A shock tube comprises a driver section, an expansion section connected to the driver section, and an extension connected to the expansion section. Shock absorbent material is disposed within a cavity defined by the driver section and extension section. At least one active vent is disposed over respective holes in the extension section that are connected to the cavity. The extension section is adjustable between one of at least two positions such that a length of the extension section in a first position is longer than a length of the extension section in a second position. The length of the gas column contained within the driver section can also be adjusted by the position of a movable bulkhead.

The invention relates generally to testing equipment and, more specifically, to an improved shock tube.
A shock tube can be employed for determining the effects of a shock wave on a test or target object. The shock wave is generated by the sudden release of high-pressure gas from within the shock tube driver section. This shock wave provides the primary loading on the target. As the shock wave expands out of the discharge end of the driver, a rarefaction wave is generated which travels into and along the driver. The reflections of the initial shock wave off the target and of the rarefaction off the closed end of the driver may interact to yield secondary loading on the target. Depending on the shock tube geometry, the rarefaction wave can yield a period of reduced or negative pressure on the target.
Very large cylindrical shock tubes can be used when the test or target object is large. However, large shock tubes are very expensive to manufacture, install, and operate. Shock tubes utilizing reduced driver diameters with an expansion section to obtain the desired target dimensions have been therefore employed to minimize these costs.
In an ideal free-field simulation, the pressure loading on the test object rises abruptly to a maximum positive value, decays smoothly at a predetermined rate to a zero pressure value, goes negative, and then rises smoothly at a predetermined rate back to a zero pressure. However, the presence of the expansion section increases the magnitude and effect of rarefaction waves on the test object, and can terminate the primary target positive phase loading prematurely. The secondary waves generated by the interactions of the reflected primary shock and the rarefaction wave can also prevent this idealized target loading from being achieved.
The duration and impulse of the pressure waves generated by a shock tube are governed partially by the length of the driver and extension sections. The use of fixed-length driver and extension sections severely limits the range of achievable target load histories. The use of multiple driver and extension sections can overcome this restriction, but this increases the manufacture, installation, and operation costs. In addition, the target load histories that can be achieved are still limited by the available driver and extension section lengths.
There is, therefore, a need for an improved shock tube that allows the rarefaction and secondary shock waves to be controlled such that the idealized target loading can be more closely approximated, and that allows the duration and impulse of the pressure waves to be controlled without the need for multiple driver and extension sections.
These and other needs are met by the present invention, which in accord with one aspect includes a driver section, an expansion section connected to the driver section, an extension section joined to the expansion section, and shock absorbent material. The driver and expansion sections define a cavity and the shock absorbent material is disposed within this cavity. The shock absorbent material can be disposed on the expansion section sidewalls and proximate to the driver section end wall. By placing shock absorbent material at the end of the driver section, the reflection of the initial rarefaction wave and subsequent shock and rarefaction waves can be mitigated from this surface. Also, shock absorbent material placed in the expansion section can mitigate shock wave reflections from the section sidewalls.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shock tube includes a driver section, an expansion section connected to the driver section, an extension section joined to the expansion section, and one or more active vents disposed over respective holes in the expansion and/or extension sections connected to the cavity defined by these sections. The shock tube can include two or more active vents that are separate from one another or are connected together with a common manifold. The active vents are employed to control the shape of both the positive and negative target loading phases.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the shock tube includes a driver section, an expansion section connected to the driver section, and an extension section joined to the expansion section. The length of the gas space within the driver section is adjustable, so that a wide range of effective driver lengths can be achieved. This facilitates control of the shape of both the positive and negative target loading phases.
In still another embodiment, the shock tube includes a driver section, an expansion section connected to the driver section, and an extension section joined to the expansion section. The extension section length is adjustable, so that a wide range of effective extension section lengths can be achieved. This facilitates control of the shape of both the positive and negative target loading phases.
Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. As will be realized, the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants, Inc.


An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.

In residential or commercial environments, a number of devices may be part of an energy control network, for example a smart home or commercial energy network. The devices of an energy control network may be used to control energy consumption, such as but not limited to lighting sources and heating resources. Such load control devices may communicate with one another via a wired or wireless network. Devices such as a dimmer switch, a plug-in load control device (PID), a temperature control device, a contact-closure output (CCO) pack, a remote controller, an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, a digital ballast controller, a motorized window treatment, a battery-powered remote control, an occupancy sensor, and/or a daylight sensor, among other devices, may be part of an energy control network. Examples of additional devices that may be part of such energy control networks are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/234,758, filed Sep. 16, 2011, entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of load control system (or an energy control network). As shown in FIG. 1, a user 112 may operate a lighting control device, such as a dimmer switch 106 for controlling a lighting load 132, and/or motorized window treatments 110 in room 130 using a remote control device 104 (e.g., a LUTRON® PICO® wireless remote control device). In addition, the dimmer switch 106 and/or the motorized window treatments 110 may be controlled automatically in response to an occupancy sensor 134. Also, the user 112 may use a temperature control device 102 to adjust a heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system to control the temperature in the room 130. Similar systems have been developed to incorporate the use of other wireless devices (e.g., tablets and/or cellular phones) as remote load controls.
The temperature control device 102 may have a user interface that includes an "up" arrow and a "down" arrow to facilitate the adjustment of a temperature setpoint for the area that the temperature control device monitors and controls. The remote control device 104 may have a user interface that includes one or more buttons that can be used for functions like sending a "raise" and/or "lower" command to a shade control device, or perhaps an "on" or "off" (or assume a predetermined lighting "scene" command) to one or more lighting loads, like lighting load 132. The remote control device 104 may have more than two buttons (e.g. five buttons) that may be configured for effectuating five respective lighting scenes. Also, the dimmer switch 106 may have two buttons with which the user 112 can either raise or lower an intensity of the lighting load 132.
At the time of manufacture, a device that may become a part of an energy control network may be provided with a default (or initial) database that may correspond to the general functionality of the device. For example, the dimmer switch 106 at the time of manufacture may be provided with an initial dimmer switch database (or configuration) that may be downloaded to one or more, or all, dimmer switches at the time of manufacture. For example, downloading the initial device database to the dimmer switch 106 at the time of manufacture may involve establishing a physical electronic connection to the dimmer switch at some point in the process of manufacturing the dimmer switch 106. The initial device database can be downloaded to the dimmer switch 106, and at the time manufacturing is complete the dimmer switch 106 can be shipped to an end user, retail distributor, and/or installation contractor, for example.
When selected by an end user and/or installation contractor, a load control device may require that its initial database be replaced with a database specific to the particular device's actual functions and/or configuration. For example, dimmer switch 106 may require the specific device configuration that it is a two-button dimmer switch. Also by way of example, dimmer switch 106 may have illuminated push buttons (e.g. backlit) or may have other indicator lights (not shown). The specific device database downloaded to dimmer switch at the time it is installed (or replaced) may provide the dimmer switch 106 with the configuration corresponding to operation with the two backlit buttons and/or other indicator lights—where the initial database provided to the dimmer switch 106 at the time of manufacture may not provide such a specific corresponding configuration. The specific device database may be downloaded to the dimmer switch 106 via a physical electronic connection, or perhaps via a special sequence of inputs made through the buttons of the dimmer switch 106, which may be both cumbersome and time consuming. Also, the load control device may be added to a wireless communication network so that the specific device database may be provided via a protocol of the wireless communication network (e.g., the Wi-Fi protocol or the Clear Connect™ protocol). Adding the device to such a wireless communication network may also be both cumbersome and time consuming.
Also at the time a load control device is put into a specific application by an end user and/or contractor, a first load control device may be provided with information regarding the other load control devices with which the first load control device may wirelessly communicate. For example, the first load control device may communicate with the other load control devices on an energy control communications network (e.g. a Wi-Fi based network or a wireless proprietary protocol network). Such energy control communications network information (e.g. network addresses of devices to monitor and/or control) may be downloaded to the dimmer switch 106 via a physical electronic connection, or perhaps via a special sequence of inputs made through the buttons of the dimmer switch 106 (which again may be both cumbersome and time consuming). Also, the load control device may be added to a wireless communication network so that the energy control communications network information may be provided via a protocol of the wireless communication network (e.g., the Wi-Fi protocol or the Clear Connect™ protocol). And adding the device to such a wireless communication network may also be both cumbersome and time consuming.
After providing the load control device with its specific device database and also after providing the load control device with the information required to communicate with other load control devices, the user interface of the load control device may be used to bring about the user-desired effects that the load control device has been specifically configured to provide. For example, a user can use the buttons of the dimmer switch 106 to increase or decrease the intensity of one or more lighting loads connected to the dimmer switch 106. However, the user is limited to the specific functionality provided by the particular configuration of the dimmer switch's 106 user interface. In other words, the user is limited to the functions provided by the two buttons on the dimmer switch 106, where the dimmer switch 106 may be specifically configured for more functionality than can be accessed by the two button user interface.
Should a load control device fail or become inoperative to perform its configured functions, then the inoperative device may require physical replacement. At the time the load control device is replaced, an end user and/or contractor may wish to provide the replaced load control device with the specific device database that was provided to the previous (now inoperative) load control device. To accomplish this, the end user and/or contractor may use the same techniques as were used to provide the previous load control device with its specific device database and load control network information. For example, that information may be downloaded to a replacement load control device via a physical electronic connection, or perhaps via a special sequence of inputs made through the user interface of the replacement load control device. Also, the replacement load control device may be added to a wireless communication network so that the specific device database may be provided via a protocol of the wireless communication network (e.g., the Wi-Fi protocol or the Clear Connect™ protocol). As mentioned previously, adding the device to such a wireless communication network may also be both cumbersome and time consuming.
Near Field Communication (NFC) is an emerging wireless data transfer protocol. Little network or administrative configuration may be needed to establish NFC protocol based wireless communication. And NFC may facilitate the wireless transfer of data at low data rates and within a relatively limited geographic range. It may be useful to utilize NFC for the purposes of managing the databases of load control devices and/or exploiting the configurable flexibility of load control device user interfaces.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Load control device user interface and database management using near field communication (NFC)


The valve assembly includes a body having a communication passage with an inlet and an outlet and a combustion chamber having a propellant and one or more openings, an igniter in communication with the propellant, and a valve means movable within the body. The igniter is adapted to ignite the propellant to provide a force to move the valve means from a closed position to an open position. The valve means has a first restricting element to restrict and permit passage of a pressurized gas through the outlet and a second restricting element to restrict and permit passage of heat from the burned propellant through the openings of the body, wherein the heat/gases cause a pressurized gas within the receptacle to expand causing the gas to quickly expunge from the receptacle. A biasing means may be used with the valve means to retain the valve means in the closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a valve and more specifically it relates to a propellant operated heating release valve assembly for a gas receptacle to efficiently and quickly expunge pressurized gas from a tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Release valves have been in use for years upon pressurized gas tanks. Typically, release valves may comprise a standard fill port that may be opened and closed, wherein opening the valve allows the pressurized gas to escape from the tank. However, it can often be difficult and time consuming to open the valve and for all of the pressurized gas to expunge from the tank. Because of the inherent problems with the related art, the cooling and reducing pressure of the expanding and escaping gas, there is a need for a new and improved heating and release valve assembly for a gas receptacle to efficiently and quickly expunge pressurized gas from a tank, wherein by increasing the temperature within the receptacle will increase the pressurized volume within the receptacle and ensure a more complete expulsion of the receptacle contents.

Heating and release valve assembly for a fluid receptacle


A wheeled vehicle includes a frame having first and second frame sections. The first frame section extends substantially vertically. The second frame section extends substantially horizontally and rearwardly from a top portion of the first frame section. A seat is supported by the second frame section. A power unit is arranged below the seat to power the vehicle. A stay extends from the first frame section or the second frame section. A foot rest extends from the stay. A foot guide extends either from the stay, from the first frame section or the second frame section, or from a top of the power unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheeled vehicle with a foot guide, and more particularly relates to a wheeled vehicle having a foot guide for a rider of the vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Wheeled vehicles such as, for example, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds typically have a frame that supports front and rear wheels, a power unit, a seat and other components. The power unit can be an engine. The engine can be unified with a transmission to form an engine unit. In one arrangement, the engine unit is disposed on one side of a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle that extends vertically and from front to rear. Typically, the engine unit is located on the left hand side of the vehicle. A muffler of an exhaust system for the engine unit can be placed on the other side of the vehicle relative to the engine unit.
The seat may be a tandem seat which a primary rider and a secondary rider straddle. Typically, the wheeled vehicles have foot rests which are separately provided for the primary rider and the secondary rider. The foot rests for the secondary rider are located in the rear of the foot rests for the primary rider and adjacent to the engine unit. The secondary rider's foot rests are smaller than the primary rider's foot rests because large foot rests can interfere with the engine unit or the muffler. Due to the smaller size, the secondary rider may have difficulty locating his or her feet on the foot rests without seeing the respective feet. Particularly, the secondary rider tends to place the foot on the left hand side at a location on a top surface of the engine unit because the top surface has a relatively large area.
A heel guard may be attached to a side surface of the engine unit to prevent a heel of the secondary rider from directly touching the side surface of the engine unit. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. P2003-40173A discloses such a heel guard. The heel guard, however, cannot prevent the secondary rider from placing the foot on the top surface of the engine unit. This is because the foot can move over the heel guard toward the top surface of the engine unit. In other words, the heel guard is located too low for the intended purpose. On the other hand, if the heel guard is high enough to prevent the foot from being placed on the top surface of the engine unit, the heel guide itself interferes with the foot being placed on the foot rest.


A display device can be used with an ergonomic sensor comprising an imaging device interfaced to processing hardware to obtain and analyze image data depicting a user of the display device. The ergonomic sensor can be preconfigured with data indicating ergonomic uses of the display device so that the image of the user can be analyzed with minimal or no user calibration or setup. Instead, the ergonomic sensor can analyze the image data to provide real-time feedback, such as warnings or suggestions when the user's behavior falls outside an ergonomic use range for the display device. In some implementations, the ergonomic sensor is integrated with the display device, though in other implementations a separate element or preexisting imaging device can be used.

A computer user often spends a majority of his or her day interacting with the computer. For example, an office worker may spend hours in front of a display driven by a desktop or other computer. The user's health may be adversely affected if he or she uses the computer in an ergonomically-improper manner, such as viewing the display from a non-optimal location and/or under other unfavorable conditions that can be corrected through user behavior. Various techniques for ensuring ergonomically-proper computer use have been proposed, but there remains room for improvement.

Methods and systems for ergonomic feedback using an image analysis module


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an image data processing method, an image data processing apparatus, an electronic device and a storage medium. The image data processing method includes: during a preset first collecting time period, collecting regularly a plurality of first user images corresponding to a target user, and extracting first part image data in each of the plurality of first user images; recording position information of the first part image data in each of the plurality of first user images on a display interface; if it is determined that the target user is at a preset stable state, performing a statistical processing to obtain a total movement times corresponding to the first part image data within a preset statistical time period; and if the total movement times reaches a preset threshold, performing an image processing on second part image data on a current display interface.

With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, an increasing number of users install more and more applications (for example, applications with a facial beautification function such as Beautycam, My Cam and the like) on their user terminals. These applications often have a facial beautification function and a function for fine adjusting facial organs. If a precise adjustment is needed for the current image data, the user may need to adjust the image processing effect of the current image data manually via a manual control on the terminal interface.
For example, when the user makes a live video or selfie, the current collected image data may be processed with an initial image processing, i.e., the use terminal may perform a fine adjustment on the facial organs in the image data, such that the user may view the fine-adjusted image processing result immediately on a preview interface. However, by adopting this fine adjustment to process the image data, only overall fine adjusted processing effect can be presented.

Image data processing method, electronic device and storage medium

BEIJING KINGSOFT INTERNET SECURITY SOFTWARE CO., LTD.


A wind tunnel device defines a cyclical tunnel to receive continuous airflow. Airflow is delivered through the tunnel to a testing region that includes a first portion carrying an arm including a spray tip configured to spray particulates in the testing region at an angle, and a second portion including an enlarged cutout region configured to receive the angled sprayed particulates. As airflow carries the angled spray particulates into the second portion, the enlarged cutout region enables the spray particulates to pass through and exit the second portion of the testing region. Analysis in the second region may be conducted through transparent walls free of openings to minimize exposure of the spray particulates to the exterior of the device. A scrubber is adapted to extract spray mist from the airflow as the airflow exits the testing region and is re-circulated through the cyclical tunnel.

Due to increasing concern about pest control costs and environmental pollution associated with agricultural sprays, application of such sprays requires precision and care. Considerable research on spray drift has been conducted, but it remains a major problem associated with many agricultural spray applications.
Field tests provide some information on factors influencing spray drift. However, field tests are limited by weather conditions that cannot be controlled and often vary during a test. Due to non-controlled environment, assessing the influence of some variables on spray drift is difficult. Consequently, laboratory tests are used to evaluate drift associated with spray deposits discharged from spray tips at various wind velocities in wind tunnels. However, wind tunnels are generally costly and may expose the tester to the agricultural spray, which can have negative health effects on the tester.
The US EPA will soon implement a new Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) program which would allow farmers and applicators to reduce the size of buffer zones required on some herbicide labels. DRT will need to be certified through the use of spray particle analysis or field trials proving a reduction in fine droplets subject to off-target drift. As a result, more frequent use of wind tunnels may be required for certification.

Low speed wind tunnel design for agricultural spray particle analysis


The present invention relates to an implementation of a method for cell equalization. The present invention uses other information such as the individual cell state-of-charge (SOC) estimates, and individual capacities and/or cell Coulombic efficiencies, possibly available from a dual extended Kalman filter. The present invention defines or refers to an operational SOC range between a minimum and a maximum. The minimum and maximum could be constants or could be dynamic based on functions of other variables. SOC can be measured relative to maximum charge or relative to maximum discharge for each cell. When the SOC is not consistent across the cells, a prioritizing scheme is used to determine which cells require equalization.

The present invention relates generally to cell equalization using state-of-charge (SOC) and, in particular, to cell equalization in a multi-cell battery pack.
Batteries are used in a wide variety of electronic and electrical devices. In the context of rechargeable battery pack technologies with multiple cells, it is often desirable to balance or equalize the cells in the battery pack. For example, it is desirable to balance or equalize cells that are configured in series strings. Cells are configured in series strings in order for battery packs to achieve high power levels with a reasonable current source/drain. The higher voltage of a series string allows a lower current for the same power level. Generally, in the prior art, the terms "balancing" and "equalizing" refer to the process of causing a terminal voltage of all the cells to converge to a constant level.
Over time, a battery pack's cells may become "out of balance" as small differences in their individual dynamics—principally, in their Coulombic efficiencies and capacities—cause their states-of-charge to drift apart from each other as the pack operates. Unfortunately, one or more cells may eventually limit the discharge ability of the pack by having state-of-charge (SOC) much lower than that of the others, and/or one or more cells may limit the charging capacity of the pack by having SOC much higher than that of the others. In an extreme case, the pack becomes incapable of either charge or discharge if one cell is at the low SOC limit and another is at the high SOC limit, even if all other cells have intermediate SOC values. Packs may be balanced or equalized by "boosting" (individually adding charge to) cells with SOC too low, "bucking" or "shunting" (individually depleting charge from) cells with SOC too high or "shuffling" (moving charge from one cell to another).
In some applications, for example, those with long discharge periods followed by a complete charge, equalization is only performed at the end-of-charge point in a charging process and continues until the pack is fully balanced. Other applications, however, require that the pack undergo continuous partial-charge and partial-discharge periods, and so equalization needs to be performed as the pack operates where cells in the battery pack have their charge levels adjusted continuously in a direction leading toward a fully balanced pack. Equalization may be halted if cells become close enough to full balance for the problem at hand, and may be resumed if the cells become significantly out of balance again.
In the prior art, determining which cells should have their charge levels adjusted to equalize the pack is generally done on the basis of cell voltage alone. If all cell voltages are the same, perhaps within some tolerance, the pack is considered properly balanced. If a cell's voltage is too high, then charge needs to be depleted from the cell. If a cell's voltage is too low, then charge needs to be added to the cell. Various electronic means are available to perform the equalization, either automatically, or under microprocessor control. These include: shuffling charge, depleting charge, and adding charge. For shuffling charge, charge is moved from one or more cells with voltage too high to one or more cells with voltage too low. A switched capacitor may be used or an energy-transfer method based on transformer windings may be used. For depleting charge, charge is depleted from one or more cells with voltage too high (e.g., with a switched resistor). For adding charge, charge is added from an external source, or from the pack itself (e.g., with a DC-DC converter). A disadvantage of using cell voltage as an indicator of when to perform equalization, as well as to control the cell equalization, is that it fails to maximize performance of the battery pack.
The purpose of equalization is to maintain the battery pack in a state where the maximum level of charge and discharge power is available for use. There is a need for a method of improving performance of a battery pack by boosting or bucking or shuffling charge among cells to maximize the pack availability.

Method and system for cell equalization using state of charge


A graphical user interface for use in a data processing system for facilitating data entry for cluster analysis. In a preferred embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a source card list area, a participants area, a first sort area, and a second sort area. The source card list area allows entry, display of, and direct manipulation access to all of a plurality of items to be sorted. The participants area allows entry and display of participant names. The first sort area includes a plurality of first sections that each can contain a set of items dragged from the source card list area and represents a first-level of grouping of the items from the source card list area. The second sort area includes a plurality of second sections. Each of the plurality of second sections may contain items dragged from at least one of the first sections and represents a second-level of grouping of the items from the source card list area.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to computer software and, more particularly, to a method and system for data entry for cluster analysis.
2. Description of Related Art
Cluster analysis is an exploratory data analysis tool for solving classification problems. Its object is to sort cases (people, things, events, etc.) into groups, or clusters, so that the degree of association is strong between members of the same group and weak between members of different groups. Each such cluster thus describes, in terms of the data collected, the class to which its members belong. This description may be abstracted through use from the particular to the general class or type.
Cluster analysis is thus a tool of discovery. It may reveal associations and structure in data which, though not previously evident, nevertheless are sensible and useful once found. The results of cluster analysis may contribute to the definition of a formal classification scheme, such as a taxonomy for related animals, insects or plants; or suggest statistical models with which to describe populations; or indicate rules for assigning new cases to classes for identification and diagnostic purposes; or provide measures of definition, size and change in what previously were only broad concepts; or find exemplars to represent classes.
One useful application of cluster analysis is to analyze data from card-sorting exercises. In a card-sorting procedure, representative users of a product or technology arrange cards representing data objects into groups on the basis of their perceived relatedness. Cluster analysis of the resulting groups can help researchers to understand users"" perceptions of the degree of relatedness of items in data sets.
Multiple software packages are currently available that allow developers to utilize cluster analysis to translate user expectations into a meaningful organization of a web site. However, currently available cluster analysis software is prohibitively difficult to use for non-professional statisticians. These software packages require the user to calculate and construct similarity or distance matrices from raw data. Only after these matrices have been painstakingly constructed will the packages perform cluster analyses. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus that provides a simpler user interface and method for users to enter raw data into a cluster analysis software package. Furthermore, a cluster analysis software package that does not require the user to perform numerous calculations or construct matrices would also be advantageous.
The present invention provides a graphical user interface for use in a data processing system for facilitating data entry for cluster analysis. In a preferred embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a source card list area, a participants area, a first sort area, and a second sort area. The source card list area allows entry and display of, and direct manipulation access to, all of a plurality of items to be sorted. The participants area allows entry, display and editing of participant names. The first sort area includes a plurality of first sections, each of which may contain a set of items dragged from the source card list area. Each of these first sections represents a first-level grouping of the items from the source card list area. The second sort area includes a plurality of second sections. Each of the plurality of second sections may contain items dragged from at least one of the first sections, and represents a second-level grouping of the items from the source card list area.

System and method of data entry for a cluster analysis program

International Business Machines Corporation


A metering assembly includes a motor removably coupled to a pump using a flange clamp. An annular connection flange is provided at one end of the motor housing; and a cooperating annular connection flange is provided at one end of the pump housing. The connection flanges have opposed, mating end surfaces which are located in flush relation with each other. The flange clamp includes a pair of arcuate clamping arms which are pivotally supported at one end, and a locking member connecting the other, distal free ends of the arms together, and which can be manually tightened and untightened, so that the flange clamp can be easily located around and tightened down around the annular connection flanges of the pump and motor to create a mechanical face seal between the pump and motor.

The present invention relates generally to fluid metering assemblies, and more particularly to fluid pumps and motors for operating such pumps.
In certain fluid transfer applications, a motor is removably mounted to a pump to operate the pump. The motor and/or pump are removably mounted to permit the pump and/or motor to be inspected and/or repaired. In many of these applications the pump is a self-contained unit and includes a housing, inlet and outlet ports, and a pump mechanism enclosed within the housing. One well-known pump mechanism is a gear pump with adjacent gears which accurately meter the fluid from the inlet to the outlet; The gears are mounted on a pair of journaled shafts, one of which is the drive shaft and extends outwardly from one end of the pump housing.
The motor can be any type of motor appropriate for the particular application, and in many applications also comprises a self-contained unit including a housing and a drive mechanism. A drive shaft is coupled to the drive mechanism and projects outwardly from one end of the motor housing. A coupling assembly couples the drive mechanism in the motor to the pump mechanism in the pump. One such coupling assembly includes a mechanical coupling between the drive shaft of the motor and the drive shaft of the pump. Another such coupling assembly comprises magnetic coupling components, which couple the drive mechanism of the motor to the pump mechanism of the pump without direct mechanical linkage. In any event, when the drive mechanism of the motor is rotated, the pump mechanism is operated to transfer fluid received in the inlet to the outlet.
Many techniques have been used to removably mount the pump to the motor, particularly to allow easy and simple inspection and removal. One common technique is to bolt the housing of the pump to the housing of the motor, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,183,219; 4,311,440; and 5,269,664. The bolts properly axially and concentrically align the pump with respect to the motor and provide a robust and firm attachment. While this is satisfactory in some applications, this technique usually requires a tool (such as a wrench) and significant time and labor to remove the bolts to uncouple/couple the motor. In other words, this technique can be labor intensive, which can increase the maintenance costs associated with operating the fluid system.
As such, it is believed there is a demand for an improved metering assembly having a pump removably coupled to a motor, where the pump can be simply and easily connected to and disconnected from the motor, and which minimizes the time and labor associated with changing out a pump.
The present invention provides a novel and unique metering assembly which includes a pump removably mounted on a motor. The pump can be simply and easily mounted to and removed from the motor, which reduces the time and labor associated with repairing the pump. The mounting can advantageously be accomplished by handxe2x80x94without the need for special repair tools.
According to the present invention, an annular connection flange is provided at one end of the housing (the end having the motor drive shaft); and a cooperating annular connection flange is provided at one end of the pump (the end having the pump drive shaft). The connection flanges have opposed, mating end surfaces which can be located in flush, sealing relation with each other; and preferably have beveled (or tapered) peripheral edges. When so mounted, a coupling assembly couples the drive mechanism of the motor to the pump mechanism of the pump.
To retain the pump to the motor, a flange clamp is used, preferably of the type commonly referred to as a xe2x80x9csanitary flange clampxe2x80x9d. The flange clamp surrounds and encompasses the annular connection flanges of the pump and the motor. The flange clamp includes an internal geometry cooperating with the beveled edges on the annular connection flanges to securely retain the connection flanges in fixed relation to one another to create a mechanical face seal between the opposing end surfaces of the pump and motor. The flange clamp preferably includes a pair of arcuate clamping arms which are pivotally supported at one end, such as being connected directly together, or connected through an intermediate arcuate arm; and a locking member connecting the other, distal free ends of the arms together. The locking member can be manually tightened and untightened, so that the flange clamp can be easily located around and tightened down around the annular connection flanges of the pump and motor.
Preferably the pump includes a locating geometry, such as an annular raised ridge or surface portion on the forward surface of the connecting flange, which is received within a cooperating circular recess in the mating surface of the motor connecting flange. The locating geometry properly concentrically and axially aligns the motor with respect to the pump. This also allows the pump to be mounted at any rotational orientation with respect to the motor, to facilitate the adaptability of the pump and motor for various applications. Of course, a rotational orientation feature, such as a pin and hole, could be provided if it is important or useful to have the pump mounted at a specific rotational orientation with respect to the motor.
As such, the present invention provides a fluid metering assembly with a flange clamp which provides a simple and easy connection and disconnection of a pump from a motor, and which thereby minimizes the time and labor associated with changing out a pump. The flange clamp of the present invention allows rapid and tool-free connection and disconnection of the pump from the motor.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following specification and attached drawings.


An implantable ophthalmological device (10) in the form of a punctal plug or canalicular implant is configured for use at or near the nasolacrimal drainage system. In a deployed state, the device (10) may include an elongated body (25), an anchor (15) operably connected to the elongated body (25), a radially expanding occlusive feature disposed on an outer circumference of the elongated body (32), and a flange (30). The elongated body (25) may define a lumen (35) configured to receive a pharmacological treatment (55). The device (10) is made of a shape memory material such as a shape memory polymer.

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eye, brain, and areas surrounding the eye, such as the lacrimal system and eyelids. The lacrimal apparatus or system is the physiologic system containing the orbital structures for tear production and drainage. It consists of the lacrimal gland, which secretes the tears, and its excretory ducts, which convey the fluid to the surface of the eye and the lacrimal canaliculi, the lacrimal sac, and the nasolacrimal duct, by which the fluid is conveyed into the cavity of the nose.
For certain types of treatment, it may be desirable to implant a medical device, such as a punctal plug, in the patient's ocular punctum, the drainage orifice near the eye, which provides a flow path for tear fluid from the eye to the canalicular lumen. For example, in order to treat dry eye, a punctal plug may be used to block the tear drainage by closing the lumen of the ocular punctum as treatment for the condition. These simple devices provide only the benefit of closing the lumen.
Often topical pharmacological treatments are prescribed in the form of liquid eye drops However, pharmacological treatments may be difficult for the patient to apply or patients may have difficulty in maintaining an accurate time regime for re-applying the drug and maintaining levels. For example, in treating glaucoma, which is typically condition of the elderly, patients may have difficulty with standard therapies that require application of liquid drops.
More recently, researchers and medical companies have identified the probable benefit from inducing an eluting drug into the device such that in contact with the tear fluid, the eluting drug provides a continual dosage of a drug for achieving and maintaining appropriate therapeutic levels. However, typical punctal plugs, once placed, may migrate internally, such as into the canalicular lumen, or externally, such as when it is released or expelled from the punctum. The migration may be caused by patient discomfort, such as by rubbing the eye or by blinking, squinting, blowing the nose, or sneezing.
The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention is to be bound.

Reliably retained shape memory ophthalmological implants

The Regents of The University of Colorado, a body corporate


A driving circuit perform first driving in which, in a first write period, a grayscale potential in an odd-numbered row is supplied to the pixels of a first group and, in a second write period, the grayscale potential is supplied to the pixels in an even-numbered row, and can perform second driving in which, in the first write period, the grayscale potential in the even-numbered row is supplied to the pixels of a second group and, in the second write period, the grayscale potential is supplied to the pixels in the odd-numbered row. In a right eye display period, the first driving is performed in a unit period U1 and the second driving is performed in a unit period U2. In a left eye display period, the second driving is performed in the unit period U1 and the first driving is performed in the unit period U2.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology which displays a right eye image and a left eye image to which parallax is mutually applied such that an observer perceives a stereoscopic effect.
2. Related Art
A stereoscopic method using a frame sequential method of alternately displaying a right eye image and a left eye image in a time division manner has been proposed from the related art. In a period during which one of the right eye image and the left eye image is changed to the other, the right eye image and the left eye image are mixed, so that it is difficult for an observer to recognize a definite stereoscopic effect when the observer views the image (crosstalk). In order to solve the above-described problem, for example, JP-A-2009-25436 discloses a technology for causing both the right eye shutter and the left eye shutter of a stereoscopic eyeglasses to be in a closed state so that an observer does not view an image in the period during which one of the right eye image and the left eye image is changed to the other (that is, in the period during which the right eye image and the left eye image are mixed).
As shown in detail in FIG. 12, a right eye display period corresponding to the right eye image and a left eye display period corresponding to the left eye image are alternately set. A display image is updated from the left eye image to the right eye image in the first half period of the right eye display period and the right eye image is displayed in the latter half period. The display image is updated from the right eye image to the left eye image in the first half period of the left eye display period and the left eye image is displayed in the latter half period. In the first half period of each of the right eye display periods and the left eye display periods, control is performed such that both the right eye shutter and the left eye shutter are in a closed state. Accordingly, the mixture of the right eye image and the left eye image (crosstalk) is not perceived by the observer.
However, under the technology disclosed in JP-A-2009-25436, a period during which the observer can actually view an image is limited to the latter half period (that is, about half) of each of the right eye display periods and the left eye display periods. Accordingly, there is a problem in that it is difficult to sufficiently secure the brightness of the display image.

Electro-optic apparatus and electronic apparatus


A radio receiver of a synthesizer type having a PLL adapted to make frequency conversion of a received signal using an oscillated signal by the PLL to thereby achieve channel selection select keys, a register key, a page key, a display and a microcomputer with memories, a central processing unit, and a display driver. One of the memories contains a data table having pages of frequency data, such pages being selected by the central processing unit and displayed on the display by the display driver in response to key input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
A radio receiver of a synthesizer type in general has a presetting function of receive frequencies. For example, the following steps are taken:
1. making a channel selection of a frequency "15290 kHz" by manual operation, and
2. pushing "1" key out of the numeric keys while depressing a "register key". Then, by pushing only the "1" key thereafter, the frequency 15290 kHz can be selected.
Therefore, by using such presetting function at the time of channel selection, a desired broadcasting station can be simply selected by a single touch operation.
In the shortwave broadcasting, since the receive conditions vary with the time of the year or day, such popular broadcasting stations as VOA and BBC are broadcasting their programs at a plurality of different frequencies; they are changing their transmit frequencies varying with the time of the year or day.
Accordingly, in receiving such shortwave broadcasting, it becomes necessary to change the receive frequency according to the receive conditions, depending on the time of the year or day.
Even in the intermediate-frequency broadcasting, some broadcasting stations are broadcasting the same program in different frequencies for the areas where radio wave conditions are not good by using satellite stations to thereby improve the receive conditions in such areas. Further, since the intermediate-frequency broadcasting cannot cover a wide service area, when for example a radio receiver is moved from Tokyo to Osaka, the frequency for receiving the same program becomes quite different.
Thus, a large number of frequencies are used for the radio broadcasting. If all of the frequencies for many kinds of broadcasting have to be preset as described above, it becomes necessary to provide a large number of keys. Then, the control panel of the radio receiver will become full of keys. In addition, it must be remembered then which key was preset to which frequency, and thereby the merit of the presetting is impaired considerably.
Such things not only impair operability but also adversely affect the external appearance of the radio receiver.

Radio receiver with display memory and keys for displaying selecting, and storing station frequencies


There is provided a target attachment system for attaching a target having an opening therethrough. The target attachment system comprises a support comprising a holding member and a releasable target attachment element. The releasable target attachment element comprises an elongated engagement member and an abutment surface. The elongated engagement member is adapted to be inserted through the target opening and to be releasably fixed to the holding member. The abutment surface is adapted to abut the target towards the support once the engagement member is releasably fixed to the holding member. The proposed system does not have exposed mounting brackets or exposed bolts that may redirect bullet splatter in all directions which is dangerous.

(a) Field
The subject matter disclosed generally relates to target attachment systems, to secondary target attachment devices and to methods of using the same. More particularly, the subject matter relates to head-mounted target attachment systems and to methods of using the same.
(b) Related Prior Art
Steel targets are targets for firearms made out of hardened (i.e., martensitic) steel, and are used in sports, practical/dynamic shooting and for long range shooting. They are popular in both training and competition as the shooter gets immediate feedback on whether it's a hot or a miss in the form of sound, and one can also often see the bullet getting pulverized and the target moving. A common trademark in the USA for hardened steel used in the production of targets is AR500.
There currently exists on the market a plurality of target attachment systems for receiving a steel target and to be installed at a particular distance from the shooter. However, these known target attachment systems have some drawbacks.
For example, some target attachment systems may include mounting brackets and/or exposed bolts that are sometimes in the shooting direction and that can redirect bullet splatters towards the shooter at a dangerous velocity. US Publication 2013/0328268 from Eggiman et al. describes such a system wherein a shield is necessary to be place in front of the attachment to hide the brackets.
Moreover, some target attachment systems require that the steel target requires a welded design. U.S. Pat. No. 8,684,361 B2 describes a target attachment system with hinge mounts welded on the back of the target. Such a welded design may expose the steel target to heat variations from the welding process and may alter the structural integrity of the steel target. Such decrease in the integrity of the steel target may lead the steel target to be softer and more prone to holes and cracks creation that could cause dangerous unpredictable bullet splatter patterns.
Additionally, almost all target attachment systems require important storage areas for storing the targets and the target attachments system separately.
Also, even if shooters know that allowing for quick turnovers of a range and less down time can be the difference between a successful event and a long day at the range, modifying the target attachment system in different configurations to practice different skills is still a challenge that can be hard, long and require equipment and sophisticated tools.
There is therefore a need for improved target attachment systems, improved secondary target attachment devices and improved methods of using the same.

Target attachment system secondary target attachment device and method of using the same


There is provided a coating material comprising a mixture of a water-based resin composition of a thermoplastic elastomer (A) and/or a thermoplastic elastomer (B) in which at least one moiety is modified with a functional group; one of a water-based resin composition of a resin (G) formed from a copolymerizable monomer (G-1) which includes a monomer having an α,β-monoethylenic unsaturated group and other copolymerizable monomer, and a water-based resin composition of an urethane resin (U); and a water-based resin composition of a petroleum-based hydrocarbon resin (D) and/or a rosin-based resin (E) and/or a terpene-based resin (F). The coating material causing no separation phenomenon provides a coating composition or a primer with which spray coating is possible, and is a completely water-based coating material exhibiting an excellent adhesivity to a molded article of various resins such as polyolefin and a synthetic rubber or to metals such as a steel plate and aluminum.

Conventionally, since a polyolefin resin in general has many advantages such as having good productivity and being excellent in various kinds of moldability, as well as being lightweight, and having a corrosion resistance and an impact resistance, it has been widely used as for interiors and exteriors of automobiles or ships, household electric appliances or household furnishings, miscellaneous goods, and building materials. Such polyolefin-based resin molded product differs from a synthetic resin having a polarity, which is generally typified by a polyurethane resin, a polyamide resin, an acrylic resin, and a polyester resin, that the polyolefin resin is a non-polar and crystalline resin. Thus, with the generalized resin composition, it is extremely difficult to perform coating or adhering thereto.
Accordingly, when coating or adhering is performed on the polyolefin-based resin molded product, its surface has been activated with chromic acid, flame, corona discharge, plasma, or a solvent, such to enhance the adhesion to the surface. For example, for a bumper of automobiles, the surface is treated by etching with a halogen-based organic solvent such as trichloroethane, such to increase the adhesivity with a coated film, or a pretreatment such as a corona discharge treatment, a plasma treatment, and an ozone treatment is performed followed by carrying out the aimed coating or adhesion. In addition, the method of treating a surface of the substrate such as molded articles with a primer has chosen, and for example, there proposed a composition in which the polyolefin is introduced with maleic acid (Patent Document 1) or a composition in which chlorinated modified polyolefin is employed as a main component (Patent Document 2).
Metals such as a steel plate is also used in a wide range of fields such as interiors and exteriors for automobiles or ships, household electric appliances or household furnishings, miscellaneous goods, and building materials. The surface of a steel plate is coated for the main purposes of improving the appearance and giving an anti-corrosive property. In particular, it is important to prevent the cracks and abrasion of a coated film which are caused by a distortion due to an external force or an impact of materials. Currently, in order to prevent the problems, the thickness of a coated film is increased, or ones coated with a modified propylene-ethylene copolymer (Patent Document 3) obtained by graft copolymerizing maleic acid or anhydrides thereof are employed. However, since those include an organic solvent such as toluene and xylene, there has been a concern about the problems of safety and environment pollution. For such reason, there proposed a substance obtained by dispersing a composition, in which chlorinated modified polyolefin is employed as a main component, in water (Patent Document 4), and a substance obtained from an olefin polymer and a petroleum-based hydrocarbon resin (Patent Document 5).
However, since those substances employ a large amount of surfactant to be a water-based substance, problems arise in that the water resistance of a coated film and adhesivity to a substrate decrease and that the stickiness is generated due to its bleeding out to the surface. When the used amount of the surfactant which is the cause of above problems is reduced, problems arise in that the aqueous base cannot be formed or that the stability of an aqueous resin composition is poor. Further, there is a problem that the most of them cannot exhibit a sufficient adhesivity against a substrate.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. S62-21027
Patent Document 2: Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. S50-10916
Patent Document 3: Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. H06-057809
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H01-256556
Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-27055


In methods for treating a patient, a time varying magnetic field is applied to a patient's body and causes a muscle contraction. The time-varying magnetic field may be monophasic, biphasic, polyphasic and/or static. The method may reduce adipose tissue, improve metabolism, blood and/or lymph circulation. The method may use combinations of treatments to enhance the visual appearance of the patient.

Aesthetic medicine includes all treatments resulting in enhancing a visual appearance and satisfaction of the patient. Patients want to minimize all imperfections including body shape and effects of natural aging. Indeed, patients request quick, non-invasive procedures providing satisfactory results with minimal risks.
The most common methods used for non-invasive aesthetic applications are based on application of mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasound or shock wave therapy; or electromagnetic waves, e.g. radiofrequency treatment or light treatment, such as intense pulsed light or laser treatment. The effect of mechanical waves on tissue is based especially on cavitation, vibration and/or heat inducing effects. The effect of applications using electromagnetic waves is based especially on heat production in the biological structure.
Skin tissue is composed of three basic elements: epidermis, dermis and hypodermis or so called subcutis. The outer and also the thinnest layer of skin is the epidermis. The dermis consists of collagen, elastic tissue and reticular fibers. The hypodermis is the lowest layer of the skin and contains hair follicle roots, lymphatic vessels, collagen tissue, nerves and also fat forming a subcutaneous white adipose tissue (SWAT). The adipose cells create lobules which are bounded by connective tissue, fibrous septa (retinaculum cutis).
Another part of adipose tissue, so called visceral fat, is located in the peritoneal cavity and forms visceral white adipose tissue (VWAT) located between parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum, closely below muscle fibers adjoining the hypodermis layer.
Existing devices have low efficiency and they waste energy, which limits their use. Eddy currents induced within the coil create engineering challenges. Existing devices contain coils which are made of metallic strips, electric wires or hollow conductors. Since the therapy requires large currents, significant losses are caused by induced eddy currents within the coil. Eddy currents lead to production of unwanted heat and therefore there is need to sufficiently cool the coil. Also, the energy source must be protected during reverse polarity of resonance. This requires using protective circuits which consume significant amounts of energy.
The currently used magnetic stimulation devices mostly consist of one magnetic field generating device, a capacitor parallel to a power source and a switching device in series to the power source. Further such topology requires a snubbering device, such as diode or RC snubbering circuit, for protecting the energy source during the reverse polarity of resonance. The use of a snubbering device causes high energy losses. The magnetic stimulation device wastes a lot of energy because of low efficiency due to significant electric losses while generating the time-varying magnetic field. Therefore these devices generate magnetic impulses ineffectively.
Current magnetic aesthetic methods are limited in key parameters which are repetition rate and/or magnetic flux density. All known methods use low values of magnetic flux density and/or low repetition rates which does not allow satisfactory enhancement of visual appearance. As a result, new methods are needed to enhance the visual appearance of the patient.
Magnet therapy uses the influence of magnetic flux on biological tissue. Electric current is induced in the tissue due to voltage change which causes a polarization of the cell membrane. One of fundamental phenomenon of electric current in biological tissue is a transfer of neural excitation or muscle contraction. The intensity of the effect is dependent on the magnetic flux density, repetition rate of the pulses, pulse time duration or envelope of the stimulation signal.
The currently used aesthetic applications don't provide any treatment combining the effect of time-varying magnetic field treatment and conventional treatment, e.g. treatment by electromagnetic field such as radiofrequency treatment. The currently used radiofrequency treatment includes many adverse events such as non-homogenous thermal temperature, insufficient blood and/or lymph flow during and/or after the treatment. Additionally several adverse event such as panniculitis may occur after the treatment.

Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field


A plasma spray apparatus for applying a coating to an article, wherein the apparatus includes a cup shaped plasma nozzle and a main gas nozzle coaxially surrounding the exterior of the plasma nozzle forming a passage between the main gas nozzle and the plasma nozzle through which the main gas containing powder particles is caused to coaxially flow, and a converging/diverging nozzle positioned at the exit of the plasma nozzle and main gas nozzle, having an entry chamber into which the plasma gas and the main gas with powder particles entrained therein flow and combine to establish a gas mixture, the gas mixture accelerating through the extended bore of the converging/diverging nozzle to a sonic or supersonic velocity so that upon impact onto the surface of the article a cohesively bonded coating will form and build-up.

Until Recently, in thermal spraying, it has been the practice to use the highest temperature heat sources to spray metal and refractory powders to form a coating on a workpiece surface. The highest temperature processes currently in use are plasma spray devices, both using an open arc as well as a constricted arc. These extremely high temperature devices operate at 12,000° F. to 16,000° F. to spray materials, which melt at typically under 3,000° F. Overheating is common with adverse alloying and/or excess oxidation occurring. These problems also occur to a lesser or greater degree during the use of the more recently developed HVOF (high velocity oxy-fuel) processes as well as HVAF (high velocity air-fuel) processes. Both of these are combustion type processes utilizing pure oxygen or air containing oxygen as the oxidizer in the combustion process.
Another prior art method of applying a coating is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,414 Alkhimov et al, issues Apr. 12, 1994, which describes a cold gas-dynamic spraying method for applying a coating of particles to a workpiece surface, the coating being formed of a cohesive layering of particles in solid state on the surface of the workpiece. This is accomplished by mixing powder particles having a defined size of from 1 to 50 microns entrained in a cold high pressure carrier gas into a pre-heated high pressure gas flow, followed by accelerating the gas and particles into a supersonic jet to velocities of 300 to 1000 meters per second, while maintaining the gas temperature sufficiently below the melt temperature so as to prevent the melting of the particles. In the operation of this cold gas-dynamic spraying method there are a set of critically defined parameters of operation (particle size and particle velocity for any given material) which makes the process very sensitive to control while maintaining consistent coating quality as well as maintaining useful deposit efficiencies. In addition, the cold gas dynamic spray method as described by Alkhimov et al, is limited to the use of 1-50 micron size powder particles.
Another prior art method of coating is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,913, Van Steenkiste et al, which describes a kinetic spray coating method and apparatus to coat a surface by impingement of air or gas with entrained powder particle in a range of up to at least 106 microns and accelerated to supersonic velocity in a spray nozzle and preferably utilizing particles exceeding 50 microns. The use of powder particles greater than 50 microns overcomes the limitation disclosed by Alkhimov et al. Van Steenkiste et al, while utilizing the same general configuration of the prior art in which the cold high pressure carrier gas with entrained powder material is injected downstream of the heating source of the main high pressure gas into the heated main high pressure gas overcomes the limitations of Alkhimov et al by controlling the ratio of the area of the powder injection tube to 1/80 relative to the area of the main gas passage. By controlling this ratio, it limits the relative volume of cold carrier gas flowing into the heated main gas flow, thereby causing a reduced degree of temperature reduction of the heated main high pressure gas. The net temperature of the main high pressure gas when mixed with the carrier/powder gas flow is critical to determining the velocity of the gas exiting the supersonic nozzle and thereby to the acceleration of the powder particles. As indicated by Alkhimov et al, a critical range of particle velocity is required in order that a cohesive coating is formed. The particle size, the net temperature of the gas and the volume of the gas determine the gas dynamics required to produce a particle velocity falling into the critical particle velocity range.
The cold gas dynamic spray method of Alkhimov et al is limited to the use of a particle size range of 1-50 micron. This limitation has been found by Van Steenkiste et al to be due to the heated main high pressure gas being cooled by injecting into it the cold high pressure carrier gas/powder. Because of the reduction in gas temperature, the maximum gas velocity that can be achieved is too low to accelerate powder particles larger than 50 microns to the critical velocity required to achieve the formation of a cohesive coating buildup. Van Steenkiste el al improves on this by limiting the amount of cold high pressure carrier gas being injected into the heated high pressure main gas by defining the ratio of the cross sectional area of the bore of the powder injection tube to the area of mixing chamber. This limited the proportion of cold carrier gas mixed into the heated main gas thereby reducing the degree of temperature reduction of the heated high pressure main gas, which then allows for higher gas velocities to be achieved. This provides the ability to accelerate larger particles of a size range greater than 50 microns to a velocity above the critical velocity required to form a cohesively bonded coating buildup. However, the kinetic spray coating method and apparatus of Van Steenkiste et al state an upper limit of the particle size range 106 microns, based on experimental results.
In addition in Alkimov et. al. the main gas is heated upstream of the nozzle, then just upstream of the throat of the nozzle, they introduce the particles and cold carrier gas which lowers the final temperature of the combined main gas/carrier gas/particles. This causes the velocity of the particles to be slower than if the temperature of the main gas was not reduced. Accordingly, in Alkimov a much higher main gas temperature must be used to accommodate the cooling effect of the introduction of the cold carrier gas and particles. With standard electric heaters, the main gas temperature can only be increased to 1300 to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. This limits the velocity of the particles and hence the size of the particles that produce cohesively formed coatings. Although the pressures of the gases can be increased to increase the velocity of the particles this also increases the complexity and the expense of the system. Accordingly Alkimov is limited to particle sizes of 1 to 50 microns.

Plasma spray apparatus for applying a coating utilizing particle kinetics


A system and method for generating a set of GNSS corrections using a GNSS corrections model comprising a Gaussian process.

Being able to perform high precision satellite positioning is important for a wide variety of applications. Unfortunately, current GNSS solutions are often either inaccurate or require processor power beyond the capabilities of inexpensive hardware (either locally or in the cloud). A number of solutions have been proposed to address this problem, including Network Real Time Kinematic (Network RTK) satellite positioning. Unfortunately, in traditional methods of Network RTK, the input parameter space increases non-linearly with the size of the network, making it very computationally costly to increase the network size (and thus coverage area and/or positioning accuracy). However, other models may suffer from issues relating to how model parameters are updated (typically via Kalman filter or least-squares). Therefore, there is the need in the satellite positioning field to create a new and useful system and method. This invention provides such new and useful system and method.

System and method for gaussian process enhanced GNSS corrections generation


An exercise machine has a frame, a seat and a pair of articulated exercise arm assemblies. Each of the exercise arm assemblies is pivotally attached to the frame with a four bar linkage. Handles at the outer extremities of the articulated arm assemblies are gripped by the user to perform the intended exercise. The geometry of the arms and their pivot points is arranged so that the handles of the articulated assemblies follow arcuate paths which converge as the handles are moved forwardly. At a starting position for a press exercise, the handles are approximately in line with the shoulders of the user. As the handles are pushed forwardly against an exercise resistance, they converge inwardly until they are nearly touching when the user""s arms are fully outstretched. The machine may also be used to perform a seated-row exercise, in which case the handles are pulled rearwardly against the exercise resistance.

This invention relates generally to the field of resistance type exercise machines, and particularly to a machine for exercising the muscle groups of the upper torso and arms.
A wide variety of exercise machines have been designed to develop particular muscle groups of the body. Most such machines have one or more operable members to be gripped by a user while performing exercises. The operable member is typically supported by the exercise machine so that it is constrained to follow a predetermined exercise path. The user is therefore constrained to move his or her body in accordance with the mechanical structure of the machine.
Machines of this sort provide a degree of exercise control that is in marked contrast to the use of free weights that are still favored by many athletes. Exercise movements with free weights are not restricted to follow predefined paths. On the other hand, exercise machines typically employ a pivoting exercise member with a grip that moves in an arcuate path centered at the pivot axis of the exercise member. Although this controlled movement of the exercise member is generally desirable in order to isolate the exercise to particular muscles or muscle groups, the mechanical design of prior art exercise machines does not necessarily provide an optimum path of movement.
One of the most common exercises performed with an exercise machine is a chest press exercise. The athlete is typically seated, often in a slightly reclining position. A press arm pivots on a horizontal axis and is gripped at approximately shoulder level. The press arm is coupled to a resistance mechanism, most commonly a stack of weights in which the number of weights, and thereby the resistance, can be manually selected. A pair of horizontal handgrips are provided, and quite often a pair of vertical handgrips are provided as well. The exercise is performed by pressing forward on the handgrips against the selected resistance until the athlete""s arms are outstretched. When performed in this manner, the exercise emphasizes the pectorals and triceps. Changing the position of the handgrips will slightly alter the muscular emphasis of the exercise.
Variations on the traditional chest press exercise machine have been developed in order to shift the muscular emphasis of the exercise and/or improve the physiological interface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,631 issued to Jones discloses a decline press exercise machine in which a pair of independently pivoting press arms are suspended on axes that converge in a horizontal plane. The press arms therefore move in arcuate paths that lie in vertical planes which converge inwardly with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the machine. Such an arrangement is claimed to more naturally accommodate musculoskeletal movements of the arms and shoulders.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,951 issued to Deola discloses an exercise device having a suspended U-shaped member resembling a conventional press arm, but with two bar members connected to the lower ends of the U-shaped member by universal joints. The freedom of movement afforded by the universal joints allows the device to be used for performing either a conventional chest press exercise or a dumbbell fly exercise.
A vertical pectoral contractor and rear deltoid machine manufactured by Body Masters Sports Industry, Inc. as model CH 504 provides a pair of exercise arms that pivot about vertical axes located approximately in line with the user""s shoulder joints. To exercise the pectoral muscles, the user grasps handgrips suspended from the overhead exercise arms and rotates them forwardly and inwardly through symmetric circular arcs that are concave with respect to the user""s torso.
A pectoral isolator manufactured by Galaxy Sport as model 142 also provides a pair of pivotal exercise arms. However, in this machine, the pivot axes are well forward and outboard of the seating position. The user begins the exercise with the handgrips out to each side and rotates the exercise arms forwardly and inwardly in circular arcs that are convex to the user""s torso.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine for performing an improved chest press exercise.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a chest press exercise machine that places greater emphasis on development of the pectoral muscles.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a chest press exercise machine in which the user need not support the exercise arms against the force of gravity.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a converging motion chest press exercise machine in which the resistance increases throughout the forward exercise motion.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for performing a seated row exercise in which the path of the exercise motion arcs outwardly as the user pulls back against the exercise resistance.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in an exercise machine that has a frame, a seat and a pair of articulated exercise arm assemblies. Each of the exercise arm assemblies is pivotally attached to the frame in an arrangement that is sometimes referred to as a four bar linkage. The outer extremities of the articulated arm assemblies are gripped by the user to perform the intended exercise. The geometry of the arms and their pivot points is arranged so that the handgrips of the articulated assemblies follow non-circular arcuate paths which converge as the handgrips are moved forwardly. At a starting position for a press exercise, the handgrips are approximately in line with the shoulders of the user and to either side. As the handgrips are pushed forwardly against the exercise resistance, they converge inwardly until they are nearly touching when the user""s arms are fully outstretched.
The articulated arm assemblies are constrained to move within a plane that is slightly inclined from the horizontal. Therefore, in performing the exercise, the user need not support the weight of the exercise arms as would be the case when using a device such as shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,951. Resistance is provided by conventional means, such as a weight stack. Resistance is preferably coupled to the articulated arm assemblies through a system of cables and pulleys so that the effective resistance for press exercises increases throughout the forward movement of the handgrips. For performing a seated-row exercise, the resistance is coupled to the articulated arm assemblies so that rearward movement of the handgrips is resisted. In this case, the starting and ending positions of the exercise are reversed from those of the press exercise.