An improved apparatus and means for measuring temperatures inside enclosures or conduits containing hot gases laden with entrained solids using a pyrometer. The improvement involves an optical access port consisting of a high strength sight tube, a safety valve, a double sight glass, various purge connections and provisions for optical alignment. A dynamic purge system keeps the optical sight path clear during normal operation, and clears the path if it begins to become occluded during operational upsets within the enclosure or conduit. The improved optical access port is mounted on the exterior wall of the vessel or conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally concerned with an apparatus and a method for measuring temperature in gas filled enclosures or conduits. More specifically, it is concerned with an improvement for a system involving a pyrometer which is used to measure elevated temperatures in reaction chambers. An example of such chambers is in generators used for the production of synthesis gas via the gasification of hydrocarbon fuels in a partial oxidation process.
A gasification process may include the gasification of gaseous, liquid or solid hydrocarbons containing varying concentrations of ungasifiable ash material. The gasification reactions are carried out at high temperatures and pressures within a reactor vessel which is lined internally with successive courses of refractory material. Depending upon the composition of the hydrocarbon feedstock, the hot gases produced in such a process normally contain entrained particles of unconverted carbon, reacting hydrocarbon fuel, molten ash, and/or non-molten high melting temperature ash material. The interior refractory wall of the reaction chamber used in such a process tends to develop a layer of molten ash which runs doWn the Vertical wall towards a bottom exit.
In a gasification process such as described above, a reliable measurement of reaction chamber temperature is very important. The reliability of the temperature measurement affects many aspects of the gasification operation including control of the reactions, safe process operation, control of the rate of deterioration of the refractory lining and control of the viscosity of the molten ash in order to ensure adequate ash removal through the bottom of the reactor.
With respect to temperature measurement, radiation pyrometers have been used to measure the temperatures of hot surfaces and hot atmospheres such as the interior of gasification reactors or the like. Radiation pyrometric techniques involve measuring the thermal radiation emitted by the hot environment and inferring the temperature from a knowledge of the radiation laws and a knowledge of, or justifiable assumptions about, the emitting characteristics of the surfaces and/or gases being measured.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The solid state radiation detectors used to measure the radiation are fairly delicate and need to be isolated from the hostile atmospheres whose temperatures are being measured. The isolation normally takes the form of a sight glass window and a gas purged sight hole formed through the vessel shell and lining. This provides the detector with a clear optical line-of-sight into the vessel interior.
One weakness of the above method of isolation is that the purged sight hole is subject to becoming blocked whenever the atmosphere being measured contains molten particles. Under such conditions the molten particles will be frozen by the cooler purge gas in the neighborhood of the purged sight hole; and the optical sight path will gradually become occluded by the accumulating material.
One prior art patent addressed to the problem of maintaining an open line-of-sight between a pyrometer and a high temperature reactor is U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,533. The invention comprises a projecting shelf formed integral with the wall and top of the sight hole for diverting molten material away from the top of the hole, and a sloped recess formed integral with the bottom of the sight hole for draining molten material away from the bottom of the hole.
Several difficulties may arise with the above system in practice. When the produced reaction gases carry a high concentration of molten particles, the large volume of molten material running down the interior vertical wall of the vessel overwhelms the capacity of the projecting shelf to divert the material away from the sight hole. In addition, if the molten material is chemically aggressive towards the refractory material used to fabricate the projecting shelf, the shelf will be attacked and will wear away.
However, the chief difficulty arises because the purge gas, which protects the optical window and sight hole from the high temperature gases inside the reaction chamber, tends to also cool the projecting shelf. As a result, the shelf becomes a cold spot which promotes the freezing of any molten material coming in contact with it. Eventually enough frozen material accumulates so that the entire sight hole becomes occluded.
In another prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,097, the authors disclose a radiation measuring apparatus including a pyrometer. The latter receives radiation from a gasifier or reactor by way of an elongated measuring duct which is recessed in the refractory lining of the vessel. The measuring duct provides a safety chamber for the prevention of gas leaks from the vessel. The safety chamber is a hermetic housing having two optical windows which are protected from dust and condensation by a purge flow of nitrogen in an inner optical tube. Steam flowing in a second, outer optical tube is used to maintain a clear opening into the reactor. In addition, a third, heat resistant window is used to prevent steam from backflowing into the inner optical tube and condensing on the windows comprising the safety chamber.
The above features permit safe monitoring of the temperature inside a pressurized reaction chamber. However, the apparatus is incapable of readily disposing of, or displacing, material which might accumulate on the inner wall of the reaction chamber near the sight hole opening. Both the nitrogen and the steam will tend to freeze molten material around the hole, thus occluding the sight path. In addition, the third heat resistant window is, nevertheless, a relatively fragile element located in a potentially very destructive region of the vessel. If it were to break during operation, the optical sight path could become distorted and there would be no way to safely replace the window without shutting the process down and removing the entire measuring duct.
Another weakness common to both of the above prior patents is that the final portion of the sight hole nearest the reaction chamber consists simply of the hole drilled through the refractory lining of the vessel. Such holes can easily become distorted or damaged by the intense thermal and mechanical stresses which can prevail inside the contemplated reaction chambers. As a result of differences in thermal expansion coefficients, one layer of refractory may shift with respect to another, thus partially or completely blocking the sight path. Rapidly changing temperatures inside the reaction chamber can give rise to spalling of the refractory around the edges of the hole. When pieces of refractory fall off and the hole enlarges, the sight path is much more difficult to purge and keep clear of obstructions.
In summary, the apparatus provided in the prior art are subject to having their optical sight paths blocked either by accumulation of frozen material around the sight hole opening or by distortion of, or damage to, the portion of the refractory hole nearest the reaction chamber.

Apparatus and method for measuring temperatures inside process vessels containing a hostile environment


A system and method of facilitating a patient's care transitions both into and upon subsequent discharge from an in-patient medical facility utilizes three points of health care provider intervention. The system and method utilizes a cloud-based medication management system applying rules to determine whether the patient's medications, clinical lab results, genomic information, or other relevant considerations would, in combination, amount to an adverse health outcome. If an adverse health outcome is predicted based on an application of the pre-programmed rules, health care intervention is sought.

Adverse Drug Reactions
Those involved with medication therapy, especially for the elderly, are aware of the "medication system nightmare" that results from the complexity of medications, the number of physicians prescribing for the same patient, the trial and error nature of prescribing, and the palpable negative impact that this has on both quality of care and total costs. For instance, the number one reason for hospital recidivism is medication related (i.e., hospital readmissions of the elderly within 30 days of discharge, for the same problem they had on the first admission). There is no standard system to reconcile medications for these discharge patients. In the absence of a reconciliation, patients are often discharged with new medications from a hospital or skilled nursing facility and left to return home to find existing prescriptions in their home, often from unrelated specialists that may or may not be necessary or even safe to consume in light of the patient's new medical regimen.
One futile attempt at solving this problem has been to require home health agency nurses to perform the reconciliation task. Often, nurses profess that their medication knowledge is scant and they feel frustrated attempting to do this task. There are few community primary care physicians remaining, and even those who are in practice rarely can see a patient within a few days from hospital discharge to work through this medication reconciliation issue. Furthermore, the community primary care practitioners do not receive a timely report about the hospitalization, nor are they any longer involved with such care in many instances. Hospitalists, employed by the hospital, provide care and perform discharge summaries, but do not focus on medication reconciliation.
Over the past few years, data has emerged indicating that, nationwide, between 19.6% and 25% of Medicare patients discharged from U.S. hospitals are readmitted within 30 days for the same diagnosis, costing the government between $19 billion and (with some estimates as high as) $100 billion. Of these amounts, some 75% is deemed to be preventable. One large payer in Philadelphia has already stopped paying for readmissions for the same diagnosis within 14 days of discharge. Literature is replete with data indicating that a Nurse Practitioner home visit within days of discharge, in addition to pharmacist-led medication reconciliation, is cardinal to avoiding rehospitalizations.
While most hospitalizations are necessary and appropriate, in early 2009, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that nearly one in every five elderly patients who are discharged from the hospital are rehospitalized within 30 days. Jencks S F, Williams M V, Coleman E A. Rehospitalizations among patients in the Medicare fee-for service program. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009, 360(14):1418-1428.
In fact, 50% of patients who were rehospitalized within thirty days had no intervening primary care visit between discharge and rehospitalization. This area of high cost and low quality has been, and continues to be, a target of payment reform. Boutwell, A. Jencks, S. Nielsen, G A. Rutherford, P. State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations (STARR) Initiative: Applying early evidence and experience in front-line process improvements to develop a state-based strategy. Cambridge, Mass.: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2009.
In 2007, MedPac analysis estimated that as many as 17.6% of medicare rehospitalizations were avoidable through establishing a stable and safe transition of care from the hospital to the home. In addition, savings from preventing readmissions can be considerable. According to the Apr. 21, 2009, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report to the Senate Finance Committee on Reforming America's Health Care Delivery System, 18% of Medicare hospital admissions resulted in readmissions with 30 days of discharge, accounting for $15 billion in spending and that Medicare spends about $12 billion on potentially preventable readmissions.
Aside from the problems with rehospitalization, over 2 million serious Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are reported annually, accounting for 100,000 annual deaths in the United States. ADRs are the cause for 6% to 7% of all hospitalizations and an increase of an average of 2 days for the average length-of-stay in a hospital. ADRs are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, amounting to more deaths than those resulting from pulmonary diseases, diabetes, AIDS, pneumonia, accidents and automobile deaths combined.
Senior citizens bear the brunt of the ADR problems because 40% of seniors take five or more medications per week. Up to 12% of seniors take ten or more medications per week. While the incidents of drug metabolizing interactions is 13% for two medications, it climbs to 82% for seven or more simultaneous medications. A system relying on in-house clinicians and pharmacists miss or ignore potential dangerous drug interactions up to half of the time. Furthermore, the new discipline of pharmacogenomics, discussed below, is rarely utilized, based on a lack of familiarity with this new discipline.
Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacogenomics is an emerging personalized medicine discipline. Pharmacogenomics is the science concerned with ways to compensate for genetic differences in patients which cause varied responses to a single drug. http:www.merriam-ebster.com/dictionary/pharmacogenomic (last accessed, Oct. 25, 2011). Pharmacogenomic data may be used by health care professionals to: (1) determine which patients will require specific treatments, (2) predict which patients will respond to therapy, (3) predict the right dose for the right patient, and (4) predict which patients will have an adverse reaction to selected therapies. Tanzi M G, Posey L M. Pharmacogenomics takes San Antonio by storm. Pharmacy Today. 2009; 15(6):27-30. For over a decade, pharmacogenomic-based technology and its integration into clinical practice have been the focus of scientists, industries and practitioners.
Pharmacogenomic-related information is contained in about ten percent of labels for drugs currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). A significant increase of labels containing such information has been observed over the last decade.
www.fda.gov/Drugs/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/pharmacogenetics/ucm083378.htm (last accessed, Oct. 25, 2011). It is believed that there are approximately 225 genes that determine the integrity of more than 1,800 drug metabolizing enzymes.
Specific genetic variations are associated with more than 1,500 health conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, inherited breast and ovarian cancer, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Huntington's disease and myotonic dystrophy. These genetic risk assessments however do not guarantee that individuals will or will not develop a condition. Pharmacogenomics, on the other hand, is much more refined—enabling high probability predictions on whether a medication will work for a particular patient, and how much of it will be effective.
In order to perform a pharmacogenomics DNA test, cell samples are obtained with a cheek swab. It is not necessary to sequence an individual's entire genome in order to examine specific pharmacogenomic genotypes. Pharmacogenomic diagnostic tests identify select genetic variations, also referred to as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), within the human genome. See, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/guide/human (last accessed on Oct. 25, 2011). A central repository for single base nucleotide substitutions and short deletion and insertion polymorphisms is supported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Tanzi M G, Posey L M. Pharmacogenomics takes San Antonio by storm. Pharmacy Today. 2009; 15(6):27-30.
Pharmacogenomics forms the platform for the practice of personalized medicine. Personalized medicine is the use of a person's clinical, genetic, genomic and environmental information to select a medication, its dose, choose a therapy or recommend preventative health measures. The goal of personalized medicine is to optimize health care and medical outcomes by utilizing a preventative, coordinated and evidence-based approach. Personalized medicine does not refer to the creation of drugs designed for an individual, but rather for the subpopulations of patients that differ in their susceptibility to a particular disease or their response to a specific treatment. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Priorities for Personalized Medicine. 2008.
The promise of personalized medicine, for which evidence already exists, includes the ability to: (i) shift emphasis in medicine from reaction to prevention; (ii) enable the selection of optimal therapy and reduce trial and error prescribing; (iii) make the use of drugs safer by avoiding adverse drug reactions; (iv) increase patient compliance with treatment due to fewer side effects; (v) reduce the time and cost of clinical trials; (vi) revive drugs that are failing in clinical trials or were withdrawn from the market; and (vii) reduce the overall cost of healthcare.
In a 2006 study, it was estimated that proper genetic testing and dosing of warfarin may have prevented 17,000 strokes, 85,000 serious bleeding events and 43,000 visits to the emergency department. Subtracting the price of two million genetic tests costing between $125 and $500 per patient, an overall savings to the helath care system would have been approximately $1.1 billion. McWilliam A., Lutter R., Nardinelli C., Health Care Savings from Personalized Medicine Using Genetic Testing: the case of warfarin. AEI-Brookings Joint Center. 2006. Available at, http://aei-brookings.org/admin/authorpdfs/redirect-safety.php?fname=./pdffiles/WP06-23 topost.pdf.
Current practicing prescribers understand the immense value of pharmacogenomics, but have not been trained in translating it into application. An October 2008 study by MEDCO, with responses from 10,303 prescribing physicians, indicated that while 98% of physicians agree that patient genetic profiles will influence prescribing, less than 10% believe they are adequately informed (educated) about applying pharmacogenomics. See, https://www.medcoresearch.com/community/pharmacogenomics/physicia nsurvey. (last accessed, Jan. 10, 2010).
A report by the National Institute of Health's ("NIH") Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) recognizes the current challenges of integrating pharmacogenomics into clinical practice as: (i) product development and clinical studies must be adapted to assess the accuracy and predictive value of pharmacogenomic-based diagnostics; (ii) clinical trials must be adapted to determine the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of pharmacogenomic-based therapies; (iii) regulation of pharmacogenomic-related products that foster innovation while ensuring patient safety and improved outcomes; (iv) coverage and reimbursement of pharmacogenomic technologies may be insufficient to support the development and manufacturing costs of these therapies and tests; (v) health information technology infrastructure must be sufficiently robust, detailed and interoperable to support research, treatment decisions and surveillance; (vi) education and training for physicians and other clinicians are essential to ensure that their competence with pharmacogenomic technologies and their ability to counsel patients and families to make informed health care decisions; and (vii) ethical, legal and societal issues will continue to arise as advances in pharmacogenomics result in greater compilation, transmission and use of genetic information. Realizing the potential of Pharmacogenomics: Opportunities and Challenges. Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society. May 2008. Available at, http://oba.od.nih.gov/oba/SACGHS/reports/SACGHS PGx report.pdf (last accessed, Oct. 25, 2011).
Others have attempted to solve related problems in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20110000170 describes a process where prescriptions are sent to a database to produce a regimen care schedule that results in a medicine pack being created pursuant to the schedule. Each medical card has a week's worth of medicine to be administered at various times of day. The program also determines if prescriptions would create interactions based on, for example, patient allergies.
U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20070173971 utilizes a database to collect information from a pharmacy or a patient and ultimately dispenses the medication in pouches.
U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20110166877 discloses quality control methods for a medication therapy management system. The application discloses a process for developing clinical rules by seeking consensus among practitioners and then translating those rules into computer code that triggers PharmD intervention.
U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20090265189 discloses a system that receives input from pharmacy claims, lab data, medication risk assessment data and other sources. After rules are established, the existing data is screened to identify any medication risks. Patient-specific follow-up is then suggested.
U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20090254371 discloses the development of clinical rules based on national standards and a peer review process
U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20080126131 discloses medication therapy management. The problem of drug-drug, drug-disease, drug-age and patient-genetic interactions ([0004] and [0030]) are discussed. Similar matter is addressed in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20080126117.
Despite these advances, there still exists a need in the art for a centralized system that would permit health care providers, pharmacists, patients and patient caregivers to have coordinated access to all of the same information to prevent miscommunication or misunderstanding, particularly during transitions from health care facilities to the home. A further need exists in the art for the centralized system to validate that a patient's entire drug regimen is safe and effective in light of potential adverse health consequences for drug interactions and potential adverse health consequences based on a particular drug in light of a patient's personal gene interactions with the drug or a patient's clinical laboratory results.


In a dataflow processor, double precision data segments of higher and lower significant bits and like segments of single precision data are read out of a memory and appended with a tag to form packets. The packets are forwarded to a ring bus to which computing modules are connected. Each module includes an interface which forwards the packet onto the bus if another module is the destination. If the packet is destined to the own module, the packet is split into a tag and a data segment. If the tag indicates that the data segment is double precision data, it is assembled with the companion segment of a previous packet into a double precision data word. Otherwise, it is translated to a single precision data word of the same bit width as the double precision data word. A data set is formed by successive double precision data words or by successive single precision data words. A variable is generated indicating if the data words in each set are double or single precision data and indicating what computation is to be performed thereon. Computed double precision data are separated into data segments of higher and lower significant bits and a tag is appended to each of the separated data segments to form a packet and computed single precision data are translated to data segments of single precision data segment and a tag is appended to it to form a data packet. Each computed data packet is forwarded back to the bus for further computations.

The present invention relates to a dataflow processor having a plurality of computing modules connected to a ring bus.
In conventional dataflow processors, a packet comprising data bits and additional tag bits specifying the type of computation to be performed thereon is forwarded onto a ring bus to which a plurality of computing modules are connected. Each computing module includes a bus interface that inspects the contents of the tag to determine that the packet is destined to the own module. A queuing circuit is provided to assemble packets destined to the own module to form a data set. A computing logic receives the data set and performs a particular computation specified by the tag and forwards the result of the computation back to the ring bus through the bus interface with a tag appended to it for further computations by other computing modules.
It has been desired to process both double precision data and single precision data on a dataflow processor to take advantage of its high speed capability. Since double precision data has twice as much bit width as that of single precision data, all components of a single-precision dataflow processor must be doubled to handle the double precision data. In particular, the bus interface of each computing module usually comprises buffers for interfacing between the ring bus and the components of the module. If a single precision dataflow processor is redesigned to handle double precision data as well as single precision data, the storage capacity of the buffers of the interface must be doubled. This substantially increases the amount of hardware of the dataflow processor.

Data flow processor with a full-to-half word convertor


Various embodiments provide for creating a self-contained portable output file that includes a de-duplicated version of data. According to one embodiment, data, which includes a selected group of files, is partitioned into subblocks. A de-duplicated version of the data is created by eliminating a second subblock from the data and using a first subblock to represent the second subblock, if the second subblock is a duplicate of the first subblock. A self-contained portable output file, which includes the de-duplicated version of the data, is created.

As more and more information is generated in this age of computer technology, the need for more storage space has increased. Further, as the amount of information increases more bandwidth is needed to communicate the information between computer systems. One way of addressing this problem is to use various techniques of reducing the amount of data that is stored or transmitted while preserving as much as possible the amount of information associated with that data. Various techniques, such as defragmentation and compression, have been developed. Defragmentation involves reorganizing files stored on a disk by storing the files in a contiguous order to reduce unusable space. Compression involves locating repeatable patterns of binary 0s and 1s in a part of a file. After that part of the file is compressed, the next part of the file is separately analyzed to locate repeatable patterns of binary 0s and 1s in that next part of the file.

Creating a self-contained portable output file


A charge-coupled device includes an array of closely spaced electrodes aligned along a lateral path on an oxide layer covering a semiconductor substrate. A portion of a channel reigon in the substate below each electrode has a tilted potential gradient providing an electrical field assisting lateral charge carrier drift within the channel region.

The present invention relates to charge-coupled devices and in particular to a charge-coupled device exhibiting a tilted channel potential in each cell thereof.
A charge-coupled device (CCD) includes an array of closely spaced cells aligned along a lateral path. Each cell includes an electrode formed on an oxide layer covering a semiconductor substrate with the substrate of each cell having a channel region for storing charge carriers. When electrodes of neighboring cells are biased by clock signals of differing phase, an electric field develops between channel regions within or on the surface of the substrate beneath the electrodes of the cells and this electric field drives charge carriers stored in the channel region of one cell into the channel region of its neighboring cell. By applying appropriately phased clock signals to electrodes of neighboring CCD cells, charges are shifted laterally from cell-to-cell.
During initial stages of charge transfer between adjacent CCD cells, the clock-induced potential gradient between the channel regions of the cells provides a strong electric field driving carriers quickly into the receiving cell. A high carrier concentration gradient between channel regions of the adjacent cells also encourages carrier flow by diffusion. However as charge carriers begin to accumulate in the receiving cell, both the carrier concentration gradient and the potential gradient between the channel regions of the adjacent cells decrease, thereby slowing diffusion and drift of remaining carriers into the channel region of the receiving cell. As the frequency of clock signals applied to the electrodes of CCD cells increases, the time available for all charge carriers to move from one cell to its neighboring cell decreases. At high clock frequencies, a substantial portion of the charge remains behind at the end of a transfer cycle.
The "charge transfer efficiency" of a charge-coupled device is the ratio of charge transferred to a cell from its neighboring cell during a clock phase to the initial charge stored under its neighbor electrode at the beginning of the clock phase. As the frequency of operation of a charge-coupled device increases, charge transfer efficiency decreases. A high charge transfer efficiency is desirable, particularly in large charge-coupled devices, to prevent substantial degradation of charges passing through the charge-coupled device. Charge transfer efficiency of a charge-coupled device can limit its frequency of operation.

Charge-coupled device channel with countinously graded built-in potential


A four channel wireless network channelization scheme is described that is particularly usable in the ISM frequency band between 2400 MHz and 2483.5 MHz. The preferred channelization scheme permits access points to be set at one of four frequencies in the ISM band, not three as taught by the IEEE 802.11b standard. This channelization scheme takes advantage of the fact that only 20 MHz is typically needed between adjacent access point channels, not 25 MHz as is taught by the 802.11b standard. With four channels to choose from, a higher density of access points can be located thereby accommodating a higher density of users. The four channels preferably are 2407, 2427, 2447 and 2467 MHz. With this selection of channel frequencies and given the current FCC regulations, all four channels can be used to transmit an equal amount of power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to wireless communications. More particularly, the invention relates to a channelization scheme for a wireless network. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a four channel channelization scheme for an IEEE 802.11 wireless network operating in the Industrial, Scientific, Medical frequency band between 2400 and 2483.5 MHz.
2. Background Information
Initially, computers were most typically used in a standalone manner. It is now commonplace for computers and other types of electronic devices to communicate with each other. The ability for computers to communicate with one another has lead to the creation of small networks comprising two or three computers to vast networks comprising hundreds or even thousands of computers. Networks thus can be set up to provide a wide assortment of capabilities. For example, networked computers can be established so as to permit each computer to share a centralized mass storage device or printer. Further, networks enable electronic mail and numerous other types of services. Networks can be established in a wired configuration in which each entity on the network has a direct physical electrical connection to the network. More recently, wireless technology has increased in popularity to provide wireless data communications to the entities on the network.
Wireless networks are defined in various standards. The IEEE 802.11 standard, for example, permits a wireless local area network (WLAN) to be set up in a business or residence. One or more "access points" are located at predetermined locations and are connected via cables to servers and other types of network equipment. Each access point also has a wireless radio capability to permit wireless communications with nearby wireless-enabled devices such as desktop computers, notebooks, handheld devices, and the like. Each access point has a certain range and a wireless-enabled device must be within that range for effective communications to occur. Through the access points, the wireless-enabled devices gain access to the network for data and file transfers, email, etc.
An exemplary configuration of a WLAN is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, configuration 10 includes four access points 12, 14, 16, and 18. Each access point is represented in FIG. 1 as a point, but is actually an electronic device as would be known by those of ordinary skill in the art. Each access point has a wireless coverage area. As shown, access point 12 has a coverage area 13 and, similarly, access points 14, 16 and 18 have coverage areas 15, 17 and 19, respectively. Preferably, adjacent coverage areas overlap geographically, at least slightly, to prevent dead or silent areas in which connectivity to the WLAN is lost.
The 802.11 standard noted above has spawned a number of task groups currently designated by the letters a through i. These task groups are involved with advancing the state of wireless technology in various ways. For example, the standard created by the b task group (referred to as the "802.11b standard") specifies the use of the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band. The ISM band is located between 2400 megahertz (MHz) and 2483.5 MHz. The 802.11b standard defines 14 channels designated as channels 1 through 14. Channel 1 is at 2412 MHz and the remaining channels 2-14 are spaced 5 MHz apart. Thus, channel 2 is at 2417 MHz, channel 3 is at 2422 MHz, and so on. Although 14 channels are defined in the 802.11b standard, the standard permits only channels 1 through 11 to be used in the U.S.
The radio in a wireless-enabled device automatically tunes its transceiver to the frequency of the access point having the strongest signal. To support roaming of wireless-enabled devices, the device's radio periodically scans the airwaves and reassociates with the access point having the strongest signal.
An important concept to note regarding channel assignments is that the channel actually represents the center frequency that the transceiver within the wireless-enabled device's radio and access point uses (e.g., 2412 MHz for channel 1 and 2417 MHz for channel 2). As stated above, there is only a five MHz separation between the center frequencies. It is generally regarded that an 802.11b signal occupies at most 22 MHz of the frequency spectrum with about one half of the bandwidth falling on each side of the center frequency. As a result, an 802.11b signal overlaps with several adjacent channel frequencies. This leaves only three channels (channels 1, 6, and 11 for the U.S.) that can be used simultaneously without causing interference between access points. When channel assignments are made to access points in a residence or business, care must be taken so as to ensure that only non-overlapping channels (1, 6, and 11 in the U.S.) are assigned to access points that are within range of each other to avoid contention between access points and wireless-enabled devices. Although the 802.11b standard does not specifically require the use of only three channels for access points, the ramification of the 802.11b teachings is that only three channels are used.
A single WLAN access point is capable of accommodating a limited number of simultaneous users. The number of users that can be accommodated in an area can be increased by increasing the number of access points in that area. However, as explained above, 802.11b-compliant access points within range of each other must be assigned one of only three non-overlapping channels (1, 6, and 11). As such, it is generally considered not possible to locate more than three access points in a small area having a high user density. A solution to this problem is needed that would permit a higher density of users to use a WLAN for a given frequency range. More specifically, it would be desirable to implement a WLAN which permits a higher density of users for the ISM band.

Channelization scheme for wireless local area networks


A method of forming a device is disclosed. A substrate having a high gain (HG) device region for a HG transistor is provided. A HG gate is formed on the substrate in the HG device region. The HG gate includes sidewall spacers on its sidewalls. Heavily doped regions are formed adjacent to the HG gate. Inner edges of the heavily doped regions are aligned with about outer edges of the sidewall spacers of the HG gate. The heavily doped regions serve as HG source/drain (S/D) regions of the HG gate. The HG S/D regions do not include lightly doped drain (LDD) regions or halo regions.

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) transistors have been widely employed. For example, CMOS transistors have been employed for analog applications. Analog applications employ CMOS transistors with high gains. However, as CMOS technology migrates into the nano-regime, it has been found that gains of CMOS transistors become reduced, affecting its effectiveness.
The present disclosure relates to providing high gain transistors in the nanotechnology regime.


An example method of designing a multi-band antenna includes specifying a first portion of the multi-band antenna in a tangible medium, where the first portion corresponds to an existing design of a single-band monopole antenna for operating in a first frequency band, and specifying in the tangible medium a second portion of the multi-band antenna that is added to the first portion, where the second portion includes a dipole parasitic resonator that is resonant in a second frequency band.

Antennas may transmit information by converting electric power into electromagnetic waves, and may receive information by converting power from electromagnetic waves into an electrical signal. For example, charge carriers may move through an antenna according to an input electrical signal and as a result the antenna may radiate electromagnetic waves corresponding to the input electrical signal, or charge carriers may move through the antenna according to received electromagnetic waves and thereby may generate an electrical signal corresponding to the received electromagnetic waves to be output from the antenna.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


The invention provides a method of synchronizing farrowing in swine comprising the steps of administering an effective amount of a prostaglandin and then administering to the sows an effective amount of a peripheral .alpha..sub.2 adrenergic agonist, such that farrowing is induced.

A pork producer's profit depends on the cost of feed and the market price for pork, and on the ability to attain a high percentage of live births and pigs weaned per litter. Furthermore, a pork producer's profit is contingent on controlling the cost of personnel used to assist in the farrowing operation. Thus, any significant technological advance useful in optimizing efficiency and reducing personnel costs may receive wide acceptance among pork producers.
Having experienced and skilled personnel available to assist during farrowing and the neonatal period is important for several reasons. When giving birth to large litters a sow will often tire. This results in the stillbirth of the last few pigs of the litter who are unable to escape the uterus and reach air before suffocating. Further, pigs are born without hair and, as such, are susceptible to temperature changes. Hypothermia can often cause the death of young pigs.
It should also be appreciated that the litter may be larger than the number of functional nipples available on the sow. Nipples on the upper chest are also typically more productive than those at the sow's hindquarter. Thus, small pigs that cannot compete with their litter mates may be pushed to the less productive nipples and not receive the nutrients needed to grow or even survive. Specifically, since pigs receive their immunity to disease through the milk of the sow, undernourished pigs are very susceptible to diseases and infections. Further, weakened pigs may be slowed and unable to move quickly enough to avoid being accidentally crushed by the sow in the pen.
With proper care, the rate of pig survival can be greatly increased. The assisting personnel can help the sow as she farrows thereby helping her when she tires and reducing the number of stillborns. Obstructions such as mucous may be cleaned from the nostrils of newborn pigs to reduce stress and/or even prevent suffocation. Since sows are receptive to pigs born of another sow, cross-fostering of pigs can be practiced. By proportioning the number of pigs per sow and placing pigs of approximately the same size with the same sow, better overall nutrition of all the newborn pigs is assured.
Maintaining a high birth rate in a herd of swine and using personnel efficiently so as to minimize costs has lead pork producers to seek methods for synchronizing farrowing. In the past, pork producers have sought to synchronize farrowing among the sows of a herd so as to reduce the man-hours required to provide care and increase newborn pig survival.
Synchronized weanings have been used in an effort to synchronize subsequent farrowings. Specifically, after the sows have all been nursing present litters for about three weeks, the litters are weaned. Four to six days after weaning, the sows are again ready for breeding. By breeding all the sows on or about the same day, farrowings can be synchronized to fall within a relatively short period. While this technique is more efficient than random breeding, biological variations in the sows of the herd may result in farrowing taking place over as much as a seven day period. Also, farrowing can occur at any time of the day or night.
Another means of synchronizing farrowing in swine herds has been via the use of various veterinary pharmaceuticals. However, the extreme potency of some of the drugs employed for uterine stimulation can cause injury to the sows uterus during delivery. Steroids such as progesterone or "progestin" may be administered to sows late in the gestation period so as to extend gestation and delay farrowing. However, the utilization of progesterone to delay farrowing has been shown to increase the rate of stillbirths and incidents of dystocia or abnormal labor.
Prostaglandin F.sub.2.alpha. (PGF.sub.2.alpha.), or its analogs, e.g., cloprostenol, may also be administered to sows so as to induce parturition or farrowing. The use of prostaglandins to synchronize farrowing in a herd is, however, of limited effectiveness. The average time for responding to PGF.sub.2.alpha. or cloprostenol treatment is 33 hours, with a range of 15-48 hours (L. Hermansson et at., Nord. Vet. Med., 33, 349-353 (1981)). This response variation is too great to allow for the potential benefits of farrowing induction.
Recently, oxytocin was used in combination with PGF.sub.2.alpha. or its analog to facilitate induction of farrowing (P. Chantaraprateep et at., Aust. Vet. J., 63, 254-256 (1986); and G. D. Dial et al., Am. J. Vet. Res., 48, 966-970 (1987)). However, this approach is not satisfactory because the procedure is not practical. It results in highly variable onset of the induced farrowing or potential loss of piglets resulting from dystocia induced by these drugs.
The combination of PGF.sub.2.alpha. and xylazine to induce farrowing has also been studied (J. C. H. Ko et al., Theriogenology, 31, 795-800 (1989)). This study clearly indicates that this combination could be used to reliably and effectively synchronize farrowing. Xylazine is an .alpha..sub.2 -adrenergic agonist, and .alpha..sub.2 -agonists are potent myometrial contractants in pigs. These drugs offer an alternative to oxytocin for the stimulation of myometrial contraction. In addition, their effects on the myometrium can be reversed by .alpha..sub.2 -adrenergic antagonists, unlike the effects oxytocin. However, xylazine's sedative effect may not be desirable when used as an oxytocic agent. Thus, a need exists for a safe and effective method for synchronizing farrowing in pregnant sows, particularly without sedative effects.

Method of synchronizing farrowing in swine

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


In normal times, a rotation angle restriction mechanism in a first state restricts a rotation angle of a steering member within a first rotation angular range. In the event of a failure, that is, when there is a malfunction in a steering angle sensor, the rotation angle restriction mechanism is switched into a second state by an electromagnetic clutch, and the rotation angle of the steering member is restricted within a second rotation angular range. A steering direction is detected on the basis of at which one of a pair of terminal ends of the second rotation angular range, the steering member is located. An ECU executes drive control on a steering system actuator on the basis of the detected steering direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle steering system.
2. Discussion of Background
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-278826 (JP 10-278826 A) describes a so-called steer-by-wire steering system in which a steering member and steered wheels are not mechanically coupled to each other. JP 10-278826 A suggests that there are provided a main steering angle sensor and a backup steering angle sensor that is used in place of the main steering angle sensor in the event of a failure of the main steering angle sensor. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-90784 (JP 2004-90784 A) describes a steer-by-wire steering system in which a planetary gear mechanism is arranged between a steering member and a steered mechanism. JP 2004-90784 A suggests that, in the event of a failure of a steering angle sensor, rotation of a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism is restrained to allow manual steering via the planetary gear mechanism of which the gear ratio has been fixed through the restraint of the rotation of the ring gear.
According to JP 10-278826 A, the multiple expensive steering angle sensors are used, which increases the manufacturing cost. According to JP 2004-90784 A, the planetary gear mechanism is used, which also increases the manufacturing cost.


A method for increasing the mercury flow rate to a photochemical mercury enrichment utilizing an entrainment system comprises the steps of passing a carrier gas over a pool of mercury maintained at a first temperature T1, wherein the carrier gas entrains mercury vapor; passing said mercury vapor entrained carrier gas to a second temperature zone T2 having temperature less than T1 to condense said entrained mercury vapor, thereby producing a saturated Hg condition in the carrier gas; and passing said saturated Hg carrier gas to said photochemical enrichment reactor.

Many devices utilize mercury in their operation, particularly in the field of electric lamps and lighting. Such devices include arc discharge lamps which typically employ mercury as one of the vaporizable components therein. See, for example, Waymouth, Electric Discharge Lamps, MIT Press 1971 for a description of the basic operating principles of such lamps.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,252, (the '252 patent) the advantages of utilizing higher than normal levels of .sup.196 Hg in the Hg added to fluorescent lamps are described and include unexpectedly high efficiency gains in light output. The disclosure of this patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The drawback of using this isotope lies in its high cost. For example, using conventional enrichment techniques, mercury which has been enhanced to contain about 35% of the .sup.196 Hg isotope can cost about $500 per milligram. While only sub-milligram quantities of this isotope need by added to an incandescent lamp to afford beneficial results, economic realities always play a part in consumer products. Accordingly, it is easy to understand why more economical methods of obtaining this isotope continue to be sought.
Previously Hg entrainment methods used in the photochemical isotope separation of .sup.196 Hg employed a bubbler or sparger system filled with mercury. See for example, Webster and Zare, J. Phys. Chem., 85: 1302 (1981) and FIG. 1. This method has been found to have several disadvantages, particularly at mercury flow rates of 1 g/hr. or higher. The upstream pressure would vary during the bubbling and cause height reduction of the mercury column in the bubbler. Mechanical motion of small droplets necessitated an extended transition of vacuum tubing between the reactor and the bubbler. Given the extended transition region, control of the vapor pressure of mercury is difficult.
The following additional documents are recited as general background information with respect to the subject matter of the present invention. To the extent deemed necessary by artisans of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, the teachings of these documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Grossman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,547; PA0 Grossman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,550; PA0 Maya, U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,086; PA0 Durbin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,363; PA0 Work et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,252; PA0 Botter nee Bergheaud et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,019; PA0 Smith et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,331; PA0 Grossman et al., U.S. Ser. No. 815,150, filed Dec. 31, 1985; PA0 European Patent Publication No. 0 281 687, published Sept. 14, 1988, claiming priority of U.S. Ser. No. 947,217, filed Dec. 29, 1986; and PA0 European Patent Publication No. 0 280 788, published Sept. 7, 1988, claiming priority of U.S. Ser. No. 947,216, filed Dec. 29, 1986.

Method and apparatus for controlling the flow rate of mercury in a flow system


A system for retaining a toilet seat and seat cover in a verticle position against a toilet water tank that comprises an elastic band that encircles the water tank. The seat and seat cover may be selectively held under the elastic band against the tank.

2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for conveniently retaining a toilet seat in a vertical or upright position.
A situation that is regularly encountered is that of a toilet seat and seat cover that will not stay in the upright position when raised and leaning against the water tank. This is especially true of seat covers that are fabric covered because when the seat is upright the fabric cover is positioned between the seat assembly and the water tank and prevents adequate back tilting. The result is that the seat or the seat cover will fall forward down to the normal horizontal position. The present invention is directed to this general problem.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There exists a number of devices and patents directed to the problem of retaining the toilet seat and cover in the vertical position. Examples of such devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,638,515, 4,763,362, 5,052,061 and 4,451,940. The devices shown in these patents attempt to resolve the problem of retaining the seat and seat cover vertically by means of hooks, magnetic devices, strap arrangements, etc. These prior art devices are generally structurally complex and inconvenient to operate in retaining the seat vertical and readily and conveniently releasing it. The present invention on the other hand provides a very simple and convenient device for solving the problem that these other prior more complex devices attempted to solve.


A method for transmitting packets classified according to QoS requirement from a transmitting node to a receiving node is provided, the transmitting node being configured to select sequentially a QoS class, to divide a queued packet to be transmitted, which belongs to the selected class, into a plurality of predetermined data units, to transmit one of the predetermined data units, and to apply a transmitter-side retransmission control process to the data unit to be transmitted when the selected class is a QoS class specified for data type packets, and the receiving node being configured to receive sequentially the data units transmitted from the transmitting node, to assemble a plurality of received data units to restore an original packet for each QoS class, and to apply a receiver-side retransmission control process to the received data units when the received data unit belongs to one of the data type QoS classes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a packet transmission method and-system, more particularly to the packet transmission method and system for dividing a normal transmission packet into a plurality of data units each having a shorter data length, and scheduling transmission order of those data units.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, on the Internet, services have been provided that can support various quality of service (QoS). QoS may be defined by allowable packet loss, allowable delay time, and the like.
For example, between transmission of E-mail and transmission of audio or video streaming, there is a big difference in the required QoS. In data type transmission such as for E-mail or Web pages, it may be more important to ensure an arrival of all the information (reliability or low bit error) than an arrival with no or minimal delay. That is, the data type transmission may allow some delay if necessary for the reliability. While, in real-time type transmission such as for audio or video streaming, minimal delay is more important because the real-time type data can be practically unusable if the delay is too large.
Some architectures offer different QoS such as Intserv (Integrated Service) and Diffserv (Differentiated Service). The Intserv guarantees throughput for every QoS class, which is a so-called bandwidth-guaranteed type service, and utilizes RSVP (Resource Reservation Protocol). The Diffserv sets up a priority for every packet, based on user (IP address) or contents of transmitted information.
A conventional packet transmission method and system is described below with reference to FIG.1. FIG.1 schematically shows the configuration of the conventional packet transmitting apparatus.
In FIG. 1, a classifying part 101 processes packets (IP packets) to be transmitted to classify them on the basis of QoS requirement. It is assumed as an example that roughly there are some service classes classified as real-time type and some service classes classified as data type.
Alternatively, for classifying, a different service class is assigned to each flow if this node is an RSVP router, while service classes are allocated based on DSCP (Diffserv Codepoint) in IP header if the node is a Diffserv router.
Each classified transmission packet is managed in an IP datagram queue, using various buffer management techniques for each queue. As an example, some packets are dropped according to a predetermined discard policy such as RED (Random Early Detection) or RIO (RED with In/Out). The IP datagram queues are provided for each service class in an IP queue 102.
A transmission order for the packets to be transmitted buffered in each queue is scheduled by a scheduling part 103 according to a scheduling technique such as PQ (Priority Queuing), WFQ (Weighted Fair Queuing), or CBQ (Class-based Queuing). The scheduling may be based on allocated bands in case of the above-mentioned Intserv, while it may be based on the priority of each queue in case of the above Diffserv. Anyway, a front packet in each queue is pulled out according to one of the above techniques, and is transferred into a data link layer (the second layer).
The packets to be transmitted transferred into the data link layer are transmitted by a data link control part 104.
As described above, the conventional packet transmitting apparatus performs the QoS control by scheduling the packets to be transmitted in the IP layer on the basis of the QoS class.
However, the above conventional QoS control assumes the use of wired transmission where fine connections are maintained, and performs the same process to each QoS class in the data link layer (the second layer).
If such QoS control method is applied to radio transmission where packet losses may likely occur in radio paths, a larger delay may adversely occur in the real-time type packets requiring minimal delay. It is described as below.
With reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of a typical mobile communication system is now described. FIG. 2 shows schematically the whole configuration of the typical mobile communication system.
In FIG. 2, a plurality of radio network controllers (RNC) 202 are connected to a core network (CN) 201, and each radio network controller 202 controls a plurality of base stations (BS) 203. Each radio base station 203 manages a plurality of cells 204. The number of each kind of stations shown is only an example and may include others.
In the mobile communication system, the data link control is usually performed in the RNC 202.
In the mobile communication system having such configuration, when the packet loss occurs, the same packet is usually retransmitted in the radio path in order to maintain the quality of transmission. With a typical control, when one packet is lost in the radio path, a receiver-side awaits the retransmission of the lost packet even if the subsequent packet is successfully transmitted.
As mentioned above, since reliability (low bit error) is important in the transmission of the data type packets, a process required for the retransmission control is applied to each of the packets to be transmitted in the data link control.
However, applying the data link control including the retransmission control uniformly to all the packets belonging to all QoS classes, consequently the retransmission control is applied to the real-time type packets.
In the radio transmission, particularly the retransmission control is frequently performed. Therefore, applying the above conventional QoS control to the radio transmission, the transmission delay may likely occur in the transmission of the real-time type packets where minimal delay may be more important than the reliability.
Also, transmission rate in the radio transmission is slower than one in the wired transmission, and hence longer packet transmission time is required in the former than in the latter. For example, when a packet having 1,500 bytes is transmitted at 128 kilobit per second (kbps), it takes approximately 100 milliseconds (ms). In audio or voice communication, 100 ms delay is quite large.
Therefore, when a real-time type packet is to be transmitted during the transmission of the data type packet, according to the above example, even if the scheduling process is performed taking account of QoS (i.e. the real-time type packet shall be given higher priority for transmission), this real-time type packet waits to be transmitted at most for 100 ms.
Thus, in the conventional data link control apparatus, the QoS control is exclusively performed in the IP layer (the third layer), and the QoS is not adequately reflected in the process of the data link layer (the second layer).
Therefore, the conventional packet transmitting apparatus has a problem that the transmission delay is likely to occur in the real-time type packets when it is used for the radio transmission.
Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2000-224261 discloses a data link control method in which a plurality of QoS planes are generated in the data link layer on the basis of the QoS information of the IP layer.
In this method, in fact, the data link control varies according to the QoS. However, although this method varies its retransmission method on the basis of the QoS requirement, the above-mentioned problem that the delay may occur in the real-time type packets due to the occurrence of the retransmission packet waiting time remains, because this method does not include a mode that does not perform the retransmission method.
Also, in this method, although a frame length to divide into is varied in the data link layer according to conditions of the radio transmission path, a frame by frame scheduling is not performed. Therefore, this method does not solve the problem that delay may occur in the real-time type packets because of the transmission waiting time until completion of transmission of the data type packets.

Packet communication system with packets classification, division and retransmission


An Albada zoom finder includes a first lens assembly of positive power, a second lens assembly of negative power, a third lens assembly of negative power and a fourth lens assembly of positive power, arranged in this order from the object side of a camera. An Albada frame is provided on the lens surface of the fourth positive lens assembly on the object side thereof. A reflecting surface is provided on the lens surface of the third negative lens assembly on the viewing side thereof, wherein each of the four lens assemblies is comprised of a single lens. Only the second negative lens is movable as a variable power lens assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Albada type zoom finder separate from a photographing optical system.
2. Description of Related Art
In a recent known lens shutter type camera or still video camera, the photographing optical system and finder optical system are both comprised of zoom lenses. An Albada zoom finder is usually used as a finder in this case. However, a conventional Albada zoom finder includes a large number of lens elements and two or more movable lens assemblies (groups) for changing the magnification (power). This makes it difficult to provide a simple, small and inexpensive Albada zoom finder.


A cooling apparatus has a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between cooling water and fluid, and a flow rate regulator valve for regulating a flow rate of either the cooling water or the fluid which pass through the heat exchanger. A cooling temperature of the fluid is preset. A temperature of the cooled fluid is detected, and an opening degree of the flow rate regulator valve is changed when there is a difference between the detected temperature and the preset temperature. Simultaneously, either a temperature difference of the cooling water and the fluid or a flow rate of the cooling water is detected. The opening degree of the flow rate regulator valve is corrected or compensated on the basis of a result of the detection, thus enabling suitable temperature control of the fluid in accordance with a variation of the temperature or flow rate of the cooling water.

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by water through a heat exchanger and a temperature control method therefor. This cooling apparatus is suitable, not exclusively, for cooling a large-scale computer.
A conventional cooling apparatus of this type includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between cooling water and a high-temperature fluid, and a flow rate regulator valve for regulating a flow rate of the fluid passing through the heat exchanger. Opening degree of the flow rate regulator valve is controlled in accordance with a difference between a temperature of the fluid after having been cooled and a preset temperature of the same. In the conventional art, however, control of the flow rate regulator valve is performed in a fixed manner regardless of the magnitude of a temperature or a flow rate of the cooling water. As a result, the temperature and the flow rate of the cooling water for performing required cooling are limited within certain ranges, and if the temperature or the flow rate of the cooling water is changed, the stability of temperature control of the fluid is deteriorated.
Such a conventional cooling apparatus is shown, for example, in the book entitled "High-Temperature Water Heating" (written by Uichi Inoue, edited by Air Conditioning and Sanitary Engineering Institute, published from Maruzen Co., Ltd. on Jul. 30, 1968), pp. 80-81, FIGS. 5 and 7.

Cooling apparatus and temperature control method therefor


A compaction unit (100) includes (a) an elongated open-ended ramming chamber (50) having a fill port opening (51). A ramming head (20) pushes material within ramming chamber (50) to add a new lift to a continuous homogeneous block (40) comprised of all previously compressed material. As the ramming head (20) moves forward, it closes off the fill port opening (51). A shearing chamber (60) fractures the blocks to any desired length, while a support platform (70) supports and stores the blocks until utilized. The shearing chamber (60) moves transverse to the ramming chamber to form the fracture.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ramming machines particularly those used in the production of Compressed Earth Block, Stabilized Compressed Earth Block, and other similar material units.
During the next 20 years, the world's human population is expected to double. Considering what is happening to the worlds' ecosystems, this increased demand for food and fiber is likely to be the deathblow for many of our natural treasures. If we are to preserve the quality of life on this planet, then the rapid development and implementation of technology that helps to protect the natural environmental is essential. One such technology produces building blocks from locally available soils or earth. Compressed Earth Block (CEB) and Stabilized Compressed Earth Block (SCEB) construction is a time proven, ecologically friendly building system. These blocks require very little energy input to produce unlike the processed materials utilized in concrete, wood frame, or steel construction methods. This makes CEB and SCEB about 70% cheaper to produce and utilize when compared to other construction methods. CEB or SCEB walls that are greater than 22″ thick also provide an excellent "thermal storage unit" for passive solar housing. Even without solar gain or insulation, this massive wall system is 70% more energy efficient to heat and cool than other construction technologies. Other advantages of CEB and SCEB construction include being fireproof, bug-proof, and hypoallergenic. In addition, when CEB and SCEB walls of over 22″ thick are properly constructed the resultant structure can be tornado, hurricane, and earthquake proof as well. And with new waterproofing systems CEB and SCEB can be constructed anywhere in the world, from the rainforests of the tropics to the high deserts. Thus a major improvement in CEB and SCEB production methods and utilization technology can provide shelter for billions of additional people while helping to conserve our precious natural resources.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
All current state of the art machines share a common feature. They utilize a completely enclosed mold or compression chamber usually with a hydraulic cylinder providing compression to the chamber to produce one block at a time. A few machines can vary one dimension of the block being produced by varying the length of the compression stroke. However, ultimate block size is always limited to the size of the mold or compression chamber of an individual machine. And since earth placed under compression exhibits what I call the "bridging effect", this severely limits the ultimate block size that these machines can produce.
A simple explanation of the "bridging effect" is, as earth nearest the ram or applied force compresses it bonds together forming in effect, a "bridge". This layer of dense material effectively transfers any additional applied energy or pressure outwardly (in a chamber—to the chambers walls) effectively shielding the underlying material from the applied pressure. The "bridging effect" thus limits the amount of earth that we can effectively compress or compact at one time. The same principle holds true for other earthen construction projects. Highway Engineers restrict maximum "lift" depth to 8″ of loose earth during roadbed construction. Experience has taught them that it is almost impossible to achieve a high-density (98% Standard Density) roadbed if you try to compact more than 8″ of loose earth in a single lift. The same holds true for CEB and SCEB production. Since loose earth shrinks by roughly 50% during the compaction process due to the removal of air, this leaves about 4″ of compacted road base. Thus we can conclude that after 4″ of compressed material accumulates then the "bridging effect" will start to severely affect compaction efficiency. And, although compacting earth within a chamber is more efficient than compacting earth in a roadbed, in a CEB machine, the maximum block size when measured through the dimension of applied pressure should never exceed 6″ (compacted thickness) or a significant loss of density will likely result. The only way to overcome this 6″ limitation is to apply extreme amounts of additional compaction pressure, which is entirely possible but not at all economical. This is the main reason present (state of the art) CEB machines restrict their production to small blocks, usually less than 4″ thick when measured through the dimension of applied force. This relegates them to producing blocks of less than 40 lbs and generally less than 20 lbs. Remember, all blocks presently produced are laid utilizing manual labor. Indeed, the focus of the prior art has always been tilted towards increasing the speed of production and not block size.
Unfortunately, this lack of block size restricts CEB and SCEB construction projects in developed nations, to mostly high-end custom projects due to the high manual labor costs involved. It has also limited the wall thickness of most CEB projects to less than 14″. While this is structurally acceptable, CEB and SCEB walls need to be at least 22″ thick to take full advantage of their thermal storage properties. Which means that most CEB and SCEB walls being built presently need to be insulated just like other building systems. Thus, due to the limitations imposed by present state of the art production technology, CEB and SCEB construction has not been utilized nor accepted by industrialized cultures as the energy efficient low cost building system that it should be.
If we are going to modernize the technology and make it more acceptable to industrial societies then human labor to lay the blocks must be replaced by mechanical equipment. This will require a CEB and SCEB machine capable of producing large blocks that can be efficiently handled and placed utilizing standard construction equipment. This will require CEB machines capable of producing blocks that are between 100 lbs. and 500 lbs. for economical placement by a standard sized backhoe. A large commercial project might require CEB blocks between 1 and 5 tons for economical placement utilizing large excavators, cranes, or other equipment common to this environment. Not only will this lower the cost of installation for CEB and SCEB construction, but these massive blocks fit perfectly into the thermal efficiency requirements for earthen construction.
Thus, all that can be said for the present (state of the art) machines is that they have improved the quality and speed of CEB and SCEB production. However, it is still necessary to utilize a 6,000 year-old technology to manually place the blocks within a building system. In this regard we have regressed as many ancient cultures were far more advanced in the utilization of earthen construction than we are. This allowed them to build great civilization centers containing hundreds of thousands of people while causing a minimum of damage to their natural environment. While we think of the ancient Egyptians, Incas, and Aztecs as great builders with rock, it was earthen housing of the masses that allowed their civilizations to flourish. Not that we need to copy the past, but we should be willing to combine the best of the past with the best of the present to produce what is best for the future.
My ramming invention has only one thing in common with a current (state of the art) machine. They are both capable of producing a compressed earth block. The means and method by which this is accomplished is however, totally different. Indeed, all I can list as prior art are examples of dissimilar design and method. This becomes readily apparent upon examination of the art.
3. Description of Prior Art
Underwood, U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,931 issued Feb. 3, 2000 describes an apparatus for forming building blocks, which features a fill chamber followed by a ramming (i.e., compression) chamber that is blocked by a headgate. The earthen block is compressed by a hydraulic ram pushing the material against the headgate then the headgate is opened to eject the block.
Kofahl U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,497 issued July 1999 describes an apparatus for forming building blocks. In operation, a soil/cement mixture is loaded into the upper end of the compression chamber, a sliding gate is slid shut, and a ram compresses the mixture against the gate.
Elkins U. S. Pat. No. 4,579,706 issued April 1986 describes an apparatus for making blocks from earth, soil, or like material. This patent utilizes two enclosed compression chambers and alternates between them to speed production.
As is readily apparent, all the above-mentioned patents utilize completely enclosed compression chambers to form a particular sized block.
An example of current (state of the art) machines on the market includes the "Impact 2001", and the "Compressed Soil Block Machine" manufactured by Advanced Earthen Construction Technologies, Inc. of San Antonio, Tex. Other examples of CEB machines includes the "Terra-Block 250" manufactured by Terra-Block International, Inc. of Florida and the "HBP 250" manufactured by Vermeer Manufacturing, Inc. of Iowa.
All the above stated machines feature micro-processor controlled automated production cycles and high output capabilities, but they all produce blocks of such small size as to require manual labor to handle and lay the blocks within a building system. None of the above stated machines can feasibly be adapted to produce blocks of over 100 lbs. And none of the above stated machines can produce blocks with a variety of lengths without changing out the mold in the compression chamber.
Objects and Advantages
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a compaction unit of simple design that can produce blocks of relatively high-density with very consistent height and width, and infinitely variable yet controllable length.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a compaction unit that utilizes the previously compacted material (lifts) as an integral part of the unit.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a compaction unit with a ramming head that by design and function increases the "frictional threshold" or resistance to movement of the material being compressed within the ramming chamber.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a compaction unit that can produce blocks with interlocking features, or channels/chases for carrying wire, reinforcing steel, or piping.
It is another object of this invention to provide a relatively small machine that can produce blocks of sufficient size that they can be efficiently handled (individually) and placed within a building system by standard construction equipment.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a machine that can be used as a stationary manufacturing facility, or can be trailer mounted for easy transport to and around the job site.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a ramming machine that utilizes at least two compaction units driven by a single power source to increase the speed of production.
It is another object of this invention to provide a ramming machine that can be controlled manually, semi-automatically, or can be fully automated having a microprocessor with programmable production schedules and radio input capabilities.
It is still another object of this invention to describe a process whereby blocks produced by this ramming machine are efficiently placed (individually) within a building system utilizing standard construction equipment.


Metamaterials are used in well logging measurement tools to provide high directionality galvanic and induction tools having metamaterial focusing. Using metamaterial lenses, currents injected by galvanic tools can be focused in both axial and azimuthal directions. In addition, the focus plane can be shifted away from the tool body into a borehole formation, making measurements more sensitive to zones of interest and less sensitive to boreholes and invaded zones. Another metamaterial lens can bend injected currents toward the head of the tool, adding a look-ahead functionality.

Metamaterials are artificially-engineered composites that inherit their electrical properties from the geometry and arrangement of their constituting unit cells. Metamaterials can be realized in many different ways depending on the operation frequency. Metamaterials designed according to transformation optics rules exhibit iso-impedance; in other words metamaterials have substantially the same intrinsic impedance as a background medium, and therefore introduce substantially no spurious reflections.

High directionality galvanic and induction well logging tools with metamaterial focusing


A powerboat muffler is disclosed that balances decreasing exhaust noise and producing power. A muffler cannister has concentric inlet tubes, forming an inlet baffle, where exhaust gas and engine coolant enters the muffler, a V-shaped baffle within the cannister, a funneled outlet, and concentric outlet tubes, forming an outlet baffle. The inlet baffle comprises concentric outer and inner tubes and the front wall of the muffler, which together form an toroidal inlet space. The inner inlet tube extends a certain distance into the muffler cannister. The inside wall of the inner inlet tube is shaped to create a venturi. Through the front wall, within the toroidal inlet space, small venturi-shaped openings are disposed radially between the outer and inner tubes to allow engine exhaust and coolant to enter the muffler. At the outlet end of the muffler, a tapered nozzle funnels exhaust to an outlet tube with a venturi contour. The outlet tube extends out from the outlet nozzle a certain distance. Surrounding and concentric with the outlet tube is an outer outlet tube. The outer outlet tube, the inner outlet tube and the outside surface of the outlet nozzle form another toroidal baffling space at the tail end of the muffler.

Designing efficient and effective mufflers for powerboats involves a number of problems. A powerboat muffler must reduce noise while not decreasing the engine's power. The need to reduce noise is especially important at lakes, where noise can be a nuisance and may be regulated by government agencies. Reducing noise, however, often results in restricting an engine's power output. Also, a significant problem in powerboats is space, since there is little room for large conventional mufflers, such as those used on cars. For example, some cars use more than one muffler. But, in comparison to many powerboats, cars afford sufficient room for a muffler, or mufflers, to dampen or attenuate the sound. This is not the case with powerboats, nor is it with motorcycles or ATVs. Without space to provide a muffler that can reduce noise without significantly decreasing power, it is hard to make an engine quiet, because there is not enough muffler volume available. It is possible to reduce noise by reducing the diameter of the muffler outlet, but there is a consequent power loss resulting from air flow restriction. The problem to solve is how to make a small muffler that attenuates the sound, as much as a larger muffler would, and do so without reducing the engine's power.


A compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating part of the lubricating oil contained in the compressed refrigerant, path arrangement for connecting a separation chamber of the separator and a delivery port of the compressed refrigerant, the path arrangement having a plurality of linear holes with opening ends that open in the outer surface of the housing wall, and screw plugs closing the opening ends except for the one serving as the delivery port, and a safety device built in at least one of the screw plugs, the safety device having a pressure relief valve and/or a temperature sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compressor for compressing a refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit included, for example, in an air conditioning system for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
For instance, a compressor of this type is disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-295767. The compressor disclosed in this publication includes a housing and a scroll-type compression unit that is accommodated in the housing. The compression unit sucks a refrigerant introduced into the housing to compress the refrigerant, and discharges a compressed refrigerant through a discharge hole into a discharge chamber defined in the housing. A high-pressure refrigerant in the discharge chamber is delivered from a delivery port of the housing toward a condenser disposed in a refrigeration circuit.
In general, the refrigerant used in the refrigeration circuit contains lubricating oil. The lubricating oil serves for lubrication of various moving parts and sliding parts in the compressor. The lubricating oil contained in the refrigerant, however, deteriorates the refrigeration performance of the refrigeration circuit. Therefore, the compressor described in the above publication further includes an oil separator for lubricating oil. This oil separator separates part of the lubricating oil from the compressed refrigerant in the process where the compressed refrigerant is led from the discharge chamber to the delivery port of the housing. As a result, the lubricating oil content of the refrigerant that is delivered from the compressor is low, so that the refrigeration circuit can display the desired refrigeration performance.
In addition, the lubricating oil separated by the oil separator is mixed into the refrigerant in the housing and recycled for lubricating the moving parts and the sliding parts.
The oil separator includes a separation chamber located between the discharge chamber and the delivery port. The separation chamber restricts the disposition of the delivery port. In other words, the delivery port has to be disposed near the separation chamber.
A compressor of this type includes various safety devices. The compressor disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-220587 has a pressure relief valve functioning as a safety device. When the pressure in the discharge chamber is abnormally raised, the pressure relief valve is opened to discharge the high-pressure refrigerant in the discharge chamber outside the compressor.
The compressor disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-14189 has a thermal protector functioning as a safety device. If the temperature in the discharge chamber is abnormally increased, the thermal protector outputs an error signal. The output of the error signal causes the driving of the compression unit to stop.
The pressure relief valve and the thermal protector are attached to respective portions of a housing wall that demarcates the discharge chamber. Consequently, the attachment of the pressure relief valve and the thermal protector requires an attachment opening and a recess to be formed in the wall of the housing. Moreover, components, such as seals and fixing screws, are indispensable.

Compressor having a safety device being built in at least one of the screw plugs of the oil-separator


This invention is directed to an electrical interconnection assembly, such as a bulkhead interconnect for an automobile or truck. For such preferred use, the assembly hereof is located in the bulkhead or fire wall to connect the electrical systems on the engine side with switches and/or indicators on the cabin side. The assembly comprises a housing (10) having an array of electrical contacts (30) therein, where said contacts (30) are arranged for exposure to opposed openings (70) in said housing to allow for the above mentioned electrical connection to be made. In its preferred embodiment, the contacts (30) are elongated contact members (30) having male tabs (32) at each end thereof and disposed in parallel relationship with said housing (10). Further, means (50,52,54,72) are provided for electrically engaging certain adjacent elongated contact members (30).

The present invention is directed to an electrical interconnection assembly, more particularly a bulkhead interconnect connector for automobiles and trucks. Such a connector is mounted in a bulkhead or wall, with mating components mounted on either side of the connector. A purpose thereof is to provide electrical interconnection between various electrical circuits on the engine side with switches, indicators or the like on the cabin side.
Other and more sophisticated bulkhead connectors require the use of interfacial seals to prevent the entry of moisture or condensing of moisture on the mating face of the connector which may cause electrical failure between the contacts. Whether simple or complex, typical bulkhead assemblies include a shell or tubular member suitable for installation in a wall opening, a plurality of contacts or conductors arranged parallel to the axis of the shell, and means for supporting such contacts within the shell. From opposing ends of the shell, complementary connectors or plugs may be joined therewith in electrical engagement with said contacts.


Disclosed are a global server load balancer (GSLB) apparatus and a method for dynamically controlling cache time-to-live (TTL) in the GSLB apparatus. The GSLB apparatus which performs load balancing among a plurality of local servers includes a domain name system (DNS) query processor that receives a query message from a DNS server, a server selector that selects a local server among the plurality of local servers based on the received query message, a load calculator that collects state information of the GSLB apparatus, and calculates a load of the GSLB apparatus from the collected state information, and a TTL controller that updates a TTL of the GSLB apparatus based on the calculated load.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to technology for controlling time-to-live (TTL) in a global server load balancer.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In content delivery network (CDN) services for constructing a disaster recovery (DR) site to overcome local difficulties of a data center and improving transmission costs and transmission speed, a global server load balancer (GSLB) is a key technical element that is essentially used.
In an existing GSLB, an operator sets cache time-to-live (TTL) in advance, and in this case, there is a problem that, even if a domain name system (DNS) record is changed due to occurrence of a fault in a site, a delay may occur by a maximum TTL time until a corresponding change is propagated to a final user. To address this problem, a method that sets TTL to be significantly small or to be even zero may be considered. However, in this case, rapid propagation of a situation concerning the change in the DNS record or the like is possible, but in proportion thereto, the number of requests which come in the GSLB is also increased, and therefore the GSLB becomes unable to respond to the requests in an extreme case. Therefore, there are demands for a method that adjusts TTL to an optimal value within the level for satisfying stability of the GSLB and service quality standard.

Global server load balancer apparatus and method for dynamically controlling time-to-live


An absorbent article including an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid and a flow-modulating layer in liquid communication with the absorbent body. The flow-modulating layer is formed from hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns. The flow-modulating layer has an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter. The average pore size of the absorbent body is less than the average pore size of the flow-modulating layer. The flow-modulating layer is capable of rapidly receiving multiple liquid insults and distributing the liquid in its X-Y plane prior to said liquid being absorbed by the absorbent body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, feminine care pad, adult incontinent garment, training pant, wound dressing, and the like. Specifically, the present invention relates to an absorbent article which includes a hydrophilic flow-modulating layer adapted to receive a liquid and modulate the flow of said liquid prior to the liquid being absorbed by an absorbent body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional absorbent articles typically include an absorbent body comprised of cellulosic fibers such as wood pulp fluff. The absorbent body may, in addition to the wood pulp fluff, contain particles of a high absorbency material which serves to increase the absorbent capacity of the absorbent body. In addition to the absorbent bodies, conventional absorbent articles typically comprise additional layers of material located between the body of a wearer and said absorbent body. Such layers are typically designed to perform the function of separating the body of the wearer from the absorbent body, thereby reducing the skin wetness of a wearer. In order to reduce the skin wetness of a wearer, such layers are typically formed from hydrophobic fibers.
European Patent Application EP 0 165 807A published Dec. 27, 1985, describes a sanitary napkin which includes an apertured top sheet and a resilient layer underlying the top sheet. The absorbent structure can also include a wicking layer between the apertured top sheet and the resilient layer, an absorbent core underlying the resilient layer, and a moisture barrier located against the outermost side of the absorbent core. The resilient layer is described as isolating the apertured top sheet from bodily discharges which have passed through the top sheet and as serving as a reservoir for body discharges.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,603 issued Jan. 17, 1989, to Meyer, et al. is directed to an absorbent article having a hydrophobic transport layer. The described absorbent articles comprise an absorbent body, a top sheet layer, and a hydrophobic transport layer. The described hydrophobic transport layer is said to reduce flow back of liquids out of the absorbent body and, as a result, provides less wetness against the skin and greater comfort to a wearer.
When a hydrophobic material is placed between the body of a wearer and an absorbent body, the degree of wetness against the skin of a wearer can, as described above, be reduced. However, the presence of the hydrophobic material may impede the flow of a liquid discharged by the wearer into the absorbent body. That is, while the hydrophobic material may prevent fluid from flowing out of the absorbent body onto the skin of a wearer, it may similarly impede the flow of liquid from a wearer to the absorbent body.
In addition to absorbent articles having hydrophobic materials located between a wearer and an absorbent body, various structures are described which comprise hydrophilic wicking layers in conjunction with an absorbent body. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,338,371 issued July 6, 1982, to Dawn, et al.; 4,259,958 issued Apr. 7, 1981, to Goodbar; U.K. Patent Application GB 2 170 108A published July 30, 1986; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,324,247 issued Apr. 13, 1986, to Aziz; 4,041,951 issued Aug. 16, 1977, to Sanford; 3,945,386 issued Mar. 23, 1976, to Anczurowski, et al.; and 4,413,032 issued Nov. 1, 1983, to Hartmann, et al.
The wicking structures described in the referenced patents are typically formed from a hydrophilic material having a relatively high density and, accordingly, a relatively small pore size. In fact, many of the described wicking structures are formed from wood pulp fluff which has been compressed into relatively high density layers.
While compressed layers of wood pulp fluff are, as described, capable of transporting a fluid, such layers of compressed wood pulp fluff are not generally able to rapidly receive an insult of liquid. Accordingly, such wicking layers are generally located in a manner such that a liquid discharged on the absorbent article can be absorbed by an absorbent body and then wicked throughout said absorbent body. If such wicking layers comprising compressed wood pulp fluff are located between the body of a wearer and an absorbent body, liquids discharged on the absorbent article find it difficult to pass through the wicking layer into the absorbent body at speeds sufficient to prevent leakage from the absorbent articles.
Thus, conventional absorbent articles have not been completely satisfactory. Specifically, the absorbent articles have not been sufficiently able to both rapidly receive and distribute a discharged liquid, thereby modulating the flow of said liquid prior to absorption of the liquid by an absorbent body.

Absorbent article having a hydrophilic flow-modulating layer


An intermetallic-compound coated stainless steel having excellent rigidity, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance comprises a substrate of a martensite stainless steel having a Vickers hardness of 400 or more, and a hard film having a bottom surface adhered to the substrate and an exposed top surface. The hard film has an outermost layer made of a compound selected from the group consisting of a Ti--Ni intermetallic compound, Ti--Fe intermetallic compound, and a mixture of the Ti--Ni intermetallic compound and a Ti--Cu intermetallic compound. The coated stainless steel can be produced by cladding an outer sheet made of Ti or a Ti alloy to a martensite stainless steel sheet directly or through an intermediate sheet made of Ni, Fe or a Ni--Cu alloy, heating the laminate at a temperature of 900.degree. C. to 1150.degree. C. for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and then cooling the heated laminate at a cooling rate of 1.degree. C./sec or more.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intermetallic-compound coated stainless steel, which can be used for parts requiring excellent rigidity, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, for example, structural parts such as gears and bearings, and cutting tools such as hair clippers and blades for electric shavers, and a method of producing the same.
2. Disclosure of the Prior Art
In the past, carbon tool steels, high carbon stainless steels, or precipitation-hardening stainless steels have been used to structural parts such as gears and bearings, and cutting tools such as hair clippers and blades for electric shavers. Although these materials are excellent in toughness, the wear resistance is not enough. To improve the wear resistance, conventional ceramics can be used. However, they have not been practical yet in applications requiring complex configuration or sharp edge because of poor toughness and workability of the ceramics. On the other hand, a surface modification of the foregoing steels can be performed by coating a hard material having excellent corrosion resistance such as alumina by means of physical vapor deposition (PVD) method or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In this case, since a thickness of the coated hard material is very thin, for example, 0.1 .mu.m, sufficient wear resistance has not been obtained yet. In addition, there is a problem that the adhesion between the coated hard material and the steels is not enough.

Stainless steel coated with intermetallic compound and process for producing the same