A method and apparatus are disclosed for redistributing light to shift the apparent position of light generation and provide a more uniform area of light emission from a light assembly incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart light sources. Divergent light from each light source is collimated into a beam. Portions of each beam are diverted from the direction of the beam, transmitted laterally and redirected to emerge from the light assembly radially spaced from the position of the light source producing the beam. An internal reflecting lens member molded from optical plastic is disclosed as one apparatus for carrying out the method. The disclosed method and apparatus are particularly applicable to light assemblies incorporating an array of LEDs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lenses for warning and signal lights and more particularly to lenses for redistribution of light from several light sources over the surface area of a signal or warning light
2. Description of the Related Art
Relatively recent advances in the manufacture of light emitting diodes (LEDs) have made them an attractive light source for many purposes previously employing incandescent, halogen or strobe light sources. LED light sources have longer life, higher efficiency and are more durable than previous light sources. One complicating factor in the employment of LED light sources for many purposes is that the light output from several LEDs must be combined to equal the effective light output of a single light source of the type previously used.
It is known to use external lenses configured to refract light emitted from LED light sources into a desired pattern where the light from each LED is redirected to overlap with that of other LEDs in the array to form a desired pattern. Another approach is to fill the surface area for a warning or indicator light with a plurality of outward-facing LEDs. This approach effectively fills the surface area of the warning or indicator light with a relatively uniform light output. Using many LEDs partially defeats the efficiency advantages of an LED by employing more LEDs than would be necessary if the LEDs"" light output were more effectively harnessed. Using many LEDs also complicates design of the light by employing a dense array of LEDs in which heat removal becomes an issue.
An alternative approach is to use a reflector to combine and redirect the light output of a plurality of LEDs. Combining the light output of a plurality of LEDs in a reflector is effective for many warning and signaling purposes. However, there are warning and signal light applications in which the configuration of the necessary warning or indicating light and/or its mounting location is not conducive to use of a reflector.
There is a need in the art for novel and versatile means for redistributing the light from a plurality of LEDs to provide a more uniform fill over the surface area of a warning or signaling light. Uniform light emission may be required comply with standards imposed by governmental agencies for particular warning or signaling purposes. Improved uniformity of light emission may also be desirable for aesthetic purposes.
Briefly stated, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a lens member that uses internal reflection to redistribute light from an array of LEDs into a more uniform pattern of light emission. The lens includes collimators positioned to receive the divergent light produced by each LED and redirect that divergent light into a substantially collimated beam. An exemplary embodiment of the collimator is a cone-like configuration of refractive plastic that produces a circular collimated beam which is symmetrically distributed around and parallel to the optical axis of each LED light source.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a first group of internal lens surfaces are arranged to reflect a portion of each collimated beam toward an area of the light assembly which does not include an LED light source and would otherwise present an area of reduced light output. This first group of internal lens surfaces has an angular orientation relative to the collimated beam calculated to redirect the reflected light to a path substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the LED. The internal lens surfaces are also configured to impart a directional component to the intercepted light in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the LED such that the intercepted light is directed toward an area of the warning or signal light lacking a light source. The shape and angular orientation of the first group of internal lens surfaces are dependent upon the distribution of LEDs in the array as well as the overall shape of the warning or signal light.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a second group of internal lens surfaces is positioned to redirect light from the first group of internal lens surfaces into a path substantially parallel to the path of the LED optical axis/collimated beam. The angular orientation and shape of this second group of internal lens surfaces is related to the shape of the warning or signal light and cooperates with the shape and orientation of the first group of internal lens surfaces. A portion of the light output of each LED light source is redistributed from a collimated beam immediately surrounding the optical axis of the LED to an area of the light assembly that would otherwise present an area of reduced light emission. Areas of reduced light emission, or dark spots, aside from being aesthetically unattractive, may not be permitted by the applicable standard regulating warning and signal lights.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved means for redistributing the light output from a plurality of LEDs over the surface area of a warning or indicating light.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method for redistributing light from a plurality of LEDs over the surface area of a warning or signaling light that improves the efficiency and versatility of light sources employing the lens.

Method and apparatus for light redistribution by internal reflection


A curtain ring having a fragrance-releasing material mounted on its inner diameter. The material is selected so that the fragrance will only be released when the consumer opens or closes the curtain, that is, only when the material is rubbed against the curtain rod.

For as long as there has been a sense of smell, man has attempted to mask the less desirable odors of society. This is nowhere more evident than in the room deodorizer industry. There are solids, liquids, sprays and even electrically powered deodorizers, all with their own individual problems.
Except for sprays, all of the other types of deodorizers suffer serious drawbacks because they work automatically, regardless of the immediate need to mask odors or even the presence of people in the room. The solids and liquids include a fragrant chemical that slowly dissolves and releases the fragrance into the room. Unfortunately, they release the chemical all the time. If an occupant leaves the premises for an extended period of time, for example, by going on vacation, the solids and liquids continue to release their chemicals, saturating the air with the fragrance and causing the furniture and other fabrics in the premises to become impregnated by the smell. Further, once the occupant returns, he or she will not only be subjected to a much higher level of fragrance than normally desired, but will also be breathing in an unhealthy amount of the fragrance chemicals.
These solids and liquids also cause tremedous environmental waste. Not only are the chemicals constantly pumped out, but they usually come in disposable containers that become part of the waste stream, which is an ever-increasing concern.
Electric-powered deodorizers cause even greater harm in that they not only dispense an excess of fragrance, but waste valuable energy doing it, in addition to the pollution resulting from the creation of that energy.
Sprays overcome some of these problems, in that they are only used when desired by the occupant, thus avoiding any serious waste. However, sprays require that the occupant keep the bottle or can within easy reach. Also, the can or bottle from which the spray is dispensed is also usually thrown away into the waste stream. The sprays can also coat furniture with the chemicals or even coat the user.
In view of the deficiencies of the known room deodorizers, it is an object of the present invention to provide a deodorizer that will automatically dispense fragrance into a room, but only when the occupant is present.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a deodorizer that does not use any electricity or other commercial energy source.
It is another object of the invention that the deodorizer be replaceable.
It is yet another object of the invention that the deodorizer be easily and cost-effectively manufactured.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, a curtain ring is provided with a fragrance-releasing material mounted on its inner diameter. The material is selected so that the fragrance will only be released when the consumer opens or closes the curtain, that is, only when the material is rubbed against the curtain rod.


A method and apparatus for suppressing electrical transient signals, occurring on power lines, includes a clamping circuit for switching from a high impedance to a low impedance at a certain switching voltage, to suppress the transient signals. A first blocking circuit inhibits the clamping circuit from switching to maintain it at its high impedance during normal line voltage, and permits the clamping circuit to switch to its low impedance for clamping purposes responsive to an initial portion of a transient signal for initial suppression purposes. A second blocking circuit has a second low impedance, which is substantially lower than said first low impedance of the first blocking circuit, for inhibiting substantially the first blocking circuit from continuing to dissipate the transient signal following the initial time period, and for permitting the clamping circuit to suppress the transient signal following the initial time period. When coupled to a three conductor power line, unidirectional devices are employed to couple transient signals from any one of the three conductors of the power line, to the clamping circuit.

There have been many different types and kinds of transient suppression systems and methods for suppressing high energy transient signals occurring on electrical power lines. Such transient signals are typically high voltage pulses having an extremely fast rise time. Transients can result from different conditions, such as lightening strikes and radio frequency interference. Such transient signals may reach peak voltages of as high as 20,000 peak volts, but generally do not exceed 6,000 volts.
Conventional transient signal suppressing systems used for protecting electrical equipment, such as computer and other types and kinds of electronic equipment, have been disclosed in numerous U.S. patents. For example, reference may be made to the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,095,163; 4,271,446; 4,563,720; 4,571,656; 4,587,588; 4,630,163; 4,698,721; and 4,760,485. Such patented systems have heretofore included various types of filters, isolation transformers, and high energy transient suppression devices, such as metal oxide varistors, gas tubes, and silicon avalanche suppressors.
While such prior known methods and systems may have been successful for some applications, it has been difficult, if not impossible for such systems or devices to suppress the transients to a sufficiently low level, to provide an improved form of protection for valuable electrical equipment. Additionally, such a new and improved transient suppression system should respond quickly to suppress the fast rising high energy transients effectively. In this regard, conventional suppression systems can clamp the spurious transient signals to about 500 or 600 only. Such a voltage level is unsafe for some applications.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved method and apparatus for suppressing transients in a more effective manner. In this regard, it would be highly desirable to suppress them to a safer and substantially lower lever, than heretofore possible. Moreover, the fast rising transients must be responded to, instantly, in an improved manner.
Another problem associated with the prior art is that several duplicative or redundant transient suppressing devices have been required to suppress transients for each of the respective conductors in a conventional three power line conducting system having a hot, neutral and ground wire. Such duplication of clamping elements makes the manufacturing of the system more expensive. With the use of duplicated or redundant elements, such an arrangement is more complex in its operation and use.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a transient suppressing system, which is capable of clamping transient signals on any one of the conductor lines in a simplified manner, and yet be able to suppress effectively the transients to a safer lower level within a fast response time.

Method and apparatus for suppressing electrical transients


A healthcare patient appointment management system for managing patient appointments. The system includes an interactive voice response (IVR), teleconsult module, and SMS messaging system. The IVR module calls a patient, and solicits patient responses to confirm a patient appointment. The teleconsult module provides a teleconsultation with the patient. And the SMS messaging system provides SMS messages to the patient. A controller is in communication with the IVR module, teleconsult module, and SMS messaging system. The controller receives the patient responses from the interactive voice response module and determines if the patient confirmed the patient appointment. If the controller determines that the patient does not confirm the patient appointment, then the controller sends an SMS message to the patient via the SMS messaging system. The SMS message includes a link to conduct the teleconsultation with the patient and a healthcare provider via the teleconsult module.

Healthcare has come of age. The industry has grown in double digits over the last decade, due to the over-growing population. The population curve has seen an upward trend when it comes to the geriatric population. This class is usually dependent on the working or philanthropic class for all their needs including healthcare.
Though healthcare has shown a significant growth, the providers haven't been able to do much to fill up for patient no-show. Missed medical appointments not only disrupt schedules, but also leave doctors and nurses with gaps during the workday. In addition to this, it also creates financial burden for the providers.
No-show appointments represent a major burden on health care systems and have a negative impact on patient care. For instance, patient no-shows can cause scheduling and operational difficulties for clinics leading to reduced productivity. No-shows can also reduce access to care, as well as interrupt continuity of care and effective disease management for patients. Although the level of economic impact differs according to the size and nature of the healthcare organization, the overall financial cost of no-shows is substantial.
According to a 2016 study published in Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), Basel by the journal Healthcare, it was estimated that the financial cost to the United Kingdom National Health Service (from nonattendance at outpatient clinics) was approximately 790 million Euros per year. Similarly, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in the United States, estimates the cost of no-shows and unused appointments to be approximately $564 million annually. Likewise, a quality improvement project aimed to reduce the 'no show' rate in a Pediatric Neurology Clinic at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar conducted in 2016 highlights that 49 percent of patients referred to pediatric neurology did not show up for their appointments leading to long waiting times for new patients, and a waste of clinic resources. The same study underlines that the international bench-mark for primary care clinics is 5-10 percent, however for specialist healthcare centers, the no-show rate has been reported to be higher. This has created a dent in the pockets of the healthcare providers leading to wasted resources.
In addition, the nature of patients with respect to the use of technology has also to some extent hampered patient engagement and activation. As the providers' quest for population health management (PHM) focus finally shifts towards patient engagement, there has been growing interest from data/analytics firms, payers, telecom and device makers, and non-healthcare tech giants in bringing out user-friendly tools and apps. While this is being done, it's become challenging to understand where things are in terms of the adoption and impact of clinical patient engagement technology. Though telemedicine has been around for some time now, the use and spread has been very limited.

Smart communications and analytics learning engine


An information handling system may include at least one information handling resource and a power management subsystem configured to: receive signals from a plurality of power supply units, each signal indicative of an environmental parameter associated with a respective power supply of the plurality of power supply units; determine, for each of the plurality of power supply units, a respective environmental effective power capacity based on the respective signal indicative of the environmental parameter for such power supply unit and an environmental profile for such power supply unit; and manage power consumption of the at least one information handling resource based on environmental effective power capacities of the plurality of power supply units.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
An information handling system may include one or more power supply units for providing electrical energy to components of the information handling system. Existing power supply units often have a rated effective output power capacity that is characterized for temperatures generally found in controlled temperature datacenter environments. However, occasionally it may be desired to use an information handling system in a data center in which temperature cannot be maintained within those temperatures for which power supply units of the information handling system are rated. In other words, while an effective power capacity of a power supply unit may meet its rated value with typical ambient temperatures (e.g., 5° C. to 35° C.), the effective capacity may be significantly reduced in high-temperature (e.g., 35° C. to 55° C.) and low-temperature (e.g., −20° C. to 5° C.) environments.
Power management systems of traditional information handling systems typically only take into account the rated effective power capacities of power supply units when controlling power use by components of information handling systems. Accordingly, when such information handling systems are used in extreme temperature environments, power may be demanded in excess of a reduced power capacity for a power supply unit, which may cause over-temperature or over-current conditions to occur within a power supply unit, to which a power supply unit may respond by taking protective measures such as powering down the power supply unit to prevent damage to the power supply unit. Such powering down of a power supply unit reduces overall power capacity within an information handling system, which the information handling system may respond to by throttling components of the information handling system, leading to decreased performance.

Systems and methods for minimizing system hardware throttling due to power supply unit environmental effective capacity


A position detection system for detecting a movement of a machine includes a first and a second position sensor and an evaluation device. The first position sensor is configured to detect a change in a first magnetic field generated by the movement of the machine. The second position sensor is configured to detect a change in a second magnetic field, which differs from the first magnetic field and is generated by the movement of the machine. A detection result from the second position sensor has a lower resolution of a position of an element of the machine to be determined than a detection result from the first position sensor. The evaluation device is configured to evaluate the detection result from the first position sensor and/or the detection result from the second position sensor to determine the position of the element of the machine.

Machines, for example electrical machines, motors, generators, rotating machines, linear machines etc., are used in many fields of technology to cause objects to move, for example, to generate electrical energy, etc. Depending on the application, it is important to know, during operation of the machine and/or for the activation of the machine, the position in which the machine is situated in order to be able to carry out a defined movement with the aid of the machine during operation.
Such machines, in particular synchronous motors, need the determined position to control the location of an element driven by the machine and to enable the optimum commutation angle for controlling the power electronics. So that this is possible without further activities after switch-on, the position must be clear within one revolution of the machine.
The problem is that there is little space in the machine for the position detection system, that the position detection system is intended to be robust with respect to mechanical loads and environmental influences, is intended to be economical to produce, is intended to provide a high quality and a high resolution and is intended to be able to safely form the position for personal protection.

Position detection system and method for detecting a movement of a machine


An embodiment takes the form of a system that obtains application-usage data from a personal mobile device of a vehicle operator of a vehicle. The application-usage data reflects a usage, during operation of the vehicle, of an application on the personal mobile device. The system identifies a vehicle feature, of the vehicle, that provides a vehicle functionality similar to an application functionality provided by the application on the personal mobile device, and performs a comparison of the obtained application-usage data with feature-usage data. The feature-usage data reflects a usage, during operation of the vehicle, of the identified vehicle feature. The system determines, based on the comparison, a usage preference for the application during operation of the vehicle over the identified vehicle feature.

Vehicles may be equipped with hardware and software that provide drivers or other vehicle occupants with a rich user experience. For instance, a vehicle may include a touchscreen display and software applications that can be operated via the touchscreen display. These software applications may assist with vehicle navigation, provide weather conditions or other information to the driver, or allow for playback of podcasts or other media, as examples.

Methods and systems for determining a usage preference of a vehicle operator

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.


A method for treating the heart and associated vessels and tissues, by controlling the temperature of the pericardial space and/or introducing therapeutic agents, drugs or the like thereto, includes providing a fluid, liquid(s), gas(es) or mixtures thereof, with or without therapeutic agents, drugs or the like, and heating and/or cooling, this fluid. At a time proximate to the heating and/or cooling of the fluid, the pericardial space is accessed by pericardiocentesis, such that the pericardium is punctured and the pericardial space is instrumentized at a location, and in particular, a location where treatment is desired. The heated and/or cooled fluid is then delivered to the pericardial space. At a time after delivery, the fluid is withdrawn from the pericardium, through either the same catheter, or through another catheter at different point along the pericardium, that was also instrumentized (catheterized) by standard pericardiocentesis procedures. This delivery and withdrawal of the fluid may be coordinated, so as to form a circuit.

Knowledge of the pericardium (pericardial sac) dates back to the time of Galen (129-200 A.D.) the Greek physician and anatomist who created the term "pericardium." The pericardium is a conical membranous sac in which the heart and the commencement of the great vessels are contained. Gray's Anatomy (1977 ed.) pp. 457-460. The pericardium is fluid-filled and functions to prevent dilatation of the chambers of the heart, lubricates the surfaces of the heart, and maintains the heart in a fixed geometric position. It also provides a barrier to the spread of infection from adjacent structures in the chest cavity and prevents surrounding tissue(s) from adhering to the heart. The space between the pericardium and the heart, known as the pericardial space, is normally small in volume and the fluid film within it is too thin to functionally separate the heart and the pericardium. It has been observed that when fluid is injected into the pericardial space, it accumulates in the atrioventricular and interventricular grooves, but not over the ventricular surfaces. See, Shabetai R., "Pericardial and Cardiac Pressure", Circulation, 77:1 (1988).
Pericardiocentesis, or puncture of the pericardium, heretofore has been performed for; 1) diagnosis of pericardial disease(s) by study of the pericardial fluid; 2) withdrawal of pericardial fluid for the treatment of acute cardiac tamponade; and 3) infusion of therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignant effusion or tumors. During 1994, it was estimated that approximately 12,000 pericardiocentesis procedures were performed in the United States and that less than 200 of these patients underwent therapy with the intrapericardial injection of drugs. At present, intrapericardial injection of drugs is clinically limited to the treatment of abnormal pericardial conditions and diseases, such as malignant or loculated pericardial effusions and tumors. Drugs that have been injected into the pericardial space include antibiotic (sclerosing) agents, such as tetracycline, bleyomycin and streptokinase.
Intrapericardial drug delivery has not been clinically utilized for heart-specific treatments where pericardial pathology is normal, because the pericardial space is normally small and very difficult to access without invasive surgery or risk of cardiac injury by standard needle pericardiocentesis techniques. Normally, pericardiocentesis procedures are carried out by highly specialized, experienced personnel in the cardiac catheterization laboratory of medical facilities, assisted by fluoroscopy and electrocardiogram monitoring equipment.
Electrocardiographic monitoring of the procedure using the pericardial needle as an electrode is commonly employed, as disclosed in Bishop L. H., et al., "The Electrocardiogram as a Safeguard in Pericardiocentesis", in JAMA, 162:264 (1956), and Neill J. R., et al., "A Pericardiocentesis Electrode", in The New England Journal of Medicine, 264:711 (1961); Gotsman M. S., et al. "A Pericardiocentesis Electrode Needle", in Br. Heart J., 28:566 (1966); and Kerber R. E., et al., "Electrocardiographic Indications of Atrial Puncture During Pericardiocentesis", in The New England Journal of Medicine, 282:1142 (1970). An echocardiographic transducer with a central lumen has also been used to guide the pericardiocentesis needle, as reported in Goldberg B. B., et al., "Ultrasonically Guided Pericardiocentesis", in Amer. J. Cardiol., 31:490 (1973).
However, there are complications associated with needle pericardiocentesis. These complications include laceration of a coronary artery or the right ventricle, perforation of the right atrium or ventricle, puncture of the stomach or colon, pneumothorax, arrhythmia, tamponade, hypertension, ventricular fibrillation, and death. Complication rates for needle pericardiocentesis are increased in situations where the pericardial space and fluid effusion volume is small (i.e. the pericardial size is more like normal).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,428 (Chin, et al.) discloses a method and apparatus for accessing the pericardial space for the insertion of implantable defibrillation leads. This method requires gripping the pericardium with a forceps device and cutting the pericardium with a scalpel (pericardiotomy) under direct vision through a subxiphoid surgical incision.
Uchida Y., et al., "Angiogenic Therapy of Acute Myocardial Infarction by Intrapericardial Injection of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Heparin Sulfate", in Circulation AHA Abstracts (1994) reported a method for the intrapericardial injection of angiogenic agents. While not described in detail, this method generally involved the percutaneous transcatheter bolus injection of drugs into the pericardial cavity via the right atrium. A major drawback of this method is that the right atrial wall is crossed, that could lead to bleeding into the pericardial space. In addition, the method involved the bolus injection of drugs rather than long-term delivery via a catheter or controlled release material.

Treatment method via the pericardial space


An assembly includes a seat and an armrest moveable relative to the seat. A first arm and a second arm each include a first hinge and a second hinge. The first hinges are spaced from each other and fixed relative to the seat. The second hinges are spaced from each other and fixed relative to the armrest.

A vehicle seat may include a side airbag that deploys from a side of the seat forward along a side of an occupant during a vehicle impact. In the inflated position, the side airbag inflates along the crest of the pelvic bone, the soft tissues above the pelvic bone, and the lower rib cage. Vehicles may include armrests adjacent the seat. For example, the armrest may be mounted to the seat or to the floor adjacent the seat and may extend upwardly along the side of the seat. The space occupied by the armrest and the space occupied by the airbag in the inflated position may create competing design factors in the design of the seat to ensure that the armrest is in a desired position and does not inhibit the inflation of the side airbag.


Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins in water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time. In an embodiment, a method of making an alcohol comprises introducing an olefin into a water stream to form a gas-liquid stream. The method further comprises flowing the gas-liquid stream through a high shear device so as to form a dispersion with gas bubbles having a mean diameter less than about 1 micron. In addition, the method comprises contacting the gas-liquid stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.

A process for hydrating an olefin, especially a lower olefin such as ethylene, propylene or butene, to prepare a corresponding alcohol such as ethanol, propanol or butanol, is industrially important as alcohol has applications in many areas of industry, science, medicine, and technology. In light of the recent developments in using ethanol as a fuel source, improved processes for producing alcohol has become even more desirable Various processes are known for the alcohol hydration reaction, but using a mineral acid such as sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid as a catalyst has been the most prevalent industrial method of production. In addition, isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) is widely used today as a solvent, disinfectant and fuel additive. In the chemical industry it is a very useful intermediate in organic synthesis.
Typically, alcohols such as ethanol or isopropanol may be produced by hydrating olefins using a phosphoric acid supported on a silica gel. In this process, however, phosphoric acid supported on the silica gel may be eluted causing degradation of catalyst activity. Accordingly, it is necessary to perpetually add phosphoric acid. Therefore, problems arise in connection with the treatment of the discharged waste liquid and the corrosion of the material of equipment. Furthermore, a large quantity of energy is necessary for recovery of unreacted ethylene or separation and purification of the produced ethanol because the conversion of ethylene is low.
A liquid phase process using sulfuric acid has also been widely adopted for the hydration of propylene or butenes, industrially. However, in this process, a large quantity of energy is necessary for hydrolysis of a sulfuric acid ester once formed. Because of the concentration and regeneration of the diluted aqueous sulfuric acid solution, equipment may be violently corroded by the acid at high temperatures.
From equilibrium considerations, it is preferred that the hydration of olefins be carried out at a low temperature under a high pressure, and ordinarily, these reaction conditions provide high conversions of olefins to alcohols. However, it is necessary to obtain an industrially satisfactory rate of reaction, and practically, severe conditions of high temperatures and high pressures are adopted for obtaining such a high rate of reaction. For these reasons, it is desired to develop a highly active solid acid catalyst for the hydration of olefins, which is capable of reducing the consumption of energy and not causing corrosion of equipment or other trouble.
Attempts have been made to use solid catalysts for the hydration of olefins. For example, processes have been proposed using complex oxides composed of silica, alumina, zirconia, titanium oxide, molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide, metal phosphates such as aluminum phosphate and zirconium phosphate, and crystalline aluminosilicates called "zeolites" such as mordenite and Y type zeolite. However, these catalysts possess a low activity and the activity is gradually degraded when the reaction is carried out at a high temperature.
As can be seen from the above discussion, previous methods rely on improving the catalysts used in the hydration reaction. Presently, little or no investigation has been done in improving mixing of the reactants e.g. olefins and water for improving and optimizing the reaction.
Consequently, there is a need for accelerated methods for making an alcohol by improving the mixing of olefins into the water phase.


A series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle may have: a hydraulic circuit with a first hydraulic displacement unit in fluid communication with a second hydraulic displacement unit, a hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic accumulator assembly. The hydraulic accumulator assembly is selectively in fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit via at least one controllable circuit valve. The hydraulic accumulator assembly is selectively in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator via at least one controllable actuator valve, such that the hydraulic accumulator assembly is configured to be selectively fluidly connected with and to be selectively fluidly disconnected from the hydraulic actuator via the at least one actuator valve independently of a control position of the at least one circuit valve. A method of operating the system is also described.

The invention relates to a series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle and to a method of operating a series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle.
Series hydraulic hybrid systems for vehicles including a hydraulic accumulator assembly for storing hydraulic energy and for selectively injecting the hydraulic energy stored in the hydraulic accumulator assembly in a hydrostatic circuit for propelling the vehicle are generally known from the prior art.
WO2015144349A1 discloses a hydraulic hybrid driveline including a hydrostatic circuit, a hydraulic accumulator assembly and a hydraulic actuator for controlling the hydraulic displacement of a hydrostatic pump. A plurality of shuttle valves are configured to fluidly connect the hydraulic actuator with either the hydrostatic circuit or the accumulator assembly, depending on a hydraulic pressure in the hydrostatic circuit and on a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic accumulator assembly.
Based on the prior art, the technical problem underlying the present invention consists in designing a series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle including a hydraulic circuit and a hydraulic actuator, wherein the system is configured to supply energy to both the hydraulic circuit and the hydraulic actuator with a preferably high degree of efficiency and under a preferably large number of different operating conditions.

Series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle and method of operating a series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle


In the present invention, there are provided a movement member which includes an engaging section, which is engaged with an intermediate part of an operation shaft of a joystick device, and operates as one body with the operation shaft at a time of performing an inclining operation of the operation shaft, and a damper case in which the movement member is movably inserted, and which holds a viscous fluid which increases a sliding resistance of the movement member when the movement member is moved. Thereby, a desired operational sensation can be always obtained, and a stable bending operation can be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operation device which bend-operates, by motor driving, a bending section that is provided at a distal end side of an insertion section of an endoscope, and to a bending operation device of the endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a flexible endoscope, in which an insertion section that is to be inserted into the body has flexibility, has widely been used. The insertion section of the flexible endoscope includes an elongated flexible tube section, a bendable bending section which is continuously provided at a distal end of the flexible tube section, and a distal-end rigid section which is provided at a foremost end portion of the insertion section.
An operation section is provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion section. The operation section is provided with bending operation input means such as a bending operation lever. A bending amount of the bending section is instructed and input by operating the bending operation input means, such as a bending operation lever of the operation section. At this time, the bending amount of the bending section is set by, e.g. a bending position and a bending speed of the bending section. Further, on the basis of the bending amount that is instructed and input from the bending operation input means, a bending operation wire is pulled and operated and the bending section is bend-operated.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-321612 (patent document 1) discloses a motor-driven bending endoscope as bend-driving means of a bending section. In the motor-driven bending endoscope, a driving motor is built in an operation section. The motor is rotated and controlled, and a bending operation wire is pulled and operated by the driving force of the motor. Thereby, the bending section is bend-operated by motor driving.
In this case, the operation section is provided with a joystick as bending operation input means. The joystick includes an operation shaft which is vertically erected on a base. The operation shaft is pivotally supported such that a proximal portion of the operation shaft is pivotable about a pivotal support point. Normally, the operation shaft is urged in a state in which the operation shaft is held in a neutral position where the operation shaft is vertically erected on the base. At this time, the bending section is held in a non-bent shape in which the bending section extends straight.
In addition, the maximum inclination angle of the operation shaft of the joystick, at a time when the operation shaft is inclined in an arbitrary direction from the neutral position (inclination angle: 0°) about the pivotal support point, is set at, e.g. about 30°. The maximum bend angle of the bending section, which bends in accordance with the inclining operation of the operation shaft of the joystick, is set at, e.g. about 180° or 160°. At this time, the inclining operation angle of the operation shaft of the joystick is set to be proportional to the bend angle of the bending section. Accordingly, the bend angle of the bending section is set to be greater, compared to the inclining operation angle of the operation shaft of the joystick. For example, when the inclination angle of the operation shaft of the joystick is 1°, the bending section is bend-operated at a bend angle of about 6°.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-230535 (patent document 2) discloses a motor-driven bending endoscope having a structure that is different from the structure of patent document 1. In this case, a bag in which a liquid having viscosity is sealed is provided, as a resistor to the inclining operation of an operation shaft of a joystick functioning as bending operation input means, so as to cover a part of the operation shaft of the joystick.
When the joystick is operated, the bag is deformed in accordance with the inclining operation of the operation shaft. At this time, an operational resistance to the joystick is caused by operating the operation shaft against the viscous force of the liquid having viscosity, which is sealed in the bag. By this structure, the operator's unintended bending operation of the bending section can be prevented.
It is also disclosed that a first bag, in which a liquid with low viscosity is sealed, is provided on the operation shaft side of the joystick, and a second bag, in which a liquid with high viscosity is sealed, is provided outside the first bag. In this case, at the time of operating the joystick, if the operation shaft of the joystick is slightly operated, as in a case of bend-operating the bending section at a small bend angle, the operational resistance decreases. In addition, it is described that if the operation shaft of the joystick is greatly operated, as in a case of bend-operating the bending section at a large bend angle, the operational resistance increases.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-135385 (patent document 3) discloses a structure wherein an operation shaft of a joystick is attached via a rubber boot which is watertightly provided on a casing of an operation section in which the joystick is assembled. In this case, an adjusted margin is provided in a recess portion for disposing the rubber boot, in which the rubber boot is disposed. Thus, by attaching the rubber boot in accordance with the neutral position of the joystick, the restoration of the operation shaft itself of the joystick to the neutral position is not influenced by non-uniformity of attachment of the rubber boot.

Operation device and bending operation device of endoscope


A method for performing a spacer etch process is described. The method includes providing a gate structure on a substrate having a low-k spacer material conformally applied over the gate structure, and performing a spacer etch process sequence to partially remove the spacer material from the gate structure and the substrate, while retaining a sidewall spacer positioned along a sidewall of the gate structure. The spacer etch process sequence may include depositing a spacer protection layer on an exposed surface of said spacer material, and performing one or more etching processes to selectively and anisotropically remove the spacer protection layer and the spacer material to leave behind the sidewall spacer on the sidewall of the gate structure, wherein, while being partly or fully consumed by the one or more etching processes, the spacer protection layer exhibits a reduced variation in composition and/or dielectric constant.

In semiconductor manufacturing and during the fabrication of a transistor gate, a spacer material is conformally applied to the transistor gate, and then partially removed to form a sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the transistor gate. During the partial removal of the spacer material from the transistor gate and the substrate, the success of a spacer etch process is determined by measuring, among other things, the following performance metrics: (a) the size of the sidewall spacer footing, (b) the depth of the substrate recess, (c) the amount of sidewall spacer critical dimension (CD) slimming, and (d) the depth of the spacer top recess. Conventional spacer etch processes produce unacceptable results in at least one of these performance metrics.
Furthermore, as the dimensions of the transistor gate continue to shrink, the fringe capacitance between the gate and contact, as well as between the gate and facet of the source/drain (S/D), has increased. To counter this increase in fringe capacitance, low-k dielectric materials have been implemented as the spacer material. Therefore, the success of the spacer etch process is also determined by measuring the effect of the spacer etch process on the resultant dielectric constant of the low-k dielectric material used for the spacer material. Conventional spacer etch processes deplete the spacer material of various constituents, which in turn, causes an undesirable increase in the dielectric constant.

Method for reducing damage to low-k gate spacer during etching


In an approach for adjusting an order of actions to process a request, a processor receives a request that includes a set of actions to be performed in a first order. A processor receives monitored information of a service utilized to perform at least one action of the set of actions. A processor compares the monitored information to previously stored information. A processor determines that at least one aspect of the service is experiencing decreased performance based on the comparison. A processor identifies a first action of the set of actions corresponding to the at least one aspect of the service experiencing decreased performance. A processor adjusts the request, such that the request includes the set of actions to be performed in a second order, wherein the second order includes the first action is in a different position. A processor causes the adjusted request to be processed.

The present invention relates generally to the field of request management, and more particularly to rearranging actions necessary to complete a request based on monitored information indicating performance degradation in a cloud environment.
Cloud computing involves application systems which are executed within the cloud and operated through internet enabled devices. Cloud computing is computing in which large groups of remote servers are networked to allow centralized data storage and online access to computer services or resources. Cloud networks can be classified as public, private, or a hybrid of the two. Cloud services within the cloud services are made available to users on demand via the Internet from a cloud computing provider's servers as opposed to being provided from an end user's personal servers. Cloud services are designed to provide easy, scalable access to applications, resources, and servers, and are fully managed by a cloud service provider. A cloud service provider can fluctuate in size based on the needs of its users and the resources of the cloud service provider.
Current requests to, for example, deploy resources in a cloud computing environment, generally include a serialized order of actions necessary to perform to process the request. When problems occur in various components or resources necessary to process actions of the request, processing the request can take extended periods of time.
US Patent Application Number 2013/0232463 A1 describes a "deployment system [that] enables a developer to customize a deployment plan generated according to a logical, multi-tier application blueprint for deploying multiple applications in a cloud infrastructure. (US Patent Application Number 2013/0232463 A1, Abstract).

Request processing according to degradation monitoring

International Business Machines Corporation


In a connector (23) in which a number of contacts are placed inside a coupling portion (26), the contacts are grouped into a plurality of contact groups (31, 32, 33, 34, and 35) that correspond to intended uses, respectively. The contacts are collectively arranged in each of the contact groups. The coupling portion is held by an insulator (28) and is for coupling to a mating connector. The contacts are held by the insulator and connected to the mating connector when the coupling portion is coupled to the mating connector.

This invention relates to a connector comprising a number of contacts to be connected to a number of circuits.
An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 transmits and receives various kinds of signals. For input and output of these signals, the personal computer 10 is provided with a plurality of connectors 11, 12, and 13 different in shape and typically formed on its rear side.
The connector 11 is intended to be connected to a connector 15 of a docking station 14 or a connector 17 of a port replicator 16. Each of the connectors 12 and 13 is adapted to be connected to a connector 19 of a peripheral device 18 such as a CD (Compact Disc) drive and a DVD (Digital Video Disc) drive. The docking station 14 and the port replicator 16 have connectors 21 and 22, respectively, which can be connected to the connector 19 of the peripheral device 18.
Thus, the personal computer 10 is adapted to be connected to various types of peripheral devices. Therefore, the connectors 11, 12, and 13 are supplied with various kinds of signals.
In the personal computer 10, the connectors 11, 12, and 13 are not classified in accordance with the kinds of signals supplied thereto. Therefore, each of the connectors 11, 12, and 13 may be supplied with the various kinds of signals. In this case, wiring for the connectors 11, 12, and 13 is complicated and therefore difficult.
In cases where personal computers manufactured by different manufacturers are selectively connected, connection to the common peripheral device or the common docking station may be defective even if connectors of the same kind are used in the personal computers. This is because pin assignment of the connector is often different for each manufacturer as known in the art.
Furthermore, if connection to a particular circuit block alone is desired, a special connector for the particular circuit block must be additionally equipped in the personal computer. This requires the connector cost and the mounting cost for the special connector.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a connector that removes the above-mentioned problems by grouping a number of contacts into a plurality of groups or blocks corresponding to individual circuits, respectively.
It is another object of this invention to provide an information processing apparatus equipped with the above-mentioned connector.
Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
According to this invention, there is provided a connector which comprises an insulator, a coupling portion held by the insulator for coupling to a mating connector, and a number of contacts placed inside the coupling portion and held by the insulator for being connected to the mating connector when the coupling portion is coupled to the mating connector, the contacts being grouped into a plurality of contact groups which correspond to intended-uses, respectively, the contacts of each of the contact groups being collectively arranged.

Connective apparatus in which a number of contacts are grouped into a plurality of contact groups according to intended use

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


A system for securing a bed sheet to a waterbed is shown. The system consists of eight hook-shaped brackets and a flat sheet having resilient loops provided at its corners. A pair of the brackets are provided at each adjacent corners of the bed frame of the waterbed and positioned just above the mattress and below the rail caps. The sheet can be quickly and easily secured to the brackets by pushing the resilient loops of the sheet towards the bed frame corners until they engage with the associated brackets to secure the sheet in place over the mattress. The sheet is retained in place and it is independent of any inherent movements in the mattress during use.

This invention relates to a system for securing or attaching a bed sheet to a waterbed.
In waterbeds, due to the inherent internal wave-like motion of the water content within the mattress during use, it is difficult to retain the bed sheet over the mattress. The wave-like motion can dislodge the bed sheet from the mattress readily. Heretofore, attempts have been made to provide various arrangements for attaching a bed sheet securely to the waterbed mattress; however, many of such known arrangements either are too complex in construction or are not satisfactory in function during use. In one known arrangement, a long loose strap is provided at each corner of the bed sheet. The sheet is secured to the mattress by lifting the corners of the heavy water-filled mattress and pulling the straps under each corner one by one and letting the mattress to fall back into the bed frame. Due to the heavy weight of the water-filled mattress such operation is strenuous and awkward to carry out. Yet despite of the diffulty of attaching the bed sheet to the waterbed mattress in such an awkward manner it still can unintentionally and annoyingly separate from the mattress quite readily because of the nature of the waterbed in which the wave-like motion allows varying degrees of shifting and/or movement of the mattress.
Another known method of securing a bed sheet to the waterbed mattress is to provide fastening devices at the corners of the mattress or along the sides thereof. The fastening devices are either directly incorporated on the mattress or provided on long straps which are located underneath the mattress and with their ends extending upwards to locate at the corners of the mattress. The heavy weight of the mattress is utilized to maintain the straps in place. Associated fasteners are then incorporated at the corners of the bed sheet so that the sheet can be quickly and easily mounted in place by the engagement of the associated fastener of the sheet with the fasteners provided on the mattress. Such method provides ease of securing the sheet to the mattress; however, in the case of incorporating the fasteners to the mattress, it requires constructional modification to the latter; and in the case of using long straps, it is again necessary to lift the heavy water-filled mattress to locate such straps thereunder. Moreover, since in such arrangement, commonly the bed sheet is secured to the mattress by four fasteners provided at small areas of the four corners of the bed sheet, the force exerted on the sheet during use is concentrated at these small areas. Since the bed sheet is made of relatively non-resilient fabric, such force can cause the fabric of the sheet to tear readily at the locations of the fasteners in a very short period of time in use. Furthermore, the above methods do not take into consideration of the rail caps provided along the top of the bed frame, which can render access to these devices rather difficult.


A two cycle crankcase compression diesel engine having a supplemental exhaust port system that is formed in a straight line perpendicular to the cylinder bores and which intersects the main exhaust ports. An exhaust control valve arrangement is provided for controlling the flow through the supplemental exhaust ports to reduce the compression ratio under high load, high speed running conditions. The supplemental exhaust control valves comprise a plurality of individual valves each contained within a common bore extending through the cylinder and interconnected by connecting members that permit axial and circumferential misalignment so as to accommodate for distortion and avoid sticking of the valves.

This invention relates to an exhaust port control valve for a two stroke engine and more particularly to an improved control valve assembly for a multiple cylinder engine.
It has been proposed to employ a control valve and supplemental exhaust port system for two cycle crankcase compression engines and particularly those operating on the diesel principal so as to permit lowering of the compression ratio under certain running conditions to improve performance. For example, the high speed performance of the engine can be improved by opening the supplemental exhaust ports and reducing the compression ratio. However, the operation of these exhaust control valves can be quite critical due to the extreme conditions under which they operate. This is particularly true in conjunction with multiple cylinder engines wherein a plurality of exhaust ports need be controlled. Although a convenient valve assembly may be provided that consists of a cylindrical valve element that is supported in a bore in a cylinder for controlling all of these ports, distortion of the cylinder due to heat and bolt down loadings of the cylinder head can give rise to erratic operation or valve sticking.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved exhaust control valve for a multiple cylinder.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved exhaust control system for a two cycle internal combustion engine wherein the valve can offer smooth and consistent operation.

Exhaust port control valve for two stroke engine


The present invention includes a modular electrical device for use in an electric circuit. The modular electrical device includes a wall plate defining a first opening, and a housing configured to be disposed within the first opening. The housing is configured to accommodate a frame member selected from the plurality of frame members. Each frame member is configured to accommodate at least one wiring assembly. The modular electrical device further includes an electrical wiring assembly chosen from a plurality of electrical wiring assemblies. Each of the plurality of electrical wiring assemblies has a different functional configuration, and each of the plurality of electrical wiring devices being sized to fit in the selected frame member. The modular electrical device further includes a set of terminal contacts selected from a plurality of sets of terminal contacts. Each set of terminal contacts is matched to accommodate one of the plurality of electrical wiring assemblies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical wiring device and more particularly to an electrical wiring device suitable for commercial and residential use.
2. Background of the Invention
Typically, wall mounted conventional electrical devices for use in residential or commercial applications such as offices require a wall plate specifically configured for the electrical device. For example, each switch, receptacle, or hallway light typically employs its own wall plate opening. Installation of multiple devices may require multiple gang wall plates and multiple gang wall boxes. This requires that an electrical installer carry an inventory of an assortment of wall plates and wall boxes, thereby incurring unnecessary cost.
Thus, there is a need for a modular electrical device that reduces the need for specialized installation, thereby reducing inventory cost and simplifying the installation process.


A flashing device comprises a rechargeable power supply, a voltage-raising circuit for producing a high voltage from an output voltage of the power supply, a condenser for storing the high voltage, a light-emitting tube for emitting light for a short moment using energy stored in the condenser, an emission control circuit for triggering light emission of the light-emitting tube, a charging circuit including a diode for allowing a current flow from the condenser to the power supply, and a changeover switch for discharging over connection of the power supply to the voltage-raising circuit or to the charging circuit.

The present invention relates to a flashing device used in a camera, etc., and more specifically, relates to a flashing device in which stored energy for next light emission is not lost wastefully.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the basic constitution of a typical flashing device which is used in a camera, etc.
In this figure, when a battery switch (strobo switch) 12 is closed, a current from a battery (secondary battery) 10 is provided through the battery switch 12 to a voltage-raising circuit 14. A high voltage appearing at an output of the voltage-raising circuit, which is about 300 V, is used to charge a condenser 16 and also applied to electrodes of a light-emitting tube 18. A discharge tube in which xenon gas, etc. is sealed, is employed as the light-emitting tube 18.
Furthermore, an emission control circuit 20 is provided in the above flashing device. When a trigger switch 22, which is linked with a release button, etc. of a camera, is turned on, a pulse signal is provided from the emission control circuit to a trigger electrode 18a of the light-emitting tube 18.
The flashing device is placed in its waiting state by having turned on the battery switch 12 prior to its actual use. When the light-emitting tube 18 is triggered, in this waiting state, by the trigger pulse signal which is produced in response to the turning-on of the trigger switch 22, it emits light for a short moment. This light emission is performed by using energy previously stored in the condenser 16. After the light emission the condenser 16 is charged again.
In this case, since the condenser 16 is automatically recharged, the electric charge remains when, after completion of use of the flashing device, the battery switch 12 is turned off. This remaining energy in the condenser 16 is lost (discharged) with a lapse of time and it scarcely contributes to the following light emission. This means a waste of energy, that is, a waste of the energy originally stored in the battery.


The present invention relates to an intercostals for an aircraft or space craft for diverting a load from a first rib to a second rib and/or a skin of the aircraft and/or space craft, with at least one opening region for guiding through system lines or the like, wherein the intercostal has a traverse that is movable at least between a first and a second position, wherein the traverse in the first position is provided for forming a force flow for diverting a load between the first rib and the second rib, and in the second position reveals the opening region from a predetermined side.

Such intercostals are also referred to as intermediate ribs. They are used to divert forces between ribs, for example door frame ribs and associated secondary ribs.
Intercostals have therefore been installed in the prior art in aircraft structures as a rigid unit, i.e. either in the classic differential design or, for example, as a machined integral component, for example with a continuous shear panel with reinforcing ribs. More recent designs provide for additional regions through which aircraft system lines can be guided, for example electric cables. In such designs construction space and weight are therefore saved.
FIG. 6 illustrates an intercostal 1 known to the applicant, in an elevation. In FIG. 6 it is fastened on the right side to a first rib 11 and on the left side to a second rib 12, wherein it is fitted with an underside by a skin connection 6 on inside I of an outer skin 10 of an aircraft or space craft. Outer skin 10 points with its other side towards outside A, which in FIG. 6 lies at the bottom. Intercostal 1 is fitted to first rib 11 by means of a first connection 4 and to second rib 12 by means of a second connection 5. Second connection 5 is fastened to a front fitting 15 which is reinforced on the other side of second rib 12 by a rear component 14. First rib 11 is, for example, a door frame rib, and second rib 12 is a secondary door frame rib. The intercostals has opening regions 9 which are designed either as bores or open compartments of a framework and through which system lines 23 are guided.
DE 10 2004 009 020 A1 describes an intercostals for aircraft for diverting a load from a first rib to a second rib and/or a skin of the aircraft and has a framework.
One disadvantage here consists in the fact that the enclosed opening regions for the system lines involve "threading" of the lines to be guided through them. In the case of a repair or maintenance the system must first be completely dismantled before the structure can be replaced. In some cases this gives rise to considerable costs, due among other things to the labour and down times of the aircraft.

Intercostal for an aircraft or spacecraft


The present invention is directed to the provision of a liquid crystal device constructed by sealing a liquid crystal material between substrates, wherein provisions are made to prevent reflections at the sealing, thereby achieving excellent transparency. The liquid crystal device includes a first substrate disposed on a viewing side, a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, a sealing member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and sealed by the sealing member, and a muslin structure or moth-eye structure placed between the first substrate and the sealing member. The muslin structure or moth-eye structure serves to form a smooth refractive index gradient between the sealing member and the first transparent substrate, thereby enhancing the transparency of the liquid crystal device.

It is known in the art to provide a liquid crystal device constructed by placing a sealing member between two substrates and sealing a liquid crystal layer therebetween, wherein provisions are made such that, during transmission of visible light through the liquid crystal device, the visible light transmittance of both the liquid crystal device and its sealing frame is set high, while at the same time, the difference in haze value between the liquid crystal device and the sealing frame is held small (for example, patent document 1).
The above liquid crystal device can be made completely transparent, including its sealing frame, and thus it is possible to provide a liquid crystal device having an excellent exterior design, since its external appearance is not impaired even if the sealing frame is not covered with a case or the like. This makes it possible to use the liquid crystal device applications such as show windows, bulletin boards, automotive instrument panels, etc., that can display characters and patterns.
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art liquid crystal device disclosed in patent document 1.
As shown in FIG. 19, the liquid crystal device 200 includes a pair of first and second transparent substrates 201 and 202, a sealing member 204 placed therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer 203 sealed within a space enclosed by the sealing member 204.
In the liquid crystal device 200, the liquid crystal layer 203 is a composite layer made of a liquid crystal and a curing material, theoretically has a high light transmittance, and is suitable for such applications as show windows, bulletin boards, etc., that can display characters and patterns. The first transparent substrate 201 has a larger surface area than the second transparent substrate 202, and the liquid crystal layer 203 is formed only in an area that needs to be provided with the function of displaying characters and patterns.
A plurality of transparent electrodes 210 are formed in a stripe pattern on the inner surface of the first transparent substrate 201. Similarly, a plurality of transparent electrodes 210 are formed in a stripe pattern on the inner surface of the second transparent substrate 202. The plurality of transparent electrodes 210 on the inner surface of the first transparent substrate 201 and the plurality of transparent electrodes 210 on the inner surface of the second transparent substrate 202 together form a matrix of electrodes. An insulating film and an alignment film, not shown, are formed on each electrode array 210.
Cell gap is controlled by uniformly dispersing spacers 206 throughout the space enclosed by the first and second transparent substrates 201 and 202 and sealed by the sealing member 204. The sealing member 204 is disposed between the first and second transparent substrates 201 and 202 in such a manner to form a frame around the periphery of the first transparent substrate 201. The first and second transparent substrates 201 and 202 are bonded together by the sealing member 204.
If the selected sealing member 204 is tinted, or the visible light transmittance of the material is low, the sealing member may become visible, which may degrade the external appearance or could lead to an exterior design problem. When using the liquid crystal device 200 in such applications as show windows, bulletin boards, automotive instrument panels, etc., there are cases where the portions bonded by the sealing member 204 may not be able to be neatly hidden by means of a frame or a case. According to the method proposed in patent document 1 to solve such problems, the visible light transmittance of the sealing member 204 is set to 70% or higher, or the difference between the haze value of the sealing member 204 and the haze value of the liquid crystal layer 203 during transmission of visible light is held to within ±3%.


A degradation determination device includes: a measuring unit measuring an open-circuit voltage characteristic indicating an open-circuit voltage variation with respect to a lithium ion secondary battery capacity variation; and a determining unit determining a degradation state due to wear and precipitation of lithium using a parameter for identifying the open-circuit voltage characteristic that substantially coincides with the measured open-circuit voltage characteristic. The parameter includes single electrode capacity retention rates expressed by the expressions (I) positive electrode capacity retention rate=degraded positive electrode capacity/initial positive electrode capacity and (II) negative electrode capacity retention rate=degraded negative electrode capacity/initial negative electrode capacity, and a battery capacity variation expressed by the expression (III) battery capacity variation=degraded negative electrode capacity×shift of a negative electrode composition axis with respect to a positive electrode composition axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device and method that are able to determine a degradation state of a lithium ion secondary battery, particularly, a precipitation state of lithium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-199936 (JP-A-2009499936), a CPU calculates an estimated amount of dendrite precipitated inside a battery pack on the basis of charge and discharge history information that indicates a charge and discharge history of the battery pack.
In a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-063555 (JP-A-2009-063555), it is determined whether lithium is precipitated on an electrode on the basis of a change (decrease) in storage capacity of an electrical storage device (lithium secondary battery).
In a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-123207 (JP-A-2007-123207), an electrode surface is drilled in the thickness direction by irradiating an ion beam, a scanning ion microscope (SIM) image of an active material layer exposed on the drilled surface is observed, and then the performance of the electrode is evaluated on the basis of the contrast of the active material in the observed SIM image.
In the technique described in JP-A-2007-123207, it is necessary to disassemble a lithium ion secondary battery. On the other hand, in the techniques described in JP-A-2009-199936 and JP-A-2009-063555, it is possible to estimate precipitation of lithium without disassembling a lithium ion secondary battery.

Degradation determination device and degradation determination method for lithium ion secondary battery


A rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive electrode having a positive active material to reversibly intercalate and deintercalate lithium ions, a negative electrode having a negative active material, and an electrolyte, wherein an arithmetic mean Ra of a surface roughness of the positive electrode is 155 to 419 nm, and an arithmetic mean Ra of a surface roughness of the negative electrode is 183 to 1159 nm after the rechargeable lithium battery is charged and discharged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rechargeable lithium battery, and more particularly, to a rechargeable lithium battery exhibiting effective cycle life characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current commercially available rechargeable lithium batteries exhibit higher power and energy density than the conventional nickel-cadmium battery or nickel hydrogen battery, and substantially generate 4 V, i.e., they have an average discharge potential of 3.7 V. Such a battery is considered an essential element in the digital generation since it is an indispensable energy source for portable digital devices such as a mobile telephone, a notebook computer, a camcorder and the like, which are abbreviated as 3C devices.
Positive electrodes use oxides which are capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, and negative electrodes use carbonaceous materials which are capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions.
Even though rechargeable lithium batteries exhibit effective battery performance such as high power and energy density, the development of the industry requires more improved cycle life characteristics, and various studies have been undertaken thereon.

Rechargeable lithium battery with specific surface roughness of positive electrode and/or negative electrode


An improved soft contact lens material, existing as a hydrogel, is formed by a polymer containing a fluorinated monomer, a hydroxyalkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid, and an N-vinyl lactam. The polymer may also contain other hydrophilic and/or hard hydrophobic monomers, crosslinking agents, and uv-absorbing agents. Contact lenses made of these combinations have high water of hydrations, are highly wettable, have extremely high oxygen permeabilities and are resistant to protein deposits and other forms of attached debris.

In the field of daily wear contact lenses, two general areas of contact lens materials are known, namely "soft" and "hard" lenses. The conventional soft lenses are primarily hydrogels derived from a variety of hydrophilic monomers or polymers which have either been crosslinked or insolubilized in water by some other mechanism, such as by introduction of crystallinity or by varying hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties. They normally contain approximately 38% water with a Dk value of 8-12 (.times.10.sup.-11 cm.sup.2 /sec) (ml 0.sub.2 /ml mmHg) at 35.degree. C. Another form of a "soft" lens is a hydrophobic polymer system which is above its glass transition temperature, such as a silicone elastomer. Such materials can have a high Dk value, but generally have a much poorer drape than hydrogel lenses.
"Hard" lenses, these were initially prepared from polymethyl methacrylate, but such systems lacked sufficient oxygen permeability to provide adequate oxygen levels to the cornea. Because of this difficulty, hard oxygen permeable contact lens materials were introduced. Such materials have been prepared from either siloxanyl alkyl methacrylates or fluoromethacrylates, usually in copolymerization with other monomers to improve hardness, refractive index, and wettability.
A major area in vision care has been the introduction of extended wear contact lenses. These systems have been prepared from traditional type hydrogels, usually with water contents in the area of 70% and Dk values of approximately 40.degree. C. at 35.degree. C., or from hard gas permeable materials with Dk values of 25 and greater. For both systems several difficulties have been encountered. Traditional extended wear hydrogel lenses can have extensive deposit formation on the lens surfaces by denatured proteins, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, insolubilized calcium salts, etc. This effect appears greater than that of traditional daily wear soft lenses, which have a lower water of hydration. In addition, to achieve a high oxygen transmisibility (Dk/L), such lenses could be made thin, an effect which markedly reduces their tear strength. Thus, if an extended wear soft lens becomes covered with surface deposits it must be removed and cleaned in order to improve visual acuity. In so doing, however, if the lens deposits are capable of being removed, the weak character of the hydrogel could lead to a torn lens. In addition, oftentimes with extended wear soft lenses it is also not possible to remove the adhered deposits without pitting the lens surface.
The extended wear hard gas permeable lenses normally provide greater visual acuity than hydrogel lenses, with a far greater rigidity to the lens material. However, such hard lenses do not have the inherent comfort of a soft hydrogel lens and they also can develop marked surface deposits with time unless properly cleaned.
In order to either increase the oxygen permeability, or in certain cases to overcome the difficulty of surface deposit formation in hydrogel contact lenses, some attempts have been made to include fluorine containing monomers in the polymerization to form the lens materials. U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,179 teaches that certain hard gas permeable contact lens materials containing a fluoroalkyl acrylate or methacrylate can be made inherently wettable. U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,461 teaches that solid oxygen permeable lenses of various fluoropolymers can be prepared that have indices of refraction similar to human tears. U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,207 teaches that soft, tough fluorine-containing contact lenses can be made, after surface treatment, which are wettable and have low oxygen permeability. U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,315 teaches that contact lenses containing less than 5% water can be made from a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and a fluoroester, said lens materials have a Dk of 2.5 (2,500 centibarrers). U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,111 teaches that a hydrogel polymer containing 5 to 10 mole % fluorine-containing monomer or precursor and another hydrophobic monomer has the ability to increase the protein repellency of the lens material in the presence of artificial tear fluid, with Dk values between 40-80 at 34.degree. C. However, use of hydrophobic comonomers can in some cases decrease Dk value and/or hydration or other properties. Compatibility problems can also occur. In a material disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,706, it was shown that copolymers of acrylates and methacrylates containing at least one polar group could be copolymerized with a straight chain fluoroacrylate or methacrylate in solution. While such hydrogel materials showed some oxygen permeability, where the Dk values of these materials were 5-30 (or 500-3000 centibarrers, with the upper value being the permeability of the unmodified fluoropolymer), the patent does not disclose preparation in bulk form probably because of the incompatibility of the two monomer systems. Accordingly, lenses would thus be difficult to obtain from their resulting solution cast films, as opposed to bulk polymerization which is used for the preparation of machineable rods or buttons, or of cast-molded lenses. The copolymers prepared also had limited water contents of less than 40%. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,918, telechelic perfluorinated polyethers in elastomeric to hard gas permeable contact lenses have also demonstrated resistance to surface deposits by proteins and lipids. In a further example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,125 teaches that an organosilane or an organosiloxane can be copolymerized with a fluoroacrylate or a methacrylate to give hard contact lenses with improved oxygen permeability. International Pat. No. W0 82103397 describes the preparation of oxygen permeable hydrogel contact lenses from silicone methacrylate and pentafluorostyrene and N-vinylpyrrolidone. However, no previous examples have demonstrated a high oxygen permeability, a high water of hydration and a high resistance to surface deposits in contact lens materials which can be obtained through a bulk polymerization reaction and utilized in a hydrogel form for either daily wear or extended wear applications.

Fluorine containing soft contact lens hydrogels


An apparatus has a first member having an exposed peripheral surface and an electrically and thermally conductive portion. A circumferential array of magnets of alternating polarity are mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the first member inboard of the peripheral surface, the magnets being in sufficient proximity to the electrically and thermally conductive portions so that the rotation of the magnets about the axis is effective to generate eddy currents, in turn, is effective to heat the electrically and thermally conductive portion and, thereby, heat the exposed peripheral surface.

The disclosure relates to de-icing. More particularly, the disclosure relates to de-icing of turbomachines.
Icing of aircraft external rotating components during adverse ambient flight conditions is a well-known aerodynamic problem. A cutaway of a modern advanced twin spool turbofan engine is shown in FIG. 1. The large cone-shaped hub 70 ("spinner"; although known as a "nose cone" or "inlet cone" it is rarely actually conical but, instead typically has a longitudinally convex profile diverging rearward) at the base of the fan blades 34 is one particular area subject to icing.
Many anti-ice approaches have been developed in the past including both on-ground treatments and in-flight anti-icing. Some of the most widely used methods for de-icing the nose cone are either based on electrical resistive heating or using hot pressurized air bleed from a predetermined compressor stage of the engine. Resistive heating requires complex wiring, control logic, and current draw. Bleed heating involves a direct parasitic loss adversely affecting the thermodynamic performance of the engine and is, hence, undesirable.
In separate fields, permanent magnet arrays have been used in magnetic motors and generators. They have also been used in mechanical couplings. One proposed coupling is seen in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/344,697, filed Jan. 6, 2012, and entitled "Magnetically Coupled Contra-Rotating Propulsion Stages". However, these are not configured to keep an exposed surface de-iced.


A heat exchanger including a core having a plurality of flat tubes with fins between adjacent tubes, the tubes each having flat side walls connected by front and rear walls defining a flow path, all of the walls extending longitudinally between opposite tube ends with the tube side walls defining a first height. First tube end portions in the tube ends of a plurality of the plurality of flat tubes include flat side walls flared apart to define a second height greater than the first height. Second tube end portions in the tube ends of the plurality of the plurality of flat tubes include a longitudinally extending cut through the front and rear walls with the flat side walls flared apart to define a third height greater than the second height. The side walls of adjacent tubes are secured together at the tube ends, and headers connect to the tube front and rear walls at the first and second tube end portions whereby the headers communicate with the tube flow paths.

The present invention is directed toward heat exchangers, and particularly toward vehicle heat exchangers having flat tubes with deformed ends.
Heat exchangers having fins between flat tubes, which tubes are deformed at their ends for connection to headers, are well known in the art.
In some such heat exchangers, the tubes have their ends flared outwardly enabling adjacent tubes to be connected to one another at the ends notwithstanding the fins between the tubes across the length of the tubes. However, particularly when the heat exchanger is used as a radiator for cooling engine coolant, the small diameter of the flat tubes is relatively limited, often in the range of less than 2 mm. In such cases, particularly where the flaring is formed by a cut along the sides of the flat tube, the resulting surfaces along the sides of the tube ends are so small that they can result in unsatisfactory solder (brazed) connections to the sides of the headers or tanks to which they are connected.
DE 195 43 986 A1 shows a structure in which the tube ends are flared together with a header secured to the front and back sides of the tube ends. It is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 6 of DE 195 43 986 A1 that the depth or width of the deformed ends of the flat tubes is reduced to the extent that the headers are much narrower than the fin and flat tube heat exchange core. If the tube width were not as sharply reduced, problems with respect to soldering connections would also increasingly occur there. The spacing between the flat tubes and the height of the fins arranged between them would also necessarily be further reduced, which would cause the tube-header or tube tank connections to undesirably constrain the design parameters used for such critical heat exchange components.
Further, especially when the depth of the fin and flat tube heat exchange core must be limited due to space constraints, for example, in the range from 20 to 30 mm, the headers or tanks may also be undesirably narrowed even further, which can lead to undesirable high pressure loss in the coolant.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger is provided including a heat exchanger core having a plurality of flat tubes with fins between adjacent tubes, the tubes each having flat side walls connected by front and rear walls defining a flow path, all of the walls extending longitudinally between opposite tube ends with the tube side walls defining a first height. First tube end portions in the tube ends of a plurality of the plurality of flat tubes include flat side walls flared apart to define a second height greater than the first height. Second tube end portions in the tube ends of the plurality of the plurality of flat tubes include a longitudinally extending cut through the front and rear walls with the flat side walls flared apart to define a third height greater than the second height. The side walls of adjacent tubes are secured together at the tube ends, and headers or tanks connect to the tube front and rear walls at the first and second tube end portions whereby the headers or tanks communicate with the tube flow paths.
In one form of this invention, a longitudinally extending portion of at least one of the side walls is connected to the side wall at an end of an adjacent tube.
In another form of this invention, the first tube end portions are produced by a compression and flaring process.
In still another form of this aspect of the invention, the second tube end portions are produced by at least one separation cut and the bending of least one of the side walls of the plurality of the plurality of flat tubes. In this form, the longitudinally extending cuts in the second tube end portions may terminate before the first tube end portions.
In still other forms of this invention, the second tube end portion is symmetric relative to the flat tube or is asymmetric relative to the flat tube.
In yet another form of this aspect of the invention, the longitudinally extending cuts of the second tube end portions are substantially centered between the longitudinally extending tube side walls.
In still other forms, the side walls of adjacent tubes are secured together at the tube ends by solder, and/or the headers are connected to the tube front and rear walls by solder.
In another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger such as described is produced with the second tube end portions formed by flaring apart the tube side walls, with the headers secured to the first tube end portions prior to the flaring apart of the tube side walls to form the second tube end portions.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the heat exchanger as described is produced by flaring apart the first and second tube end portions to define a second height greater than the first height, with the front and rear walls of the second tube end portions thereafter longitudinally cut.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the heat exchanger as described is produced with the first tube end portions being defined by flaring the side walls apart and compressing the front and rear walls together.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the heat exchanger as described is produced with the front and rear walls compressed together an amount substantially the same as the thickness of the tank walls secured thereto, whereby the depth of the core is substantially equal to the depth of the headers.


A method and apparatus for delivering disinfectant in a liquid form to a well of a water system is disclosed including a venturi having a suction side in fluid communication with a source of disinfectant such as chlorine. A flow of water is provided through the venturi between the pressurized side of the water system and the well when a pump is drawing water from the well and delivering the water to the pressurized side of the water system. Specifically, a solenoid valve is provided in the lines between the pressurized side of the water system and the venturi and is electrically controlled by the pressure switch which also controls the pump. In the preferred form, a timer is provided electrically intermediate the solenoid valve and the pressure switch to allow water flow through the solenoid valve only during selected times of pump actuation to allow adjustment of the rate at which the disinfectant is delivered. To prevent freezing of the output line, a bypass line may be provided between the pressurized side of the water system and the output line bypassing the solenoid valve and the venturi and providing a continuous flow of water therethrough. In an alternate form, a heat tape for conducting heat to the output line may be provided as part of or within a conduit in which the output line is slideably received.

The present invention generally relates to systems for disinfecting water, particularly to such systems for use with well water systems, and specifically to such systems for use in private well water systems for individual homes, farms, cottages, or the like.
The use of chlorine to disinfect water is well known. However, chlorination typically is utilized in larger water systems such as for delivering water to municipalities or the like. However, many locations do not have ready access to such municipal water systems and instead have their own private well water systems. Unfortunately, many such private wells are contaminated and water drawn from such wells should be disinfected prior to use.
Most chlorination systems presently in use such as in municipalities or the like are complex in nature and require a significant degree of surveillance and maintenance. Thus, such systems are too expensive and impractical for private, individual-type well water systems. Prior attempts to provide disinfectant to private, individual-type well water systems includes chemical feed pump systems which deliver disinfectant into the high pressure tank of the water system. However, as the disinfectant is supplied to the high pressure side of the system, such pumps are costly to manufacture and maintain. Further, due to the chemical nature of the disinfectant, such pumps were prone to problems resulting from clogged lines and from corrosion. Also, disinfectant was only supplied to the water supplied from the high pressure tank to which the feed pump was connected and not to water which was supplied from other locations in the water system. Another approach to providing disinfectant to private, individual-type well water systems was to dispense disinfectant tablets down the well utilizing a gumball-type dropping machine. However, such systems were undesirable as often the tablets landed on obstructions in the well casing such as the pitless adapter in submersible pump systems and did not reach the water in the well. Further, as the tablet dropping machine was mounted on the well itself, such machines were prone to frost build-up which clogged the tablet drop tube and/or which bound up the dispensing mechanism. Further, adjustment of the rate at which tablets were dispensed was extremely difficult and typically could not be performed by the well owners themselves, but required adjustment by skilled personnel.
Thus, a need exists for a system for disinfecting water for use in private well water systems which is not prone to corrosion and/or clogged lines, which supplies the disinfectant directly to the well, and which is easy to adjust the rate at which disinfectant is supplied.