A refrigerating appliance including a cabinet, a door pivotally mounted onto a front of the cabinet, a crisper frame mounted to an inside surface of the door, the crisper frame comprising a back wall and two side walls and an intermediate wall forming two drawer compartments, a roof, the roof including vents over each drawer compartment, and an upper shelf lying above the roof section and connected to the crisper frame at each of the two side walls, wherein the upper shelf includes a pocket, wherein the roof includes a chimney opening near the vertical intermediate wall connecting the two drawer compartments with the pocket; and two crisper drawers, each crisper drawer configured to removably fit within one of the two drawer compartments and comprising two side walls, a back wall, a front wall and a bottom wall is provided.

Conventional refrigeration appliances, such as domestic refrigerators, typically have both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment or section. The fresh food compartment is where food items such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages are stored. The freezer compartment is where food items that are to be kept in a frozen condition are stored. The refrigerators are provided with refrigeration systems that maintains the fresh food compartment at temperatures above 0° C., such as between 0.25° C. and 4.5° C. and the freezer compartments at temperatures below 0° C., such as between 0° C. and −20° C.
The arrangements of the fresh food and freezer compartments with respect to one another in such refrigerators vary. For example, in some cases, the freezer compartment is located above the fresh food compartment and in other cases the freezer compartment is located below the fresh food compartment. Additionally, many modern refrigerators have their freezer compartments and fresh food compartments arranged in a side-by-side relationship. Whatever arrangement of the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment is employed, typically, separate access doors are provided for the compartments so that either compartment can be accessed without exposing the other compartment to the ambient air.
These conventional refrigeration appliances have solid, insulated doors that close the respective compartment(s). The doors are heavily insulated to aid in maintaining the temperature within the compartment(s) within an acceptable temperature range. The interior surfaces of these doors are clothed in a door liner. The door liner may include lugs, pegs or other mechanisms to permit shelves to be mounted on the door liner.
Certain types of food stored in a fresh food compartment benefit from an optimized humidity. For example, a high humidity may be desirable for storing leafy or root vegetables in order to limit evaporation. In contrast, storage of fruit and packaged dry goods may benefit from a lower humidity. Likewise, different goods stored in a freezer compartment may benefit from subtle temperature variations. For example, long term storage of frozen meats may benefit from a lower freezing temperature, while storage of prepared goods, such as ice cream, may benefit from storage at a slightly higher, yet freezing, temperature.

On door drawer and refrigerating appliance with same


A system for preheating air before it enters the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine includes a recuperator which extends between, and is supported by, forward and rear headers. Cold air to be pre-heated by the recuperator flows through an entry passage in the forward header, then into and through a first conduit of the recuperator which extends the length of the recuperator. The air then flows through a plurality of cross conduits located at different locations along the length of the recuperator where it becomes heated by the flow of turbine exhaust gas. Flow of the now-heated air continues into a second conduit in which it is guided toward the combustion chamber. Transition members are provided between the forward and rear headers, respectively, and the assembly for thermally isolating the assembly from the remainder of the gas turbine engine and for accommodating relative movement between the assembly and the forward and rear headers resulting from temperature differentials occurring during operation of the gas turbine engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to recuperators for gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to a technique for reducing transient thermally induced stresses which result in recuperator failures referred to as "blowouts", thereby improving the operating life of the recuperator.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Brayton cycle engines generally utilize compressors for compressing air for the support of combustion, a combustion chamber which has inlets for both the compressed air and fuel, and means for extracting energy from the hot exhaust gases to produce mechanical work. To extract the energy, the hot exhaust gases produced in the combustion chamber are fed to a turbine that rotates a drive shaft. In a recuperated turbine engine, exhaust gases from the turbine are passed through a recuperative heat exchanger that heats the relatively cold compressed air from the compressor to maximize efficiency of the engine. The purpose of the recuperator, or regenerator as it is sometimes called when it is of a rotating construction, is to return some of the heat energy that would normally be lost with the exhaust, to the front of the combustion chamber. By doing this, less fuel is required to reach the turbine limiting temperatures and this will result in high thermal efficiency, low specific fuel consumption, and low exhaust gas temperature. Recuperators are commonly used on ground-power engines, but to a lesser extent on aircraft engines since this method of power recovery often results in excessive weight and/or air-sealing difficulties.
Typical of current recuperator designs is the construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,044 to Horgan et al. In that instance, an annular heat exchange apparatus is provided for radially conducting a first fluid from a center aperture to an outer perimeter and is adapted for conducting a second fluid through the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a plurality of heat exchange modules and a plurality of second fluid conduit members. The heat exchange modules each have a rectilinear heat exchange means with a first fluid inlet side at the center aperture. The first fluid inlet sides substantially define the center aperture. The plurality of second fluid conduit members are located between adjacent modules for conducting the second fluid into the modules. In terms of construction, the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of parallel corrugated plates fixedly mounted together in a housing. The corrugations cause turbulence in the flow to improve heat exchange and they simultaneously provide rigidity to the structure.
Also known to the prior art are a variety of constructions for accommodating contractions and expansions of the components thereof. These include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,526,135 to Holmes et al. and 2,015,819 to Seligman et al. However in neither of these instances was there any construction for accommodating heat-caused expansion and contraction of components adequate to solve the problems solved by the present invention.


An apparatus for degassing fluids uses a pressure-resistant container, in which the fluid to be degassed is stored and in which low pressure for carrying out the degassing process is produced. The apparatus further includes a supply vessel, containing the fluid to be degassed, which surrounds the pressure-resistant container; and a valve connecting the container and the supply vessel. Connected to the pressure-resistant container in such a manner that fluid can flow is a piston/cylinder unit, the working piston of which opens or closes the valve due to the low pressure in the container in such a manner that the fluid flows in from a fluid supply surrounding the pressure-resistant container and the separated gas escapes through the container opening.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for degassing fluids using a pressure-resistant container, in which the fluid to be degassed is stored and in which low pressure can be produced for carrying out the degassing process.
Apparatuses of this type have wide application in many fields of technology and medicine. In particular, they are required in lithotriptors.
Medical lithotriptors, with extra-corporally arranged systems for producing pressure waves, require a fluid medium for transmission, usually water or water-like fluids with regard to their sound transmission properties. Losses may occur in the transmission of pressure waves, because the fluid contains dissolved gases or very finely distributed gas bubbles, which enlarge the compressibility and thereby reduce the desired rapid and substantial increases in pressure in the course of propagation of the pressure waves and diminish the desired crushing effect.
Further problems associated with dissolved and very finely distributed gases and gas bubbles occur when macroscopic air bubbles are formed due to germination on the patient's skin or on the coupling pads or membranes, which are often used. Due to a rise in compressibility, they also lead to considerable losses in the transmission of the pressure wave, as well as to the reflection of the pressure wave.
Bleeding under the skin, which tends to develop where the air bubbles form around the patient, is a problem as well. Further problems with air bubbles result in arrangements, in which ultrasound piling processes are arranged within the pressure wave transmission area for piling the concrement to be crushed. In this case, too, total reflection of the soundwaves occurs so that piling is made difficult or impossible.
There are apparatuses disclosed for degassing fluids, in which the pressure in the fluid is lowered in such a manner that gas escape is spontaneous. Pressure resistant containers are employed for separation in the gas phase in an upper part of which the separated gas collects and is removed again at specific cyclical periods. This may be done by removing the separated gas by suction against the low pressure prevailing in the container. Another possibility is increasing the pressure above the ambient pressure, flooding the container and removing the gas via an opening positioned at the highest point in the container.
The state of the art apparatuses require control and regulating devices in order to obtain the desired cyclical mode of operation. Thus, removing the separated gas by suction against the prevailing low pressure requires a device for regulating the level, a pump for removing the fluid by suction, another pump for removing the gas by suction and a device for monitoring the pressure. The second cited process also requires control devices in order to raise and lower the pressure cyclically and control gas escape.
Both state of the art processes can be combined with a spray device or injectors (inductors) in order to boost the degassing effect and obtain quasi continuous operation, respectively long cycle times for the degassing and short times for filling/gas elimination.
Other apparatuses utilize the decrease in gas solubility with the temperature, i.e. degassing is attained by heating the fluid. This heating, can be combined with processes in which low pressure is applied.
An object of the present invention is to improve an apparatus for degassing fluids using a pressure-resistant container, in which the fluid to be degassed is stored and in which low pressure for carrying out the degassing process is produced, in such a manner that the degassing process can be carried out quickly by simple means and with the reliability required, in particular, in medical instruments.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, a supply vessel containing the fluid to be degassed surrounds a pressure-resistant container. A valve connects the container and the supply vessel. Connected to the pressure-resistant container, in such a manner that a fluid can flow, is a piston/cylinder unit. A working piston of the piston/cylinder unit opens, or closes the valve due to the low pressure prevailing in the container in such a manner that the fluid flows in from a fluid supply surrounding the pressure-resistant container and the separated gas escapes through the opening in the container.
Advantages of the present invention include a reduction in the number of control and regulating components and a shortening of the cycle time for filling/gas elimination, using a device in which the low pressure prevailing in the container itself is utilized to control the cycle.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a valve opening of the valve is placed at the highest point in the container. Moreover, the working piston acts on the valve by mechanical means and, in particular, a piston rod, ensuring that, with the simplest possible construction, complete degassing occurs, i.e. no nests of gas bubbles form.
In a further embodiment, the pressure difference at the working piston is varied by means of another valve permitting precise setting of the characteristic of the present apparatus.
Also serving this purpose is a design in which hydraulic cross-sections of the working piston and the closing valve differ.
Yet a further embodiment described includes a force/path transmission incorporated into the mechanical means for transferring power between the working piston and the closing valve also serves this purpose.
Additionally, the working piston can act like a damping piston, a damping of which is varied by means of an inductor in such a manner that there is a delay between the pressure balance and the closing of the closing valve.
As an alternative, the aforegoing delay can also be attained by a control unit and, in particular, an electronic control unit, which brings about a time delay between balancing the pressure and closing the closing valve.
In any event, it is very advantageous if the degassing can be additionally boosted by stirring the fluid, injecting the fluid by means of inductors, Venturi tubes, heating the fluid, etc.
Due to its safe operation and low costs of production, the present apparatus is particularly suited for use in medical lithotriptors.


Methods for forming thin wall tubing into a tightly-coiled helical duct comprise selecting a thin wall tube with an outside tube diameter and a wall thickness that is less than 15% of the outside tube diameter; and bending the thin wall tube to form the tightly-coiled helical duct so that an outside duct diameter of the tightly-coiled helical duct is less than four times the outside tube diameter.

Purification of gases in air may be useful or vital in enclosed environments such as spacecraft, space habitats, submarines, underground mines, and terrestrial (e.g., aircraft, armored vehicles) and non-terrestrial vehicles (e.g., pressurized rovers). In particular, people produce carbon dioxide (CO2) as a metabolic byproduct that can become noxious if accumulated within an enclosure. The average person exhales almost a kilogram (kg) of carbon dioxide per day. In environments containing higher levels of carbon dioxide, people may experience symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Hence, manned, enclosed environments need a mechanism to remove carbon dioxide produced within the environment. Additionally, animals and plants are sensitive to the level of carbon dioxide and would benefit from carbon dioxide control.
One proposed method of carbon dioxide control uses a new type of air separation based upon centrifugal stratification of an input air stream drawn from an enclosure's atmosphere. Centrifugal air separation separates flowing gas based on the molecular weight of the gas' constituents by passing the input gas through a tightly coiled duct. Centrifugal air separation is different than gas centrifugation which spins a quantity of input gas in a rotating cylinder to separate the gas components by molecular weight. In centrifugal air separation, the input gas flows at relatively high speed through a tightly coiled duct, causing the gas to follow the duct's coiled path (generally a helical path). As the gas travels along the coiled duct in a generally laminar manner, the input gas stratifies according to the molecular weight of the gas components. Carbon dioxide, being heavier than oxygen and nitrogen, can be separated by appropriately tapping the stratified gas stream. Generally, a centrifugal air separator may be used to separate an input gas stream into a heavy component gas stream (enriched in heavy gas components) and a light component gas stream (enriched in light gas components).
The coiled duct for centrifugal air separation generally has a small radius of curvature relative to the duct diameter and a smooth interior to reduce turbulence as the gas flows. For a coiled duct constructed of tubing, the radius of curvature of the tubing may be specified at about one times the outside diameter of the tubing. Conventionally, tube bending with a small radius of curvature (e.g., less than five times the tube diameter) risks wrinkling, cracking, and/or flattening the tube. For thin-wall metal tubing, a radius of curvature of about two times the tube's outer diameter is generally considered the limit to avoid damage to the tube integrity.
Hence, there is a need for systems and methods to form tightly coiled ducts for centrifugal air separation which can form the ducts without significant wrinkling, cracking, or distortion.

Centrifugal air separator coil manufacturing methods


A browser management system according to one embodiment includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: (A) in response to processing for displaying a webpage on a browser of a user terminal, generate a data sequence for identifying the browser; (B) generate an image file including a plurality of pixels representing the data sequence; and (C) transmit the image file to the user terminal in order to store the data sequence into a cache of the user terminal.

A framework is known that manages a browser of a user terminal. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method of tracking a user's activity by using a tracking server site. In a first process of this method, when a banner advertisement is clicked on in a user terminal, the tracking server site creates cookie data based on click information and transmits it to the user terminal. In a second process, an advertiser's site receives the cookie data from the user terminal, and writes a cookie to the user terminal based on the cookie data. In a third process, the advertiser's site acquires the cookie from the user terminal upon completion of electronic commerce, and creates a tracking telegram including recording information of this cookie and transmits it to the tracking server site.

Browser management system, browser management method, browser management program, and client program


A method of input/output (I/O) assignment for a circuit design for a programmable logic device (PLD) can include determining I/O types for I/O objects specified by the circuit design, defining a plurality of virtual I/O bank-groups, wherein each virtual I/O bank-group includes at least one virtual I/O bank, and binding I/O objects of the circuit design into I/O groups according to the I/O types. A binary compatibility matrix can be created. The binary compatibility matrix can indicate the compatibility between the virtual I/O bank-groups and the I/O groups based upon the I/O types of I/O objects within each I/O group. A determination can be made as to whether a feasible solution exists for I/O assignment of the I/O objects of the circuit design according to a plurality of constraints and the binary compatibility matrix.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of integrated circuits and, more particularly, to the assignment of input/output objects to input/output banks of an integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern programmable logic devices (PLDs), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), are capable of supporting a variety of different input/output (I/O) standards. Examples of I/O standards can include, but are not limited to, different varieties of Gunning Transceiver Logic (GTL) signaling such as GTL, GTL_DCI, and GTLP_DCI, Low Voltage Differential Signaling LVDS25, LVCMOS25, and the like. Each of these I/O standards specifies a set of attributes such as whether a reference voltage VREF is necessary, the value of any required VREF, whether a voltage supply VCC is needed for input (VCCI) or output (VCCO), and/or the value of any required VCCI or VCCO. This listing of I/O standards and attributes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather illustrative of the many varieties of I/O standards and corresponding attributes.
Most modern PLDs organize I/O objects of a circuit design into a limited number of physical I/O banks on the PLD. A PLD can include approximately 8 I/O banks, although this number is not definitive of every type of PLD as different PLDs can include varying numbers of I/O banks. In any case, each I/O bank can be associated with a plurality of different I/O objects. The I/O objects that are assigned to a given I/O bank must be configured according to compatible I/O standards. As such, the placement of I/O objects into a given I/O bank can be said to be constrained by the organization of that I/O bank.
In illustration, some I/O standards require a specific VCCI or VCCO. An I/O bank typically has a single VCC supply. Accordingly, only I/O objects configured according to I/O standards that have compatible VCC requirements can be assigned to the same I/O bank. Other attributes of I/O standards serve to further restrict the field of I/O banks to which a given I/O object can be assigned.
The task of assigning I/O objects to I/O banks is commonly referred to as the "Select I/O placement problem". Conventional solutions for Select I/O placement divide the problem into two different phases. The first phase attempts to find a non-optimal, legal solution that satisfies all non-Select I/O related constraints concerning I/O placement. The second phase seeks to improve the solution to achieve placement legality with regard to the Select I/O constraints.
Past techniques for solving the select I/O placement problem have relied upon heuristics to automate I/O placement. One heuristic-based approach utilizes a combination of simulated annealing, bipartite matching, and constructive bin-packing to find a solution. Heuristic-based techniques, however, do have disadvantages. In particular, heuristic-driven techniques are not guaranteed to determine a feasible I/O placement solution despite the existence of a solution. Further, heuristic techniques are not capable of identifying an inherently infeasible circuit design.
Another proposed solution for the I/O placement problem relies upon an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation of the problem. This solution seeks to overcome the uncertainties inherent to heuristic approaches discussed above. The ILP model includes provisions for addressing voltage constraints when assigning I/O objects to physical I/O banks. Other attributes of I/O standards, however, are not addressed. Specifically, the ILP model lacks any mechanism for dealing with special termination types. Reformulating, or expanding, the ILP model to accommodate such additional attributes is extremely difficult.
It would be beneficial to perform I/O placement in a manner which overcomes the limitations described above.

Assignment of I/O objects with multiple I/O standards to virtual I/O banks using integer linear programming


The present invention features a method of treating at least one sign of aging on the skin selected from the group consisting of enhancing the elasticity of said skin, enhancing the firmness of said skin, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles or cellulite on the skin, by administering to skin in need of such treatment a composition comprising at least one compound of the formula I or formula II:

Aging of the skin is a complex phenomenon resulting from the interaction of several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic aging is an inevitable, genetically programmed process. Among extrinsic influences (e.g., wind, heat, cigarette smoke, chemicals, etc.), ultraviolet radiation appears to be the single most important factor associated with aging of the skin.
N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine has been disclosed for use as a catalytic agent. For example, PCT Patent Application No. WO/0170132 describes the use of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine as catalytic agent to polymerize microspheres prior to injection into the skin. Injection of microspheres into the skin acts to augment skin contour deficiencies such as wrinkles. The use of tertiary amines, such as N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine, as chelating agents to prevent the reduction of the salicylic acid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,604.
The application of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine in cosmetic products has been described in European Patent No. 0023978 whereby the development of carcinogenic nitrosamines in cosmetic and toiletry products which contain triethanolamine is avoided by using N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine to neutralize acidic formulations. U.S. Pat. No 4,749,507 describes the use of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine, for removing hair dyes from hair and skin and U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,008 describes the use of esters of ethylene diamine are useful as hypocholesterolemic agents in animals and man. Bhide M V et al. (Immunopharmacol. 1985; 7(3):303-312) reported that treating macrophages in culture with N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine resulted in an increase macrophage phagocytosis.
The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery that certain ethanediamine compounds are effective for treating the sign of aging.

Compositions for the treatment of signs of aging

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 independently, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.


A method for in situ protection of a surface (7a) of an aluminum layer (7) of a VUV radiation reflecting coating (6) of an optical element (4), arranged in an interior of an optical arrangement, against the growth of an aluminum oxide layer (8), including carrying out an atomic layer etching process for layer-by-layer removal of the aluminum oxide layer from the surface. The etching process includes a surface modification step and a material detachment step. At least one boron halide is supplied as a surface modifying reactant to the interior in pulsed fashion during the surface modification step. A plasma is generated at a surface (8a) of the aluminum oxide layer, at least during the material detachment step. The atomic layer etching process is performed until the aluminum oxide layer reaches a given thickness (D), or the aluminum oxide layer is kept below that thickness (D) by the process.

Transmitting optical elements can only be used to a very restricted extent in optical applications in the vacuum ultraviolet wavelength range (VUV wavelength range) between approximately 110 nm and approximately 200 nm. Therefore, it is largely necessary to make use of reflective optical units in optical arrangements for the VUV wavelength range, for example for microscopy or for semiconductor inspection, for example for mask inspection or wafer inspection.
(Highly) reflective coatings for optical elements for the VUV wavelength range often comprise an aluminum layer since aluminum has a high reflectivity of approximately 0.8-0.9 or more in the VUV wavelength range. To protect the aluminum layer against oxidation, the article "Protected and enhanced aluminum mirrors for the VUV" by S. Wilbrandt et al., Applied Optics, Vol. 53, No. 4, February 2014, for example, has disclosed the practice of applying protective layers or protective coatings in the form of metal fluorides, for example in the form of MgF2, AlF3 or LiF, onto the aluminum layer. Without such a protective layer, a native aluminum oxide layer (Al2O3 layer) with a layer thickness of 2-3 nm forms virtually instantaneously upon contact with ambient air (cf. the article "On the Vacuum-Ultraviolet Reflectance of Evaporated Aluminum before and during Oxidation", R. P. Madden et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. 53, 620-625 (1963)). The aluminum oxide layer absorbs radiation in the VUV wavelength range so strongly that the use of an aluminum layer without the use of a protective layer is not desirable, as a rule.
The article "Enabling High Performance Mirrors for Astronomy with ALD", ECS Trans. 50 (13), 141-148 (2013), F. Greer et al., and the article "Atomic Layer Deposition of Lithium Fluoride Optical Coatings for the Ultraviolet", Inorganics 6, 46 (2018), J. Hennessy et al., have disclosed the practice of applying layers of a mirror coating for the VUV wavelength range, for example an aluminum layer or fluoride layer, with the aid of so-called atomic layer deposition (ALD) in order to increase the density of the applied layers.
However, even in the case of irradiation under vacuum conditions, i.e., in the case of a very low oxygen or water content in the surroundings, a significant reflection loss and an increase in stray light were observed in the case of coatings with an aluminum layer as a base layer and conventionally deposited protective layers of various types.
In general, oxidic layers achieve a better protective effect than fluoridic layers. However, even the oxides with the largest bandgaps already absorb within the required (VUV) wavelength range. One solution for reducing the absorbing effect of oxides by way of the placement of oxidic layers in the minima of the electric field has been described in DE102018211499.4.
EUV applications have disclosed self-cleaning metal layers, e.g., made of ruthenium, in which the oxidation can be prevented by the addition of hydrogen. Since the reaction enthalpy of aluminum with oxygen is significantly higher than that of ruthenium, a reduction of aluminum oxide to aluminum by hydrogen alone is not possible. However, a protective layer made of ruthenium on an aluminum layer would cause absorption that is too high for radiation in the VUV wavelength range. Although the use of hydrogen renders it possible, in principle, to at least partly remove the aluminum oxide layer, i.e., to reduce the aluminum oxide to aluminum, this is very challenging from a technological point of view.
The article "Enhanced atomic layer etching of native aluminum oxide for ultraviolet optical applications", J. Hennessy et al, Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A 35, 041512 (2017) has disclosed the removal of a native Al2O3 layer by atomic layer etching (ALE) by virtue of said layer being alternately exposed to trimethylaluminum (TMA) and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF). The article proposes the removal of the Al2O3 layer by the ALE process before a fluoridic protective layer is applied to the aluminum layer. What is exploited here is that the ALD process can use the same chemistry, i.e., the alternate feeding of TMA and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, as in the ALE process. The dominating reaction (ALE or ALD) depends on the substrate temperature and can be altered in order to let the desired process (ALE or ALD) run.

Method for in situ protection of an aluminum layer and optical arrangement for the VUV wavelength range


Systems and methods use enhanced flow control devices that can be selectively closed completely or have its effective flow area reduced to restrict production (or injection) by use of a chemical trigger mechanism. In addition, some of the systems deploy specific targeted chemical tracers, dissolvable in the unwanted production fluid (e.g., water or gas). These chemical tracers once dissolved will enter the production stream and be identified at the surface. An appropriate chemical trigger can be placed, for example, by pumping down through the tubing and utilizing intelligent completion valve to place the chemical, or by spotting with coiled tubing and bullhead to the formation. The chemical trigger will only trigger the active chemical in the appropriate flow control device.

Intelligent and/or segmented completions such as staged fracture completions and/or multi-zone injection wells have been utilized quite extensively in the oilfield since the late 1990's. Their application has become more widespread since the 2004 oil price increase and worldwide technology acceptance. The main applications in the Middle East for intelligent completions' have been in controlling multi-lateral completions where each flow control valve is placed at the junction for each lateral leg—often an open hole lateral. These types of intelligent completion applications allow a lateral to be choked back or shut-off should unwanted production occur. This manipulation of the well completion can be done without resorting to intervention through coiled tubing or tractor operations which are themselves inherently risky operations. Intelligent completions are conventionally operated by use of hydraulic or electric control lines run in with the completion, adding to the complexity of installation.
In parallel with this technology acceptance, passive inflow control systems, (hereinafter referred to as "ICD"s) and/or injection control systems have become extremely popular for open-hole long horizontal completions especially in locations such as in the Middle East carbonate reservoirs. The main drivers have been controlling fracture contribution to the wellbore and balancing for wellbore hydraulics effects in long horizontal or deviated wells.
In addition selective segmented completions have been used widely to facilitate the stimulation treatment of multi-zone and/or long horizontal wells. In this case, the selectivity is provided by a series of valves that is actuated to direct stimulating fluids (acid, water, sand, proppant, polymer, solvents or other such fluids) for the purpose of selectively injecting into the specific segment of the well being targeted.
The ICD style of completion is often particularly attractive to the operator and especially the drilling departments due to the relatively low risk and cost of the installation phase. However the long-term benefits of the passive inflow control completion system are compromised should water production enter the wellbore. The ICD will limit the production of water, but does not allow it to be effectively shut off without intervention. Similarly, current ICD type completions complicate access to the formation for treatments such as stimulation treatments, clay stabilization, water conformance injection etc.
In addition, an ICD is by default designed before installation phase. Once the ICD is in place, there is little chance to change its characteristics (flow versus pressure differential), and therefore their success relies on the accurate characterization of the formation conductivity with the borehole.
Attempts have been made to provide dissolvable members. Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. US2007/0181224 discusses reactive alloy materials for targeted control. One composition consists essentially of one or more reactive metals in major proportion, and one or more alloying elements in minor proportion, with the provisos that the composition is high-strength, controllably reactive, and degradable under defined conditions. Compositions may exist in a variety of morphologies, including a reactive metal or degradable alloy processed into an alloy of crystalline, amorphous or mixed structure that may constitute the matrix of other compositions, for instance a composite.
Other attempts have been made to provide dissolvable members to control downhole fluid flow in oilfield applications. For example, commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2009/0151949 discusses self dissolvable alloys for perforating. U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2004/0014607 discusses dissolvable encapsulation of chemicals for oilfield treatment purposes. Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2011/0067889 discusses a hydraulic regulating mechanism for disposal in a well. The mechanism includes a degradable metal based element and a swellable component for hydraulic regulation. The mechanism is configured for ease of setting and removal by allowing degrading of the metal based element upon exposure to certain downhole conditions which may trigger shrinking of the swellable component. Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2011/0048743 discusses a dissolvable bridge plug configured with components for maintaining anchoring and structural integrity for high pressure applications. Embodiments of the plug are configured such that these components may substantially dissolve to allow for ease of plug removal following such applications. Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2008/0210423 discusses circulated degradable material assisted diversion methods for well treatment in completed wells. Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publ. No. 2008/0105438 discusses whipstocks and deflectors comprising a degradable composition.
All of the commonly-assigned patent applications identified above are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Chemically targeted control of downhole flow control devices


The present invention provides novel human anti-Influenza antibodies and related compositions and methods. These antibodies are used in the prevention, inhibition, neutralization, diagnosis, and treatment of influenza infection.

Influenza virus infects 5-20% of the population and results in 30,000-50,000 deaths each year in the U.S. Although the Influenza vaccine is the primary method of infection prevention, four antiviral drugs are also available in the U.S.: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir.
Disease caused by Influenza A viral infections is typified by its cyclical nature. Antigenic drift and shift allow for different A strains to emerge every year. Added to that, the threat of highly pathogenic strains entering into the general population has stressed the need for novel therapies for flu infections. The predominant fraction of neutralizing antibodies is directed to the polymorphic regions Influenza virus-specific proteins. Thus, such a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) would presumably target only one or a few strains.
Therefore, a long-felt need exists in the art for new antibodies that bind to an invariant Influenza protein, or domain thereof, and which neutralize a large number of Influenza strains.

Anti-hemagglutinin antibody compositions and methods of use thereof


A filtered electrical connector has a number of removable filter contacts. Each contact has a ceramic capacitive casing located by means of resilient spacers. To prevent the resilient tines of the retaining plate and grounding disc catching on and causing damage to the capacitive casing and spacers, the metal parts of each conductor extend to shroud the spacers and abut the end of the capacitive casing. To increase available contact density within the connector, the grounding disc is moulded from flexible plastics material and plated with an electrically conductive coating.

This invention relates to two part electrical connectors and in particular to those having removable filter contacts.
Standard non-filter contacts are conventionally held in place in such connectors by means of a plastic retention disc. The retention disc has an aperture for each contact and on one side of the disc are formed a number of resilient tines about each aperture projecting from the surface of the disc and angled inwards. The contact is pushed through the aperture from the other side (the rear) of the plate, the tines flexing to allow its passage and then engaging behind a flange or shoulder on the contact to prevent withdrawal. Removal is achieved by insertion of a tool from the rear of the plate to spread the tines so that they are clear of the shoulder and the contact can be withdrawn.
Known types of filter contacts give rise to problems when used with a retention disc of the type described. Filter contacts of the stress-isolated type, which are designed to allow a certain amount of bending of the metal part of the contact whilst having a fragile ceramic capacitive casing around a part of the contact, have conductive rubber washers or spacers compressed between the metallic ends of the contact, or flanges spaced along its length, and the ends of the ceramic capacitive casing in the centre. The spacers provide the necessary electrically conductive path whilst permitting a significant bending of the ends of the contact without putting stress on or causing damage to the fragile ceramic casing. Due to the spacers being held in compression, it is inevitable that the outer wall of each spacer will bulge outwards between the flange on the contact and the end of the ceramic casing. If a contact of this type is withdrawn through the retention disc described above, the free ends of the tines are prone to catch on the bulging outer wall of the spacers or the ends of the ceramic capacitive casing. Repeated insertion and withdrawal of such a contact can lead to damage of the spacers, ceramic casing and tines.
A further problem which is encountered in the design of such electrical connectors, particularly of those having a high contact density, is the provision of a ground plane. It is a fundamental requirement of a filtered connector that each of the individual filter contacts must have their capacitive elements connected to a common system ground point, usually via the connector casing. This is conventionally achieved by either soldering each contact to a conductive plate or by provision of a metallic plate having spring characteristic through which each contact passes and in which contacting tines are formed. Soldering prevents the removal of contacts and the close proximity of the contacts in high density connectors makes the formation of springy tines in metallic plate impracticable.
United Kingdom Patent GB 1,257,418 describes a plate having spring characteristics. The plate of GB 1,257,418 provides a number of separate electrical connections between a wiring board and a demountable component assembly. There is no suggestion of passing capacitive filter through apertures in the plate nor of connecting all the connection points together and to ground potential. United Kingdom Patent GB 950,047 describes an edge connector for printed circuit boards which uses a number of separate sprung metal contacts. As with GB 1,257,418, there is no suggestion of use with capactive filter contacts nor of electrically connecting all of the contacts together and to ground potential.


With typical ordnance systems, for example, grenades, a user must decide to explode the ordnance before the actual device is thrown. However, in many situations, it can be useful to be able to throw an ordnance system and make a decision to explode the device after it has landed. The present invention comprises a combined reconnaissance and ordnance device. The present invention is capable of real time acquisition of data, for example, digital still images, or video and audio data. The present invention also comprises a two way communications ability. By acquiring and then transmitting data to a remote console, the present invention allows a user to observe a given situation. After observing the environment surrounding the ordnance system, a user can determine whether or not to explode the ordnance system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tactical reconnaissance and ordnance system. More specifically, the present invention comprises an apparatus for incorporating a data acquisition system with an ordnance system.
2. Background of the Invention
Real time data about enemy location, strength and intentions, whether strategic or tactical, are critical to military personnel in the field. In particular, the specific knowledge of, for example, the location, quantity, and/or activity of individual or grouped non-friendly personnel or vehicles can be very useful. Knowledge of these factors can sometimes mean the difference between a quick tactical victory and unnecessary casualties. As enemies become more sophisticated, this information typically becomes more difficult to obtain. In addition, this information can change rapidly, adding further difficulties to data acquisition and decision making. For example, reconnaissance or Special Operations forces face a variety of threats from both seen and unseen xe2x80x9cnon-friendlies.xe2x80x9d In these situations, the unseen threats can cause the most disruption an casualties to friendly forces. In order to reduce casualties, these threats must be minimized. To minimize seen, as well as unseen threats, a system for collecting, assessing, and acting on improved, real time tactical data on adversaries is required.
A continuing need exists for a tactical reconnaissance and ordnance system.
An object of the present invention is to provide a combined reconnaissance and ordnance system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a reconnaissance system to provide personnel with early warning of enemy activity.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of monitoring buildings, caves, or bunkers.
Still another object of the present invention is provide the ability to view what is at, in, or around an intended target area.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide the ability to decide whether or not to detonate ordnance.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for two way communication with an ordnance system.
The present invention achieves the above and other objects by providing a reconnaissance and ordnance device, comprising: an imaging system; a processing system operatively connected to the imaging system; a communication system operatively connected to the processing system; a ordnance system operatively connected to the processing system; and a power system operatively connected to the imaging system, to the processing system, to the communication system, and to the ordnance system.

Tactical reconnaissance and ordnance system


A charged particle column having improved performance at multiple beam energies. The column employs a four-element objective lens to enable improved beam focusing performance at both high and low beam energies at a target, with differing focus voltage configurations for different beam energies. By changing the voltages applied to the four electrodes of the objective lens, different focusing conditions may be rapidly configured, enabling rapid toggling between optimized imaging and optimized processing of a target.

In charged particle systems, comprising both electron microscopes and focused ion beam systems, a column is typically used to focus a charged particle beam onto the surface of a target which is to be imaged and/or processed using the beam. The energy of the beam when it strikes the target surface influences the beam interaction with the substrate and also the characteristics of the image acquired. For example, some imaging applications require the highest spatial resolutions in order to spatially resolve the smallest features on the target, in some cases down to atomic resolution. In other imaging applications, it is necessary to use lower beam energies to reduce damage to the target or to image only the surface of the target (since higher energy beams typically penetrate deeply into the target).
Similar considerations apply for beam-enhanced processing of targets, such as ion milling, beam-induced deposition or etching (using either electrons or ions), ion polishing, ion implantation, etc. For all these processing methods, the beam energy when it encounters the target surface may have substantial effects on the characteristics of the process, including the spatial resolution (i.e., the size of the milled or deposited features), as well as the processing rate, surface smoothness, density of depositions, depth of damaged layers, etc.
A common characteristic of charged particle columns is the beam voltage at which the optical design was optimized, where "optimization" may correspond to the focusing ability of the column to produce the smallest possible beam diameter for a pre-determined beam current, or the highest beam current within a pre-determined beam diameter. When a range of beam energies at the target is desired (e.g., when both imaging and processing are to be performed on the same target), the best performance for imaging or processing can typically only be obtained for beam energies near this optimized beam energy. For all other beam energies, the imaging or processing performance is lower than would have been possible had the column been optimized for the particular beam energy. "Lower performance" in this context would mean a larger beam diameter for a pre-determined beam current, or a lower beam current within a pre-determined beam diameter, while "improved performance" will be used to mean a smaller beam diameter for a pre-determined beam current, or a higher beam current within a pre-determined beam diameter.
What is needed is a charged particle column having improved performance at multiple beam energies. Another desirable goal would be to configure a charged particle column for improved performance over a wider range of energies, spanning those energies which have been determined to be optimal for imaging and also beam energies which have been determined to be optimal for beam processing applications.

Focused charged particle column for operation at different beam energies at a target


A display apparatus is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display to display contents on a screen and a controller to control the display to display a feedback user interface (UI) on the screen which is generated based on a user preference of the contents, and the feedback UI may include at least one of a poll UI which is related to the contents or a control UI that is used to control playback timing of the contents.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus, a server apparatus, and a controlling method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus which provides content information based on user preference.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to the development of electronic technologies, various types of display apparatuses are being developed. For example, a display apparatus such as a television (TV), a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, and the like, are widely used in most households.
In an effort to satisfy a user's needs to use more advanced and various functions, the development of a display apparatus having a new format is being sought. For example, related-art TVs may receive only a broadcasting signal, and a user may view the broadcast contents. As another example, TVs also provide bilateral services via the internet. Accordingly, TV viewers can experience, via a TV, various functions such as web surfing, viewing a video on demand (VOD), social network services (SNS), games, and the like. Accordingly, content providers (CPs) may create income by providing users of a display apparatus with various contents, and users may purchase various contents through the display apparatus.
The CPs which provide contents to a display apparatus are trying to provide contents that are interesting to users, in order to make users of a display apparatus purchase the contents.
Users also wish to receive contents that they are interested in and in which they know other users' opinions about the contents. The opinions of other users may be used for other users to decide whether or not to purchase contents.
However, there is a need to expand the functions through which users may express their user preference on contents provided by a display apparatus and receive various services according to the expressed user preference.

Display apparatus and server apparatus providing feedback user interface


A perforating apparatus for perforating a web capable of making at least one plurality of holes in a zone of the web in a precise way and without imperfections or lacerations in the web. The present invention also relates to a process for perforating the web capable of making at least one plurality of holes in a zone of the web in an efficient way and without snags occurring. The present invention also relates to a machine for producing sanitary absorbent articles comprising at least one perforating apparatus.

In the production of sanitary absorbent articles, it is known to use webs having one or more zones in which holes have been made which give the sanitary absorbent article particular properties. For example, perforated webs can give breathability, diversified elasticity, or other properties in relation to the desired requirements.
To obtain sanitary absorbent articles, it is known that the webs are purchased already perforated.
That known solution involves high costs, requires lengthy times for loading in machine and for supplying, and necessitates large warehouse spaces and numbers of personnel.
The use of already perforated webs has the further disadvantage that to obtain different portions of an article having different properties it is necessary to use a plurality of webs having different configurations of holes.
That involves limits in terms of production flexibility and notably limits the types of articles which can be made. For example, that is reflected in the impossibility of making articles or batches of articles with different types of holes.
Due to the intrinsic deterioration of the webs over time, the properties of the latter may change up to the point that they are no longer suitable for the production of sanitary absorbent articles. That involves considerable economic losses, aggravated by the burden of having to dispose of the webs which are no longer usable.
Other known solutions provide for the use of perforating apparatuses installed in line which, as well as being bulky, require the web to be stopped, or notably slowed.
That involves a notable overall slowing in the production of the sanitary absorbent articles no longer acceptable due to the technical and commercial requirements of the sector.
Some known solutions use rotating rollers provided with suitable joined together protrusions and between which the web is made to advance. For example, known solutions of this type are described in document US-A-2012/276239 (US'239).
As the web advances, the joined together protrusions of the two rollers engage the web and jointly make a plurality of holes in the web.
Despite the profuse efforts by experts in the sector, such known solutions do not allow the obtainment of holes that are precise and without imperfections.
Due to the rotation of the rollers, the engagement and disengagement of the web by means of the joined together protrusions occur along a curved path substantially tangent to the advancement direction of the web which typically involves a localized variation in the advancing velocity of the web which produces stretching.
In particular, in the case in which the peripheral velocities of the rollers are equal to the advancing velocity of the web, due to the engagement and disengagement of the joined together protrusions with the web along a curved path substantially tangent to the advancement direction, it is known that many of the resulting holes have an elliptical shape.
Document US'239 also mentions the possibility of using plates with perforating elements without specifying the methods of use, or how they are configured to move in relation to the web.
Such known solutions do not allow the precise and controlled making of holes in specific zones of the web, which often prove to be non-uniform, incomplete and with multiple imperfections.
For example, the holes in the web may have unwanted elliptical shapes and/or lacerated and/or stretched portions, or in the worst cases the web may even remain accidentally caught in the perforating apparatus.
Therefore, the need exists to improve and make available a perforating apparatus, a perforating process, as well as a machine for producing sanitary absorbent articles comprising that perforating apparatus of a web which overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
One aim of the present invention is to supply a perforating apparatus capable of making holes in a web in line which are precise and without imperfections so as to obtain sanitary absorbent articles corresponding to design expectations with high production rates.
It is an aim of the present invention to supply a perforating apparatus capable of making holes without obstructing the advancement of the web, that is to say, without locally varying the velocity of the web and consequently preventing the holes from having an elliptical shape.
It is also an aim of the present invention to supply a perforating process which allows the obtainment of holes in a web rapidly and as the web advances along an advancement path.
It is a further aim of the present invention to supply a perforating apparatus with compact dimensions and which allows holes to be made in a web as it advances and which simultaneously guarantees the reduced likelihood of it being able to accidentally become caught in the apparatus itself.
A further aim of the present invention is to supply a machine for producing sanitary absorbent articles comprising at least one perforating apparatus which allows deformations to be made in one or more desired zones of the web in a precise and controlled way.
To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to obtain these and further aims and advantages, the Applicant has devised, tested and made the present invention.

Perforating apparatus of a web, perforating process and production machine


An inventive method for data delivery in a multi-hop vehicular network with multiple vehicles and intersections is presented. The method comprises, at each source vehicle, initiating packet flow, labeling packets with destination coordinates and a current location, and forwarding the packet flow, and at each intersection, selecting a header vehicle, computing a backlog indicator and listening for broadcasts with a matrix and delay information, updating the matrix in accordance with the backlog indicator if the matrix is present, otherwise initializing the matrix, forwarding the packet flow, and broadcasting the matrix from the header vehicle. In one embodiment, selection of the header vehicle is performed based on random countdown and vehicle ID. The method converges to the optimal (lowest latency) state irrespective of the initial starting point of the network and continues to tend towards the optimal state even as the network conditions alter.

Vehicular communications have long been considered to be an enabler for numerous safety and commercial applications. Many automobile manufacturers are in different stages of integrating communication devices in their vehicles for a variety of purposes including safety, assisted driving, entertainment, and commerce. As an increasing number of vehicles start getting equipped with communication capability, large scale ad hoc networks can be envisioned in the near future. Numerous projects worldwide, e.g. in Europe, in the U.S., and in Japan, involve researching and developing the infrastructure for vehicular communications and automotive telematics. Studies have highlighted that the benefits of setting up vehicular networks significantly outweigh the initial setup costs.
Through a vehicular ad hoc network, it would be possible to forward queries from places without internet connectivity to faraway hot spots at a fraction of the cost of current infrastructure, e.g. 3G based communications. This can be accomplished because of the multi-hop data dissemination capability of vehicular networks, which is one of the major advantages of such networks. Multi-hop dissemination can be used for sending safety and emergency warning messages, exchanging neighborhood information queries, relaying data from the internet, etc. Accordingly, multi-hop data flows in a vehicular network could result from a range of applications.
At the same time, multi-hop data delivery through vehicular networks is complicated because of the high mobility and the partitioned nature of the networks. For example, vehicle mobility can have a significant influence on message delivery latency. The existing methods address the setting under the assumption that the density of vehicles equipped with communication radios is sufficiently high so as to have a significant impact. In reality, owing to the life cycle of automobile manufacturing, high density is unlikely. Further, assumptions about the deployment of roadside units typically serve to mitigate the concern about sparse environments. However, the cost associated with the deployment of roadside units may be prohibitive and in many areas vehicular ad hoc networks might be the only option. Moreover, owing to the time-scale of auto manufacturing, it is expected that the fraction of automobiles on the roads equipped with communication radios will be fairly low to begin with and catch up gradually. Due to the low equipped vehicle density, a store and forward method, where vehicles buffer packets and transmit them when another vehicle is in range, has often been the primary data relaying strategy.
Methods have been proposed for routing strategies in urban networks. For example, packets are forwarded to the intersections as quickly as possible. At the intersection, the packets use a geographical forwarding or a right hand rule. There is no consideration of other parameters, such as vehicle density, vehicle speeds, etc., in these strategies.
However, because of the unpredictable nature of vehicular networks, any data dissemination strategy needs to take into account a diverse range of environmental parameters such as vehicle speeds, direction, density radio range, roadway lengths etc. As a result of the high variability of the parameters, it is difficult for heuristic based forwarding methods to function well under the entire range of network conditions.

Distributed method for minimum delay multi-hop data delivery in vehicular networks


Embodiments of this application provide a network performance assurance method and apparatus. When the network performance assurance method is applied, a second management device determines network performance assurance information. The network performance assurance information includes at least one of a network performance assurance granularity and a network performance assurance condition. The second management device sends a target network management request including the network performance assurance information to a first management device. The first management device receives the target network management request sent by the second management device, and manages a target network based on the at least one of the network performance assurance granularity and the network performance assurance condition included in the target network management request.

With development of communications technologies, there are increasingly diversified communications services, and different communications services have significantly different requirements for network performance such as mobility, security, capacity, latency, and reliability.
In a next-generation communications system, for example, in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communications system, a network slice (NS) concept is introduced to cope with a problem that different communications services have different network performance requirements.
When a 5G network slicing technology is used, network resources of each slice need to be managed to ensure that performance of a bearer service is assured, for example, a service level agreement (SLA) indicator requirement is met. Currently, an operator usually negotiates an SLA indicator with an equipment vendor in advance. When an SLA indicator is obtained through negotiation, the operator manages network resources based on the negotiated SLA indicator by using the unified SLA indicator, and performs network performance assurance for terminals in an entire network, so that network performance can be assured for all the terminals in the entire network. However, in such a manner of using a unified SLA indicator to perform network performance assurance for terminals in an entire network, a very high requirement is imposed on performance of a management device that manages network resources in the operator, and it is very difficult to assure performance of all the terminals in the entire network. This increases an evaluation failure probability during network performance evaluation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Network performance assurance method and apparatus


This invention relates to a method of making thermoplastic polymeric fibrils by passing an aqueous suspension of powdered thermoplastic polymeric material at high pressure through a two-stage valve assembly of the type conventionally used in liquid homogenization.

Fibrils of thermoplastic polymeric material may be prepared by flash spinning processes wherein an organic solvent solution, dispersion, emulsion or suspension of polymeric material in a fluid medium is extruded through an orifice under conditions of temperature and pressure wherein the liquid medium is rapidly vaporized or evaporated resulting in formation of polymeric fibrils. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,737 wherein an organic solvent solution, dispersion or emulsion of fiber-forming polymeric material is extruded through a convergent-divergent DeLaval type nozzle.
Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,512 discloses a polymeric fibril making process wherein an organic solvent solution of polymeric material is introduced into a fluid precipitation medium under the action of mechanically generated shearing forces.
In accordance with the present invention, thermoplastic fibrils may be readily and conveniently made from an aqueous suspension of powdered thermoplastic polymeric material and especially an aqueous suspension of powdered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).


A steering wheel pad is provided which includes a non-conductive inner member. The pad has a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on the inner member. The horn switch has terminals. The pad includes a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch. An air bag device is accommodated in the inner member. A conductive bag support is provided with the air bag device for attaching the air bag device to the inner member. The pad has a conductive bracket and a conductive coupling member having a rod section and engaging sections at opposing ends thereof. The bracket is disposed at an outer side of the outer member. The rod section of the coupling member is inserted into bores of the bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and bracket. The engaging sections of the coupling member contact with the bag support and bracket so that the bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and bracket are connected with each other, and the bracket is electrically connected to the terminals.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 4-140745, filed Jun. 1, 1992.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering wheel pad which includes an air bag device and a horn switch.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 4-5171 discloses a conventional vehicular steering wheel pad which includes an air bag device. As shown in FIG. 13, the pad includes an inner member 51, an outer member 52, and a horn switch 53 disposed between the inner and outer members 51 and 52. An air bag device 54 is accommodated under the inner member 51. The air bag device 54 is held under the inner member 51 by means of a pair of bag supports 55 disposed on opposing sides of the steering wheel (only one shown).
In a pad 56 having the above described configuration, each bag support 55 is secured to a bracket 59 by means of rivets 58, in order to prevent each member 51, 52, 54 and 55 from moving when an air bag 57 is inflated by activation of the air bag device 54. The brackets 59 together with the horn switch 53 and the outer member 52 are secured to the inner member 51, which has high rigidity, by means of other rivets 60.
Lead wires 61 and 62 are connected to the horn switch 53 and the air bag device 54, respectively, such that the horn switch 53 and the air bag device 54 can be electrically connected to a connection leading to a battery. The lead wires 61 and 62 are passed through a space in the pad 56 and bundled together. The bundled wires 61 and 62 are inserted into a hole 63a of a metal plate 63. These wires 61 and 62 are then connected to the battery, via a slip ring or the like.
However, in the conventional configuration, assembling the pad 56 and electrically connecting the horn switch 53 should be performed separately, particularly when the electrical connection of the horn switch 53 and the lead wire 61 requires a connection via a narrow space. Therefore, the wiring operation becomes rather difficult to perform, which causes the work efficiency for assembling the pad to decrease.

Steering wheel pad with improved horn switch assembly


An indoor environmental protection and temperature controlling decoration board comprises a front panel, a back panel, valves, a pipe of a temperature controlling device and seal components. Fixing pins with pawls are assembled on the back panel to fix the decoration board conveniently on the inner wall of building. The decoration board also comprises a sealed cavity with water/air inlet groove and outlet groove to supplying heat or cold air into the room, and the sealed cavity is formed by a heat dissipation layer, an insulating layer and separating beams.

Nowadays, most of the inside wall surfaces of buildings are made of fiber decorative panel, mineral wool clapboard, plasterboard, artificial panel, ceramic tile, marble or granite, in which there are many deficiencies such as heavy weight, breaking easily them to pieces, and wasting time and money in the construction, poor decorative and sound-absorbing effects, moreover it is harmful to the indoor environment and people's health from fiber and micro-dust caused by them.
The decorative panel on the inside wall has currently the single function without temperature-control, so people can only use air-conditioner to control and adjust the indoor air and temperature, which is bad for protecting-environment and saving-energy.

Indoor temperature-controlled decorative panel with environmental protection


A lift truck comprises a roller rotatable at a rate substantially proportional to a ground vehicle speed and a hydraulic regulator operated by the roller to discharge hydraulic fluid at a rate substantially proportional to the ground vehicle speed. An actuator for a push-pull mechanism with a face plate is operated on the hydraulic fluid generated by the hydraulic regulator so that the face plate can displace in synchronized with the ground vehicle speed.

The present invention relates to an industrial vehicle such as a lift vehicle and more particularly to a vehicle speed responsive load carrier of a lift vehicle.
A vehicle speed responsive load carrier is known which comprises a push-pull mechanism with a face plate. The push-pull mechanism includes a hydraulic actuator which, under the control of a control unit, displaces the face plate longitudinally in response to a ground speed of the vehicle.
One such load carrier is disclosed in JP-A 57-195098. In this known device, there are provided two sensors, one for measuring a velocity at which the face plate displaces relative to the vehicle body, the other for measuring a ground velocity at which the vehicle displaces, and an electro-hydraulic module is disposed in a hydraulic circuit to regulate fluid supply to the hydraulic actuator in response to the output signals of the sensors. The sensors and electro-hydraulic module are expensive. The whole system is composed of an electronic control part and a hydraulic control part which have different response speeds to external disturbances so that it is difficult to suppress occurrence of hunting and overshooting phenomena.
One object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle speed responsive load carrier which is not provided with such a complicated electro-hydraulic module as used in the prior art as mentioned above.


A sample temperature adjustment device includes a temperature control space for controlling a temperature of a sample by containing the sample inside, a heat insulating layer enclosing the temperature control space so that the temperature control space is thermally separated from outside air of the sample temperature adjustment device, a cooling part for cooling the temperature control space, a heat transfer plate covering at least a part of outer surfaces of the heat insulating layer, and a heater that heats the heat transfer plate to prevent dew condensation on a surface of the heat transfer plate.

Some liquid chromatograph autosamplers have a function of cooling a sample plate containing a sample to be analyzed to maintain the temperature at a constant temperature in order to prevent alteration or the like of the sample (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the present application, devices such as an autosampler having such a sample temperature control function are collectively referred to as "sample temperature adjustment devices".
Cooling temperature control systems of a sample include a direct cooling system in which a sample plate containing a sample is placed on a metal plate on which a cooling element, such as a Peltier element, is attached and a container is directly cooled, as well as an air cooling system in which a sample plate is disposed in space (hereinafter referred to as temperature control space) thermally separated from outside air, and air in the temperature control space is cooled by a cooling element, such as a Peltier element.
While the direct cooling system has an advantage that a response speed of temperature control is excellent since the sample plate is directly cooled, there is also a problem that it is difficult to uniformly cool the sample plate since the sample plate is locally cooled from a lower surface side of the sample plate. While the air cooling system is inferior to the direct cooling system in a response speed of temperature control, it is easy to cool a sample plate uniformly in the air cooling system as compared with the direct cooling system since the temperature control space in which the sample plate is disposed is cooled entirely.


An apparatus for mounting an aircraft engine to a wing includes a torque box strut for supporting the engine and a mounting system for attaching the torque box strut to the wing. The mounting system has an aft mounting system for attaching the torque box strut to the wing and that has at least one active aft link for attaching the torque box strut to the wing during normal aircraft operation, and at least one aft link catcher for attaching the torque box strut to the wing upon a failure of one of the at least one active aft link. The mounting system has a forward mounting system for attaching the torque box strut to the wing and that has at least one active forward link for attaching the torque box strut to the wing during normal aircraft operation, and at least one forward link catcher for attaching the torque box strut to the wing upon a failure of one of the at least one active forward link.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a method and apparatus for mounting an aircraft engine to a wing of an aircraft. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for attaching a torque box strut to a wing of an aircraft.
2. Background
A torque box strut is a structure used to mount an aircraft engine to a wing of an aircraft. A known apparatus for attaching a torque box strut to the wing uses six strut-to-wing attachments, all of which are active under normal flight conditions. If one of the connections were to fail, the remaining five are sufficient to constrain the engine in all six degrees of freedom.
It is desirable that the torque box strut be made as narrow as possible so as to reduce drag and increase aerodynamic efficiency. There are, however, structural limitations on how narrow a torque box strut can be made. In known torque box strut designs, for example, there are five attachment points to the wing at the aft end of the torque box strut, including two redundant links. If the torque box strut is made too narrow, there will not be sufficient space to react to the required load. In known torque box strut designs also, another link, known as the "upper link", tends to carry an excessive load. In a condition where the upper link fails, the other attachments become loaded beyond their intact loading conditions and must be sized accordingly to ensure safety.
Torque box struts having an extension of the aft mount have been proposed. Although such "extended torque box struts" tend to be more aerodynamically efficient and less structurally redundant than conventional strut designs, they have not been implemented because they do not provide satisfactory fail safe solutions.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus that overcomes the above issues in mounting an aircraft engine to a wing of an aircraft.

Fail safe extended torque box strut-to-wing mount


Printhead structured such that printing elements are divisionally driven in unit of plural blocks, comprises: an input terminal to which printing data and encoded block data are serially inputted; a shift register sequentially shifting and storing one bit at a time the data serially inputted from the input terminal; a latch temporarily storing the data stored in the shift register; a decoder decoding the block data stored in the latch; and an AND circuit. The decoder outputs a signal in which encoded block data is partially decoded, and the AND circuit determines blocks to be driven based on the partially decoded signal. This structure enables to reduce an area of a printhead substrate, thereby enabling cost reduction of a printhead.

The present invention relates to a printhead and a printing apparatus using said printhead, and more particularly, to a printhead structured such that a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction and a driving circuit for driving the printing elements are provided on one substrate, and that the printing elements are divisionally driven in unit of plural blocks, and to a printing apparatus using said printhead.
A printing apparatus, such as a printer which prints data, such as desired characters or images, on a sheet-type printing medium, such as paper or film, is widely used as a data output apparatus in a word processor, personal computer, facsimile apparatus or the like.
Various printing methods of a printer are known. Particularly, an inkjet printing method recently receives attention because of the following reasons: capability to perform printing without contacting a printing medium such as paper, ease of color printing, and quiet printing operation. With respect to a structure of the inkjet printing method, serial printing method is widely adopted in general because it is low cost and easy to downsize. Serial printing realizes printing by reciprocally scanning a printhead, which discharges ink in accordance with desired printing data, in the direction intersecting with the printing medium conveyance direction.
As an ink discharging method of the inkjet printing method, method utilizing heat energy is known. In this case, the printhead comprises electrothermal transducers, such as heating elements, in the portions connected to discharge orifices which discharge ink droplets. The heating elements are electrified for a few xcexc seconds to generate bubbles in the ink, and pressure of the bubbles causes to discharge ink droplets, thereby realizing printing.
In a printhead of this type, it is easy to arrange a large number of discharge orifices and heating elements at high density. Therefore, high-precision image printing can be realized.
Assuming if all the heating elements of the printhead are simultaneously driven, the instantaneous current value becomes high. As a result, a large capacity of power source is required. In view of this, normally time-divisional driving is performed to keep a low instantaneous current value. In the time-divisional driving, few tens or few hundreds of heating elements are divided into a plurality of blocks, and the blocks are driven at slightly different timings.
Furthermore, to drive a large number of heating elements, a driving circuit of the heating elements is incorporated in the substrate of the printhead, keeping the number of wirings between the printhead and printer""s main unit low. A silicon (Si) wafer is widely used as a material (element substrate) of the printhead substrate, which incorporates the heating elements and driving circuit.
Among various structures of a circuit manufactured in the substrate, typical structure is described below.
A printing apparatus main unit serially inputs printing data and encoded block data through one signal line. A printhead, receiving the inputted data, comprises a shift register for sequentially storing the signal one bit at a time; a latch for temporarily storing the data stored in the shift register; a decoder for decoding the block data stored in the latch; an AND gate for obtaining AND of the latched printing data, decoded block data, and signal specifying the driving timing; and a driving transistor for driving each heating element in accordance with an output of the AND gate.
Herein, a value obtained by dividing the number of all heating elements by the number of blocks is the number of heating elements, which can be driven simultaneously, thus is a number of bits of printing data. Either a bipolar transistor or a FET may be used as the driving transistor.
However, the conventional printhead having an above-described circuit structure has the following problems.
The number of AND gates and driving transistors provided in the printhead corresponds to the number of heating elements. Therefore, in order to input decoded block data to each of the AND gates, the number of signal lines as many as the number of blocks is necessary between the decoder and AND gates. When there are a large number of heating elements, the wiring area of the signal lines is enlarged, making it difficult to downsize a semiconductor chip.
As a result, this wiring area limits the number of semiconductor chips, manufactured from one sheet of semiconductor wafer in the manufacturing process of a semiconductor chip that is used as a printhead substrate. For this reason, lowering the manufacturing cost of a printhead substrate becomes difficult. As a result, cost reduction of a printhead using the substrate becomes difficult.
The present invention has been proposed to solve the conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a printhead which can realize cost reduction of a printhead by reducing the area of a printhead substrate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus using a printhead which can realize cost reduction of a printhead by reducing the area of a printhead substrate.
According to the present invention, above object is attained by a printhead structured such that a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction and a driving circuit driving the printing elements are provided on one substrate, and that the printing elements are divisionally driven in unit of plural blocks, comprising: an input terminal serially inputting printing data corresponding to each printing element and encoded block data designating a block to be driven; a shift register sequentially shifting and storing one bit at a time the data serially inputted from the input terminal; a latch temporarily storing the data stored in the shift register; a decoder decoding the encoded block data among the data stored in the latch; and an AND circuit performing AND operation of the printing data outputted from the latch, an output of the decoder, and a driving signal designating driving timing of the driving circuit, wherein the decoder outputs a signal in which the encoded block data is partially decoded, and the AND circuit determines a block to be driven based on the partially decoded signal.
According to the present invention, above another object is attained by a printing apparatus utilizing a printhead structured such that a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction and a driving circuit driving the printing elements are provided on one substrate, and that the printing elements are divisionally driven in unit of plural blocks, the printhead comprising: an input terminal serially inputting printing data corresponding to each printing element and encoded block data designating a block to be driven; a shift register sequentially shifting and storing one bit at a time the data serially inputted from the input terminal; a latch temporarily storing the data stored in the shift register; a decoder decoding the encoded block data among the data stored in the latch; and an AND circuit performing AND operation of the printing data outputted from the latch, an output of the decoder, and a driving signal designating driving timing of the driving circuit, wherein the decoder outputs a signal in which the encoded block data is partially decoded, and the AND circuit determines a block to be driven based on the partially decoded signal.
In other words, according to the printhead proposed by the present invention, a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction and a driving circuit driving the printing elements are provided on one substrate. The printing elements are structured so as to be divisionally driven in unit of plural blocks. The printhead includes: an input terminal, to which printing data corresponding to each printing element and encoded block data designating a block to be driven are inputted; a shift register which sequentially shifts and stores one bit at a time the data serially inputted from the input terminal; a latch which temporarily stores the data stored in the shift register; a decoder which decodes the encoded block data among the data stored in the latch; and an AND circuit which performs AND operation of the printing data outputted from the latch, an output from the decoder, and a driving signal designating driving timing of the driving circuit. The printhead is constructed such that the decoder outputs a signal where the encoded block data is partially decoded, and that the AND circuit determines a block to be driven based on the partially decoded signal.
By virtue of the above construction, the number of signal lines outputted from the decoder is reduced, thereby enabling to reduce the area necessary for wiring the signal lines.
Accordingly, an yield of semiconductor chips manufactured from a piece of semiconductor wafer increases. Thus, it is possible to realize cost reduction of a printhead.
Furthermore, since the area necessary for wiring the signal lines is reduced, the wiring length of the circuit can be reduced. Therefore, radiant noise can be suppressed.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Printhead and printing apparatus using said printhead


An amplifier includes a Field Effect Transistor (FET) or a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) with “hard saturation.”; where the FET or the BJT to has a nearly constant drain or collector current when the drain or collector voltage is greater than the pinchoff voltage. The amplifier further includes a bias network, configured to provide a DC voltage to the FET or the BJT, a means for isolating the DC voltage from the matching network, an electrical load, and a matching network which transforms the electrical load to a resistance between the drain and the source or the collector and emitter which causes the drain or collector voltage to be greater than the pinchoff voltage over the entire cycle of the sinusoidal voltage applied to the gate, whereby the amplifier is linear.

The present invention relates to linear high efficiency and high power field-effect transistor (FET) amplifiers. In prior art, at least two FETs are used. One EFT is for high power, and another one is to achieve improved linearity. Such configurations include an architecture of the predistortion linearizing technique, an architecture of the Dougherty Amplifier, and the architecture of the "out-phasing" technique, each of which requires trade-offs between efficiency and linearity and require at least two FETs.

High efficiency and high powerlinear amplifier


An initial matrix is generated through reducing the dimensionality of initial behavior data defined at an initial space. Purchase data associated with objects is evaluated iteratively to determine mappings associating objects with one or more of the subjects. Based on the determined mappings, an object vector matrix is generated based on average measures over subject vectors included in the initial subject matrix. An updated subject vector matrix including updated subject vectors is generated based on the object vector matrix and the purchase data. Updated object vector matrix versions and subject vector matrix versions are iteratively generated based on latest generated version of the matrixes. According to a validation criteria applied over the iterative generation process, a final object vector matrix and a final subject vector matrix are determined. The final determined matrixes may be analyzed to determine recommendations for objects and subjects.

Users of e-commerce platforms leave a lot of information as part of their interactions with the platforms, e.g., in different use cases. When interacting with an e-commerce platform, a user may select products based on defined search criteria and provide customer details in relation to payment and shipment methods. The data may be stored in relation to interactions of purchasing products by customer, and may include data regarding customer (user) characteristics, purchasing records, behavior, etc. Such data may be analyzed to determine purchasing patterns and define recommendations for related products. For example, a customer who likes basketball probably would be interested in buying basketball shoes when browsing an e-commerce platform, and a customer who just bought a pair of basketball shoes would probably want to buy a pair of sports socks.


An upper limb training device includes a first rod, a second rod, a third rod, a first resilient element, and a second resilient element. The second rod is pivoted to the first rod by a first revolution element. The third rod is pivoted to the second rod by a second revolution element. Two ends of the first resilient element respectively connect with the first rod and the third rod for providing resistance when the first rod and the second rod rotate relative to the third rod. Two ends of the second resilient element respectively connect with the first rod and the third rod for providing resistance when the first rod rotates relative to the second rod. The first revolution element is disposed between two connecting points at which the first resilient element and the second resilient element connect with the first rod.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an upper limb training device and, specifically, to an upper limb training device for exercise with multiple degrees of freedom of an upper limb, which is compact and easy to carry.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most conventional training devices use weights such as weight stacks combined with a training structure to provide resistance, to accomplish a goal of training. As the desired resistance increases, inertia forces also increases. This may cause sports injury if a user incautiously uses the training devices improperly. The minimum resistance value that this kind of training device provides is still too large for a patient who has trouble with muscle degeneration. In this case, the patient's goal of training cannot be accomplished, or the use of this kind of training device may cause other injury. The prior arts, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,937, U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,187, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,670,269 all use elements such as weight stacks to provide resistance during training.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,937, a pulley system is used coupled to a handle portion of the device and weights such as weight stacks. When the user exercises by manipulating the handle portion, the weight stack provides resistance to exercise, to magnify the effect of exercise. The design of the structure or the process of adjusting resistance of this kind of device, however, is complicated. It is difficult for the user to select an optimal resistance value and adjust a resistance value to the optimal one during the exercise process.
Moreover, in prior arts, most muscle training devices only provide movements on a single plane or for a specific muscle group, and the devices are bulky. If the user wants to use a single training device to do exercise on multiple planes or for multiple muscle groups, he/she has to change components and assemble the device often. This takes time and energy. In addition, the user can only go to a place which has this kind of training device at a specific time to exercise, which makes the training more difficult and limited.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,038 discloses a design specifically for elbow training in structure. Protectors able to rotate relative to one another are used and cooperate with resilient elements for providing resistance for exercise, such that the goal of building the user's arm is accomplished. However, the design is for exercising a single muscle group. If the user wants to exercise other muscle groups, he/she has to use other training devices corresponding to other muscle groups. This can be troublesome.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,015, a rod is pivotally connected with a resistance member. A user exercises his/her arm by grasping a hand grip assembly of the rod, and the resistance member is used to provide resistance when exercise is performed, such that the goal of building his/her arm is accomplished. However, due to the limit of the structure of the device, when the user wants to exercise his/her shoulder with multiple degrees of freedom, he or she has to adjust the position of the resistance member and to move the position of the whole device. This is inconvenient for use.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an upper limb training device able to perform an arm exercise with multiple degrees of freedom with a single device. Also, the device has to allow for exercise or physical therapy anytime and to prevent injury that inertia forces may cause. Moreover, the device has to be easy to adjust and carry, and its use is not limited by space and place, to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.


Units (10), systems (100), and methods with treated water are provided in which a treated water source (12, 104) is included integrally in a host piece of equipment (10, 102). The host piece of equipment (10, 102) includes host functions such as ice making (14, 106). Other equipment, such as dispenser (108) may be coupled to the equipment (102) to share the treated water from treated water source (104).

Various factors have led to an increasing need for local water treatment. These factors include, among others, stresses on large (such as municipal) supply water treatment systems, the absence of supply water treatment systems (for example in developing areas), and the need for higher water quality than that provided by supply treatment systems.
Significant efforts are being expended to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of local water treatment systems, which include various technologies, including, without limitation, reverse osmosis ("R/O") treatment systems, filter based systems, contact or heat based systems, and radiation (such as ultraviolet) based systems, among others. However, these treatment systems are handled and designed as stand-alone systems that supply other systems. Thus, for example, a restaurant may include a water treatment system which is separate from and supplies water for various needs, including ice-making and beverage dispensing.
Unfortunately, certain disadvantages arise when water treatment is viewed as a separate process. Therefore, a need has arisen for methods and systems in which water treatment is incorporated as an integral component of an overall system or piece of equipment.