An implantable cardiac stimulation system including a single atrial dedicated lead provides sensing electrical activity of and delivering stimulation pulses to the right and left atria of the heart. The single lead is implantable in the coronary sinus of the heart and includes a distal left atrial pacing electrode, and a right atrial pacing electrode. The electrodes are spaced apart on the lead so that when the left atrial pacing electrode is in electrical contact with and adjacent the left atrium within the coronary sinus, the right atrial pacing electrode is in electrical contact with the right atrium and adjacent to the ostium of the coronary sinus within the coronary sinus. The system further includes an implantable cardiac stimulation device including a pulse generator and a sensing circuit that is coupled to the left and right pacing electrodes. They may further include one or more defibrillation coil electrodes.

The present invention generally relates to an implantable cardiac stimulation system and lead and more particularly to such a system and lead capable of sensing activity of and stimulating the atria of the right and left heart. The lead is implantable in the coronary sinus region of the heart.
Implantable cardiac stimulation devices are well known in the art. Such devices may include, for example, implantable cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators. The devices are generally implanted in a pectoral region of the chest beneath the skin of a patient within what is known as a subcutaneous pocket. The implantable devices generally function in association with one or more electrode carrying leads which are implanted within the heart. The electrodes are usually positioned within the right side of the heart, either within the right ventricle or right atrium, or both, for making electrical contact with their respective heart chamber. Conductors within the leads and a proximal connector carried by the leads couple the electrodes to the device to enable the device to sense cardiac electrical activity and deliver the desired therapy.
Traditionally, therapy delivery had been limited to the venous, or right side of the heart. The reason for this is that implanted electrodes can cause blood clot formation in some patients. If a blood clot were released arterially from the left heart, as for example the left ventricle, it could pass directly to the brain potentially resulting in a paralyzing or fatal stroke. However, a blood clot released from the right heart, as from the right ventricle, would pass into the lungs where the filtering action of the lungs would prevent a fatal or debilitating embolism in the brain.
Recently, new lead structures and methods have been proposed and even practiced for delivering cardiac rhythm management therapy to the left heart. These lead structures and methods avoid direct electrode placement within the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart by lead implantation within the coronary sinus region of the heart. As used herein, the phrase xe2x80x9ccoronary sinus regionxe2x80x9d refers to the venous vasculature of the left ventricle, including any portions of the coronary sinus, great cardiac vein, left marginal vein, left posterior ventricular vein, middle cardiac vein, and/or small cardiac vein or any other cardiac vein accessible by the coronary sinus.
It has been demonstrated that electrodes placed in the coronary sinus region of the heart may be used for left atrial pacing, left ventricular pacing, or cardioversion and defibrillation. These advancements enable implantable cardiac stimulation devices to address the needs of a patient population with left ventricular dysfunction and/or congestive heart failure which would benefit from left heart side pacing, either alone or in conjunction with right heart side pacing (bi-chamber pacing), and/or defibrillation.
Universal pacing and/or defibrillation systems capable of pacing and/or defibrillating all of the chambers of the right and left heart would of course require numerous pacing and/or defibrillation electrodes to be employed within the heart and its coronary venous system. Providing the numerous electrodes to implement such universal heart stimulation systems would in turn require an inordinate number of leads if currently available right and left heart leads were employed. This would result in unduly long implant procedures and possibly more leads than the human anatomy is able to accommodate. The number of leads required may also make it difficult to accurately locate each electrode at its most efficacious position within the heart.
Hence, there is a need in the art for new and improved right and left heart leads and lead configurations which provide efficient left heart access and integrated right and left heart therapies. Electrode placement on the leads should enable effective therapy and electrode selection to accommodate differences in heart physiology from one patient to another. Universal pacing and defibrillation systems that would result from the new and improved leads and lead configurations could provide significant improved therapies. Coordinated right heart and left heart pacing therapies would be made possible. Further, improved defibrillation therapies would also be made possible. The therapies could provide improved electrode configuration selection for improved defibrillation energy distribution within the heart or support improved sequential defibrillation pulse techniques. The present invention is directed to left heart leads and right and left heart lead configurations which address the above mentioned needs.
The invention provides an implantable cardiac lead for implant in the coronary sinus of a heart and for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device for sensing electrical activity of the right and left atria of the heart and delivering stimulation pulses to the right and left atrial of the heart. The lead includes a proximal connector, a lead body including a plurality of conductors and insulating the plurality of conductors, a distal left atrial pacing electrode for placement in electrical contact with the left atrium, and a right atrial pacing electrode for placement in electrical contact with the right atrium. The electrodes are spaced apart on the lead body so that when the left atrial pacing electrode is in electrical contact with and adjacent the left atrium within the coronary sinus, the right atrial pacing electrode is in electrical contact with the right atrium and adjacent to the ostium of the coronary sinus within the coronary sinus.
In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the lead may further include a bipolar right atrial pacing electrode distal to the right atrial pacing electrode. The lead may further include a left atrial defibrillation electrode proximal to the distal left atrial pacing electrode for placement in electrical contact with the left atrium. The lead may still further include a second left atrial pacing electrode proximal to the left atrial defibrillation electrode for placement in electrical contact with the left atrium.
In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, the lead may further include a right atrial defibrillation electrode for placement in one of the right atrium and superior vena cava. The defibrillation electrodes may be coil electrodes.
The invention further provides an implantable cardiac stimulation system for sensing electrical activity of the right and left atria of a heart and delivering stimulation pulses to the right and left atrial of the heart. The system includes a single lead implantable in the coronary sinus of the heart. The lead includes a distal left atrial pacing electrode for placement in electrical contact with the left atrium, and a right atrial pacing electrode for placement in electrical contact with the right atrium. The electrodes are spaced apart on the lead body so that when the left atrial pacing electrode is in electrical contact with and adjacent the left atrium within the coronary sinus, the right atrial pacing electrode is in electrical contact with the right atrium and adjacent to the ostium of the coronary sinus within the coronary sinus. The system further includes an implantable cardiac stimulation device including a pulse generator that delivers pacing stimulation pulses to the distal left atrial pacing electrode and/or the right atrial pacing electrode and a sensing circuit that senses electrical activity of the atrium with the distal left atrial pacing electrode and/or the right atrial pacing electrode.
The lead may include one or more defibrillation electrodes and the device may include a conductive case. The pulse generator is programmable to deliver defibrillation pulses between any combination of the defibrillation electrodes and the case.

Coronary Sinus Cardiac Lead For Stimulating and Sensing The Atria of the Right and Left Heart and System


Provided is a device for predicting an underground behavior by using an acoustic emission (AE) sensor, including: a waveguide rod having an elongated end to be inserted in a borehole; a plurality of acoustic emission sensors mounted on different positions of the waveguide rod; a wrapping layer configured to cover a circumferential surface of the waveguide rod such that a gap is formed between the waveguide rod and the wrapping layer; an acoustic emission generating layer filled into the gap and being homogeneous along a direction of the waveguide rod; and a grouting layer configured to fix the waveguide rod in the borehole.

1. Field
The following description relates to a device for predicting underground behavior by using an acoustic emission (AE) sensor that monitors an underground dynamic state or behavior by inserting a waveguide rod with a reliable and superior acoustic emission sensor into an underground, and predicts a possibility of collapse, and a producing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regional torrential rains, super typhoon, flood, etc. due to climatic change cause frequent landslides, losses of a slope and collapses, thereby requiring development of technology for preventing geological disasters.
It is required to follow a process of extracting a behavior of bedrock or a ground as a proper signal in order to predict or estimate stability of a disintegrable target land and then analyzing the behavior. A sensor is needed to obtain a signal according to the behavior and most precisely send an environment inside the bedrock or the ground. General technologies or devices used for predicting collapse of the ground structure include a displacement measuring method using an underground displacement gauge, underground clinometers, or Global Positioning Systems (GPS), a measuring method of fluctuations of ground-water level using a piezometer, and a stress measuring method using a load gauge.
However, since a variance is very small until the collapse of the ground or the bedrock and it is not easy to find a feature in occurrence tendency of stress or variance, it is difficult to notice a sign of collapse by the displacement or stress measuring methods. An acoustic emission sensor is prepared to solve the difficulty in predicting the sign of collapse. The acoustic emission sensor uses a microscopic breaking sound generated inside an object at an early stage that the object is broken as a signal. The acoustic emission (AE) is an elastic wave generated when deformation energy accumulated in materials is suddenly emitted. There is a general tendency that generation of the acoustic emission remarkably increases before a full-scale collapse.
JP Patent Laid-Open No. 1996-062337, which is related to a device for predicting a behavior in a ground or bedrock by using AE, discloses a method for inserting a waveguide filling an acoustic emission generating layer into a borehole. However, the waveguide is spaced apart from the inner wall of the borehole and there is a disadvantage that the change of the ground stress is not sufficiently transferred to the waveguide.
KR Patent Publication No. 2009-0117402 discloses a method of inserting a metal rod for transferring AE into a borehole and fixing the metal rod using cement. However, in a grouting process, there is a possibility that non-homogeneity of materials increases due to change of proportions according to cement sieving, i.e., depth. Accordingly, acoustic emission is differently generated to cause deterioration of reliability in measurement values.

Device for prediction underground behavior by using acoustic emission sensor and producing method thereof

Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources


A method and system for objectively tracking and analyzing the social and emotional activity of a patient using an augmented reality computing device is provided. A patient is permitted to manually manipulate a target object in the physical world while viewing an augmented version showing a unique animated character representing either an abstract language, emotions, or social skills, depending on the module. The present system tracks and records the active face and the time spent on the active face, where the active face is the face upon which the patient's focus is automatically estimated, through calculation, to be trained upon. An observer views the session, the data recorded, and an automatically generated graphical representation of the data, which permits the observer to speak to patient regarding the character or scene rendered on the face which is determined to be the active face, helping the student engage in the session.

This application claims the benefit of priority and the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/714,365, filed Aug. 3, 2018, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The subject of this patent application relates generally to systems and methods for use in social skills, language, and emotion training, and more particularly to systems and methods for utilizing objects configured for display of augmented reality images to aid in this training.
By way of background, children psychologists, marriage/family therapists, behavior specialists, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, parents, teachers, and other mental health support providers often have difficulty in opening a dialog with children with autism or other social/emotional needs and sustaining meaningful engagement with the child. The most effective method to engage such students currently used is a box of crayons and paper. A facilitator simply asks the student to drawn what they are feeling and then asks the student what the drawing means. However, it often takes several minutes to engage a child (for example, an average of about five minutes in one study), which is a substantial amount of time in a short 30-minute session. In addition, the engagement may only last a short time (for example, on average of about ten minutes, in the same study). The objective of many of these sessions is to guide the child in correctly identifying thoughts and feelings and engaging in a conversation about the child's own experience that elicited the those thoughts and feelings. The goal is to build the child's emotional, language, and social skills so that the child can initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions.
What is needed are tools to aid engaging the child in therapy, screenings, or other situations where it is desired that the child communicate and engage within the session. What is also needed are tools to efficiently and effectively teach the child social skills, language skills, and emotional skills.
Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary.

Method for objectively tracking and analyzing the social and emotional activity of a patient


A transporting device includes a power roller mounted to a chassis for transporting a tray between positions. A belt transfers power from the power roller to a shaft. The belt may be used to rotate the shaft. A pulley is mounted to the shaft and rotates in substantially synchronous motion with the shaft. The pulley may also be used to rotate a roller in a bin location for moving a tray from a staging area to a working area. A method is also provided for using the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a transfer mechanism and, more particularly, to a single power roller transfer system to transport trays and other objects.
2. Background Description
The sorting of mail is a very complex, time consuming task. In general, the sorting of mail is processed though many stages, including back end processes, which sort or sequence the mail in delivery order sequence. These processes can either be manual or automated, depending on the mail sorting facility, the type of mail to be sorted such as packages, flats, letters and the like. A host of other factors may also contribute to the automation of the mail sorting, from budgetary concerns to modernization initiatives to access to appropriate technologies to a host of other factors.
In general, however, most modern facilities have taken major steps toward automation by the implementation of a number of technologies. These technologies include, amongst others, letter sorters, parcel sorters, advanced tray conveyors, flat sorters and the like. As a result of these developments, postal facilities have become quite automated over the years, considerably reducing overhead costs.
At the back end of the sorting or sequencing process, mail trays are placed within bin locations for the placement of letters and the like. For example, during the sorting of mail pieces such as flats (e.g., magazines, newspapers and the like), each of the mail pieces for a particular delivery route and more specifically a segment of a delivery route is inducted into a specific pre-allocated bin location. In the bin location, a tray is provided for storing of the mail piece prior to delivery. In a typical system, the tray is capable of holding between 65 and 85 flats, depending on the size of the flats.
These trays, once filled, are then physically removed and replaced in the bin locations. This may be performed in a manual process. In the manual, the trays are placed on inclined tray racks within the bin location. The tray racks include idler rollers which may gravity feed the trays to the working location. Final transfer onto a conveyor take-away system for delivery, warehousing or further sequencing, packaging or the like is accomplished manually.
By way of a more specific example, to gravity feed the trays, two trays are initially placed on each of the inclined tray racks at each bin location. These trays are placed, for example, in the working area and the staging area. Upon filling the bin in the working area, an operator would transfer the working tray onto the conveyor take-away system. At this time, the tray in the staging area will be fed, via gravity, to the working area.
But during either the manual or the semi-automated gravity method, there may be a delay in placing a new tray at the working area of the bin location. For example, in some instances, the tray will remain within the staging area, never reaching the working area. In this instance, the operator will need to initially move the tray to begin the gravity feed. In such situations where there is a delay in the movement of the tray into the working area or, in the alternative, no tray ever reaches the working area, several illustrative problems may result:                (i) the bin location may have to be disabled so to avoid mail spillage; or        (ii) there may be a resultant mail jam resulting from mail spillage or other user induced incidence resulting from the swap.In any of these situations, the potential for impacting the ability to sort mail pieces properly is greatly increased. In other words, the efficiency of the system can be greatly reduced during this swap process.
The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.


A method of preparing a photographic element containing a UV filter composition. In the method a UV absorbing polymer latex is prepared by emulsion polymerization, then loaded with a high boiling point organic solvent. The high boiling poing organic solvent has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of at least 200.degree. C. The loaded polymer latex is then incorporated into a photographic element. Photographic elements containing UV polymer latexes particularly of a UV absorbing polymer containing benzotriazole monomers loaded with high boiling point organic solvents, are also provided.

Typical photographic elements use silver halide emulsions, the silver halide having a native sensitivity to ultraviolet UV radiation ("UV"). Such UV sensitivity is usually undesirable in that it produces an image on the photographic element which is not visible to the human eye. In addition, in the case of color photographic elements, in particular, color dye images formed on the light sensitive emulsion layers by color development easily undergo fading or discoloration due to the action of UV. Also, color formers, or so-called couplers, remaining in the emulsion layers are subject to the action of UV to form undesirable color stains on the finished photographs. The fading and the discoloration of the color images are easily caused by UV of wavelengths near the visible region, namely, those of wavelengths from 300 to 400 nm. For the foregoing reasons, photographic elements typically incorporate a UV absorbing material in an upper layer.
By reference to "under", "above", "below", "upper", "lower" or the like terms in relation to layer structure of a photographic element, is meant the relative position in relation to light to when the element is exposed in a normal manner. "Above" or "upper" would mean closer to the light source when the element is exposed normally, while "below" or "lower" would mean further from the light source. Since a typical photographic element has the various layers coated on a support, "above" or "upper" would mean further from the support, while "below" or "under" would mean closer to the support.
Many types of UV absorbing materials have been described previously, and include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,215,530, 3,707,375, 3,705,805, 3,352,681, 3,278,448, 3,253,921, and 3,738,837, 4,045,229, 4,790,959. 4,853,471, 4,865,957, and 4,752,298, and United Kingdom Patent 1,338,265. Known UV absorbing materials often have many undesirable characteristics. For example, they tend to color and form stains due to their insufficient stability to UV, heat, and humidity. Also, a high-boiling organic solvent is usually required for the emulsification of the UV absorbing agents, which softens the layer and substantially deteriorates interlayer adhesion. In order to prevent these problems, a large amount of gelatin has been used in the layer containing the UV absorbent, resulting in a layer which may be unstable. Alternatively, a separate gelatin protective layer was provided over the UV absorbent containing layer. Such approach results in an undesirable thickening of the element. Furthermore, previously known UV absorbing agents, when provided in the uppermost layer of a photographic element, often migrate and crystallize at the surface of the layer. Thus, a gel overcoat would be used to minimize this undesirable blooming phenomenon. Furthermore, the droplets of such UV absorbing materials, when prepared by the conventional emulsification method described above, usually have particle sizes greater than 200 nm thereby producing light scattering with resulting deterioration of the element's photographic properties. The toxicity of such UV absorbing agents has also become an important issue recently.
It is known that polymer latexes obtained by polymerization of UV absorbing monomers, can be utilized as UV absorbing agents which do not have many of the disadvantages described above. At least three methods of adding polymeric UV absorbing agents in the form of latex to hydrophilic colloid composition, are known. The first method comprises adding a latex prepared by emulsion polymerization directly to a gelatin-containing silver halide emulsion. Emulsion polymerization is well known in the art and is described in F. A. Bovey, Emulsion Polymerization issued by Interscience Publishers Inc. New York, 1955. This is the most direct way of preparing a polymer latex.
A second method of forming a polymer latex is by solution polymerization of a monomeric mixture of UV absorbing monomer, a comonomer, and an ionic comonomer containing sulfonic, sulfuric, sulfinic, carboxylic or phosphoric acid, and their metal salts, such as acrylamido -2,2'-dimethyl-propane sulfonic acid, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, or sodium styrene sulfonate. The polymer solution obtained is then dispersed in aqueous solution and forms a latex.
The third method of forming a polymer latex is by solution polymerization of monomer mixture comprising UV absorbing monomer and hydrophobic comonomers. The polymeric UV absorber is isolated and dissolved in an auxiliary solvent, such as ethyl acetate, with a permanent solvent optionally also being present. This solution is mixed with an aqueous gelatin solution and the mixture passed through a high-shear device, such as a colloid mill, to form a latex.
Polymeric UV absorbing polymer latexes prepared by the foregoing type processes have been described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,761,272; 3,745,010; 4,307,184; 4,455,368; 4,464,462; 4,513,080; 4,340,664; GB 1,504,949; GB 1,504,950; British Patent 1,346,764; EP Application 0 190 003 and others. Some polymerlatexes containing polymers of certain specific structures, have been previously used in photographic elements. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,420 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,462 describe photographic elements with polymer latexes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,519 describes the use of latexes formed from various ultraviolet absorbing polymers in photographic film, the patent indicating that the latexes can be formed by emulsion or solution polymerization.
Among the three methods described above, emulsion polymerization is most desirable method of forming a polymer latex because no washing is required to remove solvents since no auxiliary solvent is used. Importantly, the size of the particles formed by emulsion polymerization is smaller than that produced by the other two methods. Smaller particles in the latex reduce light scattering in the photographic materials and improves dye density and gloss.
However, although UV absorbing polymer latexes prepared by emulsion polymerization have the advantages as described above, one of the disadvantages is that UV absorbing latexes prepared by emulsion polymerization exhibit poor light stability.
It would be desirable to provide a method of preparing photographic elements containing a absorbing polymer latex which is prepared by emulsion polymerization, but which nevertheless has good light stability. It would also be desirable to provide a photographic element containing a polymeric UV absorber composition, particularly one prepared by emulsion polymerization, such that the composition itself is relatively stable to light in the typical photographic element environment.

Method of preparing photographic elements incorporating polymeric ultraviolet absorbers


Disclosed herein are medical prostheses including a cochlear implant that includes circuitry enclosed within a housing and at least one electrode lead extending from the housing. The electrode lead comprises a conducting pathway and an electrode terminal at one end of the electrode lead. The conducting pathway connects the circuitry with the electrode terminal, and insulation (or an insulating sleeve) encloses at least a portion of the conducting pathway. In some embodiments, the electrode terminal has a lower thermal conductivity relative to the implant housing. In further embodiments, the insulation has thermal conductivity and thermal conduction properties that cause at least some thermal energy in the conducting pathway to flow into the insulation rather than to the electrode terminal. In still further embodiments, at least one of the electrode terminal or the electrode lead includes at least one thermal mass enhancing structure.

Various types of hearing prostheses provide persons with different types of hearing loss with the ability to perceive sound. Hearing loss may be conductive, sensorineural, or some combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss typically results from a dysfunction in any of the mechanisms that ordinarily conduct sound waves through the outer ear, the eardrum, or the bones of the middle ear. Sensorineural hearing loss typically results from a dysfunction in the inner ear, including the cochlea where sound vibrations are converted into neural signals, or any other part of the ear, auditory nerve, or brain that may process the neural signals.
Persons with some forms of conductive hearing loss may benefit from hearing prostheses, such as acoustic hearing aids or vibration-based hearing aids. An acoustic hearing aid typically includes a small microphone to detect sound, an amplifier to amplify certain portions of the detected sound, and a small speaker to transmit the amplified sounds into the person's ear. Vibration-based hearing aids typically include a small microphone to detect sound, and a vibration mechanism to apply vibrations corresponding to the detected sound to a person's bone, thereby causing vibrations in the person's inner ear, thus bypassing the person's auditory canal and middle ear. Vibration-based hearing aids include bone conduction auditory prostheses, direct acoustic stimulation devices, or other vibration-based devices. A bone conduction auditory prosthesis typically utilizes a surgically-implanted mechanism to transmit sound via direct vibrations of the skull. Similarly, a direct acoustic stimulation device typically utilizes a surgically-implanted mechanism to transmit sound via vibrations corresponding to sound waves to generate fluid motion in a person's inner ear. Other non-surgical vibration-based hearing aids use similar vibration mechanisms to transmit sound via direct vibration of teeth or other cranial or facial bones.
Persons with certain forms of sensorineural hearing loss may benefit from cochlear implants and/or auditory brainstem implants. For example, cochlear implants provide a person having sensorineural hearing loss with the ability to perceive sound by stimulating the person's auditory nerve via an electrode array implanted in the person's cochlea. In traditional cochlear implant systems, an external component of the cochlear implant detects sound waves, which are converted into a series of electrical stimulation signals delivered to the implant recipient's cochlea via the electrode array. Electrically stimulating auditory nerves in a cochlea with a cochlear implant enables persons with sensorineural hearing loss to perceive sound.
A traditional cochlear implant system includes an external speech processor unit worn on the body of a prosthesis recipient and a stimulator unit implanted in the mastoid bone of the recipient. In this traditional configuration, the external speech processor unit detects external sound and converts the detected sound into a coded signal through a suitable speech processing strategy. The coded signal is sent to the implanted stimulator unit via a transcutaneous link. The stimulator unit (i) processes the coded signal, (ii) generates a series of stimulation signals based on the coded signal, and (iii) applies the stimulation signals to the recipient's auditory nerve via electrodes.
In another example cochlear implant, the functionality of the external speech processor unit and the implanted stimulator unit are combined into a single implantable housing to create a totally implantable cochlear implant (TICI). The TICI system can be either a monolithic system containing all the components in a single implant housing or a collection of implant housings coupled together. In operation, detected sound is processed by a speech processor in the TICI system, and stimulation signals are delivered to the recipient via the electrodes without the need for a transcutaneous transmission of signals between an external speech processor unit and an implanted stimulator unit as in the traditional cochlear implant configuration described previously.
Certain types of radio frequency (RF) signals, such as signals generated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, present risks for recipients of implantable medical devices such as the cochlear implant devices described above. MRI is a medical imaging technique used to visualize detailed internal structures of a person's body. Because MRI provides good visual contrast between different soft tissues of the body, MRI can be especially useful in imaging the brain, muscles, and heart, for example. In operation, an MRI machine uses a powerful magnetic field to align the magnetization of particular atomic nuclei in the human body, and an RF field to systematically alter the alignment of the magnetization to cause the magnetized nuclei to produce a rotating magnetic field that is detectable by a special scanner. In some circumstances, the RF field generated by the MRI system can induce circulating currents in implant electrode leads at certain RF frequencies. In particular, the electrode leads act as antennas in the presence of the RF field generated by the MRI system. An electrode lead collects RF energy that, in typical systems, is dissipated as heat at localised areas such as the electrode tip. If the electrode tip gets too hot, the electrode tip can damage surrounding tissue and injure the implant recipient. Other types of implantable prostheses having structures or components susceptible to induced currents can pose similar dangers to prosthesis recipients.
Prior approaches for reducing localised heat dissipation to avoid injury to implant recipients have focused on reducing the circulating currents caused by RF fields by changing electrical circuit parameters of the electrode lead in response to MRI-specific frequencies. For example, electrode leads in prior systems have included resonant tank circuits configured as band-stop filters, which resonate and open circuit at a specified frequency. Other prior systems have additionally or alternatively included electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters at the electrode lead ingress and egress to the implant housing to form a low impedance at a specified frequency which in turn causes currents induced by the RF field to be shunted into the implant package.

Implantable prosthesis configuration to control heat dissipation from prosthesis components


A device determines information indicative for a zeta potential at the interface between a solid phase and a liquid phase. The device includes a pressure vessel, in which the liquid phase can be accommodated and a measuring cell, downstream of the pressure vessel and such that it can be brought into fluid communication with the pressure vessel and in which the solid phase can be accommodated. A storage vessel is downstream of and in fluid communication with the measuring cell. A pressure loading apparatus, loads the pressure vessel with a pressure profile with a temporally continuous pressure change so a liquid phase can be conveyed out of the pressure vessel through the measuring cell into the storage vessel. A detection apparatus detects the information indicative for the zeta potential at the measuring cell during the loading of the pressure vessel with the pressure profile.

The electrokinetic or zeta potential describes the charge distribution at the interface of two immiscible phases. The zeta potential is important for the characterisation of the solid/liquid interface. The zeta potential can be calculated at the interface between a macroscopic material surface and a liquid from measurements of the streaming potential and the streaming current. Materials with macroscopic surfaces are to be assigned to test samples of different shape and size. These include samples with a flat surface, fibre samples, granulate and powders with a particle size larger than 1 μm (=1·10−6 m).
For measuring the streaming potential and streaming current, the solid sample can be arranged in a measuring cell in such a manner that a capillary or a capillary system with suitable hydraulic permeability is created. The liquid flow through this capillary (flow channel) creates a pressure difference and an electrical signal, which is measured either as voltage (streaming potential) or current (streaming current). Solids with a flat surface are for example arranged parallel next to one another and a capillary with rectangular cross-sectional area results. Fibre samples and granulate are arranged in the form of a plug for example and the liquid flows through the irregular capillary system created thereby.
The zeta potential is calculated according to the classical equations of Helmholtz and Smoluchowski. The following applies for calculation from measurements of the streaming current Istr:
                    ζ        =                                            d                                                                                I                str                                                    d                                                                                Δ                                                                                p                                ·                      η                          ɛ              ·                              ɛ                0                                              ·                      L            A                                              (                  Equation                                                              1                )            wherein dIstr/dΔp is the streaming current coefficient (change of the streaming current with pressure difference over the length of the flow channel), η is the dynamic viscosity of the liquid, ∈ is the dielectric coefficient of the liquid, ∈0 is the permittivity, L is the length of the flow channel, A is the cross section of the flow channel.
The calculation of the zeta potential takes place from measurements of the streaming potential Ustr according to:
                    ζ        =                                            d                                                                                U                str                                                    d                                                                                Δ                                                                                p                                ·                      η                          ɛ              ·                              ɛ                0                                              ·          κ                                    (                  Equation                                                              2                )            wherein dUstr/dΔp is the streaming potential coefficient (change of the streaming potential with pressure difference over the length of the flow channel), κ is the electrical conductivity of the liquid.
The relationship between the zeta potential and the streaming current (Equation 1) or streaming potential (Equation 2) only leads to identical results if the solid sample is non-conductive. The identity of the zeta potential values is additionally dependent on the electrolyte concentration. The surface or interfacial conductivity influences the correct determination of the zeta potential according to Equation 2 in particular in the case of low ionic strength (I<0.001 mol/l). The zeta potential of conductive solid surfaces (electronically conductive, for example metals, or ionically conductive, for example porous solids or swellable layers or materials) cannot be determined correctly even at higher ionic strengths (I≥0.001 mol/l) according to Equation 2. These limitations necessitate the measurement of the streaming current instead of the streaming potential and the calculation of the zeta potential according to Equation 1.
The measurement of streaming potential and streaming current takes place for example using measuring electrodes made from different materials and with a different size and construction. Electrodes are subject to the process of polarisation, which can have various causes:
Either electrodes of a first type (for example platinum electrodes) or electrodes of a second type (reversible electrodes, for example silver/silver chloride electrodes) are used. Polarisation effects occur in the case of electrodes of the first type in particular and less markedly in the case of electrodes of the second type.
The electrode polarisation is also dependent on the specific surface of the electrodes. Thus, for example, the surface of platinum electrodes (electrodes of the first type) is enlarged by electrochemical application of a porous platinum layer (platinum black). The surface of the silver chloride layer deposited for example on silver electrodes is likewise porous and thereby reduces the tendency to electrode polarisation.
Electrode polarisation is principally a characteristic of electrolyte concentration (ionic strength). Polarisation effects occur on electrodes of the first type even at low ionic strength of an electrolyte dissolved in water. Depending on the quality (size, quality of the coating) and specific surface, the electrode polarisation also increases considerably for electrodes of the second type above a certain ionic strength.
The tendency to polarisation effects of electrodes has an influence both on the measurement of the streaming current and on the measurement of the streaming potential. The influence on the current measurement is occasionally larger than that on the voltage measurement. For small measurement signals of the streaming potential and streaming current, the electrode polarisation increases the error in the measurement and consequently reduces the quality of the zeta potential calculated according to Equation 1 or Equation 2.
There is a series of commercial measuring devices for measuring the streaming potential, but also the streaming current for determining the zeta potential at macroscopic solid surfaces. In these measuring devices, the effect of the electrode polarisation, described by the difference in the electric potential between the two measuring electrodes in the rest state, is counteracted by corresponding structural measures and measurement protocols.
In the case of a two-point measurement, the voltage value in the rest state (no fluid flow, asymmetry potential U0) and the streaming potential at a constant pressure difference, Ustr(Δp) are used in order to calculate the streaming potential coefficients in Equation 2 as a differential quotient ΔUstr/Δp, where ΔUstr=Ustr(Δp)−U0. This method is suitable for measurement conditions, in which the asymmetry potential U0 results into a small contribution to the measured streaming potential (<10%).
In the case of a pressure stage measurement, the streaming potential Ustr(Δp) is determined at different constant pressure differences and the streaming potential coefficient is calculated in Equation 2 from the linear regression of the measured points Ustr versus Δp. Due to the larger number of measurement points compared to the two-point measurement, the quality of the calculated streaming potential coefficient is improved.
The technical realisation of such methods for determining the streaming potential and streaming current coefficients takes place in commercial measuring devices and provisional measurement apparatus by applying a pressure difference by means of an external pump or gas pressure.
The measurement of the streaming potential and the streaming current according to conventional measuring methods is limited to the determination of the zeta potential at low ionic strengths however.
Further prior art is disclosed in WO 86/00707, Pu et al., "Label-free detection of heparin, streptavidin, and other probes by pulsed streaming potenzials in plastic microfluidic channels", Anal Chem 2008 Sep. 1; 80(17):65326, Luna-Vera et al., "Adsorption kinetics of proteins in plastic microfluidic channels: Real-time monitoring of lysozyme adsorption by pulsed streaming potenzials", Biosensors and Bioelectronics 25 (2010) 1539-1543, JPH02216443 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,661.

System for determining the zeta potential for characterizing a solid/liquid interface with controlled profile pressure loading


A stator includes a body portion having an outer portion and an inner portion that defines an interior region, a plurality of stator teeth members extending from the inner portion into the interior region, and at least one continuous conductor wound around select ones of the plurality of stator teeth members to form at least one pole. Each of the plurality of stator teeth members including a number of wraps of the at least one continuous conductor. The at least one continuous conductor including a number of twists that is fewer than the number of wraps.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the art of electric machines and, more particularly, to a stator core for an electric machine.
At present, many stator cores are wound with round wire. The stator core is held stationary and the round wire is fed through a winding needle that is rotated about a stator tooth. Once the stator tooth is wound, the wire is advanced to a subsequent stator tooth. At each tooth, the winding needle not only travels along a circular path but also moves in and out to layer the wire. Upon exiting the winding needle, the wire twists as a result of the rotation created when wrapping the stator tooth.
In order to avoid twisting, some manufactures employ a stator core including a plurality of individually wound stator teeth that are joined together to form individual poles. In the case of a 24 pole stator, as many as 96 connections are required. In other cases, multiple wires are simultaneously wound around a tooth. Once wound, the wires are translated to another tooth. This process continues, until a predetermined number of teeth are wound. Once the predetermined number of teeth are wound, the wires are cut and connected to a main bus. Such systems also require a large number of final connections as each of the multiple wires must be connected to a main bus.


An electronic musical instrument, which can easily select waveform data assigned to each key or each key range of a keyboard, is provided. When assignment of waveform data to a key range including one or more keys of a keyboard is edited, the assignment state of the waveform data is displayed, and a mode setting operation of an operating unit is allowed in response to display of the assignment state of the waveform data. Waveform selection mode is set in response to operation of the operating unit by the user. When a key of the keyboard is operated in waveform selection mode, waveform data assigned to the operated key is selected, and an assignment state of the selected waveform data is allowed to be editable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument wherein a plurality of waveform data for controlling musical waveforms, which has been assigned to a plurality of keys of a keyboard, can be set to different keys.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some known electronic musical instruments (for example, one described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-83075 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,682), waveform data, which has been input through a microphone or the like and then recorded, or waveform data, which has previously been stored in a recording medium, is assigned to each key or each range of keys of a keyboard.
In such conventional electronic musical instruments, it is necessary for the user to select target waveform data when performing waveform data editing to change an assignment state of the waveform data or to delete the assigned waveform data. However, it is very difficult for the user to select the target waveform data when various types of waveforms have been assigned to keys or key ranges.
The keyboard of the electronic musical instrument includes a number of keys (for example, 61 keys). When different waveform data (for example, a different drum tone) has been assigned to each key, there are the same large number of options of the waveform data as that of the keys so that it is difficult to find target waveform data.
It is also difficult to intuitively determine the relationship between keys and displayed options when waveform data is assigned to keys or key ranges. For example, even when "C2-C3" is displayed as an option of waveform data assigned to a key range of C2-C3, it is difficult for the user to directly determine which key corresponds to the option.

Electronic musical instrument and waveform assignment program


A product dispenser for a vending machine including a conveyor having a continuous belt with flexible transparent dividers spaced at predetermined intervals along the belt. Adjacent transparent dividers form individual product cavities that receive and store a product. The product in the product cavity at the end of the conveyor adjacent to the discharge chute can be identified by viewing it through the transparent front panel of the cabinet and the transparent divider before a product selection is made by the consumer.

Typical vending machines utilize a number of individual helical coils each advancing a selected product from storage within the cabinet of the machine to a discharge chute accessible to the consumer. Most items held within the convolutions of each helix can be readily identified by the consumer by viewing it through the front glass panel of the machine. However, some uniquely packaged items such as microwavable meals packaged in a bowl-type container present a special problem. These containers are generally loaded into the helix on edge so that the lid faces the front panel of the machine. Usually the product identification is printed only on a portion of the sidewall of the bowl-type container and is not visible or is only partially visible to the consumer through the glass panel. The consumer therefore is either unsure of or is misled as to the identity of the product that will be dispensed. Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the need for an improved individual product dispenser for a vending machine.


An .alpha.-olefin-alkenylsilane copolymer having steric regularity in which the side chains in the .alpha.-olefin unit substantially have the steric regularity, the content of alkenylsilane units is from 0.01 to 50% by weight, and the intrinsic viscosity measured in a tetralin solution at 135.degree. C. is 0.01 or higher. A method for preparing the above copolymer comprises the step of copolymerizing an .alpha.-olefin having 3 to 25 carbon atoms with an alkenylsilane in the presence of a catalyst comprising an aluminoxane and a transition metal compound containing a cyclopentadiene group or its derivative as a ligand.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copolymer having steric regularity of an .alpha.-olefin and an alkenylsilane, and a method for preparing the same.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
A copolymer of an alkenylsilane and an .alpha.-olefin is expected to have certain physical properties in view of the copolymer itself and to have various functions which can be obtained by the utilization of the reactivity of alkenylsilane units in the copolymer. However, when the .alpha.-olefin is copolymerized with an alkenylsilane or a halogenated alkenylsilane by the use of a conventional catalyst, the alkenylsilane can scarcely be introduced into the resulting copolymer. Even if the alkenylsilane is used in large quantities, a copolymer containing only a small amount of alkenylsilane units is obtained.
Therefore, it is now desired to acquire a copolymer containing an effective amount of alkenylsilane units and to develop a method for preparing the same in a high yield per unit amount of a catalyst.

.alpha.-olefin-alkenylsilane copolymer and method for preparing same


An image reader includes a scanner for reading a two-dimensional image and converting the read data into two-dimensional image data, a memory for storing the two-dimensional image data, correction circuit for correcting the two-dimensional image data so that the direction of character strings included in the two-dimensional image data coincides with the main scanning direction, and a coding circuit for reading the corrected two-dimensional image data from the memory in the order along the main scanning direction. The facsimile machine includes such an image reader, and a transmission circuit for transmitting the coded image data to another facsimile machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reader capable of reading printed images, etc. by sequentially scanning the same in a predetermined direction and compressing the read image data by coding the same. The present invention further relates to a facsimile machine having such an image reader.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, facsimile machines play a significantly important role in the field of data communication. A facsimile machine reads an image printed on a sheet of paper, a hand-written image, etc. by a scanner formed of, for example, CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor and converts the read image into a digital signal. The digital signal is converted into a compressed digital signal by a coding system such as MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified READ), MMR (Modified MR), etc. The compressed digital signal is converted into an analog signal and output to a telephone line.
FIG. 1 is a representation showing the principle reading an original in a facsimile machine recommended by CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee). Referring to FIG. 1, an original 10 of ISO A4 size is, for example, read by a CCD sensor along the main scanning direction. One main scanning line is divided into 1728 pixels, and each of the pixels is converted into a digital signal in accordance with its luminance. Main scanning is repeated in the subscanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. The original 10 will have been entirely converted into digital signals when the scanning in the subscanning direction is completed.
The image converted into a digital signal is compressed in accordance with a system such as the above-stated MH, MR, MMR. The compressed signal is output to a communication line through a modem and transmitted to a facsimile machine on the other party.
Processing opposite to that conducted on the transmission side is conducted on the reception side. More specifically, the facsimile machine on the reception side converts an analog signal which it receives into a digital signal. The converted digital signal is converted into the digital signal by expansion processing opposite to the compression. The original image is reproduced by printing the obtained digital signal in the same procedure as that when the image is read.
Compression/expansion of an original is performed for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of use of a communication line and reducing time required for communication by reducing the amount of data transmitted.
FIGS. 3 and 4 each represent a coding system of MH as an example. MH coding is of one-dimensional run length coding system. In this system, one line data is composed of a series of variable-length codes. Each code represents a white or black run length. The white run length is abbreviated as white run, and the black run length as black run. The white run and the black run are produced alternately. The lines each begin with a code of white run in order to ensure synchronism between a receiver and a signal. If a scanning line begins with the black run, a code representing the white run of length 0 is initially transmitted. The MH coding includes two kinds of codes: a terminating code and a make-up code.
FIG. 3 sets forth terminating codes. The terminating codes indicate run lengths in the range from 0 to 63 pixels. In order to increase compression efficiency, a short code is allotted for a run length often appearing in image information.
FIG. 4 sets forth make-up codes. The make-up codes are for representing run lengths in the range from 64 to 1728 pixels in combination with the terminating codes. A run length in the range between 64 and 1728 pixels is initially coded by a make-up code representing a run length equal to or shorter than that run length. Thereafter, a terminating code representing the difference between an actual run length and the run length represented by the make-up code follows.
The receiver can expand data by checking received data with a table for demodulation prepared in advance.
As stated above, transmission of an image by a facsimile machine can be conducted efficiently and in a reduced time period by compressing transmission data by means of coding.
Such a facsimile machine however bears the following problem. As shown in FIG. 1, compression by coding can be conducted efficiently when the original 10 is correctly supplied to the machine and the main scanning direction coincides with the direction in which character strings 12 extend.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, when the original 10 is deviated and supplied to the machine, and the main scanning direction does not coincide with the direction of the character strings 12, the compression efficiency degrades. This is for the following reason. The direction in which characters are arranged in character strings relative to the main scanning direction is hereinafter called "skew".
As described above, according to the coding system, a short code is allotted to a run length often appearing in image information and a relatively long code to a run length appearing not so frequently. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the direction of a main scanning line 14 read by the first main scanning does not coincide with the direction of the character strings 12, the frequency of a run length appearing becomes irregular, thereby degrading the efficiency of data compression.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, suppose that the character strings are placed at intervals of spacings d0. When the original 10 is supplied to the facsimile machine in the correct direction, a main scanning line existing in the spacing d0 includes white runs only. The image in this part can therefore be coded at a very high efficiency using the above-stated make-up codes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the original 10 is deviated and supplied to the facsimile machine, a main scanning line composed of white runs only is limited to a spacing d1. As can be seen from the figure, the spacing d1 is much smaller than the spacing d0. As compared to the case shown in FIG. 1, the compression efficiency in the case shown in FIG. 2 is therefore considerably degraded.
In order to solve such a problem, facsimile machines or the like capable of detecting such a deviation, coding and correcting the deviation are proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 55-154871, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 62-206962, and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 63-88963.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 55-154871 suggests a method of image reading using a specially marked sheet of paper for an original in a facsimile machine. The deviation of the original can be found by detecting this mark when the original is read. Coordinate transformation is made to the read data for canceling this deviation. This increases the efficiency of coding.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 62-206962 proposes use of a sensor provided at the image reading portion of a facsimile machine and for detecting time when the leading edge of an original supplied passes the sensor. The spacial relation between two points at the leading edge of an original supplied at a prescribed speed can be found by detecting the time difference between the two points in passing the prescribed sensor. The size of the original supplied can also be found at that time. The deviation of the original can be detected from these kinds of information. Coordinate transformation is conducted to the obtained data so as to cancel the obtained deviation, thereby increasing the compression efficiency of the data.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 63-88963 discloses a method of detecting the time when one end of an original in the subscanning direction is scanned based on a change of a signal level in reading the original in a facsimile machine. At the time of main scanning, writing of data of a main scanning line into an image memory is initiated using the time of detecting the end of a sheet as a reference. Using this method, one end of the original is stored into the image memory always in parallel with the end of the image memory. The deviation of the original is removed from the image, thereby increasing the compression efficiency.
The above-stated prior art technology still have the following problem yet to be solved. Consider a language such as Japanese whose characters can be written either vertically or horizontally. In the case of such a language, as shown in FIG. 5, a sheet of ISO A4 size with vertically written characters may be supplied to an image reader along the lengthwise direction of the sheet. In such a case, the compression efficiency can not be increased even when the deviation of the original itself is detected and corrected.
Also, even in the case of a document with horizontally written characters, a similar problem arises when the document is supplied to the image reader in the direction in coincidence with the direction in which the character strings extend.

Image reader and facsimile machine using such image reader


The invention relates to a device having, as a sensor for detecting an object arranged behind an article that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, a coil assembly having a first transmitting coil (1.1) and a first receiving coil (2.1) arranged orthogonally with respect to the first transmitting. An evaluation unit evaluates the output signals from the coil assembly. The fact that the coil assembly comprises the first transmitting coil (1.1) and at least one further transmitting coil (1.2, 1.3, 1.4), and the first receiving coil (2.1) and at least one further receiving coil (2.2, 2.3, 2.4), wherein axes (1.5, 1.6) of the first and of the at least one further transmitting coil are orthogonal to each other, and the axes (1.5, 1.6) of the first and second transmitting coil intersect the axis (2.5) of the first receiving coil (2.1) that is orthogonal to the first and second transmitting coils (1.1, 1.2), means that a device is provided that reduces or even eliminates the grating effect. According to the method, for this purpose, the electromagnetic fields emitted by the transmitting coils as a result of a periodic AC signal during a first half period are each directed in the direction of the first receiving coil (2.1) and, during the second half period, are directed away from the first receiving call (2.1), wherein the first receiving coil (2.1) is wired and operated in series with at least one further receiving coil (2.2, 2.3, 2.4). An electromagnetic field which penetrates the coil assembly, generates mutually opposed voltages in the receiving coils (2.1, 2.3; 2.2, 2.4).

In general, inductive sensors for finding a metallic, electrically conductive object in a surrounding medium are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,143.
Sensors which detect the presence or movement of a non-metallic object through a flat or planar article, for example, through a panel that is not transparent to optical radiation are usually constructed on the principle of capacitance measurement. For example, capacitive touch pads are a known application as known e.g. from DE 103 24 579 A1, or capacitive proximity sensors as described, for example, in DE 101 31 243 C1 in which a sensor with sensor electrodes and an associated control circuit for evaluating the sensor signals are provided, wherein a further electrode surrounds the sensor electrode. In these applications, the sensor unit is firmly connected to the panel to be penetrated and, as viewed from the sensor unit, the object to be detected moves behind this panel. Due to the mechanical arrangement, the sensor and the panel have a fixed capacitance relative to one another which is reflected in the measurement value as a constant basic capacitance.
In a further application there are sensors which must be moved over the planar article or the panel in order to locate objects lying therebehind, as is known e.g. from EP 0 657 032 B1 and EP 1 740 981 B1. This includes so-called stud-detectors. Stud-detectors are general ancillary devices for DIY practitioners and professionals, for example, for detecting studs, posts, pipes or power lines behind a closed wood cladding or a covering in ready-built houses. For this purpose, the sensor is guided over the wall. It measures with an electrode the capacitance relative to the wall. If a wooden post, a pipe or a power line is situated in the detection range, due to the change in the dielectric material, the capacitance increases. This is suitably evaluated and displayed to the user. Provided the sensor is moved at exactly the same spacing from the flat article or panel, the capacitance between the sensor and the flat article or panel does not change. It enters the measurement signal only as a constant value, as in the first two examples. However, with the example of the stud-detector, it can be understood that the maintenance of a constant spacing is almost impossible in practice and therefore the basic capacitance resulting from the wall construction changes significantly as a function of the spacing. Therefore, in the following description of the invention, the stud-detector is also selected as an exemplary embodiment.
From DE 20 2004 011 921 U1, a coil arrangement is known, in particular for a metal detector, consisting of a transmitting coil and a receiving coil arranged orthogonally to the transmitting coil. The distinctive feature of this orthogonal arrangement lies therein that the two coils can be positioned relative to one another so that without external influences on the receiving coil, no voltage induced by the transmitting coil operated with an electronic signal can be measured. A metallic, electrically conductive object in the detection range of the sensor bends the field lines of the emitted electromagnetic field permeating the receiving coil, so that an induced voltage can be measured on the receiving coil. This voltage is referred to below as the measurement signal.
If, for example, a steel reinforcement in concrete would have been detected with such an inductive sensor, the sensor is guided along the concrete surface. A maximum measurement signal occurs when the reinforcing steel has a minimum spacing from the sensor arrangement. Accordingly, the presence of a reinforcing steel is interpreted at the local positions where maxima of the measurement signal occur.
If, for example, a steel reinforcing grid cast in concrete is measured in this way with an inductive sensor, then eddy currents which occur in a metallic, electrically conductive object due to the emitted electromagnetic field of the inductive sensor can impair the measurement such that, for example, a minimum of the measurement signal occurs over a steel reinforcing segment of the grid and a maximum of the measurement signal occurs over the hollow sites in the middle of the grid. Circulating currents along the grid structure which act like electrical loops are responsible for this effect.
False interpretations can thus arise since the spatial position of a reinforcing steel segment is interpreted at the site where a maximum measurement signal occurs. The unwanted occurrence of measurement signal maxima or measurement signal minima at unfavourable sites of a grid-like metallic, electrically conductive object which can lead to false interpretations is referred to below as the grid effect.
DE 37 33 529 A1 discloses an inductive metal detecting device with at least four exciter coils and at least one receiving coil. The four exciter coils the centre points of which are arranged on a closed circular path are controlled in a periodic sequence with different currents such that a resultant magnetic field largely continuously changes its direction at an amplitude that remains substantially constant at a repetition frequency corresponding to said sequence. The exciter coils are arranged either in a plane spanned by the circular path or are each orthogonal to the plane.
US 2009/0219027 A1 discloses a multisensor for detecting and identifying unexploded ordnance. The multisensor has at least two transmitting coils arranged orthogonally to one another and a plurality of receiving coils arranged orthogonally thereto. The receiving coils are arranged in two planes spaced from one another and extending orthogonally to the transmitting coils, wherein the transmitting coils are arranged between the receiving coils.
From DE 10 2010 007 620 A1, there is known a proximity sensor with a first transmitting coil, a second transmitting coil, at least one receiving coil, an exciter device which is connected to the first and second transmitting coil, and an evaluation device which is connected to at least one transmitting coil and/or the exciter device and to the at least one receiving coil.
EP 1 092 988 A1 discloses an inductive sensor arrangement for detecting metallic objects hidden by a surrounding medium. The sensor arrangement has two transmitting coils arranged adjacently to one another at a defined spacing and in one plane, and a pair of receiving coils, each receiving coil being arranged in a respective field of the transmitting coils such that, in a setting that is free from iron-containing objects, no voltage is induced in them.
DE 10 2009 010 943 A1 relates to an operating method and a coil arrangement for a magnetic sensor for detecting metallic objects in a subsurface medium with a first main coil, at least two coils of a first coil group arranged in an interior space of an expanded winding cylinder of the first main coil and at least two coils of a second coil group arranged in the interior space of the expanded winding cylinder of the first main coil, and having a different orientation from the coils of the first coil group.

Device and method for detecting an article


The present disclosure provides a system and method of repairing a flange of an engine case having a damaged section of attachment tabs and/or flange region. One or more damaged attachments tabs extending away from a flange are removed along with a first portion of the flange, thus leaving a second portion of the flange. A replacement component is produced comprising a replacement flange portion and one or more replacement tabs. The replacement flange portion is placed in contact with the second portion of the flange and the replacement flange portion is secured to the second portion of the flange.

A gas turbine engine typically provides a source of force or shaft power for the purpose of generating mechanical thrust or electricity, respectively. Engines that produce mechanical thrust are typically used in aircraft, such as commercial aircraft, and generally comprise a fan and a multi-stage compressor coupled to a multi-stage turbine via one or more axial shafts. Air enters the gas turbine engine and passes through the compressor where its temperature and pressure increase as it passes through subsequent stages of the compressor. The portion of the air from the fan not passing through the compressor discharges from the engine to produce thrust.
The compressed air exiting the compressor is then directed to one or more combustors where it mixes with a fuel source to create a combustible mixture. This mixture is ignited in the one or more combustors to create a flow of hot combustion gases. These gases are directed into the turbine causing the turbine to rotate, thereby driving the compressor. The output of the gas turbine engine in an aircraft application forms mechanical thrust via exhaust from the turbine.
Aircraft engines require periodic maintenance to ensure reliable and safe operation and to maintain part integrity. The engine utilizes multiple cases which contain the various sections, such as the fan, compressor and turbine. One such structure between the fan and compressor includes a fan inner case. Another case, such as a splitter case, encompasses the fan inner case. This structure also includes one or more flanges for joining the cases together.
One such example of a commercial aircraft engine having this case structure is the PW4000-100 Series Engine produced by Pratt & Whitney. This engine, which is typically capable of producing 64,500-70,000 pounds of thrust at takeoff, is utilized on certain wide-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A330. In this engine, the fan exit inner case is assembled to a low pressure compressor (LPC) stator assembly at a forward flange and to an intermediate case at an aft flange. The fan exit inner case provides mounting points for acoustic liners at a splitter fairing. The flange also includes a plurality of attachment tabs. When these cases are separated during engine overhaul, often one or more of the attachment tabs have been known to bend beyond acceptable limits or even break. Since the attachment tabs are integral to the flanges, which are integral to the case and originally machined as part of the case, when an attachment tab is damaged, the entire case may be scrapped. A typical engine case of this configuration can exceed $100,000 (USD).

Method of repairing an engine case flange


A polarizing optical arrangement wherein a linearly polarized signal beam cluster is generated. The signal beam cluster is created from interfering partial beam clusters and is linearly polarized. The azimuth of oscillation of the linearly polarized signal beam cluster is dependent on the mutual phase relationship of the aforementioned partial beam clusters. A splitter grating splits the linearly polarized signal beam cluster into partial beam clusters that are analyzed by analyzers, detected by photoelectric transducers and phase-shifted electrically from one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a polarizing optical arrangement, and more particularly to an optical arrangement that generates linearly polarized beam clusters before splitting the beams by a splitter grating to generate phase-displaced signals which form a rotary field without generating a constant light signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various length and angle measuring instruments use polarizing optical arrangements. Foe example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,507 (Nishioki et al.) corresponding to German Published, Non-Examined Patent Application 39 42 385, describes a length measuring arrangement in which measurement signals are generated by means of refraction gratings, polarizers, beam splitters, a quarter-wavelength plate, analyzers, and optical detectors. The measured signals have a phase displacement of 45.degree. from a reference signal. The reference signal is a constant light signal furnished by detector 22A. The constant light signal does not interfere with the other partial beam clusters thus interference bands are created.
In an optical arrangement according to the Nishioki et al. patent, the relative phase position of the interfering partial beam clusters is fixedly determined by the physical construction of the arrangement. Therefore after the splitter grating the partial beam clusters are created by means of analyzers 28B and 28C, a quarter-wavelength plate and detectors which generate signals that are phase-displaced 90.degree. from one another. By reason of the physical construction of the arrangement, no other phase relationship is possible.
An object of the present invention is to create a polarizing optical arrangement in an interferometric measuring instrument having interfering partial beam clusters of the most equal possible modulation and intensity can be generated by being split open at a grating.
Another object of the present invention is the simple evaluation of identical types of signals, a so-called rotary field, for instance, three signals phase-shifted from one another by 120.degree..

Polarizing interferometric displacement measuring arrangement


A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a drain region, a source region, a channel region and a hybrid doped region. The drain region of a first conductivity type is located in a substrate. The source region of the first conductivity type is located in the substrate and surrounding the drain region. The channel region is located in the substrate between the source region and the drain region. The hybrid doped region includes a top doped region and a compensation doped region. The top doped region is of a second conductivity type, having a doping concentration decreased from a region near the channel region to a region near the drain region, and located in the substrate between the channel region and the drain region. The compensation doped region of the first conductivity type is located in the top doped region to compensate the top doped region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A high breakdown voltage and a low on-state resistance must be provided to reduce power loss when operating an ultra high voltage device. Currently, array structures are developed to provide higher current while maintaining sufficient breakdown voltage. In layouts of AC-DC products, layout areas can be reduced and the performance of devices can be enhanced through the array structures.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


A system and method for browsing properties of an electronic document. The present invention is comprised of a property browser program module. The property browser program module communicates with a shared code library for one or more application programs. The shared code library can be in communication with one or more application programs. When a user interacts with an electronic document associated with an application program, the user can manipulate one or more properties of the application program. The property browser program module determines a status for one or more properties for the electronic document through information received from the shared code library. Furthermore, the property browser program module determines a context for the electronic document through information received from the shared code library. Using the properties and context of the electronic document, the property browser program module creates a palette with one or more controls for the properties of the electronic document. The property browser program module then displays the palette in conjunction with the electronic document through the user interface associated with the application program. In response to any changes in context or properties, the property browser program module can modify the palette and send the modified palette to a user interface associated with the application program.

A user can change the formatting of an electronic document utilizing a user interface of an application program. Typically, an application program presents a user interface with a variety of editing and formatting properties. In general, editing and formatting properties can be accessed or manipulated by a respective control or command. One type of user interface is a dialog box that can appear as a window layered on top of the document. When called by a user or by a particular command, the dialog box appears and introduces one or more properties with associated controls, buttons, scroll bars, or other implementations used to control or alter predefined application program behaviors. Using a mouse or other input device, a user can select or alter a property such as font size and then dismiss the dialog box.
Another type of user interface is a toolbar. The toolbar can introduce a palette of properties with associated controls, buttons, scroll bars, or other implementations used to control or alter predefined application program behaviors. Using a mouse or other input device, a user can select or alter a property such as font size from the toolbar.
In many instances, a user editing or formatting an electronic document may want to perform more than one change in a property or series of properties. For example, a user may want to add text, change a word, resize an object, or modify a selection. For each editing or formatting property, a different dialog box may appear so that the user can select from a variety of properties such as font size, font type, and font style from each dialog box. After selecting a property, the user dismisses the dialog box and continues to interact with the electronic document. In these instances, the user's interaction with a dialog box is described as "modal". That is, when a dialog box presents a control selection, the user is required to make a selection before the user can continue to interact with the document. Modal interaction breaks the flow of the user's interaction with the electronic document, thus interrupting the user's attention to the document.
The problem with modal interaction is increased by frequent calling of properties from one or more dialog boxes. This type of interaction involves repetitive selection and activation commands by the user. When the user switches back and forth between an electronic document and one or more dialog boxes, the user's switching is time consuming and breaks the user's flow of action. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for a modeless flow of action.
Toolbars can be a useful user interface. However, in many instances, toolbars offer properties and associated controls that are not useful or applicable to a particular context. When a user desires to execute a change in a particular property and associated control, the property and control may be located on a toolbar that is occupied by other properties and controls that may not be applicable or useful in the current context.
In other instances, the dialog box, toolbar, or other user interface covers or partially overlaps the electronic document. In these instances, the user must reposition or move the dialog box in order to view the electronic document. Alternatively, the user can reposition or move the electronic document in order to view the user interface. Frequent repositioning of the user interface or electronic document can be time consuming and frustrating for the user. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for providing a single and consistent area for property and control selections. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method of resizing and reorganizing a user interface to provide an area for property and control selections.
Generally, a user wants to view editing or formatting changes to an electronic document after the user changes a property in the document. Often times when a property selection is desired, a dialog box offers the user a "preview" or an "apply" control. Upon selection of the "preview" or an "apply" control, the application program executes the control selection and a change is made to the document. In these cases, there is no instant feedback to the user when a document change is made through a control selection on a toolbar or dialog box. Only after the "preview" or "apply" control is initiated can the changes to the document be viewed by the user, and even then, the user must switch to a document viewing mode. When several changes are made and previewed by the user, repeated redrawing of existing objects in the electronic document becomes computationally expensive and time consuming. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for providing instant feedback to the user when a document property change is made.
In many instances, the properties and associated controls that are presented to a user through toolbars and dialog boxes are inconsistent. Typically, toolbars have control buttons and dialog boxes have control commands. The control buttons and control commands are not always consistently presented to a user. When a user encounters an inconsistency between a toolbar control button and a corresponding dialog box control command, the user can be easily confused. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for presenting consistent property control buttons and control commands.
In some instances, a dialog box or particular user interface is difficult to locate on a display screen displaying the electronic document. Locating the dialog box can be time consuming and frustrating for the user when there is a not a consistent place to find the dialog box. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for consistently placing a user interface for browsing properties in single, identifiable location.
Properties and associated controls and commands are sometimes difficult to locate within dialog boxes. When a single command function takes more than a single dialog box to locate, locating a particular function can be time consuming and frustrating. Sometimes a user must click several dialog boxes in order to set a single property of an object within an electronic document. Most users are reluctant to search for new properties and their controls or commands when they are buried deep within dialog boxes. This process can be time consuming and frustrating for the user. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for exposing useful and new properties and their associated controls and commands.
In some instances, a user may not like a change that he or she has made to an electronic document. In these instances, the user has to find his or her way back to the dialog box in which the property such as a command was presented. This procedure can be time consuming and frustrating for the user. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system and method for providing consistent and present access to properties such as command tools within the dialog boxes.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved system and method for browsing properties of a document. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method for providing a variety of properties for changing formatting, layouts, and other attributes of a document.

System and method for browsing properties of an electronic document


Techniques for tracking pages that are unshared among snapshot volumes and their parent volume in a volume family. The techniques include maintaining a first counter that tracks a first number (“SnapOwnedCount”) of pages among a total number of pages written to a volume that were overwritten in the immediate sequential next volume in the same branch as the volume, and a second counter that tracks a second number (“UnsharedWithParentCount”) of pages among the total number of pages written to the volume that were overwritten in any sequential next volume in the same branch as the volume. By maintaining, for each volume in a volume family, a first counter and a second counter for tracking the SnapOwnedCount and the UnsharedWithParentCount, respectively, data storage recovery can be performed more effectively, allowing selected volumes and/or portions thereof to be deleted while maintaining accurate space accounting information.

Data storage systems include storage processors coupled to arrays of non-volatile storage devices, such as magnetic disk drives, electronic flash drives, and/or optical drives. The storage processors are configured to service storage input/output (IO) requests received from host computers, which send the storage IO requests to the data storage systems over one or more networks. The storage IO requests specify data pages, data files, data blocks, and/or other data elements to be written to, read from, created on, and/or deleted from volumes, file systems, and/or other storage objects stored on the respective non-volatile storage devices. Computer software application programs running on the storage processors are configured to manage the received storage IO requests, and to perform various data processing tasks to organize and/or secure the data elements and/or storage objects on the non-volatile storage devices.
At certain points in time, data storage systems create snapshot volumes for purposes of providing for data recovery, backing-up data volumes, improving computer software application program availability, reducing data management costs, and/or other purposes. The snapshot volumes can record states of the data storage systems by creating point-in-time (PIT) copies of data volumes, which are organized with associated metadata in a logical address space. The data volumes can include extents of storage space within the logical address space, and extents belonging to respective data volumes can include data pages of the same size or different sizes.

Efficient space accounting mechanisms for tracking unshared pages between a snapshot volume and its parent volume


The present invention provides a system and method for recognizing a Unit Load Device (ULD) number marked on an air cargo unit. The system includes at least one camera configured to acquire images of the ULD number. It includes also a presence sensing module configured to detect a presence status of the air cargo unit in a scanning zone of the system, the presence status can have a value being one of present and absent, and a recognition processor coupled to the presence sensing module and to the at least one camera. The recognition processor is configured to obtain from the presence sensing module information relating to the presence status of said air cargo unit, to trigger the at least one camera to acquire the images upon a change in the value of the presence status, and to process the images for recognizing the ULD number.

A "unit load device" or a "universal load device", referred to shortly as "ULD", is a unit used to load luggage, or freight onto an aircraft. ULDs come in two forms: pallets and containers. ULD pallets are rugged sheets, e.g. made of aluminum, with rims designed to lock onto cargo net lugs. ULD containers, also known as cans and pods, are closed containers, e.g., made of aluminum or combination of aluminum (frame) and polycarbonate resin (walls). Some containers may have built-in refrigeration units, for example. FIG. 1A presents a pallet, while FIG. 1B presents a container. Hereinafter, each ULD, either a container, a pallet or any other type of ULD, constitutes an "air cargo unit", or shortly, a "unit".
Air cargo units are loaded onto a cargo area of an aircraft. On their way from the aircraft to a loading station during unloading, or from the loading station to the aircraft during loading, the units are pulled by a tractor. The tractor can pull a number of units at the same time, including several containers, several pallets, or a combination thereof. While pulled by a tractor, the units are mounted on trolleys, e.g., with a single pallet or single or twin containers on each trolley. Using other words, a unit is carryable by a trolley. The tractor carries several such trolleys.
It is appreciated that units differ in size and shape in order to fit into the cargo area of the aircraft. Hence, there are different types of containers and pallets. Each unit has characteristic shape and dimensions.
All ULDs are identified by their "ULD number", sometimes referred to also as a "ULD identifier". A three-letter prefix identifies its type, followed by a 4 or 5 digit serial number (4 if prior to Oct. 1, 1993; either 4 or 5 if post Oct. 1, 1993) to uniquely identify it from others of the same type, and ending with a two character (alpha-numerical) suffix identifying the ULD's owner (if an airline, often the same as IATA, the International Air Transport Association designator codes). Generally, the prefix is of the form "UBC", wherein: U represents the ULD category (such as container or pallet); B represents the base dimensions (Latin letter); and C stands for Contour/Compatibility (Latin letter).
For example:                In "DQF0631R7" illustrated in FIG. 2A, the ULD number indicates that the unit is a container (U=′D′).        In "PMC 22106 MP", illustrated in FIG. 2B, U=′P,′ indicating that the unit is a certified aircraft pallet, B=′M′ (96″×125″), C=′C′. The unique number is 22106, and its owner is Martinair, represented by "MP".
The necessity of monitoring and locating airborne cargo has been identified and dealt with before. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,227 ("Aircraft Cargo Locating System", Olin et al., published in 2007) discloses an aircraft cargo locating system that determines the location and weight of aircraft cargo placed in unit loading devices. A wireless tag, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is affixed to each of the loading devices. The U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,227 system receives information from the tags, and from the information calculates the location of the loading devices and the weight of the loading devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,810 ("Integrated Air Logistics System", De Roche, published in 2002) discloses an autonomous cargo tracking system and method comprised of a communication and sensor unit that is affixed to the container to be tracked, a ground system that coordinates communications between the unit and the users, and one or more satellite systems that provide communication capabilities as well as position information.
In systems other than tracking air cargo, barcode scanning is used. For example, US 2010/0230328 ("Intelligent Barcode Systems", Bonnell et al., published in 2010) discloses systems and methods using intelligent barcodes for processing mail, packages, or other items in transport. It also discloses systems and methods allowing end-to-end visibility of a mail stream by uniquely identifying and tracking mail pieces. In one embodiment of US 2010/0230328, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow a mailing service to provide enhanced acceptance, sorting, tracking, address correction, forwarding, and delivery services.
Still in the Art, there are Optical Character Recognition (OCR) methods allowing scanning and processing alphanumeric characters. Such an OCR method is disclosed, for example, in US 2008/0131001 ("Multi-Level Neural Network Based Characters Identification Method and System", Hofman and Margolin, published in 2008), describing a system and a method, which enable automatic identification of characters while performing and calibrating data verification to ensure data reliability. The system described in US 2008/0131001 can process these identified characters, such as override adverse conditions, adjusting and correcting unclear characters and their images.
US 2008/0063280 ("Character Recognition System and Method", Hofman and Nikulin, published in 2008) discloses a system and method, which enables precise identification of characters contained in vehicle license plates, container LD, chassis I.D., aircraft serial number and other such identification markings. The system can process these identified characters and operate devices, such as access control operations, traffic systems and vehicle and container tracking and management systems, and provide records of all markings together with their images.
However, presently existing ULD tracking methods require modifications to the unit load devices, such as affixing external modules to the units, for example, RFID tags, or such as changing the standard markings thereof, e.g., by embedding barcode identification in each unit. On the other hand, presently existing character recognition systems are not designed to manage unit load devices.
There is a need in the art, thus, for a mechanism that allows tracking of standard unit load devices.

System and method for recognizing a unit load device (ULD) number marked on an air cargo unit


An actuator control system suitable for providing single wire control of electromagnetic latch assemblies providing for cylinder deactivation or variable valve actuation in a valvetrain system. The system is adapted to control electromagnetic latch assemblies that require DC current in a first direction for latching and DC current in a reverse of the first direction for unlatching. The actuator control system includes an inverting DC/DC converter and switching elements. In some embodiments, the inverting DC/DC converter uses capacitors to store energy that drives the inverted current. In some embodiments, the inverting DC/DC converter serves a plurality of distinct groups of the electromagnets.

Hydraulically actuated latches are used on some rocker arm assemblies to implement variable valve lift (VVL) or cylinder deactivation (CDA). For example, some switching roller finger followers (SRFF) use hydraulically actuated latches. In these systems, pressurized oil from an oil pump may be used for latch actuation. The flow of pressurized oil may be regulated by an oil control valve (OCV) under the supervision of an engine control unit (ECU). A separate feed from the same source provides oil for hydraulic lash adjustment. In these systems, each rocker arm assembly has two hydraulic feeds, which entails a degree of complexity and equipment cost. The oil demands of these hydraulic feeds may approach the limits of existing supply systems.
The complexity and demands for oil in some valvetrain systems can be reduced by replacing hydraulic actuators with electromagnetic actuators. Accordingly, there has long been an interest in electromagnetically actuated latches for rocker arm assemblies. Electromagnetic actuators latches require power. Rocker arms reciprocate rapidly over a prolonged period and in proximity to other moving parts. Wires attaching to a rocker arm could be caught, clipped, or fatigued and consequently short out.

Actuator control system for bi-stable electric rocker arm latches