The present invention provides a headphone apparatus and a headphone driving apparatus thereof The headphone driving apparatus includes a first and second driving circuits, a signal transmitting circuit, a first and second reference signal generators. The first driving circuit receives a first audio signal pair and generates a first driving signal. The second driving circuit receives a second audio signal pair and generates a second driving signal. The signal transmitting circuit transmits the first audio signal pairs or the reference signal to the first output end pair. The signal transmitting circuit decides to transmit the second audio signal pairs to the second output end pair or not according to the mode selecting signal. The second reference signal generator receives signals and generates the second reference signal. Wherein, the first and second reference signal generators are turned off according to the mode selecting signal.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to a headphone driving apparatus, and more particularly to the audio driving apparatus for driving a headphone apparatus with different configurations.
2. Description of Prior Art
In a traditional implementation of a headphone driving apparatus, the dedicated hardware (means integrated circuits, ICs) can only provide one single solution for one audio application use. For different applications, the prior art headphone driving apparatus needs different hardware (different ICs) to support the different applications. That is, in the prior art, the cost of the headphone driving apparatus is increased if the headphone driving apparatus is used to driving a headphone apparatus with multiple configurations. On the other hand, for developing sever solution for the different configurations of the headphone apparatus, it would cost a lot and waste time, and the cost is increased correspondingly.

Headphone apparatus and audio driving apparatus thereof


A knife member that can have a blade portion configured operation within a surgical stapling device. A first frame portion can extend from the blade portion to a first connection portion. A second frame portion can extend from the first frame portion to a second connection portion. At least one of the first and second frame portions can include a fused portion. The fused portion can be configured to fail when a predetermined amount of force is applied to the fused portion.

Surgical clamping and cutting instruments (e.g., linear clamping, stapling, and cutting devices, also known as surgical staplers; and electrosurgical vessel sealing devices) have been employed in many different surgical procedures. For example, a surgical stapler can be used to resect a cancerous or anomalous tissue from a gastro-intestinal tract. Many known surgical clamping and cutting instruments, including known surgical staplers, have opposing jaws that clamp tissue and an articulated knife to cut the clamped tissue.
In the case of telesurgical controlled instruments, surgical clamping and cutting instruments are often deployed into restrictive body cavities (e.g., through a cannula to inside the pelvis). Accordingly, it is desirable for a surgical clamping and cutting instrument to be both compact and maneuverable for best access to and visibility of the surgical site.
Surgical clamping and cutting instruments can sometimes fail to fully actuate (e.g., due to a hard obstacle blocking the knife path). In such an event, it is desirable that the knife blade not be in a position that may represent a hazard with respect to removal of the surgical instrument from the surgical site. Known surgical clamping and cutting instruments, however, may fail to avoid the potential knife hazard and at the same time be compact and maneuverable.
Thus, there is believed to be a need for improved surgical clamping and cutting instruments and related methods. Such surgical clamping and cutting instruments should be compact and maneuverable, and employ a knife that does not represent a hazard with respect to removal of the surgical instrument from the surgical site when the surgical instrument fails to fully actuate.


An object is to provide a copper particulate dispersion which is suited to discharge in the form of droplets.

There has hitherto existed a printed board in which a circuit composed of a copper foil is formed on a substrate by photolithography. Photolithography includes the step of etching a copper foil and high costs are required for a treatment of waste fluid generated by etching.
There has been known, as the technology requiring no etching, a method in which a copper particulate dispersion prepared by dispersing copper particulates (copper nanoparticles) in a dispersion vehicle (in a vehicle) is discharged from an ink-jet printer on a substrate in the form of droplets to form a circuit (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). According to this method, a film of the copper particulate dispersion is formed on the substrate by discharging droplets and, after drying the film, copper particulates in the film are melted by exposure to light and thus conductivity is imparted to the film. It is considered that the viscosity of the copper particulate dispersion is desirably less than 20 mPa·s so as to enable the dispersion to discharge in the form of droplets. The film of the copper particulate dispersion is dried by heating to room temperature or a temperature of 150° C. or lower so that a substrate is not damaged by heat even if the substrate is made of a resin. For the purpose of making an attempt to reduce the amount of the dispersion vehicle which remains after drying, a dispersion vehicle having a boiling point of lower than 150° C. is selected.
However, because of low boiling point of the dispersion vehicle, such a copper particulate dispersion is likely to be excessively dried to cause clogging with copper particulates at the portion from which the dispersion is discharged in the form of droplets. In contrast, high boiling point of the dispersion vehicle may sometimes cause an increase in viscosity, and thus it may become difficult to discharge the copper particulate dispersion in the form of droplets.

Copper particulate dispersion, conductive film forming method and circuit board

Abstract: The copper particulate dispersion includes copper particulates, at least one kind of a dispersion vehicle containing the copper particulates, and at least one kind of dispersant which allows the copper particulates to disperse in the dispersion vehicle. The copper particulates have a center particle diameter of 1 nm or more and less than 100 nm. The dispersion vehicle is a polar dispersion vehicle having a boiling point within a range from 150° C. to 250° C. Whereby, when the copper particulate dispersion is discharged in the form of droplets, clogging at the discharge portion caused by drying of the dispersion vehicle is prevented and the viscosity is low for its high boiling point, and thus the copper particulate dispersion is suited to discharge in the form of droplets.


A method of controlling a bottling plant, including detecting an operating state of the bottling plant, determining whether for the detected operating state the energy consumption and/or the consumable consumption of at least one consumer of the bottling plant can be reduced, and if it is determined that the energy consumption and/or the consumable consumption of at least one consumer can be reduced, reducing the energy consumption and/or the consumable consumption of the at least one consumer.

In a bottling plant, despite an extended production standstill, for example caused by retrofitting or cleaning operations, normally all consumers are continued to be operated and supplied with energy and/or consumables.
This is to ensure that after the production interruption, all functions of the bottling plant will be immediately available in the further operation.
This well-known procedure, however, has a disadvantage in that it gives rise to high consumption of energy and/or consumables.

Device and method for controlling a bottling plant


A door fastening device comprising a bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position where at least part of the bolt extends, in use, to fasten the door, the bolt being linked to an abutment member, the part of the bolt being movable to its extended position in engagement, in use, of a bolt member of a lock or latch of the door with the abutment member, the abutment member being a cam which is adjustable to compensate for different clearances, in use, between the device and the door in its closed position, to ensure sufficient engagement of the abutment member by the bolt member to move the part of the bolt to its extended position, and the cam having a flat, first surface and a second surface on a nose part.

This invention relates to a door fastening device in which a bolt is arranged so that, in use, it is operated by the shooting of the deadbolt or latch of a lock of the door to assume a position in which it prevents the opening of the door until the deadbolt or latch bolt is withdrawn. The device may be secured to a side of the door frame jamb, or may be received in a mortice in said jamb.
In the door fastening device disclosed in U.K. Patent Specification No. 321,113 the door lock bolt, when extended, acts on an arm carried on one end of a spindle, on the other end of which is a lever which engages one of a pair of linked swivel bolts to cause both swivel bolts to extend into respective box staples on the door to hold it closed. To allow for differences in the amount of movement of the latches or bolts according to the different types of locks with which the device is used, adjustment means in the form of an adjustable stop is provided on the arm where it is engaged by the door lock bolt.
This invention relates to a door fastening device in which a bolt is arranged so that, in use, it is operated by the shooting of the deadbolt or latch of a lock of the door to assume a position in which it prevents the opening of the door until the deadbolt or latch bolt is withdrawn. The device may be secured to a side of the door frame jamb, or may be received in a mortice in said jamb.
According to a first aspect of the invention a door fastening device comprises a casing, a bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position where at least part of the bolt extends through an opening in the casing to fasten the door, in use, the bolt being linked to an abutment member, said part of the bolt being movable to its extended position by engagement, in use, of a bolt member of a lock or latch of the door with said abutment member, said abutment member being adjustable to compensate for different clearances, in use, between the casing and the door in its closed position, to ensure sufficient engagement of the abutment member by the bolt member to move said part of the bolt to its extended position, a faceplate with an opening for passage of said bolt member, and means for relative fixing adjustment between the faceplate and the casing to compensate for different relative dispositions, in use, between the door and the casing.
According to a second aspect of the invention a door fastening device comprises a bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position where at least part of the bolt extends, in use, to fasten the door, the bolt being linked to an abutment member, said part of the bolt being movable to its extended position by engagement, in use, of a bolt member of a lock or latch of the door with said abutment member, said abutment member being a cam which is adjustable to compensate for different clearances, in use, between the device and the door in its closed position, to ensure sufficient engagement of the abutment member by the bolt member to move said part of the bolt to its extended position, and the cam having a flat, first surface and a second surface on a nose part.
Preferably the flat surface extends across the whole axial length of the cam, whilst said second surface extends axially for only part thereof. Desirably said second surface is arcuate.


A system for measuring an absorption coefficient of a doped optical fiber may include: a laser source configured to transmit laser light at a selectable wavelength; a single-mode optical fiber including an end configured to splice to the doped optical fiber; two or more multimode fibers at a side of the doped optical fiber, spaced apart along the side of the doped optical fiber, configured to collect spontaneous emissions from the side of the doped optical fiber; and/or a photodiode or power meter connected to the two or more multimode fibers. A method for measuring an absorption coefficient of a doped optical fiber may include: collecting, from a side of the doped optical fiber, an emission spectrum using two or more multimode fibers; and/or calculating the absorption coefficient form using the emission spectrum and McCumber theory.

Fiber lasers are a prominent source of coherent light due to their capability to deliver high power output with good beam quality. Currently, fiber lasers are widely used in industry and scientific research fields. Since their early development, much research and study has concentrated on improving the output power, efficiency, reliability, and beam quality of fiber lasers. To achieve these goals, different wavelengths, materials, cavities, fiber structures, etc., have been implemented.
Total pump absorption plays a role in the overall efficiency of fiber lasers. Accordingly, an accurate measurement of the absorption coefficient is a factor in making fiber lasers more efficient. The absorption coefficient is dependent on the condition of the optical fiber and also its fabrication procedure. Even with the same production process, the absorption coefficient is not constant, hence companies report a wide range of values for the associated absorption coefficients.
FIG. 1 depicts an example of a cutback method according to the conventional art. The conventional cutback method has been widely used to measure the absorption coefficient of doped optical fibers. In this method, doped optical fiber 100 with doped core 102 and cladding 104 is pumped using a laser (not shown), and the pump power transmitted through doped core 102 is measured at points along the length of doped optical fiber 100.
As a first step in the conventional cutback method, doped optical fiber 100 is cut at the 1st cut, as shown in FIG. 1. Then, doped optical fiber 100 is aligned with power meter 106, pumped using the laser, and the pump power transmitted through doped core 102 is measured at the 1st cut using power meter 106.
As a second step in the conventional cutback method, doped optical fiber 100 is cut at the 2nd cut, as shown in FIG. 1. Then, doped optical fiber 100 is realigned with power meter 106, pumped using the laser, and the pump power transmitted through doped core 102 is measured at the 2nd cut using power meter 106.
As a third step in the conventional cutback method, doped optical fiber 100 is cut at the 3rd cut, as shown in FIG. 1. Then, doped optical fiber 100 is realigned with power meter 106, pumped using the laser, and the pump power transmitted through doped core 102 is measured at the 3rd cut using power meter 106.
This process of cutting, aligning/realigning, pumping, and measuring is repeated as required.
As can be observed by a person having ordinary skill in the art ("PHOSITA"), this method amounts to destructive testing of doped optical fiber 100. Thus, once the cutback method is performed on doped optical fiber 100, doped optical fiber 100—as tested—no longer exists to be used.
In addition, the cutting process involves cleaving, stripping, inspecting, polishing, and/or realigning the cut doped optical fiber 100. In particular, for best results, the cut doped optical fiber 100 should be precisely realigned relative to power meter 106 for each measurement, including locating the newly cut end at a same distance 'd' from power meter 106. As a result, the repeated realignments introduce error into the conventional cutback method.
Another source of error in the conventional cutback method is the presence of cladding modes. It is virtually impossible to eliminate all of the cladding modes in doped optical fiber 100.
One approach used to reduce the impact of the cladding modes is to cover cladding 104 with index matching gel. However, there are some cladding modes close to doped core 102 that remain unaffected by the index matching gel, and they can propagate through cladding 104, effectively having no interaction with doped core 102.
For passive optical fibers, it can be practical to use the cutback method for optical fibers on the order of a couple of kilometers in length, because the cladding modes can be greatly reduced or eliminated. However, doped optical fiber 100 is intrinsically an absorber, and so a typical length of doped optical fiber 100 used for the cutback method is on the order of one meter, thus the cladding modes cannot be greatly reduced or eliminated. Practically speaking, the presence of cladding modes in doped optical fiber 100 is an unavoidable source of error in measuring the absorption coefficient of doped optical fiber 100.
In the cutback method, all of the pump light should be coupled to doped core 102. Two options for such coupling include splicing with another optical fiber and using a microscope objective.
For the splicing option, it is typically difficult to find a commercially available passive fiber with a core diameter than matches the core diameter of doped core 102 because passive fibers are designed to lase at a lasing wavelength, but most of the time absorption at the pump wavelength is desirable for doped core 102. So a passive fiber should be chosen to carry the pump wavelength.
In one example, when splicing 980-XP (from Nufern, Inc., of East Granby, Conn.) as a passive fiber with SM-YSF-LO-HP (a ytterbium-doped, single-mode, single-clad optical fiber also from Nufern, Inc.) as a doped optical fiber, due to the fact that the mode field diameter at pumping wavelength is not the same in both fibers, the splicing loss is at least about 15%. This means that about 15% or more of the input power is gone, and some of that power couples to the cladding modes. But in an optical fiber length of less than one meter, it is almost impossible to completely remove all of that power from the cladding modes.
For the microscope-objective option, it may not be theoretically possible to couple all of the power into doped core 102. Additionally, it is typically difficult to find a commercially available, highly efficient microscope objective. This means that for the microscope-objective option, there is about 12% coupling loss, and some of that power couples to the cladding modes.
Further problems arise in the cutback method because some doped optical fibers 100, such as ZBLAN (ZrF4—BaF2—LaF3—AlF3—NaF), are mechanically fragile. But the cutback method requires significant handling, movement, and stress to doped optical fiber 100. Thus, handling ZBLAN fibers for the cutback method is extremely difficult.
For measuring the absorption coefficient in a highly doped fiber such as F-DF1100 (from Newport Corporation of Irvine, Calif.), which has a nominal peak absorption at 977 nm of 1,700 decibels per meter ("dB/m"), using the cutback method for the resonant wavelength (peak of absorption) is almost impossible because each piece should be smaller than a millimeter.
For applying the cutback method to certain optical fibers (e.g., ZBLAN fibers, large-mode-area fibers, photonic crystal fibers), because the cutting process involves cleaving, stripping, inspecting, polishing, and/or realigning, different tools may be required. In particular, proper cleaving (e.g., tension, cutting blade angle, straight and flat cleave) is challenging and time-consuming. In addition, ZBLAN fibers, large-mode-area fibers, and photonic crystal fibers are expensive and the cut pieces generally are not useful.
In view of these issues with the cutback method, a non-destructive and accurate method for measuring the absorption coefficient of doped optical fibers would be advantageous.

Systems and methods for measuring absorption coefficients of doped optical fibers


A medical ventilator capable of early detecting and recognizing types of pneumonia, a gas recognition chip, and a method for recognizing gas thereof are disclosed. The gas recognition chip of the medical ventilator comprises a sensor array, a sensor interface circuit, a stochastic neural network chip, a memory and a microcontroller. The sensor array receives a plurality of multiple types of gases to produce odor signals corresponding to each type of gas. The sensor interface circuit analyzes the odor signals to produce gas pattern signals corresponding to each type of gas. The stochastic neural network chip amplifies the differences between the gas pattern signals and performs dimensional reduction on the gas pattern signals to aid the analysis. The memory stores training data. The microcontroller performs a mixed gas recognizing algorithm to early detect and recognize the type of the pneumonia according to the gas training data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device used for recognizing a gas, more particularly to a medical ventilator having a micro gas recognition chip capable of recognizing the type of a mixed gas to early detect and recognize the types of pneumonia that infects a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
After patients with severe illness enter into an intensive unit, the patients usually require intubations and medical ventilators, and thus the patients' respiratory tract may be infected easily to cause pneumonia, and the chance of getting pneumonia in this situation may reach 80%. Many bacteria causing pneumonia already have drug resistance, and thus making the treatment more difficult.
If a patient has the symptoms of pneumonia, medical professionals will take X-ray photo of the patient's chest, blood samples and phlegm suction to perform a bacterial culture of molecular biology. However, even if medical professionals have confirmed that a patient is infected by pneumonia from blood extraction, phlegm suction and chest X-ray examination, it is necessary to wait for the result of the bacterial culture to conform the bacteria causing the pneumonia, and the bacterial culture generally takes at least five days which is a very long time to the critically ill patient. At present, there is no medical instrument available for diagnosing the patient's types of pneumonia immediately, and doctors usually require giving mediations to the patient before the result of the bacterial culture is obtained. However, at least ten types of bacteria (such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, acinetobacter baumannii and staphylococcus, etc) will cause pneumonia, and the medicines used for treating different types of bacteria are different. Therefore, the doctors can only based on experience to determine to use which medicine before the result of the bacterial culture is obtained. If the medicine is found to be inappropriate after the result of the bacterial culture is obtained, then the medicine is changed to another one. However, such delay of medical treatment will extend the patient's stay in the intensive care unit and increase the probability of the patient's nosocomial infection or even death. Therefore, it is an important subject for the present invention to provide an electronic device capable of diagnosing the types of pneumonia infecting the patient immediately.

Medical ventilator capable of early detecting and recognizing types of pneumonia, gas recognition chip, and method for recognizing gas thereof


An evaporation coating apparatus comprising a heating unit (3) and a cylindrical member (1) disposed within the heating unit (3), wherein the cylindrical member (1) comprises a hollow sleeve (13) and a barrel (12) disposed at an inner side of the hollow sleeve (13) in a fitting manner; wherein a top end area of the hollow sleeve (13) is provided with a first evaporation hole (131), and an external surface of the hollow sleeve (13) is provided with an internal heater strip (4) connected to a control unit; wherein an external surface of the barrel (12) is provided with a groove (1′) extending along an axial central line of the barrel (12), the groove (1′) is provided with a plurality of compartments (11) arranged at interval space, and each of the compartments (11) is provided with a crucible (2); wherein the crucible (2) comprises a main body (21) which is disposed within the compartment (11) and sealed all around with one side opened, and a cover (22) which is connected to the main body (21) in a fitting manner and provided with a second evaporation hole (221) corresponding to the first evaporation hole (131); and wherein the heating unit (3) has a hollow columnar structure, and an external surface of the heating unit (3) is provided with an external heater strip (5) and a nozzle (31) which is corresponding to the first evaporation hole (131). The evaporation coating apparatus is mainly configured to manufacture large-sized displays and can improve the uniformity of film-forming with organic material on the surface of the substrate.

The technology of heating and evaporating an organic material under vacuum environment to form a film of the organic material onto a substrate is known as evaporation coating technology (evaporation coating for short), which appeals those skilled in the art for its advantageous such as wider range of application and low pollution.
Generally, an evaporation coating process utilizes a line source, usually a heater strip, as the heating source, so as to improve film-forming efficiency and material utilization. One of known processes applying the evaporation coating technology based on line source into Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) products comprises steps of adding an organic material into a crucible having a size matched with that of a substrate; heating the organic material in the crucible by a heater strip surrounding or attaching onto a periphery of the crucible so that the organic material subject to heating can be uniformly evaporated onto a surface of the substrate disposed at an upper side of the crucible through a plurality of evaporation holes formed at a top end of the crucible, so as to complete the film-forming process of the substrate in an OLED product.
At present, OLED products are developing towards larger size, which results in larger and larger sized substrate, and correspondingly larger and larger sized crucible and hence longer and longer line source for heating. It's therefore more difficult to control, for example, a uniform temperature of the line source for a large sized substrate, which leads to a worse uniformity of film-forming with the organic material on the surface of the substrate.


A liquid supply device includes diaphragms, pressing members, a movement unit, a rotating shaft, and cams. In the liquid supply device, when the rotating shaft is rotated in a first direction, the cams are moved to arrange adjoining ones of the cams to have a phase difference around the rotating shaft, in which one of the cams selectively causes a corresponding one of the pressing members to regulate an increase in a volume of a corresponding one of the diaphragms. When the rotating shaft is rotated in a second direction, the cams are moved to arrange the cams in phase with one another when viewed from an axial direction of the rotating shaft, in which the cams simultaneously cause all the pressing members to regulate the increase in the volume of each of the diaphragms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid supply device adapted to supply liquid by an increase or decrease of a pump internal volume, and an image forming apparatus including the liquid supply device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a liquid supply device adapted to supply liquid by an increase or decrease of a pump internal volume utilizes a diaphragm pump including a diaphragm, a first check valve, and a second check valve, and the diaphragm being formed of an elastically deformable material to change the pump internal volume. The diaphragm pump includes a compression coil spring provided therein to actuate the diaphragm outward. The diaphragm pump further includes a pressing member provided to press the diaphragm from the outside toward the center of the diaphragm against the actuation force of the compression coil spring.
In the diaphragm pump, a volume of the diaphragm is decreased by pressing the diaphragm using the pressing member, so that liquid is ejected via the first check valve. By releasing the pressing member from the diaphragm, an internal pressure of the diaphragm is reduced due to the outward actuation force of the spring provided in the diaphragm, so that liquid is attracted via the second check valve. This diaphragm pump is commonly used in an inkjet recording apparatus as an ink supply unit to supply ink (liquid) from an ink tank (main tank) to a head tank (sub-tank).
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3797548 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus. In this inkjet recording apparatus, an ink tank and a head tank are connected to each other via an ink passage, and the ink passage is formed into an enclosed passage to which a diaphragm pump is connected. The inkjet recording apparatus includes plural recording heads each ejecting ink from the head tank. Each of the recording heads includes an ink tank, a diaphragm pump, a head tank, and an ink passage. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a pump drive device adapted to select one of the diaphragm pumps as a target diaphragm pump and drive the selected diaphragm pump. This pump drive device uses, as a pump drive source, a drive motor having a rotating shaft which is rotatable in forward and backward directions and is selectively connected to and drives the target diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pumps are disposed along a peripheral surface of the rotating shaft and arranged in a line substantially parallel to an axial direction of the rotating shaft.
FIGS. 16A to 16D are diagrams for explaining the operation of a pump drive device 400 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3797548. As shown in FIGS. 16A to 16D, the pump drive device 400 includes a first link 402 and a second link 403 for each of the diaphragm pumps. The first link 402 includes a first tooth portion 401 with plural teeth formed at an edge of an end portion of the first link 402. The second link 403 is adapted to change the volume of the diaphragm pump due to an up/down movement of the second link 403 caused by engagement with the first link 402. The first link 402 is rotatably supported on the device and disposed to face a peripheral surface of a rotating shaft 404 of a drive motor, and supporting shafts of the first link 402 are arranged in parallel with an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The second link 403 includes a pressing member 406 adapted to press a diaphragm 405 in a contraction direction of the diaphragm 405, and an end portion of the second link 403 is movably connected to an end portion of the first link 402 which is opposite to the end portion thereof where the first tooth portion 401 is formed. The second link 403 is subject to an up/down movement in a direction indicated by the arrow C or the arrow F in FIGS. 16A to 16D while the movement of the second link 403 is regulated by a pin 403a. Moreover, the second link 403 is actuated by a compression coil spring (first spring) 407 in a direction to approach the diaphragm 405. The pressing member 406 of the second link 403 presses the diaphragm 405 such that ink is not extruded from the diaphragm 405 by the actuation force of the first spring 407. A second tooth portion 408 with plural teeth is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 404 of the drive motor, and the teeth of the second tooth portion 408 are selectively engaged with the teeth of the first tooth portion 401 of the first link 402. The second tooth portion 408 is disposed on the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 404 of the drive motor in a position in the circumferential direction to face the first tooth portion 401. When viewed from the axial direction of the rotating shaft 404, the second tooth portions 408 of the diaphragm pumps are arranged in the positions at mutually different phase angles. A compression coil spring (second spring) 409 is provided within the diaphragm 405 to actuate the diaphragm 405 outward.
In the above-described pump drive device 400, a selection operation is performed to select one of the diaphragm pumps 410 as a target diaphragm pump, and a drive operation is performed to drive the target diaphragm pump 410 so as to supply ink.
Here, a state of the pump drive device 400 in which the first tooth portion 401 and the second tooth portion 408 are not engaged with each other is referred to as an "initial state". In the initial state of the pump drive device 400, rotation of the rotating shaft 404 is started in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 16A. The rotating shaft 404 is rotated until the first link 402 corresponding to the target diaphragm pump 410 is engaged with the first tooth portion 401. Rotation of the first link 402 which is engaged with the first tooth portion 401 is started in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 16A, and actuation of the second link 403 is started in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 16A. If the rotating shaft 404 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 16A, the first link 402 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 16A and the second link 403 is further actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 16A. By this actuation, the second link 403 is actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 16B. If the first tooth portion 401 of the first link 402 with which the second tooth portion 408 of the rotating shaft 404 is engaged does not correspond to the target diaphragm 405, the rotation of the rotating shaft 404 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 16B is continued until the second tooth portion 408 of the rotating shaft 404 is engaged with the first tooth portion 401 of the first link 402 corresponding to the target diaphragm 405. This operation causes the target diaphragm 405 to be selected.
After the target diaphragm 405 is selected, if the rotating shaft 404 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 16C, rotation of the first link 402 is started in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 16C and actuation of the second link 403 is started in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 16C. If the rotating shaft 404 in this state is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 16C, the first link 402 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 16C and the second link 403 is further actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 16C. By this actuation, the pressing member 406 of the second link 403 presses the diaphragm 405 in the contracting direction of the diaphragm 405 while resisting the force of the second spring 409. Hence, the volume of the diaphragm 405 is reduced and the ink in the diaphragm 405 is supplied to the head tank (not illustrated). If the rotating shaft 404 in this state is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 16A, the first link 402 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 16A and the second link 403 is actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 16A. By this actuation, the pressing member 406 of the second link 403 is moved and no longer presses the diaphragm 405, and the volume of the diaphragm 405 is increased according to the actuation force of the first spring 407. This operation may attract ink in the ink tank (not illustrated) into the diaphragm 405.
Incidentally, if the rotating shaft 404 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 16C until the engagement between the second tooth portion 408 of the rotating shaft 404 and the first tooth portion 401 of the first link 402 is cancelled, the target diaphragm may be changed to another diaphragm or the pump drive device 400 may be set in the initial state. In this initial state, the pressing member 406 of the second link 403 presses the diaphragm 405 lightly such that ink is not extruded from the diaphragm 405 by the actuation force of the first spring 407.
However, in the pump drive device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3797548, the diaphragm 405 tends to be increased in the volume due to the use of the second spring 409 provided in the diaphragm 405 to actuate the diaphragm 405 outward. If the volume of the diaphragm 405 is decreased with the consumption of ink, the internal space of the diaphragm 405 is subject to negative pressure. In such a condition, the increase in the volume of the diaphragm 405 by the actuation force of the second spring 409 is not regulated. For example, if the ink tank is removed and the diaphragm 405 is opened to the atmosphere when the second link 403 is moved downward as shown in FIG. 16B or when the rotating shaft 404 is in the initial position, it is likely that external air is attracted into the diaphragm 405. For example, if the second tooth portion 408 of the rotating shaft 404 associated with the target diaphragm corresponding to the ink tank to be removed should be engaged with the first tooth portion 401 of the first link 402 and the target diaphragm should be pressed by the pressing member of the second link as shown in FIGS. 16A, 16C and 16D in the above-mentioned condition in order to regulate the increase in the volume of the diaphragm 405, external air may not be attracted into the diaphragm even when the ink tank is removed.
However, the liquid supply device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3797548 is arranged so that only the target diaphragm among the plural diaphragms 405 is pressed by the pressing member of the second link. If an ink tank corresponding to another diaphragm 405 in which the increase in the volume is not regulated is removed erroneously, external air enters that diaphragm. The air once introduced in the wrong diaphragm cannot be ejected from the side of the ink tank where the first check valve is disposed. The air introduced in the wrong diaphragm must be ejected from the side of the recording head together with ink. As a result, the ink used to eject the air in this manner will be wasted unnecessarily.

Liquid supply device and image forming apparatus


A method for a user equipment (UE) to receive physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) with a first sub-carrier spacing (SCS) includes receiving a bitmap indicating symbols of a slot that are first symbols of control resource sets (CORESETs) for PDCCH receptions, determining, based on the bitmap, a first number of symbols that is a smallest number of symbols in between a first symbol of PDCCH receptions in first CORESETs and a first symbol of PDCCH receptions in second CORESETs, determining, based on the first number of symbols and the SCS, a first maximum number of non-overlapping control channel elements (CCEs), and receiving the PDCCHs with the first SCS according to the first maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs.

There is a demand for an improved 5G communication system. A 5G communication system can be implemented in higher frequency (mmWave) bands, for example 28 GHz bands or 60 GHz bands, to enable higher data rates or in lower frequency bands, such as below 6 GHz, to enable robust coverage and mobility support. User equipments (UEs) and base station (BSs) operating in 5G systems flexibly support multiple service/priority types associated with different reliability or latency requirements in a same downlink or uplink bandwidth part. 5G communication systems also support different transmission types, with corresponding different requirements for latency and reception reliability, and interference avoidance or compensation can be a critical component in achieving such requirements.

Scheduling in communication systems with multiple service types


A processing apparatus includes a microwave processing chamber. In addition, the processing apparatus includes a rigid, rotatable feed wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation such that a part of the feed wheel is located within the processing chamber. Further, the processing apparatus includes a feed device configured to deposit materials to be processed onto the feed wheel. Still further, the processing apparatus includes an output into which processed materials from the feed wheel can be deposited.

This invention relates to a processing apparatus, and in particular to a processing apparatus intended for use in the extraction of hydrocarbons from a matrix of solid materials such as rock chippings or the like.
WO2008/059240 describes an arrangement that can be used in the extraction of hydrocarbons from other materials. The arrangement comprises a conveyor belt onto which materials to be processed are loaded, the conveyor belt carrying the materials through a processing chamber in which microwaves are applied to the materials. The application of the microwaves results in the rapid heating of water carried with the materials, and in the thermal desorption of hydrocarbons from the materials. Whilst the microwave processing of the materials to extract hydrocarbons therefrom operates satisfactorily in tests, handling of the hydrocarbon containing materials in practise is difficult. It has been found that the materials tend to adhere to the material of the conveyor belt, and this can result in the materials adhered to the conveyor belt being repeatedly passed through the processing chamber. As a consequence, vitrification may occur. Furthermore, during the application of high power microwaves, it has been found that arcing often occurs, leading to damage to the conveyor belt. As a consequence, regular replacement of conveyor belts has been required.
Rather than use a belt conveyor to carry the materials through the processing chamber, a feed screw based arrangement has been developed, for example as described in WO2013/110944. However, whilst arcing in such arrangements is less of an issue as the processing chamber is substantially filled with materials to be processed, such arrangements also suffer from the disadvantage that materials being processed often adhere to parts of the feed screw arrangement with the result that their residence time within the processing chamber is undesirably long. Again, as a result, vitrification may occur. The vitrified materials can reach temperatures sufficiently high that parts of the feed screw arrangement or processing chamber, such as the ceramic components thereof, become damaged.
One of the issues that has been experienced is that, prior to treatment, the materials being processed are reasonably flowable, and after processing they take the form of a powder which can be transported, but during the processing operation the materials tend to become a very sticky conglomerate that is very difficult to handle.
It is an object of the invention to provide a processing apparatus in which at least some of the disadvantages associated with the known processing arrangements are overcome or are of reduced effect.
According to the present invention there is provided a processing apparatus comprising a microwave processing chamber, a rigid, rotatable feed wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation such that a part of the feed wheel is located within the processing chamber, a feed device operable to deposit materials to be processed onto the feed wheel, and an output into which processed materials from the feed wheel can be deposited, in use.
Preferably, a scraper mechanism is provided whereby, once processed materials from the feed wheel have been deposited into the output, materials adhered to the feed wheel can be scraped therefrom prior to the deposition of materials to be processed thereto from the feed device.
It will be appreciated that such an arrangement is advantageous in that the risk of materials passing repeatedly through the processing chamber is reduced. The likelihood of vitrification of the materials is thus reduced, and so the risk of damage arising through such vitrification is also reduced.
As the feed wheel is of rigid construction, its dimensions and the clearances between it and other parts of the processing apparatus can be selected in such a manner that arcing is avoided or reduced, and that microwaves are contained and focussed within the processing chamber.
The feed wheel is preferably shaped to define a channel. By way of example, the feed wheel may define a cylindrical hub and a pair of radially outwardly extending flanges or rims, the rims and hub together defining the channel. At least the hub of the feed wheel is conveniently formed from a microwave transparent material such as a suitable plastics and/or ceramic material.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a processing apparatus 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The processing apparatus 10 comprises a housing 12 of multipart form, including a lower part 12a and an upper part 12b. The lower part 12a carries bearings 14 whereby a rigid feed wheel 16 is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation defined by the bearings. It further carries a motor 18, for example of electrically powered form, operable to drive the feed wheel 16 for rotation, the motor 18 being controlled by a controller (not shown).
The upper part 12b defines a microwave processing chamber 20 to which microwaves are supplied, in use, via a waveguide 22 provided in a waveguide housing 24 secured to the housing 12 and located, in used, within the periphery of the feed wheel 16. Part of the periphery of the feed wheel 16 extends through the processing chamber 20 such that, over time as the feed wheel 16 is rotated, all of the periphery of the feed wheel 16 passes through the processing chamber 20.
A feed device 26 including a feed screw 28 is operable to deposit materials to be processed onto an upper part of the feed wheel 16, and an output 30 dimensioned to minimise the escape of microwave energy is arranged to allow the collection of processed materials from the feed wheel 16, the processed materials falling from the feed wheel 16 into the output 30 after they have passed through the processing chamber 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the feed device 26 conveniently includes a level sensor in the form of a pivotable flap 26a that rests upon the surface of the delivered material, and a sensor 26b such as an LVDT monitoring the position of the flap 26a. The level sensor thus provides information regarding the level of material deposited onto the wheel 16 at any given time.
As shown in FIG. 2, the feed wheel 16 comprises a cylindrical hub 32 and a pair of rims 34, 36. The hub 32 and rims 34, 36 together define a channel 37 into which the materials to be processed are deposited by the feed device 26, in use, and from which processed materials fall into the output 30 after rotation of the feed wheel 16 to move the materials through the processing chamber 20. At one axial end, the hub 32 is closed by an end wall 38, and an axle 40 mounted to the end wall 38 is supported by the bearings 14 to support the feed wheel 16 for rotation.
The hub 32 of the feed wheel 16 is formed from a number of sections, each of which is of a material that is substantially transparent to microwaves, for example being formed from a suitable plastics and/or ceramic material. By way of example, the sections may each be of boron nitride, which is relatively easy to machine, although other harder materials may be used. The remainder of the feed wheel 16 may also be formed from a microwave transparent material, if desired. However, this is not of importance and, if desired, the said other parts may be of metallic materials or the like, so as to be of sufficient strength to allow the feed wheel 16 to bear the loads applied thereto, in use. Whilst illustrated as taking the form of a number of sections, the feed wheel 16 could potentially be of one piece construction, which may be advantageous in that microwave leakage, and/or leakage of materials between the sections, may be avoided.
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper part 12b of the housing 12 is provided with an outlet 42 whereby steam and hydrocarbons extracted during the processing operation and carried with the steam can be extracted from the apparatus 10.
In use, the motor 18 is operated to drive the feed wheel 16 for rotation, and the feed device 26 is operated to deliver or deposit materials to be processed onto the upper part of the feed wheel 16, into the channel 37 defined by the rims 34, 36 and the hub 32. Whilst delivered to an upper part of the feed wheel 16, as shown in FIG. 4 the point at which the feed device 26 outputs the materials to be processed onto the feed wheel 16 is conveniently lower than the uppermost part of the feed wheel 16 so that rotation of the feed wheel raises the materials before the materials are processed, enabling excess fluids to drain therefrom. The speed of rotation of the feed wheel 16 and rate of material delivery by the feed device 26 are conveniently selected such that the channel 37 is substantially completely filled with material to be processed, or that a desired, substantially uniform depth and/or profile of material is applied to the channel 37. The output of the level sensor may be used to control the operation of the motor 18 and/or the feed device 26 to ensure that the desired quantity of material is present upon the feed wheel 16.
It will be appreciated that the rotation of the feed wheel 16 conveys the materials located within the channel 37 thereof through the processing chamber 20 where the materials are processed through the application of microwaves thereto. The microwaves are supplied via the waveguide 22 to the underside of the hub 32, but the microwave transparent nature of the hub 32 allows the microwaves to pass through the hub 32 to interact with the materials carried thereby and located within the processing chamber 20. The application of the microwaves to the materials being processed rapidly heats the water content of the materials, and results in thermal desorption of any hydrocarbon content from the materials. The manner in which the hydrocarbon materials are extracted from the materials being processed is similar to that described in WO2008/059240 and so will not be described herein in further detail, save to note that after complete processing, the materials located within the channel 37 will be substantially free of hydrocarbons, the hydrocarbons being carried with the steam produced during the processing operation and extracted from the housing 12 by way of the outlet 42. The outlet 42 may be provided in a number of positions, FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrating two options for the location of the outlet 42.
The speed of rotation of the feed wheel 16 and applied microwave power are selected in such a manner as to ensure to substantially complete processing of the materials as they pass through the processing chamber 20 without over processing thereof.
The continued rotation of the feed wheel 16 results in the processed materials being conveyed to a position in which they are able to fall under the action of gravity from the feed wheel 16 to the output 30 from where they can be collected ready for transportation elsewhere.
Within the lower part 12a of the housing 12, adjacent the output 30, is located a scraper device 44. In some arrangements, the scraper 44 may contact the surfaces of the hub 32 and rims 34, 36 to scrape therefrom any materials that may have become adhered thereto. However, as boron nitride is relatively soft and so may be subject to wear, the scraper device 44 is preferably spaced slightly from the surfaces of the feed wheel 16 to minimise wear thereof which still permitting material adhered thereto to be dislodged. The dislodged materials are conveniently delivered to the output 30. It will be appreciated that in this manner, the repeated passage of materials through the processing chamber 20, and the associated risks of over processing and vitrification, is avoided.
The profile of the scraper device 44 conveniently follows that of the feed wheel 16 to minimise the quantity of material able to pass therebetween. It has been found that, in use, the quantity of steam produced during operation tends to aid cleaning of the feed wheel 16 and so, despite the presence of a small clearance, little if any material passes the scraper device 44.
It will be appreciated that the apparatus described hereinbefore is especially suitable for use in the continuous processing of materials. Accordingly, at any given time, the feed wheel 16 will be carrying unprocessed, materials that have just been delivered to the channel 37, partially processed materials that are being conveyed through the processing chamber 20, and fully processed materials that are about to be deposited into the output 30. A part of the feed wheel 16 will also be being cleaned by the scraper device, and another part of the feed wheel 16 will be about to have materials deposited thereto from the feed device 26.
As the feed wheel 16 is of rigid form, it will be appreciated that cleaning thereof is relatively straightforward. The dimensions of the feed wheel 16, housing 12 and waveguide housing 24, and the spacings therebetween, are chosen in such a manner that the risk of arcing is minimised, and that microwaves are contained within the housing 12, in use. In the arrangement illustrated, parts of the feed device 26 are shaped to minimise the clearance between the feed device 26 and the feed wheel 16, the feed device 26 serving as a choke. In conjunction with similar features of the output 30 and scraper device 44, microwave power is contained within the processing chamber 20. To counter the passage of microwaves around the outside edges of the rims 34, 36, a series of grooves are conveniently formed therein.
The processing apparatus 10 thus permits handling and processing of hydrocarbon containing materials such a rock chippings produced during the formation of boreholes in a relatively simple and convenient manner, avoiding over processing or repeated processing of the materials, in an apparatus that is self-cleaning and requires minimal maintenance during operation.
Whilst not illustrated, the processing apparatus 10 conveniently includes a connection to a source of nitrogen gas, and a valve operable to control the application of nitrogen gas to the processing chamber 20. In use, upon initial startup of the apparatus, the valve is preferably opened to supply nitrogen gas to the processing chamber 20 to dilute the atmosphere within the processing chamber 20 to reduce the oxygen content thereof, and thereby reduce the risk of combustion of the materials located within the processing chamber 20. Preferably, the supply of nitrogen gas reduces the oxygen content of the atmosphere within the processing chamber to less than approximately 7%. As the operation of the processing apparatus 10 proceeds, steam is generated within the processing chamber 20 which serves as an alternative dilutant, reducing the proportion of free oxygen present within the atmosphere within the processing chamber 20, and so the nitrogen supply can be correspondingly reduced, or terminated, by appropriate control over the valve.
FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement that is similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 4 but in which rather than use a motor 18 located and arranged so as to drive the feed wheel 16 for rotation about its axis, a friction drive arrangement 18a is provided within the lower part 12a of the housing 12 and arranged to cooperate with the surfaces of the feed wheel 16 to support the wheel 16 for rotation and to transmit drive thereto.
Whilst one embodiment of the invention is described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made to the processing apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.


An apparatus includes a flowline connector having an inboard pipe and an outboard assembly. The outboard assembly includes a frame and an outboard pipe moveable within the frame to allow the outboard pipe to be moved toward the inboard pipe. The outboard assembly also includes a profile pipe in which the outboard pipe is received, and the profile pipe and the outboard pipe are connected to move together. The profile pipe includes at least one guide to change pitch or yaw of the outboard pipe to direct the outboard pipe toward alignment with the inboard pipe as the outboard pipe is moved within the frame toward the inboard pipe. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the presently described embodiments. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In order to meet consumer and industrial demand for natural resources, companies often invest significant amounts of time and money in searching for and extracting oil, natural gas, and other subterranean resources from the earth. Particularly, once a desired subterranean resource such as oil or natural gas is discovered, drilling and production systems are often employed to access and extract the resource. These systems may be located onshore or offshore depending on the location of a desired resource.
Offshore systems can include topside components positioned above the surface of the water, such as on a vessel or platform, and subsea components positioned underwater, such as on a seabed. Whether located subsea, topside, or onshore, components of drilling and production systems can be connected in fluid communication through various flowlines. A subsea system, for instance, may include a network of trees, manifolds, pumps, and other components positioned on a seabed and connected via subsea jumpers or other flowlines. Flowline connectors may be used to facilitate coupling of jumpers or other flowlines to trees, manifolds, and other components of drilling and production systems. In subsea contexts, a working vessel can be positioned above a subsea installation and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can be launched to travel to the subsea installation to facilitate coupling of jumpers to system components via flowline connectors.


At member registration step, a master transmits a certificate and a priority to a slave. The certificate indicates that the slave receiving it belongs to the same data synchronization group as the master. The priority is used to solve a data conflict. At data synchronization, after it is determined that members belong to the same data synchronization group by the certificate, data synchronization processing is performed between arbitrary members in which an input device and a display device such as a wrist watch are limited. Data synchronization does not require a specific server.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-330235, filed Nov. 19, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a communication method for synchronously processing data between a plurality of devices and an electronic device therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to a communication method and an electronic device that have been modified so as to synchronize data in a wireless or wired network such that a network configuration is dynamically changed.
In recent years, apart from a personal computer, in a portable information processing terminal such as a portable cellular phone, a palm top computer or a wrist watch, personal data such as a telephone number (address) directory, schedule data, a task list, an E-mail can be managed and stored. Using this function, data is shared by using duplicate data in order to use the same data at home or outside as well as in office between electronic devices such as a personal computer or a portable information processing terminal. As a technique for keeping coincidence of a plurality of shared data, a data synchronization processing is known. For example, in the case where an attempt is made to share personal data such as an address directory or a schedule between a personal computer and a portable information processing terminal, duplication of data is created, and original data is held in the host and the duplicate data is held in each device other than the host. In the case where a change occurs with these items of data, the changed data is exchanged between these devices, whereby data consistency is maintained. This method is referred to as data synchronization.
As a typical computer program for data synchronization, Intelli Sync (Intelli Sync User""s Guide Rev 3.1 Puma TECHNOLOGY 1999) is known. This enables data synchronization between personal computers or between a personal computer and a portable information processing terminal. This program enables data synchronization between two personal computers, one personal computer and one portable information processing terminal, or one personal computer and two portable information processing terminals.
In the case of this system, however, a device serving as a server must be participated in data synchronization processing. In the case where three or more devices share data, there applies a restriction that data synchronization cannot be performed between two devices other than server. Therefore, for example, in the case where a personal computer connected to a network is used as a server, thereby causing two portable information processing terminals to include the duplicate data, even if an attempt is made to use duplicate data after updated in one portable information processing terminal by the other portable information processing terminal outside, data synchronization processing cannot be performed by these portable information processing terminals other than server. Stated another way, the conventional data synchronization processing is performed between the server and the client in a one-to-one manner. It is not possible to perform the data synchronization processing in a one-to-plural manner.
Furthermore, in general, it is required to provide communication settings for a data synchronization party, settings regarding type of synchronization data, or setting of a method of solving a problem during data conflict. These settings are conventionally provided by a user operating an input device of a personal computer or portable information processing terminal through the setting screen displayed on a display device of the personal computer or portable information processing terminal and inputting data. This means that at least the display device and input device of the portable terminal device are required. Therefore, in the conventional method, because of a restriction specific to device such as a wrist watch including device size, for example, it is very difficult to provide settings of data synchronization in a device having only a limited input device or display device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication method and electronic device that enables data synchronization between arbitrary devices without requiring a server.
According to the present invention, there is provided a communication method for synchronizing data between a plurality of arbitrary devices using a wireless or wired network, the communication method comprising a member registration step and a data synchronization step. In the member registration step, a device specified as a master by a user transmits to a device specified as a slave by the user a certificate indicating that the slave belongs to a data synchronization group that performs a data synchronization processing and a priority to be used when the slave performs the data synchronization processing, and then, the slave is registered as a member of the data synchronization group. In the data synchronization step, it is determined using the certificate whether or not one slave and one or more other slaves capable of making wireless or wired communication belong to the same data synchronization group, and the data synchronization processing is performed through wireless or wired communication in accordance with the priority between the slaves which are determined to belong to the same data synchronization group.
In this communication method, apart from the data synchronization step of actually processing data synchronization, the member registration step is provided for the purpose of specifying a target device for data synchronization. At this member registration step, the certificate and priority are transmitted from a device specified as the master to a device specified as the slave, whereby the slave can be registered as a member of the data synchronization group. The certificate and priority are provided to each member, whereby data synchronization can be easily performed between slaves even if the master is absent, as long as these devices are registered in the same data synchronization group.
In this case, as to whether or not the slaves capable of making wireless or wired communication belong to the same group, it is determined by exchanging the certificate between the slaves. Thus, even if a master does not exist, data synchronization can be performed reliably and safely between the slaves. In the case where a conflict occurs during data synchronization processing between slaves, such conflict can be solved by the priority assigned to each slave at the member registration step. Therefore, each slave may hold only the certificate and priority assigned to each slave itself, making it unnecessary to set data or the like concerning a communication party for data synchronization. Hence, a device having only its limited input device and display device can be used as a device targeted for synchronization. Further, as in a wired or wireless network such that a network configuration is dynamically changed, even in a case of use under environment that makes it difficult to provide data for statically specifying a communication party for data synchronization, a device that is such data synchronization party can be reliably specified.
The data synchronization step can be performed between one master and one or more arbitrary slaves having a certificate indicating that these slaves belong to the same group as well as between slaves.
In addition, there is no need to specify a master and a slave by devices, and an arbitrary device can be specified as a master or slave of the data synchronization group by data targeted for data synchronization. One device may function as a slave of the data synchronization group for one set of data or may function as a master of the data synchronization group for another set of data. Alternatively, one device may function as a slave of two data synchronization groups corresponding to two sets of different data.
In the case where a master and a slave are thus specified individually by data targeted for synchronization, the member registration step is also executed between a device specified as a master of a data synchronization group for the data targeted for data synchronization processing and a device specified as a slave of the master. Thus, for transmission of the certificate and priority as well, a master that is a transmission source and a slave that is a transmission destination are set by data, and the certificate and priority are set by data accordingly.
In addition to the aforementioned member registration step and data synchronization step, a master privilege transfer step may be provided, whereby only the master""s function can be transferred to another device while the function and configuration of the current data synchronization group are maintained intact. Hence, a newly purchased device can be used as a master, and a slave can be temporarily used as a master outside.
In addition, it is preferable that a priority exchange step of exchanging a priority between slaves be further provided. In this manner, the priority registered in the member registration step can be changed later, and data synchronization processing can be achieved more flexibly between slaves.
The master privilege transfer step and priority exchange step as well are preferably performed after it has been determined that there does not exist any device other than two devices set in a mode for executing the above steps.
In order to easily change a member of the data synchronization group or the like, it is preferable to further provide a member registration releasing step of releasing a master or a slave from the data synchronization group. The slave releasing step may be performed by that slave device solely. However, the master releasing step is desirably executed together with the member registration releasing step of a slave communicable with the master. In this manner, a plurality of devices including a master can be released from the data synchronization group with one operation.
In addition, a conventional data synchronizing method assumes one-to-one cable connection, one-to-one connection with the server by modem, or one-to-one connection with the server by infrared-ray radiation. This is because a communication party for data synchronization can be uniquely specified.
However, if the data synchronization is performed in a bus type wired network or a wireless network free of directivity, unlike a case of one-to-one connection, it is required to uniquely identify a party for data synchronization from the devices in a network by any method. In addition, in the case of a wireless or wired network such that a network configuration is dynamically changed, the network address of each device is not fixed, and a network address is often assigned during network connection or the like. Thus, the network address of a communication party cannot be used as static identification information for specifying a communication party for data synchronization. Therefore, in a wire or wireless network such that a configuration is dynamically changed as well, it is required to introduce a new technology for making it possible to uniquely identify a party for data synchronization.
Although it is not presumed in one-to-one connection, in a bus type wired network or a wireless network free of directivity, there is a possibility that a device other than device for data synchronization, for example, a malicious third party exists in the same network, especially in a wireless network. Thus, it is required to ensure data security, and at the same time, to prevent data leak due to computer hacking or the like. In particular, in a wireless network, there is high possibility that a device is merely disposed within the reach of wireless communication, whereby the device can be easily participated in the network. Thus, data security is important. In addition, without maliciousness, there is a danger that data contained in a device other than that targeted for synchronization, the device existing within the reach of wireless communication, is mistakenly or unintentionally changed by data synchronization processing between devices via wireless communication.
According to the present invention, such an undesired data synchronization is prevented from being occurred since the party for data synchronization can be easily identified by exchanging the certificate between the devices.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.
The objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Communication method for data synchronization processing and electronic device therefor


A respiratory mask assembly for filtering airborne biological and/or chemical agents from air for breathing, comprises an outer hood adapted to seal with and encompass at least the head and neck of a wearer from ambient atmosphere, at least one transparent lens attached to the outer hood for providing visual sight to the wearer, at least one filter assembly attached to the outer hood, the filter assembly adapted for filtering airborne biological and/or chemical agents from air passing therethrough, an airflow regulator located in the outer hood, the airflow regulator including an outlet adapted for expelling exhaled air to ambient, and an inlet adapted for drawing air thereinto, and air conveying means located in the outer hood for conveying air filtered through the filter assembly from ambient to the inside surface of the transparent lens for drawing into the airflow regulator inlet.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, licensed, and used by or for the U.S. Government.
The present invention relates generally to respiratory masks, more particularly to full-face respiratory masks adapted for protecting the wearer against biologically/chemically hazardous materials especially in the form of airborne particulates, vapors and aerosols.
Respiratory masks that are adapted to protect the wearer""s face, eyes, and lungs from the effects of hazardous airborne particles of a chemical or biological nature were first used to protect soldiers during war against poison gases. Today such masks have evolved and developed for use in many capacities, including, but not limited to firefighting, environmental cleanup, manufacturing, medical hazard handling, quarantining of patients with highly contagious pathogens, biological and chemical warfare, mining, paint applications, construction, and other applications where persons may come into contact with hazardous substances especially those of airborne nature.
Typically, the mask is worn over the wearer""s face sealed from the ambient atmosphere and cleans the air entering the mask by means of a filter device generally comprised of chemically impregnated fibers or a bed of adsorbent material usually activated charcoal. During operation, a one-way inlet valve in the mask allows air drawn in by the wearer""s lungs into a filter containing the absorbent material, whereby the filtered air then flows into the mask. Thus, the air is filtered and cleaned as it enters the mask. As the wearer exhales, the exhaled gas is expelled through a one-way exit valve out of the mask and the process is repeated with each breath.
Full-face respiratory masks are typically uncomfortable and difficult to wear for long periods of time and impose significant burden on the wearer. Such masks are typically heavy and bulky, restrict vision, generate heat stress and discomfort for the wearer, difficult to breathe through, and trap moisture vapors and perspiration causing lens fogging and discomfort. In addition, when the masks are not worn, they are cumbersome to carry and often cannot be folded without damage into a compact form.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a full-face respiratory mask useful for protecting the wearer against hazardous chemical and biological agents in the form of aerosols, vapors and the like, while maintaining long-term wearability, improved long-term chemical and biological protection, and capacity to be packed into a small compact package. The full-face respiratory mask of the present invention as described herein overcomes the shortcomings described above.
The present invention provides a respiratory mask assembly for protecting a wearer from biological and/or chemical agents that may be present in an atmosphere. The respiratory mask of the present invention provides a military level of protection against biological and chemical agents over a long period of time without similar level of burden and discomfort often associated with full-face mask configurations. The respiratory mask is configured to be highly compact and portable so that it may be conveniently carried and/or packed into a tightly compact hermetically sealed package prior to wear. The mask is easily manufactured using inexpensive and readily available component parts and equipment. In addition, the design of the mask provides the wearer a wide unobstructed field of vision while allowing the wearer to effectively communicate with others. The mask is further adapted to minimize moisture-related fogging and accumulation of carbon dioxide in the interior thereof and facilitate the dissipation of heat and perspiration unavoidably generated by the wearer, while providing a high level of chemical/biological protection suitable especially for military use.
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a respiratory mask assembly for filtering airborne biological and/or chemical agents from air for breathing, which comprises:
an outer hood adapted to seal with and encompass at least the head and neck of a wearer from ambient atmosphere;
at least one transparent lens attached to the outer hood for providing visual sight to the wearer;
at least one filter assembly attached to the outer hood, the filter assembly adapted for filtering airborne biological and/or chemical agents from air passing therethrough;
an airflow regulator located in the outer hood, the airflow regulator including an outlet adapted for expelling exhaled air to ambient, and an inlet adapted for drawing air thereinto; and
air conveying means located in the outer hood for conveying air filtered through the filter assembly from ambient to the inside surface of the transparent lens for drawing into the airflow regulator inlet.

Chemical/biological special operations mask

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


A packaging machine for filling a fluid food or like contents into containers fed to a conveyor and each coated with a thermoplastic synthetic resin over the outer surface thereof and thereafter closing the containers while the containers are being transported by the conveyor. The container transport path has at an intermediate portion thereof a station where hot air is applied to each container, for example, for heat sealing. The conveyor is provided with rails for guiding the container by supporting the bottom thereof. If the rails are heated with the hot air, the resin is likely to adhere to the rails on melting. The rails are provided with a cooling water channel for cooling the rails to eliminate this drawback.

The present invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly to a machine adapted to fill a fluid food or like contents into containers and thereafter close the containers while the containers are being transported by a conveyor.
Conventional packaging machines of the type mentioned comprise a container transport conveyor, and a group of devices arranged in series along the path of travel of the conveyor for filling contents into containers each covered with a thermoplastic resin over its outer surface and thereafter closing the containers. The conveyor has container holders each adapted to hold the container so that the container is restrained from moving horizontally while being allowed to move vertically, and a rail extending below and in parallel to the path of movement of the container holders for supporting the bottom of the container held by each holder to guide the container. The group of devices includes a heater for applying hot air to the container for sterilization or heat sealing.
It is likely that the hot air from the heater will heat not only the container but also the rail. The thermoplastic resin covering the outer surface of the container then adheres to the rail upon melting due to the heat of the rail, giving rise to the problem that the adhering resin offers resistance to make the rail unable to guide the container smoothly. The adhesion of the resin also involves the problem of being undesirable for sanitation.


This robot teaching system includes a teaching tool including an operation portion operated by a user to specify teaching positions and specifying the teaching positions, a measuring portion measuring positions and postures of the teaching tool, and a control portion determining the teaching positions for a robot. The robot teaching system is configured to specify the teaching positions continuously while the user operates the operation portion of the teaching tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a robot teaching system and a robot teaching method.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2011-104759 discloses a robot control system including a teaching tool being located in teaching positions as the operating positions of a robot to specify the teaching positions, a stereo camera imaging the teaching tool located in the teaching positions, and a controller determining the teaching positions for the robot on the basis of the positions and postures of the teaching tool imaged by the stereo camera.

Robot teaching system and method using imaging based on training position


The present invention discloses a method of processing data, comprising: sending, a first data to a first image capturing device, by the first computer, through an image output interface of the first computer; sending, the first data to the second computer, by the first image capturing device. The first data comprises a first information and a second information, the second data comprises a third information and a forth information. The second computer processes the third data or the forth data by a first method if the third information is consistent with the first information and the forth information is consistent with the second information; and the second computer processes the third data or the forth data by a second method if the third information is inconsistent with the first information and the forth information is inconsistent with the second information.

In the current society, many companies and organizations have their own websites, which are used to publish information for customers, and to keep users informed about themselves. However, this kind of website may have a big security risk and can be easily attacked by hackers, which gives hackers an opportunity to access the database of the company's website and cause the leakage of the company's data.


An exhaust system for a two-cycle internal combustion engine combusting a normally gaseous hydrocarbon as fuel, the engine having a cylinder having an exhaust port in communication with an exhaust manifold. The exhaust system has an exhaust gas inlet connectable to the exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas outlet spaced from the exhaust gas inlet in the direction of flow of exhaust gas through the system. A first tubular portion is disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and outlet, the first tubular portion diverging in the direction of flow. A second tubular portion is disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and outlet and spaced from the first tubular portion in the direction of flow, the second tubular portion converging in the direction of flow. During operation of the engine to which the exhaust system is connected, a first, negative pressure pulse is generated in a direction opposite to the direction of flow to enhance the removal of exhaust gases from the cylinder through the exhaust port and a second, positive pressure pulse is thereafter generated in the direction opposite to the direction of flow to prevent the flow of freshly charged gas from the cylinder. An internal combustion engine having the exhaust system and a method of operating an internal combustion engine are also provided.

The present invention relates to an exhaust system for use with an internal combustion engine, in particular to a two-stroke internal combustion engine using a normally gaseous hydrocarbon as fuel. The present invention further relates to a two-stroke engine incorporating the exhaust system. Finally, the present invention relates to a method for operating a two-stroke internal combustion engine.
Two-stroke (alternatively referred to as two-cycle) engines have been known for many years and have been applied in a range of applications. One class of two-stroke engines is the class of engines operating on a normally gaseous hydrocarbon, most commonly natural gas. Such engines are generally large, slow running engines of a stationary design and find application in the driving of rotating equipment, such as compressors. One example of commercially available engines are the Ajax series of engines manufactured and sold by the Cooper Energy Services division of Cooper Cameron Corporation. The Ajax engines are two-stroke engines having from one to four cylinders. When used to drive a compressor, the Ajax engines are commonly employed in a configuration in which the cylinders of a reciprocating compressor are driven from the same crankshaft as the cylinders of the engine.
Engines in the aforementioned class generally operate at low speeds, that is speeds of the order of from several hundred to a thousand revolutions per minute. The engines are generally operated in a constant speed mode, in which a substantially constant speed is maintained under a variety of engine loads. As the power demand placed on the engine is increased, the combustion efficiency and performance of the engine decreases. In particular, the levels of NOx in the exhaust gas increases. At a certain level of power demand, the concentration of NOx in the exhaust gas will exceed the maximum concentrations permitted by the environmental regulations. At this point, the engine can be considered to have reached its maximum acceptable power output. Currently, there is increasing pressure to reduce the level of NOx emissions from this class of engines. Thus, at present, it is possible to operate such engines under conditions producing NOx at the rate of 2 g/HP-hr. However, in many regions the relevant regulations already require that NOx emissions be limited to just 1 g/HP-hr. Still further regions are moving to adopt similar regulations reducing the permitted levels of NOx emissions. Accordingly, there is a need for a way to reduce NOx emissions from engines in this class.
One method of reducing the amount of NOx emitted by such engines is to reduce the maximum power rating of the engine and to operate the engine at a lower level of power output. While this will allow the engine to operate within the lower limits placed on permissible NOx emissions, this method of operation also limits the useful power obtainable from the engine and, hence, its range of useful applications. An alternative approach is to employ a catalytic converter in the exhaust system of the engine. The catalytic converter removes the NOx from the exhaust gases before they are emitted to the atmosphere. However, it will be appreciated that the addition of a catalytic converter increases the expense of the engine. In addition, the use of a catalytic converter increases the maintenance required to be performed on the engine, increasing the down time of the engine and, again, increasing costs.
Accordingly, there is a need for a solution to the problem of achieving lower NOx emissions, while allowing the engine to maintain its existing power rating. The solution should also be available at minimum cost and require little or no additional maintenance over and above the existing maintenance schedules.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the efficiency of the combustion of the aforementioned two-cycle engines can be significantly increased by the use of an exhaust system tuned to the range of operating speeds of the engine. In particular, this improved efficiency allows the engine to operate with significantly lower NOx emissions than using a standard exhaust system, while allowing the power output of the engine at the operating speed to remain at the previously achieved levels, or even increased.
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the engine being a two-cycle engine combusting a normally gaseous hydrocarbon as fuel, the engine comprising a cylinder having an exhaust port in communication with an exhaust manifold, the exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust gas inlet, the inlet being connectable to the exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust system having a direction of flow being the direction of flow of exhaust gases moving through the exhaust system when the system is connected to the exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine and the engine is operating;
an exhaust gas outlet spaced from the exhaust gas inlet in the direction of flow, the outlet being connectable to a muffler;
a first tubular portion disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and outlet, the first tubular portion diverging in the direction of flow;
a second tubular portion disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and outlet and spaced from the first tubular portion in the direction of flow, the second tubular portion converging in the direction of flow;
wherein, during operation of the engine to which the exhaust system is connected, a first, negative pressure pulse is generated in a direction opposite to the direction of flow to enhance the removal of exhaust gases from the cylinder through the exhaust port and a second, positive pressure pulse is thereafter generated in the direction opposite to the direction of flow to prevent the flow of freshly charged gas from the cylinder.
While exhaust systems tuned to the operating speed of a two-stroke engine are known in the art, their application has been limited to two-stroke engines of much smaller capacity and operating at speeds far greater than those of the class of engines addressed by the present invention. To date, such a tuned exhaust has not been applied to large capacity two-stroke engines operating on a normally gaseous hydrocarbon fuel and operating at speeds at or below about 1000 rpm. Further, it is most unexpected that such a tuned exhaust can be employed to reduce the NOx emissions of the engine without sacrificing power output from the engine. It is particularly surprising that the low levels of NOx emissions can be achieved with the exhaust system of the present invention while achieving increased power output from the engine at a given speed of operation.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a two-stroke internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having an inlet port and an exhaust port, the engine further comprising an exhaust system connected to an exhaust manifold in communication with the exhaust port, the exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust gas inlet connected to the exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust system having a direction of flow being the direction of flow of exhaust gases moving through the exhaust system when the engine is operating;
an exhaust gas outlet spaced from the exhaust gas inlet in the direction of flow;
a muffler connected to the exhaust gas outlet;
a first tubular portion disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and outlet, the first tubular portion diverging in the direction of flow;
a second tubular portion disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and outlet and spaced from the first tubular portion in the direction of flow, the second tubular portion converging in the direction of flow;
wherein, during operation of the engine, a first, negative pressure pulse is generated in a direction opposite to the direction of flow to enhance the removal of exhaust gases from the cylinder through the exhaust port and a second, positive pressure pulse is thereafter generated in the direction opposite to the direction of flow to prevent the flow of freshly charged gas from the cylinder.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a two-stroke internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
supplying a normally gaseous hydrocarbon fuel and an oxygen-containing gas to a cylinder of the engine to provide a combustible mixture within the cylinder;
combusting the combustible mixture to produce an exhaust gas;
allowing the exhaust gas to leave the cylinder through an exhaust gas outlet port;
passing the exhaust gas through a first exhaust gas conduit, the first conduit diverging in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas so as to allow the exhaust gas to expand; and
passing the exhaust gas through a second exhaust gas conduit, the second conduit converging in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas so as to compress the exhaust gas;
whereby a first, negative pressure pulse is propagated through the exhaust gas in the opposite direction to the direction of flow to reach the exhaust port and thereby assist with removing exhaust gas from the cylinder; and
a second, positive pressure pulse is propagated through the exhaust gas in the opposite direction to the direction of flow to reach the exhaust port and thereby prevent freshly charged gas from leaving the cylinder through the exhaust port.
Specific embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description of these embodiments and the referenced drawings are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Exhaust system for an internal combustion engine and engine comprising the same


According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided comprising a radio transmitter having an output stage with an adjustable output power level, a measurement circuit configured to measure a radio signal power of the radio transmitter and a control block connected to the measurement circuit wherein the measurement circuit is connected to the output stage of the radio transmitter where the radio signal power is measured; and wherein the control block is configured to adjust the output power level of the radio transmitter based on the measured radio signal power at the radio transmitter output stage.

Nowadays low range FM radio transmitters are commonly used for transmitting e.g. music which is stored in the memory of a device, which is equipped with such a FM transmitter. The music or other audio content is transmitted to a users car radio or home stereo equipment for reproduction by this equipment. Such kind of FM transmitters might be stand alone FM transmitters with integrated memory for storing music or the FM transmitter includes an interface for connection to an external memory. The FM transmitter my also be integrated into mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones incorporating a memory which stores e.g. music for playback.
FM transmitters were historically not allowed in many countries some time ago because they transmit FM radio signals like any FM radio broadast station in the same frequency range in order to facilitate receiption of the transmitted signal by standard FM radio receivers. During the last couple of years FM radio transmitters were allowed for private use but they need to fulfill certain regulatory requirements in order not to interfere with each other and particularly not interfere with FM broadcast radio stations and other telecommunication systems.
The legal status of FM transmission varies around the world today and its limits of operation set by the regulatory bodies differ from country to country, e.g. while some countries do not allow FM transmission, the power is limited to 50 nW by ETSI (European Telecomunications STandardisatin Institute) in Europe, 250 uV/m@3 m by FCC (Federal Communication Commission) in the USA, and recent regulations in China limit the output power of FM transmitters to 45 nW ERP (Effective Radiated Power.

Method and apparatus for adjusting transmitter power level