A system to store and copy images downloaded from the memory unit for digital equipment and its relative apparatus. There is the transfer of the contents from the memory of the digital equipment to a data-storage, process and reproduction unit for the images and soundtrack, which is located inside a service center. The transfer is carried out by extracting the memory support unit in order to insert it in the image soundtrack storage, processing and copying unit, which downloads the content into the memory of the unit so that the memory support unit may be returned to the customer, that is, the contents of the memory transferred via air-waves to the main memory of the data-storage unit. The images and/or soundtrack are processed and copied on to a support in Video CD or Super Video CD form and/or on to a DVD in DVD format, and the images are sent to a receiver station.

For a number of years, along with conventional cameras, there are also innovative digital cameras and video-cameras available on the market. This new kind of equipment means that images may be obtained and recorded in memory units, such as flash cards, smart cards and memory sticks.
It is well known that these kinds of memory support units currently cost more than traditional films which use negatives, and generally have a limited image storage capacity with, therefore, a very limited memory capacity. For information purposes, the average capacity of this kind of memory support unit used with digital cameras and/or video-cameras varies from 8 Mb to 64 Mb. With this amount of memory available, around 20 to 80 medium-resolution images may be recorded. It is quite clear, therefore, that in order to use the memory support unit each time it is close to or reaches its full capacity, the contents of the units have to be transferred onto other memory units to "save" the images photographed or filmed, and in order to use the memory support units again.
On the other hand, while it is true to say that the cost of the support units is falling slightly, it is still necessary to buy support units with an even larger capacity, because the resolution of digital cameras is increasing, which means that the images take up more space. This means that, in order to store the same number of images, the cost of the support units is increasing.
Finally, it is fairly clear that, whoever uses this kind of digital equipment, wishes to store the images taken in a safe, practical manner. At the same time, the expensive memory support unit has to be emptied in order to carry on taking photographs. These two requirements may be satisfied by copying the images contained in the memory of a camera, for example, to a more easily usable and cheaper memory unit, such as a CD.
Most people who own and use digital cameras and video-cameras carry out the operation of storage to the hard disk of their computer at home or in the office by themselves, which leads to a considerable amount of time being involved and a sometimes difficult storage and subsequent recovery system of the files which contain the images.
After a certain length of time, even the fixed memory of the computers (hard disk) may be filled up, which leads to all the applications of the computer being slowed down. It is also well known that files may be copied from the computer on to a CD, but only a fraction of computers currently installed have a CD burner and, what is more, the operations involved in creating a CD are quite complex for non-expert users.
Another alternative for owners of digital cameras, especially for those who do not own their own PC, is to go to a photography shop to copy and transfer the images on to a CD. The transfer of the images is not usually carried out on the premises, but rather in a specialized laboratory. The time required to prepare the CD and to hand back the memory support unit is usually from one to several days.
In those cases where the photography shop has its own latest generation mini-lab (digital), the transfer of the images on to a CD may be carried out using this equipment. However, a mini-lab is very expensive and is dedicated to the making of prints, so it is doubly disadvantageous when used for making a CD. The disadvantage for the owner of the photography shop is that the printing productivity is limited and a specialized technician is required, while for the customer there is the disadvantage of having to wait for this service and having to lose sight of his own costly support unit for an hour or even more.
Recently, kiosks have begun springing up where a number of services are offered on site with delivery in less than an hour, such as the transfer of images from the memory units of cameras on to a CD. The kiosk is usually is made up of a mobile unit with a personal computer inside with a "touch screen" which is potentially easy to use. The kiosks currently on the market offer a number of services, such as the copying of photographs, printing post-cards, etc. The variety of services available and the low level of innovation of the software used means that the kiosk is not always easy to use, such as in the case of a client who wishes to make a CD where a large number of operations have to be carried out, some of which are not always easy to follow.
One type of kiosk service which would seem to have solved the problem is described in US2001/0017652 (Sato), or in some of the proposals offered by Kodak. This system uses predisposed digital cameras, which transmit the data of the images to a base station where it is received. The data is then transferred to a processing and printing unit in a multi-function center. The limit of this solution is given by the fact that the cameras may only be used within the boundaries defined by the image-reception capacity of the receiver station, a limit which could be applied to well-defined recreation areas, such as theme parks.
Once the photographs have been taken, one of the basic requirements of who uses this kind of system is to be able to see them and/or show them to other people, such as friends and relatives.
The following choices are available:                1) printing of the photograph, usually through a photography shop, where the photograph is printed on the premises if the owner has a mini-lab or through an industrial-scale laboratory, or by using a normal inkjet printer which is usually to be found at home or in the office;        2) looking at the photograph on the monitor of a computer;        3) looking at the photograph on a normal television screen, by directly connecting it to the digital camera;        4) sending the image via e-mail; and        5) storage of the image on an internet site where authorized users may go and see the images.
In order to print digital images, to transmit them via internet and to view them on a computer screen, there are a variety of systems available on the market, such as the one described in JP2000324473 (Fukatsu). This consists of equipment with a display and a memory unit to transmit digital images via radio or telephone, which are then read and checked by a separate, remote instrument. The system which is offered seems relatively simple to use, but there are costly obligations involved, such as having to take out membership with the provider of the service. In order to view photographs on normal television screens, on the other hand, there are only a few systems available, such as the so called Photo-CD players which are expensive and quite difficult to use.
One way of viewing images on a television screen is to connect it to a personal computer. This system requires a computer which is positioned close to the television, and which has a special video card. If a user wishes to add a simple function, such as a remote control, the user must use a remote control for computers, which is expensive and also difficult to find.
Another way is to connect the digital camera directly to the television, but the images which are shown are only those memorized on the dedicated support systems, not those stored on CD.
Recently, some large laboratories have started offering or announcing the availability of a service for downloading images on DVD. DVD may then be used by the ever more common DVD players in order to view the images on the television screen. The downloading of the images, which is carried out by specialized technicians in a centralized laboratory, is expensive and requires a number of days to be carried out.
It may even be necessary for the user to replace his own player with a new one in order to see the photographs on his television screen, a cost which is anything but negligible.
To sum up, therefore, the solutions which are currently available do not offer a quick and easy image-storage or soundtrack-storage system on a CD in Video format, for data pre-recorded on digital cameras, digital video cameras, mobile phones or handheld computers.
Also, the systems which have been used up until now do not allow a simple reworking process of the images, nor do they allow them to be viewed by means of common equipment such as a television or CD or DVD player without the use of special systems.
In view of theses considerations, it is quite clear that it is important to find alternative solutions to those currently available.
The aim of this invention is also to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

System for commercial use to store and copy images downloaded from a memory unit for digital equipment and its relative apparatus


A material decelerating device is connected in series with a distribution tube in proximity to a material outlet in an agricultural air distribution system for decelerating conveying air which placing material into a furrow in the ground. The material decelerating includes an inlet tube connected to the distribution tube to receive material and conveying air therefrom. The inlet tube is connected at an intermediate location on a center tube of the device which exhausts the air upwardly to an exhaust opening and deposits the material downwardly through an outlet opening. A cap adjustably spans the exhaust opening to vary the amount of air exhausted. The inlet tube is inclined downwardly in alignment with a helical recessed channel within the center tube to guide material to the outlet.

In agriculture, it is common to make use of air distributions systems for delivery of seed or fertilizer to furrows formed in the ground by respective furrow openers of a suitable implement. As the force of air exiting distribution tubes of the air distribution system can inadvertently cause the material being distributed to be blown out of the furrow, the use of the various types of material decelerating devices are known. Two examples of material decelerating devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,509,915 by Memory and U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,273 by Gauchet et al. In each instance, a cyclonic separator is used to separate the material being conveyed from the conveying air stream. Using the designs of the prior art however, lighter materials can be caught in the conical air flow and inadvertently exhausted out of the upper air vent instead of the product delivery opening at the bottom end. In other instances, the material being conveyed may be trapped within the cyclonic flow of air within the separator.
US Patent Application Publication 2002/0144637 by Wendling et al. discloses a further example of a cyclonic separator in an agricultural air distribution system in which the interior of the cyclonic chamber includes a helical groove formed therein. The groove is very shallow relative to the overall diameter of the chamber such that most of the air flow is not affected by the groove and material may still spin uncontrollably within the cyclonic air flow instead of being assisted by the groove to the material outlet at the bottom. Furthermore, the material and air inlet enters the cyclonic chamber within a plane which is near perpendicular to the axial direction of the chamber such that the air flow may be substantially circular and lighter materials may eventually be exhausted through the upper vent opening instead of the lower material outlet as in the prior art examples noted above.

Decelerating device for air conveyed material


The invention generally relates to the display of images viewable from any direction and devices therefor. In some aspects, the invention provides an apparatus for displaying a hologram-like image. The apparatus includes an inverted, truncated pyramid bearing semi-reflective facets visible from outside of the apparatus in all horizontal directions. A base frame supports the truncated pyramid, houses an imaging system, and provides image source surfaces that display images beneath each of the facets to be reflected by each of the facets.

If you walk through Times Square or a shopping mall you will find that advertisers try every imaginable gimmick to compete for your attention. However, despite the ingenuity employed by advertisers in created ever louder and more colorful signs, people seem largely desensitized to the myriad signs surrounding them.
There have been attempts to stand out from all the sights. For example, people have tried to create three-dimensional displays that can be viewed from multiple directions. U.S. Publications 2011/0234981, 2011/0002038, and 2008/0144175 show systems of reflectors and projectors that can be installed to display an image. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,046,941, 8,007,109, 7,490,941, and 6,644,816 show other attempts to create novel displays.
However, existing systems are not easily portable and only operate properly with low ambient light. They are not self-contained and take much labor to set up or remove. Commercial settings are generally too brightly-lit for these systems to appear attractively. The structures of prior art systems are unstable and flimsy. For example, in some displays, the heat radiating from the lights melts the glue that hold the screens in place with the result that the screens collapse.

Device and method for omnidirectional image display


A hydraulic device includes a hydraulic motor having a wobble shaft driven by a rotor of a gerotor gear set. An outer end of the wobble shaft is received in a hollow inner end portion of an output shaft. A brake assembly holds the motor output shaft against rotation when the hydraulic motor is being operated. A seal blocks fluid flow between the brake assembly and the hydraulic motor. The seal is disposed in sealing engagement with the hollow end portion of the output shaft at a location between the motor and the brake assembly.

The present invention relates to a device that includes a hydraulic motor which is operable to drive an output shaft and a brake assembly which is engageable to hold the output shaft against rotation when the motor is in an inactive condition.
A known hydraulic device having a motor which drives an output shaft and a brake assembly which holds the output shaft against rotation when the motor is in an inactive condition is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,470, issued June 1, 1976 and entitled "Hydraulic Motor Brake". This known hydraulic device includes a motor of the gerotor gear type. During operation of the motor, a rotor orbits and rotates relative to a stator. A portion of a wobble or drive shaft is connected with the rotor for orbital and rotational movement with the rotor. An outer end portion of the drive shaft is telescopically received in a hollow inner end portion of an output shaft. During operation of the motor, the drive shaft rotates the output shaft.
The hydraulic device of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,470 includes a brake assembly which is connected to a portion of the drive or wobble shaft and is disposed on a side of the motor opposite from the output shaft. The brake assembly includes movable disks which rotate and orbit with the drive shaft during operation of the hydraulic motor and stationary disks which are interleaved with the movable disks. When the motor is in an inactive condition, the movable and stationary brake disks are pressed together to hold the drive shaft and, therefore, the output shaft against rotation. When the motor is to be operated, the brake assembly is released to enable the drive shaft to rotate and orbit.

Hydraulic motor with wobble-stick and brake assembly


In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for improving network quality of service, such as through controlling the bandwidth consumed by a client computing facility. To affect this, the software applications operating through the client computing facility may be identified to determine which applications are requesting network access, and confirming which are permitted only restricted bandwidth when making network communications. The requesting software application that is permitted only restricted bandwidth may then be allowed to make the network communications through a bandwidth restricted network connection.

1. Field
The present invention is related to network utilization.
2. Description of the Related Art
In packet-switched networks, quality of service policies may be applied to communications of computer applications.
Different quality of service policies may be appropriate for different client applications, or for different communications of a single client application.
There remains a need for managing, deploying, and enforcing different quality of service policies for a plurality of client applications, the client applications perhaps deployed across a plurality of client computers.

Methods for identifying an application and controlling its network utilization


An air dryer cartridge is provided for a compressed air supply system, in particular a compressed air supply system of a commercial vehicle, with a drying agent box which is filled with a drying agent. The drying agent box can be coupled in an axial direction to a connecting flange of the compressed air supply system. A seal, which is designed as a non-return valve and, in the fitted state of the air dryer cartridge, acts in a sealing manner between the drying agent box and the connecting flange, is arranged on the drying agent box. A method for operating the air dryer cartridge on the compressed air supply system is also provided.

The invention relates to an air dryer cartridge for a compressed air supply system, in particular a compressed air supply system of a commercial vehicle, with a desiccant box filled with a desiccant. The desiccant box is couplable in an axial direction to a connecting flange of the compressed air supply system, there being arranged on the desiccant box a seal which is designed as a non-return valve and which, when the air dryer cartridge is in the mounted state, exerts a sealing-off action between the desiccant box and the connecting flange.
The invention relates, furthermore, to a method for operating an air dryer cartridge on a compressed air supply system, in particular a compressed air supply system of a commercial vehicle.
Air dryer cartridges are required in the context of the provision or treatment of compressed air for compressed air supply systems, EAC in brief, particularly in the commercial vehicle sector. There, they are employed for clearing oil and dirt particles from generated compressed air and for drying the compressed air. Air dryer cartridges wear out and thus require periodic replacement.
In order to increase the durability of the air dryer cartridge used, compressed air supply systems according to the prior art have the possibility of regenerating the air dryer cartridge by the controlled backflow of already treated compressed air, moisture and other impurities collected in the air dryer cartridge being flushed out during such a regeneration phase.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective sectional view of a corresponding compressed air supply system according to the prior art. The compressed air supply system 10 illustrated includes a valve housing 12 and an air dryer cartridge 14. The air dryer cartridge 14, or a housing 28 of the air dryer cartridge 14, is connected directly to the valve housing 12 via a seal 30. The sealing-off force acting upon the seal 30 is made available by a bayonet ring 32. A desiccant box 26 is arranged inside the housing 28 of the air dryer cartridge 14.
When the compressed air supply system 10 is being used, compressed air flows through an inlet 34 of the valve housing 12 into the latter. The compressed air is conducted through a prefilter 36 in order subsequently, in an interspace between the outside of the desiccant box 26 and the inside of the housing 28, to flow into a free space 38 above the desiccant box 26. A multiplicity of orifices 40 are provided in the top side of the desiccant box 26 and connect the free space 38 above the desiccant box 26 to the interior of the latter. In particular, the compressed air flows out of the free space 38 via the orifices 40 and a first labyrinth region 42 of the desiccant box 26 into the lower region of the latter where the air is then deflected in order to flow into a second labyrinth region 44. The compressed air, conducted upward there, is deflected once again in the upper region, in order then to flow through a central labyrinth region 46 downward again in the direction of the valve housing 12. The dried compressed air is thus available in the air ducts of the valve housing 12 so that it can be delivered from there to the compressed air consumers.
For the purpose of drying the compressed air, the desiccant box 26 is filled with a granulate acting as a desiccant. The prefilter 36 serves for clearing coarser impurities from the compressed air.
A further filter device, which is not illustrated in FIG. 2, follows the prefilter 36 in the direction of flow of the compressed air, in order then also to free the compressed air of further impurities, in particular of oil and the like. The oil accumulates in the region of the air dryer cartridge 14 in a collecting conduit, not illustrated in FIG. 2. Under suitable pressure conditions in the compressed air supply system 10, the oil can flow from there via a flushing conduit 48 and a non-return valve 22 into the valve housing 12 and from there out to a discharge. The non-return valve 22 may be designed as a diaphragm valve, in which case the diaphragm should be manufactured from a material which withstands for a long period of time the chemical loads exerted by the foreign substances to be repelled.
FIG. 3 shows, for example, a diagrammatic illustration of an interface between an air dryer cartridge 14 and a valve housing 12 of a compressed air supply system 10 taken from the prior art. The arrangement of the components involved in cleaning the compressed air and in expelling the foreign particles is illustrated diagrammatically here. The compressed air 50 first flows through the prefilter 36 in order then subsequently to flow through the filer device 16. The filter device 16 is preferably designed as a coalescence filter, the foreign particles separated by the coalescence filter 16 accumulating in a collecting conduit 24 downstream of the coalescence filter 16 in the direction of flow. In this case, the entire region located upstream of the filter device 16 in the direction of flow of the compressed air is designated as a prefilter region 18, while the region downstream of the filter device 16 is designated as a postfilter region 20.
Provided in the valve housing 12 is a flushing conduit 48, which is connected to the collecting conduit 24 via a seal. The end of the flushing conduit 48 is sealed off by way of a non-return valve 22. The latter closes the flushing conduit 48 during the compressed air delivery phase during which the pressure in the prefilter region 18 usually exceeds the pressure in the postfilter region 20. If, however, a discharge valve is opened, thus leading to a pressure drop in the prefilter region 18, the pressure in the postfilter region 20 exceeds the pressure in the prefilter region 18. The non-return valve 22 consequently opens, with the result that the foreign particles which have accumulated in the collecting conduit 24 are expelled via the non-return valve 22.
The flushing conduit 48 may be arranged completely in the valve housing, the flushing conduit 48 adjoining the collecting conduit 24 via a seal 52. It is essential in this case that a pressure-tight connection between the collecting conduit 24 and the valve housing is made available, so that, under corresponding pressure conditions, the described expulsion of foreign particles can take place.
The non-return valve 22 is arranged at a markedly lower level than the collecting conduit 24. This even enables an inclination of the compressed air supply device to occur, without complete emptying of the collecting conduit 24 thereby being ruled out. In particular, tilts of the vehicle of up to 15 degrees still do not obstruct the complete emptying of the collecting conduit 24.
The air dryer cartridge illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is manufactured without a base plate fixing the desiccant box in the housing, so as to make it easier to recycle the air dryer cartridge, since, in particular, its housing can be reused directly. As a direct consequence of this set-up, the non-return valve necessary for regeneration has been displaced out of the air dryer cartridge into the interior of the valve housing. The disadvantage of this version in structural terms however, is that the non-return valve is no longer exchanged together with the air dryer cartridge and, because of permanent contact with dirt and oil particles, has to be designed to be correspondingly robust so as to achieve the service life of the other components arranged in the valve housing of the compressed air supply system.
WO 2009/043427 A1 and DE 10 2005 039 059 B3 describe air filter cartridges with a base plate, wherein seals, designed as a non-return valve, are arranged in the interior of the air filter cartridge.
Furthermore, DE 10 2007 046 167 A1 discloses an air filter cartridge in which a seal acting as a non-return valve seals off between a desiccant box of the air filter cartridge and a connecting flange of the valve housing.
The object on which the present invention is based is, accordingly, to reduce the manufacturing outlay for producing a compressed air supply system, while at the same time ensuring improved operating reliability of this compressed air supply system.
This and other objects are achieved by an air dryer cartridge for a compressed air supply system, in particular a compressed air supply system of a commercial vehicle, with a desiccant box filled with a desiccant, the desiccant box being couplable in an axial direction to a connecting flange of the compressed air supply system, there being arranged on the desiccant box a seal which is designed as a non-return valve and which, when the air dryer cartridge is in the mounted state, exerts a sealing-off action between the desiccant box and the connecting flange. The seal has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a flexible lip.
The present invention builds on the generic air dryer cartridge in that the seal has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a flexible lip. The non-return valve necessary for regeneration can thus be exchanged together with the air dryer cartridge. In this case, it proves to be of particular advantage that the non-return valve can be designed as a simple seal, while at the same time the air dryer cartridge manages, as before, without a limiting base plate, in order to enable the housing receiving the desiccant box to be reused.
There may also be provision whereby the flexible lip of the seal is movable in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, in order to provide functionality as a non-return valve.
Advantageously, the seal may define a plane perpendicularly to the axial direction, whereby a region serving as an oil sump is arranged in this plane so as to be spaced apart radially from the seal. By virtue of this design, outside a regeneration phase, the non-return valve is not loaded with the dirt particles which have been deposited in the meantime in the oil sump.
Furthermore, the oil sump may be arranged in the region of the connecting flange of the compressed air supply system, whereby the oil sump is covered, in the mounted state, by the air dryer cartridge. Thus, when the air dryer cartridge is being changed, it becomes possible to have simple access to the oil sump which can be cleaned correspondingly simply, for example simply by being wiped out.
The invention includes, furthermore, a method for operating an air dryer cartridge on a compressed air supply system, in particular a compressed air supply system of a commercial vehicle, in which, during a delivery phase of the compressed air supply system, a seal which is arranged on a desiccant box and which has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with a flexible lip exerts a sealing-off action between the desiccant box and a connecting flange of the compressed air supply system, and, during a flushing phase of the compressed air supply system, the seal arranged on the desiccant box allows a controlled escape of air between the connecting flange and the desiccant box. The advantages and particular features of the air dryer cartridge according to the invention are thus also implemented in the context of a method.
This also applies to the below-described especially preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention.
The latter is expediently developed in that the seal allows the controlled escape of air in a radial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the air dryer cartridge is couplable to the compressed air supply system. The escape of air is in this case understood to mean exhaust or overflow from one region to another region via the seal.
There may also expediently be provision whereby, during the mounting of the air dryer cartridge, an oil sump arranged in the region of the connecting flange is covered by the air dryer cartridge.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Air dryer cartridge and method for operating an air dryer cartridge

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


An approach provides lighting for a videoconferencing system to improve an image of a user of the videoconferencing system. Light is emitted onto the user of a videoconferencing system, and is controlled onto the user in conjunction with capturing of the image of the user by the videoconferencing system to improve the captured image.

Modern communication systems allow people to communicate in a face-to-face manner from distances using videoconferencing systems, such as a standard videoconferencing system, telepresence system, etc. Despite advances in display and imaging technology, little development has been offered with respect to how such images are captured. Poorly captured images cannot, in practical terms, be processed in real-time to yield acceptable images during a video conference. Moreover, if users cannot perceive the details of a person properly, the purpose of a video session is gravely undermined. Thus, there is a need for ensuring that videoconferencing systems capture high quality images of the users.

Method and system of providing lighting for videoconferencing


Titanium is added in the form of atoms, a colloid, or ions to a glass to be subjected to laser processing in which the ablation or vaporization caused by the energy of an absorbed laser light is utilized. Since titanium can be incorporated into the glass through melting, the threshold value for processing can be easily regulated by changing the amount titanium to be added and a material having evenness in processability can be obtained.

The present invention relates to the laser processing of a glass by laser light irradiation. More particularly, the invention relates to a glass composition suitable for laser processing.
Members obtained through the microprocessing of a glass base, such as optical parts for use in optical communication and microlenses to be mounted in displays, are used in a wide range of fields. This microprocessing of a glass base has generally been conducted by wet etching (chemical etching) with an etchant such as, e.g., hydrofluoric acid or dry etching (physical etching) such as, e.g., reactive ion etching.
However, the wet etching has problems concerning the compositional regulation of etchants and the treatment of waste liquids. The dry etching has problems that a vacuum apparatus or the like is necessary and that the processing is not efficient because of the necessity of complicated steps, e.g., the step of forming a pattern mask by photolithography.
On the other hand, the technique of direct processing is progressing in which a laser light is caused to strike on a work to cause a physical change such as heating, melting, vaporization, or ablation and this change is used to process the work. Since a laser light can be focused to an extremely small spot, it is suitable for use in microprocessing. This is a completely physical processing technique and is hence free from the problems accompanying the wet etching. Furthermore, since this laser light processing can be conducted in air with laser light scanning, it is also free from the problems accompanying the dry etching heretofore in use.
With the progress of laser technology, reductions in laser pulse duration and reductions in wavelength have realized and it has become possible to process organic materials, e.g., polyamides, and metals on the order of micrometer. However, since glasses are brittle materials, they are apt to crack during processing. It has hence been not easy to use a laser light for the microprocessing of glass materials.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 217237/1999 discloses, for eliminating those problems, a technique for providing a glass less apt to crack by incorporating silver into a glass by ion exchange and thereby reducing the threshold value for laser processing.
However, in most glasses containing alkali metals, the following phenomenon occurs. Although silver ions can be incorporated into the glass through silver ion exchange, the silver ions are reduced in an area near the glass surface and the diffusion of silver ions into inner parts of the glass is thus inhibited. Because of this, the effective region for laser processing is limited to the area near the glass surface and it is hence still difficult to conduct processing of the glass up to an inner part thereof, e.g., formation of a through-hole in the glass plate. There has also been a problem that the rate of ion exchange is low and it is difficult to cause ions to stably reach inner parts of the glass.
An aim of the invention is to provide, in order to eliminate the problems described above, a glass for laser processing which contains an element capable of being incorporated not through ion exchange but at the time of glass melting and serving to lower the threshold value for processing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An outlet is provided to output power stored in a power storage device as commercial power, and the outlet receives power supply from the power storage device via a voltage converter. A car navigation device is configured to store information about traveling of a vehicle to a destination. An ECU obtains the information about traveling to the destination from the car navigation device, and controls a state of charge of the power storage device based on the information up to the destination and a usage status of the outlet up to the destination.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-282837 discloses a power supply device for a vehicle capable of supplying commercial alternating-current (AC) power from a vehicle-mounted power source to an outlet provided inside the vehicle. In the power supply device for the vehicle, power which can be supplied from a high-voltage battery mounted in the vehicle to the outlet via an inverter, that is, allowable power consumption which can be consumed by an electrical product connected to the outlet, is calculated based on a state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery. If the SOC is lower than a predetermined value, the allowable power consumption decreases in a stepwise manner as the SOC decreases.
It is described that, with such a configuration, use of the outlet can be ensured as much as possible while suppressing a reduction in the SOC of the vehicle-mounted power source.
When the SOC of a vehicle-mounted power source is reduced to a predetermined lower limit value, a vehicle-mounted outlet cannot be used. Although it is possible in a hybrid vehicle to allow an outlet to be used by generating power using an internal combustion engine, it is undesirable to start the internal combustion engine to use the outlet. Thus, it is desired to allow the outlet to be used, at least until the vehicle reaches a destination, without starting the internal combustion engine to use the outlet. Although the power supply device for the vehicle described above ensures use of the outlet as much as possible while suppressing a reduction in the SOC of the vehicle-mounted power source, the outlet cannot be used when the SOC is reduced to a predetermined lower limit value.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and one object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid vehicle which allows an outlet to be used until the vehicle reaches a destination, without starting an internal combustion engine to use the outlet.


Exemplary embodiments relate to a field of network information technology. Described are a method and a system for sending webpage content of browser bookmark uniform resource locator (URL). The method includes the following steps: receiving browser bookmark URL information sent from a client, the browser bookmark URL information comprising a browser bookmark URL and a message indicating whether the client starts a function of webpage content offline downloading; determining whether a function of webpage content offline downloading of the client is started according to the prompting message; when the function of webpage content offline downloading of the client is client is started, extracting key webpage content of the webpage corresponding to the browser book mark URL; and sending the key webpage content to the client. The exemplary embodiments of present disclosure can save network traffic and improve a reading efficiency of the webpage corresponding to the bookmark URL.

It is known that favorites are usually used to store bookmark URL. Users may visit a webpage corresponding to the bookmark URL and read webpage content of the bookmark URL without writing the bookmark URL on the paper using a pen or without remembering the bookmark URL. However, in practical application, when visiting the webpage corresponding to the bookmark URL, the webpage is reconnected that network traffic is wasted dramatically. Usually, a plenty of advertisements and links are carried with the webpage corresponding to the bookmark URL. Thus a reading efficiency of the webpage corresponding to the bookmark URL is reduced.

Method and system for sending webpage content with browser bookmark uniform resource locator

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Cardiac activity (e.g., a cardiac electrogram) is analyzed for local abnormal ventricular activity (LAVA), such as by using a LAVA detection and analysis module incorporated into an electroanatomical mapping system. The module transforms the electrogram signal into the wavelet domain to compute as scalogram; computes a one-dimensional LAVA function of the scalogram; detects one or more peaks in the LAVA function; and computes a peak-to-peak amplitude of the electrogram signal. If the peak-to-peak amplitude does not exceed a preset amplitude threshold, then the module can compute one or more of a LAVA lateness parameter for the electrogram signal using one of the one or more peaks detected in the LAVA function and a LAVA probability parameter for the electrogram signal.

The present disclosure relates generally to electrogram detection and analysis, such as may be performed in cardiac diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting, analyzing, and mapping Local Abnormal Ventricular Activities (LAVA) from electrogram data.
In Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) formation, Local Abnormal Ventricular Activities (LAVAs) represent surviving potentials from slow conducting channels within a scar. These LAVAs are present due to trapping of the depolarization wave along a slow, highly fibrotic conducting channel present within a dense scar. These trapped LAVAs usually have multiple entry and exit points to trigger a macroscopic re-entry, thus causing VT.
Substrate-based approaches for detecting LAVAs target delayed signals relative to the detected QRS-complex within the signal, which are often defined as late-potentials. Such approaches may miss a significant proportion of LAVA, however, particularly in the septum and other early-to-activate regions. This can be seen in the exemplary electrogram signals depicted in FIGS. 1A-1E. FIGS. 1A-1C, for example, depict the presence of early LAVAs fused and buried within the EGM QRS portion of the signal whereas FIGS. 1D-1E depict late LAVAs that are more observable on the lateral or epicardial side of the heart. It is hypothesized that elimination of LAVAs recorded during sinus rhythm or ventricular pacing would be feasible as an end point for VT ablation, and that complete elimination of LAVAs would lead to an increase in arrhythmia-free survival. Currently during an EP study, these LAVAs are manually tagged by EP physicians based on certain bipolar electrogram (EGM) characteristics. This manual annotation process can be quite tedious and difficult for the physician to perform, particularly for high density electrograms.

Methods and systems for statistically analyzing electrograms for local abnormal ventricular activities and mapping the same

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.


A remote emissions sensing (RES) system and method for measuring the exhaust gas composition of a motor vehicle is provided, including calibration methodologies for compensating for the effects of ambient temperature and/or pressure.

Systems and methods for remotely monitoring the exhaust gas composition of motor vehicles are known. Examples of such systems and methods are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,210,702, 5,319,199, 5,401,967, 5,591,975, 5,726,450, 5,797,682, and 5,831,267, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Commercial systems such as the AccuScan™ Remote Sensing Device (RSD) 3000 and the AccuScan™ Remote Sensing Device (RSD) 4000 offered by Environmental Systems Products, Inc. are also known.
Despite steady advances in the sophistication and robustness of remote emissions sensing (RES) systems, many RES systems remain susceptible to erroneous readings or inconsistent results. Unfortunately, such drawbacks can sometimes lead to relatively high incidences of discarded data or relatively high incidences of "flagged" test results, which indicate suspect results. These and other problems can reduce the benefits of an RES system.

System and method for remote emissions sensing including calculation and calibration techniques compensating for temperature and pressure effects

Environmental Systems Products Holdings Inc.


A spark plug comprised of a spark plug main body and a cylindrical pressing member used for mounting the spark plug main body on an internal-combustion engine. The spark plug main body includes a cylindrical metal shell. A removing-tool engagement portion is formed on an outer circumferential face of the metal shell at a front end side of a caulking portion. The removing-tool engagement portion is used for engaging with a tool, when removing the spark plug main body from a plug hole of an internal-combustion engine.

A conventional spark plug is supplied to a combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine for the purpose of igniting an air-fuel mixture. The spark plug discharges a spark in a discharge gap formed between a center electrode and a ground electrode that faces a front end of the center electrode.
Such a spark plug is normally fixed to an internal-combustion engine with a male thread of a metal shell of the spark plug engaging with a female thread provided in a plug hole of the internal-combustion engine.
Further, it has been disclosed that a spark plug has a separate male thread formed on an outer face of a cylindrical pressing member, instead of forming it on the metal shell. The male thread of the cylindrical pressing member is engaged with a female thread provided in the plug hole of the internal-combustion engine, and then a spark plug main body is pressed and tightened (i.e., secured) in the internal-combustion engine. For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No.2002-050449.
A spark plug having a composition wherein a spark plug main body is fixed to an internal-combustion engine using the above-described cylindrical pressing member has the following problems. That is, such a spark plug does not have a male thread on the metal shell for fixing the spark plug to the internal-combustion engine. Therefore, a spark plug main body must be pulled out from a plug hole of the internal-combustion engine, after removing the cylindrical pressing member, when removing the spark plug from the internal-combustion engine. However, the spark plug main body tends to get stuck in the plug hole due to soot and sediment piled up in a clearance between the plug hole and the metal shell, and thus it is difficult to remove the spark plug main body from the plug hole.
The present invention is accomplished in light of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a spark plug that can be easily removed from a plug hole of the internal-combustion engine.


A lockable torque-limiting driver that includes, a body, a sleeve, a shaft carried by the body for rotation relative thereto and having a fastener-engaging tip at one end that projects from the body, a torque-limiting mechanism coupled to the shaft and housed within said body, a torque-adjusting mechanism within the body and coupled to the torque-limiting mechanism for adjusting the torque-limiting mechanism to a desired torque value, a torque-locking mechanism operably coupled with the torque-adjusting mechanism and the body or the sleeve for preventing movement of the torque-determining means and locking the settable torque-limiting driver at the desired torque value.

This application relates generally to driving tools such as screwdrivers, nut drivers, bolt drivers, wrenches and the like wherein the amount of torque that the tool can apply to a given fastener is limited to a settable value. More specifically, this application relates to a torque locking mechanism usable in said tools that allows a fine range of torques for a given tool and prevents the inadvertent change of the torque setting once set.
Torque settable drivers as described above are well known in the art. This application relates to drivers that are designed for specific uses and thus a lockable torque value is desirable. The need for a lockable torque-limiting driver that can drive a given fastener at a desired torque value is useful in a variety of fields including sporting goods, electronics and computer assembly, and any other use wherein specific tolerances are required. However, it would be desirable if there was a tool that would allow for a fine range of torque setting such that a given tool could be effectively locked into a variety of specific torque settings. It would also be desirable for such a tool to be low-cost and suitable for mass production without sacrificing precision.

Lockable torque-limiting driver and method


A display package for holding a wrist-watch and a wallet or billfold. The package is formed of a generally planar strip of foldable material having a first and second fold lines forming a front panel, a rear panel, and an intermediate panel. The panels are disposed with respect to each other and foldable along respective fold lines to form an interior space into which the wallet/billfold can be inserted. The rear panel includes a pair of openings through which the band of the wrist-watch can be extended to surround the package with the wallet/billfold therein. At least one of the front and rear panels includes advertising indicia and the front panel includes an opening to suspend the display package.

This invention relates generally to a packaging, and more particularly to a display package for vending the combination of a wrist-watch and a wallet or billfold.
The combining of a wallet or billfold and a timepiece has been disclosed in the patent literature. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,310 (Lund et al.) there is disclosed a timepiece that may be associated with a billfold in which the incorporation of the timepiece into the billfold does not significantly affect either the configuration or usage of the billfold. The timepiece is in the form of a battery-powered digital watch includes a printed circuit-board that is oversized to provide a flange that extends beyond the periphery of the watch cover. The billfold into which the timepiece is to be incorporated includes a cutout in its cover or a pocket sized to receive the cover member of the watch to permit viewing of the digital display, but to prevent the flange from passing therethrough. The timepiece is secured in place by an adhesive-bearing web overlying the backsides of both the flange and the wallet member through which the watch is viewed. Alternatively, or additionally, adhesive may be applied to the front-side of the flange that interfaces with the backside of the wallet member.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,972 (Jacks) there is disclosed a wrist watch wallet having a main band with a watch attached to the outer surface thereof. The main band is designed to conveniently store in a concealed manner such items as currency, keys, and event tickets. The main band is made of thin, flexible, fashionable material and has sufficient length so that it may be wrapped in an overlapping manner around the user""s wrist. Attached to the opposite ends of the main band are complimentary primary hook and loop connector pads which are interconnected to hold the main band in place around the user""s wrist. During manufacturing, a longitudinally aligned full length opening is formed on the rear surface of the main band which allows access to the full length, longitudinally aligned main pocket formed therein. One end of the main band is closed while the opposite end is opened thereby providing a transversely aligned opening into the main pocket. Attached along the closed end of the main band is a inward curved, rigid insert member which acts to improve the gripping strength of the primary hook and loop connector pads during use. Also manufactured inside the main band is an optional second pocket used to carry smaller objects. Key pockets are also provided for carrying keys.
The combining of a timepiece and a wallet or billfold into one unit, such as disclosed in the above identified patents, may be desirable for some purposes, e.g., to add value to the combination. However, such an arrangement has several drawbacks. For example, it is not conducive for using each in its most common manner, e.g., using the time-piece as a wrist-watch. Moreover, the wallet/billfold has to be specially constructed to be adapted to hold the timepiece, thereby increasing its complexity and rendering it more bulky. Thus, while the vending of these two items together may be desirable, it should be done in a manner that enables each to be used in its normal manner. Heretofore this has not been addressed or achieved by prior art packaging.
In particular, the prior art includes packaging for a wallet or billfold alone, but not packaging for a wallet or billfold and a watch to be sold together. With respect to the former type of packaging see for example, my U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,326. In that patent there is disclosed a packaging system and method of packaging for a foldable wallet or billfold to enable the wallet or billfold to be opened and examined while deterring the wallet or billfold from being removed from the packaging system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,039 (Orr et al.) also discloses a packaging system for displaying articles, such as wallets, in a manner such that the wallets are readily accessible to shoppers, but are relatively difficult to shoplift.
Thus, a need exists for a vending package for holding or otherwise supporting a conventional foldable wallet or billfold and a conventional wrist-watch, so that those items can be sold as a unit and then used separately in their respective normal usage modes.
A display package for vending the combination of a wrist-watch and a wallet or billfold. The wrist-watch comprises a pair of straps adapted to be releasably connected to each other to form a band for holding the watch on the wrist of a person. The wallet/billfold comprises at least two sections foldably connected to each other.
The package basically comprises a front panel, a rear panel, and an intermediate panel connected together. Each of the panels has a pair of side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. The panels are disposed with respect to each other so that the wallet/billfold is located with one of its sections behind the front panel, and with the other of its sections located in front of the rear panel and with the intermediate panel interposed between the two sections of the wallet/billfold. One of the front panel and rear panel includes a pair of openings therein through which the band of the wrist-watch can be extended, so that the band extends through those openings, about the side edges of the front and rear panels and about the wallet/billfold.
In accordance with one exemplary preferred embodiment of this invention the bottom edge of the front and rear panels are connected to each other and the top edge of the rear and intermediate panels are connected to each other, e.g., the package comprises a generally planar strip of foldable material having a first fold line and a second fold line, with the first fold line defining the bottom edge of the front and rear panels, and with the second fold line defining the top edge of the rear and intermediate panels.

Display package for vending combination of a wrist-watch and a wallet or billfold


An XQuery access API is described, for providing access to XML data from a data source, using the XQuery language. A requestor can request, from a server, performance of an operation on XML data, wherein request messages and response messages conform to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). Request and response messages can be transmitted using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS). The format of the request and response messages is specified in a definition of a Web service, where the definition conforms to the Web Service Description Language (WSDL).

XQuery is a popular language for querying XML data sources. XQuery access APIs enable an application to submit XQuery queries to an XML data source and process the results of these queries. Generally, most XQuery clients perform the following actions when accessing data: (a) connect to a data source, (b) prepare an XQuery expression, (c) bind values to variables, if necessary, (d) request execution of the XQuery expression against an XML data source, (e) receive a result sequence, and (f) iterate over the sequence, if desired. As used herein, the term "expression" in the context of an XQuery expression refers to, or is embodied in, an XQuery statement. In addition to allowing extraction of data from the data source, an XQuery access API may also allow and facilitate XML data manipulations and transactional operations, such as commit, rollback, and the like.
Most XQuery and other access APIs currently available rely on proprietary protocols. Generally, clients that interact with XQuery access APIs cannot do so over the Internet because, for one reason, proxy servers do not understand the proprietary protocol. Furthermore, the proprietary protocols require specialized ports and are not widely supported by other processors or applications. For example, use of proprietary protocols for an XQuery access API often restricts the API from being used inside thin clients, such as applets, PDAs, cell phones, and the like.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a more versatile XQuery access API.

Techniques for providing XQuery access using web services


A fabricating method and apparatus of a thin film pattern improves the reliability of forming the thin film pattern by a resist printing method. The apparatus includes a print roller device of a roll shape around which a blanket is wound; a spray device located around the print roller device for spraying an etch resist solution to the blanket; and a print plate of an engraved shape where a groove of a desired thin film shape and a projected part except the groove are formed, and the etch resist solution has a surfactant inclusive of an ethylene oxide fluorinated polymer material.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a fabricating method of a thin film pattern of a display panel, and more particularly to a reverse resist printing device and a fabricating method of a thin film pattern using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various flat panel display devices, which can reduce the weight and size that are a disadvantage of a cathode ray tube, have been on the rise. The flat panel display devices includes liquid crystal displays, field emission displays, plasma display panels, organic electro luminescence (hereinafter, referred to as 'EL') displays, etc.
Among these, the liquid crystal display devices control the light transmittance of liquid crystal by using an electric field, thereby displaying a picture. To this end, a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel where liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix shape, and a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel.
The liquid crystal display panel includes a thin film transistor array substrate and a color filter array substrate that face each other; a spacer for keeping a fixed cell gap between the two substrates; and a liquid crystal filled in the cell gap.
A thin film transistor array substrate includes gate lines and data lines, a thin film transistor formed as a switch device at each of the crossing parts of the gate lines and the data lines; a pixel electrode formed by the unit of a liquid crystal cell to be connected to the thin film transistor; and an alignment film spread thereon. The gate lines and the data lines receive signals from drive circuits through pads, respectively. The thin film transistor supplies a pixel signal supplied to the data line to a pixel electrode in response to a scan signal supplied to the gate line.
A color filter array substrate includes color filters formed by the unit of a liquid crystal cell; a black matrix for dividing the color filters and reflecting an external light; a common electrode for commonly supplying a reference voltage to the liquid crystal cells; and an alignment film spread thereon.
Separately making the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate and bonding them together complete the liquid crystal display panel. Then, a liquid crystal is injected and the panel is sealed.
A photolithography process and an etching process form the thin film patterns within the related art liquid crystal display panel.
However, the photolithography process includes a number of processes such as an exposure process, a development process, a cleaning process, an inspection process, etc, thereby causing an increase of the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display panel. Accordingly, a method of patterning a thin film by a reverse resist printing method is used instead of the photolithography process.
FIG. 1 shows a diagram representing a reverse resist printing device.
The reverse resist printing device shown in FIG. 1 includes a print roller device 10 having a roll shape where a blanket 15 composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is wound. An etch resist solution spray device 12 sprays an etch resist resin solution, and an engraved print plate 20 includes a groove 20A, which has the same shape as a thin film pattern that is to be formed, and a projected part 20B which borders the groove 20A.
FIGS. 2A to 2E are diagrams that explain the forming of a thin film pattern by the reverse resist printing device of FIG. 1. Especially, FIGS. 2A to 2D represent a forming process of a gate pattern of the liquid crystal display panel by using the reverse resist printing method.
First, as shown in FIG. 2A, an etch resist solution 14A from the etch resist solution spray device 12 is sprayed onto the blanket 15 that is wound around the print roller device 10. The print roller device 10 rotates to coat the blanket 15 with the etch resist solution 14A.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the etch resist solution 14A transfers only to the projected part 20B in the print roller device 10 as the print roller device 10 coated with the etch resist 14A simultaneously rotates and contacts the print plate 20. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2C, an etch resist solution 14B having a desired thin film pattern shape remains on the print roller device 10.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2D, the etch resist solution 14B, which was transferred to the print roller device 10, transfers again onto a substrate 30 where a designated metal layer, e.g., a gate metal layer, is formed. Then, the resist is cured. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2E, the etch resist pattern 14C for patterning the metal layer 32A can be formed. Afterwards, the metal layer 32A not overlapping the etch resist pattern 14C is patterned, thereby forming the desired thin film pattern on the substrate 30. Here, if forming the gate pattern such as the gate line, the gate electrode, etc. of the liquid crystal display panel, the gate pattern can be formed using chromium (Cr), aluminum neodymium (AlNd), etc. as the metal layer 32A.
The etch resist solution 14A used in the reverse resist printing device is formed of a basic polymer such as novolac, etc. a carrier solvent, a printing solvent, a surfactant, etc.
Here, the carrier solvent is a solvent that reduces the viscosity of the etch resist solution 14A sprayed from the etch resist solution spray device 12 so that the etch resist solution 14A can be evenly coated over the blanket 15.
The printing solvent is used for the etch resist solution 14A coated on the blanket 15 to impart a tack characteristic or adhesiveness.
The surfactant is a material which is applied to an interface to greatly decrease the surface tension of the interface and which acts to decrease the surface tension of the etch resist solution 14A. If a silicon-based surfactant is used, the coating can be good but the silicon-based material contaminates the blanket. Thus, a fluorine-based surfactant is used. However, the fluorine-based surfactant reduces the surface energy of the etch resist solution 14A, thus the adhesive force between the etch resist solution 14A and the blanket 15 becomes similar to the adhesive force between the etch resist solution 14A and the print plate 20. As a result, the characteristic that the etch resist solution 14A is transferred from the blanket 15 to the print plate 20 decreases, and thus the reliability of forming the thin film pattern by the resist printing method deteriorates.

Apparatus and method of fabricating thin film pattern


A heat exchanger assembly is provided including a multi-function boiling chamber having a top wall and a bottom wall parallel to the top wall and a first side wall and a second side wall both extending inwardly from the bottom wall to the top wall and a pair of end walls closing the chamber. First and second condensing tubes attached to the first and second side walls, respectively, of the boiling chamber have an elongated width presenting an upper surface and a lower surface and extend in opposite respective directions to distal ends of the tubes at an inclined angle relative to the bottom wall of the boiling chamber. The condensing tubes include a plurality of channels across the width and extending from the boiling chamber to the distal end of the tube. A tank disposed at each of the distal ends of the condensing tubes is in fluid communication with the channels tubes. Upper air fins extending upwardly in a plane containing the top wall of the boiling chamber and lower air fins extending downwardly in a plane containing the bottom wall of the boiling chamber engage the respective upper and lower surfaces of both condensing tubes between the respective side walls of the boiling chamber and a position adjacent the respective distal ends of the condensing tubes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The operating speed of computers is constantly being improved to create faster computers. With this, comes an increase in heat generation and a need to effectively dissipate that heat.
Heat exchangers and heat sink assemblies have been used that apply natural or forced convection cooling methods to dissipate heat from electronic devices that are highly concentrated heat sources such as microprocessors and computer chips; however, air has a relatively low heat capacity. Thus, liquid-cooled units called LCUs employing a cold plate in conjunction with high heat capacity fluids have been used to remove heat from these types of heat sources. Although, LCUs are satisfactory for moderate heat flux, increasing computing speeds have required more effective heat sink assemblies.
Accordingly, thermosiphon cooling units (TCUs) have been used for cooling electronic devices having a high heat flux. A typical TCU absorbs heat generated by the electronic device by vaporizing a working fluid housed on the boiler plate of the unit. The boiling of the working fluid constitutes a phase change from liquid-to-vapor state and as such the working fluid of the TCU is considered to be a two-phase fluid. Vapor generated during boiling of the working fluid is then transferred to a condenser, where it is liquefied by the process of film condensation over the condensing surface of the TCU. The heat is rejected into ambient air flowing over the condenser and fins are commonly employed on the condenser to increase the heat transferred from the vapor. The condensed liquid is returned back to the boiler plate by gravity.
An example of such thermosiphons include U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,311 to Ghosh et al. The Ghosh patent discloses a heat exchanger assembly including a tube having a evaporation region extending between, and in fluid communication with, sealed first and second condensation regions. The tube includes internal fins extending from the tube's outer upper and/or lower surfaces into the evaporation and condensing regions. Each of the condensation regions has two portions, extending upwardly at different angles. A working fluid flows from the evaporation region to the condensation regions and back, as a result of the changing states.
Space or volume is at a premium in computer environments and it is essential that such thermosiphons maximize heat transfer while minimizing the space occupied. In addition to minimal space, it is desirable that the thermosiphon be relatively inexpensive to fabricate. The cost of fabrication is relatively high when the thermosiphon is fabricated from especially dedicated and unique components as distinguished from being fabricated from stock materials. Although the prior art effectively dissipates heat from electronic devices, there is a continuing need for alternative designs for effectively dissipating heat in a minimum of space while remaining relatively inexpensive to fabricate.