re-utilization of thereof. Indeed, while a hollow needle, such as a medical, surgical or cosmetic needle, can be manufactured under sterile and apyrogenic conditions, and can be kept sterile and apyrogenic in its original pack, once it has been taken out from its pack and utilized, it cannot obviously be held anymore as sterile and apyrogenic.
There is a strong need for single-use, easily disposable hollow needles. This need is immediately apparent when thinking about applications such as mass vaccinations in Third-World countries which are not or poorly equipped with facilities allowing for re-sterilizing or depyrogenizing hypodermic needles that have already been used. Also, even in countries equipped with such facilities, re-sterilization and depyrogenization remain a tedious, time-consuming and complex processes, and, in general, it is also difficult to find reconditioning installations that would provide the same level of health safety as high as those offered by those achieving the original conditioning of the needles.
Another problem commonly associated with metal hollow needles results in the rather poor machinability of the metal, which problem is particularly acute when needles terminated by an extremely sharp edge have to be machined, as required by certain applications in the medical field.
There is thus also a need for hollow needles which can be machined more easily, including when the needles have an extremely sharp edge.
In order to solve the problem of providing single-use, easily disposable, easily machinable needles suitable for penetrating into the human body and able to hold a sharp edge, needles made of certain plastic materials have been proposed.
JP 7 303 700, the whole content of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes, describes a synthetic resin needle reinforced with combustible fibers whose longitudinal directions are arrayed straight or curvilinearly along the axial length of the needle. JP'700 proposes a wide variety of resins for making the reinforced synthetic needle. According to JP'700, the resin can be notably a thermoplastic resin, such as a polyphenylene sulfide, a polyetheretherketone, a polybutyleneterephthalate, a polycarbonate, a polyamide, a polyacetal, a modified polyphenylene ether, a polyester system resin, a polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluororesin, a polysulfone, a polyetherimide, a polyethersulfone, a polyetherketone, a polyetherlactone, a liquid crystal polyester, a polyamideimide, a polyimide or a polyethernitrile, a polypropylene, a polyethylene or a cyclic olefin system resin; it can also be a thermoset resin such as an epoxy resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a phenol resin, a urea resin, a melamine resin or a polyurethane resin.
US 2004/199127, the whole content of which is herein incorporated by reference, describes a process for the manufacture of a plastic injection needle in which the employed plastic is a liquid crystalline polyester comprising 70-80 percent hydroxybenzoic acid and 20-30 percent hydroxynaphthoic acid. The plastic needle of US 2004/199127 preferably further comprises from 15 to 40 percent by weight of the solid plastic of fiber reinforcement such as glass fiber or carbon fiber or aramid fiber.
While easily disposable, the needles US'127 which are made of unreinforced liquid crystalline polyester have not the suitable confluence of properties achieved by metal needles, lacking notably in compression and flexural strength, rigidity, penetrability and ability to hold a sharp edge. By the way, exactly the same drawbacks would apply to needles that would have been made of unreinforced polymer material based on any of the synthetic resins described in JP'700, in particular based on polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
Likewise, the needles US'127 which are made of reinforced liquid crystalline polyester and, more generally, the needles of JP'700 which can be made of a variety of other reinforced synthetic resins, have not the suitable confluence of properties achieved by metal needles, lacking notably in ductility, impact resistance, penetrability and ability to hold a sharp edge; the reinforcing agent present in the synthetic resin matrix limits also substantially the possibilities of subsequent recycling of the polyester material.
US 2007/073249, the whole content of which is herein incorporated by reference, describes a needle constituted of a cylindrical body extended along a longitudinal axis, said body being made of a polyaryletherketone polymer (such as PEEK) and further comprising metal reinforcement wires embedded in the polyaryletherketone polymer, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and distributed according to a particular design. The composite needle of US '249 is not easily disposable because of the metal reinforcement wires embedded in the polymer matrix. The composite needle of US '249 is more difficult to manufacture than a simple plastic or a metal needle. In addition, meeting a suitable confluence of properties with such a composite needle requires also more subtle adjustments, depending further notably on amount, dimensions, shape and positioning of the metal wires.
There are still other reasons making it extremely difficult to find a plastic material that could suitably replace metal for numbers of hollow needle applications.
As already mentioned, hollow needles often have thin walls, which can makes it difficult to mold a plastic material in a standard mold, or to extrude a plastic material through a standard extrusion head/die. Oftentimes, the viscosity of these materials in the die is so high that one must increase the temperature of the polymer in order to reduce the viscosity of the material so that they can get sufficient flow in the orifices of the mold or through the die. This practice can dramatically alter material properties. Hence, plastic materials suitable for making needles must demonstrate a good thermal stability and good melt processability.
Then, hollow needles used to penetrate into a human or animal body, must be non toxic and non irritant. They should not elicit any adverse host reactions to their contact, and, more generally, they should cause no injurious effect on the part of the body the are put in contact with. This further requires the plastic material to demonstrate excellent biocompatibility features.
There is a need for hollow needles, in particular medical and surgical needles, exhibiting a confluence of characteristics including high compression and flexural strength, high rigidity, high stiffness, high surface hardness, high ductility, high impact resistance, high chemical resistance, high corrosion resistance, non combustibility and low moisture absorption.
There is a need for hollow needles having a good penetrability.
There is a need for hollow needles having a good ability to hold a sharp edge.
There is a need for hollow needles that are non toxic. There is a need for hollow needles that are non irritant. There is a need for hollow needles that are biocompatible.
There is a need for easily disposable hollow needles, which would then be especially well suited for a single-use. There is a need for hollow needles made from a material exhibiting a good disposability and recyclability.
There is a need for hollow needles made from an easily machinable material. There is a need for hollow needles made of an easily melt processable and thermally stable material.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Medical tubings made of a polymer material


Provided are systems, methods and/or electronic vapor devices configured to analyze matter of at least one of smoke, vapor or other material in order to at least one of analyze, classify, compare, validate, refute and catalog said matter, then reference conditions in order to send system alerts triggered by defined analytical parameters.

Consumers utilize electronic vapor cigarettes, pipes, and modified vapor devices to enjoy what is commonly known as "vaping." Vaping is an increasingly popular market segment, which has been, and continues to, steadily gaining market share over the last several years. Various types of personal vaporizers are known in the art. In general, such vaporizers are characterized by heating a solid to a smoldering point, vaporizing a liquid by heat, or nebulizing a liquid by heat and/or by expansion through a nozzle. Such devices are designed to release aromatic materials in the solid or liquid while avoiding high temperatures of combustion and associated formation of tars, carbon monoxide, or other harmful byproducts. It would be desirable, therefore, to develop new technologies to increase the functionality of electronic vapor devices to detect negative environmental conditions and alert users of the electronic vapor device.


A vehicle suspension system including a shock upper mount assembly mounted to vehicle structure, a jounce bumper being made of an elastomeric material and including a vertically extending rod bore around a rod of a shock absorber, and a jounce rate cup. The jounce rate cup is made of an elastomeric material and includes a horizontally extending support flange having a lower surface mounted on the jounce bumper, a horizontally extending dust boot attachment flange spaced from the support flange and having an upper surface located below and adjacent to the shock upper mount assembly, and a vertical flange extending between the support flange and the dust boot attachment flange to define a gap between the support flange and the dust boot attachment flange, with the jounce rate cup including a vertically extending rod bore mounted around the rod.

The present invention relates generally to vehicle suspension systems, and more particularly to mounting of the suspension to the vehicle body.
It is desirable to provide an energy mitigation device to reduce the peak suspension loads transmitted to the body structure. Having relatively high peak impact loads from the suspension into the body may require that the mass of the body adjacent to the suspension attachment is larger than desired. This increased mass also tends to increase the vehicle cost and may negatively impact fuel economy of the vehicle as well.
Previous suspension attachment assemblies have employed a urethane bumper, along with rigid plastic wedge on top of the bumper, to absorb jounce loads and transmit the loads through the shock upper mount assembly. However, this type of assembly still transmits jounce loads into the body that are higher than desired. This results in the mass and cost of the chassis and body systems of the vehicle that may be higher than is desired.


A method for securing encryption keys includes providing two device, each including secure and insecure hardware, generating in each secure hardware at least two period keys stored in the secure hardware, generating in each secure hardware a plurality of session keys stored in either secure or insecure hardware on the generating device, for each secure hardware, encrypting at least one of the generated plurality of session keys according to a first of the two period keys included in each secure hardware, encrypting at least one of the plurality of session keys generated in each device according to a second of the two period keys included in each secure hardware, when a session is established between the two devices, decrypting one encrypted session key in each device, and establishing an encrypted session between both devices, where the period keys included in both devices are periodically regenerated.

The use of encryption in establishing a session between devices is well known in the art. For example and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a data session using HTTPS comprises transfer of encrypted data using a version of the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. Data transferred using HTTPS is considered to have reasonable protection from eavesdroppers and man-in-the-middle attacks.
The disclosures of all references mentioned throughout the present specification, as well as the disclosures of all references mentioned in those references, are hereby incorporated herein by reference.