The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in subterranean exploration, and provides a rapid rig-up and rig-down pipe racking system that is capable of being retrofit to an existing drilling rig. In particular, the invention relates to a pipe drill floor mounted pipe racking system that is capable of controlled movement of pipe in three dimensions, and most importantly, capable of rapid and precise movement of multiple connected sections of pipe. The invention is capable of moving stands of connected pipe from a racked position on the drill floor to an accurate stabbing position directly above a drill string component held in a rotary table.

In the exploration of oil, gas and geothermal energy, drilling operations are used to create boreholes, or wells, in the earth. Subterranean drilling necessarily involves the movement of long lengths of tubular sections of pipe. At various intervals in the drilling operation, all of the drill pipe must be removed from the wellbore. This most commonly occurs when a drill bit wears out, requiring a new drill bit to be located at the end of the drill string. It can also be necessary to reconfigure the bottom-hole assembly or replace other downhole equipment that has otherwise failed. When the drill pipe has to be removed, it is disconnected at every second or third connection, depending on the height of the mast. On smaller drilling rigs used in shallower drilling, every other connection is disconnected, and two lengths of drill pipe, known as "doubles" are lifted off of the drill string, aligned in the fingers of the rack by the derrickman, and then lowered onto the drill floor away from the well center. On larger drilling rigs used for deeper drilling, every third connection is disconnected and three lengths of drill pipe, known as "triples" are lifted off of the drill string, aligned in the fingers of the rack by the derrickman, and then lowered onto the drill floor away from the well center. The doubles and triples are called a stand of pipe. The stands are stored vertically on the rig floor, aligned neatly between the fingers of the rack on the mast.
Removing all of the drill pipe from the well and then reconnecting it to run back into the well is known as "tripping the pipe" or "making a trip," since the drill bit is making a round trip from the bottom of the hole to the surface and then back to the bottom of the hole. Tripping the drill pipe is a very expensive and dangerous operation for a drilling rig. Most injuries that occur on a drilling rig are related to tripping the pipe. Additionally, the wellbore is making no progress while the pipe is being tripped, so it is downtime that is undesirable. This is why quality drill bits are critical to a successful drill bit operation. Drill bits that fail prematurely can add significant cost to a drilling operation. Since tripping pipe is "non-drilling time," it is desirable to complete the trip as quickly as possible. Most crews are expected to move the pipe as quickly as possible. The pipe stands are long and thin (about ninety feet long).
There are a number of variables that contribute to irregular and hostile movement of the pipe stand as it is disconnected and moved to the rack for setting on the drill floor, as well as when it is being picked up for alignment over the wellbore center for stabbing and connection to the drill string in the wellbore. For example, the vertical alignment and travel of the elevator and hoist connection which lift the drill string from the wellbore is cable connected, and capable of lateral movement which is translated to the drill string rising from the wellbore. Also, the drill string is supported from the top, and as the derrickman moves the drill string laterally, the accelerated lateral movement of the long length of the pipe stand away from the well center generates a wave form movement in the pipe itself. As a result of the natural and hostile movement of the heavy drill stand, which typically weighs between 1,500 and 2,000 lbs., and drill collars which weigh up to 20,000 lbs., it is necessary for crew members to stabilize the drill pipe manually by physically wrestling the pipe into position. The activity also requires experienced and coordinated movement between the driller operating the drawworks and the derrickman and floorhands. Needless to say, many things can and do go wrong in this process, which is why tripping pipe and pipe racking is a primary safety issue in a drilling operation.
Attempts have been made to mechanize all or part of the pipe racking operation. On offshore platforms, where funding is justifiable and where drill floor space is available, large Cartesian racking systems have been employed, in which the pipe stands are gripped at upper and lower positions to add stabilization, and tracked modules at the top and bottom of the pipe stand coordinate the movement of the pipe stand from the wellbore center to a racked position. Such systems are very large and very expensive, and are not suitable for use on a traditional land based drilling rig.
A previous attempt to mechanize pipe racking on conventional land based drilling rigs is known as the Iron Derrickman® pipe-handling system. The apparatus is attached high in the mast, at the rack board, and relies on a system of hydraulics to lift and move stands of drill pipe and collars from the hole center to programmed coordinates in the racking board. This cantilever mast mounted system has a relatively low vertical load limit, and therefore requires assistance of the top drive when handling larger diameter collars and heavy weight collars.
The movement of the pipe with this system is somewhat unpredictable and requires significant experience to control. It grasps the pipe from above the center of gravity of the tubular and fails to control the hostile movement of the pipe stand sufficiently to allow for safe handling of the stands or for timely movement without the intervention of drilling crew members. In particular, the system is not capable for aligning the lower free end of the drill stand accurately for stabbing into the drill string in the wellbore. As a result of these and other deficiencies, the system has had limited acceptance in the drilling industry.
An alternative system that is known provides vertical lifting capacity from the top drive and a lateral movement only guidance system located near the rack. The system still requires a floorman for stabbing the pipe to the stump as well as to the set-back position.
A primary difficulty in mechanizing pipe stand racking is the hostile movement of the pipe that is generated by stored energy in the stand, misaligned vertical movement, and the lateral acceleration and resultant bending and oscillation of the pipe, which combine to generate hostile and often unpredictable movements of the pipe, making it hard to position, and extremely difficult to stab.
A conflicting difficulty in mechanizing pipe stand racking is the need to move the pipe with sufficient rapidity that cost savings are obtained over the cost of manual manipulation by an experienced drilling crew. The greater accelerations required for rapid movement store greater amounts of energy in the pipe stand, and greater attenuated movement of the stand.
Another primary obstacle in mechanizing pipe stand racking is the prediction and controlled management of the pipe stand movement sufficient to permit the precise alignment required for stabbing the pipe to a first target location on the drill floor and to a second target location within the fingers of the racking board.
An even greater obstacle in mechanizing pipe stand racking is the prediction and controlled management of the pipe stand movement sufficient to achieve the precise alignment required for stabbing the tool joint of the tubular held by the racking mechanism into the receiving tubular tool joint connection extending above the wellbore and drill floor.
Another obstacle to land-based mechanizing pipe stand racking is the lack of drilling floor space to accommodate a railed system like those that can be used on large offshore drilling rigs.
Another obstacle to mechanizing pipe stand racking is the several structural constraints that are presented by the thousands of existing conventional drilling rigs, where the need to retrofit is constrained to available space and structure. For example, existing structures require orthogonal movement of the drill stand over a significant distance and along narrow pathways for movement.
Another obstacle to mechanizing pipe stand racking is the need to provide a reliable mechanized solution that is also affordable for retrofit to a conventional drilling rig. Still another obstacle to mechanizing pipe stand racking is the need to grip and lift pipe stands within the narrow confines of parallel rows of pipe stands in a conventional rack.
It is also desirable to minimize accessory structure and equipment, particularly structure and equipment that may interfere with transportation or with manpower movement and access to the rig floor during drilling operations. It is further desirable to ergonomically limit the manpower interactions with rig components during rig-up for cost, safety and convenience.
Thus, technological and economic barriers have prevented the development of a pipe racking system capable of achieving these goals. Conventional prior art drilling rig configurations remain manpower and equipment intensive to trip pipe and rack pipe when tripping. Alternative designs have failed to meet the economic and reliability requirements necessary to achieve commercial application. In particular, prior art designs fail to control the natural attenuation of the pipe and fail to position the pipe with sufficient rapidity and accuracy.
A goal of the racker invention is to achieve rapid and accurate unmanned movement of the pipe between the racked position and the over-well position. Thus, the racker must avoid storage of energy within the positioning structure. True verticality is critical to limiting the energy storage of the system. Additionally, controlled movement and positional holding of the stand is critical to allowing rapid movement by adding the stiffness to the system.
In summary, the various embodiments of the present invention provide a unique solution to the problems arising from a series of overlapping design constraints, including limited drill floor space, and obtaining sufficient stiffness from a retrofittable assembly to provide a controlled and precise automated movement and racking of drill pipe. More specifically, the various embodiments of the present invention provide for lateral movement of the pipe stand independent of assistance from the top drive, and without extension and retraction of the top drive for handing the pipe stand to the racking system. This provides free time for the top drive to move with the racker system in positioning the pipe without assistance from the top drive. Additionally, the various embodiments of the present invention provide a device capable of precise and accurate stabbing of the drill stand, resulting in faster trip time.

Drill floor mountable automated pipe racking system


A refuse vehicle includes a chassis supporting a plurality of wheels and a vehicle body. The vehicle body defines a receptacle for storing refuse. A lifting system is movable between a first position and a second position vertically offset from the first position. A processing unit is in communication with a sensor. An imaging device is in communication with the processing unit and is positioned on the refuse vehicle to have a field of view extending outwardly away from the refuse vehicle. The processing unit controls the imaging device to capture an image upon receiving an indication, from the sensor, that an indicator is present within the field of view. In some embodiments, the indicator is the presence of a positive object, like a waste container. In other embodiments, the indicator is the omission of an object (e.g., no container is detected) within the field of view.

Refuse vehicles are often used to pick up and remove waste from customers' property. To promote efficiency, refuse vehicles operate on scheduled waste removal days, where each vehicle can collect waste from several locations along a route. Customers position waste containers in some predetermined and accessible location on their property (or onto the nearby street or sidewalk) so that the contents of the waste containers can be readily transferred into the refuse vehicle. If a waste container is not placed in an accessible location, the refuse vehicle may not remove or haul the waste in the waste container away from the property.

Event-based image capturing for a refuse vehicle


A method and an apparatus are provided for decoding a polar code. A simplified successive cancellation list (SSCL) decoding tree for the polar code is generated. The SSCL decoding tree includes a plurality of nodes. One or more nodes of the plurality of nodes are identified as employing Reed-Muller codes for decoding. Decoding of received log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) is performed using Reed-Muller codes at the one or more nodes. Hard decision values are output from the one or more nodes.

Polar codes are capacity achieving codes that have been selected by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as the error correcting code on 5th Generation New Radio (5G NR) control channels. Polar codes split the channel into good bit-channels and bad bit-channels.
Polar codes are classically decoded with a successive cancellation decoder (SCD), which has a computational complexity on the order of (N log N) for a code of length N, where N is an integer. However, the serial nature of an SCD also results in a large decoding latency of (N log N). The SCD decoding latency can be reduced to 2N−2, using multidimensional polar decoding where multiplicities of each node of a decoding tree are decoded in parallel. Better decoding performance may be achieved by list decoding polar codes. However, list decoding of a polar code has a computational complexity on the order of O(LN log N) for a list size of L, which is an L-fold increase over that of successive cancellation decoding of a polar code.
Successive cancellation list (SCL) decoding of polar codes suffers from high latency due to its successive decoding nature. Simplified SCL (SSCL) decoding may improve the throughput of SCL decoding by exploiting specific constituent codes of the polar coding structure. The constituent codes identified include rate-0 codes, rate-1 codes, repetition (REP) codes, and single-parity check (SPC) codes.

System and method for identifying and decoding Reed-Muller codes in polar codes


A Storage Area Network (SAN) access includes a first aggregated switch device that is coupled to a host device, a Local Area Network (LAN), and a SAN, and a second aggregated switch device that is coupled to the host device, the LAN, and the SAN. The second aggregated switch device is connected to the first aggregated switch device via an Inter-Chassis Link (ICL). The second aggregated switch device detect that the ICL has become unavailable and, in response, prevents Internet Protocol traffic between the host device and the LAN while transmitting storage traffic between the host device and the SAN.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to providing access for host devices to a Storage Area Network (SAN) in the event of link failures associated with aggregated networking information handling systems that couple those host devices to that SAN.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems such as, for example, switch devices and/or other networking devices known in the art, are sometimes aggregated together in order to, for example, provide a single logical networking device that includes the capabilities of the aggregated physical networking devices and/or provide other advantages known in the art. For example, Virtual Link Trunking (VLT) switch devices utilize the VLT protocol (a proprietary aggregation protocol provided in switch devices available from DELL® Inc. of Round Rock, Tex., United States) in order to provide a redundant, load-balancing connection to a core network in a loop-free environment while eliminating the need to utilize the Spanning Tree Protocol. In a specific example, a primary VLT switch device (also called a primary VLT "peer" device or "node") may be coupled to a secondary VLT switch device via an Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) (also referred to as a VLT interconnect (VLTi)) to provide a VLT domain that couples host devices (e.g., server devices) to both a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Storage Area Network (SAN).
In such a configuration, each of the host devices may be coupled to both of the primary and secondary VLT switch devices by a respective Link Aggregation Group (LAG) (also referred to as a VLT port channel). Furthermore, both of the primary and secondary VLT switch devices may be coupled via a LAG (also referred to as a VLT port channel) to an Ethernet switch device that provides access to the LAN, with the primary VLT switch device coupled via a link to a first N_Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV) Proxy Gateway (NPG) switch device that provides access to the SAN (e.g., a "primary" portion of the SAN), and the secondary VLT switch device coupled via a link to a second NPG switch device that provides access to the SAN (e.g., a "secondary" or "redundant" portion of the SAN.) However, in such configurations, link failures associated with the VLT switch devices can inhibit and/or prevent access by the host devices to the SAN, even in cases where a path between the host devices and the SAN exists.
For example, in the event of a failure of the ICL between the primary and secondary VLT switch devices, the VLT protocol provides for the "bringing down" of the links in the VLT port channels that are provided by the secondary VLT switch device in order to prevent duplicate Internet Protocol traffic via the VLT domain (which is typically prevented using communications between the primary and secondary VLT switch device via the ICL.) As such, continuing with the example above, in the event of the failure of the ICL/VLTi, the links in the VLT port channels between the secondary VLT switch device and both of the host devices would become unavailable, and the link in the VLT port channel between the secondary VLT switch device and the Ethernet switch device would become unavailable. As such, the access for the host devices via the secondary VLT switch device to the SAN (e.g., the "secondary" or "redundant" portion of the SAN) will be unavailable (due to the unavailability of the links in the VLT port channels between the secondary VLT switch device and both of the host devices), limiting the host devices to accessing the SAN (e.g., the "primary" portion of the SAN) via the primary VLT switch device, and reducing storage traffic throughput via the aggregated switch/VLT domain. Furthermore, in the event that the link between the primary VLT switch device and the first NPG switch device becomes unavailable while the ICL is unavailable, no path will be available between the host devices and the SAN (even when Multi-Path Input/Output (MPIO) support is provided), despite the fact that the link between the secondary VLT switch device and the second NPG device (that provides access to the SAN) is still available.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide SAN access system that addresses the issues discussed above.

Unavailable inter-chassis link storage area network access system


An encapsulated ballistic structure for limiting the transfer of impact force from a projectile. An encapsulant substantially encases and confines a core material. The core material absorbs a part of the compressive stress of a projectile impact. The encapsulant absorbs a part of the tensile stress of a projectile impact. The encapsulant is fabricated from an organic compound having a greater tensile strength than the tensile strength of the core material.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to ballistic armor. More particularly, this invention pertains to ballistic armor formed from polymer encapsulated glass and polymer encapsulated ceramic materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
In designing ballistic armor, desired armor protection levels can usually be obtained if weight is not a consideration. In many armor applications other than personal armor, weight is not a critical factor, and thus traditional materials, such as steel, can offer some level of protection from ballistic projectiles and shell fragments. Steel armors also offer the advantage of low cost and can serve as structural members of the equipment into which they are incorporated.
However, in many other armor applications, there is a premium put on armor weight. Some areas of application where lightweight armor are desirable include ground combat and tactical vehicles, portable hardened shelters, helicopters, and various other aircraft used by the Army and the other military services. Another example of an armor application in need of reduced weight is personnel body armor worn by soldiers and law enforcement personnel.
In recent decades, certain hard ceramic materials have been developed for certain armor applications. These ceramic-based armors, such as alumina, boron carbide, silicon carbide, and titanium diboride ceramics provide the advantage of being lighter in mass than steel and provide ballistic stopping power comparable to steel. Thus, in applications in which having an armor design with the lowest possible weight is important, low specific gravity armor materials are highly desirable.
Ballistic ceramics are extraordinarily hard, strong in compression, and relatively light weight, making them efficient at eroding and shattering armor-piercing threats. However, ballistic ceramics often experience brittle fracture due to excessive tensile stresses on the back face of the armor body. After one impact of sufficient energy, a previously monolithic ceramic fractures extensively, leaving many smaller pieces and a reduced ability to protect against subsequent hits in the same vicinity. By reducing tensile stress within the ceramic armor body, the kinetic energy of the projectile can be absorbed completely within the projectile, e.g., ideally complete self-destruction at the surface of the armor body, or more typically, shattering of the ceramic while the projectile undergoes self-destruction as its kinetic energy is depleted to zero.
Conventional ceramic armor materials typically employ a laminated structure comprising a layer of ceramic material such as boron carbide and a layer of reinforced fabric such as Kevlar®. The ceramic layer typically faces the expected incoming projectiles and is typically covered with what is called a spall shield—a thin, flexible layer which is provided as the outer layer facing the incoming projectiles. This layer is typically either rubberized, or is constructed of ballistic nylon cloth, felt, or resin-impregnated glass fabric. The spall shield is designed to prevent ejection of high velocity fragments of ceramic or projectile particles subsequent to the impact by the projectile.
In the laboratory, ceramics show much higher performance in ballistic armor applications when their boundaries are heavily confined. The two key parameters are suppression of cracked tile expansion and putting the ceramic in an initial state of high compressive stress to delay or stop it from going into a state of tensile stress during impact. If the ceramic tile is not encased, the fractured pieces can easily move away from the locale of the impact, and residual protection is lost.
Snedeker et al., use a hybrid metal/ceramic approach in U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,689. Ceramic tiles are placed into individual cells of a metallic frame consisting of a backing plate and thin surrounding walls. A metallic cover is then welded over each cell, encasing the ceramic tiles. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,497, Ghiorse et al., describes wrapping a band of metal material around the perimeter of a ceramic tile so as to place the tile in a compressive state. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,690, issued to Moskowitz, teaches a spall shield for an armor plate wherein the spall shield contains an outer layer of plasticized resin.


Provided methods and systems allow dynamic rendering of a reflexive questionnaire based on a modifiable spreadsheet for users with little to no programming experience and knowledge. Some methods comprise receiving a modifiable spreadsheet with multiple rows, each row comprising rendering instructions for a reflexive questionnaire from a first computer, such as a data type cell, statement cell, logic cell, and a field identifier; rendering a graphical user interface, on a second computer, comprising a label and an input element corresponding to the rendering instructions of a first row of the spreadsheet; receiving an input from the second computer; evaluating the input against the logic cell of the spreadsheet; in response to the input complying with the logic cell of the spreadsheet, dynamically rendering a second label and a second input element to be displayed on the graphical user interface based on the logic of the first row.

Data intake forms (e.g., questionnaires) may provide an interactive cellular interface for data intake and processing. Online questionnaires can be locally run or network-based. The questionnaires can contain a single worksheet or a plurality of worksheets, whether related or unrelated to each other in content or form. As the processing power of computers allow for greater computer functionality and the Internet technology era allows for interconnectivity between computing systems, many institutions rely on online questionnaires to receive data from users and potential clients. However, new technical challenges have been identified. For example, conventional software solutions utilize a static method to display data intake questionnaires by rendering the questionnaires based on existing code (e.g., code stored within an internal or an external database). To combat this problem, many existing software solutions have attempted to dynamically render the questionnaires by allowing an employee to update and/or modify the corresponding code. However, this method requires the employees to be familiar with complex coding algorithms; this task has been proven difficult because most employees have little or no software programming knowledge. For example, an employee must be familiar with XML or HTML in order to modify the code and to customize the data intake questionnaire. The technical challenges become more challenging if the network page (displaying the questionnaire) should contain a set of labels and a set of fields, both of which would dynamically change in real-time, whether in content or type, based on a set of user inputs into the set of fields. The technical challenges become even more challenging if the set of labels must precisely match a preexisting content output, such as a paper document or an electronic document. The technical challenges become yet even more challenging if a file should be generated based on the set of user inputs.
Furthermore, many data intake questionnaires are associated with sensitive data, such as medical or personal data. These data intakes questionnaires may be regulated by various state and/or federal laws. For example, several federal and/or state laws require various disclaimers to be displayed based upon a potential client's responses to certain questions. Conventional online questionnaires display all the disclaimers associated with the data intake (whether relevant to the potential client's responses or not). These disclaimers are complicated, wordy, and confusing; therefore, conventional solutions create a negative user experience by "crowding" the graphical user interface provided to the potential clients. Some disclaimers are often unnecessary and not-applicable to all users. However, conventional software solutions usually include all the relevant disclaimers because modifying the code that controls the rendering of the graphical user interface is too burdensome and technically challenging. Moreover, many entities are not willing to risk allowing employees to modify the code because the employees (e.g., field agents) typically do not have proper programming experience and knowledge.
Additionally, storage of completed questionnaires in Portable Document Format (PDF) files may be inefficient since some PDF files may be difficult to work with or limited in functionality. Moreover, when serving questionnaires that involve querying various data sources for informational validation and thoroughness, then various datasets from the data sources may not be properly formatted and may include duplicates. Further, programming questionnaires may be time-consuming and laborious when various programming logic is not modular or reusable. Also, there are situations when various users of various demographic backgrounds access various websites, yet same or similar processing rules may apply to those websites. However, those websites may not be programmed to enable application of same or similar processing rules.

Systems and methods for reflexive questionnaire generation


A nozzle cleaning method includes cleaning an outer wall of a dispenser nozzle after liquid is sucked and before the liquid is discharged and cleaning at least an inner wall of the dispenser nozzle after the liquid is discharged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nozzle cleaning method for cleaning a dispenser nozzle through which liquid is sucked and discharged, a nozzle cleaning device, and an automatic analyzer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, automatic analyzers have a nozzle cleaning device that cleans a dispenser nozzle, to avoid carry over that affects a result of analysis with a previously-dispensed specimen adhering onto the dispenser nozzle and being brought into a next specimen dispensation. This nozzle cleaning device is provided at an intermediate position along a path on which the dispenser nozzle moves between a position at which the specimen is sucked and a position at which the specimen is discharged, and is configured to provide cleaning fluid to the dispenser nozzle. In a nozzle cleaning method using this nozzle cleaning device, the dispenser nozzle is moved to the position of the nozzle cleaning device after a dispensation is completed by sucking and discharging the specimen, and the dispenser nozzle is cleaned by cleaning fluid provided to this dispenser nozzle (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-241442).

Nozzle cleaning method, nozzle cleaning device, and automatic analyzer


A spinneret for producing nanofibers from a viscous liquid using electrostatic spinning in an electric field is described. The spinneret includes one or more narrow annular bodies radially centered about and axially spaced along a central axis. The annular bodies may be discs, rings, or coils.

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.
Conventional electrostatic spinning systems consist of a hollow needle spinneret, a pump for feeding the polymer solution through to the spinneret, an electrode collector plate and a high voltage power supply connected between the spinneret and the collector plate. The polymer liquid is fed to the spinneret, and charged with a high voltage. The resulting electrostatic force between the spinneret and the collector plate draws the solution into a Taylor cone. If the liquid has sufficient cohesion, the liquid is drawn out as a jet. Interaction between the jet, the external electric field and charge repulsion inside the jet causes the jet to bend and spin and therefore stretch thinner. Solvent evaporation causes the jet to solidify and be randomly deposited on the collector plate to form a non-woven nanofibre mat.
However, this production system provides limited fibre productivity as each spinneret only generates a single polymer jet producing up to 300 milligram of fibre per hour per needle. The small needle diameter also results in a highly concentrated electric field near the spinneret surface which is susceptible to corona discharge under a high applied voltage. The voltage is therefore generally restricted to below 30 kV. The low operating voltage also leads to coarse nanofibres.
The rate of production of nanofibres can be increased by electrostatically generating nanofibres from a broad liquid surface. For example, International patent publication WO2005024101 discloses an electrospinning device including a spinning cylindrical electrode (or "spinneret") that is partially immersed in a reservoir of polymer solution. A counter electrode is located a distance away from the cylindrical electrode. The polymer solution is carried as a thin film from the reservoir on the surface of the cylinder into the electric field between the spinning and collecting electrode. Nanofibres are created at certain points on the surface when the electrostatic field intensity between the electrodes is sufficient to draw the solution into a Taylor cone. The resultant nanofibres are randomly deposited on the counter electrode to form a non-woven nanofibre mat.
The formation of jets and resultant fibre morphology in these types of large scale electrospinning arrangements is highly influenced by the electric field intensity around the spinneret and the electric field intensity profile in the electrospinning zone. For example, the length of cylindrically shaped electrodes influences the quantity and critical voltage required to produce jets across the entire surface of the cylinder. At some voltages, jets are only produced at the ends of the cylinder. The thickness of the nanofibres produced over the length of the cylinder can also vary due to variations in the electric field intensity along that length.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an alternate spinneret for an electrostatic spinning device for production of nanofibres that address one or more of the above disadvantages.


A retractable fitness towel holder includes an elongated flexible band for looping around a user's arm. A frame disposed on the band is held against the user's arm with a loop portion extending away from the user's arm. A retracting mechanism is biased to retract a cord coupled to the towel, and the towel is retractably suspended from the towel channel such that it extends through the loop portion and away from the holder. Pulling the towel through the loop portion and away from the frame, causes the cord to unspool from the retracting mechanism, and releasing the towel causes the retracting mechanism to re-spool the cord, thereby drawing the towel back through the loop portion to rest against the frame, holding the towel in place during exercise.

Towels, sweatbands, and similar cloth-like apparatus (collectively 'towels') are commonly used in gymnasium settings and fitness facilities, both during and after exercise. Towels are generally necessary for removing perspiration from the person of a user, or residual perspiration left on equipment after use, as a courtesy to the next user. In busy fitness facilities, towels are also frequently necessary for cleaning equipment prior to use. Because towels are not attached to the user or user's clothing, they are prone to loss and unintentional soiling when set on an unclean surface. Once forgotten or lost, users must use a hand or arm to wipe off equipment, which is unsanitary and frequently inadequate.
Many products have been developed in an attempt to solve the problem of keeping a towel handy during an exercise routine. User's commonly wrap a towel around the user's hand or wrist, but this process is undesirable since the it provides insufficient surface area to absorb adequate sweat during a workout, and may present a hazard due to being cumbersome and interfering with the user's movement and grip.
Some products have been developed using a clip or similar attachment mechanism to affix the towel to the user's shirt or waistline. These mechanisms are disfavored because they adversely impact a user's workout clothing, and often fail, thus allowing a towel to become soiled when it falls to the floor. Other mechanisms include extendable retracting mechanisms used in connection with a clip. These are also disfavored, since the location used to attach the towel makes them uncomfortable, non-ergonomic, and leaves the towel free to swing about, thus presenting a hazardous condition as a user's body moves through an exercise
Thus there is a need for a towel and towel holder that stays with a person during exercise to avoid loss of the towel. There is also a need for a towel holder that prevents a towel from becoming soiled or dirtied while a person is exercising. There is also a need for a towel holder that holds a towel in a conveniently reached, yet out of the way place during exercise. There is also a need for a towel holder that automatically secures the towel out of the way when a person is temporarily finished using the towel.


A display fixture includes a shelf having a tester product receptacle, at least one first tester product assembly and an elongated channel. The at least one first tester product assembly has a base and a cover. The cover includes a hinge component. The base is located in the tester product receptacle of the shelf. The elongated channel is coupled to the shelf and is configured to receive and retain the hinge component of the cover such that the cover is rotatable about a back edge of the base of the at least one first tester product assembly.

Retail stores use a variety of display fixtures to present products to customers for purchase. These display fixtures can support the product, indicate the product price, include signage for highlighting the product and/or include structures that hold samples of the product for testing. Exemplary display structures include shelves, trays, racks, peg hooks and other similar structures.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.


A method of forming color image, comprising processing a silver halide color photosensitive material with a development processing solution containing a color developing agent, the silver halide color photosensitive material comprising a support and, superimposed thereon, a blue-sensitive layer unit composed of at least one silver halide emulsion layer, a green-sensitive layer unit composed of at least two silver halide emulsion layers, a red-sensitive layer unit composed of at least two silver halide emulsion layers and at least one non-light-sensitive layer, wherein the development processing solution or processing solution applied to the silver halide color photosensitive material before the use of the development processing solution contains compound (A), the compound (A) being a heterocyclic compound having three or more heteroatoms which when added, is capable of substantially enhancing the sensitivity of the silver halide color photosensitive material as compared with that exhibited when not added.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming color image on a silver halide color photosensitive material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming color image that ensures high sensitivity, excellent storability and further excellent color image storability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of silver halide color photosensitive material, it is a longstanding issue to attain sensitivity enhancement without detriment to graininess. Generally, the photographic speed is determined by the size of silver halide emulsion grains. The larger the emulsion grains, the greater the photographic speed. However, since the graininess would be deteriorated in accordance with an increase of silver halide grain size, the speed and the graininess are in a tradeoff relationship. In the art to which the invention pertains, attaining sensitivity enhancement without detriment to graininess is the most fundamental and important task in the upgrading of the image quality of photosensitive materials.
The technology for attaining sensitivity enhancement without detriment to graininess by incorporating a compound having at least three heteroatoms in a silver halide photosensitive material has been disclosed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. (hereinafter referred to as JP-A-) 2000-194085 and JP-A-2003-156823).
However, although an sensitivity enhancement by the above technology can be recognized, the effect thereof is not satisfactory. Further, a new problem by the use of the above technology has surfaced. It has been found that with respect to the sensitive material obtained by the use of the above technology, the storability of raw sensitive material would be deteriorated.


Here is disclosed swimming goggles 1 comprising a pair of lenses 2, frames 3 mounted around these lenses 2, respectively, and pairs of upper and lower arms 13, 14 extending from the respective frames 3 wherein each of these pairs of arms 13, 14 are connected to each other by means of a connecting region to which a buckle 4 is attached.

This invention relates to swimming goggles.
The swimming goggles of well known art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 1999-104267A comprise a pair of lens members made of polycarbonate resin and a pair of arms respectively extending rearward from upper and lower parts of the respective lens members. The upper and lower arms get nearer to each other until these two arms are interconnected together at rear ends thereof. The swimming goggles further include a head band which is relatively a narrow elastic band and guided through insertion holes defined between the upper and lower arms at rear ends thereof.
In the swimming goggles disclosed in the above-cited Application, the upper and lower arms intend to distribute the tensile force of the head band exerted upon the goggles as widely as possible and thereby to press an entire face covering pad of the goggles against the wearer""s face as uniformly as possible. However, the arms and the lenses are integrally molded from a highly rigid synthetic resin and therefore a shock exerted upon the arms when the swimmer dives into water may be immediately transmitted to the lenses. Consequently, the lenses may sometimes be shifted from proper positions thereof. In addition, a force exerted upon one of the upper and lower arms may be readily transmitted to the other, resulting in that the upper and lower arms cooperate to cause such shift of the position of the lenses. Furthermore, the head band intensely pulls the arms rearward and this pulling force may immediately affect the lenses to shift the lenses rearward.
It is an object of this invention to provide novel swimming goggles adapted to solve the problem of the above-cited conventional swimming goggles due to the presence of the arms highly rigid.
According to this invention, there is provided swimming goggles basically comprising a pair of lenses, frames mounted on peripheral edge regions of the respective lenses, respectively, and connected to each other in the vicinity of inner ends of the respective lenses and head band attached to the respective frames in the vicinity of outer ends of the respective lenses by means of buckles.
Furthermore, the lenses are molded from a hard material while the frames are molded from a flexible and elastic material, each of these frames includes a pair of upper and lower arms molded from the flexible and elastic material and extending rearward of the goggles from positions on upper and lower edges of the frame, respectively, and the pair of arms are connected to each other at rear ends thereof in a connecting region extending in a vertical direction and each of the buckles is attached to this connecting region.
This invention further includes preferred embodiments as follows:
The buckles are molded from a material harder than that of the frames.
The buckles are detachably engaged with the respective connecting regions from the front of the swimming goggles.
The buckles are engaged with the respective connecting regions under elastic deformation of the arms or the connecting regions.
The pair of arms act upon the vicinity of the positions as the pair of arms are pulled rearward so that the vicinity of the positions are pressed tightly against associated one of the lenses.
The connecting regions are molded from the flexible and elastic material.


A formulation for a recycled plastic composite composition, and a method of making the composite composition, is provided. The composite composition includes recycled EVA plastic from 30% to 80%, a stone powder from 20% to 70%; percentages by weight.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin article, particularly to a composite formulation for a recycled EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), a recycled PP (chlorinated polypropylene), a recycled PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and a recycled PE (polyethylene), as well as to a process for the heat-pressing of a recycled plastic composite.
Background Information
Currently the problem in the resin article and the related art is the high cost of the raw material, the blank will be modified by the repairing, low production efficiency, the repeated usage of the corresponding mold being limited (about 300 times), and the lower surface smoothness, heat resistance, and toughness of the resin article.


The present invention provides improved dehumidification and/or air conditioning systems, and associated methods and equipment, for example for use in a natatorium housing a swimming pool, or other buildings which may enclose sources of humidity or otherwise resulting in a need for air treatment.

The typical design for many packaged refrigerant based dehumidifiers is fundamentally flawed because of the propensity of the system to become contaminated by moisture during repairs. This is particularly the case with dehumidifiers used in indoor swimming pool or natatorium facilities. Replacement packaged dehumidifier systems are extremely expensive and it is more economical to retrofit the customer's existing unit with other components in a different arrangement. Refrigerant based dehumidifiers are overly complicated for many applications due to the quantity of control valves in the refrigerant circuit making it hard for the average technician to troubleshoot. Refrigerant based dehumidifiers also contain a significant volume of refrigerant. For example, a 60 ton Desert Aire™ unit or equivalent system holds about 400 lbs of R22. Typically, refrigerant based dehumidifiers comprise one or more coils (carrying refrigerant) that are positioned inside of the air handler. For example, providing a flow of air over the coils provides for heat transfer so that heat energy is transferred from the refrigerant (e.g., passing through the one or more coils) to the air moving through the air handler and across the one or more coils to dehumidify and provide air conditioning within the natatorium. Due to the inherent nature of the dehumidifier and surroundings, the air handler will likely be humid or comprising a substantially large relative humidity such that chlorinated water vapor is present.
For example, as a common decontamination method for large bodies of water such as a swimming pool, chlorine will likely be used (in doses) to decontaminate the pool water. As such, any water vapor from the natatorium (and generally produced by the pool water and chlorine mix), will produce the chlorinated water vapor. Thus, as the refrigerant based dehumidifier runs, the chlorinated water vapor is being drawn within the air handler. According to several accounts, when refrigerant based dehumidifiers are serviced (e.g., compressor replacement, etc.), the moist air inside of the air handler contaminates the coils carrying the refrigerant with chlorinated water vapor, whereby the chlorinated water vapor contacts the inside surface of the coils or piping thereof and forms copper-chloride salt. After the dehumidifier is serviced, the coils are evacuated of air using a vacuum pump, thereby causing the moisture to boils away and leaving the copper-chloride salt in the coils.
As the system is recharged with refrigerant, the copper-chloride salt dissolves and contaminates the refrigerant circuit causing acidic refrigerant. The acidic refrigerant in turn causes the dehumidifier to have continuous compressor failures in the form of grounded and shortened windings. Thus, refrigerant based dehumidification systems during a repair will more than likely become contaminated by chlorinated water vapor, which will likely cause repetitive compressor failures due to grounded or shortened windings. Furthermore, Standard Desert Aire™ dehumidifiers and other refrigerant based dehumidifiers are limited in the amount of outdoor air they can bring into a building such as a natatorium for housing a swimming pool or other enclosed area.
Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for improved dehumidifiers and air conditioners. It is to the provision of a natatorium dehumidifier meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.


A semiconductor wafer container assembly includes a container defining an exterior and defining an interior having a wafer storage area adapted to support one or more semiconductor wafers. The container also defines an opening in the container between the exterior and the interior. The container has a door and a latching mechanism to sealingly secure the door closed, and the door is openable for access to the wafer storage area. A passive getter module is removably secured with respect to the exterior of the container by substantially rigid connection structure that is a part of or extends from substantially rigid getter module housing. Getter material is disposed within the housing to decrease concentration of contaminants within the wafer storage area of the container via the access opening and the opening in the container.

Substrates such as wafers and reticles used in semiconductor processing are highly vulnerable to contaminants, including moisture, volatile organic components (VOC's), and particles. The presence of moisture, for example, can contribute to haze growth on both reticles and wafers. One way to control contaminants, including moisture, is to continually or periodically purge the space within a container where the substrates are stored or secured. During shipping, it has not been considered practical to use purging, and devices such as getters have been used within containers during shipping to keep moisture and VOC's to acceptable levels. Desiccants and other types of getters in substrate containers typically require removal or disassembly before the container is washed, as the fluids used can destroy the desiccants or getters.
Sealed containers known as FOUPs (front opening unified pods), FOSBs (front opening shipping boxes), or SMIF (standard mechanical interface) pods are used as wafer containers or reticle pods. These containers provide a microenvironment to isolate and control the volume surrounding wafers and substrates used in manufacturing integrated circuits. Such containers are available from Entegris, Inc., the owner of this application.
Due to the detrimental effect of moisture, VOC's, and particles on semiconductor production, improvements in the control of such contaminants can be desirable.

Wafer container with external passive getter module


Disclosed are method and device for controlling illumination, belonging to the field of display control technology. The method includes acquiring an environmental brightness, determining a illumination parameter of a visual indicator disposed at a mobile device based on the environmental brightness, and controlling the visual indicator to illuminate based on the illumination parameter.

A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer and a multimedia player may be provided with a light emitting diode (LED) that is used to indicate a residual battery capacity, an incoming call, an incoming message, or other notifications to a user of the mobile device. However, when the LED is only controlled to emit light at a constant illumination level, the LED may appear too bright in a low light environment and too dark in a bright environment.

Method and device for controlling illumination levels


A synchronous switching voltage converter has a first switch, a second switch, and an inductor, which are all coupled together to a switch node. A reverse current preventing circuit has a current detecting circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, a delay time adjusting circuit, and a blocking circuit. When an inductor current reduces to reach a predetermined threshold current, the current detecting circuit generates an original preventing signal. The voltage detecting circuit detects a switch voltage at the switch node. In response to the original preventing signal, the delay time adjusting circuit generates a corrected preventing signal after an adjustable delay time with respect to the original preventing signal. The adjustable delay time is adjusted on a basis of the switch voltage. In response to the corrected preventing signal, the blocking circuit turns OFF the second switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reverse current preventing circuit and, more particularly, to a reverse current preventing circuit, which is applied in a synchronous switching voltage converter, for accurately preventing occurrence of current reversal.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1(a) is a circuit diagram showing a conventional synchronous switching voltage converter 10. The synchronous switching voltage converter 10 converts an input voltage Vin into a regulated output voltage Vout for being supplied to a load Ld. A high-side switch SH is coupled between the input voltage Vin and a switch node SN, while a low-side switch SL is coupled between the switch node SN and a ground potential. In the example shown in FIG. 1(a), the high-side switch SH is implemented by a PMOS transistor while the low-side switch SL is implemented by an NMOS transistor. An inductor L is coupled between the switch node SN and an output terminal O. A switch control circuit 12 generates a switch control signal CS, such as a pulse-width-modulation signal, for determining whether to turn ON/OFF the high-side switch SH and the low-side switch SL. In response to the feedback of the output voltage Vout, the switch control circuit 12 adjusts the duty cycle of the switch control signal CS so as to regulate the output voltage Vout. Furthermore, an output capacitor Co is coupled to the output terminal O so as to filter ripples of the output voltage Vout.
FIG. 1(b) is a waveform timing diagram showing an ideal operation of a conventional synchronous switching voltage converter 10. During time ta to tb, the high-side switch SH is turned ON and the low-side switch SL is turned OFF, such that an inductor current IL flows from the input voltage Vin through the high-side switch SH to the output terminal O and gradually increases. In this case, a switch voltage VSN at the switch node SN is pulled up to the input voltage Vin. At time tb, the high-side switch SH is turned OFF and the low-side switch SL is turned ON, such that the inductor current IL flows from the ground potential through the low-side switch SL to the output terminal O and gradually decreases. In this case, the switch voltage VSN at the switch node SN is abruptly pulled down below the ground potential. When the inductor current IL decreases to reach a predetermined threshold current Ith, i.e. at time tc, a potential difference across a sensing resistor RS caused by the inductor current IL becomes smaller than a reference voltage source Vref. As a result, the potential received at a non-inverting input terminal of a comparator CP1 is larger than the potential received at an inverting input terminal thereof. Because the comparator CP1 has a response time tR due to a finite speed of practical operation, it is necessary to wait until time td for a prevention signal PR1 to be changed from the low level L to the high level H at the output of the comparator CP1, wherein (td−tc)=tR. In response to the high level H of the prevention signal PR1 output from the comparator CP1, a blocking circuit 15 outputs a low level signal to turn OFF the low-side switch SL. Ideally, the moment when the blocking circuit 15 turns OFF the low-side switch SL is arranged at the event that the inductor current IL just reduces to zero, i.e. at time td, so as to prevent the inductor current IL from reversing the direction. In order to achieve such an ideal effect, the decreasing rate of the inductor current IL and the response time tR of the comparator CP1 should be precisely predicted so as to determine an appropriate threshold current Ith.
However, the decreasing rate of the inductor current IL is proportional to the output voltage Vout and is inversely proportional to the inductor L. It is assumed that the threshold current Ith is kept constant after manufacturing. If the decreasing rate of the inductor current IL is relatively too slow, the inductor current IL has not yet reduced to zero at the moment when the low-side switch SL is turned OFF, as shown in FIG. 2(a). If the decreasing rate of the inductor current IL is relatively too fast, the inductor current IL has already reversed the direction at the moment when the low-side switch SL is turned OFF, as shown in FIG. 2(b). In these two cases, the operational efficiency of the synchronous switching voltage converter 10 is subjected to deterioration.
Moreover, the threshold current Ith is, as a matter of fact, subjected to variation along with processing parameter shift and operational temperature change. If the threshold current Ith moves up to become a larger threshold current Ith′, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the low-side switch SL has already been turned OFF before the inductor current IL reduces to zero. If the threshold current Ith moves down to become a smaller threshold current Ith″, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the low-side switch SL has not yet been turned OFF at the moment when the inductor current IL reverses the direction. In these two cases, the operational efficiency of the synchronous switching voltage converter 10 is subjected to deterioration.

Reverse current preventing circuit and method


An impact resistant battery incorporates one or more improvements that are designed to reduce or eliminate the risk of a fire or explosion caused by a projectile impact, electrical short, or otherwise. The battery is also designed to reduce the amount of structural damage caused by a projectile impact. The battery may have a housing that includes a self-sealing ionomer material. The battery may also be filled with materials that suppress flames and/or prevent the internal temperature from reaching an ignition point.

Portable electronic devices are becoming more and more prevalent in every aspect of society. The phenomenal increase in the use of these devices has simultaneously increased demand for batteries to power them. The batteries are usually contained within the device or in a separate battery pack. The batteries come in numerous shapes and sizes and may use any of a number of underlying technologies—e.g., lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, and so forth.
One disadvantage of portable electronic devices is that the battery is susceptible to failure, particularly when physically damaged or breached. Physical damage may cause a fire, explosion, or hazardous leak. The risk of failure from physical damage is higher in situations where the battery and device are exposed to extreme conditions such as in the military, construction, and the like.
In the military, soldiers often need to communicate and share information with other troop members and leaders. Soldiers are provided with portable electronic devices that allow effective communication, enhanced situational awareness, and improved fighting capabilities. For example, soldiers may be given electronic GPS units, night vision goggles, two-way radios, illuminated scopes, and so forth.
These devices require an ever increasing number of batteries to keep the soldier operational for extended periods of time. The soldier may be required to carry multiple batteries depending on the number of electronic devices present. The batteries are often placed in close proximity to the soldier's body to maximize mobility and stability.
Rechargeable lithium ion batteries are widely used due to their high energy density and low weight. The drawback of these batteries in a military context is that they can explode or burst into flames when they are pierced or impacted by a bullet or shrapnel. This may cause further injury to the soldier who may already be in a very dangerous situation.
The danger associated with lithium ion batteries has hindered their widespread use in the military. To increase the adaptation of lithium ion power sources by the military, many of the known problems must be addressed by modification of the cell chemistry and/or packaging of military battery packs.
Researchers have extensively investigated the lithium ion chemistry with the goal of creating abuse tolerant lithium ion cells. Many of these studies have focused on investigating the thermal and electrochemical contributions to lithium ion battery fires. It is widely believed that the survival of a lithium ion cell is dependent upon the relative rate of heat removal and heat generation. In the case where heat generation is greater than heat removal, "thermal runaway" will occur. It has been determined that thermal runaway for lithium cobalt oxide, a component found in many lithium ion batteries, began at approximately 180° C. for a fully charged cell.


This application provides a data transmission method and a device. The method includes: obtaining, by a transmit end device, a modulation symbol sequence in multiple time-frequency resource element groups, wherein a size of the time-frequency resource element group is agreed on in a protocol, or determined based on a transmission parameter; performing, by the transmit end device, interleaving processing on the modulation symbol sequence using the time-frequency resource element group as an interleaving unit, to obtain an order in which the modulation symbol sequence is mapped onto the multiple time-frequency resource element groups, wherein multiple consecutive modulation symbol groups in the modulation symbol sequence are mapped onto at least two of the multiple time-frequency resource element groups; and sending, by the transmit end device, the modulation symbol sequence in the order in which the modulation symbol sequence is mapped onto the multiple time-frequency resource element groups.

In a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE), information bits are transmitted within a transmission time interval (transmission time interval, TTI) TTI at a physical layer by using a transport block (transport block, TB) as a unit. Steps such as cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) bit addition, code block segmentation (code block segmentation), channel coding (channel coding), rate matching (rate matching), and symbol modulation (modulation) are performed on information bits of a TB. Finally, symbols obtained through modulation are mapped onto scheduled time-frequency resources.
To improve system performance and resist frequency domain selectivity or time domain selectivity, interleaving the symbols obtained through modulation is considered as a feasible method. However, currently, an existing method for interleaving the symbols obtained through modulation is relatively complex. Consequently, data demodulation performance is affected.
Therefore, how to reduce complexity of interleaving the modulation symbols becomes a problem that urgently needs to be resolved.

Data transmission method and device to reduce complexity of interleaving modulation symbols


Drop volume compensation that is at least substantially invariant to the reflectance sensor illuminate being used is disclosed for at least some embodiments of the invention. A method of one embodiment first prints a pattern of a predetermined mixture of colorants that results in at least a substantially identical response from each of a number of reflectance sensors that have different spectral emission profiles. Drop volume compensation is then performed to color balance a first colorant source to a second colorant source, utilizing the mixture of colorants and one of the reflectance sensors. The drop volume compensation is at least substantially invariant to the reflectance sensor utilized.

Color inkjet printers have become popular for printing on media when precise printing of color images is needed. For instance, such printers have become popular for printing color image files generated using digital cameras. Within such printers, accurate color printing can be ensured by using two inkjet print cartridges, each having corresponding color inks. One print cartridge, for instance, may have the colors cyan, magenta, and yellow, whereas the other print cartridge may have the colors light cyan, light magenta, and light yellow.
For accurate color printing, the two inkjet print cartridges should be color balanced with one another. Manufacturing, process, and formulation variations can alter the nominal drop volumes of the print cartridges, upsetting the balance between the two print cartridges, and thus causing the reproduced colors to shift in hue. Drop volume compensation is one process used to color balance the two print cartridges. Drop volume compensation determines the change in saturation level needed for the colors of one of the print cartridges to match the corresponding colors of the other print cartridge. Accurate color printing can then be accomplished more easily. The saturation levels themselves are dependent on the relative drop volumes of ink ejected from the print cartridges, hence the phrase drop volume compensation.
A reflectance sensor measures the optical density of a pattern printed with ink of unknown drop volume at a specific saturation level from an inkjet print cartridge. Within the same type of printer, different kinds of reflectance sensors from different manufacturers may be used. These different reflectance sensors may measure saturation levels differently, affecting the drop volume compensation, and hence the color balancing of the inkjet print cartridges. For this and other reasons, therefore, there is a need for the present invention.
At least some embodiments of the invention disclose drop volume compensation that is at least substantially invariant to the illuminate of the reflectance sensor being used. A method of one embodiment first prints a pattern of a predetermined mixture of colorants that results in at least a substantially identical response from each of a number of reflectance sensors that have different illuminate spectral emission profiles. Drop volume compensation is then performed to color balance a first colorant source to a second colorant source, utilizing the predetermined mixture of colorants and one of the reflectance sensors. The drop volume compensation is at least substantially invariant to the reflectance sensor utilized.

Drop volume compensation at least substantially reflectance sensor illuminate invariant

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An integrated circuit device that may include programmable logic fabric disposed on an integrated circuit die and a base die that may include clocking circuitry. Synchronization between logic resources in the programmable logic fabric may be performed using clock signals received from the clocking circuitry. The clocking circuitry in the base die may include phase-locked loops, delay-locked loops, clock trees, and other similar circuitry.

This disclosure relates to the use of active interposer circuitry in a base die to provide clocking signals in a multi-dimensional die packaging.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, 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 may be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Programmable logic devices are a class of integrated circuits that can be programmed to perform a wide variety of operations. A programmable logic device may include programmable logic elements programmed that may be programmed to perform custom operations or to implement a circuit design. To program custom operations and/or circuit design into a programmable logic device, the circuit design may be compiled into a bitstream and programmed into configuration memory in the programmable logic device. The values programmed using the bitstream define the operation of programmable logic elements of the programmable logic device. Programmable logic devices may be used to implement synchronous operations. In such situations, synchronization between different areas of the programmable logic device die may be obtained by a clock distribution network, or clock tree. As dimensions of programmable logic devices increase, design of clock trees become challenging.

Clock architecture in heterogeneous system-in-package


A computer assisted design apparatus displays on a display device a graphic pattern of a layout object and a graphic pattern of a liquid stay area for the layout object. The liquid stay area includes a drain stay area and a vent stay area to which a drain discharge path and a vent discharge path are connected, respectively. Graphic data for representing the graphic pattern of the liquid stay area is prepared based on the layout object data relating to the layout object specified by an input device and a liquid discharger arrangement rule.

The present invention relates to design assistance method and design assistance apparatus therefor, and more particularly to computer assisted method and apparatus suitable for arranging drains and vents in a plant by a computer.
In a layout plan of layout objects in a plant (equipments and pipes of the plant), a method for automatically generating connecting paths in a spatial layout plan for automatically determining optimum piping paths of pipes in accordance with arrangement data of equipments in an area of layout objects and design reference data is proposed by JP-A-60-79470.
JP-A-61-213969 (corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 838,957 filed on Mar. 12, 1986 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,944 on Dec. 6, 1988) teaches layout of pipes while a restriction area for the design objects (an area in which the design objects cannot be arranged) is graphically displayed on a screen of a display device.
In the plant, vent pipes and drain pipes are arranged to discharge liquid in the plant from a system. Usually, the vent pipes and drain pipes are arranged in places which allow easy discharge (vent or drain) of the liquid in the plant from the system. For example, the vent pipes are connected to locally high areas in the plant system and the drain pipes are connected to locally low areas in the system. However, the design positions of the vent pipes and drain pipes are determined by a designer while he/she watches design drawings and data. As a result, a long time is required to determine the design positions and there is a risk that the pipes are not arranged in right places.
In the computer assisted design apparatus disclosed in the above references, no effective means for setting the places of the liquid discharge pipes such as drain pipes and vent pipes is taught, and the designer has to determine the places of the drain pipes and vent pipes while he/she watches the drawings and data. In the prior art, a position of a stay area of the liquid to be discharged, in the plant system at which the drain pipes are to be arranged cannot be properly determined. The liquid stay area may include a vent stay area and a drain stay area.

Computer assisted design method and apparatus


A plug for plugging a line includes a seal, a first end assembly and a second end assembly. The first end assembly includes a gripping member. An actuator is configured to draw the first and second end assemblies together when there is a relative motion between the actuator and the first end assembly. The actuator is configured to actuate the gripping member. An initial part of a motion of the actuator actuates the gripping member to grip an inner surface of the line, thus inhibiting a motion of the first end assembly, and a subsequent part of the motion of the actuator, relative to the thus motion-inhibited first end assembly, draws the second end assembly toward the first end assembly so as to compress the seal such that the seal may seal against the inner surface of the line thus plugging the line.

The present invention provides a plug for plugging a line and a method for installing a plug in a line.
It is desirable to plug a line for numerous reasons. For instance, if work—such as welding—needs to be carried out on a line, a section may need to be isolated from the other sections of the line (which may be pressurised). Further, a plug may simply be used to seal off a line temporarily.
However, due to the shape of the line, it can be difficult to install such a plug. For instance, it is typically only possible to access one side of a plug (the near side to the user) when installing the plug as the far side of the plug is prevented from being accessed by the installer due to the line and the plug itself being in the way.
One prior art solution is shown schematically in FIGS. 12 and 13. This plug 201 allows the user to install it by accessing only one side of the plug 201 (the left hand side in FIGS. 12 and 13). The plug 201 comprises a first end assembly 210 and a second end assembly 240. Between the first and second end assemblies is a seal 202. The first end assembly 210 comprises a gripping member 216 between two gripping member actuators 270 and 270′. The gripping member 216 is deformable such that when the gripping member actuators 270 and 270′ are moved toward each other, the radius of the gripping member expands (as can be seen in FIG. 13). The seal 202 is deformable such that when the first end assembly 210 and the second end assembly 240 are brought towards each other the radius of the seal expands (as can be seen in FIG. 13). The gripping member actuators 270, 270′ and the second end assembly 240 are made from metal.
The second end assembly 240 is rigidly connected to a threaded axial shaft 280 that passes through the plug 201 to the second end assembly. The first end assembly 210 is slidably mounted on the shaft 280 and is contacted by threaded nut 290, which is threaded onto the shaft 280.
In order for the plug 201 to plug a line, it is necessary for it to be inserted into the line in a relaxed state (the state shown in FIG. 12). It is then necessary to expand the seal 202 and the gripping member 216 radially. This is done by rotating the nut 290 whilst holding the shaft 280 stationary. As can be appreciated, this will bring the gripping member actuator 270 toward gripping member actuator 270′ and will bring the first end assembly 210 toward to the second end assembly 240. This causes the gripping member 216 and the seal 202 to expand simultaneously. Thus, the gripping member 216 can grip the inside of a line and the seal 202 can seal against the inside of the line.
Examples of plugs similar to that shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 have been developed by IK (the HP Plug) and by iNPIPE PRODUCTS (the High Pressure Pipe Plug).
However, the plug of FIGS. 12 and 13 is not an optimal solution for plugging a line. As can be appreciated, the prior art plug 201 requires the installer to apply a torque to one component (such as the nut 290) whilst the installer also holds another component against rotation (such as the shaft 280). Doing so requires special tools and techniques, and increases the complexity of the plug itself. It is therefore desirable to produce a simpler plug, which is easier to install.

Plug for plugging a line and a method for installing a plug in a line


A speed control device of a treadmill includes a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitter end circuit and a receiver end circuit. The transmitter serves to generate and transmit ultrasonic wave, while the receiver serves to receive reflected ultrasonic wave. The transmitter end circuit has an oscillating IC circuit and an analog-digital converting circuit. The oscillating IC circuit serves to oscillate the ultrasonic wave generated by the transmitter to high frequency. The analog-digital converting circuit serves to convert digital signal into analog signal. The receiver end circuit has an amplifying circuit and an analog-digital converting circuit. The amplifying circuit serves to amplify the reflected ultrasonic wave received by the receiver into high frequency. The analog-digital converting circuit serves to convert the reflected analog signal into digital signal.

The present invention is related to a speed control device of a treadmill. The speed control device includes an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver arranged on a controlling panel of the treadmill. The ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transmitter can be truly reflected and received by the receiver so as to accurately calculate the distance of the user and control the speed of the treadmill.
Referring to FIG. 7, a conventional treadmill includes a base seat 4 and a tread platform 5. The base seat 4 has two upward extending columns 4. A panel 42 is mounted between the top ends of the columns 41 for controlling and adjusting the speed and slope of the treadmill. A front section of the tread platform 5 is mounted between the two columns 41. A tread belt 51 is circularly rotatably disposed in the tread platform 5. The panel 42 is spaced from a user by a certain distance. In treading, when the user desires to operate the treadmill, for example, slow down the speed, the user must tilt his/her body forward to get close to the panel 42 so as to operate the panel 42 for slowing down the speed. When changing the treading attitude, the original coordinated treading movement of the user will be interrupted.
Moreover, when operating the panel 42, the user must see the panel 42 to select a desired press key. However, the user is in a dynamic state, while the panel 42 is in a static state. Furthermore, the user is in a passive state. Therefore, it is hard to the user to aim at the press key of the panel 42. As a result, the user may mispress a press key. Especially when the user can hardly bear the exercise and want to stop the treadmill, the user will be unable to accurately press a correct press key of the panel 42 to stop the treadmill in time. Under such circumstance, the user may fall down. This is extremely dangerous.
In order to avoid the above situation, the treadmill is equipped with a safety device having a security rope 6. One end of the security rope 6 is fixed on the panel 42 and connected with the internal circuit. The other end of the rope 6 has a clip 61 clipping a user""s body. The security rope 6 has a certain length. In case the use backs up due to insufficient strength, the security rope 6 is pulled backward to detach from the panel 42. At this time, the treadmill is powered off and stopped so as to ensure safety in use.
However the security rope 6 is connected to the user""s body. Accordingly, the security rope 6 will more or less interfere with the movement of the user. In addition, in case the user forgets to use the safety device, the safety of the user cannot be ensured. Furthermore, the safety device can only stop the treadmill, while failing to control the speed thereof.
FIG. 8 shows another type of treadmill having an ultrasonic detection device. A tread platform 72 having a tread belt 71 is mounted on a bed 7. A driving device 73 is disposed at one end of the bed 7 for driving the tread belt 71. Two support columns 74 are disposed on two sides of the bed 7 and adjacent to the driving device 73. A transverse beam 75 is fixed between inner sides of the support columns 74 in a position higher than the tread belt 71. A controlling unit 8 is disposed in the middle section of the transverse beam 75. The transverse beam 75 is formed with an opening 751 facing the tread belt 71. The controlling, unit 8 includes a transmitter section, a receiver section and a timer section. The transmitter section has a pulse generator and a transmitter. The pulse generator serves to oscillate the ultrasonic wave to generate high frequency sonic speed. The transmitter transmits the ultrasonic wave to the user to detect the position of the user. The receiver section has a receiver for receiving the ultrasonic pulse reflected from the user. The timer section calculates the going and returning time of the ultrasonic wave. On the basis of the ultrasonic speed, the going and returning distance of the ultrasonic wave is calculated and sent to the controlling panel of the treadmill so as to control the speed of the tread belt. In case the user fails to bear the exercise and backs out of a set distance, the treadmill is stopped to prevent the user from falling down.
However, the controlling unit 8 of the treadmill is mounted inside the transverse beam 75. The transverse beam 75 must be first welded on the treadmill and then the transverse beam 75 is formed with the opening 751 for mounting the controlling unit 8. Then it is necessary to layout the wires to connect the controlling unit 8 with the CPU in the panel 76. Such procedures are quite complicated.
Furthermore, the controlling unit 8 of the treadmill is mounted inside the transverse beam 75 and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the legs of the user. When treading, the user""s legs continuously alternately move. This will affect the reflection of the ultrasonic wave. Especially after reflected, the ultrasonic wave will be weakened so that the received signal will be weaker and disordered. As a result, it is hard to truly measure the distance of the user and the speed of the treadmill may be maladjusted.
Besides, the controlling, unit 8 of the treadmill is mounted inside the transverse beam 75 and positioned in a too low position. In the case a kid plays on the treadmill, the controlling Unit 8 will sense the kid to rotate the tread belt 71 of the treadmill. This will frighten the kid and even make the kid fall down.
In addition, the transverse beam 75 is positioned above the tread belt 71. When a user treads on the tread belt 71, the user""s legs may incautiously hit the transverse beam 75 and get hurt. Moreover, when folding the treadmill, the transverse beam 75 will interfere with the folding of the tread platform 72 as shown in FIG. 9. As a result, the rear end of the tread platform 72 can be hardly folded to firmly lean on the bed 7.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a measure for more accurately detecting the distance of a user and simplifying the manufacturing procedure of the treadmill without interfering with the operation thereof.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a speed control device of a treadmill. The speed control device is arranged in a certain position on a controlling panel of the treadmill. The speed control device includes a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitter end circuit and a receiver end circuit. The transmitter and the receiver are mounted on the control ling panel of the treadmill and directed to rear end of the treadmill. The transmitter serves to generate and transmit ultrasonic wave, while the receiver serves to receive reflected ultrasonic wave. The transmitter end circuit is disposed in the controlling panel and connected with a CPU and the transmitter inside the controlling panel. The transmitter end circuit has an oscillating IC circuit and an analog-digital converting circuit. The oscillating IC circuit serves to oscillate the ultrasonic wave generated by the transmitter to high frequency. The analog-digital converting circuit serves to convert the digital signal of the CPU into analog signal, The receiver end circuit is disposed in the controlling panel and connected with the CPU and the receiver inside the controlling panel. The receiver end circuit has an amplifying circuit and an analog-digital converting circuit. The amplifying circuit serves to amplify the reflected ultrasonic wave received by the receiver into high frequency. The analog-digital converting circuit serves to convert the reflected analog signal into digital signal and send the signal to the CPU. The transmitter and the receiver of the controlling device are arranged on the controlling panel of the treadmill that is positioned at a height substantially equal to the height of upper half of a user""s body. Therefore, the transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected by the upper half of the user""s body to be received by the receiver. Accordingly, the distance of the user can be accurately detected by way of ultrasonic wave and thus the CPU of the controlling panel can truly control the speed of the treadmill.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above speed control device in which the transmitter and the receiver are pivotally connected with a seat body. Therefore, the transmission and receiving angles of the transmitter and the receiver can be adjusted in accordance with different heights of users. Therefore, the transmitter and the receiver can truly detect the user. In addition, the transmitter and the receiver have a certain pivot angle range so that the transmission and receiving of the transmitter and the receiver are limited to a certain height. Accordingly, a kid will not misactivate the treadmill.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above speed control device in which the controlling device is arranged on the controlling panel of the treadmill without procedures of welding, perforation and layout of wire. Therefore, the manufacturing and processing time and labor are reduced. Also, the controlling device is mounted in such a position as not to interfere with the treading movement of the user and the folding operation of the tread platform.