A radiation generation device for generating resulting electromagnetic radiation having an adjustable spectral composition includes: a multitude of radiation elements (configured to generate a radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, respectively, upon being activated, a first radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements being activatable independently of a second radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements; a dispersive optical element; and an optical opening; the dispersive optical element being configured to deflect the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations, in dependence on their wavelength and on a position of the radiation element generating the respective radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, such that a particular spectral range of each of the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations may exit through the optical opening, so that the spectral composition of the resulting electromagnetic radiation exiting through the optical opening is adjustable by selectively activating the multitude of radiation elements.

In optical spectral analysis, the composition, the condition or other properties of the object to be examined are examined by means of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the surface and at the volume of said object. In this context, the wavelength-dependent reflection, transmission, absorption and scattering properties of materials are exploited.
Various variants of arrangements for performing spectroanalytical examinations have been known.
A first variant illuminates the sample with the entire polychrome spectrum of a light source, for example a halogen lamp or a thermal radiator. The light that has started to interact with the sample is then broken up into its spectral constituents within a monochromator, and detected by means of a radiation detector or photodetector. To this end, what may be used is either a mechanically movable dispersive element (grating, prism) or an arrangement of several radiation detectors. What is disadvantageous in the first possibility is utilization of a movable element, which results in increased overhead for the overall system. On the other hand, use of an arrangement of several detectors entails a relatively large amount of effort and is relatively expensive, particularly in the infrared wavelength range. In addition, due to the high optical power, the sample is heated and, thus, the measurement is influenced. A further disadvantage is the limited miniaturizability of the overall system. It is restricted, among other things, by the sizes of the radiation sources.
In a second variant, the light of a light source is broken up into its spectral constituents before starting to interact with the sample. For this purpose, a monochromator may be used as well, which, in turn, contains mechanically movable parts. Following the interaction with the sample, the light is detected using an individual detector. The sample is exposed to a comparatively small radiation intensity. The architecture is comparatively costly and mechanically delicate. In addition, in this case, too, the radiation source restricts the miniaturization of the overall system on the basis of system integration.
In a third variant, the electromagnetic radiation is generated within a very small spectral range only. For this method, one predominately uses such lasers whose wavelengths may be changed by tunable resonators are predominately used. What is advantageous is the high intensity within a very small wavelength interval. What is disadvantageous is the limitation to specific wavelength ranges with corresponding laser activity, increased effort devoted to the system due to the high levels of mounting accuracy, and the high price resulting therefrom. In addition, mechanically movable elements, such as gratings, are sometimes used, which entails sensitivity toward mechanical environmental influences. Also, when irradiating rough surfaces, the high spatial coherence leads to interference effects, so-called speckles, which may result in measurement errors in the detection.
In a fourth variant for a wide-range near-infrared spectral analysis, an electron cyclotron (storage ring) may be used, for example, which due to its size cannot be configured to be portable.

Radiation generation device for generating electromagnetic radiation having an adjustable spectral composition, and method of producing same

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.


A bit patterned recording system includes a servo channel module configured to recover servo fields written with servo information. A field locator module is configured to locate a field printed to data islands of a medium based on a location of one of the servo fields. The servo islands and the data islands have different spacing. A servo clock has a different phase and frequency than a data clock. A phase error calculator module is configured to estimate a phase error of the data clock based on the field and the data clock. The phase error is used to adjust a phase of the data clock.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
There are generally two types of media used in bit patterned recording (BPR). A first BPR media type includes bit islands that are arranged around a track in a uniform manner. In other words, there is no difference between data islands (i.e., bit islands in data field) and servo islands (i.e., bit islands in servo field) and the spacing between the data islands and the servo islands is the same. The frequency and phase of a data clock is the same as the servo clock.
A second BPR media type includes bit islands that are not positioned around the track in a uniform manner. In other words, the data islands and the servo islands are printed with different spacing. Typically the servo islands are printed farther apart than the data islands to provide additional protection against distortions such as inter-symbol-interference (ISI) when reading the servo islands. The frequency and phase of the data clock are different than the servo clock.
Synchronization of the data clock when using the first BPR media type is relatively straightforward since the servo field may be used to directly adjust the phase of the data clock. The servo field for the first BPR media type is typically written at the factory to provide a repeatable reference from which an error between the data clock and the data islands can be determined. Bit positioning accuracy requirements for the second BPR media type are more stringent than those for the first BPR media type because the frequency and phase of the data clock are different than the servo clock.
Referring now to FIG. 1, phase misalignment of the data clock and the data islands on the second BPR media type is shown. If the phase of the data clock is misaligned as shown, writing instants will not coincide with positions of the data islands. As a result, the user data will not be recorded properly to the second BPR media type. The writing errors can be difficult to detect and/or correct. In FIG. 2, proper alignment of the data clock and the data islands is shown.

Write zero phase start for phase synchronization in bit patterned recording


The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that is detachable and contains a developer, a detection member that includes an electrode to be detected and is rotatable around a rotation axis in the developing unit, an agitator that moves around the rotation axis in the developing unit; an electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode provided on an exterior of the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor that detects electrostatic capacitance between the electrode to be detected and the electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode, and outputs data on the detected electrostatic capacitance, and a CPU that determines an amount of developer in the developing unit based on the data output from the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

In an example of a conventional image forming apparatus, an electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus detects a remaining amount of toner in a toner container. For example, in an apparatus for detecting a remaining amount of toner described in PTL 1, a flexible member is fixedly connected to one end of an agitation member for agitating a toner in a toner container, a member to be detected is secured to a tip of the flexible member, and an electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus is placed in a lower part of the toner container. The flexible member connected to the agitation member is rotated with rotation of the agitation member and enters the toner. If a toner surface in the toner container is higher than a connecting position between the flexible member and the agitation member, the flexible member enters the toner at a connecting portion to the agitation member, the entire flexible member is flexibly deformed, and rotated along the same trajectory as the connecting portion in the toner. Thus, the member to be detected at the tip of the flexible member is rotated along the same trajectory as the flexible member. However, if an amount of toner is reduced, and the toner surface is lower than the connecting position between the flexible member and the agitation member, and the connecting portion of the agitation member does not enter the toner, the tip and therearound of the flexible member slides on the toner surface, and the member to be detected also slides on the toner surface. With decreasing remaining amount of toner, a height of the toner surface in the toner container is gradually reduced, and a position of the member to be detected sliding on the toner surface is also lowered. Specifically, when the amount of toner is reduced to less than a certain amount, the position of the member to be detected moving on the toner surface is lowered according to the remaining amount of toner, and brought close to a bottom surface of the toner container.
Meanwhile, the electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus can detect electrostatic capacitance between the electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus and the member to be detected moving on the toner surface. The electrostatic capacitance between the electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus and the member to be detected changes depending on a distance therebetween. The electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus is placed in the lower part of the toner container, and with decreasing amount of toner, the height of the toner surface is gradually reduced, and the position of the member to be detected on the toner surface is also lowered. This reduces the distance between the electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus and the member to be detected to reduce the electrostatic capacitance therebetween. Specifically, the electrostatic capacitance between the electrostatic capacitance detection apparatus and the member to be detected changes depending on the remaining amount of toner.
An example of an apparatus for detecting an amount of toner in a developing unit uses a magnetic permeability sensor. For example, PTL 1 is an example of an apparatus for detecting an amount of toner using a magnetic permeability sensor. PTL 2 discloses a toner amount detection apparatus using a first agitation blade that is flexible and may be deformed rearward in a rotational direction by agitation of toner, a second agitation blade that is rigid and placed on a rear side in the rotational direction of the first agitation blade, and a magnetic permeability sensor placed on an outer side of a bottom of a developing unit. The apparatus detects a state of rotation of a metal material placed on each agitation blade using the magnetic permeability sensor placed on the outer side of the bottom of the developing unit. This apparatus is configured so that in the case with a large amount of toner in the developing unit, the first agitation blade and the second agitation blade are integrally rotated, and in the case with a small amount of toner in the developing unit, the first agitation blade and the second agitation blade are separately rotated without being deformed. At this time, the magnetic permeability sensor is used to detect once a change in the magnetic permeability for one turn of the rotation axis in the case with a large amount of toner in the developing unit, and twice in the case with a small amount of toner in the developing unit. The toner amount detection apparatus detects the amount of toner in the developing unit based on the change in the number of times of detection.


A sheathing panel includes a barrier overlay secured to a panel; wherein the sheathing panel is bulk water resistant and has at least one of the following properties: a water vapor transmission rate of at least 7.0 grams per square meter per 24 hours (grams/m2/24 hours) as determined by ASTM E96-15 procedure A at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), a water vapor permeance of at least 1.3 perms as determined by ASTM E96-15 procedure A at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), or an air infiltration rate of less than 0.2 liters per second per square meter (L/s-m2) at 75 pascals (Pa) as determined by ASTM E2357-11.

The present invention generally relates to sheathing assemblies, and more specifically, to sheathing assemblies with weather resistant barriers.
Commercial and residential buildings may be constructed by attaching panels, also called sheathing assemblies, to the underlying support frame. The sheathing assemblies are installed on the exterior surfaces of a building's frame, e.g., along the vertical sides and roof. The panels may be, for example, plywood panels or oriented strand board (OSB) panels. The panels are generally aligned side-by-side, with edges of the adjacent panels contacting one another or being in proximity to one another such that the panels form a substantially continuous surface.
The sheathing assemblies may be covered with a layer of a barrier material, sometimes referred to as building wrap or house wrap, that reduces the effects of the outside environment on the panels and building interior. The house wrap serves as a barrier to protect the panels and the building interior from precipitation, moisture accumulation, or wind. The house wrap may be installed over the panels by unrolling the building wrap from a roll and securing the wrap to the panels using a fastener, for example, staples, adhesives, or nails.
As an alternative to applying the barrier material after installing the panels, the barrier material may be applied to the panels during manufacture. Then the assembled panels are installed on the building exterior. These panels are easily installed on a building or roof exterior.


A method and a corresponding device for performing a background calibration of a comparator in a circuit having a plurality of stages that are connected in a pipelined fashion to an input signal. A digital value of a residue signal, which is output from a first stage in the plurality of stages to a subsequent stage in the plurality of stages, is calculated. The value of the residue signal is compared to at least one threshold. Based on the comparison, a triggering threshold of a selected comparator in the first stage may be adjusted.

Electronic components are subject to operating characteristic variations. Although devices may be manufactured according to specification, no manufacturing technique can guarantee uniformity across all devices. In metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices, this variation is often manifested as a shifting of a threshold voltage level. For example, in a comparator circuit, mismatches in the differential pair and mismatches in the current sources may result in a comparator offset, which is a voltage offset that limits the accuracy of the comparator by affecting the performance of a comparison between an input voltage and a reference voltage. Comparator offsets occur not only as a result of random device mismatches, but are also a function of device size. One known method of reducing offsets is to increase device size. However, this requires increased power to maintain gain-bandwidth and regeneration time. For small, low-power comparators, increasing device size may not be a practical option, so that an offset compensation or cancellation scheme is required.
Comparator offsets may be categorized into two types. A first type, known as DC offset (also referred to herein as a "static" offset) is a more or less constant offset that exists when the comparator circuit is operational. A second type, referred to herein as a "dynamic" offset, occurs when the comparator circuit is switched to output a comparator decision based on the values of the inputs to the circuit. Dynamic offsets may be caused by imbalances in the circuit, such as parasitic capacitances that affect circuit components. Therefore, the causes of dynamic offsets may be unrelated to the causes of static offsets.
Techniques exist to compensate for static offsets. However, dynamic offsets remain a problem.

Background techniques for comparator calibration


In an extracting step, the extracting portion obtains a linked component composed of a plurality of mutually linking pixels from a character string region composed of a plurality of characters, and extracts section elements from the character string region, the section elements each being surrounded by a circumscribing figure circumscribing to the linked component. In the first altering step, the first altering portion combines section elements at least having a mutually overlapping part among the extracted section elements so as to prepare a new section element. In the first selecting step, the first selecting portion determines a reference size in advance and selects section elements having a size greater than the reference size, from among the section elements altered in the first altering step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a character image extracting apparatus and a character image extracting method for extracting an image of each of characters from a character string region composed of a plurality of characters.
Further, the present invention relates to a character image extracting program and a recording medium which are adapted to extract an image of each of characters from a character string region composed of a plurality of characters.
2. Description of the Related Art
A document filing apparatus has been put into practical use. In the document filing apparatus, a document can be held in a document data base which can be then searched for the document (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2002-245062). Some document filing apparatuses utilize an image inputting device such as an image scanner to convert a document into an image and electronically store the document image, and enables searching of the document image later on. In such a document filing apparatus as has been described, it is necessary to extract images of respective characters from a character string region of the document image, so as to allow for the subsequent search.
Except for characters, the character string region may often include punctuation marks such as periods and also noise parts. The punctuation marks and the noise parts are not necessary for searching. A conventional document filing apparatus, however, extracts not only an element including characters, but also an element including punctuation marks and an element including noise parts undesirably, in extracting images of respective characters from a character string region.

Character image extracting apparatus and character image extracting method


An exemplary optical connector 200 includes a first housing 20 and a second housing 24. The first housing 20 includes a main body 201. The main body 201 is elongated and hollow. One end of the main body 201 forms a resisting member 203 and the other end of the main body 201 forms a lock receiving portion 205. At least one latch hole 2051 is defined in the lock receiving portion 205 and at least one joint line 208 is formed in the lock receiving portion 205 adjacent to the at least one latch hole 2051. The extending direction of the joint line 208 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first housing 20. One end of the second housing 24 forms a lock portion 242 configured for engaging with the lock receiving portion 205. The lock portion 242 forms at least one protrusion 2423 configured for engaging with the latch hole 2051.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 5, a typical optical connector 100 is shown. The optical connector 100 includes a first housing 10, a ferrule 11, a flange 12, a spring 13, and a second housing 14.
The first housing 10 includes a main body 101. The main body 101 is an elongated piece defining a hollow center (not labeled). The main body 101 forms a resisting member 103 on a side surface and one end of the main body 101 forms a lock receiving portion 107. The lock receiving portion 107 defines two latch holes 1071 and a hollow cavity (not labeled) communicating with the latch holes 1071.
The second housing 14 includes a main body 141. The main body 141 is an elongated piece defining a hollow center (not labeled). One end of the main body 141 forms a lock portion 142 and the other end of the main body 141 opposite to the lock portion 142 forms a sleeve portion 143. The lock portion 142 is configured for engaging in the hollow cavity of the lock receiving portion 107 such that the first housing 10 is fixed to the second housing 14. The lock portion 142 forms two protrusions 1423 for engaging in the latch holes 1071 of the lock receiving portion 107 correspondingly.
To assembly the optical connector 100, the ferrule 11 is fixed to the flange 12. An optical fiber □not shown□ is inserted into the sleeve portion 143 and passes through the main body 141 and spring coils of the spring 13 in that order and fixed in the ferrule 11. The lock portion 142 is inserted into the lock receiving portion 107 and the protrusions 1423 are latched in the latch holes 1071. One end of the spring 13 resists the second housing 14 and the other end of the spring 13 resists the flange 12. Thus the spring 13, the flange 12, and the ferrule 11 are received in an enclosed space defined by the first housing 10 and the second housing 14.
The first housing 10 in FIG. 5 is made of plastic materials by injection molding method. Referring to FIG. 6, a mold plate 300 to produce the first housing 10 with injection molding is shown. The mold plate 300 forms a protrusion 310 and defines a gate 320. A shape and a size of the protrusion 310 are same to the latch hole 1071 in FIG. 5 of the first housing 10. In addition, because the resisting member 103 in FIG. 5 and the latch hole 1071 in FIG. 5 are apart with a relatively great distance, the gate 320 is generally required to be defined in a portion, which corresponds to the resisting member 103, of the mold plate 300 such that the melted material flows a relatively short distance and increases the speed of making the first housing 10. During the injection molding, a flow of a melted material 340 is divided into two branches of melted materials 330, 350 by the protrusion 310. After the two branches 330, 350 engulfs the protrusion 310, the two branch flows 330, 350 join. After the melted material is solidified to form the first housing 10, a joint line 108 adjacent to the latch hole 1071 is formed in the first housing 10. In addition, the joint line 108 extends along a longitudinal direction X of the first housing 10.
Referring to FIG. 5 again, to assembly the optical connector 100, when the lock portion 142 is inserted into the lock receiving portion 107, the lock portion 142 is squeezed into the hollow cavity of the lock receiving portion 107, inner sidewall forming the hollow cavity as a result produces tension stresses F1, F2 along a direction Y. The tension stresses F1, F2 along the direction Y, which is different from the direction X, force the joint line 108 to widen. Therefore, the first housing 10 breaks easily from the joint line 108.
Therefore, a new optical connector is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


Systems and devices for providing dynamic stabilization of one or more spinal motion segments are provided. The systems include a connecting element between two or more bone anchor assemblies that can be attached to two or more vertebral bodies of at least one spinal motion segment. The connecting element includes a first end, a second end, an intermediate resilient element and a sheathed tether extending from the first end to the second end and through the resilient intermediate element.

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for preserving motion between vertebrae, and more particularly, to devices, systems, and methods for improving posterior spinal function with a pedicle-based implant.
Severe back pain, limited motion, and nerve damage may be caused by injured, degraded, or diseased spinal anatomy. Affected spinal joints, and particularly discs and ligaments, can be difficult to treat externally and may necessitate surgery.
In some instances, the diseases, injuries or malformations affecting spinal motion segments are treated by fusing two adjacent vertebrae together using transplanted bone tissue, an artificial fusion component, or other compositions or devices. In some surgical treatments, posterior rods may be attached to variously affected spinal levels to inhibit or limit motion, with or without, spinal fusion. These posterior rods are frequently rigid rods which substantially, if not totally, eliminate freedom of motion for bending in flexion and extension. Other important motions may similarly be eliminated. Therefore, alternatives to substantially rigid rod systems are needed which allow for certain motion and which more closely approximate the natural function of the motion segments.
Elongated connecting elements, such as rods, plates, tethers, wires, cables, and other devices have been implanted along the spinal column and connected between two or more anchors engaged between one or more spinal motion segments. Such connecting elements can provide a rigid construct that resists movement of the spinal motion segment in response to spinal loading or movement of the spinal motion segment by the patient. Other connecting elements can resist loading or movement of the spinal motion segment that creates a tension force on the connecting element; however, the connecting element collapses in response to any compression loading and provides little or no resistance in response to such forces or movement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Flexible spinal stabilization element and system


A circuit for controlling temperature of a semiconductor chip includes a first heating element that is built into the semiconductor chip. The first heating element generates heat to increase the temperature of the semiconductor chip. The chip also includes a temperature controller that is coupled to the first heating element and built into the semiconductor chip. The temperature controller controls the temperature to enable testing of the semiconductor chip at a desired temperature.

During manufacture of semiconductor chips, the semiconductor chips are subjected to reliability testing. A semiconductor chip that fails the reliability testing can be weeded out, thus preventing early failures during lifetime of the semiconductor chip.
Burn-in is an example of a reliability testing technique. During the burn-in, the semiconductor chips on a burn-in board are placed in an oven and exposed to temperatures higher than operating temperatures of the semiconductor chips. The semiconductor chips that fail to function in higher temperatures for a certain burn-in time can be detected as faulty. However, the oven is bulky and area inefficient. The oven is also expensive resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost of the semiconductor chip. High speed testing in the burn-in is further difficult to achieve due to limited clock rates resulting from high number of the semiconductor chips on the burn-in board. External sources are also required to heat the oven, the burn-in board, and the semiconductor chip which in turn leads to heating times longer than that required by the semiconductor chip in isolation, since the semiconductor chip has a lower thermal mass in isolation than that when the external sources are used. Moreover, time taken to heat up and to cool down the semiconductor chip during the burn-in is a sizeable fraction of total time for the burn-in. For example, the time required to heat up and to cool down the semiconductor chip is about 2 hours in a total time of 8 hours for the burn-in, making the burn-in time consuming.

Circuit for controlling temperature and enabling testing of a semiconductor chip


There are included: an extraction unit that extracts a first bit stream of a picture that is decodable by itself and a second bit stream of a picture whose image data part is decodable by itself but a part other than the image data part is not decodable by itself from a coded bit stream of a moving image; and a conversion unit that converts the second bit stream extracted by the extraction unit into a third bit stream of a picture that is decodable by itself, the first bit stream of the picture extracted by the extraction unit and the third bit stream being arranged and output in order of extraction or in reverse order to that of extraction.

H.261 and H.263 standardized by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) are technologies for encoding a moving image signal at low bit rate, high compression rate, and high quality to generate coded data, and decoding a coded moving image. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, etc. are also widely used as international standards.
In addition, H.264 has recently been standardized through collaboration between ITU and ISO (NPL 1). As compared to the conventional moving image coding technologies, the H.264 is known to be able to provide further improvements in compression efficiency and in image quality.
In such moving image coding technologies, the inter-frame prediction coding techniques which utilize temporal correlation between frames are widely used for the sake of efficient compression of the moving image signal. The inter-frame prediction coding involves predicting the image signal of the current frame from that of a previously-coded frame or frames, and encoding a prediction error signal between the predicted signal and the current signal. In typical moving images, the image signals of temporally neighboring frames are highly correlated. The techniques are thus effective in improving the compression efficiency.
The moving image coding technologies such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and H.264 encode a moving image by the combination of I-pictures (intra coded pictures) which use no inter-frame prediction coding, P-pictures (unidirectionally predictive coded pictures) which use inter-frame prediction coding from a previously-coded frame, and B-pictures (bidirectionally predictive coded pictures) which use inter-frame prediction coding from two previously-coded frames.
In decoding, a single frame of an I-picture can be decoded by itself. A single frame of a P- or B-picture is not decodable by itself since it needs image data intended for inter-frame prediction before decoding.
FIG. 1 shows an example of picture configuration in a moving image coding system. Each individual rectangle represents a frame with the picture type and order of display indicated below (for example, B5 indicates that the frame is the fifth to be displayed and is encoded as a B-picture). Such I-, P-, and B-pictures of different characteristics are appropriately combined to encode the moving image.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the picture configuration of the moving image coding. As shown in FIG. 1, when the coded moving image bit stream is subjected to special reproduction such as fast-play and fast reverse play, only the bit streams of I-pictures which are decodable by themselves are extracted from the bit stream for reproduction.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of operation for obtaining a fast play bit stream and a fast reverse play bit stream. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus that performs fast play and fast reverse play. As shown in FIG. 3, a bit stream is input to a stream extraction unit 101. The stream extraction unit 101 extracts only the bit streams of I-pictures from the input bit stream, and supplies the extracted bit streams to a stream rearrangement unit 102. The stream rearrangement unit 102 rearranges the supplied I-picture bit streams if needed, and outputs the bit streams to outside.
Description will now be given in conjunction with the example of FIG. 2. For fast play, only the bit streams of I-pictures are extracted by the stream extraction unit 101 in order from the bit stream shown in the top of FIG. 2. The extracted bit streams are arranged to constitute a bit stream, which results in the fast play bit stream shown in the lower left of FIG. 2. Fast play involves only the extraction of I-pictures without the rearrangement processing of the stream rearrangement unit 102.
For fast reverse play, the stream extraction unit 101 similarly extracts only the I-pictures from the bit stream. The stream rearrangement unit 102 rearranges and outputs the I-pictures in reverse order to that of display. This provides the fast reverse play bit stream shown in the lower right of FIG. 2.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a technical development of the foregoing method, in which only minimum necessary I-pictures for display are extracted to generate a fast play stream. The method of PTL 1 can also be used for the special reproduction of a bit stream that is encoded by the H.264 moving image coding technology which has recently been standardized. H.264, however, has a higher degree of freedom of coding than the coding standards of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, etc. The application of the coding standard of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, or MPEG-4 is therefore not always possible. The details will be given below.
Unlike the coding standards of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4, H.264 has two types of pictures that are composed only of I-slices and are decodable by themselves, namely, an IDR (Instantaneous Decoding Refresh) picture and an I-picture. The IDR-picture entails a reset operation on the internal state of the decoder, and is fully decodable by itself like the I-picture according to the coding standards of MPEG-2 etc.
On the other hand, the H.264 I-picture contains image data that is decodable by itself, but with a header part that needs information on past pictures for decoding. A simple way to implement special reproduction is thus to use IDR-pictures alone. As employed herein, an IDR-picture and an I-picture shall hereinafter refer to the H.264 IDR-picture and I-picture, respectively, unless otherwise specified.
Depending on the operation of the encoder, a bit stream with a small number of IDR-pictures and a large number of I-pictures can be generated for the sake of improving the coding efficiency etc. In such a case, the pictures available for the IDR-specific special reproduction are small in number, failing to provide a smooth motion.
FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation of a fast play bit stream with IDR-pictures alone. The original bit stream is shown in the top of FIG. 4, and a fast play bit stream in the bottom of FIG. 4. In the example, the original bit stream includes for every six frames a picture that contains image data reproducible by itself (IDR or I). Of such pictures, IDR-pictures occur at intervals of 18 frames. The rest are I-pictures.
As shown in FIG. 4, the exclusive use of IDR-pictures, without I-pictures whose image data is decodable by itself, degrades the motion smoothness of the fast play bit stream because only one in 18 frames is available for special reproduction. When I-pictures (other than IDR) are also used for special reproduction, past picture information is needed in order to decode the information on the header part (picture number, order of output, frame buffer management information, etc.) as described above. With IDR- and I-pictures extracted and arranged, it is not possible to decode the header part normally. This causes problems such as improper order of output of the pictures, and that the decoding apparatus judges it an error and provides a result of decoding.
For example, "frame_num" included in "slice_header( )" is defined to be incremented by one for each reference picture. When IDR- and I-pictures are extracted and arranged, "frame_num" can increase by more than 1 in value between adjoining reference pictures, which may be judged as an error by some decoding apparatuses.
To avoid such problems, the decoding apparatus may be provided with an operation mode for special reproduction. In the special reproduction mode, the decoding apparatus performs the decoding operation of simply outputting decoded image data in order of decoding, ignoring the header part′ information on the order of output and a decoding error.

Dynamic image stream processing method and device, and dynamic image reproduction device and dynamic image distribution device using the same


A laminated structure includes an interconnect structure including first and second product areas and a first interconnect layer, and a first insulating layer formed on the interconnect structure. The first product area includes an opening penetrating the first insulating layer, and the second product area includes an annular groove penetrating the first insulating layer. The laminated structure further includes an electronic component mounted inside the opening in the first product area with an annular gap formed between the electronic component and a wall surface defining the opening, an insulating member located inside the groove in the second product area, a second insulating layer that fills the annular gap and the groove, and covers the first insulating layer, the electronic component, and the insulating member, and a second interconnect layer formed on the second insulating layer, and electrically connected to the first interconnect layer.

Wiring boards having built-in electronic components, such as semiconductor chips, chip capacitors, or the like, are known from Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-149411, for example. The electronic component is arranged inside an opening formed in an insulating layer of the wiring board.
The wiring boards having the built-in electronic components are manufactured using a large support base that includes a plurality of product areas. Conventionally, in each of the plurality of product areas, the opening is formed in the insulating layer and the electronic component is mounted inside the opening using an adhesive layer. A laminated structure including the electronic components is then cut into individual pieces respectively corresponding to the plurality of product areas.
Before the electronic components are mounted, characteristics of each of the plurality of product areas are inspected to determine whether or not the characteristics are satisfactory. After the laminated structure including the electronic components is cut into the individual pieces, the wiring board manufactured from the unsatisfactory product area is determined to be a defective wiring board, while the wiring board manufactured from the satisfactory product area is determined to be a non-defective (or good-quality) wiring board.
According to the method described above, even though the unsatisfactory product areas are determined before mounting the electronic components, the electronic components are also mounted within the unsatisfactory product areas that have been determined as being unsatisfactory. For this reason, the cost of electronic components and the adhesive layer is wasted, and wasted processes of forming the openings and mounting the electronic components are performed with respect to the unsatisfactory product areas. In other words, there is room to reduce the waste, so as to reduce the cost of the method described above.


Crystalline forms of imatinib mesylate (F, G, H, I and K) and their respective characterizations are disclosed.

The preparation of 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-N-[4-methyl-3-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl]-benzamide, also known as Imatinib, and its use, especially as an anti-tumour agent, are described in Example 21 of EP-A-0 564 409, which was published on 6 Oct. 1993, and in equivalent applications in numerous other countries. The compound is exemplified in these publications only in free form (not as a salt).
4-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-N-[4-methyl-3-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl]-benzamide mesylate, also known as Imatinib mesylate or STI571, the alpha and the beta crystal form thereof, as well as its pharmaceutical use are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,051. Imatinib mesylate is the active ingredient of the drug Gleevec® (Glivec®) which is an approved medicament for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Another polymorph of Imatinib mesylate, the so-called H1-form, is described in WO2004/106326.
It has now been surprisingly found that under certain conditions new crystal forms of the methanesulfonate salt may be found, which are described hereinafter as F-crystal form, G-crystal form, H-crystal form, I-crystal form and K-crystal form and which forms have advantageous utilities and properties.


A floor plate for a building having a vertical support core is described, and includes first and second girders arranged in parallel and slidably disposed on opposed sides of the vertical support core. Each of the first and second girders includes a vertically-oriented web portion and a flange portion. The floor plate also includes a plurality of framing members, wherein each of the framing members includes a medial beam attached to first and second cantilevered beams. The medial beams are disposed between the first and second girders. The first and second cantilevered beams are threaded through apertures of the first and second girders and joined to the respective medial beam, and define first and second cambers. The first and second cambers are selected to achieve a flat horizontal surface on an upper surface of the floor plate when the floor plate is fixedly attached to the vertical support core.

Many methods of constructing multi-story buildings exist. Traditionally, multi-story buildings have been constructed from the ground up, in which construction of the building begins on a ground level by attaching higher elevation structural elements on top of previously assembled lower structural elements to construct the building in upward direction, i.e., from bottom up. This construction method requires that the structural elements be lifted by a crane and connected in situ at elevation. This is particularly time-consuming and costly when constructing tall buildings.
Known methods for constructing high-rise commercial buildings may be inefficient. Presently, structural framing elements may be assembled into a building frame one member at a time, well above ground level. Tower cranes may be used to facilitate construction, which may include executing thousands of individual lifts for each element of the structure, building enclosure, finishes, mechanical and electrical equipment and many other components of a finished building.
Known framing methods may account for expected deflection using beam bending techniques. Variability introduced by current manufacturing techniques results in each beam having unique characteristics. For example, a set of beams, each bent to a given camber dimension, may flatten differently under applied live and dead loads, resulting in difficulty in achieving floor flatness. Once bent, a beam cannot be further adjusted in the field.

Vertical slip form construction system with multi-function platform, and method of constructing a building therewith


Laminate structures including hole plugs, and methods for forming a hole plug in a laminate structure are provided. A laminate structure may be formed with at least a dielectric layer and a first conductive foil on a first side of the dielectric layer. A blind hole may be formed in the laminate structure extending toward the first conductive foil from a second side of the dielectric layer and at least partially through the dielectric layer, the blind hole including a hole depth to hole diameter aspect ratio of less than ten (10) to one (1). Via fill ink may be disposed in the blind hole, and the via fill ink may be dried and/or cured to form a hole plug.

Laminate structures, such as printed circuit boards, are typically prepared by first laminating a sub-composite structure with additional exterior sheets/layers and/or other sub-composite structures. One or more holes may be formed (e.g. drilled) within the sub-composite for via holes. When laminates get thinner and holes get larger in diameter, using traditional hole filling materials and processes are inadequate.
Consequently, what is needed a way to create hole plugs in thin laminate structures in an efficient and cost effective way.

Laminate structures with hole plugs and methods of forming laminate structures with hole plugs


The gasification burner of this invention capable of maintaining a high combustion rate for a long period of time comprises a combustion chamber having a ceiling with a small hole in its center, a pre-mixing pipe fitted into the small hole and having a nozzle at its top, wherein the pre-mixing pipe and the combustion chamber are concentric, and the spread angle of the gas flow sprayed from the end of the pre-mixing pipe is between 10 and 40 degrees, so that the relationship between the bottom of the combustion chamber and the conical gas flow is regulated by keeping a good balance between the gasification rate of the powdered coke and the life of the combustion chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a reduction smelter or smelting furnace for iron and non-iron metals, and more particularly to a gasification burner for powdered solid fuel which serves as the source of reducing gas and heat for a zinc reduction smelter or smelting furnace.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the most common Imperial Smelting Process (ISP) method of pyrometallurgical zinc smelting, zinc sulfide concentrate is roasted, and the lump sinter obtained through roasting is put into the smelting furnace together with the lump coke. The zinc is evaporated out, so that a reducing gas containing the zinc vapor is obtained. The zinc vapor in this gas is absorbed by a lead splash condenser, and recovered to obtain crude zinc.
In comparison to other pyrometallurgical smelting methods, this ISP method has an advantage that lead and zinc can be processed at the same time, thus being very cost competitive.
However, recently due to very intense cost competition, the cost competitiveness of this ISP method is very inefficient. The reason is the high cost of using lump coke.
On the other hand, in countries like Japan where the cost of electricity is high, hydrometallurgical smelting is also unfavorable.
Therefore, in order to improve the cost competiveness of the ISP method many improvements to the pyrometallurgical method of smelting have been proposed and researched.
One of the most promising of these proposals has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Showa 61-28004, "Injection Smelting of Zinc Calcine". In this method, slag which has a Fe/SiO.sub.2 ratio close to that of the zinc concentrate, and a crude lead metal, are contained beforehand in the furnace, and the roasted powdered zinc concentrate, a reducing agent, and highly oxygenenriched air are blown through a lance into the melt bath. Powdered coke and/or fine carbon material is used as the reducing agent. When compared to the ISP method, because powdered coke and/or fine carbon material is used in the place of lump coke, it is possible to greatly reduce the operating expenses.
However, in this method, because the retention time of the powdered coke in the furnace is very short, the effective utilization of the powdered coke, or in other words, the gasification rate of how much of the carbon burns and gasifies to gas, is much worse than the ISP method regardless of how small the grain diameter of the powdered coke is compared to lump coke. As a result, a large amount of the unburned powdered coke is scattered on the post-process condenser, hindering condensation of the zinc. Therefore the rate of recovery for zinc is made lower.
Two inventions have been proposed to do away with this problem. They are disclosed in Japanese Patent First Publications No. Sho 62-80234 and No. Hei 1-129933. These two inventions are both related to the blowing-in lance method.
The invention described in Japanese Patent First Publication No. Sho 62-80234 uses a double pipe construction for the lance having outer and inner pipes. Fine coke is supplied through the inner pipe, and oxygen-bearing gas such as oxygen per se or oxygen-enriched air is supplied through the outer pipe, and the fine coke and the oxygen-bearing gas are mixed in the mixing section on the tip of the lance.
The invention described in Japanese Patent First Publication No. Hei 1-129933 uses a zinc calcine supply nozzle located in the center, and several supply nozzles for mixing and discharging the fine coke and oxygen-bearing gas located around the central zinc calcine supply nozzle.
Both of these inventions are characterized by the mixing section being located in the narrow portion of the nozzle tip section where the fine coke and oxygen-bearing gas are mixed, and then after mixing, the mixture is discharged into the furnace from the nozzle outlet port at nearly the speed of sound.
Use of the lance as described in both of the aforementioned inventions improves the gasification rate of the fine coke a degree. However as time elapses, they both experience a rapid decline in the gasification rate, and also the zinc recovery rate declines very rapidly. The reason for this is that the discharge velocity is so high, that the tip of the burner is quickly worn away by the fine coke, and thus the mixture condition of fine coke and oxygen-bearing gas becomes poor causing a decrease in gasification rate and combustibility.
Also, the fine coke which is blown using a lance as in these two inventions, is gasified in an oxygen-poor state inside the furnace. Because the furnace temperature is kept below 1500.degree. C. in order to protect the bricks of the furnace, there is a limit to how far the gasification rate of the fine coke can be improved, regardless of how well the fine coke and oxygen-bearing gas are mixed, for the following reason.
As is well known, in an oxygen-poor state, carbon, which is the main component of the fine coke, is gasified according to the following equations. EQU C(s)+O.sub.2 (g)=CO.sub.2 (g) Eq. 6 EQU C(s)+CO.sub.2 (g)=2CO(g) Eq. 7
In other words, oxygen first reacts with carbon, as shown in Equation 6, to form CO.sub.2 depending on the amount of oxygen. Next, this CO.sub.2 reacts with the remaining carbon, as shown in the Equation 7, to form CO. As is well known, the reaction of Equation 6 is an exothermic reaction which advances very quickly. However the reaction of Equation 7 is an endothermic reaction, and its rate of reaction has a positive correlation with temperature. At temperatures around 1500.degree. C., the rate of reaction of Equation 7 is comparatively slow, and in order to convert all of the remaining carbon into CO, the carbon must remain in the furnace for a long time. However, when the two inventions mentioned above are used, the period of time that the carbon remains in the furnace cannot be lengthened.

Gasifier burner for powdered solid fuels and method for using the same


A classloader executing in an execution environment, such as a JAVA virtual machine or a software container, may be configured to generate class usage data describing the historical usage of classes by applications in the execution environment. Based upon the class usage data, one or more classes may be pre-loaded into a cache prior to receiving a request from an application to load the classes. If an application subsequently requests a class, the request may be satisfied using the class stored in the cache rather than by loading the class at the time the request is received. A probabilistic data structure, such as a Bloom filter, might also be utilized to determine whether a classloader can possibly load a requested class. Only if the classloader can possibly load the requested class will a search be made for the requested class in a classpath associated with the classloader.

Various types of execution environments may be utilized to execute applications. Software containers, for example, are one type of execution environment for applications (which might also be referred to herein as "tenants"). Software containers can provide functionality for executing applications, loading application dependencies, interconnecting applications at run time, managing application lifecycles including integrated application deployment and eviction, multi-tenant execution, and other types of functionality.
Applications executing in a software container typically utilize one or more classloaders in order to load needed classes. Classloaders load requested classes on-demand, as the classes are needed by an application. On-demand loading of classes can, however, cause performance problems in certain types of scenarios. For example, when live network traffic is received at a software container for processing by an application, it may be necessary to load certain classes in order to enable the application to process the traffic. The loading of classes needed by the application at or around the time the traffic is received might impose significantly latency on the processing of the network traffic. Other factors might also contribute to less than optimal performance of classloaders in various types of execution environments.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.


The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for collecting solid microparticles floating in water, and more particularly, to a safe, ease to use, and environmental friendly collecting apparatus and method adapted for collecting radioactive solid microparticles floating and depositing in a cooling water tank of nuclear facility or a tank for storing radioactive materials.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for collecting solid microparticles floating in water, and more particularly, to a collecting apparatus and method adapted for collecting radioactive solid microparticles floating and depositing in a cooling water tank of nuclear facility or a tank for storing radioactive materials.
2. Related Art
Due to factors such as cleaning, cutting, and storing of various radioactive materials, radioactive solid microparticles may spread in a cooling or material-storage water tank of nuclear facility, such as suspended solid and sludge precipitated in the bottom of the water tank.
Conventionally, water is purified by filtering or other methods. Most methods are fixed on the ground instead of being under water, have poor mobility, and cannot be flexibly moved to different polluted areas for treatment. In addition, direct filtering of water in the tank may result in high-activity, heavily-polluted waste filter media, and reduce the service life of the water purification system.

Apparatus and method for collecting solid microparticles floating in water

Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan


In an external authentication system for a multifunction printer according to the present invention, a USB device management section, according to an instruction from a USB device management section instructing section, (i) performs a virtualization process for virtually connecting an information processing device to a user information reading device which is locally connected to a multifunction printer, (ii) manages a status of the connection between the information processing device and the user information reading device; and a multifunction printer association management section associates the multifunction printer controlled by the information processing device with the user information reading device which is locally connected to the multifunction printer. This allows providing a system in which an information processing device can control a plurality of multifunction printers, and carry out user authentication by controlling, via a communication network, USB devices for reading user information which are locally connected to the multifunction printers, respectively.

There have been known a multifunction printer which includes a plurality of functions such as a copying machine, a scanner, a printer, or a facsimile. Further, the development of a communication network allows realizing the following technique. In a case where the multifunction printer and a controlling apparatus including an information processing device are connected to each other via a communication network, it is possible that (i) the controlling apparatus outputs document data to the multifunction printer and the multifunction printer forms a document image corresponding to the received document data, or (ii) the multifunction printer activates software that is stored in the information processing device.
For example, Patent Literature 1 disclose a system established by combining a multifunction printer with an information processing device which can carry out a certain process that can not be carried out by a multifunction printer itself.
In this system, the information processing device provides a menu screen for the multifunction printer to the multifunction printer via a network. The multifunction printer (i) displays the received menu screen so as to accept input from a user, and (ii) sends data of the input to the information processing device via the network. The information processing device carries out an operation in accordance with the input data received from the multifunction printer.
This allows, for example, the multifunction printer to print out a document that is scanned by the multifunction printer and is translated into another language by the information processing device in such a manner that the information processing device (i) receives a document image scanned by the multifunction printer, (ii) carries out optical character recognition (OCR) of the document image, so as to recognize character data and (iii) translates the character data into another language, and (iv) sends the translated character data to the multifunction printer for printing out.
Further, as described in Patent Literature 1, such multifunction printers have been carried out the following operations such as limiting functions available in a multifunction printer depending on a user. This limiting the availability of functions is carried out in such a manner that (i) a USB device such as an IC card reader, a biometric authentication device, or the like is connected to the multifunction printer so as to obtain user information, (ii) the obtained user information is sent to an information processing device via a communication network for user authentication, and (iii) based on a result of the user authentication, the available functions of the multifunction printer are limited to functions permitted to the user.
On the other hand, Patent Literature 2 teaches a remote device control program which realizes a transparent use of a peripheral device at a driver level via a network. With this program, a peripheral device such as a USB device which is locally connected to a computer can be used by another computer as if the peripheral device were locally connected to the another computer.

Information processing device connectable to multifunction printer via communication network, multifunction printer, external authentication system for multifunction printer, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium


A detection and ranging system includes: M transmitting sensor elements configured to transmit a probe signal; N receiving sensor elements configured to receive an echo signal generated upon reflection of the probe signal from a target; a matrix generator configured to generate a third matrix by multiplying a first matrix by a second matrix, the first matrix including as diagonal components L received signals obtained from an effective receiving sensor array formed by synthesizing the M transmitting sensor elements and the N receiving sensor elements, the second matrix being formed of P L-dimensional vectors that are linearly independent of each other; and an estimator configured to estimate a direction of arrival of the echo signal from the target according to a pseudo covariance matrix generated by multiplying the third matrix by Hermitian conjugate transposition of the third matrix.

Conventionally, detection and ranging systems that detect a target using radio waves (e.g., millimeter waves) have been put into practical use. The detection and ranging systems radiate a probe signal to a detection region and receive a reflected signal (i.e., an echo signal) from a target. By analyzing the received echo signal, the detection and ranging systems estimate a line-of-sight direction relative distance to the target (hereinafter simply referred to as "distance"), a line-of-sight direction relative speed of the target (hereinafter simply referred to as "speed"), and the direction to (or angle formed with) the target. Such detection and ranging systems include, for example, a plurality of receiving sensor elements arranged at equal spacing and detect a target according to, for example, the phase of an echo signal received by each receiving sensor element. That is, for a target within a detection region, factors (such as distance, speed, and angle) are estimated. As an example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-145289 is known as one related art.
Some detection and ranging systems that detect a target using a transmitting sensor array having M sensor elements and a receiving sensor array having N sensor elements generate a signal vector based on an echo signal from the target and perform signal processing on the signal vector so as to estimate the direction of arrival of the echo signal (i.e., the angle formed with the target). Such systems and, in particular, detection and ranging systems including radars use a technology called "spatial smoothing" in order to eliminate coherency of received signals.
The echo signal from each target includes angle information of the target. An angle matrix describes, as phase information, the position of a sensor element that receives the signal.
However, in a case in which a plurality of angle vectors that form the angle matrix include angle vectors that are complex-conjugate to each other (this case may more generally be represented as a case in which a certain angle vector is complex-conjugate to a vector represented by a linear combination of other angle vectors; this case will hereinafter be described as an implication), the rank of a covariance matrix of a received-signal vector used to estimate the direction of arrival of an echo signal (i.e., the angle formed with the target) is degraded. In this case, a calculation for estimating a direction of arrival according to an inverse matrix or eigenvalue decomposition of the covariance matrix does not hold true, and targets are not detected accurately in some situations.
The degradation of the rank of a covariance matrix may occur due to the position of a target regardless of coherency of received signals. Accordingly, using the spatial smoothing method for eliminating coherency of received signals does not improve the accuracy of estimation of a direction of arrival (this direction is actually an angle formed with a target, and they will not be distinguished from each other in the following descriptions).
As described above, in the prior art, the rank of a covariance matrix of a received-signal vector has been degraded due to, for example, the position of a target, and, even when the target is located within a detection region, the target is not accurately detected in some situations. Accordingly, reliability or practicability of detection and ranging systems has needed to be enhanced.

Detection and ranging system and angle estimation method


A wrench for holding one fastener element of a nut-and-bolt fastener against rotation while the other fastener element is turned to tighten or loosen the fastener. The wrench comprises a wrench plate having a plurality of different size openings for fitting fastener elements (e.g., the bolt) of different sizes, the wrench plate being engageable with an adjacent part when the other fastener element (e.g., the nut) is turned for holding the one fastener element against rotation, and a resilient mateiral affixed to one face of the wrench plate, the resilient material projecting a relatively small distance beyond an edge of each opening for resilient engagement by the one fastener element (e.g., the bolt) when the latter is fitted into the opening. The resilient engagement of the fastener element and the resilient material holding the wrench plate in a fixed, self-retaining position with respect to the one fastener element prior to turning the other fastener element whereby both hands may be used to turn the latter for tightening or loosening the fastener.

This invention relates generally to hand tools and more particularly to a wrench for holding the bolt, for example, of a nut-and-bolt fastener.
The wrench of the present invention is of the same general type described in my abandoned application, Ser. No. 06/407,836 (filed Aug. 13, 1982). In my prior design, the wrench was held in fixed, self retaining position with respect to one fastener element (such as a bolt or a nut) by a cylindric roller mounted on one face of the wrench plate. The roller could be rotated to engage one of the parts being fastened so that the wrench plate was in clamping engagement with the head of the bolt or with the nut. The requirement of rotating the roller to engage the wrench on the part before tightening the fastener is an extra step which detracts from the convenience of using the wrench. Further, in many applications it is difficult to reach the wrench once applied to the bolt or nut to rotate the roller.


A water-cooled server and an electronic device are provided. The water-cooled server comprises a cooling main tubing, wherein the cooling main tubing guides cooling water; a drainage branch tubing operatively coupled to cooling main tubing; a piston having a first end disposed in the drainage branch tubing and a second end disposed in the cooling main tubing, wherein the first end drives the second end to a first position under pressure of the cooling water to prevent the second end from plugging the cooling main tubing; and an elastic member operatively coupled to the piston, wherein the elastic member drives the second end of the piston to move to a second position to plug the cooling main tubing. An elastic force applied to the piston by the elastic member is smaller than maximum pressure applied to the piston by the cooling water.

In some electronic devices such as computers, water-cooled servers are generally adopted to improve the performance of the electronic devices. One of the biggest security concerns in the electronic devices equipped with the water-cooled server is a cooling water leak. At present, the industry mostly responds by water leak alarm to hand the cooling water leak in the water-cooled server, i.e., setting an alarm system in the electronic devices. After the alarm system is alarmed due to the water leak, an operator manually turns off the water-cooled server and related devices. However, such a coping style requires human involvement, which leads to complicated operation, low efficiency and slow response to the water leak.

Water-cooled server and electronic device


A VCO device is described that has pre-compensation. Digitally switchable compensation capacitors are selectively activated to adjust operation of the VCO to mitigate undesirable operational effects. In some example embodiments, the digitally switchable compensation capacitors of the VCO are adjusted to compensate for the effects of activating (from a quiescent state) an output buffer driven by the VCO.

Frequency synthesizers are commonly used in integrated communication systems to provide a carrier frequency. The frequency synthesizers are typically implemented as Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) using a Phase-Lock Loop (PLL) circuit to stabilize the frequency source and minimize phase noise. An output buffer is often used to amplify the output of the frequency synthesizer and to isolate the frequency synthesizer from load conditions. In portable systems such as cellular telephones, the VCO and the output buffer can be switched on and off to conserve power.


This invention relates to an integrated automatic device for training and feeding a pet, which also functions as a play mate while the owner is absent or otherwise engaged. A toy holder, when actuated by an ejector, throws a toy placed therein to a predetermined distance. This toy holder is actuated by a spring connected to a spring tensioner and a rotating shaft activated by a motor programmed by microprocessors. Voice command issuer and proximity switches are provided to regulate the functioning of the device. The device is connectable to a pet feeder including a feeder capable of supplying feed for a predetermined period. The entire system is controllable by a remote control.

The demand for pet care equipments is on the rise. Pet owners face persistent problems of caring for their pets and feeding and keeping them entertained while they are not at home. It is believed by observation that household pets, namely dogs, cats and other small animals get frustrated due to boredom especially in the absence of their masters. As a consequence, the pets chew on furniture, shoes etc. and destroy them. Pets also tend to be hyperactive when the owners return home. In some cases, pets do not want to eat due to this inactivity and expect the owners to feed them personally. The solution to this would be to keep the pets engaged during these times.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,374 discloses a device designed to throw tennis balls and have a pet fetch the ball to keep the pet entertained. The machine launches the tennis ball automatically once activated and the dog is trained to bring back the ball to the machine. The machine could launch the next ball automatically, upon receipt of the pervious ball, and the cycle continues. This device has to be manually activated, with or without a remote, and the owner of the pet needs to be present for the continuation of this play. Reinforcement for the dog to play with is machine can only be accomplished manually i.e. the master providing a treat with his hands or by petting the pet. Hence, there is no reinforcement for the pet to continue to play without the master. If the master is not present the pet is very likely to quit playing as there is no treats or petting available as a reward for the retrieval of the ball, by the pet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,690 titled discloses a ball with a hollow interior and a functionally solid geometric form that is projected from the inner core to the outside provides for the dispensing of treats at random when the rolling toy is rolled. This random behavior of the ball will release the treat randomly depending on the shape and texture of the treat. The random nature of this behavior would let the pet roll the ball until all such treats have been dispensed and there by ending the play time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,061 discloses a device that may be made of different shapes but provides for pets to access the interior and there by gain access to various treats within the device. The depth of the treat location within the toy and the access difficulty would determine the location of the quality of treats the pet would prefer. This would keep the pet occupied for duration of time to gain access to its favorite treat or force the animal to quit reaching for the harder access areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,657 discloses a motorized pet food feeder having a food storage bin with a top and a bottom, the bottom having an opening. A bowl with a back, front, and a bottom is provided which has a housing extending from the back of the bowl. A motor is mounted to the housing that has a rotating shaft, and an auger is mounted to the rotating shaft. The pet food feeder is adapted to be used with various timing and sensing devices that control the actuation of motor and the duration of actuation, thereby controlling the amount of food transported by the auger to the bowl.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,496 discloses a treat dispensing toy consisting of a gate like structure that can open and close and hence the treat is dispensed. The manipulation of the toy and or various gates to release the treats can also provide feedback by a sound generating device. This keeps the animals occupied to play with the toy and obtain the treat if they are smart and are trained to perform the sequence of actions to gain egress to the treat. If the toy is made of one gate it would be too easy and if it was made with multiple gates it would be hard to train the pet. However the level of difficulty is reduced once the pet is trained and then the sequence of accessing the treat is preprogrammed (automatic) and the treat is accessed by the pet in a short duration. With this the pet will loose its interest to continue to play after the said treat is dispensed.
U.S. Published Application No. 2004/0182326 discloses an apparatus for feeding solid/liquid food for the pet. U.S. Published Application No. 2005/0066905 describes an automated way for feeding pets from the rotating food bowl. A timing mechanism controls the rotation of the bowl and aids in feeding the pet easily. U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,702 also provides for a similar device with different mechanics. Although both devices address feeding the pets at different time both devices do not address the stress experienced by the pet when the owner is not present.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,258 discloses a treat dispensing pet toy and training device consisting of a container with pet food or treats for interactive play with the owner of the pet. This toy could dispense treat and the treat is visible to the pet, motivating the pet to play with the owner to gain access to the treat. This toy however cannot be used without the owner's presence to provide for the treat manually. Hence, this cannot be used when the pet owner is not present and does not server the purpose of keeping the pet occupied when the pet owner is not present.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,916 discloses a toy dispenser that dispenses toys at random or pre-programmed intervals. Dispensing of these toys can be accompanied by odor from an odor generator, vibration from a vibration generator, lights and or sound. This toy dispenser presumes that the pet would be content playing with different toys at different times and hence the pet is kept simulated during the absence of the owner.
Nevertheless, these devices do not overcome the underlying concept of training and entertaining the pet to keeping them engaged and unaware of the absence of their masters for long durations. These devices also do not address the boredom of repeated use of the said devices and they do not provide for continuous reinforcement for the pet to continue to play over a long period and hence the need for development of a new device.


A combination nut cracker and nibbler comprised of an upper moveable jaw, a lower fixed jaw, a front pivot arm secured to the lower fixed jaw, a lever arm secured to the front pivot arm and the upper moveable jaw, a back arm secured to the upper moveable jaw and the lower fixed jaw and a screw threaded shank nibbler secured to the upper moveable jaw.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to nut crackers. More specifically, this invention discloses a nut cracker which contains as an integral element a nibbler for providing selective cracking pressure for difficult to crack nuts.
2. Prior Art
Nut crackers of all shapes and sizes have been created for many years. Because the shell of a nut is usually much harder than the nut meat, care must be taken when cracking the shell so as not to break or shatter the meat. It is thus important in the cracking of the nut that sufficient force be applied to the nut to crack the nut's shell without shattering the meat contained within the nut.
A significant number of nut cracker mechanisms using lever arrangements have been disclosed which permit the application of pressure to the nut shell while attempting not to shatter the meat contained therein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,499,653 discloses a nut cracker with conventional upper and lower jaws for cracking the nut which uses a pivoting lever mechanism to increase the amount of force that can be applied to the nut being cracked. Other such levered nut crackers are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,173,825, 1,543,797 and 1,693,493.
Instead of a levered mechanism for the cracking of nuts, there have also been disclosed devices for cracking nuts comprised of a fixed jaw and a screw-threaded shank. Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,962.
In addition, a device used for the cracking of nuts which contains a levered mechanism and a flat head with a number of prongs attached thereto is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,378.
Although a number of different mechanisms for cracking nuts have been disclosed, there is still a problem with the removal of the meat from the nut after the initial cracking. Further, it is frequently difficult to apply selectively pressure to one particular point on a nut's shell to crack further that shell. No single device has solved these problems to permit an efficient nut cracking device.
Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a nut cracker for the efficient cracking of nuts.
It is another object of this invention to provide a nut cracker which permits the cracking of the nut by use of an upper and lower jaw and also permits selective cracking of the nut by a nibbler.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel nut cracker which permits the application of selective pressure against the nut shell being cracked by directing the pressure to one particular point on the nut shell.
These and other objectives and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description, drawings and claims. The description along with the accompanying drawings provides a selected example of construction of the device to illustrate the invention.


An archery training aid is provided including a body and a finger rest extending outward at an angle from a base. The finger rest can include a finger rest surface configured to engage one or more fingers of a hand. The base can be configured to be placed in engagement with a first lateral grip surface of a bow grip so that the finger rest surface is disposed at a first angle between 25° to 65°, inclusive, or between 30° and 50°, inclusive, relative to the first lateral grip surface. A related method of use is provided to impair or prevent bow torque imparted by an archer's hand on a bow.

The present invention relates to archery products, and more particularly to a training aid for mastering proper grip of an archery bow.
Conventional vertical bows, such as compound bows, recurves and long bows typically include a hand grip associated with a riser that is further joined with limbs between which a bowstring is strung. The bow can include an arrow rest on the riser that supports an arrow. The bowstring includes a nocking point where an opposite end of the arrow is supported on the bowstring.
To draw a vertical bow, an archer will grasp the hand grip with one hand and engage the bowstring with their other hand via their digits or an archery release aid. The archer will then pull the bowstring away from the riser and/or limbs to a drawn configuration, with the arrow still on the arrow rest and supported on the bowstring. While the bow is fully drawn, the archer will acquire a target visually or with a sight mounted to the bow. Then the archer will release the bowstring so that the energy stored in the limbs is translated through the bowstring to propel the arrow along a trajectory. As the arrow initially moves forward, it slides along the arrow rest until eventually all of the arrow clears the arrow rest and embarks upon its flight trajectory.
As the bow is drawn, and when the arrow is being shot, the archer's hand engages the hand grip. The position and orientation of the gripping hand thus has an effect on the arrow because the hand can inadvertently torque the grip, and thus the riser and the arrow rest, thereby affecting arrow flight. For example, if the hand is improperly placed on the grip, the bow's riser and limbs will naturally turn in that hand when the bow is drawn, under the force of the draw. When the bowstring is released, the riser will then spring back to accommodate the improper hand position. As a result, the arrow rest will move with the riser, and thereby alter its engagement with the arrow, typically causing erratic arrow flight, with the arrow thrown to the left or the right in an inconsistent manner. Accordingly, this will cause inconsistent shot placement and compromise accuracy.
To address hand placement relative to the grip and reduce or preferably eliminate the application of bow torque generated by the hand as the bow is drawn, an archer typically has to practice and be extremely diligent about how they engage the grip with their bow hand. To some archers, good hand placement will come quickly or naturally, while to others, it will take work to perfect the grip and eliminate torque.
While the archery industry has attempted to address bow torque with grips that float relative to a bow riser, or other shaped devices that an archer holds in their hand between the grip and the palm, these products many times fall short of assisting an archer in perfecting hand placement and grip to completely address excessive bow torque.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement with regard to products that can assist archers in achieving better hand placement to address bow torque in the field of archery.

Archery training grip and related method


A fluid evaluation device for analyzing a fluid content within a container includes first and second fluid sampling conduits passing laterally into the container and respectively extending to first and second depths within fluid stored in the container, a common fluid conduit to which the first and second fluid sampling conduits extend for receiving fluid flowing out of the container through either of the first or second sampling conduits, and an optical device positioned along the common fluid conduit and including a viewing window for observing fluid flowing therethrough from the common fluid conduit.

At hydrocarbon facilities, crude oil is produced from oil wells and is subsequently transported to a gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) for treatment. Once gas is separated from the crude oil at the GOSP, the crude oil is pumped from the GOSP to tanks for storage and export. Typically, water is mixed with crude oil flowing through pipes as the crude oil leaves a GOSP. Once the crude oil is stored in a tank, the mixture of crude oil and water will separate after a certain settling time. The specific weight and the density of crude oil is less than that of water. Therefore, the water will settle to a bottom region of the tank, and the crude oil will settle on top of the water. A level of the interface between the water and the crude oil will depend on amounts of crude oil and water within the tank. For crude oil within a tank to be sold, a water cut of the tank (for example, the volume of water present in the tank) must be below an acceptable threshold volume. Thus, the volume of water above the threshold volume is drained, and the crude oil remaining in the tank is subsequently shipped. The threshold volume typically corresponds to a certain height of a water level above a floor of the tank.
In order for excess water to be drained from the tank, the water cut in the tank must first be determined. Conventionally, a dip gauge is used to determine a water cut of a tank. In use, an operator climbs to a roof of the tank and drops a dip gauge into the tank while holding on to an end of a deployment cable to which the dip gauge is attached. The dip gauge includes a base material that changes color upon chemically reacting with water. Accordingly, once the dip gauge reaches the bottom of the tank, a height of the dip gauge at which the base material changes color reflects a water level in the tank. The operator pulls the dip gauge from the tank and measures a length of a reacted portion of the dip gauge, where each increment of length of the reacted portion corresponds to a certain volume of water in the tank. Deploying a dip gauge to measure the water cut is associated with several operational, health, and safety risks.

Fluid evaluation devices for oil and gas applications


An estimated value of the amount of fuel which is metered into a cylinder per working cycle is calculated. An estimated value of the indicated torque of the internal combustion engine is calculated as a function of the estimated value of the amount of fuel. An emergency operating mode of the internal combustion engine is actuated if the estimated value and a setpoint value of the indicated torque fulfill a predefined condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of automotive technology. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring an internal combustion engine, in particular an internal combustion engine with direct injection of the fuel and/or extensive throttle-free load control.
A pertinent a prior art method for controlling an internal combustion engine is described in German published patent application DE 42 32 974 A1. There, a setpoint value of a torque which is to be set by means of the air mass flow rate is determined in a device for predefining the output torque. An estimated value of an ignition-angle-standardized actual torque is derived either from the measurement signal of a torque sensor or from the rate at which the air mass is aspirated into the combustion chambers. An ignition angle is adjusted as a function of the deviation between the setpoint value and the standardized estimated value of the torque. Unfortunately, torque sensors are still too expensive or not reliable enough for use in series-produced engines. On the other hand, determining the actual torque as a function of the sensed air mass flow rate supplies sufficiently precise values only for internal combustion engines which are controlled by means of the air mass flow rate.
2. Summary of the Invention
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and a device for monitoring an internal combustion engine, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which is operated with a high excess air factor of the air/fuel mixture and which method and device are reliable and simple.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of monitoring an internal combustion engine, which comprises the following steps:
measuring an excess air factor with an oxygen probe arranged in an exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine; PA1 calculating an estimated value of an amount of fuel actually being metered into a cylinder per working cycle in dependence on the excess air factor determined by the oxygen probe; PA1 calculating an estimated value of an indicated torque of the internal combustion engine as a function of the estimated value of the amount of fuel; and PA1 actuating an emergency operating mode of the internal combustion engine if the estimated value of the indicated torque and a setpoint value of the indicated torque satisfy a predefined condition. PA1 measuring an excess air factor with an oxygen probe arranged in an exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine; PA1 calculating an estimated value of an amount of fuel actually being metered into a cylinder per working cycle in dependence on the excess air factor determined by the oxygen probe; PA1 actuating an emergency operating mode of the internal combustion engine if the estimated value and a setpoint value of the amount of fuel satisfy a predefined condition. PA1 a first device for calculating an estimated value of an amount of fuel being metered into a cylinder per working cycle, the estimated value of the amount of fuel being calculated as a function of an excess air factor determined by an oxygen probe in the exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine; PA1 a second device for calculating an estimated value of an indicated torque of the internal combustion engine as a function of the estimated value of the amount of fuel; and PA1 a third device for controlling an emergency operating mode of the internal combustion engine if the estimated value of the indicated torque and a setpoint value of the indicated torque fulfill a predefined condition.
The estimated value of the indicated torque can be calculated with a high level of quality because the actual amount of fuel is the deciding influencing variable for the value of the actual indicated torque.
The invention has the advantage that it monitors the fuel system which comprises the fuel pump and injection valves.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the excess air factor is corrected as a function of a secondary air mass flow rate.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the estimated value of the indicated torque is additionally determined as a function of a mass flow rate into the cylinder.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the setpoint value of the indicated torque is determined in dependence on a pedal value and a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the predefined condition is a set difference between the estimated value and the setpoint value.
With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of monitoring an internal combustion engine, which comprises the following steps:
In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the excess air factor is corrected as a function of a secondary air mass flow rate.
In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the predefined condition is considered satisfied if a difference between the estimated value and the setpoint value of the amount of fuel is greater than a predefined threshold value for longer than a predefined time period.
With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with an alternative of the invention, a device for monitoring an internal combustion engine of the type having an exhaust gas tract and an oxygen probe in the exhaust gas tract, the device comprising:
The first, second, and third devices may be embodied a separate functional units or individual program batches of a single processor.
It is advantageous for the estimated value of the amount of fuel is calculated as a function of an excess air factor which is determined by an oxygen probe arranged in the exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine. The excess air factor is a measured value with which the estimated value of the amount of fuel is calculated independently of a setpoint value of the amount of fuel.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and device For monitoring an internal combustion engine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Method and device for monitoring an internal combustion engine


The mobile telephones comprise two main elements, namely a body (101) and a battery (103) the powers this body. The users of the mobile telephones may wish, through their mobile telephone, to have functions other than that of communicating with another person. These other functions (107-109) are then incorporated into the battery and a functional connector (120) is placed between the body and the battery. In order to keep a body that is as standard as possible, the functional connector is made detachable. The functional connector then sets up a connection between the contacts (116) of the body and contacts (111) of the battery. Thus the body is the same whatever the type of battery. Similarly, the cost of the telephone is henceforth bone only by those who have need of it.

1. Field of the Invention
An object of the invention is a mobile telephone comprising a detachable connector located between its body and its battery pack. The field of the invention is mobile telephony. However, this field can be extended to all fields that implement modular electronic devices. Indeed, depending on the electronic modules selected for an application, a connection may or may not be needed between these selected modules. It is therefore worthwhile that the connector should be detachable.
The aim of the invention is to reduce the cost of the body of a mobile telephone. Indeed, at the present time, increasing numbers of functions are being incorporated into battery packs. It is therefore necessary to set up a functional connection between the battery pack and the body of the mobile telephone to which the pack will be fixed. This link is set up through a connector of the body and contacts of the pack.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, there are known mobile telephones comprising battery packs provided with different functions, such as a chip-card reader for example. The functional link between the body of the mobile telephone and the chip-card reader is then set up by means of a connector of the body. The connector of the body, which is constituted by retractable pins for example, presses on the contacts of the battery pack. A connection is then set up satisfactorily because the contacts of the battery press on the pins of the body.
However, this approach is not entirely satisfactory since the cost of fitting in the connector has to be borne by all the users of the body, including those using a battery whose sole function is to supply power to the body.
Indeed, in the prior art, the connector of the body is integrated fixedly, at the outset by the use, in the body, of the parts forming the connector. Since the aim is to achieve an economy of scale, it is useful to have the same mold whatever the options and functions of the telephone to be produced. This is why it is no longer judicious to incorporate a connector on the battery side and contacts on the telephone. Indeed, this method would result in identical mobile telephone bodies, but the connector placed on the battery pack would not be needed every time and would therefore entail excess cost for certain models.
The invention resolves these problems by using a detachable connector placed between the body of the mobile telephone and the battery pack. The connector is then put into place only when needed, namely when a battery comprising ancillary functions is connected to the body of the telephone. The detachable connector is then fixed either to the body of the telephone or to the battery. In a preferred embodiment, it is fixed to the body of the mobile telephone. Thus, whatever the body of the mobile telephone and the battery coupled to it, the physical interface between the body and the battery pack will be identical. The battery pack has contacts designed for the setting up of a connection with the detachable connector, and the body of the telephone has a receptacle for the detachable connector.
An object of the invention therefore is a mobile telephone comprising a body of the mobile telephone and a battery pack, wherein the mobile telephone comprises a detachable connector that conducts a signal between contacts located, firstly, on the body of the mobile telephone and, secondly, on the battery pack.
The invention will be understood more clearly from the following description and the appended figures. These figures are given purely by way of an indication and in no way restrict the scope of the invention. Of these figures:
FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile telephone body and a battery pack according to the invention.
FIG. 2 provides a detailed illustration of a connector according to the invention and its receptacle on the body of the telephone.

Mobile telephone comprising a detachable connector between its body and its battery pack