An exercise device in the nature of an exercise bicycle includes a ground supported frame, a seat supported by the frame, a first flywheel supported for rotation by the frame, and pedals operatively connected to the first flywheel such that rotation of the pedals causes rotation of the first flywheel. A user positioned on the seat and turning the pedals with his feet may obtain aerobic exercise for the lower portion of the body. Additionally, a second flywheel is supported for rotation by the frame, and handlebars are operatively connected to the second flywheel such that alternately pushing and pulling on the handlebars causes rotation of the second flywheel. The handlebars may be moved by the user to turn the second flywheel to obtain aerobic exercise for the upper portion of the body independently of, or simultaneously with, the aerobic exercise of the lower portion of the body. Each of the flywheels is provided with an adjustable friction band by which resistance to the respective flywheel may be controlled by the user. Further, each flywheel is provided with a free-wheel clutch which permits the handlebars and the pedals to be brought to an immediate stop as desired by the user, without the user being required to overcome the inertial force of the respective flywheel.

This invention relates generally to exercise equipment. More particularly, the resent invention relates to cardiovascular exercise apparatus of the bicycle-type, specifically adapted to provide independently adjustable conditioning of both the upper and lower extremities of a user.
It is generally recognized in the medical profession that routine exercise programs are beneficial, if not necessary, to improved cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neuro-muscular health. In this regard, many physicians now prescribe moderately intense aerobic exercise programs for heart rehabilitation and preventive care. The recognition of these benefits associated with routine exercise has caused many to adopt a regular exercise regimen, which has led to an explosion in various exercise programs such as jogging, weight lifting, aerobic dancing, and cycling. Although all of these exercise programs have proven beneficial in their general application, each possesses certain deficiencies which have detracted from its overall effectiveness.
Exercise equipment can be classified primarily as equipment intended for aerobic exercise and equipment intended for anaerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise stimulates the action of the heart and lungs and the circulation of the blood. Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, involves the conditioning or toning of muscles and muscle groups. Naturally, because of the repetitive nature of exercise, there is some overlap in the effects of each of these categories of exercise. For example, an exercise bicycle, which is an aerobic exerciser, also causes the leg muscles to be toned to some extend because of the continuous peddling action. Anaerobic exercise equipment, for example free weights, will cause increased heart and lung action if the weights are sufficiently heavy or the exercise regime of sufficient duration. Neither of these categories of exercise is superior to the other and, in fact, a good exercise program normally involves both types.
An exercise bicycle is a well known piece of aerobic exercise equipment which many individuals have in their homes. Stationary bicycle exercisers are known in which the user, sitting on a raised bicycle seat, operates pedals with his feet to turn a front wheel whose rotation is subject to an adjustable resistance to vary the required effort. Such machines are suitable for developing the leg muscles, but afford little exercise to other parts of the body. Attempts have been made to combine an exercise bicycle with upper body conditioning devices, but these attempts have primarily involved cooperative interconnection of the pedals with movable handlebars. Such devices are not totally satisfactory for a combined exerciser because the movement of the handlebars is functionally related to the pedaling operation so that both occur at essentially a uniform rate. Therefore, one desirous of performing more strenuous exercise for his upper body is not able to do so because the pedals rotate at that same rate. It is important that a combined exerciser permit independent exercise of the upper body while allowing the aerobic exercise achieved through the pedaling operation to continue at its own separate rate.
Accordingly, there has been a need for an improved exercise device which provides aerobic exercise for both the upper and lower portions of the body. Such an improved exercise device should permit the upper and lower portions of the body to be exercised independently of the other, and provide separately adjustable resistive forces against which the legs and arms work. Additionally, an improved exercise device is needed which is relatively inexpensive, yet is of sturdy construction to permit extended home use. Further, an improved exercise device is needed which provides proper support to a user seated thereon for extended exercise periods. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.


A hierarchical knowledge representation is used in order to more efficiently support the translation and management of multiple localities. Utilizing this type of knowledge representation provides several key advantages. The first is a greater ability to differentiate semantically different symbols within the system. The second, is the ability to reutilize the translation of these symbols once translated a single time; and concurrent locale support.

As companies are becoming increasingly more international in business activities, each country in which a company operates may have different languages. The diversity of these cultures produces a challenge for information systems. Each culture wants the software and data it produces to support the local conventions and cultures. This means that software must be translated for each of these cultures. The cultures can differ in terms of script (written languages used), languages, meaning of pictures and images, currency conventions, address and telephone number conventions, data and time conventions, units of measures commonly used, and many other aspects of the information system.
Typically, the term globalization is used to refer to the process of enabling software to support multiple languages. Globalization involves removing all cultural biased conventions from the software so that the software can more quickly be adapted to the conventions and language of a particular culture. The term localization is used to refer to the process of providing a particular cultural binding of the software. The localization process involves translating the strings, images, and other elements of the system to a form that matches the local conventions of a particular culture.
Further, the cost of translating systems and information can be quite expensive. This cost is particularly high if the information system changes frequently. Each change must be made through all the locales. If a system can not manage the effects of change efficiently, increased costs are the result as unneeded translations are required.
Today, most globalization systems are limited in that their operation is restricted to the resource (e.g., strings, bit maps, etc.), where each resource in the system is placed in a resource file and then translated or localized. These systems are further restricted to loading no more than one resource file at a time, consequently, they are unable to support no more than a single locale at any particular moment in time.
Today's global environment often necessitates that users have access to multiple translations (i.e. locales/locale context). For example within Switzerland, multiple languages are used and they should be able to view information in the language/dialect with which they are most comfortable.

System for the facilitation of supporting multiple concurrent languages through the use of semantic knowledge representation

International Business Machines Corporation


Apparatuses for article handling, comprising one or more of a) an article-moving conveyor belt (1) designed to move along an underlying plate (55) which has a ridge portion (56), so that a substantial part of each article (21) will lie on one side or the other of the highest point of the conveyor belt; b) a lifting apparatus (4) for moving articles, e.g., PET bottles, from an in-feed point to discharge point located above the in-feed point, with the aid of a continuous row of movable article-carrying baskets (26-36) spaced apart along the length of driving belts or drive chains; and c) an article sorting apparatus (6) that is conveyed on a continuously moving conveyor belt (22) and includes a gate (15) that is designed to be able to move an article (21) away from the conveyor belt (22) sideways, and which in the neutral position of the gate (15) is designed to allow the article (21) to move past the gate (15) unaffected thereby. The actuation of the gate is controlled on the basis of a signal indicating the sorting direction sent from an article-recognition station (1).

The present invention relates to apparatuses for the conveying, lifting and sorting of articles. Advantageously, the apparatuses can be used in a system for the handling of articles.
A first of the apparatuses according to the present invention is an article-moving conveyor belt apparatus that is designed to move along an underlying plate or the like, and where the conveyor belt consists of a flexible material, for example, rubber or plastic, and the use of an apparatus of this kind.
When conveying, for example, short round articles, where the length of the article is less than the width of the conveyor belt, there is often a tendency for such articles to lie across the belt and to roll. One of the objects of the present invention therefore is to avoid this problem, and also at the same time to ensure that the present apparatus should be capable of facilitating the conveyance of large articles such as articles whose diameter is considerably larger than the width of the conveyor belt, for example, 1.5xc3x97 the width of the conveyor belt, and also rectangular articles.
According to the invention, the first apparatus is characterised in that the plate or the like has a central, longitudinal ridge portion, whereby the conveyor belt obtains a cross-section in the form of a shallow, inverted V, so that the belt has its highest point along the centre thereof, and with a gradual descent from the ridge portion towards the edge of the belt, and that along the outer edge of the belt there is provided a vertical wall portion, at least along parts of the length of the belt.
Additional embodiments of the first apparatus are apparent from the following description and also from attached, related patent claims.
The use of a conveyor-belt related apparatus of this kind has the result that a substantial part of each article conveyed lies on one side or the other of the highest point of the conveyor belt. The central location of the said ridge portion means that the sorting of articles on the conveyor belt, either to one side or the other side thereof, is made possible in a simple manner, and completely independent of whether the article is lying essentially on one side or the other of the highest, longitudinal part of the conveyor belt.
A second of the apparatuses according to the present invention is an apparatus for lifting articles, as for instance PET bottles, from an in-feed point to a discharge point located above the in-feed point, by means of a continuous row of article-supporting members.
In connection with vertical conveyance of beverage packaging, as for instance bottles or cans, where it is not only difficult to transport the packaging vertically downwards, but in addition also ensure a lifting of such beverage packaging, for example, PET bottles, there has long been a need to find a simple solution that is reliable as well.
A lifting device of this kind will be especially useful where there is a need not only for sorting along a horizontal conveying line on one level, but also sorting on levels located thereabove.
According to the invention, the second apparatus is characterised in that there is provided a first and a second conveyor belt or chain that are driven synchronously via driving guides, for example, driving wheels or drive pulleys, and moved over guides at the end of the belt or chain paths, that the belts or chains have a first vertical portion and a second portion that forms an angle with the horizontal, and that the belts or chains at the point of the transition between the said first and second portions are passed over redirecting mechanisms, that a plurality of article-carrying baskets spaced apart along the length of the belts or chains are fixedly secured to a respective part thereof, and that the baskets having passed the said redirecting mechanisms are designed to be passed along an inclined slide plate towards the discharge opening, wherein the baskets on passing the redirecting mechanisms are designed to be tipped into a position so that the basket-carried article is thus removed from the basket and is pushed by the basket along the slide plate towards the discharge opening.
Additional embodiments of the second apparatus are apparent from the following description and from the attached, related patent claims.
A third of the apparatuses according to the present invention is an apparatus for sorting articles that are conveyed on a conveyor belt, where the apparatus includes at least one actuator-controlled channel-formed gate pivotable about a vertical axis at an end thereof, said gate arranged to be able to guide an article sideways relative to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt by means of a rotational movement across the conveyor belt, and which in a neutral position is designed to allow the article to move past unaffected by the gate, and where the actuation of the gate is controlled on the basis of a signal indicating sorting direction sent from an article-recognition station.
A number of devices of the type mentioned above are previously known, where arms move in across the conveyor belt to move an article away from the conveyor belt in a particular direction. However, sideways sorting to both sides at one and the same point along the path of the conveyor belt is beset by major problems, especially when the conveyor belt moves continuously. One of the major tasks to be performed by the present application is to ensure a rapid sorting of articles that flow regularly out of the article-recognition station.
According to the invention, the third apparatus is characterised in that the gate has two side walls separated by a distance approximately equal to the width of the conveyor belt, and where the side walls are connected to one another at the top via at least one connecting piece; that the actuator is placed at a level above the gate and is connected via its vertical shaft to the connecting piece at the downstream end of the gate; and that the actuator is designed, based on said signal, to either hold the gate in a neutral position so that articles can pass unobstructed through the channel with its walls parallel to the direction of transport, or turn the gate to one side or the other of the conveyor belt, so that the upstream end of the gate lies essentially beyond a longitudinal edge of the conveyor belt, and so that an article to be removed from the conveyor belt through said sideways guidance is movable along an outside face of one of the channel walls having its upstream end closest to said longitudinal edge.
Further embodiments of the third apparatus are apparent from the following description and the attached, related patent claims.

Apparatuses for the conveying, lifting and sorting of articles


There is shown a dispensing apparatus for use with pressurized containers of fluids, particularly carbonated beverages such as beer. A base that fits onto the container has a piston member slidably fitted to it, along with a compressed gas housing and a pickup tube or assembly. A handle moves the piston member with respect to the base against a spring bias. A gas flow path from the housing to the container passes through a valve, that is opened by the piston member as the handle is moved. Moving the handle opens both a liquid flow path as well as a gas flow path.

It is well known to package beverages in sealed containers for the consumer to take from a store, restaurant or other location for home consumption. So long as the container and its seal remains intact, the container keeps in carbonation and keeps out agents that can unfavorably change the characteristics of the beverage, including air (with associated dust or pathogens) or radiation. For example, a carbonated beverage such as soda or beer can be maintained for substantial periods in sealed containers like cans or bottles, and when opened for the first time, enjoyed with the fizz of the carbonation. Once opened, however, the beverage should be consumed relatively quickly, before the carbonation dissipates and/or before oxygen or other outside agents can affect the beverage. An open can or cup of a carbonated beverage can become "flat"—lose its carbonation—quickly, perhaps within an hour or less. Such a flat beverage generally has less appeal, and may include a significant deterioration in flavor with loss of carbonation and/or exposure to oxygen or other environmental factors. Of course, non-carbonated beverages exposed to air over time can also experience deterioration in quality.
Where the sealed container is small, for example a one-serving or 12-ounce or 330 milliliter can or bottle, the consumer can open it and easily finish the beverage before any significant taste or other quality changes can occur. However, for reasons of economy, beverages are frequently sold at retail in larger containers, with the understanding that the consumer can provide a larger volume for gatherings when it is needed, and/or can be used over a period of time. In the United States, two-liter bottles of soft drinks are sold with screw-on caps. Any beverage remaining after the seal is broken can be retained by replacing the cap, which provides an imperfect re-seal. The carbonation in the beverage will be maintained over a matter of days, but if not used in that period the beverage will become flat. Further, beverages maintained in opened but imperfectly resealed containers can be affected by other items in proximity (e.g. items within a refrigerator), potentially changing the flavor or aroma of the beverage.
Another area in which larger containers for beverages are becoming common is in retail beer sales by a variety of establishments, such as small breweries, brew-pubs, or restaurants, or in sales of equipment by home-brew shops. A patron can purchase for take-out a half-gallon bottle or jug (commonly referred to as a "growler") or other large-sized container (quart (e.g. a "bullet"), gallon, five-gallon, half-barrel or barrel, as examples) of the desired beer. In some cases, at a later time the consumer can return with the bottle for refilling. Once the consumer removes the cap or otherwise opens the growler or other container, any seal that was present is broken. While the cap can be replaced to help stave off loss of carbonation and/or changes to the taste of the beer (e.g. due to oxygen from the atmosphere), such changes can occur in a matter of one or two days. In the case of a single consumer wishing to buy a favorite microbrew for his own use, with the economy of a larger bottle or "growler," consumer(s) must thus drink a substantial amount of beer in a day or two, or risk losing palatability of any remaining beer. Naturally, such rapid or over-consumption may not be advisable or possible.
While large tapping systems for kegs are in use, employing forced air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or a mixture of gases heavier than air to propel beer to a dispensing valve while keeping oxygen away from the beer, an effective system is needed for individual smaller containers such as growlers. The inventors have found that it is commonly assumed that such smaller vessels are used for immediate consumption of the entire contents, and thus preservation over time is not needed. Small batch beer, or craft beer, generally has a higher alcohol content than mass-produced beers, as well as a higher price, creating the possibility or likelihood of not consuming the entire contents in one sitting with the desire not to have wasted money on spoiled remainder. To the extent that dispensing systems for growlers or other smaller containers have been developed, they may be patterned after systems for kegs and as such may be unwieldy or otherwise more difficult to use with smaller containers. Maintenance of proper pressure (e.g. high enough to keep oxygen from seeping in and to force beverage out at a reasonable rate when dispensing is desired, yet below a pressure potentially damaging to the container) can be difficult with some dispensers.
Available dispensing devices also can be difficult to repair or clean. In many cases, once a seal or other part fails, the device must be thrown away and replaced.
There remains a need for a system to maintain a seal and/or positive pressure on beverage bottles or jugs, to allow the consumer to enjoy the benefit of their economy while using the contents in smaller amounts and reducing or eliminating wastage. A system that allows easy cleaning or replacement of parts is also desirable. The current disclosure meets such a need.

Beverage preservation and dispensing device


The present invention includes a process for forming an intermetallic layer over a semiconductor substrate and a device formed by the process. The intermetallic layer includes a material having a molecular formula of AB.sub.3, wherein A is an element having an atomic number of 39-41 or 57-73 and B is an element having an atomic of 45, 46, 77, or 78. In one process, an intermetallic member is formed by forming a patterned layer including the A or B element over a substrate, depositing a layer of the other element, and reacting them. The process forms a self-aligned member. Chemical-mechanical polishing, ion milling, and a lift-off method may be performed to pattern an AB.sub.3 intermetallic layer. In a device, an intermetallic member may act as a gate electrode, an electrode of a capacitor, a conductive spacer, an interconnect, or a contact or via plug. An almost endless number of devices may be formed with the intermetallic members.

Intermetallic materials are materials that comprise a plurality of metallic elements. As used in this specification, an Engel-Brewer intermetallic has a general molecular formula of AB.sub.3, wherein A is an element having an atomic number of 1-23, 39-41, or 57-72 and B is an element having an atomic number of 26-28, 44-46, or 76-78. The Engel-Brewer intermetallics have primarily been used in the aircraft and aerospace industry. In one application, Engel-Brewer intermetallics may be used as a coating over carbon composites that may be used within turbine engines. Hot exhaust gases from the turbine engines may oxidize the carbon composites if they were not protected by the Engel-Brewer intermetallics. The intermetallics form very little, if any oxide, when they have been subjected to an H.sub.2 /O.sub.2 flame at temperatures of up to 2800 degrees Celsius. In addition to oxidation resistance, the Engel-Brewer intermetallic compounds have properties that also include light weight and durability, which are both important to the use of the intermetallics within turbine engines.
Within the semiconductor industry, conductive members may act as gate electrodes, electrodes of capacitors, conductive spacers, contact or via plugs, or interconnects. As used hereinafter, "conventional conductive materials" are heavily-doped silicon, silicides, metals, and metal composites, but does not include Engel-Brewer intermetallics. The conductive members are typically made of a conventional conductive material or a combination of conventional conductive materials. The conventional conductive materials suffer from a number of problems when the materials are above a temperature of about 450.degree. C. Some of the problems are oxidation of the conventional conductive materials, undesired interactions between various conventional conductive layers, and dopant diffusion. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. Technical literature has reported that zirconium platinide has an electrical resistivity of about 8.0 microohm-centimeters. Compare this with tungsten that has an electrical resistivity of about 7.0 microohm-centimeters. To the inventors' knowledge, Engel-Brewer intermetallics have not been used within the semiconductor industry, although at least one Engel-Brewer intermetallic is known to have a reasonably low resistivity.

Process for forming an intermetallic member on a semiconductor substrate


A method and system method for determining motion of a downhole tool and feeding back drilling performance. The method may comprise taking a synchronous tool face measurement of the downhole tool, taking a synchronous pulse-echo acquisition to estimate a shape of a borehole, inputting at least the shape of the borehole, the center trajectory of the downhole tool, the rotational time of the downhole tool, the position of the downhole tool, and the one or more measurements of the downhole tool into an information fusion for drilling dynamics, identifying at least one of a whirl, a vibration, or a stick-slip of the downhole tool, and identifying one or more borehole condition and a drilling efficiency. A system may comprise a downhole tool, at least two transducers, and an information handling system.

Boreholes drilled into subterranean formations may enable recovery of desirable fluids (e.g., hydrocarbons) using any number of different techniques. Currently, drilling operations may identify subterranean formations through a bottom hole assembly if the subterranean formation is disposed horizontal to the bottom hole assembly. In measurement operations, a measurement assembly may operate and/or function to determine the shape of a borehole. During measurement operations it may be important to determine where the center of the measurement assembly may be in relation to the borehole wall.
Currently, the most advanced high frequency drilling dynamic measurements used in measurement operation utilize accelerometers to determine the center and motion of the measurement assembly. Accelerometers are unable to provide accurate tool body rigid motions. Tool center rotational trajectory based upon the integration of acceleration measurements often results in a numerically unstable trajectory. Conventional accelerometer or pressure sensor-based drilling dynamic logging systems cannot provide direct tool motion trajectories. The accelerometer logged vibration can be highly subjective to all kinds of noises due to bit bounce and impacts, tool center trajectory based upon integration of acceleration measurements often results in numerically unstable results, which may not be reliable
Existing methods for calculating borehole shapes, tool center rotational trajectory, or other downhole measurements usually have more or less pre-assumptions of the borehole geometry. Either boreholes are assumed in one specific type of geometry (e.g., ellipse) or portion of boreholes is assumed remaining circular shapes, which largely limits the effectiveness on more complex geometric shapes such as irregular boreholes. Current unreliable measurements of borehole shapes and conventional accelerometer or pressure sensor measurements may not provide direct tool motion trajectories in a drilling dynamic logging system.

Downhole tool dynamic and motion measurement with multiple ultrasound transducer


A device for multi-angle photographing in eyeglasses and eyeglasses including the device are disclosed. The device includes a camera mounted on the eyeglasses and configured to capture an image, at least two motors configured to drive the camera to move, and at least two mobile platforms, each of which is provided with a plurality of limiting stoppers. The camera is connected between respective limiting stoppers of the at least two mobile platforms through the at least two motors, and is driven by the motors to move between the limiting stoppers of the mobile platforms to implement multi-angle photographing. Thus the camera can be moved between the limiting stoppers at different levels, to realize multi-angle and multi-gesture photographing and viewfinding in the horizontal and vertical directions.

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of smart eyeglasses, and more particularly, to a device for multi-angle photographing in eyeglasses and eyeglasses including the device.
Eyeglasses are a kind of simple optical device for correcting visual acuity or protecting eyes, which are consisted of lenses and an eyeglass frame. There are four types of eyeglasses for correcting visual acuity: myopia eyeglasses, hypermetropia eyeglasses, presbyopia eyeglasses, and astigmatism eyeglasses. The eyeglasses are not only tools for protecting eyes but also decorations for beauty. However, the eyeglasses have no function other than visual acuity correction and decoration. With the development of sciences and technologies, the eyeglasses are endowed with important missions, particularly in the nowadays society. People often go to a tour and need to carry photographic devices such as a camera. Combining the photographic devices with the eyeglasses will facilitate traveling and sightseeing for people and provide great convenience for some special works such as investigation and diving.
Chinese Patent Application No. CN201120004645.4 discloses eyeglasses for photographing, which include an eyeglass frame, a miniature camera, a Bluetooth wireless transmitter/receiver, and a terminal receiver. The miniature camera fits with the eyeglass frame. A slot for fixing the miniature camera is arranged in a middle part of the eyeglass frame. The miniature camera is arranged inside the slot and connected to the Bluetooth wireless transmitter/receiver. The miniature camera captures an image after receiving a command signal sent from the terminal receiver. The image captured by the miniature camera is directly transmitted to the terminal receiver through the Bluetooth wireless transmitter/receiver. In this way, the image captured by the miniature camera can be transmitted to the terminal receiver promptly and effectively, which guarantees acquisition, storage and later utilization of the information in time. This avoids loss of information caused by external environment problems. Chinese Patent No. CN204347369U discloses a pair of photographing eyeglasses easily and reliably fixed. However, the above mentioned eyeglasses neither implement multi-angle rotatable photographing in horizontal and vertical directions, nor implement large-angle continuous photographing in the horizontal and vertical dimensions, for panoramically photographing and shooting.

Device for multi-angle photographing in eyeglasses and eyeglasses including the device

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A decoder includes a storage space that records video data and subtitle data in multiplexed form; a first buffer memory operating in “First In First Out” mode and able to temporarily contain the video data in packet form; a second buffer memory operating in “First In First Out” mode and able to temporarily contain the subtitle data in packet form; a demultiplexer configured to transmit the video data and subtitle data respectively to the first and second buffer memories; and a local clock, wherein the storage space includes a storage space configured to store the time references such that the demultiplexer transmits the time references, the decoder including a generator to generate a presentation time stamp associated with each subtitle data packet not initially containing a presentation time stamp, the presentation time stamp being determined from a time reference value transmitted by the demultiplexer and enabling the presentation of the subtitle data packets to be synchronized with relation to the local clock.

In a digital television decoder comprising a hard disk, various flows of the audio, video and teletext/subtitle type such as described, among others, in the DVB standards may be stored in partial flow form on the hard disk, in order to be subsequently replayed and decoded.
These various flows are usually transported in a flow transport utilizing, for example, the DVB standard, demultiplexed by a demultiplexer and transmitted respectively to elementary decoders for audio, video, teletext or subtitle decoding. Flows transmitted to a decoding device may be intended for synchronous use. This is, for example, the case with audio and video data that are interconnected by time synchronization data in the form of presentation time stamps (PTS). The operation of these data, combined with the updating of a local system time clock (STC) by means of time reference signals noted PCR (Program Clock Reference), enable images to be displayed synchronously with sound. The PCR time references are inserted in the data flow in synchronism with a clock that synchronizes the coding of data. They enable, by using a frequency synthesizer or a voltage controlled oscillator noted VCXO (Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator), the generation on the decoding side of the STC clock. The PTS time stamps enable the presentation of data packets to be synchronized with relation to the STC clock. Although video decoding and audio decoding are separate processes, each video packet and each audio packet is synchronized with the STC clock such that they are presented at the same given time. In other words, the video and audio packets are each synchronized with the STC clock and are therefore synchronized therebetween. This method is well known and implemented in digital decoders.
It will be noted that the transmission of PTS synchronization data is not obligatory in the case of subtitle/teletext data. Synchronization of such data, the need for which is much less precise than in the case of audio data, is carried out by an almost-immediate (a few tens of ms at most) decoding of the data received at the output of the demultiplexer. Because of this, with regard to the operation of subtitle flows in direct decoding mode according to an antenna signal, the presence or not of synchronization data in these flows being of little interest, the taking into account of an average error is sufficient to improve accuracy.
However, the implementation of such a solution poses a certain number of difficulties in the case of a decoder comprising a data storage space.
Thus, the principle generally utilized during the playback of data replayed from a storage space consists of buffering (that is, storing in buffer memory) the data utilized, by notably filling to the maximum the buffer memory with video data. From this point on, either the term "buffer memory" or the term "buffer" will be used. The buffers utilized are of the FIFO "First In First Out" type. In this manner, a possible malfunction in reading on the storage space (such as a disk read error, for example) resulting in a delay in the reading of these data is not obvious. Thus, all of the audio, video and subtitle data played back from a storage space is provided to the demultiplexer, with control managed by the fill level of the video decoding buffer.
In the case where no before sending PTS time stamp is implemented for subtitles, the subtitles are decoded as soon as they are available at the output of the demultiplexer, in the same manner as in direct receipt. Video data not yet decoded therefore risk being still present in the video decoding buffer, while the corresponding subtitles are already being displayed. In practice, the size of the video decoding buffer and the usual video compression rates are such that it is possible to have an interval of several seconds between these subtitles and the image that has not yet been decoded. The display consistency of subtitles with relation to the video is then seriously compromised. Consequently, it is understood that the fact of immediately (without buffering) playing the subtitles without PTS presentation time stamps does not pose a major problem when data are played "live," but that this absence of buffering poses serious problems in the case of reading data from a hard disk incorporated in the decoder. It will be noted that the term "live" utilized from this point on designates live displaying, from the flow and not from the hard disk.
In addition, in the absence of presentation time stamps associated with subtitle data, the problems mentioned above are further increased in idle mode inasmuch as the delay between the display of the subtitles and that of the video images is even longer.

Video data decoder and method for decoding video data


A method and system efficiently and accurately detects humans in a test image and classifies their pose. In a training stage, a probabilistic model is derived in an unsupervised or semi-supervised manner such that at least some poses are not manually labeled. The model provides two sets of model parameters to describe the statistics of images containing humans and images of background scenes. In a testing stage, the probabilistic model is used to determine if a human is present in the image, and classify the human's pose based on the poses in the training images. A solution is efficiently provided to both human detection and pose classification by using the same probabilistic model to solve the problems.

Detecting humans and estimating their poses from a single image is a fundamental problem for a range of applications, such as image retrieval and understanding. While humans are capable of easily determining the locations and poses from visual information contained in photographs, it is difficult to represent image data in a way that allows machines to successfully make this determination. The related problems of detecting humans and classifying their pose have conventionally been approached separately with each problem presenting significant challenges to researchers.
Traditional research focuses on deriving an automatic procedure that locates the regions of a two dimensional image that contain human bodies in an arbitrary pose. The human detection problem is hard because of the wide variability that images of humans exhibit. Given that it is impractical to explicitly model nuisance factors such as clothing, lighting conditions, viewpoint, body pose, partial and/or self occlusions, one can learn a descriptive model of human/non human statistics. The problem then reduces to a binary classification task for which general statistical learning techniques can be directly applied. Consequently, the main focus of research on human detection has traditionally been on deriving a suitable representation, i.e., one that is most insensitive to typical appearance variations, so that it provides good features to a standard classifier.
Numerous representation schemes have traditionally been exploited for human detection, e.g., Haar wavelets, edges, gradients and second derivatives, and regions from image segmentation. With these representations, algorithms have been applied for the detection process such as template matching, support vector machine, Adaboost, and grouping, to name a few. Examples of these techniques are set forth in Gavrila, D. M. and V. Philomin, Real-time Object Detection for Smart Vehicles, Proc. ICCV, pages 87-93, 1999; Ronfard, R., et al., Learning to Parse Pictures of People. Proc. ECCV, pages 700-714, 2002; Viola, P., et al., Detecting Pedestrians Using Patterns of Motion and Appearance. Proc. ICCV, pages 734-741, 2003; and Mori, G., et al., Recovering Human Body Configurations: Combining Segmentation and Recognition. Proc. CVPR, pages 326-333, 2004, which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Recently local descriptors based on histograms of gradient orientations have proven to be particularly successful for human detection tasks. The main idea is to use distributions of gradient orientations in order to be insensitive to color, brightness and contrast changes and, to some extent, local deformations. However, conventional models still generally fail to account for more macroscopic variations, due for example to changes in pose.
The problem of classifying human pose presents its own challenges. Humans are highly articulated objects with many degrees of freedom, which makes defining pose classes a difficult problem. Even with manual labeling, it is difficult to judge the distance between two poses or cluster them. Most conventional approaches to pose estimation are based on body part detectors, using either edge, shape, color and texture cues, or learned from training data. The optimal configuration of the part assembly is then computed using dynamic programming or by performing inference on a generative probabilistic model, using either Data Driven Markov Chain Monte Carlo, Belief Propagation or its non-Gaussian extensions as described by Sigal, L., et al., Attractive People: Assembling Loose-Limbed Models Using Non-Parametric Belief Propagation, NIPS, pages 1539-1546, 2003 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The approaches above focus on only one of the two problems, either detection or pose estimation. In human detection, since a simple yes/no answer is often desired, there is little or no advantage to introducing a complex model with latent variables associated to physical quantities. In pose estimation, on the other hand, the goal is to infer these quantities and therefore a full generative model is a natural approach. Thus, human detection and pose estimation conventionally require computing two entirely different models and solving the problems in a completely independent manner. Further, using conventional techniques, the pose estimation problem cannot even be approached unless there is prior knowledge the image contains a human. If solutions to both the problems of human detection and pose estimation are needed, conventional techniques are inefficient and require significant computational cost.
What is needed is a method for efficiently performing human detection and pose classification from a single derived probabilistic model.


A method for operating a medical imaging apparatus includes acquiring a first image data set of a region of interest of the patient; automatically evaluating the first image data set using at least one evaluation algorithm yielding evaluation information, regarding at least one type of findings, describing a presence of at least one finding of the type requiring the acquisition of a second image data set and at least one imaging parameter for the second image data set; automatically notifying a user, upon the evaluation information indicating the presence of a required second image data set, of the required acquisition of the second image data set; and acquiring the second image data set acquiring the second image data set after confirmation of acquisition of the second image data set by the user, in a same examination process, using the at least one imaging parameter of the evaluation information.

In medical imaging, it is known to use a medical imaging apparatus employing at least one imaging modality to obtain image data sets of regions of interest of a patient. These image data sets are usually analysed by a radiologist, in particular some time after the image data set has been acquired. The analysis of the image data set may, for example, take place at a dedicated diagnostic work station. Later, findings or, if possible, even diagnosis, can be discussed with the patient.
However, many findings in image data sets acquired in examination processes of a patient cannot be fully interpreted on their own, in particular regarding chance findings. To complete the diagnostic process, additional image data sets are required, for example, using additional imaging techniques or focusing on the location of the finding. In the state of the art, the patient has to be invited for another examination process, wherein the medical imaging apparatus is manually configured to provide the additional image data required for the interpretation.
In an example, if the abdomen of an adult is imaged using computer tomography, in up to 5% of the image data sets a potential lesion of the adrenal gland is found. As such CT image data sets are usually analysed after the examination process of the patient has already been completed, a second image data set allowing for the diagnosis of the finding, for example regarding adenoma, metastasis and/or malign primary tumours, requires an additional examination process, such that a follow-up visit of the patient needs to be arranged. During this follow-up examination, for example, a so-called late washout scan requiring the administration of contrast agent may be performed.

Method for operating a medical imaging apparatus, medical imaging apparatus, computer program and electronically readable storage medium


A fuel system includes a fuel injector, and a fueling control unit electrically connected to a solenoid actuator in the fuel injector. The fueling control unit is structured to energize and deenergize the solenoid actuator to lift and return an armature coupled with an injection control valve. The fueling control unit also reenergizes the solenoid actuator with an armature retarding current while the armature is in flight to stabilize closing of the injection control valve. The armature retarding current can be used to electronically trim the fuel injector to limit an error in a quantity of injected fuel.

Fuel systems employed in internal combustion engines, and notably compression-ignition engines, are typically complex apparatuses. Fuel system components can be subjected to harsh service conditions including high pressures, rapid pressure changes, and repeated impacts of valve elements and related parts over time. Fuel injectors are employed to inject pressurized fuel at pressures which can be in excess of 200 Megapascals (MPa), and can actuate a number of times ranging into the billions over the course of a typical service life. Engineers have discovered that reliable operation and optimized performance of a fuel system can be critical to achieving goals such as power density, emissions mitigation, and efficiency.
In view of the above goals, systems for monitoring, controlling, and electronically trimming fuel system components such as fuel injectors with great precision have been developed and are widespread throughout the world. It has also been observed that controlling fuel injector operation, for example, through the use of varied pulse width of fuel delivery command signals can be used to operate a fuel injector at different engine conditions as well as compensate for individual injector variation and changes to injector behavior over time. U.S. Pat. No. RE37807E1 to Shinogle is directed to a strategy for electronic trimming. The strategy set forth by Shinogle et al. apparently minimizes or eliminates performance variation of an apparatus such as a fuel injector by deriving trim signals from observed performance parameter values taken at a plurality of operating conditions. While electronic trimming strategies such as that proposed by Shinogle et al., and still others, can assist in optimizing performance, there remains ample room for improvement and development of alternative strategies. For instance, there are some scenarios where conventional electronic trimming and other control strategies are insufficient to account for certain mechanical and hydraulic phenomena that can be observed, at least at times, that cause errors in a quantity of injected fuel.

Fuel system and fuel injector control strategy for stabilized injection control valve closing


A method for identifying occurrence of shadowing phenomenon is to be implemented using a wireless communications system that includes signal transmitting and receiving devices. The signal-receiving device periodically executes a synchronization process to evaluate quality of wireless communications conducted through a signal transmission path between the signal transmitting and receiving devices. A set of signal-state estimated values that includes phase and power parameters is generated during each synchronization process. The method includes: collecting the phase parameters for a number of the synchronization processes; generating a set of Poincaré coordinate data from the collected phase parameters; analyzing distribution of the set of Poincaré coordinate data on a Poincaré map; and determining that the signal transmission path is experiencing a shadowing phenomenon in case of a non-elliptical distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and system for wireless communications, more particularly to a method and system for real-time identification of occurrence of shadowing phenomenon during wireless communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, due to the conveniences of mobility and less restrictions on communications locations offered by wireless communications, people have become accustomed to using wireless communications to communicate with others. For example, people own at least one mobile phone. In addition, wireless network cards have become a basic component of new consumer electronic products.
When a wireless signal transmission path is blocked due to interference by an obstacle (such as a building) there will be a substantial loss in signal power. This phenomenon is known as fading, which is considered to be a very important phenomenon in the field of wireless communications. There are two main types of fading, i.e., fast fading and long-time fading. Long-time fading is also known as shadowing. Many schemes, such as error control coding and re-transmission, have been proposed heretofore to mitigate the effects of fast fading. In some voice channel applications, the effects of fast fading are actually ignored because they usually do not affect communications content among humans. However, shadowing cannot be ignored because it may last for a considerable amount of time and may result in abrupt failure in communications.
In order to ensure the quality of wireless communications, a signal-receiving device of user end equipment (such as a mobile phone) or system service end equipment (such as a base station) will periodically execute a synchronization process to generate a set of channel-transmission-state estimated values that includes power and phase parameters, such as those defined in Section 5.1 of ETSI TS 125 211 V6.4.0 (March, 2005), for correcting the effects of wireless signal transmission paths on transmitted signals. At present, since actual changes in phase parameters during real world communications are complex and difficult to analyze, majority of current communications system service end equipments refer solely to the power parameters as basis for evaluating quality of wireless communications and for determining whether handoff between base stations should be conducted. For instance, mobile phones will periodically transmit Keep_Alive signals to base stations, and base stations respond to the Keep_Alive signals by sending ACKnowledge signals to mobile phones. However, when the signal transmission path between a base station and a mobile phone is blocked, the shadowing phenomenon occurs, and the mobile phone that was unable to receive the ACKnowledge signal will automatically increase the transmission power for the Keep_alive signal to a maximum and adjust the frequency of transmissions of the Keep_Alive signal to a maximum, thereby resulting in large consumption of power resources of the mobile phone. In the case that the signal transmission path experiences complete shadowing phenomenon, such as when the mobile phone is inside an elevator, the above tasks performed by the mobile phone result in wasteful power consumption, and do not lead to an improvement in communications quality.

Method and system for identifying occurrence of shadowing phenomenon during wireless communications


A system for mapping a signal distribution network containing a central communication unit and preferably, a plurality of communication nodes installed at known locations, a method related thereto. The central communication unit and the plurality of communication nodes are capable of requesting and sending mapping information over known frequencies to map signal distribution networks at the known locations.

In the cable television (TV) and satellite TV industry, there is a need for the mapping of signal distribution networks. When a bundle of cables is presented, oftentimes it is quite difficult to determine the endpoint of each discrete cable, not only because of the number of cables, but because of the various locations that each discrete cable might be located. Furthermore, sometimes various components that are found in between point one and point two (termination point) of the respective cable may present a block to otherwise identifying the existence of the cable at a certain location. Many other industries also have similar needs. Mapping is defined as the ability to identify wiring or cable that is associated with the cable signal being sent to each room or destination, in a residential home, for example.
Existing mapping equipment utilizes voltage for mapping. However, such products are very limited in their mapping capabilities because many cable TV and satellite TV components block voltage or have other voltage blocking situations. Such existing products are not efficient for mapping/detecting through splitters, amplifiers, attenuators, water logged cables, severed cables and other most active and passive (dark) devices.
Many existing products or systems, for mapping signal distribution networks, have a complex and/or bulky design. Such products do not work efficiently over lengthy cable lines. Furthermore, cable television companies may use alternating current voltage to power amplifiers on large distribution systems that deliver cable television (CATV) signals to homes and businesses. While there are typically circuits in the distribution system and/or equipment designed to block the widespread distribution of AC voltage across the signal distribution lines, it is possible that some of the AC voltage may "leak" into the distribution cable system. From a safety standpoint, and from a television and cable distribution performance standpoint, the mitigation of the occurrence of alternating current (AC) voltage being transmitted across cable distribution lines is desired. It would therefore be an improvement in the art to also be able to detect for the presence of AC voltage "leaks" on the cable distribution line while also mapping the various cable distribution lines.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a system and method (collectively a "system") for mapping a signal distribution network in a simple, user-friendly, reliable, wider versatile usage, cost-efficient and time-efficient manner. Also, there exists a need for such a system to function despite voltage-blocking system components and other voltage blocking situations. Oftentimes, in current mapping strategies, it has been found that certain components found in residential cable systems, such as splitters, amplifiers, diplexers, and other passive/active components may inherently block voltages that are typically transmitted from existing mapping equipment, thereby skewing the mapping results from the existing equipment.

System and method for mapping of a signal distribution network


The present invention is an array of high-frequency loudspeakers with three or more closely coupled bodies. Linear widths of said bodies of loudspeakers along a linear array axis are 5 centimeters or less and adjacent loudspeakers are separated by 5 centimeters or less.

An array of high-frequency loudspeakers operating in a specific orientation among a structure of sound reflecting surfaces is very complex. Enclosed rooms for listening to music or a performance present a more or less predictable reflective environment, depending on size, shape, volume, and materials of reflective surfaces. Sound reaching a listener consists of both direct sound and reflected sound delayed by the time it takes for reflected sound to reach a listener. In addition, arrays of loudspeakers are subject to similar conflicts, in that cancellation and addition can occur at certain frequencies, changing the timbre and character of the sound. Comb filtering from closely arranged loudspeakers is a significant problem. These detectable audio effects can seriously affect a listener's appreciation of the sound being reproduced by the loudspeakers. A listener's ears are very sensitive to these small variations. So a loudspeaker system can sound very different at different listening positions or in different rooms.
Operating a loudspeaker system outdoors significantly reduces the problem of reflected sound cancellation and addition. However, specific problems arise in outdoor venues as well.
A significant factor in the operation of a loudspeaker system is the amount of diffusion present in the environment. Clearly, operating a loudspeaker system outdoors can suffer from diffusion and sound deficient at higher frequencies.
Loudspeaker arrays are essential to operation of an effective performance in an outdoor venue. As such, a primary concern is not only providing sufficient numbers of loudspeakers in a central location but also assembling each array so that comb filtering does not significantly affect a listener's appreciation of the sound.
Linear and tightly-arranged arrays are widely used in large-scale venues and arenas. However, the audio output of prior art arrays of high-frequency loudspeakers have been found to be subject to effects comb filtering which is easily heard by listeners. It is well known in the art that for a linear array of loudspeakers to operation at, for instance, a 16 KHz frequency channel without comb filtering, the calculated center to center distances between each loudspeaker may not be greater than 1.1 centimeter so that the sound pressure level can be reduced. It is clearly impossible to construct such an array for loudspeakers effective in large or outdoor venues. Currently, linear arrays of high-frequency loudspeakers are formed with a different shaped horns to provide wave front rectification. The linear arrangement angle of each loudspeaker with respect to its adjacent loudspeaker is modified from a parallel orientation of the loudspeaker axes to greater than 0.75 degrees. The change in orientation is done to produce phase isolation to produce high frequencies without noticeable comb filtering. The problems produced by such changes are that for an angular orientation greater than 5 degrees, a gap between adjacent speakers is created.


A method for thermal treatment of human waste has the steps of feeding a predetermined small quantity of human waste into an indirectly heated flash chamber, instantaneously evaporating the human waste with a large capacity of heat in the flash chamber, and decomposing the human waste into a small gaseous water vapor and a residue of human waste.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for and an apparatus of thermal treatment of human waste, and more particularly to a method for and an apparatus of thermal treatment of human waste which is compact and efficient and which can be used for vehicle toilets, movable toilets, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, there have been known a water treatment method and a thermal treatment method, as an ordinary method for treating human waste, which uses a heating power. The thermal treatment, when compared with the water treatment, has such advantages as that only a small quantity of ash is produced and no exhaust water is produced and thus sanitary. Therefore, many self-governing communities adopted this method. With this thermal treatment method, the self-governing communities can easily get an amicable consent from local inhabitants for establishing such human waste treating facilities.
However, the conventional thermal treatment method of human waste has such an disadvantage as that a large quantity of fuel is consumed. Therefore, some enterprises, that employed the conventional thermal treatment method, were obliged to cease operation for a while because of an economical reason. In order to overcome these inconveniences, many attempts have been made for improving the thermal efficiency of such system in various fields. As one reason for lowering the thermal efficiency in the conventional method, it has been pointed out that human waste contain some elements for producing an offensive smell gas other than water, besides its structural problem that thermal losses caused by heat dissipation are not sufficiently utilized. In other words, there are two reasons for the conventional thermal treatment apparatus of human waste consuming a large quantity of fuel. One reason is that a moisture contained in the human waste is required to be evaporated, and the other reason is that an evaporated vapor containing elements for an offensive smell is required to be combusted again in order to remove the offensive smell. The ratio of the heat consumption by the above two reasons is found to be about 20% of an intaken heat through a trial calculation.
The quantity of heat consumption in an average thermal treatment apparatus will be shown hereunder.
The quantity of heat for incinerating 1 kg of human waste is as follows.
In the case of a heavy oil: It requires 3005 kcal and 0.307 kg is consumed during combustion for a period of five minutes.
In the case of an electric power: It requires 2652 kcal and 3.7 kw is consumed during combustion for a period 20 minutes.
Let us hereby review a temperature distribution and a heat balance in a rotary kiln system as an ordinary method for treating human waste. Given that an average specific heat at constant pressure of a mixed gas including an exhaust gas and a water vapor generated by means of combustion of a heavy oil at a temperature of 500.degree. C..about.800.degree. C. is 0.274, the quantity of exhaust gas generated by means of combustion of a heavy oil is 14 Nm.sup.3 /kg, the heating value of a heavy oil is 9800 cal per unit weight, and the thermal efficiency is 36.4%, as the heat intaken by means of an evaporating burner is 3005 kcal/H.sub.2 O.kg, the quantity of a thermal gas of the heavy oil becomes as follows. EQU (3005.div.9800).times.14=4.3 Nm.sup.3 /H.sub.2 O.kg
Given that the latent heat is 539, the temperature, the quantity of heat and the capacity of the mixed gas within the rotary kiln become as follows.
Capacity: 1.244+4.3=5.54 Nm.sup.3 /kg PA0 Quantity of heat: (3005.times.0.364)-539=555 kcal/5.6Nm.sub.3 PA0 Temperature: 555.div.(5.5.times.0.274)=368.degree. C.
Also, the quantity of heat for raising temperature and the capacity of gas which are required for removing the offensive smell is as follows.
Since 5.5.times.(800-368).times.0.274=651 Kcal/5.5Nm.sup.3
Quantity of heavy oil: 651.div.9800=0.066 kg PA1 Quantity of heavy oil gas: 0.066.times.14=0.924 Nm.sup.3
From the foregoing, given that the thermal efficiency is 36.4%, it requires the following quantity of heat in order to incinerating 1 kg of human waste. EQU (619+651).div.0.364=3489 kcal
In this way, a gas, which is generated when human waste are evaporated by means of direct heating, is a sum of a combustion gas and an evaporation gas. Therefore, as the capacity of an offensive smell gas, the smell of which is required to be removed by means of oxidation, is increased, the quantity of heat consumed for increasing the temperature of the whole offensive smell gas is increased and thus, an economic burden is increased. In addition, there are the following problems.
1. As it is difficult to form a high combustion temperature zone of 800.degree. C., a non-oxidized gas is flowed out.
2. It is unavoidable to enlarge facilities in order to cope with the increased capacity of the offensive smell gas.
3. A large power is required in order to circulate the offensive smell gas including a combustion gas and an evaporation gas within the apparatus until the gas is discharged into atmosphere.
4. As it is difficult to completely seal the rotating portions of the seal type apparatus because of durability or structure, a leakage of gas is easy to occur.

Method for and apparatus of thermal treatment of human waste


A leakage response system for an appliance includes a leakage sensor which is operative to change an electrical parameter upon contact by a conductive liquid, a controller circuit electrically coupled with the strip for generating an activation signal in response to contact of the strip by a conductive liquid and a response device coupled with the controller circuit and activated by the signal. The sensor includes a mat which is constructed of top and bottom outer layers of electrically conductive fabric separated by a central nonconductive fabric layer; and a pair of fusing layers fusing the top and bottom layers to the central nonconductive layer. The sensor may also include a pair of conductive pins for installation into a surface for detecting moisture hidden within the surface. The response device may include an audible alarm and/or a valve for shutting off the water flow in the appliance water supply line. The response device may also include a radio link for activating a remote alarm and shut off valve. An alternate sensor mat includes a pair of apertured foil conductive layers separated by a nonconductive layer, and a pair of fusing layers fusing the foil conductive layers to top and bottom nonconductive absorbent layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with a system for monitoring and responding to moisture leakage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many of the appliances and fixtures in modern homes and commercial buildings are equipped with water supply lines. Because these lines occasionally develop leaks, water damage to floor coverings sub-floors and ceilings are becoming increasingly common. In particular, refrigerators, icemakers, dishwashers, washing machines, as well as sinks and toilets are subject to such leakage. Since water supply lines are usually placed behind and underneath appliances and fixtures for cosmetic purposes, any leakage from the lines or their couplings adjacent the water inlet, appliance valve or mechanism may not be discovered until an appliance is moved or the leak becomes sufficiently large to be visible from in front of the appliance or fixture. By the time such leakage becomes known, the water may well have caused damage to the floor covering, sub-floor, or a ceiling below.
Certain floor coverings such as, for example, wood surfaces are particularly vulnerable to water damage. Even a small leak under a refrigerator, such as a continuous intermittent drip, can cause damage to a wood flooring material or covering. Repair of damage to such surfaces typically involves replacing the damaged area followed by sanding and refinishing of the entire floor surface so that the finish on the new wood may be blended to conform to the finish on the remainder of the floor. Thus, leakage of even a relatively small quantity of moisture which goes undiscovered for a period of time can cause damage to a susceptible surface which eventually necessitates costly repairs. Certain appliances, such as refrigerator ice-making units, are particularly likely to leak and cause such damage at some time during the course of their usage because refrigerators are often moved periodically for cleaning of the floor surface beneath them.
Other types of floor coverings are also susceptible to moisture damage. For example, water which seeps underneath vinyl or tile floor coverings can cause damage which is not immediately detectable. Such seeped moisture may be wicked along beneath the floor covering for a substantial distance from the affected appliance. In addition, moisture which penetrates beneath any surface covering may cause damage to a wooden sub-floor and supporting joists as well as to adjacent to ceiling surfaces below.
While previous moisture leak detection systems are well-suited for detecting a continuous substantial leak, they are not capable of detecting slow or intermittent leakage of a very small quantity of moisture, such as one or two drops to a concealed space such as the floor surface beneath an appliance. Previous systems also require permanent placement of sensors beneath flooring surfaces, which is both expensive and inflexible. Such systems provide relatively small sensing areas, leaving other areas in the vicinity unprotected.
Consequently, there is a need for a small, relatively inexpensive device that can be placed under or behind appliances and fixtures to provide a relatively large moisture sensing area as soon as a leak begins and alert the homeowner, thus allowing the leak to be fixed before any water damage has occurred to the floor covering. This device would allow the homeowner to fix a leak while it was still small and thereby avoid the possibility of the leak suddenly getting much larger and causing extensive damage, as, for example, by flooding a room.
The present invention provides a leakage response system for an appliance including a sensor strip or mat which can be installed unobtrusively in areas prone to moisture leakage for prompt detection of minute quantities of moisture and a controller unit for actuation of a remote alarm and/or a water supply line shut-off valve before damage can occur to a floor covering.
In more detail, the system includes a leakage sensor strip which is operative to change an electrical parameter upon contact by a conductive liquid, a controller circuit electrically coupled with the strip for generating an activation signal in response to contact of the strip by a conductive liquid and a response device coupled with the controller circuit and activated by the signal. The sensor strip is constructed of top and bottom outer layers of electrically conductive fabric separated by a central nonconductive fabric layer; and a pair of fusing layers fusing the top and bottom layers to the central nonconductive layer. The response device may include an audible alarm and/or a valve for shutting off the water flow in the appliance water supply line. The response device may also include a radio transmitter for activating a remote alarm and shut off valve.