A shift register which receives a transmission clock signal, which is shifted according to the transmission clock signal, and which outputs a gate signal a predetermined time after reset; a reset circuit which outputs a reset signal for resetting the shift register when the reset circuit receives an input of a step signal for driving the stepping motor; and a switching element which receives the gate signal of the shift register and which is switched between a blocked state and a conductive state are provided in a driving circuit of a stepping motor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a driving circuit of a stepping motor.
2. Background Art
In order to rotationally drive a stepping motor, a rotational torque must be applied. In particular, during an initial stage of rotation, a high rotational torque must be applied, but during a rotation retaining state where the stepping motor is continuously rotated, the rotational torque may be reduced. Therefore, there is an advantage that power consumption can be reduced by executing a control to reduce the applied current to the stepping motor during the rotation retaining state. In order to switch the applied current, it is necessary to switch a current-setting reference voltage of the driving circuit of the stepping motor.
FIG. 5 shows a structure of a driving circuit of a stepping motor of the related art. During the initial stage of rotation, a switch S1 is switched OFF to set a high voltage for the current-setting reference voltage VREF, and, during the rotation retaining state, the switch S1 is switched ON by a switch control signal X from the outside, to connect resistors R2 and R3 in parallel to each other and to consequently set a lower voltage value for the current-setting reference voltage VREF.
In the driving circuit of a stepping motor of the related art, a switch control signal X to the switch S1 must be generated by an external device (an electric device with the stepping motor equipped thereon) and applied to the switch S1. Because of this, the circuit structure of the external device (electronic device) becomes complicated, and there have been disadvantages for the manufacturers of the external device (electronic device), such as an increase in manufacturing cost.
In addition, there has been a disadvantage in that the ports (terminals) of the driving circuit of the stepping motor are occupied in order to input the switch control signal X to the switch S1.


Techniques are disclosed for performing a search based on a search query comprising at least one or more subjective elements and one or more objective elements. A first search for content may be performed based on the one or more objective elements of the search query. A distribution of a numerical characteristic of results returned from the first search may be determined, where the numerical characteristic corresponds to one of the subjective elements of the search query. One or more proportional threshold for the subjective element may be determined, and a range of the numerical characteristic may be selected by applying the one or more proportional thresholds to the distribution. A second search for content may be performed based on the selected range of the numerical characteristic.

The present disclosure relates to a search apparatus, a search method, and a program.
In recent years, the possibility to search for various information, for example, using the Internet, has increased. For example, searches for transfer information of transportation facilities, information of a route to a destination, and the like are being routinely performed. Further, searches for shop information at a street or information of a ticket or a coupon using a portable device such as a portable telephone or a personal digital assistant are being routinely performed. Thus, recently, an information search chance has rapidly increased. Further, as users of information search services increase, an infrastructure of an information search system has been provided. As a result, recently, various information can be instantly searched, for example, using portable devices.
Assuming use of a portable device with which it is difficult to input search conditions, speech search service in which search conditions can be input through speech has been devised. Further, information search service in which a search condition can be input with a format of a natural sentence, "Show me a cheap sushi restaurant in Ginza," has also been devised. As a result, the search condition can be rapidly and simply input, thus greatly improving usability. However, in a number of information search services, even when subjective representations "cheap" and "good" are contained in a search condition, only information containing wordings "cheap" and "good" is extracted.
For example, even when search is performed using a natural sentence, "Show me a cheap sushi restaurant in Ginza," as a search condition, only sushi restaurant information containing the keyword "cheap" is extracted and information on some low-priced sushi restaurants may not necessarily be extracted. Thereby, a user desiring to obtain information on cheap sushi restaurants has to perform a search using a search condition containing a price range they consider cheap or has to confirm extracted information of sushi restaurants one by one and find the cheap sushi restaurants. As a solution to such a problem, a method in which a database with subjective representations associated with numerical ranges is prepared in advance and a subjective representation contained in a natural sentence input as a search condition is automatically converted into a numerical range to perform search is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-24212.

Search apparatus, search method and program


A universal serial bus (USB) locking connector includes a cable, a polymeric body connected to the cable, and a metallic male plug that projects axially from the body. One or more locking prongs extend axially alongside but are spaced from the male plug and are resiliently deflectable toward and away from the male plug. Each locking prong includes a leg having an outer end, and an enlarged tooth defined at the outer end. The enlarged tooth includes an inclined ramp surface and a transverse locking face. When the USB locking connected is mated with a conventional female USB connector, the locking prongs engage a peripheral edge of the female connector and capture the locking connector to the female connector to provide resistance to axial pull-out. In another arrangement, a USB connector locking system includes a female USB connector installed in a housing. A lock ring is movably connected to the housing adjacent the peripheral edge of the female USB connector. The lock ring is manually movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. When moved to its locked position, the lock ring frictionally engages an associated male USB connector that is mated with the female USB connector to inhibit disconnection of the associated male USB connector from the female USB connector.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors are well-known and in widespread use, in particular, in association with peripheral devices of with computer systems. Specifications for USB connectors are described in full detail in Universal Serial Bus Specification, which can be found at www.usb.org and the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into this specification. Chapter 6 of the Universal Serial Bus Specification document relates to mechanical features of USB connectors and cables.
USB connectors have many desirable features and advantages as compared to predecessor connectors. A disadvantage, however, is a relatively low resistance to unintended disconnection due to incidental axial pull-out forces, e.g., when a cable is inadvertently pulled or snagged. In many environments, unintended disconnection of a USB connector is a mere nuisance, while in other applications, unintended cable disconnection can have more serious consequences.
This susceptibility of a USB connector to unintended disconnection due to axial pull-out force is associated with both Type A (Host) and Type B (Device or Slave) connectors. FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate a conventional USB Type B connector 10 located at a distal end of a USB cable 12. The connector 10 is a male connector adapted to mate with a female USB Type B connector 14 (FIG. 1D) as is well-known in the art. The female connector 14 is connected to a housing H and comprises an inner plug portion 14p located within a recess 14r that is bounded by a peripheral edge 14e of the housing H so that a space 14s is defined between the plug portion 14p and the edge 14e. The inner plug portion 14p, itself, comprises a non-symmetric hexagonal receiver 14p1 and a rectangular stud 14p2. The receiver 14p1 is adapted to receive the mating hexagonal male plug portion 22 of the male connector 10, while the rectangular stud 14p2 is received inside the male plug portion 22 of the connector 10.
The male USB Type B connector 10 comprises a polymer body portion 20 and metallic male plug portion 22 that projects outwardly from the body portion 20. The body portion 20, itself, comprises a main portion 20a and a cable interface portion 20b that joins the main portion 20a to the cable 12. The main portion 20a is enlarged relative to both the cable interface portion 20b and the metallic plug portion 22 and, as such, the body portion 20 further comprises inner and outer transverse shoulders 20i, 20t that join the main portion 20a to the cable interface 20b and metallic plug portion 22, respectively.
FIG. 1E illustrates the conventional male USB Type B connector 10 and a conventional device M, e.g., an industrial automation module. The device M comprises a female Type B USB connector 14. The male Type B USB connector 10 is adapted to be mated with the female connector 14. Except for a friction fit between the metallic plug portion 22 of the connector 10 and the female plug portion 14p (FIG. 1D) of the female connector 14, there is no structure for locking the male Type B USB connector 10 to the female Type B USB connector 14. As noted, the connector 10 is thus susceptible to undesired disconnection in response to incidental axial pull-out force as can occur, e.g., when the cable 12 is pulled for any reason such as during cleaning, maintenance, movement of related components, entanglement with moving structures, etc.

USB connector locking device with lock prongs or movable lock ring


A scanning and imaging apparatus comprises a ray source configured to generate an X-ray and a detection device configured to receive an X-ray transmitted through an inspected object, wherein the ray source is configured to image the inspected object by emitting the X-ray to the inspected object. A radioactivity detector is configured to detect whether the inspected object comprises radioactive material synchronously with the process of scanning implemented by the scanning and imaging apparatus. In a case that the radioactivity detector detects radioactive material, an actual position of the radioactive material in an X-ray image of the inspected object obtained by the scanning and imaging apparatus is marked in the image. The above solutions improve the accuracy of displaying the position of the radioactive source in the X-ray image. Further, inspection of radioactive material can be implemented while scanning an image.

An inspection system for imaging a vehicle using an X-ray is used for vehicle inspection. Specifically, an X-ray is transmitted through a vehicle to be scanned, to form an X-ray image of the vehicle, and an inspector may inspect inner details of the vehicle through the X-ray image without contact with the vehicle and damage to the vehicle. That is, the inspector can view goods loaded in a container without opening the container. A system for inspecting radioactive material is used to inspect radioactive material hidden in the inspected vehicle by means of inactive detection. Specifically, when the vehicle passes through the inspection system, if there is radioactive material, the inspection system may raise an alarm, and provides an approximate position of the radioactive material in the vehicle.
In practical applications in the field, the vehicle firstly passes through the system for inspecting Radioactive Material (RM) for inspecting whether radioactive material exist, and then is scanned by using an X-ray. When the radioactive material is inspected, the detection of the radioactive material starts when the vehicle arrives at the X-ray scanning and imaging apparatus, and ends after the vehicle completely passes through the scanning and imaging apparatus. A movement speed of the vehicle is calculated according to a time during which a probe is shielded and a length of the vehicle, to finally deduce a specific position of the radioactive material in the vehicle. The procedure comprises a warning start process, a warning peak process, and a warning end process. The above information is passed to the X-ray inspection system via an interface. In the X-ray image inspection system, when a beam is emitted by an accelerator, a detector starts to collect data, and when the accelerator stops emitting the beam, the detector stops collection and stores a complete image. The X-ray image is related to a scanning start time and a scanning end time of the device, a beam emission frequency of the current scanning, and a movement speed of the scanning device. The X-ray inspection system maps the position of the radioactive material in an inspection result of the radioactive material to an X-ray image. When the image is inspected, the specific position of the radioactive material in the vehicle can be intuitionally viewed, so as to facilitate a person who unpacks the container to rapidly find the radioactive source.
In practical applications, when scanning is implemented by using an X-ray, it is generally the case that a beam is firstly emitted and a scanning device starts to be moved to scan the inspected vehicle only after a dosage of the accelerator is stable. Therefore, there are some values of the air in the front of the X-ray image, instead of scanning the vehicle at the beginning. In addition, due to the position where the scanned vehicle is parked, when scanning is implemented, there may be large white spaces before or after the vehicle is scanned, and thus, the leftmost portion or the rightmost portion of the X-ray scanned image do not belong to the scanned vehicle. The detection of the radioactive material starts from the head of the vehicle, to provide a specific position of the radioactive material in the vehicle. As the starting points of the two inspection processes are different, the accurate position of the scanned vehicle in the X-ray image cannot be determined by the X-ray inspection system, which can only use the starting position of the image as a position of the head of the vehicle. Therefore, when the RM inspection result is mapped to the X-ray image, as the starting points of the two inspection processes are different and compression ratios of the two inspection images are different, a large deviation may be generated. Further, when the vehicle passes through the system for inspecting radioactive material, if the vehicle does not move at a constant speed, the result of the speed of the vehicle which is calculated by the RM system will also be influenced, which in turns influences the inspection result.
Further, as the two systems operate independently, an error in one-to-one correspondence between the inspection results of the two systems may be generated. In practical applications, many trucks may pass through a RM inspection system in sequence, and some inspection results may generated. Then, when the trucks pass through the X-ray inspection system, an order of these trucks may be changed for inspection, or some vehicles may directly be driven away without X-ray inspection. In this case, there may be a problem that an error occurs in the correspondence between the X-ray inspection image and the RM result.

Inspection systems and methods for synchronously positioning radioactive material


Improved liners and explosive devices having improved liners are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a liner for an explosive device comprises a plate configured to be positioned against an explosive charge. The plate comprises rhenium, palladium, or a combination thereof, at least a bimodal particle size distribution having a powder grain size no greater than 25 microns, a substantially circular diameter, and a substantially concave interior relative to a surface of the explosive charge.

Explosively-formed penetrator (EFP) warheads have proven useful against steel and other re-enforced armors. In a conventional single EFP, illustrated in FIG. 1, a main explosive charge 12 proximate to a detonator ignition train 18 is pressed or cast and machined in a steel casing or shell 14 that accommodates a liner 16 having a hemispherical, trumpet, conical or other similar shape. When the liner 16 has a trumpet or conical shape, the warhead is referred to as a shape charge (SC) rather than an EFP and is characteristically used for perforations and demolitions because its stand-off distance is shorter than the stand-off distance of an EFP warhead. Typically, the liner is made of a highly ductile metal having a high density, such as copper, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the EFP 12 main explosive charge 12 is detonated by the detonator ignition train 18, the liner 16 is projected forward as a molten-metal elongated slug, referred to as a penetrating jet, which can travel typically at speeds above 9.66 kilometers per second (6 miles per second). The high velocity, high density jet is able to pierce metal armors and other similar re-enforcements.
The concept of using explosive energy to deform a metal plate into a coherent penetrator while simultaneously accelerating it to extremely high velocities offers a unique method of employing a kinetic energy liner without the use of a gun barrel. However, such armor perforation capability needs further improvement to counter new generations of harder armored targets, without resorting to a larger caliber weapon system. In addition, while present day liners may be able to penetrate targets such as tanks and underground bunkers, there is a need for warheads that deliver high velocity penetrating jets with enhanced explosive output.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide liners of EFP and SC warheads with improved kinetic energy. It is also desirable to provide liners for EFP and SC warheads that provide enhanced explosive output. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Liners for warheads and warheads having improved liners


A first processing core selects a first memory address of a first memory area based on a last written buffer that identifies a last written memory address. The first memory area is a portion of a shared memory, and the first processing core has sole write access to the first memory area among a plurality of processing cores that use the shared memory. Data is written to the first memory address of the first memory area. After writing the data to the first memory address, the last written buffer is updated to designate the first memory address as the last written memory address of the first memory area. A second processing core of the plurality of processing cores is operable to access the data by accessing the last written buffer and determining, based on the last written buffer, that the data is stored at the first memory address.

In certain systems, multiple processors or partitions may be used to accomplish various functions. Using the multiple processor or partitions as shared processing resources in this manner can reduce cost of a system. For example, a first process can use a processor when a second process is not using the processor. Thus, only one processor is needed to accomplish multiple functions.
However, in certain applications sharing processing resources can be problematic. To illustrate, in the example above, if the first process hangs (e.g., stops to wait for data, has an error, etc.), the second process may be locked out of the processor. If the second process is a safety system, this situation may be unacceptable. Standards and design principles have been established for some systems to provide protection against these problems. For example, in Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architectures that follow the Avionics Application Standard Software Interface (ARINC) 653 standard, one processor or partition is not allowed to block or wait for another processor or partition. Thus, certain methodologies for communication among processors or partitions may not be acceptable. For example, communication methodologies that use spin locks, semaphores, set and test instructions, or other similar methods may be unacceptable since they may cause one partition to block or wait until a resource is free.


A laminate coating comprising a durable outer ply which is resistant to abrasion and impermeable to water, bonded to and through a conductive layer of fibers and an integrally enveloping adhesive layer which is disposed on a vehicle component surface, such that the laminate coating upon curing is bonded to the vehicle component surface such as the surface of an aircraft part especially the fuselage, wing parts or tail section. The conductive layer is connected to a source of electrical energy and control means adapted to control the temperature of the coated surface of the aircraft part.

Aircraft are exposed to a variety of temperature conditions during flight and while out of service on the ground. Fuel, when tanked in areas directly adjoining exterior surfaces of the aircraft may change the temperature of those surfaces without warning. In the event the surface temperature or the aircraft falls below 32.degree. F. and there is mist, rain or high humidity in the ambient air; ice can form in thin films on these surfaces. If undetected, this ice can dislodge during operation of the aircraft and fly into other portions of the aircraft especially into engine parts, causing damage that may affect the performance of the aircraft and if severe, can completely stop engine operation. Aircraft which have wing fuel tanks with jet engines mounted behind the wings are especially prone to what is termed "ICE FOD" or "ice foreign object engine damage". In addition, aircraft taxiing behind aircraft with ice build-up may be exposed to showers of ice as the former aircraft begins take-off. In addition, sensors and control surfaces may become fouled with ice resulting in inaccurate readings and unreliable control during flight.
The magnitude of the problem was reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration in General Aviation Airworthiness Alert Special Issue AC No. 43-16. In this report, 516 known ice related accidents occurred from April 1976 to April 1987 with 567 fatalities. In this report certain aircraft were found to be more prone to ice formation than others. The recommendation of the report is as follows:

Electrically conductive laminate for temperature control of aircraft surface


A motorcycle mounting for a radar speed monitor in which the monitor can be readily mounted and removed. The motorcycle mounting includes a first support member with releasable strap for holding a radar monitor in position, second support members extending from each side of the first support member, each being attached at its upper end to the first support member, clamps may be used at the lower end of each second support member for attachment of the lower end of each second support member to the handlebar of a motorcycle; a further support member connected at one end to the first support member and including a pivotable connection at the other end for attachment to a structural member of a motorcycle forward of the handlebar; and a mounting bracket for mounting a radar transmitter/receiver on a motorcycle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the mounting of a radar speed monitor on a motorcycle, and in particular to a mounting on which the monitor can be readily mounted and removed, and also to a motorcycle incorporating a mounting.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radar speed monitors are readily mounted, and used, on motor cars and similar vehicles, but hitherto such monitors have not been usable on motorcycles. It is desirable that the speed monitors be changeable or transferrable between car and motorcycle.
Typical of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,859 which illustrates the use of a radar unit in an automobile; however, there is no art known to the Applicant where a radar unit has been mounted on a motorcycle and yet, for traffic purposes, motorcycle usage by police officers is more desirable in many instances due to greater mobility.


Systems and methods for implementing sequenced filter templates to intelligently reduce a dataset to find useful patterns and source data are disclosed. An expert investigative user may configure a filter template comprising a series of filters organized in a sequence desired by the expert user. The filter template can be customized by an end user to reduce a dataset and perform guide investigation of the reduced dataset.

Users can query databases to perform investigations and find target data, e.g., the source of a food poisoning outbreak. However, due to the stratospheric rise in data collection, the amount of data to be analyzed using queries makes investigations impractical, and target data may never be found. Inexperienced data investigators often analyze a dataset down the wrong path, reducing the dataset to yield a useless result. As is evident, there is a demand for improved data investigation tools.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Visual analysis of data using sequenced dataset reduction


A toner is provided which is superior in the long-term storage stability and has high low-temperature fixing properties. In a DSC curve as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, the toner has a glass transition temperature of not less than 50° C. and not more than 60° C.; and the toner has, in regard to a resin composition contained therein, a difference of not less than 0.060 W/g in heat flow between a point on the curve at a temperature of 40° C. and a baseline in the range exceeding the glass transition temperature; and in viscoelastic characteristics measured at a frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, the toner has a storage elastic modulus (G′40) at a temperature of 40° C. of not less than 7.0×108 Pa and not more than 2.0×109 Pa, and a storage elastic modulus (G′70) at a temperature of 70° C. of not less than 1.0×105 Pa and not more than 1.0×107 Pa.

In image forming apparatus using electrophotography technology, a higher speed and higher reliability have been pursued severely. Moreover, such image forming apparatus have been started to be used for printing of super fine images such as graphic design and for quick printing required of more reliability (print-on-demand in which a variety of and a small number of prints during work including from editing to copying of a document with a personal computer and bookbinding can be made).
On the other hand, reduction in energy consumption by the apparatus is highly demanded. In order to comply with such a demand, a toner having high low-temperature fixing properties has been strongly needed. However, there is such a problem that if the low-temperature fixing properties are pursued, off-set resistance (anti-offset properties) and blocking resistance (anti-blocking properties) at a high temperature are reduced.
Then, a variety of toners have been proposed in order to satisfy all the low-temperature fixing properties and the off-set resistance and further blocking resistance at a high temperature. A method is proposed in which a binder resin is made to contain two kinds of resins having different softening points as principal components, and to the binder resin, a crystalline polyester having a low melting point is added to improve the low-temperature fixing properties while the off-set resistance and blocking resistance are maintained (see PTL 1). Another method is proposed in which a block polyester including a crystalline block and a non-crystalline block is used as a binder resin to provide a toner having resistance to mechanical stress and sufficient fixing properties (fixing strength) in a wide range of temperature (see PTL 2).
In the methods for producing a toner described in these documents, however, crystallinity of the crystalline component is reduced in a melt kneading step or the like. For this reason, the effect of the crystalline component contained is not sufficiently demonstrated. Accordingly, there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of keeping stable performances in a long-term use.
As described above, even if the resin itself has sufficient crystallinity, when the resin is formed into a toner, its crystallinity may be lost or reduced to a great extent in many cases. It is difficult to keep the crystalline state of crystalline substances at a high level after forming it into a toner.
Moreover, it is essential to improve dispersibility of other raw material in order to stably keep the quality for a long period of time. However, it is difficult to enhance the dispersibility of other raw material while the crystallinity is kept. To keep the crystallinity of the crystalline substance and to keep the dispersibility of other raw material are not sufficiently satisfied at the same time.


An electrical connector for connecting a flat circuit includes an insulating housing defining an insertion slot for receiving the flat circuit, a plurality of terminals arranged in the housing in parallel relationship, a shielding shell surrounding the insulating housing and an actuator. The terminals have contacting projections extending into the insertion slot. The shell provides a plurality of spaced spring fingers extending into the inserting slot and establishes a receiving path between the contacting projections and the pivot beams. The actuator is mounted on the electrical connector for movement between an open position lifting up the spring fingers of the shielding shell and allowing insertion of the flat circuit into the inserting slot and a closed position allowing the pivot beam restore and pressing against the flat circuit toward the contacting projections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector for a flat circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional FPC connector generally includes a plurality of terminals each comprising a contact beam provided with a contact portion adapted for contacting an FPC and a pivot beam extending substantially parallel to and opposed to the contact beam, a housing adapted for holding the terminals and comprising opposite lower and upper walls defining a cavity therebetween wherein the lower wall protruding forwardly beyond the upper wall along a horizontal direction, and a pivoting actuator pivotably assembled on free ends of the pivot beams. The terminals are arranged in the housing in a side-by-side fashion, and each terminal has the contact beam thereof fixed in the lower wall of the housing and has the pivot beam thereof partly fixed in the upper wall of the housing, that is, the rear section of the pivot beam fixed in the upper wall and the front section of the pivot beam projected beyond the upper wall as a cantilever with no support. The front section of the pivot beam is provided with a concave portion for engaging with the actuator. The actuator is provided with cam portions disposed between every two adjacent pivot beams and shaft portions located between and joining every two adjacent cam portions. The shaft portions are respectively pivotably received in the concave portions of the pivot beams. Via engagement of the shaft portions of the actuator and the pivot beams of the terminals, the actuator is pivotable between an open position where an FPC can be inserted into the housing with zero-insertion-force and a closed position where the FPC is urged by the cam portions so as to connect with the contact portions of the contact beams. Such kind of FPC connectors can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,893,288 and 7,261,589.
However, high-frequent and fine profile is a tendency of electrical connectors, said connectors might be fall to meet that tendency.


The invention relates to press tools for the connection, by cold forming, of tubular workpieces (2, 3) whose connection regions are provided with circular external cross-sectional shapes and are pushed one into the other. The press jaws (10) of the press tool have, in the closed state, approximately the external cross-sectional shape of the workpieces and can be provided with recesses (13, 17). Such a press tool may also have only two press jaws (10) and one bearing bolt (4). As a result of drive forces (F) introduced into the tool, cold-forming forces are exerted on the workpieces (2, 3) via said tool. Depending on manufacturing tolerances of the workpieces (2, 3), the distance (A) between the press jaws (10) varies.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a press tool and a method for connecting by cold forming. Such press tools are also known as press chains, press loops or press rings and are used in particular for connecting pipe sections. For this purpose, the pipe ends to be connected are pushed into a deformable sleeve, a so-called press fitting. For connecting by cold forming, the press jaws are first placed around the press fitting in the manner of a collar that remains open in one area, the two chain ends of the press tool being opposite one another across the open area. The introduction of the drive forces causes the two chain ends to be drawn together. Consequently, the insides of the press jaws are moved together as far as they will go to form an annular press space, and the cold-forming forces are transmitted to the press fitting. To ensure radial cold forming of the fittings that is as uniform as possible, at least three press jaws, generally arranged in the manner of a chain, are typically used for connecting pipes with a diameter greater than 54 mm by cold forming.
2. Description of Related Art
European patent EP627,273 describes a press tool comprising more than two press jaws that are partially movable in a connecting link guide in the circumferential direction. As a result, the press jaws are arranged uniformly over the circumference of the press fitting, which thus permits a uniform radial distribution of the forming forces and prevents flash formation between the press members.
As described in EP627,273, press tools for cold-formed pipe connections having relatively large external cross-sectional diameters, in particular for pipe systems with high internal pressure stresses, require more than two press jaws. More than two press jaws help prevent xe2x80x9crun-outxe2x80x9d of the press fittings or formation of a flash between the end faces of the press jaws on closing the press tool. Run-out of the fittings or formation of a flash makes complete closing and consequently reliable connection impossible.
Such press tools are described, for example, in German Patent DE4,240,427 and European Patent EP922,537. Such tools also available in so-called self-holding versions, which move together even before the introduction of the drive forces. Such tools move together prior to the introduction of the drive forces by pretensioning forces exerted by spring elements. These tools, therefore, need not be additionally held on the workpiece, for example with a hand, to prevent slipping or falling down from the connecting point.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a press tool that is easy to handle, has a simple design and can be used flexibly. The present invention also includes a method for connecting, by cold-forming, workpieces that are inserted one into the other. The method of the present invention permits safe and reliable connection of workpieces having relatively large external cross-sectional shapes and facilitates connections with relatively extensive cold forming. Such press tools should preferably be capable of being used even where there is limited space and should, if necessary, surround, in a nonfrictional manner, the workpieces to be connected.
A press tool according to the present invention is preferably formed with at least two arms, the press jaws advantageously also being used for transmitting the drive forces introduced. The press jaws must be capable of being moved toward one another, the connection of ends of the press jaws by means of bearing bolts having proven a simple and reliable connection concept in terms of design.
The cold-forming forces exerted by the press jaws on the workpieces are initiated by drive forces introduced into the tool. For the introduction of drive forces, engagement regions such as recesses, holes, projections, eyes, hooks, etc. should be provided in at least one area of the press tool. These can be provided at the non-bearing ends of press jaws for application of a drive means that can be optionally coupled.
When, for example, optionally tubular workpieces having predetermined, in particular circular, external cross-sectional shapes are mentioned, it is always to be understood as meaning workpieces having connection regions formed in this manner.
A press tool according to the present invention preferably exerts the cold-forming forces via the insides of the press jaws on the workpieces in a manner such that, when the press jaws move toward one another, xe2x80x9crun-outxe2x80x9d of the outer workpiece and thus the formation of a flash between the press jaws are substantially prevented. To prevent the ends of the inside edges of the press jaws from cutting into the workpiece thus causing the formation of flash, widening recesses in the form of bevels angled outward (i.e., widening toward the end faces) are provided at least on one side (optionally on both, sides) in those regions of the insides of the press jaws that are adjacent to the end faces. The insides of the press jaws may be both angled outward toward the end inside edges and may also be convex. Optionally, the insides of the press jaws may be gradually increasingly curved toward the inside edges, turning outward. The optionally angled insides of the press jaws beveled outward may be in the form of insertion bevels adjacent to the end inside edges. These angled insertion bevels are preferably flat but may also be slightly concave, depending on the machining. If the insertion bevels are slightly. concave, their curvature is less pronounced than that of the remaining inside of the press. jaw. In particular, the insertion bevels have a curvature that is less pronounced than that of a lateral surface segment of a rotational body, and optionally also smaller than the external cross-sectional diameter of the outer workpiece before the cold forming. The curvature of the inside regions of the press jaws adjacent to the inside of the insertion bevels at least approximately corresponds to the remaining external cross-sectional diameter of the cold-formed workpiece.
As a result of these features, the insertion bevels of the insides of the press jaws are shaped at their end inside edges in such a way that, when placed on the workpiece, the insides do not rest on the end inside edges but lie on the outer lateral surface of the workpiece with their inside surface, optionally tangentially, optionally a distance away from the end inside edges.
The extent of the outward angling of the outer end inside regions depends on the external cross-sectional diameter of the respective workpieces coordinated with the press tool. In the case of external cross-sectional diameters between 54 mm and 108 mm, the insertion bevels may be angled, for example, at an angle of 5 to 250 degrees outward relative to the lateral surface directly adjacent to it.
At least two press jaws are required for the operation of a press tool according to the invention. The two press jaws can be mounted around a common bearing bolt, the bearing bolt optionally being eccentric. An eccentric bearing bolt results in those end faces of the press jaws that are not on the bearing side experiencing an additional translational movement apart when the press tool is opened. Consequently, the required opening angle for surrounding the workpieces and the spacing of the end faces in the initially clamped state of the tool can be reduced.
The two press jaws can also each be individually mounted by means of two bearing bolts held in a bearing holder. Once again, at least one bearing bolt can optionally be eccentric. The two bearing bolts can be mounted in the bearing holder both rigidly and coupled to one another. For example, it is possible to provide for each bearing bolt, for relative displacement in the bearing holder, a guide slot along which the bearing bolts are displaceable, and optionally the bearing bolt can be connected via a guide rod system.
The eccentric formation of the bearing bolts and the individual mounting of the press jaws are also suitable for those embodiments in which the insides of the press jaws do not have lateral surface segments of rotational bodies, i.e., the press tool in the closed state encloses a polygonal or oval space instead of an annular space.
To facilitate the placing of the press tool around the workpieces to be connected, and in particular to prevent said press tool from falling down before the mounting of a drive means that can be optionally coupled, it is advantageous to provide the press tool with means that exert pretensioning forces in the closing direction. At least one means exerting pretensioning forces in the closing direction is required for the self-holding operation of a press tool. Said means can be arranged both between the individual press jaws and/or can pass around the press tool in the manner of a clamp open on one side.
Because, on the one hand, the means exerting the pretensioning forces must firmly clamp the press tool onto the workpieces in a non-slip manner and, on the other hand, the press tool should nevertheless be easy to open and to place around the workpieces, means exerting pretensioning forces that have relatively large spring travels are advantageous. This favors coil springs over leaf springs or bar springs, especially in the case of press tools in which the opening of the tool requires large relative movements of few parts. Suitable means exerting pretensioning forces are in principle various components of different, elastically deformable materials. Metallic springs are preferred, but means comprising rubber-like materials, such as tensioning bands or extensible plastics, are also possible. They can be mounted between the press jaws and/or around these, on the outside. Coil springs that are wound around bearing bolts and whose spring ends each exert pretensioning forces on a press jaw permit simple design solutions in combination with convenient handling.
The shape of the insides of the press jaws of the press tool is not limited to lateral surface segments of rotational bodies having identical radii of curvature. If the workpieces are not rotationally symmetrical in the connection region but, for example, have an ellipsoidal, polygonal or irregular shape, or if it is to be converted into such a shape, other embodiments of the insides that are correspondingly adapted to the external cross-sectional shape of the workpieces are possible.
To assist the positioning and guidance of the press tool on workpieces, it is also possible for protuberances and/or recesses, such as, for example, notches or grooves, to be arranged on the insides of the press jaws optionally around the entire inside.
Because the press jaws can have a very narrow design and can be substantially freely pivotable about their bearing bolts, the press tool according to the invention is not only simple and easy to place around workpieces but is also particularly suitable where space is limited, for example in the case of installations in walls and ceilings and in corners.
An inventive, cold-forming connection method for two workpieces pushed partly one into the other and having a predetermined, in particular circular, external cross-sectional shape takes into account the given manufacturing tolerances of the workpieces to be connected in the connection region. Because of the tolerances of the fittings, sockets and pipes, especially in the case of the large nominal connection diameters ND (50 to 100 mm), the required drive forces for moving together the press jaws of a press tool of the prior art to give a closed press space can vary considerably. Consequently, the drive apparatuses and tools have been dimensioned according to the maximum forces occurring. In contrast, the insides of the press jaws of a press tool according to the present invention are formed in such a way that a reliable cold-forming connection is reliably achieved on reaching a predetermined force, even when a tool is not closed. In cooperation with a drive apparatus that can apply specifically predetermined drive forces to the tool for the respective connection processes, controlled connections by means of lighter and more flexible tools and drive apparatuses are possible.

Method for connecting workpieces by cold forming


A system including a large format display, a display computer storing a plurality of files to be displayed on the display, and a mobile device application loaded onto a mobile device, the mobile device application to load and store user information for more than one user, to generate a list of user information, and to share the list of user information with the display computer and other mobile devices having the mobile device application thereon.

1. Field
Embodiments are directed to a multimedia system in which activity regarding interaction with files within a session may be monitored and to a multimedia system in which the same media file may be selected to be viewed on a display from a number of mobile devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, people may connect mobile devices to projectors using connectors that directly plug devices into the projector. For connecting more than one device, a switch is often used to change which signal is sent to the projector. One method used with a switch is to have mechanical buttons placed on the table to change the settings on the switch to change which mobile device is connected to each projector. Another option is the use of a disk that sits on top of the table and can be moved around. One disk is used for each mobile device to be connected. Each disk contains a hardwired connection to a switch and a button is located on top of the disk. However, the use of these disks adds clutter to the table as well as additional cost. The additional hardware and expense comes with very little increase in functionality. If additional hardware and cost is to be added to a conventional conference room table it is desirable if the hardware were to have more functionality in addition to that of just switching the devices displayed on the projector. Further, such a switch only allows content from one mobile device to be displayed on each screen at a time.
In addition, with current mobile devices, in some cases wireless connections are preferred over wired connections. Mobile devices may be connected to a projector on a same network. Such connection requiring software to be downloaded and installed on the mobile device. This software then digitizes the output of the device and sends it wirelessly to the projector. The projector then stores the digitized video signals from the mobile devices. The projector then combines these signals and displays them
However, current wireless connections have numerous disadvantages, e.g., are non-intuitive, require time for installation of software, and compatibility issues with various operating systems. Thus, wireless connections have not received as much success in the market place as the basic switch and the disk method described above for multiple user applications.
Further, in certain conditions in which the wireless connection may not be highly reliable, e.g., under high traffic conditions, transferring a lot of data wirelessly to a display may not be efficacious.

Multimedia system and associated methods


A wireless connection system having at least one host device and at least one client device is disclosed. The client device is brought close to the host device, near field wireless communications are performed and an authentication process of authenticating the client device is performed with connection setting information through the near field wireless communications when wireless communications are performed between the host device and the client device based on a predetermined wireless communication standard. When the client device has been successfully authenticated with the connection setting information in the authentication process, the client device is permitted to perform the wireless communications. When the client device has not been successfully authenticated with the connection setting information in the authentication process, the client device is not permitted to perform the wireless communications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless connection system and a wireless connection method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a method of wirelessly connecting a plurality of devices using radio waves, the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard and the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard are known. The IEEE 802.11 standard is further categorized as the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and other standards that differ in the transmission system and use frequency band. The IEEE 802.11b standard is for example used to wirelessly connect a plurality of personal computers to an access point device, namely structure a so-called wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
The communication distances of the IEEE 802 and Bluetooth standards are around several ten meters. In contrast, as a wireless communication means whose communication distance is shorter than such standards, a system using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is known. An RFID tag is also called a wireless tag, a wireless IC tag, or the like. By reading data from an RFID tag attached to another electronic device corresponding to a request sent from a reader/writer, a communication is performed. This wireless communication uses a frequency of for example 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 433 MHz, a UHF band (800/900 MHz), 2.45 GHz, or 5.8 GHz.
As the wireless LAN has been widespread, it has become important to maintain the security of communications in the wireless LAN against illegal monitoring and data leakage. As a means of maintaining the security, for example an SSID (Service Set Identifier), a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key, or a MAC (Media Access Control) address is set so that an access from a terminal having a different WEP key or the like is restricted.
An invention of which a wireless connection is automatically set by bringing an IC card close to a personal computer, setting an SSID or a WEB key, and starting wireless communications is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-229872.

Wireless connection system and wireless connection method


Systems and methods for providing emergency communications within controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a communication platform. The communication platform may be configured to, in a first mode of operation, enable communications between devices (e.g., telephones, etc.) operated by residents (e.g., inmates, etc.) of a controlled environment facility (e.g., jail, prison, etc.) and devices (e.g., telephones, etc.) operated by non-residents of the controlled environment facility. The method may also include switching the communication platform from the first mode of operation to an emergency mode of operation. In the emergency mode of operation, the communication platform may be configured to enable an emergency communication from a first device operated by a resident of the controlled environment facility to a second device controlled by emergency response personnel (e.g., hostage negotiator, counselor, police officer, etc.).

Inmates incarcerated within U.S. prisons and other types of controlled-environment facilities are potentially subject to violence on a daily basis. In some cases, a single violent act may target a specific prisoner. For example, a hostage situation may develop within the prison between a captor and another inmate, prison staff, visitor, etc.
In other cases, violence may be caused by and/or otherwise affect a relatively larger portion of the inmate population, resulting in bodily harm or death to its victims as well as significant property damage to the prison. For example, in 2006 at the North County Correctional Facility in California, a riot resulted in one inmate killed and over one hundred injured. On Aug. 21, 2009 at the Northpoint Training Center in Kentucky, an inmate uprising involving approximately 80 inmates resulted in 5 buildings completely burned down.
Despite these types of events, communication systems deployed within prisons are generally not suited for handling emergency situations. For example, inmate telephones within prisons do not have access to 911 services, often cannot be used to directly connect inmates to prison administration or response personnel, and are also not capable of receiving inbound calls. In light of these, and other identified concerns, the inventors hereof have recognized a need for providing emergency communications within controlled-environment facilities.

Emergency communication within controlled-environment facilities


This invention provides a fast and efficient method and process to remove lead from washwater streams that are part of the deleading process. By employing a two step process using epsom salts as a precipitating chemical to convert dilute lead concentrations into a very slightly soluble solid and then processing the small residue with a reverse osmosis unit the lead is totally removed from part of the water and the lead containing reject stream from the reverse osmosis unit is recucled through the process to again treat the lead. A reduction in total waste volume of over 90% is achieved.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a leader in forcing the removal of lead from dwellings. The older houses and apartments were often painted with lead paints which have a faintly sweet taste attractive to some children. Since lead is a neurotoxin which has been shown to retard brain development and functions, lead is routinely removed from residences by the requirements of various Massachusetts State Laws. This Massachusetts concern has subsequently been reflected in the Laws and Regulations of many other jurisdictions. On a Federal level, the EPA has reflected the concern with lead by strict potable water testing procedures for lead indicating concerns about lead content of water at the highest levels of government.
The deleading process for buildings typically involves scraping or chemical removal of paint on specified surfaces to a statutorily determined height and often also requires wood replacement. Mere scraping alone as a method to remove the paint is insufficient since lead compounds and salts soak into pores and grain on the surface of wood. The Chemical removal process using alkaline gels containing solvents and strippers such as trisodium phosphates reaches the soaked in salts but the chemical strippers must be flushed from the surface and the surface must be neutralized as part of the removal process. Especially in the chemical removal process, a water wash is needed to remove traces of lead remaining on the wood as well as to neutralize the chemical strippers. In dry scraping a wash is still needed to reduce and remove dust and particles and to do a final cleaning of the wood. The removed paint is a lead containing hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly by use of licensed waste handling firms. The paint solids are relatively dense and total solids generation is typically only a drum per house. The wash water is many times the volume of the solids removed. The wash water also contains significant lead contents and must also be removed as a hazardous waste. Since the cost of hazardous waste removal in MA is slightly over $400 per 55 gallon barrel, and since at least 5 barrels of this contaminated water are produced for a typical deleading job, there is a considerable cost for waste water removal in each deleading operation.
In the past much waste water found its way into drains and sewers. This potential contamination of potable water supply and destruction to marshes and rivers was ignored. A result of this and other contaminants being added to rivers is the toxic nature of local harbor mud. Now, there is tighter enforcement of removal and tracing of wastes so this illegal use of local sewers is being halted. Tracing of all disposal streams and insuring waste streams are treated properly should continue to be an area of increasing concern. Despite the concern and the rules, no one has found an ecconomic way to stop the easy profits to be made by illegal dumping of these washwater waste streams. There is thus a need for a detailed tracing system for wastes or for a simple method to eliminate the wastes on site and thus eliminate the temptations to illegally dump wastes, especially those wastes that are dilute and not obvious There is a need for site treating of the waste water to reduce its impact on deleading costs and to make environmental compliance more likely.
The problem of deleading is not restricted to household deleading operations. There are numerous bridges, oil tanks and other steel structures that were painted with lead pigment containing protective coatings. These are often red lead primers as well as other paint materials. This lead paint is a problem for workers on or near the tanks as the paints deteriorate and also leaches into the water supply when the surfaces are contacted by acid rain or other pollution. In many construction projects on bridges, the workers, who are now aware of lead hazards, will not start on steel work until the structure has been deleaded.
The bridge deleading experience in Massachusetts has been especially difficult. Some early sandblasted deleading projects created so much contaminated dust that the surrounding area became seriously contaminated and numerous houses had to have lead containing dust removed. The current requirement for bridge deleading is to use vacuum protected sandblasting, needle guns, or chemical deleading compounds. The two allowed mechanical deleading processes are very slow while there is contaminated wastewater generated by the chemical processes requirement for neutralization and washdown. A process to treat or reduce wastewater from chemical deleading would allow this process to dominate the field since it is quick and easy as compared to the other allowable processes. Chemical methods are also dust free.
There are a series of methods that have been attempted to solve the contaminated wastewater problem. The most common legal way to solve the low level contaminated water problem is to truck it to a processing facility where it is concentrated with elaborate chemical treatments. It can be then landfilled in class 1 or class 3 hazardous waste landfills. Another common method is to first evaporate the water, then when there is a concentrated fraction left, disposing of the smaller concentrated stream by trucking to a chemical plant which is cheaper since there is less volume. The costs are totally related to volume and not to content so concentration is a viable way to save on disposal. In other cases ion exchange resins and ion specific chemicals have been used. The chemicals to remove lead in moderate concentrations in water are either expensive to use or are very slow to react.
Some approaches use just a settling step such as the Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,678 but the settling taught by Johnson is for particulate lead metal, not the dissolved salts that are a problem in deleading cleanups.
An example of expensive chemical beneficiation of lead contaminated wastewater is the use of EDTA reagents to remove heavy metals. These metal combinant chemicals, used widely to chelate lead and in labs, are very expensive. Chemical approaches are noted in Patents such as Rothman U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,222,897 & 4,338,288 where a sorbant of Manganese nodules with occluded sulfur is used for deleading of waste streams. In another chemical approach Sayles in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,230 used Methane di-sulfonic acid as a deleading approach. A precipitation method suggested by Zeijlstra in U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,200 uses a hydroxide precipitation in closely controlled temperature and pH ranges to remove lead.
An example of the slow processes is carbonate reduction of the waste water where solid wastes are mixed with lime and an agent containing carbon dioxide and/or bicarbonate to reduce the solids to a non leachable form. Such a concept may allow a carbonate reduction of liquids also. This is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,339. The process indicated is interesting and is effective if the solutions and reactions are kept cold but this system is less effective as temperature increases and the process is slow. Since chemical deleading processes are most effective at room or higher temperatures, the need for cool reactions is not an advantage. There is still a need for a simple and effective reaction process to remove lead at low cost.
Another process is the use of electrolysis to obtain electrolytic metallic precipitin on a stainless steel cathode followed by absorber columns in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,230 by Rudolph Kirch where the metal is precipitated on a stainless screen. This type process is effective only for high levels of lead and is energy inefficient at low concentration levels.
At present the expensive and fast chemical removal processes or the very slow but high removal quality methods can be used.
No basic removal system is available which meets the requirements of quick yet relatively low cost lead removal of dissolved lead that is at moderate to high lead content levels.
There are other solutions designed for very low lead content fluids. Lead removal from water is done in several environments presently. Drinking water lead removal has become a major industry. While the rationale of this need is dubious, the use of ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis is effective only to lower trace amounts of lead. The size of the reverse osmosis units and the cost of the units make these approaches useful only for trace amounts.
Included in the potable water deleading systems are a variety of complex methods for removal of trace amounts of lead, they usually include several steps. One common system combines a ion exchange column with a carbon bed absorber. In another a low volume reverse osmosis unit is used to remove trace amounts of lead. In some cases, a bisulfide iron removal system is also part of the water purification system with the iron oxidized and then removed by an ion exchange column. These systems all fail when they are called on to handle more than trace amounts of lead or other dissolved metals since the removal media rapidly becomes clogged or loaded.
In plating operations extremely high lead contents in strong acid are encountered. This type of lead removal can be handled with a electrolytic process plating part of the lead from a solution that is then reused to provide lead free acid and wash baths without creating waste. The use of hazardous chromates or sulfides can also be allowed in these chemist controlled systems. The plating cleanup systems are typically multi step processes with many chemical checks between stages.
At present, there is no simple and effective method to remove lead from washwater streams. As a result major costs are encountered in every lead project that follows the rules in waste washwater disposal.


A capacitive discharge welding method is used to join firing tips, such as those made from various precious metals, to spark plug electrodes. In one embodiment, charged capacitors or other energy storage devices coupled to welding electrodes quickly release stored energy so that a peak weld power and maximum interface temperature is quickly established, followed by a rapid decline in weld power and interface temperature. The resulting capacitive discharge weld joint may include solidified molten material from both the firing tip and the electrode and possess a number of other desirable qualities.

It is known to attach firing tips, such as those made from various precious metals,to spark plug electrodes for the purpose of improving the resistance of the electrode to corrosion or oxidation, as well as spark erosion that may occur when the spark plug is in use in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. Different methods and techniques have been developed for carrying out this attachment, including certain laser and resistance welding techniques.
Because of the extremely harsh environment in a combustion chamber, however, there is always a need to try and improve the strength of the attachment between the firing tip and the underlying electrode and, where possible, to improve the thermal conductivity across that junction.

Method of capacitive discharge welding firing tip to spark plug electrode


A capacitive plate dielectrometer method and system is provided that is used to measure dielectric properties, such as permittivity, of a small sample test material at a low frequency. The capacitive plate dielectrometer method and system calibrates the capacitive plate dielectrometer with a plurality of standard dielectric materials and the sample test material is rotated in the capacitive plate dielectrometer to allow measurement of several electric field directions.

1) Field of the Invention
A capacitive plate dielectrometer method and system is provided. More particularly, a capacitive plate dielectrometer method and system is provided that is used to measure dielectric properties, such as permittivity, of a test material or sample.
2) Description of Related Art
Methods are known for measuring dielectric properties for design and quality assurance used in the production of bulk absorbing materials, such as materials used in aircraft. Such methods for measuring the material properties use interrogating fields, such as electric, thermal, or acoustic fields. The type of field to be used depends upon the nominal properties of the test material and the condition of interest, such as the depth and location of any features or defects. With regard to dielectric properties, test materials may be classified according to their conductivity or permittivity. Electrical conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current and is a measure of how well a material accommodates the transport of electric charge. Permittivity is a physical quantity that describes how an electric field affects and is affected by a dielectric medium, and it is determined by the ability of a material to polarize in response to the field and thereby reduce the field inside the material. Thus, permittivity relates to a material's ability to transmit or permit an electric field. Permittivity is directly related to electric susceptibility. For example, in a capacitor, an increased permittivity allows the same charge to be stored with a smaller electric field, and thus a smaller voltage, leading to an increased capacitance. In general, permittivity is not a constant, as it can vary with the position in the medium, the frequency of the field applied, humidity, temperature, and other parameters. In a nonlinear medium, the permittivity can depend on the strength of the electric field. Permittivity as a function of frequency can take on real or complex values. Dielectrics are associated with lossless or low-loss materials, and dielectrics are insulators with high permittivity. A given amount of material with high permittivity can store more charge than a material with lower permittivity. To make very high frequency permittivity measurements on test materials that have tensors (a set of quantities that obey certain transformation laws relating the bases in one generalized coordinate system to those of another and involving partial derivative sums, i.e., vectors), such as honeycomb cores, the measurements are typically conducted using rectangular waveguides because of the way the electric fields are oriented. Rectangular waveguide measurements involving frequencies greater than several gigahertz require only a relatively small test sample. However, for lower frequency permittivity testing, waveguide dimensions must become progressively larger. Large waveguide test setup is cumbersome and tedious. Typical large waveguide dimensions may be 48 inches long by 12 inches high by three inches thick in one direction. Moreover, with large waveguides, larger quantities of test materials are required to properly test the material, which can result in possible test sample fabrication difficulties. Low frequency permittivity testing requires large amounts of test material. For example, to test the frequency range from 142 MHz (megahertz) to 242 MHz (megahertz) in a rectangular waveguide, one needs a sample to typically have the dimensions of 48 inches long by 12 inches high by three inches thick in one direction. Use of large quantities of low frequency test materials is expensive and the length of testing is time consuming.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved capacitive plate dielectrometer method and system for measuring dielectric properties, such as permittivity, of a test material or sample that does not have the problems associated with known devices and methods.

Capacitive plate dielectrometer method and system for measuring dielectric properties


An orthotic feedback system for facilitating ambulation of a user requiring assistance in the joint motion of the ankle and foot. An energy-storing and energy-returning orthosis is coupled to the leg and foot of a user. Force sensors are positioned under the plantar surface of the heel and metatarsals of the foot. The sensors are coupled to a main control unit that sends signals to transcutaneous electrode pads coupled to the user's leg. The main control unit receives signals from the force sensors and sends signals to the transcutaneous electrode pads to cause plantar flexion and dorsiflexion of the user's foot during ambulation, to train the user's muscles to fire at the appropriate time and retrain the user to walk with a more normal gait.

Orthotic devices are well known in the art. When a user loses partial or complete control of a muscle group, orthotic devices compensate for some or all of the missing function. When used for rehabilitation of a user having weak or absent anterior and/or posterior calf muscle group function, prior art orthotic devices may provide the user's leg with support and alignment of the user's foot and ankle as the user walks or stands.
One drawback associated with prior art orthotic devices is that they limit the motion of the joints, thereby preventing the user's foot from moving through a full or normal range of motion during ambulation. An additional drawback associated with such prior art devices is that by limiting motion of the joints, prior art orthotic devices inhibit the use of electronic stimulation of the user's muscle groups to facilitate the user moving their foot through a full range of motion. Another drawback associated with such prior art orthotic devices is that by limiting the motion of the joints, such prior art devices lead to disuse atrophy. Still another drawback associated with such prior art devices is that they maintain the user's foot in a misaligned position during ambulation. This misalignment may cause electronic stimulation of the user's muscle groups to be ineffective in assisting propulsion. It would be desirable to provide an orthotic device that held a user's foot in proper alignment, through an increased range of motion. It would also be desirable to provide an orthotic device that could be used in association with electronic stimulation of the user's muscle groups to facilitate the user moving their foot through a full range of motion.
It is known in the art to provide an orthotic device with a resilient component that stores energy as the user steps down on the device, and which returns that energy to the user's foot as the user lifts the foot off of the ground. The resiliency of such prior art devices replaces force missing from a user's missing or compromised leg muscles. Such resilient orthoses also allow a users foot to move through a wider, more normal, range of motion. One drawback associated with such prior art orthoses is that they do not stimulate the user's legs, to retrain the muscle firing of the legs to walk in a more normal gait. It would be desirable to provide a resilient orthotic device that could be used in association with electronic stimulation of the user's muscle groups to retrain the legs to walk in a more normal gait.
It is also known in the art to provide devices that electronically stimulate a user's muscle groups. Such devices apply electricity transcutaneously to anterior and/or posterior calf muscle groups to facilitate walking and standing. Generally, these devices are applied to stimulate the anterior calf muscle group, effecting toe pick up during the swing phase of a user's gait. Anterior calf group firing can be effected with electronic stimulus in the absence of an orthosis. Electrical stimulus of the posterior calf muscle group can retrain firing patterns for propulsion during the weight-bearing phase of walking. As the electrical stimulus is merely a trigger to get the user to actually fire the muscle, electrical stimulus is not optimal for training the user's posterior calf muscles to fire. Every electrical stimulus does not translate into the user actually firing the muscle. Electrical stimulus is simply too inconsistent to fire a user's posterior calf muscles sufficiently to allow for increasing propulsive speed with confidence of accident-free ambulation. Even if electrical stimulus was capable of getting the user to fire posterior calf muscles ninety percent of the time, the one time the electrical stimulus failed to get the user to fire the posterior calf muscles, the user would trip and likely fall. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a system for electrically stimulating a user to fire posterior calf muscles without causing the user to stumble or fall.
Prior art electronic stimulation devices assist users in retraining muscle groups to fire at the appropriate time. Such devices often use the position of one leg relative to the other leg to trigger the firing of the appropriate muscle group in the leg needing assistance. While electronic stimulation devices have been shown to assist in the rehabilitation of users having weak or absent calf muscle group functions, such prior art devices also have drawbacks. One drawback associated with prior art electronic stimulation devices is in users who have developed misalignment of the joints. Electronic stimulation of posterior calf muscle function is less effective if the ankle and foot are not in proper alignment with the knee joint when electronic stimulation is applied to the calf muscle group.
Stimulation of the posterior calf muscle group while the joints are misaligned, would be of little or no effect at creating a function increase to propulsion during ambulation. If the foot is not in alignment, the propulsion from firing the muscle is ineffective at enabling the user to lengthen their step or increase their speed. This instability may also cause the user to shorten the stride of the pathological leg. Shortening the stride of the pathological leg throws off the timing of the electronic stimulus, further exacerbating instability. It would, therefore, be desirable to overcome the drawbacks associated with prior art devices and provide a resilient type orthosis which allowed for an extended range of motion for weakened or absent anterior and posterior calf muscle group function, while maintaining proper alignment of the calf and foot during rehabilitation. It would also be desirable to provide an orthosis that consistently created propulsion, retrained muscle firing patterns and increased the stability of the user's foot while standing and walking.
The difficulties encountered in the prior art discussed hereinabove are substantially eliminated by the present invention.


A belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt system comprises a belt reel taking up a seat belt, a belt tensioning mechanism capable of biasing the belt reel in a winding direction of the seat-belt, and a sensor capable of triggering the belt tensioning mechanism and provided with a safety device translatable by installation of the belt retractor in a vehicle from a secured condition in which the sensor is blocked, into a released condition in which the sensor is ready to trigger. The safety device includes a sensor blocking element which is movable between a blocking position in which the sensor is blocked, and a release position in which the sensor is ready to trigger, and includes a transport locking element and a sensing element. The sensing element senses a diameter of a coil of the seat belt on the belt reel and allows a movement of the sensor blocking element into the release position only when the diameter is below a predetermined value. The transport locking element is movable between a locked position and a release position. A spring is provided which biases the transport locking element into the release position, and a spring is provided which biases the sensor blocking element into the release position. The transport locking element comprises a retaining section which in the locked position engages an arresting section of the sensor blocking element and maintains it in the blocking position.

A belt retractor as is known for example from European patent application 0 456 853 comprises a belt reel taking up the seat belt, a belt tensioning mechanism capable of biasing the belt reel in the winding direction of the seat belt, and a sensor capable of triggering the belt tensioning mechanism and is provided with a safety device translatable by installation of the belt retractor in a vehicle from a secured condition, in which the sensor is blocked, into a released condition in which the sensor is ready to trigger, the safety device including a sensor blocking element which is movable between a blocking position in which the sensor is blocked and a release position in which the sensor is ready to trigger.
A belt tensioning mechanism being triggered by a sensor when required serves to eliminate belt slack from the seat belt system by rotating the belt reel in the winding direction of the seat belt so that a vehicle occupant is involved in the deceleration of the vehicle as early as possible. To prevent triggering of the belt tensioning mechanism during transport of the belt retractor prior to it being mounted in the vehicle, a sensor blocking element is provided which in its blocking position blocks an inertial mass of the sensor. The sensor blocking element is shifted into its release position when the belt retractor is installed in the vehicle. This may be done, for example, by means of a sensing pin which on installation of the belt retractor comes into contact with a part of the vehicle and is urged into the housing of the belt retractor.
The disadvantage in this known belt retractor is that no possibility is provided to prevent an activation of the belt tensioning mechanism when the seat belt is not in use at all. So if the vehicle is involved in an accident, the belt tensioning mechanism is actuated even when, for example, the belt retractor concerned is provided for the front-passenger seat and the front-passenger seat is unoccupied.
The object of the invention is to provide a belt retractor of the aforementioned kind in which a transport safeguarding device, preventing activation of the belt tensioning mechanism when the belt retractor is not incorporated in a vehicle, is combined in a simple way with an occupancy sensor, preventing a triggering of the belt tensioning mechanism when the seat belt of the belt retractor is not in use.

Belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt system

TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG


Computer implemented methods and systems for CAD data exchange, and in particular for creating boundary representations (“breps”) on a feature-by-feature basis are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the techniques described herein, a parameterized feature from a parametric based design system is exported from a source CAD system (404). Iterative steps and complimentary extraction techniques are employed by one or more processors (452, 456) to create an importable design model of the parameterized feature (433), which is imported into a target CAD system (408). While the techniques can include API (436), pattern matching (440), and user emulation (444) techniques, they include a brep per feature (450) technique. By exporting the brep on a per feature (453) basis from the source CAD system (404), the design intent of a CAD designer can be preserved on importation into the target CAD system (408). In particular, where a parametric representation (433) of the feature fails to import into the target system (408), an unparameterized representation (453) of the feature can be substituted.

1. Field of the Invention
This application concerns data exchange methodologies for computer aided design systems, and in particular boundary representation techniques.
2. Background Information
In an earlier filed patent application, we discussed some of the challenges and drawbacks of computer aided design (CAD) technology employed by engineers, scientists, and mechanical designers. In particular, a significant technical problem for such people is not always the design work they do, but rather the means by which their design work is shared and exchanged with other engineers, scientists, designers, manufacturers, and customers. Simply put, the problem stems from incompatible, or differently modeled CAD file systems.
To solve these challenges, software designers typically approach the problem from one of two ends. For instance, the most common approach is to conform design behavior on the front end. That is, to force the input to parametric feature based design systems (PFBD systems) to conform to standard syntactical structures. This approach is described by J. H. Han et al. in Modeler-Independence Feature Recognition in a Distributed Environment, Computer-Aided Design, G B, Elsevier Science, Ltd. Publishers, B V, Vol. 30, No. 6, pp. 453-463, published May 1, 1998.
Another common approach is to focus on output file types. This approach has been employed in various forms for years by the various CAD systems vendors. IGES and STEP are standard output file types. A specific implementation using such an approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,905, by Iwamoto et al. (concerning Bezier-curve data conversion).
Another approach is discussed, albeit briefly, in Y. C. Kao et al., Development of a collaborative CAD/CAM system, Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, Elsevier Science, Ltd. Publishers, Vol. 14, 1998, pp. 55-68. While focusing on isolation issues attendant to coediting or collaboration in CAD/CAM design, that is multi-location real-time design, Kao et al. suggest that there are two alternatives for data exchange between different CAD/CAM systems: one is by direct data base conversation and the other is through a neutral data file. Choosing the former, Kao et al. assert that the latter, neutral data exchange formats, do not support collaborative editing. Moreover, Kao et al. provide no details, beyond co-editing of a non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) of how such a system might operate in practice on a parameterized feature. Significantly, the data exchange process itself is secondary to the Kao et al. contribution: they are concerned with connectivity and isolation.

Boundary representation per feature methods and systems


Provided by this invention are piezoelectric laminate films wherein films of different polymers are in laminated relationship. The piezoelectric laminate film has at least one property which is superior to the corresponding property in the films used in the lamination to form the laminate. Also provided is a method for making the laminate.

Certain polymeric materials are capable of being polarized. In general, it has been found in the past that a polymeric material such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) can be polarized as by stretching a film at a temperature below its melting point, such as at room temperature or at a temperature of about 70.degree. C. Stretching can be on an uniaxial basis or a biaxial basis and often the film is stretched to increase the length by two or three times. The film then is subjected to a DC field of at least 1 MV/cm. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) is a common and a preferred material for polarization, since it has been found to have a high capability of polarization response, thereby providing desirable piezoelectric properties. Subjecting such a stretched film, for example, using an appropriate DC field applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the stretched field causes an orientation of the molecular dipoles of the polymeric materials. In case of the poly(vinylidene fluoride), fluorine groups have a negative charge and the hydrogen atoms attached to the other carbon of the vinylidene fluoride unit of the polymer have a positive charge. Vinylidene fluoride units in a poly(vinylidene fluoride) can exist in at least two different crystalline forms, in a planar zig-zag polar form or trans form (beta form or Form 1) or a non-polar and non-planar form referred to as alpha form or Form 2.
Many other polymeric materials can be polarized to provide piezoelectric films in a like manner. It is desired to provide piezoelectric polymeric film materials which provide improved ferro- and piezoelectric activities which are improved over those of the individual polymeric materials, especially at elevated temperatures.
Such polarized materials have a number of uses, including use in the making of transducers, push button onoff switches and many other uses which utilize ferro- or piezoelectric properties of such polarized materials.
It would be highly desired to have improved piezoelectric polymeric films which have improved ferro- or piezoelectric properties. Likewise, it would be highly desired to provide improved process for making such improved piezoelectric film materials.

Piezoelectric laminate films and processes for their manufacture

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey


Around a damaged area of a jacket of a flexible tube, a top coat layer whose adhesion to a polymer layer is weak is peeled off with an adhesive tape. The damaged area and its immediate surrounding area are sanded, and then wiped with ethanol for cleaning. A main agent and a hardening agent are heated and defoamed while being mixed to prepare a repair material. The repair material is applied to the damaged area and the immediate surrounding area. A heat shrink tube is opened along slits in an end portion and covers the flexible tube. The heat shrink tube is shrunk with hot air, pressing the repair material and making it flush with a surface of the jacket. The flexible tube is heated with an electric hot plate to harden the repair material. Thereafter, the heat shrink tube is peeled off from the flexible tube.

A medical endoscope for observing a body cavity of a patient is known. A flexible tube that is an essential part of an insert section of an endoscope is constructed of a flexible tube structure around which a jacket is formed. This jacket is formed with a thermoplastic layer such as a urethane polymer layer applied to a circumferential surface of the flexible tube structure, and a top coat layer applied to the thermoplastic layer. The flexible tube structure includes a spiral tube and a tube-like mesh. The spiral tube is made of a metal band wound in a helical fashion, and the tube-like mesh wraps around the spiral tube.
The flexible tube is frequently bent or twisted during operation, and then cleaned, sterilized and disinfected after every use. Such handling causes abrasion and scratches on the jacket, which may be developed into a damaged area such as a hollow.
A repairing method in which plasma is irradiated to a damaged area of a flexible tube is known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-218107). This plasma irradiation removes deposits from a surface of the damaged area, and makes reactive groups project from the surface and roughens the surface so as to improve adhesion between the damaged area and the repair material applied thereto. In addition, a repairing method to put a flexible tube in an infrared heating element is known (see U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0203337 A1 corresponding to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-253950). In this method, after polymer as a repair material is applied to a damaged area, the flexible tube is put in the infrared heating element to dry and harden the repair material.
In the methods described in the above publications, No. 2006-218107 and No. 2005/0203337 A1, the repair material may be projected like edges from the surface of the top coat layer and hardened, resulting in surface irregularities of the top coat layer. After the endoscope is cleaned, disinfected and sterilized, the surface of the repaired endoscope is wiped with alcohol-soaked gauze repeatedly. During the wiping, the gauze may be snagged on the edges. A force to pull the snagged gauze may cause the repair material to peel off. This may mislead a cleaning operator to think of the repaired area as a defect.