One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that enhances reliability, availability and serviceability in a computer system by replacing a signal from a failed sensor with an estimated signal derived from correlations with other instrumentation signals in the computer system. During operation, the system determines whether a sensor has failed in the computer system while the computer system is operating. If so, the system uses an estimated signal for the failed sensor in place of the actual signal from the failed sensor during subsequent operation of the computer system, wherein the estimated signal is derived from correlations with other instrumentation signals in the computer system. This allows the computer system to continue operating without the failed sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for enhancing availability and reliability within computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for replacing a signal from a failed sensor in a computer system with an estimated signal derived from correlations with other instrumentation signals in the computer system.
2. Related Art
As electronic commerce grows increasingly more prevalent, businesses are increasingly relying on enterprise computing systems to process ever-larger volumes of electronic transactions. A failure in one of these enterprise computing systems can be disastrous, potentially resulting in millions of dollars of lost business. More importantly, a failure can seriously undermine consumer confidence in a business, making customers less likely to purchase goods and services from the business. Hence, it is critically important to ensure high availability in such enterprise computing systems.
To achieve high availability in enterprise computing systems it is necessary to be able to capture unambiguous diagnostic information that can quickly pinpoint the source of defects in hardware or software. Some high-end servers, which cost over a million dollars each, contain hundreds of physical sensors that measure temperatures, voltages and currents throughout the system. These sensors protect the system by detecting when a parameter is out of bounds and, if necessary, shutting down a component, a system board, a domain, or the entire system. This is typically accomplished by applying threshold limits to signals received from the physical sensors. In this way, if a temperature, a current or a voltage strays outside of an allowable range, an alarm can be activated and protective measures can be taken.
Unfortunately, sensors occasionally fail in high-end servers. In fact, it is often the case that the physical sensors have a shorter mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) than the assets they are supposed to protect. Degrading sensors can cause domains or entire systems to shut down unnecessarily, which adversely affects system availability, as well as the customer quality index (CQI) and the customer loyalty index (CLI). An even worse scenario is when a sensor fails "stupid," a term used to describe failure modes in which a sensor gets stuck at or near its mean value reading, but is no longer responding to the physical variable it is supposed to measure. No threshold limit test can detect this type of failure mode. Furthermore, if there is a thermal event, or other system upset, the dead sensor provides no protection and significant damage may occur to an expensive asset, followed by a serious system outage.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that handles a failed sensor in a computer system without unnecessarily shutting down the computer system, and without exposing the computer system to the risk of damage.

Replacing a signal from a failed sensor in a computer system with an estimated signal derived from correlations with other signals


A system for transporting a plurality of digital signals (i.e. “n” digital signals) over an optical fiber includes a plurality of modems for modulating each digital signal on a respective analog signal. Each resulting RF signal is processed by a corresponding up-convertor, which includes a mixer and local oscillator, to produce a frequency band which can be a double sideband or single sideband of the modulated signal. The resulting frequency bands output by the up-convertors are non-overlapping and are spaced apart within a single sub-octave. An RF combiner combines the frequency bands and the combined RF signal is converted into an optical signal by an optical transmitter that outputs to an optical fiber. An optical receiver converts the optical signal from the fiber to an RF signal that is directed to an RF splitter. Signal fractions from the splitter are filtered, down-converted and demodulated to recover the initial digital signals.

With regard to a communications system, a point-to-point connection is a connection in which information is transported between two nodes or endpoints. Modernly, there is a need to transport digitally encoded information such as video, voice and data signals over relatively long distances using a point to point connection. In this regard, optical fibers can be used to transport signals over relatively long distances with relatively low signal distortion or attenuation, as compared with copper wire or co-axial cables.
One way to transport digital information across an optical fiber is to encode the digital signal on an analog signal (e.g. RF signal) using a modem. Next, the RF signal can be converted into a light beam signal using an optical transmitter such as a laser diode, and then introduced into an end of an optical fiber. In this process, more than one light signal can be transmitted at one time. Typically, to accommodate the transport of a large volume of information, a relatively large bandwidth RF signal, having a multi-octave bandwidth, is converted and transmitted over the optical fiber. For these multi-octave optical transmissions, composite second order distortions caused by fiber dispersion can cause significant signal degradation at optical transport distances of about 1 km, or more.
One solution to the limitations associated with composite second order distortions is to use an RF signal having a sub-octave bandwidth. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/980,008 for an invention titled "Passive Optical Network with Sub-Octave Transmission," which is owned by the same assignee as the present invention, and which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses that the unwanted second order distortions in a transmitted optical signal can be significantly reduced in a passive optical network when the radio frequency carriers are selected from a sub-octave bandwidth. Further, with a frequency up-conversion for the transmission of signals in a sub-octave band, frequency interferences in multi-wavelength optical transmissions can be avoided.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for optically transporting a plurality of digital signals over a single optical fiber over distances greater than about 1 km. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for reducing the adverse effects of composite second order distortions during transport of a plurality of digital signals over a point to point communications connection. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for using frequency conversions for sub-octave transmission of signals over a fiber optic that are easy to use, relatively easy to manufacture, and comparatively cost effective.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System using frequency conversions for sub-octave transmission of signals over a fiber optic


An optical switch structure and a method for fabricating the optical switch structure provide at least two ring waveguides located and formed supported over a substrate. At least one of the at least two ring waveguides includes at least one PIN diode integral with the ring waveguide as a tuning component for an optical switch device that derives from the optical switch structure. The PIN diode includes different doped silicon slab regions internal to and external to the ring waveguide, and an intrinsic region there between that includes the ring waveguide. The method uses two photolithographic process steps, and also preferably a silicon-on-insulator substrate, to provide the ring waveguides formed of a monocrystalline silicon semiconductor material.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to optical switches. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to enhanced performance optical switches and methods associated therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical switches are integral components for on-chip optical networks. Generally, optical switches are essential for high performance optical interconnects in multi-core microprocessor systems, where large bandwidth densities, low energy consumption and small footprint components are desirable. More particularly, within optical networks a broadband optical switch desirably provides at least: (1) a low distortion of a high bandwidth signal; and (2) a robustness of an optical signal from an on chip temperature change.
Hitless tuning of an optical switch, i.e., switching data at one wavelength of the optical switch without affecting the other data wavelengths in an interconnect that utilizes the optical switch, is also an important criterion for on-chip optical networks employing multiple wavelengths. Particular characteristics of hitless tuning are defined in FIG. 1, where in an OFF position of an optical switch a specific data transmission wavelength from a group of data transmission wavelengths is separated to a drop port, while in an ON position of the optical switch the specific data transmission wavelength from the group of data transmission wavelengths remains with the group of data transmission wavelengths.
Desirable within broadband optical networks are optical switch structures and methods for fabrication of those optical switch structures that provide for efficient hitless tuning of optical switch devices that derive from optical operation of the optical switch structures.

Pin diode tuned multiple ring waveguide resonant optical cavity switch and method


A self-aligning type of detachable rigid connection device having at least one main body endowed with a seat and at least one supported element endowed with a shank to be received into the seat of the main body. An actuator is provided for elastically deforming the shank and bringing at least two external surfaces of the same into close contact with the inside surface of the seat.

The present invention relates to a rigid rapid-connection device of the detachable and self-aligning type and, in particular, a device comprising at least one main body endowed with a seat and at least one supported element endowed with a shank fit to be received into the seat of the main body.
Similar connection devices are known for instance for use in modular tooling assemblies destined for the machine-tools such as modular tool-carrier systems.
Independently of whether the tool is of the rotating or fixed type, the essential requirements of all these systems are precision in mounting the tool, repeatability of positioning the tool when the tool is again positioned on the machine after having been taken off the same, as well as stability of the axial and radial locking. Such modular tooling systems must also guarantee high rapidity in mounting and dismounting the tool.
An example of a similar device is described in the European Patent nr. EP-0548878 which relates to a device for connecting two cylindrical components in a precise way, the first of which, for instance a tool or an adapter, has an expandable transverse stem associated with it. The component to which the expandable stem is associated is inserted into a seat of a second component, for instance a basic holder, with the stem in retracted condition, until the same stem is brought into correspondence with at least one through hole to allow the stem to be extended. Once this position is reached, the stem is expanded to lock conical surface portions of the heads of the stem into corresponding recesses, also conical, in the second component.
One of the disadvantages of a similar system consists in necessarily requiring that each tool and each adapter be equipped with the expanding stem. Noting that the locking of the tool or adapter is effected by engaging the heads of the stem in corresponding recesses of the basic holder, all these elements necessarily require extremely accurate machining to assure precise positioning of the tool. Consequently, providing each tool and each adapter with an expanding stem is extremely expensive.
Another example, always related to the modular tooling systems, is described in European Patent nr. EP-0547049 which relates to a device for connecting two sections of a tool having a common axis. In this case, the shank of a tool or an adapter is endowed with a pin that has one extremity with a conical projection and the other extremity with a conical cavity. The basic holder into whose seat the shank is inserted is instead endowed with screws that have extremities respectively complementary to those of the pin. The locking of the screws causes the deformation of the seat of the basic holder.
This particular locking characteristic could result in not being very precise and could give rise to errors of positioning and to possible unbalancing of the system, a not inconsiderable drawback above all for the tools that rotate at high speed. This system offers a limited contact surface between shank and seat thus in fact limiting the maximum transmissible torque. Furthermore, the deformation of the seal of the basic holder can, over time, jeopordise the operation of the same basic holder.
In any case, these devices of known type are not in any way equipped with means to ensure the necessary safety of manipulation of the interconnected members and of the locking devices, in particular for the tools that, once the locking member has been loosened, could become detached from the basic holder and fall provoking damage or injury, above all in the case in which the tools are suspended and oriented with their extremity facing downward.
The object of the present invention is to propose a detachable connection device of the self-aligning type that ensures high precision of mutual positioning of the two elements interconnected without requiring particularly precise machining of the components and of the locking means.
Another object of the present invention is to propose a connection device of the detachable type that ensures high strength locking between two mutually connected elements.
A further object of the present invention is to propose a self-aligning connection device that is particularly rapid to operate both during the phase of connection of the two elements and during the phase of separation of the same.
Yet another object of the present invention is to propose a self-aligning connection device that offers high safety of manipulation of the mutually connected elements and of the locking devices.
According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by a rigid detachable connection device of a self-aligning type, comprising at least one main body endowed with a seat and at least one supported element endowed with a shank fit to be received into the seat of the main body, characterised by comprising means for elastically deforming the shank and for bringing at least two external surfaces of the same into close contact with the inside surface of the seat.
The uniform and symmetrical deformation of the shank of the supported element inside the seat of the main body guarantees above all high strength locking, maintaining simultaneously high precision of positioning without necessarily requiring machining within particularly narrow tolerances.
The shank and its respective seat are preferably cylindrical in shape and the means for elastically deforming the shank comprise in particular at least one actuator member which extends and contracts in length along a direction transverse to the axis of the shank and seat. The shank comprises in particular at least two opposed portions separated by a pair of transverse through holes with axes parallel to the direction of extension and of contraction of the actuator member and by a pair of corresponding slits connecting the respective holes to form an open slot which allows the passage between them of the actuator member during the insertion of the shank into the seat of the main body while the actuator member is in a first pre-set position. The two portions of the shank guarantee a large surface of contact with the inside surface of the seat in the main body.
The actuator member is arranged in the main body with the possibility of rotation about an axis parallel to the extension/contraction direction of the same actuator member. This allows the costs of production of the device to be notably reduced compared to those of the known technique since, unlike those already known, there is only one actuator member associated with the main body and not with the supported element.
The shank preferably comprises an internal cavity open toward the free extremity and equipped with conical inside surface portions with axis coincident to those of the pair of through holes present in the shank and with vertices oriented toward the outside of the shank.
According to one possible embodiment, the two separate parts of the actuator member comprise in their turn spherical external surface portions fit to bear against the conical surface portions present in the cavity of the shank. In this way, it is obtained a particularly optimal spatial distribution of the forces acting on the shank to deform elastically.
According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the two separate parts of the actuator member comprise external conical surface portions fit to bear against the conical surface portions present in the cavity of the shank.
According to a possible embodiment, there are means provided to allow the controlled rotation of the actuator member around its own axis, without extension or contraction, between a first pre-set position, in which the supported element can be inserted into, or removed from, the main body, and at least one second pre-set position in which the shank of the supported element remains locked in the seat and the actuator member can be operated in extension or in contraction.
This advantageously confers particular safety of manipulation of the supported element. In fact, during the disassembly, after having loosened the actuator member, it is necessary to intentionally move the actuator member from the second pre-set position up to the first pre-set position, the only one in which the supported element can be effectively removed from the main body.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, means are provided to allow the controlled rotation of the actuator member around its own axis, without extension or contraction, between the first pre-set position, in which the supported element can be inserted into, or removed from, the main body, at least one second pre-set position in which the shank of the supported element remains locked in the seat and the actuator member con be operated in extension or in contraction, as well as at least one third pre-set position, located between the first and the second pre-set positions, in which the supported element is attached without being locked to the main body without the possibility of extraction from the same.
In this case, the safety of manipulation of the device is further guaranteed since, after loosening the actuator member, further rotation of the actuator member brings it without any effort into a third pre-set position, in which it is not possible, however, to detach the supported element from the main body. To achieve this, it is necessary to apply a further deliberate rotation for a few degrees for the purpose of bringing the actuator member from the third pre-set position up to the first pre-set position, in which the supported element can be removed. Thus, the accidental detachment of the supported element from the main body is prevented.
A further advantageous characteristic of the present invention is given by the fact that the holes of the pair of holes and the corresponding slits of the pair of slits that separate the opposed portions of the shank have different dimensions with respect to each other. Likewise, the two parts of the actuator member comprise substantially cylindrical inserting portions, each having its diameter substantially corresponding to each of the holes and of the slits. This allows the supported element to be always positioned with the same pre-set orientation, thus favouring the repeatability of positioning.
According to another particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, the supported element comprises a projecting circumferential flange having a spherical surface portion fit to bear against a corresponding spherical surface portion that surrounds the seat of the main body.
The axis of the internal conical surface portions set in the inside cavity of the shank and the axis of rotation of the actuator member when the actuator member is in the first pre-set position, are parallel and reciprocally spaced. Therefore, while the necessary axial force of the shank is exercised in the seat acting on the actuator member, the spherical support surfaces provided on the flange and around the seat of the main body allow precise axial alignment of the supported element with respect to the main body and they also simultaneously provide a particularly wide support surface that prevents the entry of dirt and deposits between the mutually connected parts.
Means are also preferably provided to hold in position a locking device engaged in the driving head of the threaded screw arranged in the actuator member when the actuator member is in the first pre-set position, said means allowing the release of the locking device when the actuator member is in the second pre-set position and in full extension condition. This makes manipulation of the device according to the invention even safer, preventing the accidental separation of the locking device during the operations of connecting or removing the supported element.

Self-aligning connection device of detachable type


A door for a household microwave appliance includes a perforated electrically conductive lattice configured to cover a viewing opening of the door and having a plurality of microholes arranged in a regular pattern. The microholes have a rectangular basic shape with rounded corners.

The invention relates to a door for a household microwave appliance, having at least one perforated, electrically conductive lattice, in particular metal lattice, which covers a viewing opening of the door and has a plurality of microholes arranged in a regular pattern. The invention also relates to a household microwave appliance with such a door. The invention is particularly advantageously able to be applied to standalone household microwave appliances and ovens with microwave functionality.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,855 A, DE 32 31 516 A1 and EP 0 042 616 B1 disclose a door for a microwave appliance, which has a standalone perforated metal lattice, which covers a viewing opening of the door and has a plurality of round holes arranged in a regular pattern.
WO 2016/179317 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,343 A or EP 2 020 827 B1 disclose a shielding for a viewing opening of a door of a microwave appliance in the form of a metallic mesh.
DE 39 23 734 C1, DE 103 072 17 A1 disclose glass windows for doors of microwave appliances, which are coated with a thin-film shielding e.g. made of aluminum, copper, tin, tin oxide, carbon nanotubes etc.
DE 102 014 23 A1 discloses shielding in the form of an electrically conductive coating in the viewing area, wherein the coating is embodied in a strip-shaped or diamond-shaped manner.
Shield lattices for airplane windows made of metal-coated polyester fibers are known from US 2014/0319276 A1.
EP 0 503 899 B1 discloses a microwave shielding for a viewing opening of a door of a microwave appliance in the form of a layered lattice. The thickness of the lattice amounts to approx. 0.2 micrometers.
Metal lattices mostly used in household microwave appliances have round holes arranged in a triangular pattern, which have a diameter of approx. 1.5 mm and are arranged with a pitch of approx. 2.5 mm.

Door for a household microwave appliance


The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for horizontal well completions, including dual monobore completions, without certain well intervention operations. More specifically, the embodiments described herein generally eliminate certain well intervention operations, such as cleaning of cementing-related equipment and accessories (e.g., plugs, balls, and so forth), performing logging operations, running and cementing intermediate casings, and so forth. In certain embodiments, a production casing may be run into a wellbore and cemented into place within the wellbore directly adjacent a surface casing of the well. In certain embodiments, the production casing comprises first and second tubular sections longitudinally separated by an intermediate tapered section.

The present disclosure generally relates to well completions and, more particularly, to systems and methods for horizontal well completions, including dual monobore completions, without certain well intervention operations, such as cleanout operations.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an admission of any kind.
A wellbore drilled into a geological formation may be targeted to produce oil and/or gas from certain zones of a geological formation. In particular, in order to selectively produce and treat certain zones of a geological formation, certain wells may be directionally drilled (e.g., as opposed to being strictly vertically drilled) such that the various zones may be reached by the wellbore. Indeed, certain wells are horizontally drilled, which is a subset of directionally drilled wells where the departure of the wellbore from vertical exceeds approximately 80 degrees, for example. Because a horizontal well typically penetrates a greater length of the geological formation, it can offer significant production improvement over a strictly vertical well. To prevent different zones from interacting with one another via the wellbore, and to prevent fluids from undesired zones from entering the wellbore, the wellbore may be completed by placing a cylindrical casing into the wellbore and cementing the casing in place. However, in the interest of increasing efficiency of horizontal well completions, there is a need to simplify the well completion operations.

Systems and methods for horizontal well completions


An automatic machining scheduling method based on an expert system is provided, which can optimize and facilitate the assignment of processes in a large-scale production system to individual machine tools, based on expert experience accumulated as a database, thereby enabling effective operation of the production system. When requested quantities for respective machine models to be produced are input (S1), the machining time of each jig involved in a respective machine model and the usage form of each jig are read from the related files, and the former is multiplied by the latter, to obtain the total machining time for each of the machine tools (S2, S3). A day or week production matrix is created based on the ratio of the calculated time of each of the machine tools to the operating time thereof per day (S4-S7). It is determined whether a machining schedule including a pattern identical to the machining pattern of the matrix is registered (S10, S11). If the machining schedule is registered in the file, the registered schedule is used (S12-S15).

The present invention relates to an automatic machining scheduling method which enables an effective operation or practical usage of a large-scale production system for manufacturing various models of machines.
In producing various component parts for machine products, a machining schedule is conventionally planned humanly so as to be optimized. It is, however, the expense of much labor and time to create an optimum machining schedule humanly each time when required, in order to effectively operate a large-scale production system for manufacturing various models of machines in large quantities.
There has conventionally been proposed an automatic scheduling method for creating a machining schedule without requiring manpower. However, this proposed method is applicable only to a case where the number of machine tools used for machining component parts is as small as three or less and the number of component parts to be produced is also small. Moreover, the method is based on a formula which is too logical and mathematical. Thus, it is difficult to use the method for operation of a large-scale production system.

Automatic machining scheduling method based on an expert system


An electrical connector system is provided for a vehicle seat assembly which includes a seat frame movably mounted to a floor of a vehicle for movement between a raised position and a lowered position. The system includes a first connector mounted to the vehicle floor. A second connector is mounted to the seat frame and is mateable with the first connector. The second connector includes a protective shroud fixed to the seat frame and a mating portion movably mounted in the protective shroud. A motion linkage is connected between the mating portion of the second connector and the vehicle seat assembly for moving the mating portion from a protective position within the protective shroud to an exposed position for mating with the first connector, automatically in response to movement of the seat frame from its raised position to its lowered position.

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector system for a vehicle seat assembly which is movable into and out of a vehicle.
With the current popularity of sports utility vehicles in the automotive industry, removable vehicle seats have become quite common. A vehicle seat assembly typically includes some form of seat frame which is movably mounted to a floor of the vehicle and is movable into and out of the vehicle between raised and lowered positions. These seats often include electrically powered components such as power adjustment mechanisms, seat heaters or the like. Consequently, electrical connectors must be interengaged or mated when the scat is mounted in the vehicle. In addition, connectors are used as sensors for detecting the locking of safety belts, the actuation of air bags or the like. Again, mating electrical connectors are used for these and other purposes.
One of the principal problems with electrical connector systems for vehicle seat assemblies as described above, is protecting the mateable electrical connectors when the connectors are not mated. In other words, the connectors typically are exposed while the seat is being installed in the vehicle and when it is removed therefrom. The exposed connectors can be struck by extraneous objects and damaged. It is also desirable for these connectors to be mated and unmated automatically when the seat is installed or removed from the vehicle.
In addition, the seat assembly must absorb tolerances during interconnection due to the seat mass, itself, and the loading forces it generates. Misalignment of the connectors during mating can cause excessive wear and premature system failure. The present invention is directed to solving these various problems.
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector system for a vehicle seat assembly, such as an assembly which includes a seat frame movably mounted to a floor of a vehicle for movement between a raised position to a lowered or installed position.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrical connector system includes a first connector mounted to the floor of the vehicle. A second connector is mounted to the seat frame and is mateable with the first connector when the frame is in its lowered or installed position. The second connector includes a protective shroud fixed to the seat frame.
A mating portion of the connector is movably mounted on the protective shroud for movement between a protective position within the shroud and an exposed position at least partially outside the shroud for mating with the first electrical connector. A motion linkage is provided between the mating portion of the second electrical connector and the vehicle seat assembly for moving the mating portion from its protective position to its exposed position automatically in response to movement of the seat frame from its raised position to its lowered position.
According to one aspect of the invention, the seat frame is mounted for pivotal movement between the raised and lowered positions. The mating portion of the second electrical connector is mounted for substantially linear movement on the protective shroud. The motion linkage includes a link structure for converting pivotal movement of the seat frame to substantially linear movement of the mating portion. In the exemplary embodiment herein, the vehicle seat assembly includes a fixed mounting bracket to which the seat frame is pivotally mounted. The link structure includes a first link arm having one end pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and a second link arm having one end pivotally connected to the mating portion of the second electrical connector. Opposite ends of the first and second link arms are mutually pivotally connected.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first connector on the floor of the vehicle includes a cover normally positioned over at least a mating face of the connector. The cover is engageable by the second connector to move the cover away from the mating face during mating of the connectors. The mating portion of the second electrical connector includes an angled surface for engaging and moving the cover which is pivotally mounted on the first connector. Spring means are provided operatively associated with the cover for biasing the cover toward the first position.
Other features of the invention include the protective shroud of the second connector including an elongated interior cavity within which the mating portion of the second connector is substantially linearly movable. Guide pins on the mating portion extend into elongated guide slots disposed in the protective shroud to guide the mating portion in its substantially linear movement relative to the shroud. Spring means are provided to bias the mating portion toward its exposed position.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Electrical connector system for a vehicle seat assembly


A thermosensitive recording material comprising a support; an insulating layer that includes a porous polymeric pigment; and an image-forming layer.

Thermosensitive recording materials generally include an image forming layer situated on a substrate. The image forming layer includes a thermoresponsive dye, which upon heating changes color to produce a visible image or marking on the thermosensitive recording material. An image or a marking may be formed on a thermosensitive recording material using a printer with a thermal head, a thermal pen, laser light, or in some instances, friction across the material will generate enough heat to produce a mark or an image.
Some thermosensitive recording materials include an insulating layer, which may employ voided particles to provide insulating properties to the thermosensitive recording material. Insulating layers may provide a thermosensitive recording paper with improved print density and clearer printed images. Voided particles typically have a single void entirely encapsulated by a polymer shell.
Multi-voided particles have also been employed in the art for use in insulating layers. U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0123425 discloses a thermosensitive recording material with a first layer that includes multi-voided particles. Suitable multi-voided particles are described as being prepared from a core-shell emulsion polymerization process in which the core polymer contains a copolymerized ester functional group-monomer, such as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate, which may be hydrolyzed to form multiple voids within the particle when dried.
Presently there is a need in the art to prepare thermosensitive recording materials with improved insulating properties.


An equalizing suspension arrangement for tandem steering axles. An extended shackle is provided for supporting the forward end of the rear spring (that is the spring supporting the rear steering axle), and this extended shackle is connected at one end to the rear end of a rocker beam which connects the front spring and rear spring. A radius arm pivoted on the frame of the truck is connected to the opposite end of the extended shackle. As a result of this construction the movement of the rocker beam and of the radius arm are coordinated so that the point of connection of the front end of the rear spring to the extended shackle moves along a substantially vertical path, and there is substantially no horizontal movement of the front support of the rear spring. Hence, there is substantially no horizontal movement of the rear steering axle and the toe-in and toe-out condition of the rear steering axle remains substantially the same as that of the front steering tandem axles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to heavy commercial vehicles employing tandem steering axles, and more specifically to an equalizing suspension arrangement with coordinated geometry control over the movement of the No. 2 steering axle in relation to the No. 1 steering axle.
2. Prior Art
Because of limitations on the maximum weight allowed per axle, it is sometimes necessary in the case of heavy commercial vehicles to provide two steering axles in a tandem arrangement. This gives rise to a problem of coordinating the movement of the two steering axles so that the toe-in or toe-out of the two axles during turning movement and suspension oscillation are substantially the same throughout the turning range.
The front end of the front spring (spring of the forward, i.e., No. 1, steering axle) is attached to the frame of the vehicle at a fixed pivot. As the spring oscillates about this pivot during normal suspension movement, the front axle attached thereto moves in an arc having a radius approximately equal to the front cantilevered length of the spring, that is, the distance from the fixed pivot to the center line of the forward steering axle. Fitted to the outer end of this steering axle is a steering lever. This lever is connected to the steering gear mechanism by a pitman arm and a drag link. A ball joint is provided at each connection point. The drag link pivot points are ideally located so as to minimize the effects of toe-in/toe-out on the axle steering knuckles during normal suspension movement. That is, the scribed arc of the drag link equals the scribed arc of the front cantilevered length of the spring. The pitman arm/drag link pivot connection point is located in the vicinity of the fixed pivot end of the front spring and the drag link/steering lever pivot point is located at the axle roll center. However, due to space limitations and other criteria, the pitman arm/drag link pivot point is sometimes not located at the ideal point in relation to the scribed arc of the front cantilevered length of the spring. As a result, when the suspension oscillates, the axle beam and the drag link/steering lever pivot connection point scribe arcs about two different centers rather than a common center, causing the axle steering knuckles to toe-in or toe-out. This condition causes a change in direction of the vehicle, which must be corrected by moving the steering wheel in the opposite direction.
In a conventional prior art arrangement the shackles at the rear of the front spring and the front of the rear spring are connected to opposite ends of a rocker beam. With this arrangement the rear spring is free to swing between shackles at each end thereof. To maintain the rear steering axle in position under this condition torque rods have been utilized. Since the torque rods are longer than the front cantilevered length of the springs, the suspension articulation is uneven. This in turn causes a change in caster angle of the rear (No. 2) steering axle relative to the forward (No. 1) steering axle, with the result that the toe-in or toe-out condition of the rear steering axle is constantly changing relative to that of the front steering axle. As a result of this ineffective coordination of the movement of the two steering axles, directional control of the vehicle is impaired and there is a very adverse effect on tire wear.
Another prior art arrangement for attempting to equalize the movement is to attach the front end of the rear spring directly to the equalizing rocker beam eye. This has the effect of pulling the rear steering axle forward as the rocker beam articulates. This also changes the toe-in and toe-out condition caused by drag links of the rear steering axle relative to that of the front steering axle, usually in an opposite direction. When this occurs, directional control of the vehicle is impaired and also tire wear rate is adversely affected.
In accordance with the present invention, a suspension system is provided which overcomes the above limitations of the prior art structures and provides precise control over the location of the front end of the rear spring throughout the whole range of rocker beam articulation. By the arrangement of the present invention the caster angle of the rear steering axle remains substantially the same as that of the front steering axle under all conditions and horizontal movement of the rear steering axle is rendered negligible. Further, when there is a change in the toe-in or toe-out condition caused by drag links of the rear steering axle this change is in the same direction as that of the front steering axle and, therefore, vehicle directional control is precise under all conditions. Further, the tire wear rate is significantly reduced.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to coordinate movement of tandem steering axles.
It is another object of this invention to geometrically control the arc of movement of the rear (No. 2) steering axle in relation to the forward (No. 1) steering axle and to coordinate the toe-in/toe-out effect in the same direction for both axles, thereby maintaining directional control.
It is another object of this invention to control the movement of the front end of the rear spring, that is the spring associated with the rear (No. 2) steering axle, so as to limit this movement to an essentially vertical path.
It is a further object of this invention to maintain precise directional control of the two steering axles throughout the entire range of rocker beam articulation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide coordination of the two steering axles so as to reduce tire wear.

Equalizing suspension arrangement for tandem steering axles with coordinated geometry control of no. 2 steering axle


An operating mechanism for a medical device comprises a photo-interrupter that can designate specified functional operations, an air-tight unit that can accommodate this photo-interrupter air-tightly, a moving member which is disposed inside the air-tight unit, and which moves between a position in which the photo-interrupter designates an operation and a position in which the photo-interrupter does not designate an operation, a coil spring which directly or indirectly biases the moving member to the position in which no operation is designated, an operating member which is disposed on the outside of the air-tight unit, and which can be operated by an operator, and a pair of magnets which transmit a magnetic force that moves the moving member into the position in which an operation is designated against the elastic force of the coil spring in accordance with the operation of the operating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating mechanism for a medical device which is used to perform functional operations by a switching operation, and which is suitable for use in medical devices that are sterilized in an autoclave.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, autoclave sterilization using high-temperature high-pressure steam has become popular as a method for sterilizing medical devices such as endoscopes and the like.
Generally, remote switches used for functional operations such as endoscopic image brightness adjustment, endoscopic image freeze designation, focus adjustment of the endoscope or the like are installed in electronic endoscopes that allow observation or treatment inside body cavities by the insertion of a long slender insertion part into such body cavities, and endoscopic imaging devices that are detachably attached to the ocular part of the endoscope and that capture endoscopic images.
An endoscope in which an optical lens inside an air-tight unit that is not permeated by steam even in the case of autoclave sterilization is moved by the operation of a remote switch located outside this air-tight unit so that the focal point is adjusted is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-139819 as one example of an autoclave-sterilizable endoscope that has such a remote switch.


A releasalable sinker for attachment to a fishing line having a lure or bait attached thereto. The releasable sinker has a sinker body and a disengageable attachment member disengageably attached to the sinker body. The disengageable attachment member is attached to the fishing line. The sinker body has first and second angled engagement channels for disengageably receiving springable legs of the attachment member. As the sinker body becomes snagged, the springable legs of the attachment member pull free from the engagement channels so that the disengageable attachment member will disengage from the sinker body without the fishing line breaking. Thus, the lure or bait can be retrieved, even though the sinker body has been lost.

The present invention relates to sinkers used on fishing lines.
Traditionally, fishing line sinkers have been attached to fishing lines either by crimping so-called "shot" sinkers around the fishing line, or by tying the fishing line to a wire loop which is firmly and permanently attached to the sinker.
With such previous sinkers for fishing lines, if the sinker is dragged along the bottom, it frequently occurs that the sinker becomes wedged between rocks, or snagged on tree limbs or other obstructions. If the fisherman is unable to free the sinker, the fisherman must either cut the fishing line or the fishing line breaks during the fisherman's efforts to free the sinker from the object to which it is snagged or caught on. This frequently results in the loss of the fishing lure or bait which trail the point where the sinker was tied onto the fishing line.


The semiconductor wafer of the power module is mounted directly, separated only by thermal expansion control layers and insulator layers, on the metal base which has fins or pins integrally formed thereon. This module is mounted on a coolant fluid flow chamber so that the module mounting is not a thermal interface. In this way, maximum power module cooling is achieved with minimum fluid flow.

Semiconductor electronic devices have internal losses which generate heat in use. When the electronic device is configured for a substantial amount of power, cooling is necessary in order to limit the semiconductor device to a sufficiently low temperature to provide a reasonable life. Power modules containing this type of semiconductor component are traditionally attached to a cold plate. The cold plate may have fins thereon with circulation of fluid therepast. The fluid is usually liquid when greater amounts of heat must be dissipated. As long as there is sufficient power to provide more flow of liquid, such a cooling system is satisfactory.
A commonly used current method for cooling high-density hybrid power modules is by clamping them onto a typical internally finned flow-through cold plate. Characteristics of the thermal interface between the module and the cold plate are dependent on numerous variables such as surface finish and roughness, bolt torque, pressure uniformity, interface material conductivity and consistency, and the type of interface material such as gasket, grease or foil. In addition, thermal expansions and contractions, vibration, shock and handling will often vary the initial parameters and cause performance degradation. Typical finned flowthrough cold plates are constructed of aluminum material for manufacturing reasons. The mismatch in thermal expansion rates between the aluminum cold plate and the module base plate creates additional degradation at the thermal interface.
The dissipated power density of present-day power hybrid modules has reached a nominal 500 watts per square inch at the semiconductor chip. Current package power modules are clamped or bolted with the module base plate against the cold plate. The cold plate may have internal passages for fluid flow and internal fins for increased cold plate-liquid coolant interface area. This structure requires the cold plate of minimum thermal resistance and an interface between the power module base plate and the cold plate also of minimum thermal resistance. Achieving flatness is difficult, and tight bolting causes distortion. Thus, there is need for an improved structure by which the semiconductor devices can be cooled with a minimum amount of coolant power.

Integral extended surface cooling of power modules


A multi-core system and a method for processing data in parallel in the multi-core system are provided. In the multi-core system, partitioning and allocating of data may be dynamically controlled based on local memory information. Thus, it is possible to increase an availability of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a local memory, and is possible to improve a performance of data parallel processing.

1. Field
One or more example embodiments of the following description relate to a multi-core system, and a method for processing data in parallel in the multi-core system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional single-core system using a single processor has been replaced with a multi-core system using multiple processors, due to limitations in improvements of clock and power problems in the single-core system.
Additionally, such a change due to limitations in hardware inevitably leads to a change in software. Since conventional software is written based on only a single core, it is impossible to expect an improvement in performance when the conventional software is operated in multiple cores. This is because the single-core system is completely different in structure from the multi-core system. Accordingly, to solve the problem, researches have been continuously conducted on an Operating System (OS) for multi-core, a parallel programming model enabling parallel processing, a dynamic execution environment, and the like.

Multi-core system and method for processing data in parallel in multi-core system


There are provided on one substrate of a pair of substrates which sandwich liquid crystal: thin-film transistor elements arranged in a matrix shape in correspondence with pixels; a wiring portion of the thin-film transistor elements; a pixel electrode; and a color filter layer formed between the pixel electrode and an inorganic insulating layer for covering the wiring portion of the thin-film transistor elements, and the color filter layer includes at least a lower light-transmission flatted layer and a primary-color-type colored pattern, and is provided with an opening through which a connection portion of the wiring portion of the thin-film transistor element and the pixel electrode is penetrated. With employment of this structure, the thin-film transistor and the color filter can be formed on the same substrate, and a deterioration in the spectral characteristic of the color filter can be suppressed.

The present invention is related to a liquid crystal display technique, and more specifically, to an active-matrix-type color liquid crystal display technique using switching elements such as thin-film transistors (will be abbreviated as xe2x80x9cTFTxe2x80x9d hereinafter) and color filters in pixel units.
Recently, as a flat panel display, a color liquid crystal display apparatus has been attracted. In particular, since an active-matrix-type color liquid crystal display apparatus (TFT-LCD) has the superior image qualities, it is widely used as a display for a personal computer.
Normally, in such a color liquid crystal display apparatus, a TFT substrate in which TFT elements are formed on a one-side inner surface of a pair of substrates, and a color filter substrate in which color filter patterns are formed on the other inner surface are overlapped with each other, and then liquid crystal is filled between the substrates to constitute a liquid crystal display apparatus.
Currently, in such a liquid crystal display apparatus, it is required to improve the image quality, so that higher precision thereof is required. In general, when the pixel size is decreased, high precision can be realized in a substrate having the same screen size. However, since the wiring width and the dimension of a thin-film transistor cannot be reduced in proportional to the pixel size, the aperture ratio within a single pixel is lowered.
Furthermore, in view of the recent productivity, such a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display apparatus is employed in which a large-sized glass substrate is used, the substrates are overlapped with each other in a batch mode, and multi-plane cutting is carried out. In this method, since the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are overlapped with each other, overlap margin would be reduced when the substrate size is increased and the pixels on the TFT side and the pixels on the color filter side are decreased. As a result, the aperture ratio and the productivity would be lowered.
To avoid this difficulty, as JP-A-10-39292 for example, it is proposed such a structure that the filter is formed on the substrate provided with the color TFT elements. In the description of the patent application, the protection film is formed on the switching element, the signal lines and the scanning lines in order to prevent ions or elements (e.g., copper ions and zinc ions), which are contained in pigment, dye, ink, or the like employed to form the color filter, from entering into the switching element portions formed on the array substrate. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the malfunction and the erroneous operations of the switching elements. The protection film is formed using the organic material or the inorganic material.
However, in the above-described so-called xe2x80x9cactive-matrix-type liquid crystal display elementxe2x80x9d, there are the following problems. That is, in case that the above-described protection film is formed using organic material such as an epoxy resin or an acrylic resin, an alkali water solution developing fluid is generally employed while the color filter is formed. The protection film made of the organic material cannot shield water components. Depending upon sorts of wiring layers, the wiring layers are corroded by alkali components and water components, and the switching elements are damaged and/or operated under error state by the invaded alkali components.
On the other hand, in case that the protection film is formed by inorganic material, the flatness thereof is deteriorated, so that the difference in level of the element structures thereunder cannot be eliminated. As a result, the thickness of the color filter pattern formed thereon is fluctuated, which may deteriorate the spectral characteristic of the color filter.
A problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a technique by which the spectral characteristic of the color filter is not deteriorated even when the protection film is formed by inorganic material.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-explained problem, to improve the conventional technique, and to provide a color liquid crystal display technique in high precision and in high image quality by increasing the aperture ratio of a pixel to improve brightness.
In order to achieve the above-explained object, in the present invention:
(1) A color liquid crystal panel is constructed by forming on one substrate of a pair of substrates which sandwich liquid crystal, switching elements arranged in a matrix shape in correspondence with pixels; a wiring portion of the switching elements; a pixel electrode connected to the wiring portion; and a color filter layer formed between the pixel electrode and an inorganic insulating layer for covering the wiring portion of the switching elements, including a lower light-transmission flatted layer and a primary-color-type colored pattern, and provided with an opening through which a connection portion of the wiring portion of the switching elements and the pixel electrode is penetrated, and by forming a common electrode commonly used for plural pixels on the other substrate.
(2) A color liquid crystal panel is constructed by forming on one substrate of a pair of substrates which sandwich liquid crystal, switching elements arranged in a matrix shape in correspondence with pixels and made of thin-film transistor elements; a wiring portion of the switching elements; a pixel electrode connected to the wiring portion; and a color filter layer formed between-the pixel electrode and an inorganic insulating layer for covering the wiring portion of the switching elements, including a lower light-transmission flatted layer, a primary-color-type colored pattern and an upper light-transmission protection layer, and provided with an opening through which a connection portion of the wiring portion of the switching elements and the pixel electrode is penetrated, and by forming a common electrode commonly used for plural pixels on the other substrate.
(3) A color liquid crystal display apparatus is arranged by forming on one substrate of a pair of substrates which sandwich liquid crystal, switching elements arranged in a matrix shape in correspondence with pixels; a wiring portion of the switching elements; a pixel electrode connected to the wiring portion; and a color filter layer formed between the pixel electrode and an inorganic insulating layer for covering the wiring portion of the switching elements, including a lower light-transmission flatted layer and a primary-color-type colored pattern, and provided with an opening through which a connection portion of the wiring portion of the switching elements and the pixel electrode is penetrated, and by forming a common electrode commonly used for plural pixels on the other substrate, wherein the pixel electrode is driven by the switching elements in response to an image signal; and the liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to form an image.
(4) A color liquid crystal display apparatus is arranged by forming on one substrate of a pair of substrates which sandwich liquid crystal, switching elements arranged in a matrix shape in correspondence with pixels and made of thin-film transistor elements; a wiring portion of the switching elements; a pixel electrode connected to the wiring portion; and a color filter layer formed between the pixel electrode and an inorganic insulating layer for covering the wiring portion of the switching elements, including a lower light-transmission flatted layer, a primary-color-type colored pattern and an upper light-transmission protection layer, and provided with an opening through which a connection portion of the wiring portion of the switching elements and the pixel electrode is penetrated; and by forming a common electrode commonly used for plural pixels on the other substrate, wherein the pixel electrode is driven by the switching elements in response to an image signal; and the liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to form an image.
(5) In the above-described (3) or (4), the color filter layer is constructed so that the lower light-transmission flatted layer, the primary-color-type colored pattern and the upper light-transmission protection layer are made of photosensitive resin.
(6) In the above-described (3) or (4), the color filter layer is constructed so that the lower light-transmission flatted layer and the upper light-transmission protection layer are made of thermosetting resin.
(7) In the above-described (3), (4) or (5), the color filter layer is constructed so that the lower light-transmission flatted layer is a polyimide film in which a polyimide precursor whose molecular terminal is end-capped is imidized by heat-curing.
(8) In any one of the above-described (3) to (7), an external electrode terminal provided every wiring is covered with the inorganic insulating layer, is covered with at least one of the lower light-transmission flatted layer and the upper light-transmission protection layer, and is provided on a substrate which has an opening for exposing the external electrode terminal portion.
(9) A color liquid crystal display apparatus is arranged by forming on one substrate of a pair of substrates which sandwich liquid crystal, switching elements arranged in a matrix shape in correspondence with pixels; a pixel electrode connected to a wiring portion of the switching elements; a common electrode arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode and substantially along a plane direction, and commonly used to plural pixels; a color filter layer formed among the common electrode, the pixel electrode and an inorganic insulating layer for covering the wiring portion of the switching elements, and including a lower light-transmission flatted layer and a primary-color-type colored pattern, wherein the pixel electrode is driven by the switching elements in response to an image signal; and the liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to form an image.

Color liquid crystal panel and color liquid crystal display apparatus


First to fifth birefringences are generated in series along a light propagating medium. The first to fifth birefringences have main axes of 0.degree., 45.degree., 0.degree., 45.degree. and 0.degree. relative to an arbitrary direction orthogonal to a light propagating direction of the medium. The magnitude of the birefringences are changed to change first to fifth phase differences. In an ordinary polarization control, the second to fourth phase differences are changed. However, one or both of the first and fifth phase differences are changed in a resetting operation for one of the second to fourth phase differences. Consequently, the phase differences are reset without the dependency on polarizations of an input light supplied to a polarization controller and an output light supplied from the polarization controller.

In an optical heterodyne communication system, an optical sensor such as an optical fiber gyro, and the like, a polarization controller which transforms a light having an arbitrary polarization to a light having a constant polarization, or to a light having another arbitrary polarization is necessary to be provided. In an optical heterodyne receiving system using a single mode optical fiber, especially, it is considered that a fluctuation of a polarization such as a rotation of a polarized light angle to the same direction, which is caused in the transmitting of a signal light through the single mode optical fiber, is produced. Therefore, the signal light is required to be transformed to a light having an arbitrary polarization. In this point, an endless polarization controller having no limitation in a polarization controlling operation is required to be developed, to suppress such a fluctuation of a polarization.
A conventional endless polarization controller, in which an arbitrary polarization is transformed to another arbitrary polarization, is described on pages 290 to 292 of "Electronics Letters, 12th March 1987 Vol. 23, No. 6." by N. G. Walker, et al. This conventional endless polarization controller comprises four optical phase modulators which are in series connected to generate birefringences having alternately different directions by 45.degree., wherein the optical phase modulators operate in limited ranges to control a polarization of light. In operation, where one of the four optical phase modulators reaches a limitation of an operating voltage, it is then reset as the polarization control is continued by the other optical phase modulators. At this reset operation, two optical phase modulators which are next to the reset optical phase modulator on one side thereof are varied in voltage to compensate the fluctuation of an output light polarization due to the voltage resetting. This compensation is possible to be carried out in only a case where a radius of a circular arc defined on the Poincare sphere in accordance with the variation of a polarization by the reset optical phase modulator is smaller than that of a circular arc defined on the Poincare sphere in accordance with the variation of a polarization by the optical phase modulator which is farther than the other in the aforementioned next two modulators from the reset optical phase modulator.
It is possible to adjust a largeness and smallness relation between the two circular arcs by changing driving voltages of two optical phase modulators which are positioned on the both sides of the reset optical phase modulator. However, the conventional polarization controller has a disadvantage in that the aforementioned adjustment can not be carried out dependent on polarization states of input and output lights. That is, an optical phase modulator is difficult to be reset without the dependency on polarization states of input and output lights.
Furthermore, even if the resetting operation starts in an allowable condition, there is a possibility in which the condition is no longer met during the resetting period due to the fluctuation of polarizations of the input and output lights. In this case, the resetting operation is required to be interrupted, and, if the resetting operation is continued, an output light of a predetermined polarization is not obtained to result in a power penalty, so that a stable resetting operation is not carried out.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for controlling a polarization of light in which a resetting of a voltage is stably carried out without the dependency on polarizations of input and output lights.
According to this invention, a method for controlling a polarization of light, comprises steps of:
generating first to fifth birefringences for a propagating light in series having main axes of 0.degree., 45.degree., 0.degree., 45.degree. and 0.degree. relative to an arbitrary direction on a surface orthogonal to a propagating direction of said light;
changing magnitude of said first to fifth birefringences to generate first to fifth phase differences .phi..sub.1, .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3, .phi..sub.4 and .phi..sub.5 corresponding thereto between each of polarizations corresponding to said main axes and each of polarizations orthogonal to said main axes; and
controlling said second to fourth phase differences .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3 and .phi..sub.4 among said first to fifth phase differences .phi..sub.1, .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3, .phi..sub.4 and .phi..sub.5 to be appropriate values, thereby transforming said propagating light having an arbitrary polarization at an input terminal to said propagating light having another arbitrary polarization at an output terminal;
wherein, in a case where one of said second to fourth phase differences .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3 and .phi..sub.4 reaches an operating limitation, one or both of said first and fifth phase differences .phi..sub.1 and .phi..sub.5 are controlled to be appropriate values along with remaining two phase differences among said second to fourth phase differences .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3 and .phi..sub.4, and said one of said second to fourth phase difference .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3 and .phi..sub.4 is then restored to be inside an operating range by an arbitrary value, so that said controlling of said second to fourth phase differences .phi..sub.2, .phi..sub.3 and .phi..sub.4 restarts to provide said propagating light having said another arbitrary polarization at said output terminal.

Method for controlling a polarization of light


A system includes a scanner body, a sensor package, a magnet, an actuator mechanism, and a retention mechanism. The sensor package includes a ferromagnetic strip and a flexible coil configured to at least one of transmit and detect a guided wave. The magnet is for applying a biasing magnetic field to the ferromagnetic strip. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide a mechanical pressure coupling between the magnetostrictive strip and a structure, and the retention mechanism is configured to counteract a force applied by the actuator mechanism. A processor is in communication with the sensor package and is configured to record guided wave signals detected by the flexible sensor coil, record scanner body location data provided by a position encoder, and generate two-dimensional image data of an anomaly in the structure based on the guided wave signals and location data. Methods of use and operation also are disclosed.

Ultrasonic guided wave techniques are utilized in a wide range of non-destructive inspection applications including those for pipes, plates, and shells comprised of metals, composites, and other materials. Guided waves are elastic waves propagating in a bounded structure that is utilized as a waveguide to transmit efficiently one or more wave modes along the structure. One of the foremost benefits of guided waves over other non-destructive inspection techniques is the ability of said waves to propagate over long distances, in many cases, hundreds of feet, and to inspect inaccessible or hidden structures from a single probe position.

Dry-coupled magnetostrictive guided wave scanning system and method


A navigational deployment and initialization system, including: at least one personal inertial navigation module associated with at least one user and comprising a plurality of sensors and at least one controller configured to generate navigation data derived at least in part upon output of the plurality of sensors and at least one navigation routine; at least one deployment recognition device configured to directly or indirectly receive at least one of the following: user data, time data, event data, navigation data, or any combination thereof; and at least one central controller in direct or indirect communication with the at least one deployment recognition device and configured to receive at least a portion of at least one of the following: the user data, the time data, the event data, the navigation data, or any combination thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to navigation systems and processes, and in particular to navigational deployment and initialization systems and methods, for use in connection with navigation-required environments and systems, including an inertial navigation-based system with multiple users navigating in a specified area or location.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inertial navigation systems are used and applied in various situations and environments that require accurate navigation functionality without the necessary use of external references during the navigational process. For example, inertial navigation systems and methods are used in many indoor environments (wherein a Global Navigation Satellite System, e.g., the Global Positioning System (GPS), is unusable or ineffective), such as in connection with the navigational activities of an emergency responder in a structure, building, or at a particular scene or location. However, in order to be effective, inertial navigation systems must initialize with estimate data, which may include data pertaining to the sensor position, velocity, orientation, biases, noise parameters, and other navigation-related data. In particular, for applications without external position or common azimuth references, a system must exist to correlate a personal inertial navigation module relative position output or series of relative position outputs (e.g., track) and relative azimuth with some reference (e.g., another user or track, structure, external reference, etc.).
Further, such as in pedestrian navigation applications, where each personal inertial navigation module is attached to a user (e.g., the boot of a firefighter), a system should relate the relative position of multiple users in the same frame of reference. For example, this relationship provides knowledge for one user to locate another user in the absence of external knowledge or aids. This further permits a command user to track multiple users navigating in the same environment. Following initialization and/or turn-on, inertial navigation systems require ongoing analysis and correction to mitigate drift, bias, noise, and other external factors that affect the accuracy of these sensors and systems.
Orientation determination is a requirement for most navigation systems. In certain existing systems, an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) is implemented using gyroscopes that are updated with gravity sensors (pitch and roll) and magnetic field sensors (yaw), all having excellent long-term bias stability, i.e., minimal or no drift. However, the effective use of an AHRS in connection with low-cost inertial sensors requires computationally efficient and robust algorithms to initialize and account for sensor noise and bias drift. Accordingly, one important goal in inertial navigation-based navigation systems is the minimization or elimination of the bias drift, whether through improvement of the physical hardware or improvement of the algorithms and routines used during the navigational process.
Position is a requirement of most navigation systems. In certain existing systems, sensors may provide information relating to position, thereby allowing an algorithm to compute or derive position. In other systems, the sensor suite may not provide sufficient information to effectively derive position, and therefore may require an initial position estimate for which the system propagates thereafter. A user, device, marker, or other external source may provide such a position estimate. Of particular importance in first responder applications, e.g., emergency situation location and navigation, where the sensor suite may not provide sufficient information to effectively derive position, is the establishment of a single initial position estimate, whereby the navigation routines or algorithms initialize and place all users in a common frame of reference without any onerous procedural or physical requirements by the user. It is also recognized that location systems that provide or generate a graphical user path (such as at a central controller, e.g., an incident commander's computing device), require accurate track shape and relative track positioning between navigating users to improve situational awareness and accurate location management.
One known initialization and deployment approach uses one or more mats to establish a common coordinate system and heading between all firefighters. For example, such a system is at least partially described in U.S. Publication No. 2011/009821, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In such a single-mat approach, the mat may contain an array of markers that indicate the firefighter's horizontal sensor position relative to the mat's origin. As the firefighter walks across the mat, the boot-mounted inertial navigation module recognizes these inputs and aligns the module (and, thus, the user) coordinate system to match the coordinate system of the mat. A two-mat approach may also be used, where the relative position and orientation between each mat is arbitrary. In this arrangement, it is assumed that each mat represents one point, where the common coordinate system has the origin at the first mat and the x-axis extending from the first mat to the second mat. This provides a common heading or azimuth for each user.
It is recognized that certain situations or environments may not be amenable to a single- or two-mat-based solution. For example, following the deployment of the mats, these mats must remain stationary throughout the entire incident, such that all users initialize relative to the same reference, i.e., are positioned in a common navigation frame of reference. A small rotation or movement of a mat could result in significant horizontal error between those users initialized before and after this movement. In addition, the location or position of the mat must be consistent or its use for positioning the users in the common frame of reference will be altered or lost. Still further, these mats require precise location measurements for accurate azimuth alignment. The structure of the marker or mat may lead to issues based on mat size, mat weight, mat storage and transport, and deployment technique during the deployment process in an emergency situation. Effective deployment may require a substantially flat surface, where uneven ground will not allow the mat to lie flat, which may introduce other inaccuracies in the system. A convenient deployment location may not exist in the environment, and weather conditions may also affect or inhibit deployment.
As discussed above, it is important to understand the position of users relative to other users and/or other reference points or features navigating in or positioned at the location or scene. This allows for all users and various reference points or features to be placed in a common (e.g., global) frame of reference for accurate tracking. Accordingly, the processes for determining initial position and facilitating subsequent deployment of multiple users on or at the scene are critical for accurate tracking of the user in a common frame of reference. In addition, minimizing the user requirements to obtain and/or determine this initial position or location is beneficial.

Navigational deployment and initialization systems and methods


A signal waveform analysis method includes: determining a trend component of an object signal by applying a zero-phase filter to the object signal; determining an oscillatory component of the object signal by removing the trend component from the object signal; determining a wavelet scalogram by performing a wavelet analysis on the oscillatory component; and determining an oscillation period of the object signal with which the wavelet scalogram indicates a maximum. The signal waveform analysis method is employed to evaluate vehicle dynamic characteristics.

The present invention relates to a method for analyzing a signal waveform containing an oscillatory component and an aperiodic component, a computer program implementing the signal waveform analysis method, a method for analyzing vehicle dynamic characteristics with the signal waveform analysis method, and a computer program implementing the vehicle dynamic characteristic analysis method.
Conventionally, there is a method of analyzing the period of an oscillatory component of such a measured signal as indicative of an acceleration of a machine at acceleration or deceleration when the measured signal contains an oscillatory component and an aperiodic component (or henceforth referred to as "trend component"). One such analysis method includes removing the average or linear regression component of the whole measured signal from the measured signal and performing a Fourier analysis on the processed signal, while another such analysis method includes performing a wavelet analysis directly on the measured signal. FIG. 27 shows an example of signals containing an oscillatory component and a trend component, which is, for example, a vehicle acceleration at acceleration. Such a vehicle acceleration affects vehicle driveability. In order to evaluate such a vehicle acceleration, a signal waveform analysis is performed.
Such a method of analyzing vehicle driveability is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2579646 (henceforth referred to as JP2579646). The method disclosed in JP2579646 comprises: finding peaks of oscillation of a vehicle acceleration detected by acceleration detecting means; determining a change from the middle of the range of the oscillation before acceleration to the middle of the range of the oscillation after acceleration; determining the ratio of the amplitude of the oscillation at each peak after acceleration to the determined change of the meddle of the oscillation; and determining a variation of the determined ratio with respect to its regression line as an evaluation value for vehicle drivability.

Method for analyzing signal waveform and analyzing vehicle dynamic characteristic


A device adapted to provide evidence of tampering. The device comprises a sleeve and an insert that is positioned within the sleeve. The insert comprises a flap that is movable between a closed position and an open position. In particular, the flap is adapted to move from a closed position to an open position when the position of the sleeve relative to the insert is changed a predetermined amount to try to open the container. As a result, an open position of the flap would readily indicate tampering to a user. A system comprising a tray adapted to receive at least one said device is also provided.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a device that is designed to provide evidence of tampering.
Various types of containers require evidence of tampering. Evidence of tampering is particularly important with respect to ingestible or absorbable items (e.g., medicines, foods, etc.). Nevertheless, evidence of tampering may also be important for other reasons. For instance, evidence of tampering may also help to ensure delivery and receipt of an undamaged product.
One known type of evidence of tampering is a cover layer comprised of aluminum foil, plastic, fibrous material, and/or other material that is bonded to a rim of container. Even for a legitimate user, it can often be difficult to access the cover layer to try to peel it from the rim of the container. Once accessed, it may still require a significant amount of effort or force to adequately remove the cover layer in order to access the contents of the container.
Some other types of evidence of tampering may require an even greater amount of effort or force in order to open a container. Others may be more complex or costly to manufacture. Many suffer from a combination of the aforementioned or other drawbacks.
In light of the shortcomings of the known art, there is a need for a tamper-evident device that is relatively easy to access. There is a further need for a tamper-evident device that is easy to manipulate to legitimately access the contents of a container. Needs also exist for a tamper-evident device that is relatively simple to operate and/or less costly to manufacture. In light of the aforementioned needs, there is also a need for a device that provides clear evidence of tampering.
Exemplary embodiments of the claimed invention may satisfy any or all of the aforementioned needs. An exemplary device of the claimed invention is adapted to fit over an opening of a container. In an exemplary embodiment, the device comprises a sleeve and an insert that is positioned within the sleeve, wherein the insert comprises a flap that is movable between a closed position and an open position. In particular, the flap is adapted to move from a closed position to an open position when the position of the sleeve relative to the insert is changed a predetermined amount to try to open the container. As a result, an open position of the flap may readily indicate tampering to a user.
Another exemplary embodiment may comprise a system that comprises a tray adapted to be used in association with at least one of the aforementioned exemplary devices. In one exemplary embodiment, a tray may be used to organize and/or facilitate the transfer of at least one of the aforementioned exemplary devices, more preferably a plurality of the aforementioned exemplary devices. In one further example, a plurality of the trays may be adapted to be stacked or nested to facilitate the organization and/or transfer of an even greater number of the aforementioned exemplary devices.
Exemplary embodiments of a device and/or system may be useful anywhere and for any contents where there is a need for evidence of tampering. Such uses may include, but are not limited to, use in medical facilities (e.g., hospitals, clinics, doctor offices, etc.) or for personal use. Various possibilities exist. Unless otherwise expressly set forth, it is not intended to limit the contents (e.g., food, medicines, perishable items, etc.) or the location or type of use of exemplary embodiments of a device and/or system of the present invention.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other benefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.


A system using a radioisotope concentrator device comprising a body having at least one injection port and at least one valve being configurable between a first open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the at least one injection port and the concentrator column and a second open configuration to prevent fluid communication between the at least one injection port and the concentrator column in use, the system further comprising an injection device comprising an eluent for eluting through the concentrator column via the at least one injection port when the at least one valve of the radioisotope concentrator device is in a selected open configuration in use.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to radioisotope purification and concentration, and in particular to a radioisotope concentrator device for use with a radioisotope source, a system, and a process for capturing at least one radioisotope from a radioisotope solution obtained from a radioisotope source.
The disclosure has been developed primarily for use in conjunction with a radioisotope source provided in the form of a radioisotope generator configured for generating the radioisotope solution or a vial containing the radioisotope solution source and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to this particular field of use.
Description of the Related Art
Technetium-99m (99mTc) is a metastable isotope of technetium. This means it has at least two modes of decay with two different half-lives. The decay mode with the shorter half-life is approximately 6 hours and decays via gamma ray emission (with an energy of 140 keV) to its ground state which in turn decays via pure beta emission with a half-life of 2.13×105 years to stable Ruthenium-99 (Ru-99). This long-lived ground state of 99Tc is considered practically stable with respect to Nuclear Medicine. 99m
Tc is produced from the radioactive decay of its parent radioisotope Molbdenum-99 (99Mo) which has a half-life of approximately 66 hours. 99mTc is used in approximately 85% of diagnostic imaging procedures in nuclear medicine worldwide. Currently, global demand for 99Mo is met primarily by production through fission of Uranium-235 irradiated in a nuclear reactor or through a "neutron capture" nuclear reaction on Molybdenum-98. The 99Mo is then purified and supplied routinely to manufacturers of 99Mo/99mTc generators around the world. Its reasonably long half-life allows for transport to radiopharmacies over long distances without too much loss from nuclear decay. At the point and time of use, 99mTc is extracted from the 99Mo/99mTc generator with a solvent, regularly with normal saline solution through a process called elution.
In addition, Rhenium-188 (188Re) is used in Nuclear Medicine procedures and therapies and is derived from a Tungsten-188/Rhenium-188 (188W/188Re) generator.
The eluent from these types of 99mTc and 188Re generators can be purified and concentrated with the technology and process of this disclosure.
The cost-effective utilization of a 99Mo/99mTc generator and the quality of 99mTc based Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging diagnoses is controlled by the generator operation/elution management. The primary factor pertaining to the Nuclear Medicine diagnostic scans' quality is the concentration of the 99mTc in the 99Mo/99mTc generator elution expressed as activity per mL. Hence, the useful life time of the 99Mo/99mTc generator is dictated by the amount of 99Mo remaining within the generator since it is the source of 99mTc via decay. The useful life of the generator can be extended by concentrating the 99mTc derived from the generator at any given time.
Generally, a 99mTc solution/eluate is produced from the 99Mo/99mTc generator in fixed volume and the concentration of the 99mTc in the eluate decreases with the life time of the 99Mo/99mTc generator due to the radioactive decay of the parent nuclide, 99Mo. Effective utilization of the 99Mo/99mTc generator therefore, depends not only on the available 99mTc activity in the 99Mo/99mTc generator, but also on the concentration of the 99mTc recovered in the eluted solution eluate, defined as activity per mL.
The present disclosure seeks to provide a radioisotope concentrator device for use with a radioisotope source, a system, and a process for capturing at least one radioisotope from a radioisotope solution obtained from a radioisotope source, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.