The present invention relates to compounds that are modulators of Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK), and methods of treating diseases with such compounds. In certain embodiments, the compounds are within Formulas I-VII (e.g., Csbl-1). In some embodiments, the compounds are used to treat an ILK-mediated disease, such as cancer (e.g., triple negative breast cancer) or an inflammatory disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women worldwide, with nearly 1.7 million new cases diagnosed and more than half million deaths in 2012. Clinically, based on the expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), breast cancer is classified into subgroups of hormone receptor-positive, HER-2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by the absence of ER/PR and lack of overexpression of HER2, represents approximately 15-20% of all breast cancers.
As TNBC does not respond to either hormonal therapy or anti-HER2 agents, standard chemotherapy is currently the mainstay of systemic medical treatment therefor. TNBC initially responds to conventional chemotherapy, however patients frequently have rapid relapses and currently there is no effective treatment thereafter. In addition, TNBC is more aggressive than other subtypes of breast cancer, which has great propensity to metastasize to the lungs and brain. So patients with TNBC usually have a poor prognosis and a shorter overall survival chance compared with other subtypes of breast cancer.

Compounds for treating ILK-mediated diseases


A method and system for charging and equalizing battery packs in a battery power system by transferring charge between battery packs. The method involves determining if a battery pack is a candidate for charging, selecting a battery pack to transfer charge from, and transferring charge between the battery packs until an equalizing charge level is accomplished between the battery packs.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention is generally battery charging, and in particular systems for charging and equalization by shuffling charge between battery packs.
2. Background
Systems of batteries are used as a power source in a variety of applications, such as batteries used in electric and electric-hybrid vehicles to power the motor or accessories. However, the utility of battery power is reduced by factors that decrease the lifetime of individual batteries in the battery power system. Batteries within the same battery power system will charge and discharge at different rates due to different temperatures, construction and materials. As a result, the charge levels of the batteries will differ over time. When the battery power system is charged to bring lower charged batteries to a full charge, the higher charged batteries will be overcharged thereby reducing lifetime. Yet, if the charge to the battery power system is lessened to avoid overcharging the higher charged batteries, the output of the battery power system will be less than full capacity.
More specifically, the following discussion describes batteries or battery packs connected in series. For the purposes of this invention a plurality of batteries connected in parallel are the same as a single battery. Charge equalization devices have been developed to balance charge levels between battery pairs within a battery power system, thereby reducing the risk of overcharging individual batteries when the battery power system is charged. When the voltage of one battery in the pair is higher than the voltage of another battery in the system by a certain amount, a conventional charge equalization device transfers charge from the higher charged battery to the lower charged battery. The charge equalization device can be configured to transfer charge until the difference in charge levels between batteries is below a designated amount. This process of equalizing charge levels between the batteries can be repeated until all batteries within a battery power system have a consistent charge level.
The conventional charge equalization device is not designed, however, to independently charge an individual battery connected within a plurality of batteries to full capacity. Using charge equalization alone, the highest achievable charge level of a battery is always less than the charge level of the other battery in the equalization pair, i.e., the battery is undercharged. After a sufficient period of undercharging, the portion of the battery cell that has not been charged may no longer be available and the lifetime of batteries will be reduced. The lifetime of certain types of batteries can also be diminished by a memory effect. The memory effect occurs when a battery cell is regularly charged such that the charge does not fall below a particular level. After a sufficient period of time, the battery capacity is lessened because only the portion of the battery cell that has been charged will be available for use and the lifetime of the battery cell is thereby diminished.
A method and system for charging and equalizing battery packs in a battery power system by transferring charge between battery packs. For purposes of this specification and the claims that follow, the term xe2x80x98battery packxe2x80x99 can represent an individual battery cell or a plurality of battery cells in a module or a plurality of modules. The method can comprise determining if a battery pack is a candidate for charging, selecting a battery pack to transfer charge from, transferring charge, discontinuing charge transfer, and equalizing charge level between battery packs in the battery power system. This charge-then-equalize process can be repeated for each battery pack in a plurality of battery packs. The method can also comprise discharging a battery pack prior to charging in order to counter the memory effect.
The system of battery charging and equalization can comprise a battery charging and equalization unit coupled with a plurality of battery packs, wherein the unit comprises any configuration capable of performing the method of battery charging and equalization. In one embodiment, the battery charging and equalization unit comprises a charge shuffler and a processor. Specifically, the processor can be coupled with each battery pack to monitor charge data. The charge shuffler can be embodied as a DC-to-DC converter that is capable of transferring charge between battery packs. The charge shuffler is coupled with each of the plurality of battery packs. The processor is coupled with the charge shuffler to direct the transfer and equalization of charge between battery packs. The processor can also direct the charge shuffler to transfer charge from the first battery pack to one or more other battery packs, thereby draining the first battery pack. Other aspects, features and embodiments are disclosed in the detailed description that follows and are described in relation to the following figures.

Systems and methods for battery charging and equalization


A plant cutter apparatus has a one-piece handling rod having an outer pipe portion, an inner pipe portion disposed concentrically within the outer pipe portion, and first, second and third radial stay portions extending between and interconnecting the outer pipe portion and the inner pipe portion. The first, second and third radial stay portions are arranged at non-equal angular intervals such that an angle xcex81 formed between the first and second stay portions, an angle xcex82 formed between the second and third stay portions, and an angle xcex83 formed between the third and first stay portions differ from each other. A drive shaft extends through the inner pipe portion and is rotatably supported within the inner pipe portion via a bushing disposed between the drive shaft and the inner pipe portion. A drive source unit is mounted at one end of the handling rod for rotating the drive shaft. A cutter blade is mounted at another end of the handling rod and is connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.

The present invention relates to an improvement in plant cutter apparatus for cutting plants, such as weeds, bushes or grasses.
Generally, weeds growing on footpaths between rice fields etc. have to be cut several times a year because they tend to be nested by pests. The weed cutting is usually very laborious, and thus various automatic weed cutters have heretofore been proposed and put to practical use, among which shoulder-hung weed cutters are very popular because of their small size and handling ease. In most of the shoulder-hung weed cutters, a driving-force transmission shaft or drive shaft, which is passed through a pipe-shaped handling rod, is rotated via an engine provided at one end of the handling rod so as to rotate a cutter blade provided at the other end of the handling rod. In most cases, a human operator hangs the weed cutter on his or her shoulder using a hanging belt, and cuts weeds with the rotating cutter blade by gripping a U-shaped handle provided on an intermediate position of the handling rod to swing the handling rod in front-and-rear and left-and-right directions.
In recent years, there have been strong demands for further improvements in agricultural working environment. In the case of the shoulder-hung weed cutters too, there is an increasing demand for reduction in vibrations that are transmitted from the engine via the handling rod to the U-shaped handle, with a view to lowering the load on the human operator.
Because the weed or plant cutters are often used in farmland or the like where no AC power source is available, they ordinarily employ, as a prime mover or drive source unit, a small engine that is not equipped with a balancer to attenuate secondary vibrations. In such a small engine, the direction of vibrating force produced as the crankshaft is rotated by reciprocating motion of the piston (vibrating direction) can vary over a 360xc2x0 range about the crankshaft. The drive shaft and handling rod connected to the drive source unit are subject to influences of the vibrations caused by the rotating crankshaft, and the direction of vibrations transmitted to the drive shaft and handling rod can also vary over a 360xc2x0 range about an axial centerline of the handling rod. The vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit to the drive shaft comprise two major components: one component delivered from the drive source unit via the drive shaft to the handling rod; and the other component delivered from the drive source unit directly to the handling rod.
One example of a weed cutter designed to reduce vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit via the drive shaft to the handling rod is known from Japanese Utility Model Publication No. HEI-2-16593. In the weed cutter disclosed in this publication, the drive shaft, passed through the pipe-shaped handling rod, is rotated by an internal combustion engine to thereby rotate the cutter blade on the distal end of the handling rod. The drive shaft is rotatably supported within the handling rod via a bearing assembly incorporated in the handling rod. However, this disclosed weed cutter would encounter significant limitations in reducing the vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit via the drive shaft to the handling rod.
On the other hand, an example of a weed cutter designed to reduce vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit directly to the handling rod is known from Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 51-64732. In the weed cutter disclosed in this publication, a vibration isolation device is provided, and the drive source unit is mounted, via a clutch housing, at one end of the pipe-shaped handling rod having the drive shaft passed therethrough. The clutch housing has accommodated therein a clutch operating between the output shaft of the drive source unit and the drive shaft. Further, in the disclosed weed cutter, a connection pipe is secured to the one end of the handling rod and extends toward the engine, and a vibration isolation member of the vibration isolation device is interposed between opposed surfaces of the connection pipe and clutch housing. Thus, the drive source unit is supported by the handling rod via the vibration isolation member in such a manner that vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit to the handling rod can be suppressed by means of the vibration isolation member. However, this weed cutter would also encounter significant limitations in reducing the vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit to the handling rod; namely, despite the provision of the vibration isolation device, the cutter can not prevent, to a satisfactory degree, the vibrations from passing from the drive source unit to the handling rod.
Nevertheless, the human operator always wants the vibrations of the handling rod to be minimized, with a view to lowering the load on the operator. For that purpose, some arrangements have to be made for preventing the handling rod to resonantly vibrate with the vibrations delivered from the drive source unit, and the handling rod itself still has some room for improvement. But, the vibrations delivered from the drive source unit tend to greatly vary in frequency, and it is not easy to properly deal with all the vibration frequencies.
In order to avoid the handling rod""s resonant vibrations, it is conceivable to set the inherent vibrating frequency of the handling rod to be greater than all possible frequencies of vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit. However, since the handling rod of the weed cutters is an elongated member having the drive shaft passed therethrough, it must be a lightweight and inexpensive component part that can yet secure necessary mechanical strengths, such as torsional and bending strengths and modulus of longitudinal elasticity, for desired functions.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plant cutter apparatus which can effectively prevent a handling rod from vibrating resonantly with vibrations transmitted from a drive source unit to the handling rod and which permits reduction in weight and cost of the handling rod while securing necessary mechanical strengths of the rod.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant cutter apparatus which comprises a handling rod including an outer pipe portion, an inner pipe portion passed through the outer pipe portion, and three stay portions interconnecting the outer pipe portion and the inner pipe portion, a drive shaft passed through and rotatably supported within the inner pipe portion via a bushing, a drive source unit mounted at one end of the handling rod for rotating the drive shaft, and a cutter blade mounted at the other end of the handling rod for being rotated by rotation, via the drive source unit, of the drive shaft. In the cutter apparatus of the present invention, the three stay portions, which consist first, second and third stay portions, are arranged at non-equal angular intervals such that an angle xcex81 formed by the first and second stay portions, an angle xcex82 formed by the second and third stay portions and an angle xcex83 formed by the third and first stay portions differ from each other. Also, in the cutter apparatus of the present invention, the outer pipe portion and the inner pipe portion are formed integrally in one piece.
The present invention is characterized in that the three stay portions interconnecting the outer and inner pipe portions are arranged, about an axial centerline of the handling rod, at non-equal angular intervals in such a manner that the angles xcex81, xcex82, xcex83 formed between the three stay portions differ from each other. Thus, the three stay portions of the handling rod present a sectional configuration asymmetrical about the axial centerline. As a consequence, the geometric moment of inertia of the thus-constructed handling rod takes different values in all angular positions about the axial centerline, and thus the inherent vibrating frequency of the rod also takes different values in all the angular positions.
Vibrations transmitted from the drive source unit to the handling rod can vary in direction over a 360xc2x0 range about the rod""s axial centerline. When the vibrating frequency of vibrations produced in a given vibrating direction and transmitted from the drive source unit has coincided with the rod""s inherent vibrating frequency, such frequency coincidence is merely a temporary or passing occurrence. Namely, the rod""s inherent vibrating frequency can coincide with the frequency of vibrations from the drive source unit in only one of the angular positions, so that resonant vibrations of the handling rod can be avoided relatively easily.
Since the handling rod is in the form of an integrally-formed dual pipe structure where the inner and outer pipe portions and are interconnected via the stay portions angularly spaced from one another at the non-equal angular intervals, the rod can be manufactured as a one-piece component part having a simplified sectional configuration although it can exhibit great mechanical strengths. Thus, the invention can reduce the manufacturing cost and overall weight of the handling rod while securing the necessary mechanical strengths of the rod.
In a preferred embodiment, the angle xcex81 formed by the first and second stay portions is set to be greater than 60xc2x0 but smaller than 120xc2x0. If the angle xcex81 is set to a relatively great angle less than 120xc2x0, the three angles xcex81, xcex82 and xcex83 can become closer to one another, which will achieve better balance of the geometric moment of inertia and also secure relatively great values of the geometric moment of inertia in any angular positions of the rod.


A recording apparatus including a mounting portion configured to allow a rewritable recording medium and an unrewritable recording medium to be mounted thereon includes a determination unit configured to determine a file name with a number for recording a file on a recording medium mounted on the mounting portion, and a recording control unit configured to record, on the recording medium mounted on the mounting portion, the file using the file name determined by the determination unit, wherein the determination unit changes a file name determination method when the recording medium mounted on the mounting portion is replaced such that the rewritable recording medium and the unrewritable recording medium are replaced with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for storing on a recording medium a data file of image data according to a predetermined file name naming rule in a digital camera or an audio recording apparatus, and a control method and program for such a recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, due to developments of digital technology, a digital camera capable of electronically processing captured image information and video information has been in widespread use. In such a digital camera, an object image formed when an object light flux having passed through a shooting lens and reached a solid-state image sensor, such as a charge coupled device (CCD), is converted into electronic signals to be output as image signals. Various conversion processing operations are performed on the image signals output from the solid-state image sensor in an image processing circuit to ultimately store the image signals as an image file on a recording medium, such as a memory card.
As a standard for managing image files on a recording medium of a digital camera, Design rule for Camera File system (DCF) (Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA) standard:), which is a camera file system standard, is currently predominant. As a standard for managing video files on a recording medium, standards such as SD-Video and Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) have widely been known.
In a digital camera, a file is generally managed using a file name with a number according to DCF standard. Specifically, directory names and file names in a recording medium are managed using numbers that do not overlap with one another, and the file names are generated by increasing the file number by one in the order of recording. In the DCF standard, the directory name includes xxxyyyyy (xxx: value from 100 to 999, y: arbitrary character), and the file name includes YYYYXXXX (XXXX: value form 0001 to 9999, Y: arbitrary character). Depending on a camera, there is a function that prevents the numbers from being overlapped irrespective of the recording medium in such a manner that previously recorded directory numbers and file numbers are stored in a built-in memory so that the directory numbers and file numbers are carried over even when the recording medium is replaced. When a switching function for disabling such function is simultaneously provided, it is also possible to record image data on a new recording medium by assigning an initial directory number and an initial file number (e.g., 100yyyyy directory, YYYY0001.JPG file).
However, in the above-mentioned file system standard, since there is a limitation in the naming rule for files and directories, a phenomenon of being prevented from generating a new file or a new directory occurs even though the actual recording memory is not full. Some digital cameras inhibit further recording when recording of a directory name "999yyyyy" and a file name "YYYY9999" has been performed. Therefore, when the directory number and the file number reach upper limits during image shooting, it is necessary to reset the numbers by initializing the recording medium once to continue the image shooting.
The image data is generally recorded on a recording medium which can be rewritten many times, such as a card type semiconductor memory and a digital versatile disc (DVD)-RW. On the other hand, it is expected that there will be more and more opportunities for recording image data on a DVD-R and recording mediums which allow data recording only for once will be increased.
In the case of recording a file on such a write-once recording medium, when the directory number and the file number reach the upper limits, it is no longer possible to perform image shooting by the digital camera that inhibits further recording as mentioned above. Furthermore, since the write-once recording medium cannot be reset by initialization, there is a possibility that it is impossible to shoot a new image by using the recording medium even though there is a free space.
There has been known a method wherein a recorded file structure is analyzed to detect an unused directory number and an unused file number, and recording is performed using the unused directory number and the unused file number. However, since images are reproduced in an ascending order of the directory number and the file number in the case of reproducing recorded images, there is a problem that the order of the images to be reproduced and the order of shooting are inconsistent, e.g., the temporal sequence is lost.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-150929 discusses a method of continuing recording on an unused directory or a newly generated directory when a file number reaches an upper limit. However, though the method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-150929 has the advantage of being capable of continuing recording even when the file number reaches the upper limit, a temporal sequence of the file numbers and order of recording are lost. Since recording is performed with a folder and a file name having character strings that are different from those of the previously recorded folders and file names, file organization can be complicated after such recording.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-158645, the number of files that can be generated on a recording medium is calculated based on a storage standard of a file, and the number of files that can be recorded on the recording medium is calculated based on a remaining capacity of the recording medium. After that, the file numbers are compared to each other to display the smaller value as the number of files that can be shot as well as to display a warning therefor together with a dealing method. Here, the dealing method is a method of renumbering directories in an ascending order from the initial value or a method of changing a directory name.

Recording apparatus for storing a data file of image data according to a predetermined file name


A system and method for acoustic modeling partitions an input 3D spatial model into convex cells, and constructs a cell adjacency data structure representing the neighbor relationships between adjacent cells. For each sound source located in the spatial environment, convex pyramidal beams are traced through the input spatial model via recursive depth-first traversal of the cell-adjacency graph. During beam tracing, a beam tree data structure is constructed to encode propagation paths, which may include specular reflection, transmission, diffuse reflection, and diffraction events, from the source location to regions of the input spatial model. The beam tree data structure is then accessed for real-time computation and auralization of propagation paths to an arbitrary receiver location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and a method for modeling acoustic reverberation at interactive rates, using pre-computed data structures to accelerate beam tracing and propagation path generation.
2. Description of Prior Art
Computer-aided acoustic modeling is an important tool for designing and simulating three-dimensional (3D) environments. For example, an architect may evaluate the acoustic properties of a proposed building design, or a factory designer may predict the sound levels of any machine at any position on a factory floor, using acoustic models.
Acoustic modeling can also be used to provide a more realistic immersive virtual environment. For example, modeled acoustics may be used to provide sound cues to assist a user""s navigation through, and communication in, immersive virtual environments. More specifically, the voices of users sharing a virtual environment may be spatialized according to the each user""s avatar location. For 3D video games, sounds may be spatialized to help a player navigate and localize competing participants.
The primary challenge in spatializing sound in such environments is computing the significant number of viable propagation paths from a sound source position to a listener""s receiving location. Because sound generally travels between a source and a receiver along a large number of paths, via reflection, transmission, and diffraction, accurate acoustic simulation is extremely computationally expensive. To illustrate this point, consider the example of FIG. 1 which shows a simple two-room environment, and just some of the possible propagation paths from a sound source S to a receiver R located in an adjacent room.
Prior acoustic modeling approaches can generally be classified into four types: image source methods; radiant exchange methods; ray tracing methods; and beam tracing. Beam tracing is the basis for the approach set forth in this application.
Beam tracing methods classify reflection paths originating from a source position by recursively tracing pyramidal beams (i.e., a set of rays) through space. More specifically, a set of pyramidal beams is constructed that completely covers the two-dimensional (2D) space of directions from the source. For each beam, polygons are considered for intersection in front-to-back order from the source. As intersecting polygons are detected, the original beam is xe2x80x9cclippedxe2x80x9d to remove the shadow region created by the intersecting polygon, a transmission beam is constructed matching the shadow region, and a reflection beam is constructed by mirroring the transmission beam over the intersecting polygon""s plane. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a reflection beam Ra is constructed by mirroring a transmission beam over surface a, using Sxe2x80x2 as a virtual beam source. Transmission beam Ta is constructed matching the shadow region created by surface a.
A significant advantage of beam tracing over the image source method is that fewer virtual sources need be considered for environments with arbitrary geometry. Since each beam represents the region of space for which a corresponding virtual source (at the apex of the beam) is visible, high-order virtual sources must be considered only for reflections off polygons intersecting the beam. For instance, referring to FIG. 3, consider the virtual source Sa which results from the reflection of the beam originating from S over polygon a. The corresponding reflection beam, Ra, intersects exactly the set of polygons (c and d) for which second-order reflections are possible after specular reflection off polygon a. Other polygons (b, e, f, and g) need not be considered for second-order reflections after a, thus significantly pruning the recursion tree of virtual sources.
A significant disadvantage of conventional beam tracing techniques, however, is that the geometric operations which are required to trace a beam through a 3D environment (i.e., computing intersections, clipping, and mirroring) are computationally expensive. Because each beam may be reflected and/or obstructed by several surfaces, particularly in complex environments, it is difficult to perform the necessary geometric operations on beams efficiently, as they are recursively traced through the spatial environment. For acoustic modeling to be effective in immersive virtual environments, computations must be completed at interactive rates so that spatialized audio output can be updated as the user navigates through the environment.
Much prior work in virtual environment systems has focused on visualization (i.e., methods for rendering more realistic images or for increasing image refresh rates). For example, Heckbert and Hanrahan, xe2x80x9cBeam Tracing Polygonal Objects,xe2x80x9d Computer Graphics (SIGGRAPH ""84), 18, 3, 119-127 describe a graphics illumination technique in which pyramidal beams, represented by their 2D polygonal cross-sections, are traced recursively from a viewpoint to a point light source using a pre-computed xe2x80x9clight beam treexe2x80x9d data structure. Teller, xe2x80x9cVisibility Computations in Densely Occluded Polyhedral Environments,xe2x80x9d Ph.D. thesis, Computer Science Division (EECS), University of California, Berkeley, 1992, describes a beam tracing algorithm for computing a xe2x80x9cpotentially visible setxe2x80x9d of polygons to render from a particular viewpoint in a computer graphics scene using cell adjacency and xe2x80x9cstab treexe2x80x9d data structures.
On the other hand, relatively little attention has been directed to auralization (i.e., rendering realistic spatialized sound using acoustical modeling). Yet, improved acoustic modeling can help provide users with a completely immersive virtual experience, in which aural and visual cues are combined to support a more natural interaction in a virtual environment. Due to the computational complexity discussed above, however, prior acoustic modeling techniques, such as conventional beam tracing, have been unable to realize accurate acoustic auralization in complex environments at interactive rates. Furthermore, such techniques have essentially disregarded complex scattering phenomena, such as diffraction and diffuse reflection.
The acoustic modeling technique according to the present invention efficiently utilizes a combination of pre-computed data structures to accelerate evaluation of acoustic propagation paths so that sound can be modeled and auralized in real-time, even in complex environments. According to the present invention, an input spatial model is initially partitioned into convex polyhedra (cells). Pairs of neighboring cells which share a polygonal boundary(s) are linked to form a cell adjacency graph. For each sound source, convex pyramidal beams are traced through the spatial model via depth-first recursive traversal of the cell adjacency graph. At each cell boundary, the beam is split and trimmed into possibly several convex beams representing paths of transmission, specular reflection, diffuse reflection, and diffraction.
During depth-first traversal of the cell adjacency graph, a beam tree data structure is generated to represent the regions of space reached by each potential sequence of transmission, specular reflection, diffuse reflection, and diffraction events at cell boundaries. This beam tree data structure enables fast computation of propagation paths to an arbitrary receiver position. Using the beam tree data structure to trace paths from a source to a receiver, acceptable computation rates for updating an acoustic model can be achieved so as to be suitable for interactive environments.

Acoustic modeling system and method using pre-computed data structures for beam tracing and path generation


Some embodiments provide a method comprising a) introducing a delayed-release acid and a gelling agent into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in a first treatment interval; b) contacting the delayed-release acid with a face of the fracture in the first treatment interval so as to etch one or more channels thereon; c) introducing a combination of non-degradable and degradable micro-proppant particulates into the subterranean formation so as to place them into the fracture in the first treatment interval, wherein they at least partially inhibit fluid flow therethrough; d) introducing a combination of non-degradable and degradable proppant particulates into the subterranean formation so as to place them into the fracture in the first treatment interval, wherein they at least partially inhibit fluid flow therethrough; e) repeating (a) through (d) at a second treatment interval.

The disclosure of embodiments herein relates to enhancing the conductivity of complex fracture networks in subterranean formations.
Subterranean wells (e.g., hydrocarbon producing wells, gas producing wells, water producing wells, and the like) are often stimulated by hydraulic fracturing treatments. In traditional hydraulic fracturing treatments, a treatment fluid, which may also function simultaneously or subsequently as a carrier fluid, is pumped into a portion of a subterranean formation (which may also be referred to herein as "formation") at a rate and pressure sufficient to break down the formation and create one or more fractures therein. Typically, particulate solids, such as graded sand, are suspended in a portion of the treatment fluid and then deposited into the fractures. The particulate solids, known as "proppant particulates" (which may also be referred to herein as "proppant" or "propping particulates") serve to prevent the fractures from fully closing once the hydraulic pressure is removed. By keeping the fractures from fully closing, the proppant particulates aid in forming conductive paths through which fluids produced from the formation flow, referred to as a "proppant pack." The degree of success of a stimulation operation depends, at least in part, upon the porosity of the proppant pack, that is, due to the flow of fluids through interconnected interstitial spaces between abutting proppant particulates.
In the case of stimulating low permeability formations (or "low permeability formations"), such as shale reservoirs or tight-gas sands, increasing fracture complexity during stimulation may enhance the production of the formation. Low permeability formations, as described herein, tend to have a naturally occurring network of multiple interconnected fractures referred to as "fracture complexity." As used herein the term low permeability formations refers to formations that have a matrix permeability less than 1,000 microDarcy (equivalent to 1 milliDarcy). The term "ultra-low permeability formations" that have a matrix permeability less than 1 microDarcy (equivalent to 0.001 milliDarcy). As used herein, the term "fracture" or "fractures" refers collectively to micro-sized fractures and fractures having larger openings. Such fracture complexity may be enhanced by stimulation (e.g., fracturing) operations to create new or enhance (e.g., elongate or widen) existing fractures. In such cases, the newly formed fractures may remain open without the assistance of proppant or micro-proppant particulates due to shear offset of the formation forming the fracture or may have included therein proppant or micro-proppant particulates, depending on the size of the fracture, to assist in keeping the fracture open after hydraulic pressure is removed. The inclusion of proppant or micro-proppant particulates in the fractures, new or natural, may increase the conductivity of the low permeability formation.
In some cases, subterranean treatment operations (e.g., stimulation, proppant placement, micro-proppant placement, and the like), may be supplemented with enhanced oil recovery techniques. Such enhanced oil recovery techniques may operate to enhance the conductivity of fractures. One such technique is acidizing, which involves injecting an acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid) into a subterranean formation in order to etch channels or create micro-fractures in the face of the formation or a fracture in order to enhance the conductivity of the formation. The acid may create a dendritic-like network of channels through which produced fluids may flow.
Acidizing may operate to supplement or enhance the conductivity and production of the formation. Acidizing treatments are preferentially performed at multiple intervals or zones in a subterranean formation so as to maximize fracture complexity. However, such multiple interval treatments may be limited due to acid spending or leak off. If the acid is spent or experiences leak off prior to reaching one or more desired interval of the subterranean formation (e.g., by leak off in a first or earlier contacted desired interval), it may be insufficiently potent to etch channels and, thus, may not contribute to or may only minimally contribute to enhancing fracture complexity and conductivity.

Conductivity enhancement of complex fracture networks in subterranean formations


A novel polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material includes a plurality of aggregates connected together by a plurality of relatively long fibrils. Each of the aggregates are formed of PTFE nodes that are connected together by relatively short fibrils. Preferably, the long fibrils have lengths of 500 to 1000 microns and the short fibrils have a lengths of 10 to 30 microns. The aggregates have densities of less than 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter which is lower than the densities of the solid PTFE nodes which have densities of about 2.0 to 2.2 grams per cubic centimeter.

The present invention relates generally to composite articles formed from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ("ePTFE") materials, and particularly to a composite article made up of a plurality of polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE") components having differing expansion characteristics.
Conventional micro porous ePTFE articles are utilized for many useful articles, such as filters, fabrics, gaskets, electrical insulation and human implant devices. These ePTFE articles are typically produced by blending PTFE resin with a lubricant, compressing the blended resin into a billet, extruding the billet into an extrudate, drying the extrudate, calendering the extrudate (if desired), stretching or expanding the extrudate, and sintering the expanded extrudate to form the final article. The ePTFE article can be manufactured in any extruded shape, including sheets, tubes, rods or filaments.
The micro porous structure of known ePTFE articles is characterized by a plurality of nodes that are connected together by a plurality of fibrils. The nodes are essentially solid PTFE, having a density of about 2.0-2.2 grams per cubic centimeter, whereas the density of the expanded material is less than about 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter. Typically, the fibrils of ePTFE materials average in length from about 0.1 microns to about 100 microns, and the volume of the structure occupied by the fibrils has a density ranging from about 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter to less than 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter. The shape, size and orientation of the nodes and fibrils within the structure can be controlled by varying the expansion rate, expansion ratio, number of expansion axes and other processing parameters to yield many different structures. It is also known that properties such as the expandability and microstructure of the expanded article vary with the molecular weight, particle size and other physical characteristics of the PTFE resin. Various methods of producing ePTFE with differing physical properties are described in the literature, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,566, to Gore, herein incorporated by reference.
For some applications it is desirable to provide an article having an asymmetric microstructure in which the fibrils adjacent one surface of the article are relatively short in comparison to the fibrils disposed adjacent the opposite surface of the article. However, attempted solutions to this technical problem have been unsatisfactory due to cost and functionability considerations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

PTFE material with aggregations of nodes


An electronic connector includes a first connecting unit. The first connecting unit includes a housing having a ring hole disposed through the housing large enough for a finger to be inserted through the ring hole to grab the first connecting unit, a first electrical connector shaped for forming a first detachable electrical connection, the first electrical connector disposed at a first distal end of the first connecting unit, and an illuminator disposed within the housing proximate to the ring hole to illuminate an inside perimeter of the ring hole.

Millions of individuals suffer from musculoskeletal or vision impairments that prevent fine motor control of the hands and fingers. Plugging in electronic connectors, such as universal serial bus (USB) connectors (including micro USB, USB-C, etc.), USB thumb drives, wall plugs, and the like, is difficult for many of this population. Interacting with electronic devices can be a daily struggle for such individuals. There is a need for electronic connectors that are easy to use for people with musculoskeletal and/or vision impairments.

Electronic connector for charging or data transfer


A method for making electrical contacts and junctions in silicon carbide that concurrently incorporates and activates dopants from a gaseous ambient. The low temperature processing of the present invention prevents the formation of crystalline defects during annealing and preserves the quantitative chemical properties of the silicon carbide. Improved activation of dopants incorporated in a silicon carbide sample is provided for making the electrical contacts and junctions.

The present invention relates to forming electrical contacts and junctions in silicon carbide. More specifically, but without limitation thereto, the present invention relates to incorporating dopants in silicon carbide from a gaseous ambient and concurrently activating the dopants by photo illumination.
The semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC) enjoys wide interest due to its applicability in high temperature, high power and photonic devices and circuits. However, greater difficulties in fabrication relative to silicon have prevented the full realization of its capabilities in these applications. The high melting point and limited diffusion of impurities in silicon carbide have greatly limited the use of ion implantation and furnace annealing commonly employed in the silicon microelectronics industry as a means of incorporating and activating dopants. These fabrication techniques are desirable for producing self-aligned field-effect transistor structures for use in discrete power devices and digital logic circuits. Ion implantation of n-type dopants, such as arsenic, in SiC has met with limited success; however, it requires annealing temperatures in excess of 1300.degree. C. for activation, and ion implantation and annealing of p-type dopants has demonstrated only about 5% activation, insufficient for practical device fabrication. Alternative techniques are therefore desired to obtain a greater degree of dopant activation in SiC, particularly with p-type dopants.

Method for making electrical contacts and junctions in silicon carbide

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A display case protection assembly for protection of a portion of a display case from damage from impacts includes a guard member having a convex shaped first side, a concave shaped second side, a top end and a bottom end; a retaining sleeve is in communication with the assembly's concave shaped second side and is purposed for rotatably containing an offset positioning bar having an angularly displaced foot portion. The assembly may further include at least one receiving sleeve configured to receive the angularly displaced foot portion and the offset positioning bar may further include a retaining flange extending beyond the outermost periphery of the offset positioning bar when the bar has been contained within retaining sleeve.

Facilities such as malls, airports, train stations, and even smaller establishments such as grocery stores, typically have fixtures, such as display shelves, booths, refrigerated cabinets and counters, that must be accessible, attractive and convenient to the consumer, yet also must be protected from damage from a constant onslaught of customers, not to mention employees, cleaning crews and maintenance personnel. The potential for repeated, costly damage to fixtures from people, some of whom may be relatively unskilled or inattentive, yet operating heavy equipment or shopping carts, is ever present.
A grocery store, for example, often has low, open refrigeration cabinets for display of perishable goods such as dairy products, meat and fish. Behind the lightweight sheet metal facades of these cabinets lies delicate internals—compressors, condensers, cooling coils, and associated control circuitry such as thermostats and temperature sensors—that are required to refrigerate the goods. The facade provides minimal protection, and there are many opportunities for damage. A careless shopper with a full shopping cart, or a stock boy with a heavily loaded pallet cart (which can weigh upwards of 1000 pounds), or cleaning person operating a self-propelled industrial floor cleaner, can, via one careless collision, do damage to the cabinet. Particularly vulnerable are the cooling coils, which are routed throughout the cabinet and which contain a volatile and expensive refrigerant. Even if the internals are not damaged, the appearance of the cabinet can, over time, suffer considerably. Fixtures are often designed, not as industrial fortresses, but as an aesthetically pleasing and convenient part of a total package for marketing goods. Yet protection is a must, if costly repairs are to be avoided. Similar considerations apply to less sophisticated fixtures, such as checkout counter, and wall corners. Constant bumping from a vacuum cleaner can leave dings, dents, and gouges that are unsightly, necessitating constant and tedious minor repairs.
Known in the art are protective rails and corner guards installed about the periphery of a fixture or structure. Rails typically comprise a base member incorporating an abrasion-resistant plastic strip that is available in many colors for matching the surrounding color scheme. Often, floor mounted base rails are mounted approximately 5″ to 8″ above a floor, and are removable. Rails are not limited to installation in floors, however, and can dispose about, or attached to, a structure so as to best protect the structure from damage. For example, a rail system can be attached to a wall or other structure. Rail systems are typically modular, and may have a limited number of lengths of straight sections and of curvatures of corner sections available. A particular rail system for protecting a structure or fixture is built-up from available modular rail sections and corners. One example of a known protection system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,569, issued on Sep. 22, 1992 to David S. McCue, and herein incorporated by reference.
Corner guards present greater difficulties. Typically, a limited number of pre-molded corner guards are available as corners are the most frequently struck part of display case protection They often abrade and become unsightly from the constant collision and scraping.
One of the most frustrating conditions with respect to corner guards designed to protect refrigerated cabinets, counters and the like is the initial positioning and installation of the guard. Contemporary art guards rely upon holes previously drilled and positioned into a floor covering such as but not limited to concrete/tile. The predrilled holes must align perfectly with positioning bars permanently attached to the corner guard. Should the holes and positioning bars not be so aligned the guard is rendered virtually useless until such time as the holes are filled and then redrilled to accommodate the predetermined distancing consistent with the positioning bars connection/attachment to the corner guard. A further detriment to contemporary corner guards is the material from which they are typically constructed. Such material is usually a resilient rubberized material susceptible to dings, cuts, scratches, and other contributing factors, which contribute to a less than desirable aesthetic presentation.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a robust fixture protection system that withstands collisions with objects.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a corner for a fixture protection system that is less susceptible to abrasion and damage.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a fixture protection system that lessens the likelihood of damage to protective members of the system or to an object that collides therewith.
A further object of the present invention is to disclose and claim a display case protection device, which is adaptable to positioning within misaligned predrilled accommodations.
Yet another object of the present invention is to disclose and claim a display protection assembly, which is adaptable to a multiplicity of applications and may be configured to accommodate a variable height/width positioning requirement.
An object of the present invention is to disclose and claim a display case protection device comprised of a material impervious to unintentional or inadvertent bumping and scraping


In a metalliferous storage material for hydrogen a metal oxide is provided in or on the surface of the metalliferous materialas a catalyst for the hydrogenation or dehydrogenation of the metalliferous storage material.

The invention relates to a metalliferous storage material and a method of producing the material. It is first pointed out that, under the term metalliferous material, atomic metals, metal alloys, intermetallic phases of metals or compound materials as well as corresponding hybrids are to be understood.
It is known that, on the basis of reversible metal hydrides, hydrogen storage devices, so-called hydride storage devices, can be formed. The storage device can be charged while heat is released, that is, hydrogen is bound by chemo-sorption and discharged by the application of heat. Hydrogen storage devices can therefore be excellent energy storage devices for mobile and/or stationary applications. They might form in the future a notable storage potential since no noxious emissions are released during the discharge of the hydrogen storage devices.
Very suitable for such hydride storage devices are the so-called nano-crystalline hydrides, which are capable of rapidly storing and releasing the hydrogen. Their manufacture however has been very expensive, so far. Their manufacture, so far, has involved high-energy grinding of elemental components or pre-alloys of nano-crystalline alloys, wherein the grinding procedure can be very long. In a final process step, these nano-crystalline alloys were subjected, depending on the conditions, to a multistage heat treatment under a high hydrogen pressure to be hydrogenated thereby. For many alloys, furthermore, a multiple charging and discharging with hydrogen is necessary to achieve full capacity.
Alternatively, it has been tried to synthesize the respective hydrides by grinding in a hydrogen atmosphere or in a pure chemical way. It has been found, however, that, in this way, the yield of the desired hydrides is smaller and partially additional undesirable phases occur.
Furthermore, certain phases could, or respectively can, not be formed with the known conventional methods.
The German patent application No. 197 58 384.6 discloses a method for the manufacture of nano-crystalline metal hydrides with which the manufacture of stable and meta-stable hydrides or hydride-meta-stable alloys is possible with a very high yield of up to 100%. The method described in the mentioned German patent application can be performed with easily controllable limiting conditions and with a relatively small energy consumption.
In order for such a hydrogen storage device to rapidly provide the energy stored therein when needed and to permit rapid charging of the hydrogen storage device, it is desirable that the reaction speed during hydrating and dehydrating of metals at low temperatures is kept very high that is a very high reaction speed is to be aimed at.
To this end, so for, the reaction surface has been increased by reducing the size of the particles/crystals of the materials to be hydrogenated or dehydrogenated as far as this was technically feasible. Other means for increasing the reaction speed included the addition of nickel, platinum or palladium.
The disadvantage of the measures known so far for increasing the reaction speed during the hydrogenation and particularly the dehydrogenation, that is, the delivery of the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage device is that the available speeds are in-sufficient for hydrogen storage devices intended for technical applications.
It is therefore the object of the present application to provide a metalliferous material, such as a metal, a metal alloy or an intermetallic phase, compound materials of metals as well as corresponding hydrides with which, during hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, the reaction speeds are so high, that they are technically feasible for use as energy storage devices. A method is to be provided by which the manufacture of a metalliferous material such as a metal, a metal alloy, an intermetallic phase or a compound material of the materials or corresponding hydrides can be performed in a simple and inexpensive way such that metals manufactured in this way can be used commercially as hydrogen storage devices in a cost-effective manner and with the technically necessary high reaction speed during hydrogenation and dehydrogenation.
In a metalliferous storage material for hydrogen a metal oxide is provided in or on the surface of the metalliferous material as a catalyst for the hydrogenation or dehydrogenation of the metalliferous storage material.
In accordance with the invention, the fact is utilized that, in comparison with pure metals, metal oxides are brittle, whereby a smaller particle size and a homogeneous distribution of the metal oxide in the material is achieved. As a result, the reaction kinetics are substantially increased in comparison with metallic catalysts. Another advantage is that the metal oxides are available as catalysts generally at much lower prices than metals or respectively, metal alloys so that also the aim of commercial utilization at reasonable costs for the metalliferous materials according to the invention can be achieved.
Basically, the metal oxide is an oxide of atomic metals such as the oxide of the metals Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Ce, Mo, Sn, La, Hf, Ta, W. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metal oxide may also consist of mixed oxides of the metals, particularly of the metals listed earlier or of mixtures of the metal oxides.
Advantageously, the metal oxide or metal oxides may be formed by rare earth metals or metal oxides or mixtures of rare earth metals.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metal has a nano-crystalline structure, wherein, equally advantageously, also the catalyst has a nano-crystalline structure. If the metal and/or the catalyst have a crystalline structure, the reaction surface and, consequently, the reaction speed of the hydrogenation or, respectively, the dehydrogenation of the metalliferous material are increased.
The method according to the invention for the manufacture of such a metalliferous material is characterized in that the metalliferous material and/or the catalyst are subjected to a mechanical grinding procedure with the object to form, from both components, a powder with an optimized reaction surface of the metalliferous material as well as a uniform distribution of the catalyst.
The grinding procedure itself may be selected, depending on the metalliferous material and/or the catalyst, to be differently long so as to achieve the optimal desired reaction surface and an optimal distribution of the catalyst of the metalliferous material according to the invention. In this connection, it may be advantageous if the metalliferous material as such is first subjected to the grinding and the catalyst is added subsequently to the grinding process, however the process may be reversed, that is, the catalyst may be first subjected to the grinding followed by the metalliferous material. Also, these distinguished possible procedures for the grinding are selected depending on the metalliferous materials and depending on the catalyst to be added.
In order to prevent reactions with the ambient gas during the grinding of the metaliferous material (metal, metal alloy, intermetallic phase, compound material as well as the hydrides thereof) the method is preferably performed under an inert atmosphere wherein the inert gas is preferably argon.
As already mentioned, the duration of the grinding process for a metalliferous material (metal, metal alloy, intermetallic phase, compound material as well as the hydrides thereof) and the catalyst is variably selectable depending on the metalliferous material and the selected catalyst. Preferably, the duration of the grinding process is in the area of 1 to 200 hours.
In another type of the method for the manufacture of a metalliferous material, which may be used as electrode material at least for secondary elements, at least one metal oxide is formed on the surface of the electrode material in situ by contact with oxygen from elements of the electrode/material or by direct supply of oxygen. In this way, a catalyzing oxide can be formed in situ from elements of the hydride storage material.
Preferably, during performance of the method, the surface of the electrode material is activated chemically and/or mechanically before the oxide is formed, whereby the oxide formation of the metal can be improved.
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to various diagrams, which describe the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation behavior as well as other important parameters.

Metalliferous storage material for hydrogen and method for producing same


One embodiment of an occupant propelled roundabout (“roundabout”) may have a body. The roundabout may also have a carrier, which may be rotatably carried by the body and may also have a seat assembly adapted to carry an occupant. In addition, the roundabout may also have a drive mechanism pivotally coupled to the seat assembly such that the drive mechanism may be movable between a deployed position and a retracted position. The drive mechanism may be moved toward the deployed position in response to the occupant operating the drive mechanism. Also, the roundabout may have a biasing member, which may be operably connected between the drive mechanism and the carrier so that the biasing member may move the drive mechanism toward the retracted position.

Because of our desire to be entertained, thrilled, and stimulated, a wide variety of amusement devices, rides, and vehicles have been created. Such devices exist both in public settings such as amusement parks, municipal parks, and schools—and in private settings such as backyard swing-sets and "jungle gyms", etc. A key element in all such devices is providing an experience of fun for the user, whether they are a child, an adolescent, or an adult. The most classic forms of such devices provide the thrill of motion, including from see-saws, merry-go-rounds, swings, slides, and the like. Perhaps the most popular of these are self-propelled—since they place the user in charge of the intensity of the ride they experience.
Early occupant propelled amusement devices required an operator to continuously move those devices at a desired speed while he or she and any other occupants may enjoy the ride. One example of these devices may include a bicycle driven merry-go-round, which may have a center post, a platform rotatably carried by the center post and one or more bicycles secured to the platform. In use, an operator may operate the bicycle thereby spinning the platform about the center post and permitting occupants on the platform to enjoy the ride. The bicycles may spin the platform provided that the operators continuously operate their respective bicycles because the rolling friction associated with the bicycles may quickly decelerate the platform when the operators elect to cruise rather than pedal.
Most recent merry-go-rounds do not use the bicycles and require and individual to run alongside the platform to push it until it reaches a desired speed and then jump onto the platform to enjoy the ride along with other occupants on the platform. However, it may require more energy to spin these merry-go-rounds as compared to the predecessor merry-go-rounds that included bicycles. In addition, it may be somewhat difficult to board the platform after pushing it to spin at a generally high speed.


A lithium slurry battery system is provided. The system includes a lithium slurry battery and a maintenance and regeneration equipment for the battery. The battery includes: a case, a cell core accommodated in the case, and a cover butting device. The case is provided with a cover and a case body. The cover butting device is arranged on the cover and is provided with a first cover port and a second cover port. The maintenance and regeneration equipment includes: a gas storage tank for storing gas, a liquid storage tank for storing liquid; a gas recovery storage tank for storing gas recovered from the lithium slurry battery; a liquid recovery storage tank for storing liquid recovered from the lithium slurry battery; and an equipment butting device provided with a first equipment port and a second equipment port.

In a lithium slurry battery as a type of high energy batteries, a conductive slurry in an electrode piece contains a certain proportion of conductive particles that are suspended or precipitated in an electrolyte. When the battery is subjected to an external shock or vibration, the conductive particles move in the electrolyte and a dynamic conductive network is formed, which is caused by the fact that the certain proportion of conductive particles that are suspended or precipitated in an electrolyte are not bonded and fixed. With use of the conductive slurry in the lithium slurry battery, problems existing in a conventional lithium battery of decreased battery capacity and reduced cycle life due to exfoliation or looseness of an electrode material can be avoided.
However, the following problems may occur during a long-time use of the lithium slurry battery.
(1) A side reaction generated during the use of the lithium slurry battery causes the electrolyte to gradually fail, and an SEI film generated on a surface of an electrode active material or even a current collector due to the side reaction is gradually thickened, which results in increased internal resistance and reduced cycle life of the lithium slurry battery.
(2) The side reaction generated during the use of the lithium slurry battery consumes the electrolyte, which results in too little electrolyte in the battery participating in an electrochemical reaction, affects conduction of lithium-ions in the battery, and further reduces performance of the battery.
(3) During the use of the lithium slurry battery, overcharge and overdischarge of the battery or the generated side reaction may cause swelling of the battery and a high gas pressure in the cell case, but on the other hand, the gas pressure in the battery may be decreased due to the long-time use, so that the gas sealing cannot be achieved, and thus resulting in decreased security and sealing of the battery.
Based on the self-characteristics of the lithium slurry battery, the service life of the battery can be prolonged by maintenance and regeneration, to improve the performance of the battery.

Beijing Hawaga Power Storage Technology Company Ltd.


A nonreciprocal circuit device and a communication device having a nonreciprocal circuit device in which each end portion of each center electrode in the bottom layer of a multilayer-electrode structure on a surface of ferrite is thickened by forming a filled-in electrode in an opening in first and second insulating films on the upper surface of the end portion of the center electrode in the bottom layer. Each end portion of each center electrode in the second layer is thickened by forming a filled-in electrode in an opening in the second insulating film on the upper surface of the end portion of the center electrode in the second layer. Each end portion of each center electrode in the top layer (third layer) is thickened by forming a filled-in electrode in an opening in the second insulating film on the lower surface of the end portion of the center electrode in the top layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonreciprocal circuit device, and more particularly, to a nonreciprocal circuit device, such as an isolator, for use in a microwave band and a communication device including such a nonreciprocal circuit device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile communication device such as a portable telephone, a nonreciprocal circuit device, such as an isolator or a circulator, is typically used to transmit a signal in only one direction without allowing the signal to pass in the opposite direction.
In general, such a nonreciprocal circuit device includes a permanent magnet, a center electrode assembly to which a fixed magnetic field is applied by the permanent magnet, and a metal case in which the permanent magnet and the center electrode assembly are disposed.
As shown in FIG. 12, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-76711 discloses a center electrode assembly 201 including a block-shaped microwave ferrite 231, center electrodes 221 to 223, insulating films 226, side electrodes (through-hole electrodes) 224, and a ground electrode 225.
Three pairs of center electrodes 221 to 223 are disposed on a surface 231a (a pole surface) of the ferrite 231, and insulating films 226 are disposed between respective adjacent pairs of center electrodes. Both ends of each of the center electrodes 221 to 223 are each connected, in corners of the ferrite 231, with side electrodes 224 provided on side surfaces 231c of the ferrite 231. One end of each of the center electrodes 221 to 223 is electrically connected via a side electrode 224 to a ground electrode 225 disposed over substantially the entire lower surface 231b. The side electrodes connected to the other ends of the respective center electrodes 221 to 223 define ports P1, P2 and P3. The ports P1 to P3 are used to connect the center electrode assembly 201 to an external circuit. Each of the ports P1 to P3 is isolated from the ground electrode 225 by a gap 228.
The center electrodes 221 to 223 are formed of a conductive material, such as silver, by screen printing or other suitable methods. The side electrodes 224 are formed as follows. First, holes are formed through the ferrite 231 such that the holes extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the ferrite 231. Conductive paste is then filled in the through-holes or a plated film is formed on the inner wall of each through-hole. Finally, each through-hole is cut at its center.
The insulating films 226 are formed of glass or other suitable material by screen printing or other suitable methods over almost the entire surface 231a of the ferrite 231 except for a peripheral area such that the center electrodes 221 to 223 crossing each other are isolated from each other by the insulating films 226. Because the insulating films 226 are provided merely to insulate the respective layers of the center electrodes 221-223 from each other, a large alignment tolerance is acceptable in patterning of the center electrodes 221-223. Thus, alignment accuracy obtained in usual screen printing techniques is sufficient.
However, in the center electrode assembly 201 disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-76711, the center electrodes 221 to 223 provided on the surface 231a of the ferrite 231 have a small uniform thickness, and thus, as shown in a circle A in FIG. 13, the side electrodes 224 and the corresponding center electrodes 221-223 are connected with each other via a small contact area. This results in poor connection reliability.
To avoid the problem described above, it has been proposed to increase the thickness over the entire center electrodes 221 to 223 such that the center electrodes 221 to 223 can be connected with corresponding side electrodes 224 via an increased contact area. However, it is difficult to increase the thickness of the entire center electrodes 221 to 223 by screening printing. In addition, the increase in thickness over the entire center electrodes 221 to 223 results in an increase in the total thickness of the center electrode assembly 201, and thus it is impossible to satisfy the requirement for a reduction in thickness of the center electrode assembly 201.

Nonreciprocal circuit device and communication device


A control device for a compression-ignition (CI) engine in which partial CI combustion including spark ignition (SI) combustion performed by combusting a portion of mixture gas inside a cylinder by spark ignition followed by CI combustion performed by causing the rest of the mixture gas inside the cylinder to self-ignite is executed within a part of an engine operating range, is provided, including an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) controller configured to change an EGR ratio, and a combustion controller configured to control the EGR controller during the partial compression-ignition combustion to switch a combustion mode between first and second modes in which the EGR ratio is higher than the first mode. After the first mode is switched to the second mode, if a condition is satisfied, the combustion controller causes the resumption to the first mode after a given period of time has elapsed from the switching.

Recently, HCCI (Homogeneous-Charge Compression Ignition) combustion in which gasoline fuel mixed with air is combusted by self-ignition inside a sufficiently compressed cylinder has attracted attention. The HCCI combustion is a mode in which the mixture gas combusts at a plurality of positions simultaneously, and thus has a higher combustion speed of the mixture gas than in SI combustion (spark-ignition combustion) which is adopted for general gasoline engines. Therefore, the HCCI combustion is said to be significantly advantageous in terms of thermal efficiency. However, the HCCI combustion has issues such as a combustion start timing of the mixture gas (a timing that the mixture gas self-ignites) greatly varying due to an external factor (e.g., atmospheric temperature) and a control during a transient operation in which an engine load sharply changes is difficult.
Therefore, instead of combusting the entire mixture gas by self-ignition, it is proposed to combust a portion of the mixture gas by spark-ignition using a spark plug. That is, after forcibly combusting a portion of the mixture gas through flame propagation caused by spark-ignition (SI combustion), the remaining mixture gas is combusted by self-ignition (CI combustion). Hereinafter, such combustion is referred to as "partial compression-ignition combustion."
For example, JP2009-108778A discloses an engine adopting a similar concept to the partial compression-ignition combustion. This engine causes flame propagation combustion by spark-igniting a stratified mixture gas which is formed around a spark plug by a supplementary fuel injection, and then performs a main fuel injection inside a cylinder warmed up by an effect of the flame propagation combustion, so as to combust through self-ignition the fuel injected in the main fuel injection.
Here, there is a problem that in the engine adopting the partial compression-ignition combustion, combustion noise becomes loud more easily compared to, for example, a general gasoline engine in which only the SI combustion (spark-ignition combustion) is performed. Thus, during the partial compression-ignition combustion, switching to other combustion modes with different in-cylinder gas state function (e.g., EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) ratio or air-fuel ratio) may be requested according to a factor of combustion noise, etc.
However, if such a switching of the combustion mode according to the factor of the combustion noise, etc. is allowed without any restriction, the switching of the combustion mode may be repeated frequently (e.g., immediately after the switching from one mode to the other mode, resuming to the one mode is performed). In this case, a change in noise (sound) accompanying the switching of the mode occurs frequently, thus a person(s) in a cabin may feel discomfort.

Control device for compression-ignition engine


A power generation system (100) and a method of generating power. In one embodiment of the system shown in FIG. 1, a gasification subsystem (1) is configured to convert a carbonaceous fuel to fuel suitable for combustion in a gas turbine (48). A first power generation cycle (2) includes the gas turbine (48) coupled to receive fuel from a gasifier (24). A first Rankine cycle (3) is coupled to receive thermal energy from at least the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a first vapor turbine (58). A second Rankine cycle (4) is coupled to receive thermal energy from the gasification subsystem (1) or the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a second vapor turbine (82). In an associated method, syngas (26) is generated and processed to remove components therein. Power is generated in a first turbine (48) with the processed syngas (33). Power is generated in a second turbine (58) with heat recovered from exhaust produced by the first turbine (48). Power is generated in a third turbine (82) with heat recovered from the syngas (33).

Continual increases in the price of natural gas and fuel oil, and demands for generating electricity with reduced environmental impact, are stimulating advancements in technologies for deploying Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power systems. Design of new power plants and retrofitting of older facilities, e.g., conversion of natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants to IGCC plants, present opportunities to develop systems and methods which increase overall power plant efficiencies.
In IGCC systems, a carbonaceous fuel such as coal is converted to a synthetic gas fuel, termed syngas. This is a mixture typically formed in a gasifier by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons at elevated temperatures. Oxygen-blown gasifiers typically source oxygen in order to minimize generation of by-products such as NOx compounds. An oxygen source can be developed in a high temperature air separation process which uses an Ion Transport Membrane (ITM) Air Separation Unit. When syngas is generated by gasification of coal with oxygen, typical constituents of the syngas include H2, CO, CO2, and CH4. Often the syngas will include impurities such as sulfides, nitrous components, and dust particles. The latter are normally removed from the mixture prior to combustion in order to provide an environmentally clean exhaust gas from the combustion turbine.
Syngas produced in an IGCC system is typically directed to a gas combustor for oxidation and generation of high pressure, high temperature exhaust which is sent to a gas turbine to provide a first source of mechanical power. Sensible heat, present in various fluids within the gasification subsystem of the IGCC system, or within the associated gas turbine subsystem, is commonly recovered by generating steam. Normally, most of the steam is routed through a turbine.
The efficiency of large scale commercial gasification systems are typically below 80 percent. Means of improving the efficiency of these and other power generating systems are desired, as even small improvements in plant efficiency have large impacts on the cost and viability of electrical power production from carbonaceous solid fuel sources.

Power generation system incorporating multiple Rankine cycles


There is a journal area and one or more logical volumes comprising a first logical volume. The journal area is a storage area in which is stored a journal data element, which is a data element that is stored in any storage area of a plurality of storage areas configuring a logical volume, or a data element that is written to the storage area. A controller has a size receiver that receives a write unit size, which is the size of a write data element received from a computer, and a size setting unit that sets the received write unit size in a memory for one or more logical volumes. The size of a journal data element stored in a journal area based on the set write unit size is the write unit size.

The present invention generally relates to a storage system group configured by one or more storage systems, and more particularly to data backup.
For example, the snapshot function and journal function are known as functions of a storage system.
The snapshot function holds an image of a certain logical volume at a certain point in time (for example, the point in time at which a snapshot acquisition request was received from the host). Executing the snapshot function regularly makes it possible to intermittently acquire replications (backups) of data inside a logical volume. Further, when the snapshot function is used, it is possible to restore the logical volume of the point in time at which the snapshot was acquired.
When write data is written to a logical volume specified by a write command from the host computer, the journal function creates data (a journal) comprising this write data and control information related to the writing thereof, and stores the created journal.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-18738 discloses a recovery process, which is executed at a point in time other than the point at which a snapshot was created by writing the write data inside a journal to a snapshot acquired via the snapshot function.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-80131 has a disclosure for switching a snapshot and a journal.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-133471 has a disclosure for manipulating a snapshot restore volume.


A method is provided for managing a fault event in a network for distributing low-voltage or high-voltage electrical energy, which comprises at least one voltage source and a load. The method includes performing at least one step of a first procedure for detecting the existence of fault conditions in the load and performing at least one step of a second procedure for determining, on the basis of the evolution in time of the derivative of the instantaneous current in the load, the state of execution of an interruption manoeuvre started by at least one protection device adapted to interrupt locally the passage of current in the load. An electronic protection unit is also provided that is able to execute the aforesaid method.

The present invention relates to the field of networks for distributing electrical energy. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for managing a fault event in a network for distributing low-voltage or high-voltage electrical energy. In a further aspect thereof, the present invention regards an electronic protection unit capable of executing the aforesaid method.
Currently, in networks for distributing low-voltage or high-voltage electrical energy, protection devices are used to which the function of preserving the network from the consequences of a fault event is devolved.
In many cases, said protection devices comprise electromechanical switches of a traditional type in which the function of protection from the fault event is entrusted to the onset of phenomena of electrodynamic repulsion at the level of the electrical closing/opening contacts. Traditionally, the electrical contacts of said switches are, in fact, shaped in such a way that the currents circulating therein flow in mutually opposite directions. The passage of possible currents in the contacts thus determines onset of forces that tend to separate them. In normal operating conditions, said forces of electrodynamic repulsion are, for the most part, of a negligible intensity. In the presence of particularly intense short-circuit currents, said repulsive forces are instead able to complete the separation of the electrical contacts.
Other more advanced protection devices comprise circuit breakers provided with an electronic protection unit for activating, in the event of fault, a kinematic chain that determines separation of the contacts of the circuit breaker.
It is known how, in managing a fault event, the obtaining of a marked tripping selectivity by the aforesaid protection devices assumes particular importance.
By the term "tripping selectivity", or, more briefly, "selectivity", is meant the capacity of a system for isolating from the supply relatively circumscribed portions of network in the vicinity of the origin of the fault.
In other words, the term "selectivity" indicates the capacity of tripping in a co-ordinated and circumstantiated way for reducing the lack of service and inconvenience in the event of fault, limiting it just to the portions of network that are effectively at risk and preserving, at the same time, the state of service of the rest of the system.
On the other hand, it is known that obtaining a high level of selectivity is a particularly critical aspect in system design. It is necessary, in fact, to reconcile the requirements of greater tripping reliability with the obvious need to contain the costs of installation and management of the electrical network.
In more traditional electrical networks, a certain level of selectivity is obtained by distributing the protection devices on hierarchical levels differentiated from the energy standpoint (the levels further upstream, i.e., closer to the voltage source, are traditionally considered of higher hierarchy) and selecting the tripping characteristics of each protection device according to the hierarchical level occupied.
Given that each branch of the network is sized to carry, in conditions of safety, electric power sufficient for supplying all the lower levels that propagate therefrom, selectivity is obtained by exploiting the differentiation of the tripping parameters (tripping current, tripping times, mechanical inertia of the contacts, etc.) that exists between protection devices belonging to different hierarchical levels.
In this way, the inconvenience due to a fault event involves only the portion of network regulated by the fault device having a hierarchical level immediately higher than the level or the position in which the fault itself has occurred.
Practice has shown that solutions of this type present certain drawbacks, linked, for the most part, to the fact of not being able to ensure a level of selectivity that is high and constant over time.
In fact, the level of selectivity that can be obtained is strictly correlated to the nominal conditions of operation of the protection devices. It has been shown that, frequently, the performance of the electrical network, in terms of tripping selectivity, can decay considerably, in relation to the state of wear of the components of the protection devices and the consequent variation of the corresponding tripping parameters.
Other more advanced technical solutions of a known type, such as the ones described in the European patents EP838887 and EP856739 and in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,639, envisage the use of protection devices, referred to as protection devices of an EFDP (Early Fault Detection Prevention) type, capable of communicating with one another to co-ordinate the respective modalities of tripping, in the case of a fault event.
An EFDP device comprises sensors and corresponding electronic means for acquiring samples of data indicating the instantaneous current and the derivative of the instantaneous current circulating in the equivalent load, corresponding to the portion of network controlled by the device itself.
Said data samples are sent at input to a protection unit and compared with a table of predefined data, corresponding to normal operating conditions. If a number of consecutive data samples do not fall within the set of data corresponding to normal operating conditions, the protection unit of an EFDP device generates an interblock signal.
Said interblock signal is sent to all the other EFDP devices of the network located upstream, causing inhibition of their capacity of tripping.
If the EFDP device in question is not in turn interblocked by another EFDP device set further downstream, it trips directly, thus interrupting the current.
For the above purpose, the protection unit of the EFDP device generates an appropriate opening-command signal, for activating the kinematic chain that determines separation of the electrical contacts.
It is evident how, thanks to the co-ordination of the tripping modalities, in a network comprising EFDP devices levels of selectivity can be obtained that are much higher than those of the more traditional solutions described above.
Albeit meeting the purposes for which they have been devised, also these technical solutions present certain disadvantages.
Said drawbacks basically derive from the fact that obtaining a high selectivity is strictly correlated to the presence of EFDP devices at each node of the network. For the portions of network not presided over by EFDP devices (or, in any case, not communicating with the rest of the electrical network), the level of selectivity remains still linked to the mere differentiation of the tripping parameters, as in more traditional technical solutions.
On the other hand, the use of EFDP devices alone for creating the entire electrical network proves somewhat expensive and laborious.
In order to overcome the above drawbacks, further technical solutions of a known type envisage provision of the EFDP devices installed with a function referred to as "Trip Delay".
According to said operating mode, after execution of the algorithm described above, an EFDP device waits, for a predefined time interval (for example, 3.5 ms), before intervening directly and interrupting the current.
In this way, it is possible for any other protection device, positioned downstream of the aforesaid EFDP device, to trip, if it is able to do so.
If (and only if) at the end of the aforementioned wait interval, there still exist the fault conditions detected, the EFDP device trips directly, thus interrupting the current.
Is has been noted that, even though this type of solution enables a greater selectivity for more extensive portions of network, it presents the drawback of requiring minimum tripping times (comprised between the 10-20 ms) that are relatively long.
Said tripping times are, at times, unacceptable if it is desired to guarantee a reliable operation over time of the electrical network. For example, if downstream of a certain EFDP device no further EFDP devices are present and the fault occurs at a portion of system comprised between the aforesaid EFDP device and any protection device (not of an EFDP type) set downstream, said portion of system remains exposed to the flow of the fault currents for a time equal to the minimum tripping time of the EFDP device. Given that said fault currents, in particular the short-circuit currents, assume particularly high values (for example, 200 kA), there may occur an early ageing of the parts making up the aforesaid portion of system, jeopardizing proper operation thereof, even in normal conditions.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,844,737 describes an EFDP device provided with some functionalities aimed at improving the level of selectivity, ensuring, however, relatively reduced tripping times, where necessary.
Said functionalities are based upon the calculation of a quotient between the differential corresponding to two successive samples of current derivative and current, as soon as there has been ascertained a departure from conditions of normality of the evolution of the current in the load.
Practice has, however, shown that said solution, albeit offering a sort of forecast regarding the possible evolution of the fault current, can provide indications that are only partial and not always reliable. For example, for topologically complex portions of network, said method does not make it possible to know whether a protection device downstream of the EFDP is already tripping with a reasonable likelihood of success.

Method for managing a fault event in a network for distributing electrical energy, and a corresponding electronic protection unit


A storage box includes at least one storing unit including a main box and at least one dividing plate. The main box includes two first engaging subunits and a main box body defining a dividable space. Each of the first engaging subunits is formed on a top end of the main box body and includes a plurality of spaced-apart first engaging members. The at least one dividing plate has a plate body and two second engaging members. The plate body is disposed removably in the dividable space and divides the dividable space into two storage areas. The second engaging members respectively and separably engage one of the first engaging members of one of the first engaging subunits and one of the first engaging members of the other one of the first engaging subunits.

A conventional storage box used for storing various items, such as knives, forks and spoons in a kitchen, generally has a plurality of compartmented storage spaces that are in different sizes and that are not adjustable. The size of each of the compartmented storage spaces is decided by a manufacturer that produces the conventional storage box, and is decided according to the presumed types and sizes of items that a customer may store in the conventional storage box.
However, even though the manufacturer provides the conventional storage box with the compartmented storage spaces that differ in sizes, the compartmented storage spaces may not always meet the customer's needs. That is to say, items that the customer wants to store may not fit into any one of the storage spaces of the conventional storage box because the storage spaces are not adjustable according to the number and size of the items. Moreover, because the size of the conventional storage box is not adjustable, the customer may have difficulty in putting the conventional storage box in a drawer as the conventional storage box may not fit into the drawer.


An ampule shield has a center tube with an upper end, and an outer tube extending coaxially with the center tube and attached to the center tube below the upper end of the center tube. The outer tube extends some distance beyond a lower end of the center tube. The outer tube is spaced from the center tube to provide a cylindrical space within the shield for receiving an ampule. A removable cap for attachment to a bottom of the outer tube is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of medical devices, and in particular to an ampule shield.
2. Background Information
Homan U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,073 discloses a package for enabling a user to mix a diluent with a hazardous material and then fill a syringe with the resultant solution without endangering the immediate environment which comprises an elastomerically stoppered glass vial containing the material and a sealed transparent plastic bag enclosing the vial and having a septum means therein to sealingly receive the needle of a diluent containing syringe therethrough as the needle moves through the stopper of the vial to provide a seal when the needle is withdrawn.
Fournier et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,769 also discloses a package for enabling a user to mix a diluent with a hazardous material and then fill a syringe with the solution without endangering the immediate environment, but this package requires that the package container after opening interengage with the packaged device (having means for cooperating with a medicament vial for use therewith) to provide a sealed interior space in which means for cooperating with a vial is operable to cooperate with a vial contained in the space.
Kolber et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,214 discloses a system for separately storing and subsequently mixing the contents of at least two containers in one of the containers which comprises two containers, a syringe assembly attached to the second container and extending between the two containers, and an adapter connecting the first container or vial to the syringe assembly wherein a skirt member circumscribes the outside of the vial and has rachet means that cooperates with complementary rachet means on the adapter to prevent disengagement of the vial from the adapter.


A method of forming a slot in a substrate comprises growing an oxide layer on a first side of a substrate, patterning and etching the oxide layer to form an opening, forming a material overlying the opening and the oxide layer, removing substrate material through a second side to a first distance from the first side, and anisotropic etching the substrate to create a substrate opening at the first side which is aligned with the opening in the oxide layer during anisotropic etching. The material overlying the opening and the oxide layer is selected so that an anisotropic etch rate of the substrate at an interface of the material and the substrate is greater than an anisotropic etch rate of the substrate at an interface of the oxide layer and the substrate.

The market for electronic devices continually demands higher performance at lower costs. In order to meet these requirements, the components which comprise various electronic devices need to be made more efficiently and to closer tolerances.
One type of electronic device is a fluid ejection device that ejects fluid via one or more orifices. In certain types of fluid ejection devices, a fluid feed channel or slot is formed to feed fluid to chambers in which the fluid is heated and ejected via the one or more orifices. In order to be able to eject fluid in a timed a precise matter, slot or channel needs to be aligned within certain tolerances.
In some embodiments, the slot is formed in the substrate by wet chemical etching of the substrate with, for example, Tetra Methyl Ammonium Hydroxide (TMAH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). The etch rate for alkaline chemistries is different for different crystalline planes, and therefore the etch geometry is defined by the orientation of the crystalline planes. For example, on {100} substrates, TMAH etching techniques result in etch angles that cause a very wide backside slot opening. The wide backside opening limits how close the slots can be placed to each other on the die.
In addition, in many fluid ejection devices, different fluid passages should be aligned with each other in order to prevent potential damage to the fluid ejection device and to maintain proper operation. In some cases, slots or trenches within a fluid ejection device that are not properly aligned can lead to chipping of substrate material that can clog other fluid passage ways thereby damaging or making non-functional the fluid ejection device.
Therefore, It is desired to efficiently align slots or trenches in a substrate within desired dimensional tolerances.

Methods for controlling feature dimensions in crystalline substrates