There is disclosed a conveyor drive roller of the type which may be used for example for supporting and driving a conveyor medium. The conveyor drive roller has a hollow drum which defines a cylindrically shaped rotatable supporting surface, and an internal surface. The hollow drum is rotatably connected to a first and a second support structure. An internal gear assembly is disposed inside of the hollow drum and operably connected to the internal surface of the hollow drum. The second support structure is adapted to permit a rotor of a motor located outside of the hollow drum to releasably couple to the internal gear assembly through the second support structure, so that when the rotor is coupled to the internal gear assembly, through the second support structure, rotation of the rotor is transmitted by the internal gear assembly to the hollow drum to cause rotation of the hollow drum about the first and second support structures.

A variety of conveyor roller systems have been designed and utilized. A large variety of known conveyor systems comprise a continuous belt or conveyor medium which travels over a series of conveyor rollers.
Early conveyor roller systems utilized at least one conveyor drive roller which was driven by an electric motor positioned outside of, and connected to, the conveyor drive roller typically via a chain or rubber belt, and often with an external gear assembly positioned between the motor and the conveyor roller. The conveyor drive roller thereby translated the rotational movement of the electric motor to linear movement of the conveyor medium. The main disadvantage of these early designs, which are still utilized today, is that they take up a lot of space. However, the exposed moving parts also pose a hazard to workers, especially the external gear assembly and chain from the external gear assembly to the conveyor roller, which output high levels of torque, as compared to the motor on its own. The exposed moving parts also pick up debris which damages the conveyor roller system.
In later conveyor roller systems, the electric motor was arranged within the conveyor drive roller to provide a more compact conveyor roller system as taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,725,740 to Schulte.
An example of an even more advanced conveyor drive roller is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,596 to Agnoff; which teaches a motorized conveyor drive roller mounted in a conveyer frame to support and propel articles from one end of the conveyor path towards the opposite end. The Agnoff conveyer drive roller includes a roller tube rotatably mounted in the conveyor frame and drive means contained inside the roller tube for driving the roller tube. The drive means includes a motor, a gear reducer assembly operatively connected to the motor, and a drive member connected to the outward shaft of the speed reducer for engaging and rotating the roller tube.
Conveyor roller systems having conveyor drive rollers which are driven by motor and gear combinations, contained entirely within the conveyor drive roller itself, are of particular utility in many applications. The internal motor and gear system makes for a compact, space saving installation. Furthermore, the linear arrangement of the motor and gearing within the conveyor drive roller means that the transmission of power from the motor to the roller is carried out more directly resulting in higher levels of efficiency than is possible in conventional conveyor roller systems where the motor is located externally to the conveyor drive roller, especially where the axis of rotation of the rotor is at a 90° angle to the axis of rotation of the roller. The internal motor and gear combination also largely eliminates the risk of accident caused by contact with employees. Furthermore, it eliminates contamination of the motor/gear drive from dust and debris in the environment in which it is running, thereby greatly reducing maintenance, and the likelihood of failure, all of which results in less down time for the conveyor system.
All of these factors make the use of such conveyor drive rollers particularly useful and desirable. However, they also have disadvantages.
One such disadvantage is that while the likelihood of failure of such a conveyor drive roller is decreased, when it does fail servicing is very difficult and expensive, since it requires the shutting down of the conveyor roller system, removal of the entire defective conveyor drive roller (which is quite heavy since it contains the motor and gearing), which is then sent elsewhere for servicing. The conveyor roller system remains shut down until a new or repaired conveyor drive roller is installed in the conveyor system in place of the removed, defective one. Since conveyor drive rollers of this type (i.e. having the motor and gearing within them) are fairly expensive, companies that employ conveyor systems which utilize them typically do not stock spare conveyor drive rollers. This means that the conveyor system remains shutdown until the defective conveyor drive roller is repaired and re-installed.
Therefore, there is a need for improvement in the design of conveyor drive rollers.


A first bandpass filter comprises: a plurality of resonators and input/output lines formed such that a strip line formed in a substantially straight line is cut in an inclined direction to the straight line to form a plurality of resonators spaced apart by gaps, the resonators being coupled across the gaps. Each of the resonators may be formed in parallelogram. Each of the resonators may be formed in a substantial isosceles triangle. A second bandpass filter comprises: a plurality of resonators and a ground electrode, each of the resonators having an open-end strip line, one end of each of the strip line being connected to the ground electrode, width of each gaps between the resonators varying along the each of resonators to make either of electrostatic or electromagnetic coupling between the resonators stronger than the other.

1. Field of the Invention
This Invention relates to a bandpass filter having a plurality of resonators formed of strip lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A bandpass filter having resonators used in microwave or millimeter wave integrated circuit is known. In such bandpass filter, open-end strip lines are used for such resonator because high frequency grounding is unnecessary and variation in resonating frequency is low. Such resonator employs a uniform strip line because of easiness of design. Coupling at input/output and between those resonators are obtained by electromagnetic coupling at side edges of strip lines and electrostatic coupling at end edges of strip lines.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of such first prior art bandpass filter. Numerals 1, 2, and 3 denote uniform strip line type cascaded resonators. Numerals 4 and 5 denote input/output strip lines for coupling the resonator 1 or 3 to external circuits by electromagnetic coupling.
thereinbelow will be described operation of this prior art bandpass filter.
A high frequency signal inputted from the input/output strip line 4 is coupled to the resonator 1 by distributed coupling through side edges of the input/output strip line 4 and the resonator 1. The resonators 1, 2, and 3 are coupled through side edges and outputs a filtered high frequency signal at the input/output strip line 5 through coupling between the resonator 3 and the input/output strip line 5. Thus, this prior art bandpass filter provides a frequency characteristic determined by the resonance frequencies of the resonators 1, 2, and 8, etc.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second prior art bandpass filter using electrostatic coupling between end edges of strip lines. Numerals 6, 7, and 8 are uniform uniform strip line type cascaded resonators. Numerals 9 and 10 are input/output strip lines using electrostatic coupling between ends of strip lines.
Hereinbelow will be described operation of this prior art bandpass filter.
A high frequency signal inputted from the input/output strip line 9 is coupled to the resonator 6 by distributed coupling through end edges of the input/output strip line 9 and the resonator 6. The resonators 6, 7, and 8 are coupled through end edges of strip lines and outputs a filtered high frequency signal at the input/output strip line 10 through coupling between the resonator 8 and the input/output strip line 10. Thus, this prior art bandpass filter provides a frequency characteristic determined by the resonance frequencies of the resonators 6, 7, and 8, and coupling characteristics, etc.
In the above mentioned bandpass filter using magnetic coupling between side edges of strip lines, there is a problem it is impossible to arrange the resonators 1, 2, and 3 and the input/output strip lines 4 and 5 in line. That is, this prior art band pass filter extends two-dimensionally.
In the above mentioned bandpass filter using electrostatic coupling between end edges of strip lines, there is another problem that a total length of the bandpass filter is long because the resonators 6, 7, and 8 and the input/output strip lines 9 and 10 are arranged in line. Moreover, there is further problem that it is difficult to obtain a broadband characteristic in the bandpass filter using electrostatic coupling between end edges of strip lines because electrostatic coupling between end edges of strip lines cannot provide sufficient degree of coupling.
Moreover, when these bandpass filters are used as an output filter in a non-linear circuit such as an oscillator, amplifier, or the like, there are provided other passbands at frequencies natural number times desired frequency because uniform strip line is used in the resonators. Therefore, there is a problem that it is necessary to use these bandpass filter in combination with other bandpass filter having different frequency characteristic.
Hereinbelow will be described a third prior art bandpass filter.
An interdigital bandpass filter of high frequency band, comprising quarter wave strip line resonators is known.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of such a third prior art interdigital bandpass filter. Numerals 101 and 102 are input/output terminals. Numerals 103 to 105 are resonators formed on a dielectric substrate 106. Numerals 107 and 108 are input/output coupling lines. Numeral 109 is a ground electrode. These lines comprise strip lines or microstrip lines.
Hereinbelow will be described operation of the bandpass filter mentioned above.
A high frequency signal inputted to the input/output terminal 101 is coupled to the resonator 103 by distributed coupling. The resonators 103, 104, and 105 formed on a dielectric substrate 106 are coupled through end edges of strip lines and outputs a filtered high frequency signal at the input/output strip line 108 through coupling between the resonator 105 and the input/output strip line 108. Thus, this prior art bandpass filter provides a frequency characteristic determined by the resonance frequencies of the resonators 103. 104, and 105 and coupling characteristics, etc.
However, in the structure mentioned above, that is, in the interdigital bandpass filter, if its passband is required to be narrow, there is a problem that gaps between the resonators should be made wider, so that its size becomes large. Moreover, there are also problem in assembling and trimming because open-ends of the resonators cannot be subject to trimming because the open-ends of the resonators arranged not in the same direction.
Moreover, in the comb-line structure, there is also a problem that either coupling of electromagnetic or electrostatic couplings should be stronger than the other by providing partitions between the resonator, etc. because in the comb-line structure electromagnetic and electrostatic components have an antiphase relation.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is an information processing system having one or more computers. The information processing system includes a request receiver configured to receive a request from a program causing an apparatus to execute a predetermined process, a simulator configured to simulate the process executed by the apparatus in accordance with the request, an instruction receiver configured to receive a status change instruction for changing a status of the simulator from a user, and a status changer configured to cause the simulator to change a status of the simulator in accordance with the status change instruction. In the information processing system, the simulator simulates the process executed by the apparatus in the status changed by the status changer.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosures discussed herein relate to an information processing system, an information processing method, and an information processing program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals include an application platform. Such image forming apparatuses may be designed to implement application programs (hereinafter simply called "applications") utilizing Application Program Interface (API) provided by the application platform. Publication of the API not only allows manufacturers of the image forming apparatuses to develop applications but also allows third-party vendors other than such manufacturers to develop the applications.
It is desirable to employ an image forming apparatus to check operational capabilities of the applications currently under development. In order to check operational capabilities of the applications, it is ideal to prepare an image forming apparatus for every developer of the applications in an economically efficient way. Further, in a case where two or more developers of the applications share one image forming apparatus, it is preferable to efficiently check capabilities of the applications. Hence, the developers of applications may employ software that emulates or simulates (hereinafter generically referred to as "emulate(s)") operations of hardware or an application platform of the image forming apparatus. Such software is hereinafter called an "emulator". For example, each of the developers may be able to efficiently check operational capabilities of the application currently under development by installing the emulator in his or her personal computer (PC). In addition, it may be possible to simultaneously develop a new model of the image forming apparatus and applications designed for the new model by preparing an emulator for the new model of the image forming apparatus.

Process simulation for information processing system, information processing method, and information processing program product


A catheter comprises a heater control supplying power, a handle, a base catheter with lumen and comprising a proximal section and a distal segment, and a variable stiffness element. The element comprises a heater connected to the heater control, coiled at least at the distal segment, and comprising a shaft portion of a first metallic conductive material and a heater portion of a second metallic conductive material. A jacket is disposed about the heater portion. A variable flex sub-assembly between the catheter and jacket comprises a non-conducting braid and a binding material. Without power, the binding material is stiffened. Responsive to heating of the binding material, the binding material softens to increase flexibility of the variable flex sub-assembly at least at the distal segment. Responsive to removing power, the binding material cools and stiffens to decrease flexibility of the variable flex sub-assembly at least at the distal segment.

Catheters have many uses in modern medicine. One reason for their importance is their ability to guide and support additional instruments during a procedure at an anatomic location. In the procedure, a guide catheter is inserted between an entry site and advanced as far as is safe towards, for example, a lesion or a region of interest. Current catheters have smooth exteriors, nonetheless, the catheters can be held in place through friction with the walls in which the catheter is placed. As most anatomical conduits are not straight, friction provided to prevent movement of the catheter during a procedure occurs and increases with each bend that the catheter traverses. As one bend is traversed, one side of a vessel wall provides a friction point and as a second bend is thereafter traversed, a different side of the vessel wall provides a second friction point and so on for each bend. It is self-evident that the catheter must be flexible to traverse multiple bends but it still must retain its shape in order to be extended through a tortuous path. In comparison, catheters having a distal inflatable balloon find securement in an anatomical site by inflating the balloon to anchor between/within opposing walls, such as in a blood vessel. But, when so anchored, the catheter cannot move longitudinally without causing damage to the inflation site. Balloon catheters are problematic due to their total occlusion of blood flow in a given vessel during use and for the stress they place on vessel walls, but they are also unusable if the procedure requires multiple sets of extensions into anatomy and securement therein for each step.
Guide catheters are used as passageways to advance additional devices, such as smaller catheters or interventional devices such as stentrievers or embolic coils. Guide catheters simplify positioning of these smaller devices, allowing them to be easily advanced to the lesion or region of interest. Designers of current guide catheters face a trade-off between navigability and staying power. A more flexible catheter can be advanced through more complex anatomies, and can potentially be advanced closer to a lesion or region of interest. However, a more flexible catheter exerts less normal force on vessel walls for a given deformation of the catheter and, as such, is easier to back out from the region of interest due to lessened friction. Accordingly, it is not possible currently to improve navigability without worsening staying power and equally not possible to improve staying power without worsening navigability. It would, therefore, be desirable to overcome this and provide improvement in both staying power and navigability.
A significant issue encountered with guide catheters is "back-out", wherein pushing force applied to a catheter or implement within the guide catheter causes the guide catheter to move within the vasculature relative to its initial position. Because of the strain energy stored in a deformed guide catheter, these "back-outs" can be very sudden and dramatic events. Back-outs have adverse consequences with regard to patient safety and doctor success. When a guide catheter dislodges, it often brings with it the additional catheters or implements being used for a procedure, compromising what is often a complex set of device positions and placements through the patient's vasculature. This increases time in the operating room by necessitating re-catheterization of the patient. If a "back-out" event occurs during a critical moment in a procedure, for example, with deployment of a flow diverter, back-out can damage a device costing $10,000 or more and potentially cause severe harm to the patient. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a catheter that resists "back-out" and provides a reliable, stable guide.
The issues of support and back out are relevant in many fields, including interventional neurology and cardiology.
Another issue of relevance to catheters and catheter-based device users is ease of operation. Catheter operators desire a 1-to-1 operation—that is to say, a configuration that allows manipulations of a catheter's proximal shaft or hub to translate directly, consistently, and predictably to motion of the catheter's distal end, which includes both prismatic (insertion/retraction) motions and rotational motions. 1-to-1 operation cannot be perfectly ideal, in other words, with current materials, 1-to-1 operation is approximately or substantially 1-to-1 operation. Therefore, as used herein, the phrase 1-to-1 operation is defined to include a variance that one skilled in the art would know to be a reasonable tolerance. Guide catheters also help provide 1-to-1 operation to additional or secondary catheters and devices that do not have such distal end mobility. Devices constrained within the guide catheter's relatively stiff and smooth inner lumen are not able to buckle or push into compliant vessel walls. As such, guide catheters increase an operator's consistency, precision, and ultimately safety. It would be beneficial to provide a catheter that increases flexibility, increases retention force, and still provides 1-to-1 operation.
Thus, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art systems, designs, and processes as discussed above.

Thermally controlled variable-flexibility catheters and methods of manufacturing same


An apparatus for generating directional sound is provided. By using a time-variant beam pattern, the apparatus may generate constant direct waves in a listening area and may vary reflected waves followed by the direct waves according to time. The apparatus may convolute the time-variant beam pattern with a sound signal, may process an acoustic signal, which may be obtained through convolution, into a multi-channel signal, and may amplify and output the multi-channel signal.

1. Field
The following description relates to an array speaker system, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for generating sound in which sound output through an array speaker is focused on a particular area by controlling a sound field.
2. Description of the Related Art
An array speaker, which is the combination of a plurality of speakers, can be used to control the direction of reproduced sound or to transmit reproduced sound to a predetermined area. Regarding a speaker array, in general, according to a principle of transmitting sound called "directivity," a plurality of sound source signals are overlapped using the phase difference between the sound source signals such that the intensity of the signals is increased in a particular direction and thus signals are transmitted in a particular direction. In this regard, a plurality of speakers are placed in particular positions and sound source signals output from the respective speakers are controlled, thereby implementing such a directivity.
In the case of a general array system, a desired frequency beam pattern is obtained using filter values such as gains and delays which are calculated for the desired beam pattern, so a fixed beam pattern is only used.
Recently, a personal sound zone technology has garnered a large amount of interest in which noise pollution can be prevented and sound can be transmitted only to a particular listener without an ear phone or a head set. A personal sound zone is formed using the directivity of sound generated by operating a plurality of acoustic transducers. In order to produce the directivity of sound, a time delay or a particular filter value is applied to each input signal of a plurality of speakers, thereby generating a sound beam. Accordingly, sound can be focused towards a particular direction and position.

Apparatus and method for generating directional sound


A video signal processing apparatus for processing a video signal including SYNC pulses, a time-compressed color difference and luminance signals, compression factors of those signals being different from each other, the color difference signal and luminance signals being transmitted sequentially for one horizontal line for simultaneously outputting time-reproduced color difference and luminance signals comprises: first and second time-expansion circuits for producing the time-reproduced luminance and color difference signals in response to first and second clocks respectively; a switching circuit for selectively outputting the time-reproduced color difference signal in response to a control signal; a PLL responsive to the video signal including a frequency dividing circuit for producing the first and second clocks, and a synthesized SYNC pulse; and a phase detecting circuit for detecting a phase relation between the video signal and the synthesized SYNC pulse to produce the control signal. When the PLL is out of phase with the SYNC pulse, i.e., not locked, the switch does not transfer the color difference signal from the second time-expansion circuit, preventing time-reproduced signals from producing a double image on a display.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a video signal processing apparatus and more particularly, the invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus for reproducing luminance and color difference signals from a video signal including a time-compressed luminance and color difference signals in one horizontal scanning line interval, their time-compressed factors being different each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A video signal processing apparatus is used for reproducing luminance and color difference signals from a time-division-multiplexed video signal including a time-compressed luminance and color difference signals by time-expansion. Such a video signal is employed in MAC (Multiplexed Analog Components), TCI (Time Compressed Insertion) systems, and other systems using time-division-multiplexed video signal.
FIG. 3 shows an MAC system video signal. In FIG. 3, block 1 includes synchronizing and data signals; block 2, a color difference signal which is time-compressed by 1/3; and block 3, a luminance signal which is time-compressed by 2/3. These signals are transmitted for 1 H (one horizontal scanning interval). FIG. 4 shows a TCI system video signal. In FIG. 4, block 21 includes synchronizing and data signals: block 22, a color difference signal which is time-compressed by 1/4; and block 23, a luminance signal which is time-compressed by 1. These signals are transmitted for 1 H.
A prior art video processing circuit is shown in FIG. 9 of a block diagram. In FIG 9, an input video signal "a" is applied to an input terminal 11 and is sent to a time-expansion circuit 12, a time-expansion circuit 14, and a signal generation circuit 17. The time-expansion circuit 12 expands a luminance signal of the video signal "a" by an expansion ratio of three to reproduce a luminance signal with respect to time base. The time-expansion circuit 14 expands a color difference signal of the video signal "a" by an expansion ratio of 3/2 to reproduce a color difference signal with respect to time base. Time-expanded signals "b" and "d" are sent to an inverse matrix circuit 10 through a line memory 13 and a color difference signal reproduction circuit 15 respectively. The line memory 13 adjusts timing relation between these video signals. The color difference signal reproduction circuit 15 reproduces simultaneously two color difference signals from two successive horizontal scanning lines of the signal "d". The inverse matrix circuit 16 produces primary color signals R. G. and B sent to a display 18. The time-expansion circuits 12 and 14 are controlled by clocks from a signal generating circuit 17 which generates clock signals by an unshown phase-locked loop circuit responsive to a horizontal synchronizing pulse detected from the input video signal.
As mentioned above, the prior art video processing apparatus reproduces a video signal from time-compressed video signals. However, there is a drawback that when an output signal of the phase-locked loop circuit (PLL) of the signal generation circuit 17 is out of phase with its input signal, i.e. not locked, the time-expanded luminance signal becomes out of phase with the time-expanded color difference signal because time expansion ratios of the time-expansion circuits 12 and 14 are different therebetween. Therefore, there are two types of disturbed images, i.e., color and luminance images on the display 18 when the PLL is not locked. Such a disturbed color image over the disturbed luminance image gives a viewer unpleasant feeling. In other words, a reproduced video image on the display 18 has a double image of luminance and color images when the PLL is not locked.


Ceramic powder having a BET specific surface area within a range of from 0.1 to 2.0 m2/g as measured according to the N2 absorption method and an average particle diameter within a range of from 0.8 to 100 μm and composed of titanium oxide or a titanate; a dielectric composite material containing a synthetic resin and the ceramic powder; and a dielectric antenna with an antenna part formed of a conductor circuit provided on a dielectric substrate formed from the dielectric composite material.

In order to meet a high demand for miniaturization and weight saving of various radiocommunication instruments, it is necessary to miniaturize an antenna mounted thereon.
For example, a portable telephone resides in a technical field particularly high in market demand for miniaturization and weight saving because it is a portable information communication device. The portable telephone has labored in housing the whole device in a small housing (case) from the beginning of its development. Recently, more miniaturization has been required because it is necessary to also mount antennas for GPS (global positioning system) and information communications different in frequency in addition to the antenna for telephone. More specifically, the portable telephone tends to increase the kinds of information taken, and frequency bands used are different from one another according to the kinds of information taken, for example, telephone (0.8 GHz or 2 GHz band), GPS (1.5 GHz band) and information communications (Bluetooth and the like, 2.4 GHz band). Therefore, plural antennas meeting these kinds of information are required, and so it is necessary to more miniaturize these plural antennas for housing the antennas in a case.
There are, for example, an antenna for GPS and an antenna for automatic fare collection system as automobile antennas, and these antennas are desirably miniaturized because there is a possibility that the field of vision may be obstructed, or the antenna may come into contact with a vehicle occupant when installed in a vehicle.
A great number of radiocommunication instruments such as a TV, a radio, a GPS, an automatic fare collection system terminal, a portable telephone and an inter-vehicle distance sensor is installed in a motorcar. The frequency bands used for these radiocommunication instruments are different from one another. Therefore, it is necessary to miniaturize each antenna element for installing plural antennas for the respective communication information instruments different in frequency bands used.
A personal computer (PC), in which antennas for information communications such as wireless LAN, Wi-Fi and further WiMax, which is a next-generation communication, are installed, has been developed. The antennas used for these information communications are also required to be miniaturize and lightened for housing them in a case with a limited space.
A dielectric antenna easy in production, and capable of controlling the dimensions of a circuit pattern with high precision and lessening a scatter of performance is often used as an application antenna mass-produced for portable telephones, motorcars, personal computers, etc. The dielectric antenna has, for example, a structure that a copper foil is laminated on a substrate formed of a dielectric, and a circuit pattern is formed on the copper foil.
In order to miniaturize the dielectric antenna, it is necessary to raise the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric antenna. When the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric antenna is raised, the wavelength of a propagating signal becomes short, and so the miniaturization is allowed. However, a conventional dielectric material shows a tendency for its dielectric loss tangent to also rise with the rise of the relative dielectric constant. Energy loss becomes small as the dielectric loss tangent of the dielectric antenna is small, and so the performance of the antenna is improved. When the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric antenna is raised to miniaturize it, the dielectric loss tangent thereof becomes high to lower the performance of the antenna.
Japanese Patent No. 3664094 (Patent Literature 1) has heretofore disclosed a composite dielectric molded product obtained by molding a composite dielectric material containing a dielectric inorganic filler and an organic polymeric material and proposed the use of the composite dielectric molded product as a lens antenna. However, the relative dielectric constants of the composite dielectric molded products specifically shown in the respective Examples of Patent Literature 1 are relatively low.
Japanese Patent No. 3895175 (Patent Literature 2) has proposed a dielectric resin integrated antenna equipped with a dielectric formed of a dielectric resin composite material with dielectric ceramic powder having a dielectric constant (relative dielectric constant) of 20 or more and a dielectric loss tangent of 0.005 or less incorporated therein. However, the relative dielectric constants of the dielectric resin composite materials containing the ceramic powder specifically shown in the respective Examples of Patent Literature 2 are not very high, and on the other hand, the lower limit of dielectric loss tangents thereof is relatively high.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-94068 (Patent Literature 3) discloses a composite material with dielectric ceramic powder contained in a synthetic resin. The composite material shows a relative dielectric constant of 15 or more and a dielectric loss tangent of 0.01 or less in a frequency range of 100 MHz or more. However, the dielectric loss tangents of the composite materials specifically shown in the respective Examples of Patent Literature 3 are about 0.003 to 0.005 and are thus not sufficiently high though the relative dielectric constants thereof are as high as about 17 to 52 as shown in Paragraph [0023] of the description. In other words, the dielectric loss tangent of the composite material could not be reduced to the degree lower than 0.003 in the state of the art described in Patent Literature 3.
International Publication No. 2008/081773 Pamphlet (Patent Literature 4) discloses a flame-retardant resin composition containing polybutylene terephthalate, a bromine-containing flame retardant, an antimony-containing flame retardant aid and a titanic inorganic compound. The flame-retardant resin composition is used as an antenna part. However, with respect to the dielectric characteristics of the respective flame-retardant resin compositions shown in the respective Examples of Patent Literature 4, the relative dielectric constants are relatively low, and on the other hand, the lower limit of dielectric loss tangents thereof is 0.008 and relatively high.
As described above, a dielectric antenna using a dielectric material low in dielectric loss tangent while having a high relative dielectric constant, i.e., a dielectric antenna having high performance and sufficiently miniaturized has been unable to be provided according to the prior art. Therefore, there is a demand for developing an antenna substrate high in relative dielectric constant and sufficiently low in dielectric loss tangent for providing a dielectric antenna miniaturized and having high performance.

Ceramic powder, dielectric composite material containing the ceramic powder, and dielectric antenna


Systems and methods for recommending repair facilities to a user based on repair validation/coaching data are disclosed. In one implementation, a repair facility recommendation system receives repair information from a user regarding damage to an automobile, the repair information received via a graphical user interface rendered on a webpage. The repair facility recommendation system identifies a repair facility verified to repair the damage to the automobile based on the repair information and verification information from a verification module, the verification information comprising evaluation information based on evaluation of technicians performing repairs of automobiles at repair facilities. The repair facility recommendation system then provides information regarding the identified repair facility to the user via the graphical user interface.

Modern automotive maintenance and repair processes require the intensive use of information. As automobile models and the technology they use change from year to year, repair facilities need to constantly acquire and manage new data and knowledge on the appropriate technologies, procedures, and equipment used in repair and maintenance processes. This challenge is compounded by parallel changes in the tools and techniques used for the automobile industry. Many components of the automotive repair industry face these challenges, from collision repair, to inspection procedures, to mechanical repair.
One category of challenges involves the coaching of technical personnel performing the maintenance, inspection, and repairs of automobiles. As procedures change and as new personnel enter the industry or expand the scope of the work they perform, managers need to reliably review and improve the skills of their technical personnel and ensure that a high level of competence is maintained among the technical professionals in the industry.
Further, when vehicle owners, such as automobile owners, search for repair facilities to perform a repair, the vehicle owners desire resources to provide repair facility recommendations. For example, vehicle owners may desire resources that are able to verify that one or more repair facilities employ technical personnel that have performed repair procedures accurately and efficiently to repair similar damage to similar vehicles.


Technologies generally described herein relate to a computing device for an input assistance scheme for an online marketplace posting. In one aspect, a computing device receives an input image containing an object to be posted on an online marketplace. In response to receiving the object, the computing device extracts, from the input image, feature data relating to the object. The device performs a search of an image database based on the extracted feature data to determine one or more images containing the object. The computing device obtains information data of the determined images and generates a reference dataset for the object based on the reference dataset.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Commercial transactions through a network, so called e-commerce, have been increased over recent years, and their market is expected to be increased more and to gradually substitute for a conventional offline market in the future. In order to advertise or sell any item online, one or more images and text specification for the item are typically posted on an online marketplace. The specification for the item may include, for example, a brand name, an item name and other details of the item. Since there are various kinds of products and each product has different specification, it is time-consuming and tiresome for users to specify the item to be posted and describe the specification with text, and there could be errors in the users' descriptions.

Systems and methods for image-based online marketplace posting


A cover for a LED sign is manufactured from a stainless steel sheet that is dimensionally larger than the array of light emitting diodes comprising the LED sign. The stainless steel sheet is laser cut and then bent to simultaneously form a plurality of apertures and a corresponding plurality of louvers each extending adjacent one of the apertures. The apertures facilitate viewing of the LED sign and the louvers shield the light emitting diodes comprising the LED sign from excessive light.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires buses and other urban transit vehicles to display route information and other information in an easily readable format. For example, in addition to the route number the vehicle may be provided with signage which identifies the general direction of movement of the vehicle, i.e., downtown, west end, etc. One of the more popular signage types that is utilized on urban transit vehicles for the foregoing purposes comprises LED (light emitting diode) displays.
LED signage is popular because it provides a high contrast image which can be read and understood by persons with highly impaired vision. Because LED signs are entirely electronic the information displayed thereon can be changed virtually instantly, for example, if the vehicle is assigned to a different route. Another advantage in the use of LED signage comprises the fact that the same sign can be used to sequentially display a variety of messages.
One problem that has been encountered in utilization of LED signage on urban transit vehicles involves degradation of the image displayed by the sign due to sunlight and other sources of bright light. Thus, when a LED sign is used in the presence of sunlight or other bright light, the contrast normally associated with a LED sign can be reduced to the point that the sign is hard to read. To overcome this problem LED signs have been provided with covers including louvers which shield the light emitting diodes thereof from excessive light.
In accordance with the present invention, a LED sign comprises a rectangular array of individual light emitting diodes. A cover having dimensions corresponding to those of the rectangular array is positioned in front of the light emitting diodes. A cover is provided with closely spaced, parallel, horizontally disposed slots which expose substantially the entirety of the array of light emitting diodes. Each of the slots is provided with a louver which shields the light emitting diodes from bright light emanating from the sun or any other source. The louvers prevent degradation of the image vented by the LED sign due to impingement of excessive light on the light emitting diodes.
In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a LED sign cover comprises a stainless steel sheet which is laser cut to define a relatively long first cut line and two relatively short second cut lines which extend angularly from the opposite ends of the first cut line. Following the cutting step the portion of the stainless steel sheet extending between the two second cut lines is bent relative to the plane of the stainless steel sheet. Bending of the portion of the stainless steel plate extending between the two second cut lines simultaneously forms both an aperture through the stainless steel sheet and a louver extending adjacent to the aperture for shielding the light emitting diode of the LED sign from excessive light.

LED sign cover and method of manufacture


A combined video display and camera system is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises a video display with gaps in between the pixels. Light goes through these gaps and enters a camera, which captures an image. The system is arranged such that the display and the gaps are optically out of focus with respect to the camera.

In video conferencing, two people communicate audio-visually. Each person is near a video conferencing terminal having a video display and a camera. The camera captures the image of the person, which is transmitted to the distant person. The image of the distant person is depicted on the display. Each person in the video conference is looking at his or her display. The camera is placed near the display. Since the user is looking at the display, the image captured by the camera is of the person looking away from the camera. Each person, is therefore, unable to maintain eye contact. Absence of eye contact during a conversation greatly reduces the effectiveness of communication.
Many prior art systems use two way mirror, also called half silvered mirror or beam splitter. A two-way mirror simultaneously reflects some light and passes some light.
FIG. 21 illustrates a prior art video conferencing system. A conferee 2102 views the display 2108 reflected in mirror 2104 while camera 2106 captures images of the conferee 2102. The image is captured from the same position that the conferee 2102 is looking at. Teleprompters function this way.
Another prior art video conferencing system uses a terminal equipped with beam splitter for reflecting an image generated by video display so that only the reflection and not a direct view of the display is seen by the conferee. The camera is positioned behind the viewing side of the beam splitter to capture the conferee's image through the beam splitter. The direct view of the display is blocked by an image blocking an image blocking film applied between the beam splitter and the display. Blocking the direct view of the video display greatly improves teleconferencing by eliminating the distraction of simultaneously viewing both the video display and the reflection of the display.
Prior art systems are quite bulky, especially when compared to modern display systems or modern teleconferencing systems. These systems waste a lot of energy, since a large amount of energy radiated by the displays is wasted since it goes through the two way mirror.
Many prior art systems compute a three-dimensional model of the conferee. Then the model is used to render an image of the conferee as if a camera were placed just behind the screen. The three-dimensional model is computed from multiple views of the conferee captured by cameras near the display, or by illuminating the conferee using light of a particular known pattern, and using the data pertaining to the illumination caused by the light.
In another prior art system, the three-dimensional model is not computed, but the final virtual view from the direction of the display is estimated by visual flow interpolation techniques. All these methods are computationally expensive. Furthermore, they do not perfectly capture the required image, but just estimate it. Also, the closer the viewer is to the display, the larger the disparity between the images captured by the various cameras, and harder it is to compute an accurate three-dimensional model of the conferee. Also, such approximation models falter under improper lighting conditions and improper viewing conditions such as presence of particulate matter or obstructions.
A prior art method for achieving eye-contact in a video conferencing situation uses a camera placed directly in the line of sight between the conferee and the display. Though a correct image of the user may be captured this way, the visual obstruction of the camera is not comfortable to the conferee.
An attachment mechanism removably secures the camera to a screen portion of a display screen such that the camera is disposed between the display screen and the conferee. The attachment mechanism can be a suction cup, strips of double-sided tape, or magnets. Magnetic force between the first and the second magnets removably secures the camera to a screen portion of the flat panel display.
Other prior art systems use projection systems and are bulky in nature. Furthermore, these systems do not offer complete isolation of the camera sensor from the light due to the display, causing unwanted glare. Also, in many situations flat panel displays are preferred to projection systems due to image quality reasons.
A typical display is made of a number of picture elements called pixels. In a transmissive display, a backlight is present behind the sheet of pixels. The backlight is illuminated by the light source along one or more of its edges. The backlight disperses the light into the pixels. Depending on the state of the pixels, the pixels emit light of different intensity.
A cathode-ray tube is used for displaying pictures and video on displays such as televisions, computer monitors etc. A cathode-ray tube has separate electron guns for different colors which are the sources of electrons. The electrons are directed to fall on a florescent screen, which causes the screen to emit light. Each electron gun is supposed to direct light only on a portion of display screen. Shadow masks and aperture grilles are provided to ensure that electrons from one electron gun do not fall on the portions of the display corresponding to other electron guns.
A plasma display is used widely for large television screens. The display is made of plasma pixels such that each plasma pixel consists of inert gases held between two plates. By directing high voltage across the pixel, the gas inside the pixel is converted to plasma state. This triggers the phosphor and light is emitted. Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based displays are currently used in small-sized displays such as mobiles, personal digital assistants etc. OLEDs are light emitting diodes having an organic layer as a light emissive cathode layer. When the diode is forward biased, there is recombination of holes and electrons at the junction between the organic layer and the inorganic conductive layer. This recombination causes radiation in the visible region.
A liquid crystal display is one the most widely used displays today. The liquid crystal display is a transmissive display having a backlight, dispersing light from the light source into the liquid crystal sheet. The liquid crystal sheet itself is sandwiched between two polarizer sheets. The liquid crystal sheet comprises tiny liquid crystal cells forming pixels of the display. Depending on the electric voltage applied, the state of the liquid crystal changes. The light entering each cell is polarized by the first polarizer sheet and depending on the state of the liquid crystal, the polarization of the light going into the second polarizer sheet is modified. Hence, the intensity of light coming out of the sheet is controlled by the voltage applied across the liquid crystal. The pixel is black when the liquid crystal is in such a polarization state that the second polarizer blocks all the light coming from the liquid crystal. The pixel is white when the liquid crystal is in such a polarization state that the second polarizer allows all the light coming from the liquid crystal. By varying the voltage across the liquid crystal the pixel gray level intensity is changed. For many liquid crystals, the transition of the intensity of the pixel from one gray level to another is slow if the voltage difference required to make the transition is small. On the other hand, the transition of the intensity of pixel from white to black or black to white is faster as the voltage difference is larger.


The present application is directed to adjustable wrenches. In one embodiment, the open-ended wrench includes a head with a opening sized to receive workpieces. One or more shims are attached in an adjustable manner within the opening to alter the width of the wrench.

The present application is directed generally to wrenches and, more specifically, to adjustable open-ended wrenches.
Wrenches are used for a variety of purposes including tightening and loosening workpieces such as pipes, bolts and nuts. Many wrenches include a head having a pair of opposing jaws that are spaced apart to form an opening. A handle may extend from the head for positioning the opening on the workpieces and exerting a force on the workpiece. Use of the open-ended wrench usually includes approaching the workpiece from the side and positioning the opening around the workpiece. Once the opening is positioned, force is applied to the handle to rotate the workpiece.
One type of wrench includes adjustable jaws for adjusting the size of the opening to accommodate different workpieces. One or both of the jaws are laterally adjustable to control a size of the opening. An adjustment mechanism, such as a cylindrical member, is positioned in the head and operatively connected to one or both of the jaws. Rotation of the cylindrical member in a first direction causes the jaws to move laterally outward and increase the size of the opening. Rotation in a second direction causes the jaws to move laterally inward and reduce the opening size.
While adjustable wrenches are desirable for their ability to fit multiple workpieces, there are many disadvantages. A first disadvantage is the wrenches may be larger than fixed-sized wrenches. The adjustable wrench usually includes a large head sized to accommodate the jaws at a distance to fit the largest workpiece. Further, adjustable wrenches may be expensive due to increase complexity of the movable jaws and rotating cylinder.


Hybridoma cell lines are made that produce monoclonal antibodies having, among others, the following identifying characteristics: (1) bind to IL-1 activated endothelial cells; (2) do not bind significantly to normal resting endothelial cells; (3) do not bind significantly to normal resting or IL-1 activated epidermal keratinocytes or resting or IL-1 activated fibroblasts. The monoclonal antibodies are used in therapeutic compositions for blocking inflammatory responses associated with activated endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells (EC) are major participants in chronic and acute inflammation. They regulate the passage of cells and fluids between the bloodstream and the extravascular space. In addition, they respond to inflammatory stimuli by secreting factors which have a variety of effects on hematopoiesis (Quesenberry and Gimbrone, Blood. 56: 1060-1067, 1980), chemotaxis (Streiter et al, Science, 243: 1467-1469, 1989), and coagulation (Bevilacqua et al, J. Exp. Med., 160: 618-623, 1984). Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is secreted by a wide range of cell types as an almost universal response of cells to injury (Neta and Oppenheim, Ann. Int. Med. 109: 1-31, 1988). Many cell types secrete this factor under appropriate stimulation, and many cell types respond, and in a variety of ways. IL-1 is found at sites of inflammation, and when injected as a purified protein, results in erythema and an influx of granulocytes from the bloodstream and secondarily, tissue destruction (Beck et al, J. Immunol., 136: 3025-3031, 1986: Pettipher et al. Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 83: 8749-8753, 1986).
Several laboratories have shown that endothelial cells have a rapid response to IL-1 which is consistent with their accessory nature in the inflammatory reaction. Two of the best described responses are an increase in procoagulant activity (Bevilacqua et al. 1984, supra) and a concomitant increase in adhesive capacity for leucocytes (Bevilacqua et al. J. Clin. Invest., 76: 2003-2011, 1985).
As the lining of blood vessels, endothelial cells are uniquely positioned to regulate the traffic in inflammatory cells and their reactive by-products. In addition, endothelial cells can themselves secrete into the bloodstream newly synthesized proteins which may be an early indicator of the inflammatory process. Despite this key role, very few therapeutic approaches or diagnostic indicators have been developed that directly address the role of this cell type. The biology of endothelial cells is starting to be understood now in much better detail due to the recent success in culturing these cells in the laboratory.
As mentioned above, a key mediator of the inflammatory response is IL-1. IL-1 is a 17 Kd polypeptide secreted by macrophages and many other cell types which is capable of eliciting a wide array of responses ranging from induction of fever, to proliferation of inflammatory cells and the recruitment of mature leucocytes from precursors in the bone marrow (reviewed by Dinarello, FASEB J., 2: 106-115, 1988).
Endothelial cells both respond to and secrete IL-1 at a very early stage of the inflammatory process. While a byproduct of bacterial infection with gram negative organisms is the production of endotoxin and the consequent secondary production of IL-1,the issue of whether mechanical injury can trigger IL-1 release is a critical but as yet unanswered question for students of sports-induced inflammation.
It is believed, based upon work by several laboratories in the past decade, that the binding of leucocytes to the vascular wall, a process that can be mimicked in vitro with IL-1 treatment of endothelial cells, is the first step in the diapedesis of leucocytes into the tissue space. However, several aspects of this process, especially as they may be related to the utility of current anti-inflammatory agents for intervention, remain unclear.
IL-1 induces a rapid alteration in the membrane properties of cultured human endothelial cells. This is evident from the ability of treated cells to bind leucocytes, their acquisition of procoagulant activity and the expression of new cell surface antigens including some for which no functional property has yet been assigned. In those cases studied, the development of the new properties described is sensitive to the action of actinomycin D and cycloheximide, suggesting a requirement for the synthesis of new message and new proteins.
Binding of leucocytes to basal and activated endothelial cells has been studied by several laboratories. Evidence has been presented that granulocytes, monocytes T-, B- and NK cells all can bind to endothelial cells after stimulation with very low concentrations of IL-1, on the order of 10.sup.-10 M. The suggestion has been made that more than 1 endothelial cell membrane protein is involved in the adhesion process. Two laboratories have presented evidence in the case of granulocytes that the 90 Kd protein termed intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) as well as the 115 Kd molecule termed endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM) contribute to cytokine induced adhesion. Nonetheless, the role of these and other molecules in the binding of mononuclear cells remains to be clarified.

Monoclonal antibodies directed to IL-1 activated endothelial cells and medicaments employing the monoclonal antibodies


This invention is related to a mechanical force generator (MFG) (11), the cost, the maintenance costs and the energy consumption of which have been minimized, as much as possible, since the reaction forces, the reaction moments and the frictional forces at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground have been minimized as much as possible; which does not possess any actuators; and which can generate any desired force variation. MFG (11) may be obtained by using 3 novel kinematic chains. By using these kinematic chains, it is also possible to obtain general purpose mechanisms, which have advantages similar to the MFG (11); which may include an actuator; which may generate relative translational motion at a joint as any desired function of relative translational motion at another joint; which may be used in many different fields such as hydraulic and pneumatic machines, internal combustion engines and compressors.

In the literature, there are many 1 degree of freedom planar mechanisms, the input and output links of which are translating. For example, in FIG. 1, the double slider mechanism, which is a one degree of freedom, planar mechanism, is shown with the input and output parameters being denoted by si and s0. In this mechanism, it is possible to generate, approximately, any desired force F(s0); and any input-output relation, given by equation (E1), by properly designing the kinematic dimensions, the free length of the spring used, and the spring constant k. Although the input-output relation given by equation (E1) and the desired force, F(s0), can be produced only approximately in the double slider mechanism; it is possible to generate, as much as the physical constraints allow, any desired input-output relation and any desired force without making any approximations i.e., exactly in the desired manner, by using mechanisms that include a cam pair and/or a cylinder in slot joint.
The double slider mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the ground by 2 prismatic joints. The reaction forces, reaction moments and frictional forces that occur at these 2 joints constitute the shaking forces and moments exerted on the ground. The aforementioned shaking forces and moments will depend upon the F(s0) force that is generated, the inertia forces and moments, due to D'Alembert's principle, that act on the moving links; and the weights of the links. In general, in this type of an application, the shaking forces and moments will, to a large extent, be due to the F(s0) force and the inertia forces and moments; and the contribution of the weights of the links to the shaking forces and moments will be relatively smaller.
As is well known, the shaking forces and moments cause undesirable noise and vibrations at the bearings that connect the mechanism to the ground. Due to these reasons the mechanism works in a disturbingly noisy manner and the bearings wear out quickly. Although the measures taken to prevent the noise and the vibrations cannot provide a fully satisfactory solution, they increase the cost of the system. Furthermore, due to the friction at the 2 joints that connect the mechanism to the ground, extra energy, which adversely affects the energy consumption of the mechanism, is consumed.

Mechanical force generator and related kinematic chains


A shut off cover removably attachable to a water shut off valve for protecting and decoratively covering the shut off valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shut off cover for covering and protecting a shut off valve extending from a wall surface.
The cover provides protection and a decorative covering for plumbing. The cover is easily attached to, and removed from, the plumbing and has a removable cover for access to a valve. The valve is typically a valve to control water flow, but may control flow of other materials such as gas, etc.
2. Description of the Related Technology
U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,139 is directed to a protective cover for individual water fixtures. The protective cover is of entirely soft, deformable, cushioning material such as high density, closed cell foam rubber or plastic and is of elongated, hollow tubular configuration. In one embodiment there is an outer imperforate, closed end, a cylindrical side wall, and an inner open end so that it may be sleeved over a water spout. Another embodiment fits over a hot or cold water valve handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,828 discloses a protective cover device for use in maintaining the inlet and/or outlet valves mounted in a wall of a liquid storage tank in a contaminant-free state.


A process for producing gold-based, heterogeneous catalyst systems comprises depositing fine-nanoscale gold onto a nanoparticulate support medium by physical vapor deposition in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Nanoscale gold particles exhibit physical and chemical properties different from those of ordinary coarse gold grains. In particular, nanoscale gold is catalytically active and can be used as a catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide. Catalytically active gold also has been proposed for use in catalyzing other oxidation reactions, such as the oxidation of carbonaceous soot in diesel exhaust streams, the oxidation of unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbons, and the like.
Generally, nanoparticles of gold are very mobile, possess large surface energies, and tend to coalesce easily. Coalescence has been difficult to prevent, making gold difficult to maintain in nanoparticle form. Such coalescence is undesirable, as the catalytic activity of gold tends to fall off as its particle size increases. This problem is relatively unique to gold and is much less of an issue with other noble metals such as platinum and palladium. Thus, methods to deposit and immobilize gold nanoparticles on a carrier in a uniformly dispersed state have been sought.
The primary methods developed to date to deposit catalytically active gold on various supports include (i) coprecipitation, in which a support and gold precursors are brought out of solution as hydroxides, for example, by adding a base such as sodium carbonate; (ii) deposition-precipitation, in which a gold precursor is precipitated onto a suspension of pre-formed support by an increase in pH; and (iii) a method in which a gold-phosphine complex (for example, [Au(PPh3)]NO3) is made to react with a freshly precipitated support precursor. Other procedures such as the use of colloids, grafting, and vapor deposition have met with varying degrees of success.
The above-cited methods, however, have suffered from serious reproducibility problems. Such reproducibility problems have resulted from difficulty in controlling gold particle size, poisoning of the gold catalyst by ions such as chloride, loss of active gold in pores of the support, necessity in some cases of thermal treatment to activate the gold catalyst, inactivation of certain catalytic sites by thermal treatment, lack of control of gold oxidation state, and the inhomogeneous nature of the hydrolysis of gold solutions by the addition of aqueous base.
Gold catalysts produced by the above-mentioned deposition-precipitation method have typically been activated by thermal treatment in air. In at least one case, however, such thermal treatment has been carried out in an atmosphere comprising ozone. The latter process yielded a more stable but less active catalyst than a corresponding catalyst that was activated in air.
Physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques have been used to deposit gold on various non-nanoporous support media, such as ceramic titanates that were made under conditions so as to lack nanoporosity. More recently, effective heterogeneous catalyst systems have been produced by providing catalytically active gold on nanoporous supports including a composite support derived from relatively small titania particles (referred to as guest material) that at least partially coat the surfaces of larger alumina or activated carbon particles (referred to as host material). These composite systems have provided effective catalytic performance with respect to carbon monoxide oxidation.
In short, gold offers tremendous potential as a catalyst, but the difficulties involved in producing and maintaining gold in nanoparticle form have continued to hinder the development of commercially feasible, gold-based catalyst systems.


Modular protector apparatus for oil-filled submergible electric motors that drive submergible pumps comprises pluralities of components that are interconnected in different system permutations to form protectors appropriate for different applications. The components include heads, chambers, bases, and interconnecting bodies. The bodies have fluid passages that are adapted to communicate with other components and that are opened and closed selectively to provide desired inter-component flow paths. By virtue of the invention, a wide variety of protector apparatus may be manufactured economically.

This invention relates to protector apparatus for oil-filled submergible electric motors that drive submergible pumps and is concerned, more particularly, with the provision of a wide variety of protectors economically.
Oil-filled submergible electric motors that drive submergible pumps in deep wells are commonly provided with protectors (or seal sections) to perform three functions: (1) pressure equalization between the motor oil and the well fluid, (2) accommodation of internal fluid volume change with temperature, and (3) support of pump-produced axial thrust load. The two major types of protectors are positive separation protectors and labyrinth protectors. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,569,741 and 2,783,400 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Positive separation protectors employ expansible chambers, such as bags, cylinders with pistons, bellows and the like. Labyrinth protectors employ circuitous fluid flow paths and rely upon the immiscibility and difference in specific gravity (density) of motor oil and well fluid to provide a movable interface between fluids to be separated. Sometimes a "barrier" fluid is employed to separate motor oil and well fluid in order to reduce mixing of the fluids to be separated. In some labyrinth-type protectors used with motors completely filled with an oil which is more dense than the well fluid, the labyrinth is employed to prevent particulates from entering a thrust bearing chamber and the motor.
Usually, all of the functions of the protector are performed within a single section of the equipment string (including the motor, the pump, the protector and other components). Occasionally, however, certain functions are divided between two or more parts. For instance, volume accommodation and pressure balance may be performed by a bellows or bag within the bottom portion of the motor housing, while an additional protector may only contain seals, a thrust bearing, and, in most instances, a pressure relief mechanism.
The manufacture of a wide variety of protectors to accommodate different needs and preferences has necessitated maintenance of a large inventory of different parts and finished assemblies and has required the use of substantially different manufacturing procedures. Such specialized protector manufacture is disadvantageous.


A container closure is disclosed which includes a shell attachable to a container around a container opening thereof. The shell has a shell opening in fluid communication with the container opening when the shell is attached to the container. A tip is received on the shell movable between a closed position sealing the shell opening and an open position. A cover is releasably attached to the shell in a manner indicative of the tip being positioned in the closed position when the cover is attached to the shell. Both the shell and the cover may be provided with tamper-evident bands. The present invention is particularly well adapted to be formed as a push-pull container closure for sports bottles and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to container closures, more specifically the present invention relates to push-pull type container closures for sports water bottles and the like.
2. Prior Art
The prior art discloses a wide variety of push-pull type container closures. Representative samples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,104,008; 5,265,777; 5,096,077; and 5,429,255. Additionally, the prior art discloses a wide variety of closures incorporating tamper-evident bands. Examples of appropriate tamper-evident bands can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,259,522; 4,418,828; and 4,497,765. However, the prior art does not provide a push-pull type container closure with an effective tamper-evident band in meaningful locations on the push-pull type container. Furthermore, many of the push-pull type container closures of the prior art are difficult to manufacture and do not effectively guarantee complete resealing of the closure during operation. For example, one common type of push-pull closure is referred to as a sports top. Many existing sports tons use a xe2x80x9cshrinkxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccelloxe2x80x9d sleeve to additionally be applied for the purpose of tamper evidence. This causes additional cost, added capital, and decreasing operating efficiencies.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an easily manufactured container closure which provides a reliable sealing condition.
The objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a container closure which includes a shell adapted to be attached to a container around a container opening thereof with the shell having a shell opening adapted to be in fluid communication with the container opening when the shell is attached to the container. A tip is received on the shell movable between a closed position sealing the shell opening and an open position. A cover is releasably attached to the shell and the cover is indicative of the tip being positioned in the closed position when the cover is attached to the shell.
The cover may include a tamper-evident band on a lower portion thereof. The cover may include a top, a cylindrical side extending down from the top, wherein the tamper-evident band is formed by a lower portion of the side below a score line. The side above the score line may be flexed inwardly to break off the tamper-evident band at the score line. Alternatively, the cover of the present invention may provide a device to prevent relative rotation of the tamper-evident band in one or both directions. With the rotation prevention device, continued rotation of the cover will break off the tamper-evident band along the score line. The shell may also be provided with a tamper-evident band at a lower portion thereof.
The tip may be slidably received on the shell with the shell including a central stem and the shell opening formed as an annular opening surrounding the stem. The shell may further include an annular wall surrounding and spaced from the annular opening. The tip may include an inner and outer sleeve member both positioned adjacent the annular wall and including at least one ring-sealing member extending from the sleeve member and in sliding engagement with the annular wall. It may further include a tip opening in fluid communication with the shell opening when the tip is in the open position and an annular stem-sealing sealing member surrounding the tip opening with the stem-sealing sealing member in sealing engagement with the stem when the tip is in the closed position.
The cover may include a connecting flange coupled to the top of the cover which is releasably engageable with a groove of the stem to releasably attach the cover to the shell.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the description of the preferred embodiment taken together with the attached figures wherein like references will represent like characters throughout.


A smoke alarm activated device includes a sound receiver and signal converting device for receiving a sound wave analog signal emitted from a smoke alarm in response to the sensed presence of smoke. The signal is received and converted into a digital signal containing the informational characteristics contained within the transmitted sound wave. The digital signal is detected in a first time period which first time is identical to the time period in which the sound wave is generated. The absence of the digital signal in a second time period is detected, which second time period is identical to the time period in which the detected sound wave is absent. An output control signal is generated when the presence of the digital signal is detected in the first time period and the absence of the digital signal is detected in the second time period. A device is activated in response to the output control signal.

This invention relates generally to sound activated devices, and more particularly to such a device which is activated in response to the audible signal from an alarm.
The use of smoke and fire detectors in homes and apartments have become increasingly common and, in some locales, are required to meet building codes for new home and apartment construction. Very often, several of these detectors are provided throughout a home or apartment. When fire or smoke is detected, the device emits a relatively loud alarm for warning the occupants of the residence of the existence of the fire or smoke. If the occupants are sleeping, the alarm is sufficiently loud and harsh to alert the persons to the danger.
In the event that the fire has progressed, it is likely that the lights powered by the main electrical system of a residence will be inoperative. The residence may be filled with an appreciable quantity of smoke so that the occupants may become disoriented and find it difficult to escape from the dark, smoke filled area. The darkness problem created by smoke will be compounded if the fire occurs during the evening hours.
Emergency escape lights that automatically turn on in the event of an alarm condition exist in the prior art. Many of the prior art lights are integrally designed into smoke or fire detecting units or are physically wired to a fire alarm or smoke detecting system. Others of the escape lights are self contained. A self contained light will turn on when a loud sound occurs within a predetermined frequency range. However, many loud noises occur within the predetermined frequency range other than the sound generated by the alarm. For example, radio, television and vacuum cleaner noises are generally within the same frequency range as is the sound generated by the alarm. Since such prior art lights are designed to be activated when the frequency of an audible noise is within a predetermined range, the light is often activated when its illumination is not actually required.
Other alarm attention directing devices, such as alarms, sirens, warning lights and the like can also be designed to be activated in response to the occurrence of noise within a predetermined frequency range as generated by a smoke alarm. It is likewise desirable that these other devices only be activated in response to the sound emitted from the smoke alarm and not be activated by sound emitted from another source.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sound activated device which is automatically activated in response to its detection of sound having specific informational characteristics. It is a further object of this invention to activate a sound activated device in response to a digital signal having specific characteristics.