A resonant dielectric metamaterial comprises a first and a second set of dielectric scattering particles (e.g., spheres) having different permittivities arranged in a cubic array. The array can be an ordered or randomized array of particles. The resonant dielectric metamaterials are low-loss 3D isotropic materials with negative permittivity and permeability. Such isotropic double negative materials offer polarization and direction independent electromagnetic wave propagation.

Negative refraction index metamaterials and their predicted effects have been theoretically studied, numerically analyzed, and experimentally demonstrated from microwaves to light by many researchers in the past decade. See V. G. Veselago and E. E. Narimanov, Nature Materials 5, 759 (2006). However, anisotropy, dispersion, high refractive index contrast, and particularly loss make the adoption of existing designs to the optical regime difficult without adding gain. See J. Valentine et al., Nature 455, 376 (2008); and S. Xiao et al., Nature 466, 735 (2010). In particular, conventional approaches for obtaining metamaterial properties (±∈r, ±μr) are based on orientation dependent, lossy metallic structures, e.g., split-ring resonator/wire pairs, fishnet and omega shaped structures. However, metamaterials comprising metallic resonators have high conduction loss and have a detailed geometry which is difficult to fabricate on a micron scale required for use at infrared and optical frequencies. Further, a metamaterial with isotropic negative permeability would require three orthogonal orientations of split-ring resonators.
An alternative route, via Mie resonances of magnetodielectric structures, provides a mechanism for engineered electrical and magnetic response. In particular, an all-dielectric metamaterial is easier to fabricate at RF to optical wavelengths, and can have a higher efficiency than metallic metamaterials because of not having metallic loss. In addition, an isotropic metamaterial can be achieved using dielectric spheres. Therefore, to achieve low-loss 3D isotropic scattering at very high frequencies, the unit cell or building block of the negative index material can be a directional independent non-metallic scatterer. For example, double negative (DNG) materials are man-made crystals, wherein the lattice configuration and unit-cell geometry affect scattering, and wherein the effective permeability and permittivity of the crystal can be simultaneously negative for wavelengths where the scatterers are resonant. The ideal directionally independent scatterer is a dielectric sphere. Cubic lattices of dielectric spheres have been predicted to exhibit the DNG property if the unit-cell contains a single sphere with similar relative permittivity and permeability embedded in an air-like host medium. See C. L. Holloway et al., IEEE Trans. on Antennas and Propagation 51, 2596 (2003). However, low-loss isotropic materials with scalar negative permittivity and permeability (or negative index of refraction) are straightforward to analyze, yet rather difficult to realize.
Another drawback to this approach is the simultaneous requirement on the permittivity and permeability. Because permeability greater than unity is difficult to obtain with low loss near optical frequencies, several researchers have proposed the two-sphere per unit cell approach. Spheres of different sizes or of the same-size but with different permittivities may be placed next to each other so that their electric and magnetic resonances overlap. See O. G. Vendik and M. S. Gashinova, Proc. 34th European Microwave Conference 3, 1209 (2004); and A. Ahmadi and H. Mosallaei, Phys. Rev. B 77, 045104 (2008). However, these designs are not strictly isotropic. See I. Vendik et al., Microwave and Optical Technology Letters 48, 2553 (2006). Another approach to isotropy is to develop bi-layered concentric spheres, commonly referred to as the core-shell structure. See E. F. Kuester et al., A double negative (DNG) composite medium based on a cubic array of layered nonmagnetic spherical particles, URSI 2007—CNC/USNC North American Radio Science Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, 2007. For the core-shell configuration, the key difficulty is numerical optimization. Another approach to DNG 3D isotropy at low-frequencies (L-band) uses artificial transmission lines loaded with reactive lumped elements. See A. Grbic and G. V. Eleftheriades, J. Appl. Phys 98, 043106 (2005). The key difficulties have been design optimization, material selection, and manufacturability.
Therefore, a need remains for a resonant dielectric metamaterial that is isotropic, easy to manufacture, and can be used to develop Ku/K band systems.


For alternatively recovering a clock frequency output signal from an input data signal or an input clock signal, a tuned circuit at the input of the arrangement formed by a secondary winding of a transformer and two series capacitors connected in parallel with the secondary winding is connected in alternative first and second circuit paths to the output of the arrangement. The first circuit path includes a frequency converter for converting a spectral line of the data signal into the clock frequency, while the second circuit path includes a clock divider for converting the input clock signal into the output clock signal. The alternative circuit paths are established by a change-over device which alternatively couples the output of the frequency converter or the output of the clock divider to the output of the arrangement. One of the series capacitors is selectively bridged by a switch, which also controls the state of the change-over device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for recovering a clock frequency.
2. Description of the Related Art
A circuit arrangement of this type is necessary, for example, in clock recovery circuits for digital transmission networks in communication and data technology, if from a digital input signal a specific clock frequency is to be regenerated. In a digital transmission network in accordance with G 703 (CCITT=CommiteConsultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique) a 64 kbit/s data signal or a 64 kHz clock signal can be used for recovering the clock frequency. If the clock signal is used for recovering the clock frequency, the frequency of the clock signal can be converted into the desired clock frequency, for example, by means of a clock divider. If the data signal is used for recovering the clock frequency, it should be taken into account that the data signal often does not contain the desired clock frequency. A data signal according to G 703 (CCITT) is, for example, represented as a ternary data signal which is based on a binary information signal encoded in five steps. In this case integrated switching circuits may be used for recovering the clock frequency from the ternary data signal, which circuits are based on a decoding of said code conversion. These circuits, however, represent a considerable cost factor.


Disclosed is an air terminal device for a ventilation system for a building. The air terminal device includes a pressure box, with an inlet admitting supply air into the pressure box and outlet openings for admitting supply air out. The device further includes first and second cover plates, each arranged to control and change the open area of a plurality of the outlet openings. The outlet openings are arranged in a wall of the pressure box forming an outlet surface of the pressure box. The cover plate or cover plates are arranged to be in contact with and slide relative the outlet surface while changing the open area of the outlet openings. The first cover plate and the second cover plate are arranged to slide relative each other and to be in contact with and slide relative the outlet surface while changing the open area of the outlet openings.

Centralized air ventilation systems such as Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are generally provided in all premises or larger buildings constructed today. In order to provide for desired ventilation, and generally also conditioning the air to a relevant temperature, there is a desire to control the ventilation system to provide a relevant amount of air and condition the air to be at the right temperature. A common way of controlling the supply air and conditioning the air is to use cooling beams in induction units. The cooling beam may be set to provide a desired flow of supply air by controlling the open area of the outlet openings for fresh air whereby a fresh air flow may be calculated from a known pressure difference between the different sides of the outlet openings. In an induction unit, the flow of fresh air will withdraw room air, i.e. induce an air flow, to be mixed in a mixing chamber. In general, the cooling beam is thus construed such that the induced air flow will pass a temperature regulating battery and thus heat or cool the induced air flow. Even though this kind of arrangement is commonly referred to as a cooling beam it may be used for heating or cooling of the induced air flow. These kind of air terminal units, cooling beams, may also be referred to as chilled beams, temperature regulated induction units, comfort cassettes and are commonly shaped to be quadratic or rectangular having outlets along two or all four sides.
As there is an increasing interest in providing more energy efficient ventilation systems, the ability to control the air flow in each room according to the demand, e.g. amount of fresh air and temperature, is desired to avoid unnecessary ventilation or heating. Hence, there is generally a desire to provide an air terminal device which may be automatically controlled to deliver the desired amount of air and provide a desired heating/cooling operation by regulating the air terminal device. Such devices are previously known and may for example be found in SE 517 998, which discloses a device which provide a flow in two directions, or in WO 2017/048 173 which provide a flow in four directions. These devices should thus be suitable to be used as air terminal devices in a Variable Air Volume (VAV) system wherein a variable volume of air to be ventilated to a room is controlled at the air terminal device.
In order to be able to control the air volume to correspond to the desired fresh air volume flow, and also an induced air flow if it is an induction unit, there is a desire to control the open area of the outlet openings with a desired accuracy. To precisely control the open area is in general more difficult for a terminal unit which blows in four directions, as disclosed in WO 2017/048173, than in an air terminal unit which blows only in 2 directions as disclosed in SE 517 998. As can be seen in WO 2017/048 173 the device is provided with outlet openings along all four edges. However, there is a need for rather exact tolerances and correct mounting of the cover plate in order to control the open area of the outlet openings in all directions.
Hence, there is a desire for an improved air terminal device which may better control the air flow, in particular for a terminal device having outlet openings for providing a ventilation flow in a multitude of directions.

Air terminal device for control of air flow in a ventilation system


This application provides a resource pool management method and apparatus, a resource pool control unit, and a communications device. The method is applied to a resource pool system including a plurality of communications devices, and one resource pool control unit is deployed on each communications device. A first resource pool control unit that is responsible for managing a resource pool at a current moment receives a resource application request of an application program on any communications device, allocates, from the resource pool according to a preset rule, a first resource including one or more logical hardware devices, and sends a resource configuration request to a second resource pool control unit, so that the second resource pool control unit completes configuration of the first resource based on the resource configuration request, to provide a required hardware device resource for the application program.

With the continuous development of computer technologies, there are more data centers that consist of devices on a large scale, which require unified operation and maintenance management. A management node is usually deployed on an independent server in a data center. The management node may identify a hardware device, and the management node forms a resource pool by using hardware resources such as a storage device (for example, a disk), a network device (for example, a network interface card or a switch), and a computing device (for example, a central processing unit (CPU)) in the data center, and allocates complete resources of one or more hardware devices to application programs. For example, when an application program 1 needs to use two CPU resources, the management node may specify two CPUs (for example, a CPU 1 and a CPU 2) in the resource pool to provide hardware resources for the application program 1. In this case, the CPU 1 and the CPU 2 are used only by the application program 1. In addition, operations such as resource release and resource pool capacity expansion require participation of the management node. If the management node is faulty, an entire resource pool cannot be used, application services are interrupted, and data may be lost. This affects normal use of the data center. Therefore, how to provide a resource pool management method independent of the management node is an urgent technical problem to be resolved.

Resource pool management method and apparatus, resource pool control unit, and communications device


System having one or more inertial sensors in which one or more of the sensor input axes are modulated in orientation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the input, or sensitive, axis of the sensor and, in some embodiments, by also enhancing the accuracy of such a system to provide improved signal to noise ratio and reduced sensitivity to errors in alignment of the sensor axes to the dither axes.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains generally to inertial measurement, and, more particularly, to an inertial measurement system and method in which the fixed bias offset of rate sensors or gyroscopes is cancelled.
2. Related Art
Angular rate sensors or gyroscopes (gyros) exhibit a non-zero output in the absence of rotation about the input axis. This non-zero output is called bias, and it can cause significant errors in inertial measurements. The magnitude of the error depends upon the type of sensor or gyroscope used. In applications with stringent limits on offset errors, more expensive sensors with very low residual offset errors must generally be used, and those sensors are often relatively large and heavy.
Heretofore, there have been some attempts to eliminate offset errors by rotating a gyro about the input axis of the sensor, which is bad because it produces a rotation rate signal that must be dealt with. In other systems, horizontal inertial instruments such as gyroscopes and accelerometers have been rotated continuously in carousel fashion about a vertical axis. However, it is not always feasible or even desirable to apply a constant rotation to such instruments.
With ring laser gyros, certain errors have been eliminated by dithering the sensors about the input axis. However, as noted above, rotating a sensor about its input axis is undesirable because it provides an angular rate input other than the one to be detected.
In inertial systems of the prior art it is also necessary to rely on complex models to predict variation in offsets over time and due to factors such as temperature. These models can be quite useful in some applications, but it is often necessary to cancel offsets to a higher level of precision than the models can provide.

Inertial measurement system and method with bias cancellation


A method for coating a metal surface includes heating an untreated metal surface to a temperature of about 40.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and spraying a coating composition onto the hot untreated metal surface, while continuously moving the metal surface, so that a corrosion resistant coating is formed on the surface, the coating composition having a pH of 0.5 to 1.5 and containing; (a) 20 to 40% by weight acrylic organic polymer in aqueous dispersion; (b) 1 to 5% by weight chromium in a soluble form and selected from the group of hexavalent chromium and mixtures of hexavalent and trivalent chromium wherein the trivalent is about 0.1 to 20% by weight of the total chromium in the mixture; (c) 1.5 to 4% by weight phosphoric acid; and (d) 0.1 to 1.5% by weight organic reducing agent.

In an industrial process the coating of metals with paints by means of a gun process, is generally made onto cold surfaces, and when requiring a certain quality degree, it must be performed with a prior treatment of chemical conversion.
The metal surface must be cold, as on the contrary the extensibility of the paint and consequently its finishing will be defficient. It is possible however that adjusting adequatly the composition of the solvents, to obtain an adequate finishing, and in fact this procedure is sometimes used. If the paints contain any solvent of low volatility, it is necessary to foresee the formation of the vapors of this solvent with the corresponding riks of ambient contamination and fire. Normally, even the named waterborne paints contain a high percentage of cosolvents of organic nature, which will be volatilized during the drying of the paint.
The chemical conversion of the metal surface has the purpose of providing a higher adhesion of the paint onto the metal surface, and at the same time improving the qualities of anticorrosive protection. Depending on the nature of the metal surface, different baths will be used, so that for steel and zinc phosphate solutions are used, such as zinc, iron, manganese, and for aluminium phosphate or chromate baths are used. In any case there will be a minimum of three steps comprehending the chemical conversion, a rinsing to remove the excess of solution not reacted with the metal, and a last rinsing generally containing Cr6 and Cr3. It is evident that the chemical conversion process is very complex, requiring facilities of space, and energy consumption, as the baths act normally in hot, (high waterconsumption and depuration because of its content in chrome ions).
Although it is true that some paints are applied by gun spraying, onto hot metal surfaces, not exceeding however in general 40.degree. C., the conjunction of the hot surface, even up to 250.degree. C. and the suppression of the prior chemical conversion, it has not yet been a well-known or used technique, when requiring a proper finishing, adherence, mechanical qualities and an anticorrosive resistance, not under the quality standards normally accepted.
Present Patent describes a composition to coat hot metal surfaces, without chemical conversion, which applied by a gun spraying system, enables to obtain a proper surface finishing, and some mechanical characteristics similar to most reputable conventional sistems.
One of the advantages of present Patent is based on the fact that the chemical conversion process of the metal surface requires a drying at the end of the process, to remove any humidity remaining trace. If not being so, paint would not spread to coat the surface properly, if it would still remain wet. Even if using waterborne paints, drying will be performed, in order to obtain highest qualities of the paint layer. The metal surface acquires therefore a certain temperature, normally over 80 and 120 deg. C. Before painting, the surface cools reaching room temperature, to obtain a good extensibility and prevent the emission of vapors from solvents. Afterwards it is heatened again, between 130.degree. and 190.degree. C. to obtain the reticulation of the film.
In other industrial processes, the surface high temperatures, as a consequence of a prior treatment originating a caloric contribution. The shotblasting systems used in the prior surface cleaning, the galvanizing, that is the coating of a steel material with zinc, by dipping in molten metals, as well as other processes like drawing, rolling, etc, also originate a temperature elevation.
Present Patent enables to take advantage of the calories the material receives, in a drying operation or in the operative process, as the product can be applied onto hot surfaces. If the material temperature is under 160.degree. C., which is the reticulation temperature of the film laid as per present patent, there will be a lower energy consumption as compared to a conventional system, as there the material generally at room temperature. If being over 160.degree. C., as per the thickness of the paint to apply and the specific mass of the material, this temperature can be sufficient to obtain the film reticulation. It is obvious that when higher is the material temperature, greater will be its specific mass, and therefore its capacity to retain heat, lower the paint quantity sprayed, and the film reticulation will be quicker, without a heat supplementary contribution.
In a gun spraying, maximum surface temperature enabling a correct spreading is at 250.degree. C. Over it, it is difficult to obtain a smooth film with a correct finishing. However if the composition is diluted with a greater water quantity, and sprayed at full-rate flow, it is possible to apply onto surfaces up to 350.degree. C.
When the metal surface is at a high temperature, over 40.degree. C., the water, which is the solvent of the composition of present invention, evaporates quickly, depending on temperature. There is therefore an immediate increase in the viscosity of the product onto the surface. If the spraying continues, it will be possible to obtain a thick coating, without paint droppings or liftings.
In a normal painting process, this is not possible to obtain, because from 30-40 microns, paint lifts and drops obtaining irregular coatings. However, the fact that the composition of the coating can be applied onto hot surfaces, enables to obtain dry film thicknesses that can reach the 80 microns. The thickness will also depend of the material temperature and of its specific mass. Thus in cast parts being at 60.degree.-80.degree. C., it will be possible to obtain dry films superior to 100 microns.
If the anticorrosive qualities of the composition are already very high at normal thicknesses of 20 microns,, when laying a high thickness, even greater values are obtained. The edges of a piece are normally areas where the paint thickness is lower and therefore the areas with quicker corrosion, and with this procedure they will be coated with a thick layer, being effectively protected. Therefore with layers of 50 to 60 microns it is possible to obtain onto cool rolled steel, in the ASTM b-117 Salt Spray test, a corrosion progression on the cross inferior to 1 mm after more than 500 hours. As well, in cast pieces it is possible to reach 150 hours Salt Spray with a corrosion under the 5%, when in a conventional process there is a strong corrosion after 72 hours.
As already indicated, the composition object of present invention is applied directly onto the degreased metal surface without needing any prior pretreatment. The adherence of the coating makes the prior chemical conversion unnecessary, thus simplifying the operative process.
This implies important savings in energy, water, water treatment, and in space, because of suppressing the baths of chemical conversion, rinsing, and chromic passivation.
Any type of metal part suffering a prior heatening, up to a temperature of 250.degree. C., can be coated with the composition object of present Invention. This heatening can be provoked, like in the case of the drying following a preparation or chemical conversion of the surface, or acquired in an operative process: coatings by dipping of cast metals, drawing, shotblasting, etc.
In a special way and for the novelty it represents, we point out the application onto hot dip galvanized strip, at the exit of molten zinc bath, when the material is at a temperature between 150.degree. and 250.degree. C. With present Invention we obtain the painting onto the galvanizing line, obtaining a film with high qualities in anticorrosive resistance, as well as in adherence and mechanical qualities, able to fulfil the quality standards established for the continuous painted steel strips (Coil Coating). This represents a great innovation as it has not been possible up to the moment to develop this technique. The french Patent 1.546.790 describes the application of paints, varnishes, glues, onto the hot dip galvanized band, but this process has not been used in the practice as an alternative of Coil Coating, only vindicating the use of calories and not a method to obtain painted plate with adequate anticorrosive and mechanical values, what will require to use very specific coating compositions, which are not described, as well as the qualities reached. Presently, when the galvanized steel bands have to be painted, it is done by a Coil Coating process, in installations independent from the galvanizing ones. These installations comprehend the surface preparation and pretreatment, with the corresponding rinsings. Afterwards there is a drying and the application of two paint layers, Primer and finishing Top Coat, each one followed by an ovening, to obtain the reticulation of the paint. The Coil Coating lines require a strong investment and the operative cost is very high.
The painting process on the same galvanizing line, described in present invention, enables, for certain applications, specially for materials foreseen for indoors, to avoid the Coil Coating systems, with the corresponding savings it represents. The conventional hot dip galvanizing lines, can then have the capacity of performing the strip painting and enlarging this way the commercial offer. In other cases it will enable, if the bands pass to a Coil Coating process, to obtain coatings of three layers, which are required for certain applications. In other cases, the Coil Coating lines having one sole painting step, can also obtain a two layer coating in a sole painting operation. Another important application from present Patent, is the possibility of painting very thick galvanized bands (superior to 1 mm), which cannot be painted by a Coil Coating process.
The coatings of steel with cast zinc of classic galvanizing baths, is the most representative example of the use of present invention onto continuous materials, but it is as well applicable after cast aluminium baths, zinc-aluminium alloys, with Galvalume (Bethlehem Steel), Galfan (Ilzro), and Monogal (Usinor), as well as in coatings of tin, lead and alloys.
In other cases the coating object of present patent enables to improve the paintability conditions of steels coated with zinc or zinc-aluminium alloys. The problems of these materials are well-known, when being painted, specially because of the blistering, when being submitted to alternative cycles of Salt Spray and extreme conditions of humidity/temperature. The coating of present invention can act as an isolating agent between the paint layers and the zinc or zinc-aluminium surface, avoiding the blistering. In order that the treatment composition could be applied properly onto a hot metal surface, not requiring at the same time the pretreatment or chemical conversion, it is necessary to fulfil some requirements which are met by present patent, as follows:
a) To be of aqueous medium, the volatile part being water. The reason of this is that the composition when being sprayed onto the hot surface will provoke an immediate evaporation of the thinner and dissolving fraction. Consequently, the organic solvents have to be avoided, because of the fire and contamination risks.
b) To have a high adherence onto metal surfaces, in order to make phosphating unnecessary. The coating has to provide phosphating qualities.
c) High anticorrosive resistance, even without prior phosphating, similar to a conventional organic coating, with the same thickness.
d) High physical and chemical qualities, excellent decorative aspect and ultraviolet rays resistance.
Up to the moment there is no vindication for any process using compositions like the ones described in present patent to be applied onto hot metal surfaces, and without prior chemical conversion. Compositions with a certain analogy have been described in some patents like: U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,693/U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,081/JP.50.158.835/U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,522/U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,596, pointing out their anticorrosive function or as a paint basis, exclusively.
The composition object of present patent contents the following basic elements:
a) Organic polymers in dispersion or aqueous emulsion specially copolymers of acrylic basis.
b) Mineral acid, specially phosphoric acid.
c) Hexavalent chromium.
d) Reducing agents, able to reduce total or partially the he xavalent chromium to trivalent chromium onto the hot metal surface.
e) Mineral or organic pigments dispersed in the aqueous medium.
f) Although not indispensable, certain cations are advisable, specially zinc. Trivalent chromium is also useful and in fact it can be added independently from the one that will be formed afterwards by reduction of hexavalent chromium.
g) For applications requiring a weldability, some conductors can be added such as metals finely divided like zinc, aluminium, iron, lamp black.
These different components solved or dispersed in an aqueous medium, which will provide a pH of 0.5 to 1.5, as being sprayed by means of aerographic or electrostatic gun, preferently high speed, onto hot metal surfaces between 40.degree. and 250.degree. C., will provide very adherent coatings, physico-chemical qualities, mechanical deformation and anticorrosive resistance.
The function of above mentioned components is following one:
The organic polymer of acrylic nature brings a very high resistance to humidity and ambient chemical agents. The monomers able of being used are the esters of acrylic acid metacrylic acid, such as ethyl acrilate, butil acrilate, metacrylic acid, styrene, glycidil acrilates.
The polymerization in aqueous dispersion will be made by means of traditional methods, selecting the emulgents preferently from the nonionic, anionic ones, because these mixtures, as already recognized in the bilbiography and in the practice, bring dispersions of high stability. It has been check ed that the polymere dispersions, capable of being used in present Patent, are those in which the molecular polymere weight is of about 1 million, and its fineness of 0.1 microns. These dispersions contain exclusively water as liquid fraction.
Phosphoric acid will provide the attack to metal surface, what ensures the anchoring of the coating, like Wash Primers do. At the same time it brings acidity to the aqueous medium, helping to the redox reaction described hereunder.
Hexavalent chromium, under the shape of chromates or chromic acid, also enables the chemical transformation of the zinc surface and brings its well known passivating qualities.
The function of the reducing agents is to achieve the reduction of hexavalent chromium to trivalent under the temperature action. This reduction is catalyzed by the acid pH. The most suitable reducing agents are those products, preferently of organic basis, presenting hydroxyl amine, aldehyde, keto groups, as well as those substances capable to generate with heat these funcitonal groups. Characteristic examples are the alcohols, polyalcohols, glycols, carbone hydrates, among the substances containing hydroxyle groups, and among those capable of decomposition by temperature, generating reducing compounds, we can mention organic acids like oxalic, tartaric, citric. Products formed in the oxidation of reducing agent have to be volatile at the temperature they are submitted, in order not to cause an hydrophilic action onto the coating film. For this reason products of short chains not ramified are prefered.
Preferently, the composition will contain reducing agents of short action, for a quick Redox reaction, as surface cools very quickly, generally. Although at first sight there is the incompatibility of the presence of an energic oxidizer like chromic acid or chromates, and a reducing agent of quick action, as they can react in the same composition with possibilities of altering or coagulating it, or of forming trivalent chromium precipitates, this is not important because the gun spraying systems enable to use two components, which are mixed in the gun head. Therefore the coating composition can be foreseen in two components, one containing the reducing agent, the other containing the chromates and chromic acid, as the contact time in liquid phase will be of few seconds, without so much risk of premature reaction between both components. Evidently, the formulation of this composition has prefered those reducing agents which can present more stability, inside the system.
Therefore the pigments can be of mineral nature like titanium dioxide, lamp black, metal oxides and others, including the ones of micaceous structure with metal and organic reflections like phtalociamines.
The presence of certain cations, without being fundamental, is advisable. Zinc is the most adequate for the galvanized steel coating, guaranteeing the formation of some first points of microcrystallization of zinc phosphates and chromates, highly protective, amortizing the residual acidity of phosphoric acid. Other cations can be incorporated, as we all know the protective effect of other phosphates and chromates like calcium, strontium, lead, aluminium, nickel, manganese, magnesium, etc. These cations are added under the shape of oxides, hydroxides, or carbonates, preferently. The trivalent chromium can also be included in this list and can be formed from hexavalent chromium by means of partial reductions with a reducing agent. Although it has been checked that the best results are obtained if the trivalent chromium formation is performed onto the galvanized band, the presence of a slight proportion of trivalent chromium in solution of about 10 to 20% of total chromium, can be beneficial
As requiring a conductibility of the film, powder metal elements of lamp black are incorporated at a rate of 2 to 10%.
All these elements comprehended in the treatment composition, will be disposed preferently in two components or fractions, to avoid a premature reaction among them.
These two fractions will comprehend:
A. Organic Polymere in aqueous dispersion. PA0 B. Hexavalent chromium
Reducing agents PA1 Pigments PA1 Phosphoric acid PA1 Cations, like zinc, aluminium, nickel.
The preparation of every fraction will be made as follows:
FRACTION A--The reducing agent will be absolutely miscible or dilutable in water, like organic acids and polyalcohols.
They will be mixed in the aqueous dispersion of the organic polymere. This one will be of acrylic nature as above described.
Pigment will be dispersed in the aqueous phase, inside a system miscible with the resin in emulsion.
The most adequate quantity will be the one providing a full coloration to the metal surface, with thin coating layer (4-8 microns). The pigment percentage will then be of 10 to 15% in weight.
FRACTION B--The chromic acid (chromic anhydride) will be the most adequate substance to provide the hexavalent chromium ions, which will be incorporated to the phosphoric acid of 75%. When incorporating cations like zinc or others, zinc oxide or carbonate will be used, solved previously in phosphoric acid. If wishing to have available a low percentage of trivalent chromium, to the mixture of chromic and phosphoric acid will be added with or without cations, a small quantity of reducing agent such as methyl alcohol, which will reduce a fraction of hexavalent chromium to trivalent. The maximal quantity of trivalent chromium will be situated between 10 and 20%. The percentage of every component will be of:
______________________________________ Chromic acid 10 to 3% Phosphoric acid 5 to 2% Zinc 3 to 0% Trivalent Chromium 2 to 0% ______________________________________
Both fractions will be mixed at use. It will be advisable to use the spraying systems enabling the mixture of the components in the head of the gun, what will prevent any premature reaction in the solution. The rates between fraction A and B will be 40/60 and 60/40. This mixture will contain a dry extract of about 20 to 30% in weight. Depending of the application, the surface temperature, the layer thickness to obtain, it will be diluted with more or less water. Thus for example, for the application onto just galvanized steel strips, the dry extract will be reduced to 15 to 25% in weight. The water quantity will be enough to obtain a uniform liquid film without failures onto the metal surface. This way, a uniform dry film will be obtained. On a surface at a very high temperature, if the composition is sprayed with not enough water, there will be an immediate evaporation, of every little drop sprayed so that it will not be possible to obtain a continuous film.
The spraying guns, aerographic or electrostatic, preferently high speed, will operate by an automatized system, and the installation will be leakproof to prevent the projection of particles and the eventuality of being inhaled bearing in mind its toxicity for the presence of hexavalent chromium. The residual sprays will be drawn to a water rinsing station with further reduction and precipitation of chromium and phosphates.
In its application onto pieces maintaining heat in their surface between 40.degree. and 120.degree. C., a sufficient quantity of composition will be sprayed to obtain layer thicknesses between 15 and 80 microns, as per the anticorrosive requirements and the capacity of heat retention of material. If the surface temperature does not reach 160.degree. C., the piece will have to be heatened up to this temperature to reach the complete reticulation.
In the continuous galvanizing lines of steel strips, the spraying quantities will be regulated depending of the line speed and the film thickness to lay.
Layers of only 0.3 microns can be valid for protective coatings, of 0.5 microns for paint basis, and layers of 3 to 6 microns to obtain an adequate coating. If the plate has to be welded, it will be better not to surpass a thickness of 2 microns as due to the isolating character of the coating, welding would be difficulted or prevented. When the surface would be of an iron-zinc alloy, these values can be somewhat superior, of about 3 microns. The incorporation of lamp black and powder metals like zinc or aluminium, will enable to increase the layer thickness improving the weldability. As a maximal limit 8 to 10 microns will be laid. Over these values it is not advisable to work, so that the quantity of composition to spray is very high, what provokes a recooling of the strip, making the film curing difficult.
The different film thicknesses that can be obtained will depend above all of the concentration of product used, which will be maintained within the limits already pointed out, and afterwards of the equipment used, the application flows, the line speed, number of sprayers. As an example we can describe certain conditions enabling to obtain a dry film of 8 to 10 microns, using a high speed electrostatic spraying system; cup type projectors at 10.000 rpm, air pressure: 3 to 5 kgs/cm2, distance gun/strip: 150 to 250 mm, strip speed 45 to 50 m/mn, paint performance: 85% of paint laid.
The best strip temperature in the area where the composition will be sprayed, will depend of different parameters like the strip thickness, what affects the heat dissipation, the coating thickness to apply and the line speed.
Generally, this temperature is situated between 150.degree. and 250.degree. C., although in some cases, for very thin steel and high paint thickness, what would provoke an important heat loss, an additional heatening system will be necessary to recover the strip temperature, by means of a conventional system (infrared panels), or high frequence induction. Complete coating qualities will be obtained with only reaching this temperature.
At the exit of the spraying unit, the galvanized steel strip will be cooled by means of conventional processes, with air jet to pass to the skin-pass installations, and afterwards to the winding. In any case the above described paint composition, sprayed onto zinc and alloys coated band, maintaining a temperature between 150.degree. and 250.degree. C., enables to reach anticorrosive qualities of deformability and aspect, convenient for many industrial applications.
Other steel materials coated with zinc, like wire and tubes, can also be coated, at the exit of the zinc or alloys bath, taking advantage of the residual heat, with compositions like the ones described in present Patent.
The high temperature of the metal surface provokes the Redox reaction between the chromic acid and the chemical reducing agent. This temperature must be high enough to ensure the reduction of hexavalent chromium to trivalent one. The optimal quantity to reduce is between 90 and 95%. Under this quantity, the coating will maintain a water sensitivity what is checked when dipping a test-panel insufficiently reacted in water, what produces a decoloration of the coating and the water gets a yellow coloration as containing hexavalent chromium solved. It is advisable to maintain an hexavalent chromium fraction in the film, as it has been checked that the anticorrosive resistance is superior. If this hexavalent chromium quantity is under the 90%, it remains locked inside the film and does not dissolve in water, but in very aggressive mediums, like alkalines and strong acids capable to strip the film from metal support. The high anticorrosive resistance of these films is a consequence of the phosphochromatizing action onto metal surfaces and the formation in situ, when the film is cured, of trivalent chromium, reacting with the organic polymeres, giving closer structures and of high molecular weight, with high resistance to chemical and environmental agents, even superior to the one expected from an acrylic polymere, as hereunder detailed.


Methods for applying a treatment, such as colorant, to an installed landscaping material (such as wood chips or mulch), reducing the need to replace worn or weathered material. The methods include applying a pre-treatment to protect elements proximate the landscape material that are not to be treated, applying a treatment liquid to the landscaping material by spraying, and then rinsing any elements proximate the landscape material that may have be inadvertently and undesirably treated. Also described is a sprayer apparatus for applying treatment liquid to a landscaping material. The sprayer apparatus includes first and second spray outlets and an agitator therebetween. In use, the landscape material to be treated is first sprayed, the material is agitated (e.g., turned), and a second spray of treatment liquid is applied to the landscape material.

Landscaping materials, such as wood chips and wood mulch, are currently available in their natural colors, and in some cases, are available colored in various colors, for example, in black, brown, red, orange and various shades thereof. The materials are generally colored at a large facility, which may be the facility that manufactures the materials or a facility that post-treats the material. The coloring can be done in batch form, by adding pigment and the material to large vats or mixers; alternately, the coloring can be done in a continuous manner, using a conveyor belt or auger system. The colored material is packaged and shipped to the eventual consumer.
Colored wood chips and wood mulch are applied to the desired area in a layer usually about 2 to 6 inches thick. Upon exposure to the elements (e.g., sunlight, rain, snow, etc.) and over time the color fades. The common solution to refreshen the area is to merely replace the weathered material with new material, or to add new material to cover up the old.
Although the cost of all landscaping materials is increasing, the cost of wood chips and mulch is increasing at a greater pace, due to the downturn in the construction industry. Wood chips and mulch for landscaping are typically the by-product from wood processing. As the amount of lumber produced decreases, so does the availability of wood by-product, either from the mills or the areas where it is harvested.
In an attempt to reduce the amount of new wood chips and mulch needed to refreshen landscaping, some have attempted to reapply color to the installed wood material. This in situ refreshing has been done, for example, by spraying the installed material with a liquid pigment from a hand-held sprayer. Although this process is superficially acceptable, in that it colors the exposed material, improvements can be made.

Apparatus and methods for treating mulch in situ


An integration component assists in the integration of information distribution systems (IDSs). The integration component may help to identify the scope of the systems that are to be integrated using a multi-level top-down approach. The multi-level top-down approach may include five levels: a system software level, a business process level, a business rule level, an interface function level, and a data level. A fault detection component may then check the identified systems to identify potential faults. This check can be performed by representing the business rules as a Transition-Directed-Graph (TDG) and then processing the TDG using generic depth-first search (DFS)-based algorithms.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to operations support systems (OSSs), and more particularly to switched service software systems.
B. Description of Related Art
In today's computerized world, companies may use sophisticated software systems to coordinate and manage many aspects of their business. The software systems are often highly customized to the particular needs of the company and can be a significant asset. When two competitive companies within the same business sector merge into one bigger company, reusing existing resources in each company becomes a top priority systems integration task. In particular, it is often desirable to integrate the software systems of the two companies into a single system. Such an integration can be difficult to perform, but once implemented, can provide large potential cost savings and efficiency improvements.
As an example of the above, consider the merger of two telecommunications companies. One of the valuable reusable resources for the newly consolidated company is the software systems from each company. These systematically reusable software systems keep the company business going, supports customer services, and create revenue. For the new merged company, consolidating software systems with the same functionality, such as provisioning systems and inventory systems, can provide significant benefits.
Integrating software systems, although potentially beneficial, also entails risk. The risk is because the software systems may have different data representations, business processes, business rules, and system implementations, as well as different hardware platforms that support these software systems. These factors make efficiently integrating these software systems without introducing errors or faults a difficult proposition.
Thus, there is a need in the art for techniques for integrating information distribution systems that reduce the cost and/or risk involved in such integrations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Integration of information distribution systems


An improved tin tag dispensing and nailing tool includes an operating member that is adapted for connection with a roofer's nailing gun, which operating member is guided by a pair of spaced vertical guide rods for vertical sliding displacement relative to the tool housing between an upper retracted position and a lower nailing position. The operating member is formed from a synthetic plastic material and contains vertical though bores that respectively receive the guide rods. Tubular oil-impregnated bushings are mounted in the through bores concentrically about the guide rods. A linkage arrangement connects the operating member with a shuttle plate that is displaced between a loading position adjacent the tin tag supply station and a discharging position adjacent the tin tag nailing station. An integral punched-out tongue portion extends upwardly at an acute angle from the shuttle plate for engagement with the lowermost tin tag of a stack.

1. Field of the Invention
An improved tin tag dispensing and nailing tool includes an operating member that is adapted for connection with a roofer's nailing gun, which operating member is guided by a pair of spaced vertical guide rods for vertical sliding displacement relative to the tool housing between an upper retracted position and a lower nailing position. The operating member is formed from a synthetic plastic material and contains vertical though bores that respectively receive the guide rods. Tubular oil-impregnated metal bushings are mounted in the through bores concentrically about the guide rods. A linkage arrangement connects the operating member with a shuttle plate that is displaced between a loading position adjacent the tin tag supply station and a discharging position adjacent the tin tag nailing station. An integral punched-out tongue portion extends upwardly at an acute angle from the shuttle plate for engagement with the lowermost tin tag of a vertical tin tag stack.
2. Description of Related Art
As evidenced by the prior U.S. patents to Thomas J. McGuinness et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,634,583, 5,791,546 and 6,273,315, attachments for roofer's nailing guns have been proposed for automatically feeding successive metal tin tag disks to the gun, so that when the operator places the gun next to the work and triggers the gun to drive a nail through a tin tag and into the work, upon withdrawal of the gun from the work, a subsequent tin tag is automatically displaced from the bottom of a supply stack and positioned in the nailing support means for the next nailing operation.
During the operation of such tin tag dispensing means, it has been found that the guide mean for guiding the operating components of the tool become worn as a result of extensive use, adversely affecting the operability and life of the tool. Furthermore, it has been proven through use that the shuttle means for displacing the lowermost tin tag from the stack becomes worn and ineffective during use, thereby resulting in jamming of the tool.
The present invention was developed to avoid the above and other drawbacks of the known tin tag supply devices for use with roofer's guns


A device may receive a set of cryptographic parameters associated with an integer, wherein the set of cryptographic parameters includes a linked list of potential prime integers, in an order, used to generate the integer. The device may determine, iteratively and in the order, whether each potential prime integer included in the linked list of potential prime integers is a prime integer using a primality test or a lookup operation based on a set of proven prime integers. The device may determine whether the integer is a proven prime integer based on determining whether each potential prime integer included in the linked list of potential prime integers is a prime integer. The device may authorize, when the integer is a proven prime integer, the integer for use in a cryptographic protocol.

Public-key algorithms may be based on computational difficulty of various problems, such as integer factorization of two-prime composite integers and the difficulty of calculating discrete logarithms. Many cryptographic systems may be built around prime integers, such as the prime integers used in factoring based, finite field, or elliptic curve cryptography.


In the method, a pre-selected working area of a graphene film with a linear dimension of 2,000 nm, which working area is divided into sections having a dimension of 50-100 nm, is subjected to the effect of a pulsed alternating magnetic field with a frequency of 3 terahertz that corresponds to the transition from the ground energy level, corresponding to the non-excited state of spin density, to a fourth working energy level of the excited state of spin density in the graphene film, thus causing spin density pumping. A spatially localized external magnetic field is generated around the edges of the working area, which resonantly reflects spinons having a working frequency of 0.5-1 terahertz that corresponds to the transition from a third working energy level to a second working energy level of the excited state of spin density, said spinons causing the induced coherent radiation of working frequency spin waves as they pass thorough the working area.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of quantum physics of condensed media and, more particularly, to methods for forming quantum collective excitations of spin density and magnetization density in graphene films, and may be used in quantum nanoelectronics, spintronics, for creating spin-processors, memory cells, physical field sensors, other devices and systems for processing and storing information of terahertz (and higher) range that have nanometric dimensions and work in a broad temperature range with minimum energy consumption.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Graphene, which is a monoatomic two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms, is considered as one of basic materials for creating a circuitry of nanoelectronic spintronic devices and systems that ensure a several-digits gain in the fields of speed, dimensions and energy consumption as compared to microelectronic analogous solutions. This is conditioned by the fact that a ferromagnetic effect has been observed experimentally and discussed theoretically in such a structure in a broad temperature range (from several degrees to 500 K), which effect proves that graphene structures may have intrinsic magnetization conditioned by non-zero spin density of atom valence electrons that is distributed over two-dimensional carbon lattice [Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Song, Y., Zhang, X., Ma, Y., Liang, J., and Chen, Y. Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism of Graphene. Nano Leu. 9, 220-224 (2009)], [D. V. Kolesnikov and V. A. Osipov The continuum gauge field-theory model for low-energy electronic states of icosahedral fullerenes, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, arXiv:cond-mat/0510636,v2,2,Feb,2006.14], [Gusynin V. P. et al. "Unconventional Integer Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene". Phys., Rev. Lett. 95, 146801, (2005), DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.146801], [Peres N.M.R., et. al. Electronic properties of disordered two-dimensional carbon Phys. Rev. B 73, 125411 (2006) DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.73.125411], [Novoselov K. S. et al. "Two-dimensional gas of massless Dirac fermions in graphene", Nature 438, 197 (2005) DOI:10.1038/nature04233], [Zhang Y. et. al. "Experimental observation of the quantum Hall effect and Berry's phase in graphene" Nature 438, 201 (2005) DOI:10.1038/nature04235], [K. Ziegler Derealization of 2D Dirac Fermions: The Role of a Broken Supersymmetry. Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 3113-3116 (1998)], [J. Alicea. Matthew P. A. Fisher. Graphene integer quantum Hall effect in the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic regimes, Phys. Rev. B 74, 075422 (2006)], [N.M.R. Peres, F. Guinea, A. H. Castro Neto. Coulomb interactions and ferromagnetism in pure and doped graphene. PHYSICAL REVIEW B 72, 174406 (2005)], [N. Tombros, C. Jozsa, M. Popinciuc, H. T. Jonkman, B. J. van Wees. Electronic spin transport and spin precession in single graphene layers at room temperature. arXiv:0706.1948, Nature 448, 571-574 (2007)], [Nguyen Viet Hung, A. Bournel, P. Dollfus, Nguyen Van Lien. Spin-dependent transport in double ferromagnetic-gate graphene structures, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 187 (2009), 012037,doi:10.1088/1742-6596/187/1/012037], [D. D. Grachev, Yu. P. Rybakov, L. A. Sevastianov, Ye. F. Sheka "Ferromagnetism in graphene and fullerene nanostructures. Theory, simulation, experiment." M. UDN Newsletter, 2010], [G. M. Arzumanyan, E. A. Ayrjan, D. D. Grachev, L. A. Sevastianov. Quantum Field Model for Graphene Magnetism], [D. D. Grachev, L. A. Sevastianov. Quantum Field Approach to the Ferromagnetic Properties of the Graphene Films. Int. Conference of Theoretical Physics "Dubna-Nano2010", p. 63. Dubna, JINR, 2010].
The availability of this non-zero spin density enables to control its distribution with the use of various physical fields, and this forms a basis for creating spintronic elements and devices. For creating such devices it is necessary to form local excitations of spin density, which are subjected to a control action.
A method is known that is used for forming spin waves by tunneling spin-polarized electrons to a graphene film from a cobalt electrode through a dielectric insulating film [N. Tombros, C. Jozsa, M. Popinciuc, H. T. Jonkman, B. J. van Wees. Electronic spin transport and spin precession in single graphene layers at room temperature. arXiv:0706.1948, Nature 448, 571-574 (2007)].
Injected electrons form spin spatially localized pulses that later propagate and relax in a graphene film. During measurements local magnetic resistance and precession of injected spins in an external magnetic field are registered. A relaxation time is about 100 picoseconds, and a relaxation length is about 1-2 microns.
A limitation of this known method is the absence of quantum coherence of spin pulses formed, this restricts their lifetime and length of relaxation on a graphene surface, which are important for various practical applications.

Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Agency for Legal Protection of Military, Special and Dual Use Intellectual Activity Results”


In order during an x-ray examination, despite a variable foreign magnetic field at the location of an x-ray tube to still enable x-ray images with image sections giving the same coverage to be generated, there is provision in accordance with the invention to compensate for the previously determined change to the foreign magnetic field at the location of the x-ray tube by a correspondingly controlled opposing magnetic field; Advantageously at least one compensating magnet is provided for this purpose which can be assigned to the x-ray tube and is controllable by a processing unit depending on this change.

During an x-ray examination electrons in the form of an electron beam are accelerated in an x-ray tube towards an anode and form a focus there which represents the source of the x-ray radiation, In a magnetic navigation of a catheter in blood vessels or in the heart of a patient or a laboratory animal known from DE 103 13 868 A, such an x-ray tube is operated during the x-ray examination in the variable foreign magnetic field necessary for navigation; In this way the electron beam is deflected by the foreign magnetic field so that the focus on the anode shifts and the x-ray radiation thus appears in a modified geometric image at an x-ray detector or an x-ray film In x-ray examination methods in which a number of x-ray images are created and evaluated against each other, the variable foreign magnetic field, despite an unchanged relative position of x-ray tube, examination object and x-ray detector or x-ray film, leads to image sections of the x-ray images offset against each other in each case.

Method and arrangement for x-ray examination


A system for generating an overlay display comprises an overlay display, a camera and a processor connected to the overlay display and the camera. The overlay display is arranged to overlay an output on a background, the camera is arranged to detect the background, and the processor is arranged to receive a desired color for the output, determine the actual color of the background, and calculate the output color from the desired color and the actual color of the background.

Aspects described herein relate to a system for, and method of, generating an overlay display.
Augmented reality is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video and/or graphics. Augmented reality often renders overlays on top of real-life objects to display additional information and images to a user. These overlays are usually semi-transparent, allowing the user to see the display on top of their real world environment. The overlay display is rarely being rendered onto a solid white background, and is instead being displayed over a continuously changing background composed of various shapes and colors. This can affect the clarity of the overlay display, and in particular, alter the colors that are perceived due to the interference of the color of the background. One solution to this problem is to avoid using transparency within overlays, and instead make the overlays more opaque. This, however, is very difficult to achieve in augmented reality since the overlays are mainly being displayed on either a transparent or translucent display. Some examples of current state of the art are Google glasses, EyeTap and Bubbles glasses, all of which are only capable of displaying translucent overlays, which are rendered independently of the background that they will be displayed against.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.

The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor that can be used with light curtains, in particular safety light curtains, for monitoring a protective field. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of operating such an optoelectronic sensor. The present invention may also provide the possibility of upgrading firmware via a wireless interface. Moreover, a communication path can be established from one light curtain system to another (neighboring) light curtain system, thus building a network, in particular a cloud or mesh of sensors.
Generally, light curtains detect the movement or intrusion of objects into guarded zones, and more particularly, provide protection for human operators who are working with machines or other industrial equipment. But also apart from safety applications, light curtains can be used for monitoring defined areas, such as for switching on/off lighting, opening doors etc. Light curtains are also used in the automation area for measurement of a height or position within a defined range. Applications in the field of material handling, like overhang and overstand detection, are possible as well.
Light curtains employing infrared or visible light beams are used to provide operator safety in a variety of industrial applications. Light curtains typically are employed for operator protection around machinery, such as punch presses, brakes, molding machines, automatic assembly equipment, coil winding machinery, robot operation, casting operations and the like. Conventional light curtains typically employ light emitting diodes (LED) mounted at spaced positions along a transmitter bar at one side of the guard zone and phototransistors (PT), photodiodes or photoreceivers mounted along a receiver bar at the opposite side of the zone. The LEDs transmit modulated infrared light beams along separate parallel channels to the PTs at the receiver bar. If one or more beams are blocked from penetration by an opaque object, such as the operator's arm, a control circuit shuts down the machine, prevents the machine from cycling, or otherwise safeguards the area.
Usually, safety light curtains comprise two optical units (called bars, sticks, or strips), which are formed as two different constructional units, one of the optical units having the functionality of an emitter and one of a receiver. Alternatively, a bidirectional optical communication between the optical units may also take place, as this is shown in EP 2511737 A1.
For many applications, in particular those which are safety related, it is important that the optoelectronic sensor does not fail during operation. Of course, also in non-safety applications it might also be very important to have this information (e. g. prognostic information) because a process stop might cause a lot of material loss. It is known that alerts are given, once the failure has occurred. However, if the failure already happened, a considerable time span can elapse while the optoelectronic sensor causes a costly shut-down of the monitored equipment or even puts personnel at risk. Consequently, it would be desirable to know about impending causes of failure and malfunction well ahead of an actual breakdown. Of course, also in non-safety applications it might also be very important to have this information (e. g. prognostic information) because a process stop might cause a lot of material loss.
The object underlying the present invention is to provide an optoelectronic sensor and a method of operating an optoelectronic sensor which reduces the risk of unexpected failure and nevertheless is robust, can be fabricated in a particularly cost-effective way, and is compatible with existing light curtain assemblies.

Optoelectronic sensor having plug-in unit for providing extended functionality


A method of preparing a target hard body tissue, such as osseous or dental tissue, to receive an implant component including; positioning an active electrode in proximity to a target tissue and proximate an electrically conductive fluid, followed by applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage sufficient to form a plasma. This plasma modifies at least a portion of the target tissue. An implant component may then be placed adjacent at least a portion of the modified target tissue.

Careful and optimal preparation of a hard body tissue such as a portion of bone or tooth to receive an implant is key to a procedure's success. Many factors may affect the strength and overall outcome of the implant's performance, including the acute cleanliness and preparation of the tissue for acute implant fixation strength, as well as any preparation to promote bone healing and remodeling, necessary to promote desired fixation over time.
Wound healing is the body's natural response for repairing and regenerating tissue, which is generally categorized into four stages: 1) clotting/hemostasis stage; 2) inflammatory stage; 3) tissue cell proliferation stage; and 4) tissue cell remodeling or growth stage. In the case of bone, which has the ability to heal and remodel, the natural process starts when the injured bone and surrounding tissues bleed, forming what is often called fracture hematoma. The blood coagulates to form a blood clot situated between broken fragments of a fractured bone, or between an implant surface and bone, in the case of a bone implant procedure. This blood clot serves as a bridge or conduit for the healing and growth cells to travel, so as to preferably fuse pieces of bone, in the case of a fracture, or integrate the implant with the bone, in the case of a bone implant procedure. Within a few days blood vessels grow into the jelly-like matrix of the blood clot. The new blood vessels deliver phagocytes to the area, which gradually remove any non-viable material or debris such as dead or necrotic tissue or bacterial matter, which may otherwise obstruct or delay the wound from healing and bone from remodeling or growing. This clotting of blood activates platelets which in turn cause the release of a multiplicity of growth factors and cytokines, critical to wound healing, as they cause osteogenic cells (bone forming) to migrate to the wound site. The blood vessels also bring fibroblasts in the walls of the vessels and these multiply and produce collagen fibers. In this way the blood clot is replaced by a matrix of collagen.
At this stage, some of the fibroblasts begin to lay down bone matrix (calcium hydroxyapatite) in the form of insoluble crystals. This mineralization of the collagen matrix stiffens it and transforms it into bone that now connects the fractured bone together or the implant component to the bone in the case of an implant. This initial "woven" bone does not have the strong mechanical properties of mature bone. By a process of remodeling, the woven bone is replaced by mature "lamellar" bone. The whole process can take up to 18 months, but in adults the strength of the healing bone is usually 80% of normal by 3 months after the injury.
Bone remodels or grows as a natural reaction to being placed under repeated stress, such as weight bearing exercises. Stress on the bone result in the thickening of bone at the points of maximum stress. It is hypothesized that this is a result of the bone's piezoelectric properties, which cause bone to generate small electrical potentials under stress. This piezoelectrical property has also been used to promote bone growth, by the external application of an electrical field to areas of damaged bone during healing, described in more detail later.
Interruption or failure of the healing process may lead to the failure of the implant to connect (osseointegrate) with the resected bone or the failure of a bone fracture to fuse, and consequently an inferior procedural outcome and/or a possible additional surgery. A number of factors may overwhelm the body's ability to effectively heal a wound and for bone remodeling to occur, such as repeated trauma or tissue scarring, the use of nicotine, inadequate calcium uptake, osteoporosis, an overriding illness, or a restriction in blood supply to the bone resection or wounded area. Several factors can help or hinder the bone healing process. Bone shards can also embed in the adjacent muscle, often causing significant pain.
To promote osseointegration or fusion, surgeons today use a combination of techniques. One method includes introducing healthy bone cells such as those found in the patient's bone marrow into the area surrounding the implant component; however this requires the additional time and consequences of a secondary surgical site. Surgeons also commonly aid bone growth by providing scaffolding in which the bone can grow such as a calcium phosphate ceramic matrix or human bone. As an alternative, a surgeon may use a bone induction material; a material with the capacity of many normal chemicals in the body to stimulate primitive "stem cells" or immature bone cells (osteoblasts) to grow and mature, forming healthy bone tissue, faster than the body normally would. Most of these stimulants are protein molecules called, as a group, "peptide growth factors" or "cytokines". One group of proteins that has been used to cause osteoinduction is a genetically engineering protein called Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP). However, this is a foreign substance that takes time to work with and may induce bone growth outside on the intended implant site. It has also been known to simulate tissue other than bone to grow.
Aside from BMPs, other growth factors including fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) may promote the division of osteoprogenitors, and potentially increase osteogenesis. UCB is another human recombinant protein that is currently under development, similar to BMP that helps control bone regeneration, but reportedly without some of the ectopic side-effect.
Referring now to FIG. 1A, an illustration of an exemplary hip joint 100 is shown including a femur bone 110 and pelvic bone 150. An exemplary artificial hip system 120 is partially installed and is shown in an exploded form for better explanation of the figure. Artificial hip system 120 may include an acetabular system 122 and femoral component 124. This illustration is shown with part of the femur and pelvic bone cut away to show resected and prepared areas 112 of the bone. As shown, femur 110 has been prepared to receive femoral component 124, commonly achieved by reaming or resecting the core of femur 110. Exemplary resected areas 112 are indicated. Femoral component 124 and resected femur 110 may be a pressfit together and the femoral component 124 surface may be roughened or treated to promote a stronger bone-to-implant integration. Alternatively, cement (not shown here) or implant coatings may be used to help provide a scaffold and provide for better osseointegration. Acetabular system 122 is formed to fit within a prepared acetablum 148 of the pelvic bone 150 and appropriately shaped resection tools, such as cupped reamers (not shown here) are available to the surgeon to prepare the acetabulum 148. Preparation of the acetabulum 148 may include scraping, cutting or drilling depending on the patient and exemplary resected areas 112 are shown. Acetabular system 122 may be fixed within acetabulum 148 using cement (not shown here) or through a pressfit. Bone screws 125 may be used to provide improved fixation. Acetabular system 122 and/or femoral component 124 may also have a porous coating or sintered surface (not shown here) to improve implant fixation with bone as the bone grows so as to integrate with the implant component. While screws and mechanical mean of fixation are used, bone remodeling so as to at least partially integrate with the implant component preferable to the long term success of the procedure.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, a knee joint 200 is shown, including a femur 205 and tibia 210 with a knee implant system 250 in place. During an implant procedure, femoral distal portion 206 may be resected and a knee femoral component 255 may be assembled as shown. Exemplary resected areas at the femoral distal portion are shown 260. Femoral component 255 may be attached to femoral distal portion 206 with cement or with a press fit, similar to that described in FIG. 1A. In addition tibial proximal portion 211 may also be resected to fit with a tibial knee component 270. Exemplary tibial resected areas 271 are shown. Some but not all tibial resected surfaces 271 are indicated on FIG. 1B. In between femoral component 255 and tibial component 270 a plate 275 may preferably be included. Plate 275 is adapted to allow femoral component 255 to rotate as the knee 200 articulates, with an appropriate feel and resistance, while plate 275 is preferably constructed from a very resilient and low friction material, such as high density polyethylene, reducing the effects of material wear over time. Similar to the hip implant system described earlier, while pressfits, screws, cements and other acute means of implant fixation are used by the surgeon, early and strong osseointegration is often an important factor in achieving a successful procedural outcome.
Referring now to FIG. 1C, an illustration is shown of a shoulder joint 300, including a humerus 310 and the socket portion or glenoid 320 which is part of the scapula 322. An exemplary replacement implant system 350 is shown in the illustration, often required due to pain from arthritis in the shoulder joint 300. The illustration is shown in an exploded form to better demonstrate the implant 350 and resected areas 314. During the procedure, the glenoid socket 320 is reamed or resected and holes 324 may be drilled so as to fit well with the matching shape of the glenoid socket implant 360. Bone screws (not shown here) may be used and inserted into drilled holes 324. The implant 360 may then be press fit into the prepared glenoid socket 320, and similar to previously discussed implants, the implant may have a variety of methods to improve the fixation of the implant. Porous or cancellous bone in the center of the humerus 310 is removed through reaming and general resection and the head of the humerus is removed. The stem implant 370 may then be inserted into the humerus canal and a variety of fixation means may be used, as discussed previously, to keep the stem implant in place and promote osseointegration. The ball implant 312 is then attached to the head of the humerus 310. This ball may be nested within the glenoid implant 360.
Referring now to FIG. 1D, an exploded illustration of a root form dental implant 400 is shown including the jaw bone 410, dental implant system 415 and two natural teeth 425 with teeth roots 420. Dental implant system 415 includes an implant root 430, an implant post 435 and a crown 438. The implant root 430 screws into the jaw bone 410, to fit within the jaw bone 410 similar to a natural tooth root 420. The implant root is typically constructed from titanium and before insertion into the bone 410 a tunnel 450 is typically drilled or resected to prepare the bone 410 to receive the implant root 430.
As with all the implant systems described earlier, in order for this implant system 415 to succeed, the surface of the drilled tunnel 450 and any other surrounding and supporting bone 410 should preferably partially heal, remain healthy, and a portion should osseointegrate with the implant root 430. The patient's body will naturally aid this healing and growth process through the pressure from chewing on the implant crown 438 transmitting to the underlying bone 410. However, the dental patient may not always have healthy underlying jaw bone 410 due to previous extractions, injuries, cysts or infections. Jaw bone grafting or jaw bone augmentation may be needed to supplement the implant procedure and improve procedural outcome. There are also other dental implant system designs that require less jaw bone 410, not described here, including blade implants that have a narrower root region for areas of reduced jaw bone. Alternatively a method of augmenting the existing jaw bone may be used.
FIG. 1E shows an illustration of an exemplary fractured bone 505 with a plate system attached 500, shown in exploded form to better demonstrate the resected areas. An exemplary bone fracture 510 is shown with a plate 550 and bone screws 555 assembled to secure plate 550. This plate 550 is intended to help maintain the bone 500 and fracture 510 in the correct position and support the bone as the fracture 510 heals. There are many forms of bone fracture in many areas of the body with a variety of bone plates, support structures and screws that may be used in a similar fashion with a similar intent, to the one described above.
Plate 550 may be attached to bone 500 through drilled bone tunnels 560 prepared to receive at least one bone screw 555. Bone screws 555 may be used in conjunction with cement to improve the interface strength between the bone 500 and screw 555. Assuming plate 550 and bone screws 555 are intended to be permanent fixtures in the patient, the long-term success of this medical procedure will significantly impacted by the ability of the fractured bone 510 to heal and the plate 550 and screws 555 to maintain a strong bond or osseointegrate with the surrounding bone areas, such as drilled surfaces 561 and prepared outer bone surface 551. Outer bone surface 551 may be prepared to receive the plate 550 so as to form a better mating surface with the plate and help augment the implant-to-bone fusion process. Fracture 510 may also be cleaned of debris, if the fracture is accessible.
FIG. 1F illustrates an example of an autogenous bone grafting harvest, where an autogenous bone graft 605 may be taken from a harvest site 600, leaving exposed bone surfaces 630. Here an exemplary site is a patient's iliac crest 610, although other areas are also used such as the mandibular symphysis (chin area), fibula or ribs. The bone graft 605 may then be utilized in a patient' spine or jaw, a bone fracture site or any other area to provide bone producing cells and scaffolding to assist in the healing and bone growth. Thereafter, two areas exist where bone needs to heal and grow. In this example, the graft 605 itself as well as the harvest site resected area 630. The area of harvest is often problematic post surgery, associated with high donor morbidity and it can be the source of significant pain, often more than the pain from the primary surgical site. Over time, the exposed area 630 is expected to heal, remodel and fuse back together, which does not always happen reliably.
Additionally, there are many other bone implants and portions of bone not described here in detail where bone repair and remodeling is preferable. These include, but are not limited to soft tissue anchors, ligament graft anchors or screws within a bone tunnel, elbow and hand implants, spinal implants and bone fractures throughout the body.
FIG. 1G shows an exploded illustration of a dental crown or cap 650. Crown 650 is often used to repair a fractured or weakened tooth that can no longer receive a dental filling. Typically the original tooth 660 is shaped and made smooth and any plaque or decayed tooth in removed, so as to receive the crown 650, using a variety of dental tools such as a dremel or drill. Exemplary prepared surfaces 655 are shown. Cap 650 may have been prepared earlier to match the patient's bite and size requirements and may be slipped over the tooth 660 and cement or a fixative (not shown here) may be used to keep the crown in place. Cap 650 is usually made from a metal alloy, porcelain or dental ceramic. Since teeth do not grow or remodel, this fixative is expected to retain the crown 650 in position for the lifetime of the cap 650. Therefore a great deal of attention is paid to the tooth surface 655 to ensure it is clean and sterile to maximize the connection strength and reduce any likelihood of infection, in the area between the crown 650 and tooth 660 over time.
Accordingly, there remains a need for new and improved methods for use in preparation for hard body tissues to receive an implant. In the case of bone tissue a need for a new and improved method to preferably promote the repair and subsequent bone growth is needed to address certain of difficulties aforementioned. It is therefore an objective to provide methods and systems to facilitate these goals.

Electrosurgical system and method for treating hard body tissue


A fixing member (B, N) pierces a screw hole (13b) of a first clamping member (13) and an insertion hole (14c) of a second clamping member (14), and fixes the first and second clamping members (13, 14) to a workbench (12). The position of a workpiece (W) relative to the workbench is determined by utilizing the first and second clamping members (13, 14) fixed to the workbench (12) by the fixing member (B, N). The workpiece (W) moved to a space between a clamping face (13d) of the first clamping member (13) and a flange portion (14b) of the second clamping member (14) is fixed by a fastening member (15).

The present invention relates to a jig for positioning and fixing a workpiece, and more particularly to a jig which can position a workpiece with respect to a workbench of a machine tool such as a pressing machine or a cutting machine and clamp the workpiece.
As a jig for positioning and fixing a workpiece, the applicant of this application proposes one disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 10-231091. As shown in FIG. 9, this jig includes a base member 32 mounted on the upper face of a table 31, and an adjustment member 33 screwed into a screw hole 32a of the base member 32. Further this jig includes a bolt 34 and a first nut 35. The bolt 34 is inserted into the screw hole 32a of the base member 32 and a through hole 33b formed in the center of the adjustment member 33. The bolt 34 is engaged and fixed to the table 31. The first nut 35 fixes the base member 32 and the adjustment member 33 to the table 31 in cooperation with the bolt 34.
When fixing a workpiece W, a clamp fitting 36 is mounted on a flange portion 33c integrally formed at the upper end portion of the adjustment member 33 and the workpiece W mounted on the upper face of the table 31. Then, a second nut 37 screwed into the bolt 34 is fastened and the clamp fitting 36 is pressed downward, thereby fixing the workpiece W to the table 31.
In the conventional jig, however, a space formed between the upper end face 32b of the base member 32 and the lower end face 33e of the flange portion 33c is not effectively utilized. Therefore, the clamp fitting 36 must be arranged as a separate member on the upper face of the flange portion 33c of the adjustment member 33, and the number of components of the jig is thereby increased, which results in the problem that manufacturing and assembling cannot readily be performed.
It is an objective of the present invention to eliminate the problem existing in the prior art and to provide a jig for positioning and fixing a workpiece, which can facilitate manufacture with the reduced number of components and easily perform the clamping operation.

Jig for positioning and fixing workpiece


A locking arrangement comprises a locking member having a longitudinal axis that is contained in a working plane where shear forces are concentrated when the locking member is in a locking position. The working plane is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the parts to be locked when in said locking position in which at least one part of the wind turbine is prevented from being rotated relative to at least another part around said axis of rotation. A Wind turbine generator is provided having a rotor with a rotor flange portion and a stator with a stator flange portion, with both flange portions being complimentarily shaped and defining a locking housing for receiving said locking member.

A number of movable parts in a wind turbine need to be locked in certain conditions. For example, the generator rotor in a wind turbine generator must be locked against rotation relative to the generator stator or to the nacelle for maintenance and/or repair operations.
According to current applicable guidelines for the certification of wind energy plants, provision must be made for the positive locking of the rotor. Therefore mechanical interlocking should be provided in the wind turbine for performing the above mentioned operations and in general for purposes where the rotor must be locked against rotation. This means that for example frictional brakes and the like are not allowed according to these guidelines.
In this respect, it is known in the art the use of locking arrangements for locking the rotor of a wind turbine generator against rotation. These locking arrangements comprise one or more locking pins that are fixedly arranged to the stator of the wind turbine generator. When service activities are required in the wind turbine, a brake assembly is actuated to stop the wind turbine in operation. Once the wind turbine generator is stopped, the locking arrangement can be then activated to lock the rotor against rotation. The activation of the locking arrangement is carried out by driving a locking member or locking pin into a corresponding locking housing that is usually formed in the rotor. Driving of the locking pin can be carried out manually or hydraulically along the axis of the locking pin. The axis of the locking pin is substantially parallel to the rotor axis. Once the locking pin is inserted into a target locking hole, the rotor is prevented from being rotated relative to the stator and service activities can take place safely.
One of the major drawbacks associated with the locking of mutually rotating elements in a wind turbine, such as the rotor relative to the stator, according to the above known method, is the large tolerances existing in the relative position of the locking pins and the locking holes when in the locking position. This further results in alignment problems of the locking pins and the corresponding locking holes.
Another problem with known locking arrangements is that wind turbines are currently becoming bigger in order to produce more energy. This involves increased dimensions of the generator such that the locking pins are also bigger. Since the locking pins must be manufactured to withstand the requirements of operating within harsh working conditions of the wind turbine, costs become undesirably high. This also applies to the actuating mechanisms for driving the locking pins into and out of the locking position which need to be dimensioned in order to withstand high loads. This again results in high costs and overweight.
In addition, the increased dimensions of the wind turbines and parts thereof have led to increased loads on the locking arrangement. Consequently, concentration of shear forces has become an important issue. Alternative materials for the locking arrangements or the increase in their size are solutions that are not useful for withstand the extremely high loads involved in current wind turbines.
Although the use of several locking pins could help to solve this problem, costs and misaligning problems still remain.
Document EP1291521 discloses a locking arrangement for a wind turbine rotor. The locking arrangement in this case comprises an axially movable locking pin that is arranged on the nacelle structure and corresponding locking housings formed in the wind turbine rotor. The locking pin has a tapered end for compensating for misalignments and plays into the holes. Due to the location and the small dimensions of the working plane of the locking pin where shear forces are concentrated, extremely high stresses are present resulting in a highly potential risk of failure of the locking pin when the locking arrangement is in a locking position.
Document WO2008059088 discloses an adjustable, self-aligning rotor locking device for preventing the hub from being rotated relative to the wind turbine nacelle. The rotor locking device includes locking pins fixed to the nacelle and actuation means for driving the locking pin axially in relation to at least one corresponding hole formed in the hub. In this case, the location and the small dimensions of the working plane of the locking pin where shear forces are concentrated is the same as the above document such that extremely high stresses are present with a resulting potential risk of failure of the locking pin.
Many other locking arrangements have been provided having in common the location and the small dimensions of the working plane of the locking pin where shear forces are concentrated. For example, documents WO2010102967, WO2005090780 and WO2008155053 all describe locking arrangements for wind turbine applications where a locking pin is movable in a direction towards a locking housing for locking the parts against rotation.
Due to the fact that the locking pin is subjected to high loads when in the locking position and that said loads are concentrated on a small working plane of the locking pin, loads concentrated therein result in that the locking pin may be likely to deform, crack or break when in the locking position. In addition, it also remains difficult to compensate for radial misalignments in prior art locking arrangements.

Locking arrangement for a wind turbine and wind turbine having such locking arrangement


This invention teaches a method and apparatus for drying artificial catfish worms prior to the application of fishing lure scent. The apparatus utilizes a vinyl sheet which is folded back upon itself into a V-shape and into which are affixed a pair of water absorbent pads. The wet lure is placed within the device, which is then pressed closed for a short period while moisture from the lure is absorbed by the pads. The device then naturally springs to the open position so the pads may dry for subsequent use.

The use of artificial lures is well known in the art. More recently the utilization of fishing lure scents has become popular, as it is believed that fish are capable of detecting the smell of man on these lures, or simply that the artificial lure does not have a natural odor. These fishing lure scents may be applied in numerous ways, and several of the application devices have received U.S. Letters Patent.