Provided is a dried powder of microorganisms, which is highly suitable for processing and has excellent usefulness as one component of various products. The present invention provides: a dried powder of microorganisms, the dried powder exhibiting a brightness of 55 or more and a chromaticness of 18 or less; and a method for producing a dried powder of microorganisms, the method comprising: washing microorganisms at least once with a liquid having an osmotic pressure lower than that of a liquid culture medium for culturing the microorganisms; and drying and heating the microorganisms after the washing to thereby obtain the dried powder of the microorganisms, which exhibits a brightness of 55 or more and a chromaticness of 18 or less.

Since ancient times, it has been known that certain microorganisms contain many useful components, and these useful components have been utilized in various applications. Useful components derived from microorganisms are utilized as isolated components extracted or separated from microorganisms, and in addition, those may be utilized as components within microorganisms, not as isolated components. An example of the form utilized as components within microorganisms includes a dry powder of microorganisms.
The dry powder of microorganisms can be obtained by drying microorganisms themselves as they are. Dry-powdered microorganisms can be utilized as they are in applications according to their useful component in the microorganisms and widely used as a component of various products, such as, for example, cosmetics, food and beverage products, and pharmaceuticals.
Dry-powdered microorganisms, that is, dry powders of microorganisms, have advantages, such as superior storage properties and superior handling properties. In addition, a dry powder of microorganisms can be easily mixed with other components in a liquid form, or a solid form such as powder, and thus has an advantage of superior processing properties. Therefore, in order to effectively utilize the useful components that organisms, not limited to microorganisms, have, various dry powders obtained by powdering whole organisms themselves have been proposed.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a powdered brown alga containing a water-soluble algin and an insoluble component, and a suspending agent or a food-product improvement agent containing this powdered brown alga. Patent Document 1 describes that the powdered brown alga according to Patent Document 1 is obtained by pulverizing, washing, and drying brown algae, and has an L value of not less than 45 which indicates the lightness of a color. In addition, Patent Document 1 discloses mixing the food-product improvement agent containing this powdered brown alga with other raw materials to produce a food product, such as bread and gelled food.

Dried powder of microorganisms and method for producing same


The present invention is directed toward a method of making a composite structure including receiving a substantially planar nonwoven spunbond layer including a plurality of multicomponent fibers, thermally bonding the nonwoven spunbond layer at a first bond temperature, laying down a meltblown layer on top of the thermally bonded nonwoven spunbond layer to form an intermediate structure, and thermally bonding the intermediate structure at a second bond temperature to form a final composite structure. Composite structures including a spunbond layer and a meltblown layer, wherein the composite structure has a tensile strength of at least about 130 N/2.54 cm in both machine and cross directions, a tear strength of at least 3.0 N/2.54 cm, and an LRV of about 2.0 or higher are also provided herein.

Nonwoven fabrics or webs have a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but not in a regular or identifiable manner as in a woven fabric. Nonwoven fabrics or webs have been formed from many processes which include carding, meltblowing, spunbonding and air or wet laying processes.
Melt blowing technology is a melt-spun process that can be used to produce microfibers by injecting a molten polymer stream into high velocity gas jets. Conventional meltblown structures are made from low molecular weight, low viscosity polymers to form highly drawn micro and nanofiber webs. For example, a large number of conventional meltblown structures are made from polypropylene since they are readily available in low viscosities which are required to form fine fibers. Although it is possible to form meltblown structures from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Nylons and other polymers, the higher viscosities of these polymers often leads to larger fibers, which can be undesirable in meltblown fabrics as meltblown structures are commonly used in filtration and barrier applications ranging from HVAC filters to facemasks and respirators to medical packaging and microbial barriers to liquid filtration. Conventional meltblown fibers and the fabrics formed therefrom are weak and have limited extensibility. Therefore, conventional meltblown structures can lack the desired strength for certain applications.
Nonwoven spunbonded fabrics are used in many products ranging from medical to hygiene to wipes, filters, automotive and geosynthetics produced or used in North America and Europe. Almost all such applications require a lightweight and often disposable fabric. Therefore, most spunbonded disposable fabrics are designed for single use generally requiring minimum bond strength to improve their softness and are designed to have adequate properties for the applications for which they are intended. Spunbonding refers to a process where the fibers, filaments, are extruded, cooled, and drawn and subsequently collected on a moving belt to form a fabric. The web thus collected is not bonded and the filaments must be bonded together thermally, mechanically or chemically to form a fabric. Thermal bonding is one of the most efficient and widely used bonding technologies in the nonwovens industry. It is used extensively in spunbond, meltblown, air-lay, and wet-lay manufacturing as well as with carded-web formation technologies.
Medical packaging is one area where nonwoven materials are increasingly used, particularly where the contents of the packaging must remain adequately sterilized. Certain nonwoven materials can exhibit good microbial barrier properties. However, finding a nonwoven material that possesses both high microbial barrier properties and sufficient strength can be a challenge. There is an ongoing need in the art for nonwoven materials suitable for use as a microbial barrier material, and which further exhibits high tensile and tear strength characteristics.
Barrier properties in a nonwoven such as a medical product can be achieved by using a composite of spunbond and meltblown often referred to as SMS where two layers of spunbond protect both sides of the meltblown barrier layer, and thereby provide sufficient strength for the final composite. These composite SMS structures can be made continuously. Using conventional processes, the SMS composite is bonded once at the end of the process line.


A device for calibrating strain gages and strain transducers. The device includes an assembly with a first section and a second section positioned in relation to each other such that a gap is defined between the two sections. A strain transducer is attached to the assembly across the defined gap. The assembly includes an adjustment device which alters the position of the sections in relation to each other, thereby redefining the gap. A displacement sensor detects a displacement signal occurring due to the redefining of the gap caused by operation of the adjustment device. A strain transducer output detector detects a strain output signal occurring also due to the redefining of the gap by the adjustment device. A calibrating device inputs the signals from the displacement sensor and the strain transducer output detector and provides a calibration for the strain transducer attached to the assembly.

The present invention relates generally to transducer calibration. More particularly, it relates to a device used for calibration of a strain gage arrangement. However, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be advantageously adopted for use in other environments as well.
In the construction industry, it is important to know the soil characteristics of an area where a structure is to be constructed. One procedure for obtaining information on soil characteristics is achieved in conjunction with driving a pile into the soil. Such piles are driven to form building foundations. It is difficult to determine a suitable depth to which a pile must be driven, as well as to determine the number of piles necessary to sustain a desired structure.
To address these concerns, a strain transducer is attached to the pile. A strain transducer is a device which may be attached to a structure, pile, or other mechanical object undergoing stress and strain to convert variations of strain to linearly related variations in voltage. Attachment may be obtained by bolting, gluing, welding, riveting, or other means.
The strain transducer is calibrated such that outputs from the transducer signify a stress exerted by a driving force such as a driving hammer as well as the response from the soil during hammer blows. For the results of such a procedure to be reliable, the strain transducer must be accurately calibrated and the operators of the pile driving tests be aware of the characteristics of the strain transducer being used.
Since the reliability of the characteristics of the strain transducer are essential to obtaining accurate soil condition information results, industry and governments are becoming more demanding that accuracy of the strain transducers be verified. Therefore, more frequent recalibration of the strain transducers and a more precise calibration is required.
A prior art device used to calibrate strain gages and strain transducers is represented by FIG. 1. In this device, a tube 12, possibly made of steel is placed between a high pressure manual jack 14. A strain transducer 10 to be calibrated is attached to the metal tube. Thereafter, a top jack portion 16 and a bottom jack portion 18 are compressed to place pressure on the ends of the tube thereby compressing the tube 12 causing a change in output from the strain transducer 10. Readings of the strain transducer inside the calibrated steel tube are then correlated to the output of the strain transducer for development of characteristics of the strain transducer under test.
This prior art device requires a bulky, heavy-duty jack. Additionally, the precision of the strain applied to the strain transducer is difficult to measure and verify. Finally, calibration under this system is a time consuming process.
A more compact, higher precision calibrating device is desirable. Such a device should also be economical to manufacture, provide a verification of accuracy of the calibration results, and be of a sturdy overall construction. The subject invention achieves these needs and others.


A system and method for transmitting data by a base station in a multiple access communication system including a plurality of sub-channels, each of which includes a predetermined number of sub-carrier bands, the sub-carrier bands being divided from an entire frequency band. The method includes the steps of: dividing input data streams in a unit of the sub-channels corresponding to each terminal into a plurality of data sequences based on a predetermined length; spreading each of the data sequences by a distinct spread spectrum code, respectively; summing and parallel-converting the spread data; hopping each frequency of the parallel-converted data in the unit of the sub-channels based on a frequency hopping pattern allocated to each of the terminals in advance; performing an inverse fast Fourier transform with respect to the hopped parallel-converted data; and transmitting the transformed data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a communication system utilizing a multiple access scheme, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data in a multiple access communication system using a frequency hopping scheme.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fourth generation (4G) communication system, which is the next generation communication system, research has been actively pursued to provide users with services having various qualities of service (QoS) and supporting a high transmission speeds. Particularly, in the current 4G communication system, research is being actively pursued to develop a new type of communication system capable of providing subscribers with high-speed services by ensuring mobility and QoS to broadband wireless systems, such as a wireless local area network (LAN) system and a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) system.
Accordingly, many studies are being conducted on an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme for high-speed data transmission over wired/wireless channels in the 4G communication system. The OFDM scheme, which transmits data using multiple carriers, is a special type of Multicarrier Modulation (MCM) scheme in which a serial symbol sequence is converted into parallel symbol sequences and the parallel symbol sequences are modulated with a plurality of mutually orthogonal sub-carriers before being transmitted.
In order to provide high speed and high quality wireless multimedia services in the 4G communication system, wideband spectrum resources are required. However, the wideband spectrum resources are used, a fading influence on a wireless transmission line becomes serious due to the multipath propagation, and the influence due to frequency selective fading occurs even in a transmission band. Accordingly, for a high speed wireless multimedia service, the OFDM scheme, which is robust against frequency selective fading, has a relatively greater gain. Consequently, the OFDM scheme is being actively utilized in the 4G communication system.
A multiple access scheme based on the OFDM scheme as described above includes an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme, which enables some of the sub-carriers to be allocated to a predetermined terminal. The OFDMA scheme does not require a spreading sequence for band spreading (spread spectrum). However, according to the OFDMA scheme, a sub-channel allocated to a predetermined terminal is fixedly maintained, such that the predetermined terminal may be influenced by continuous fading. Therefore, when the OFDMA scheme is used, it has a problem in that transmission efficiency is deteriorated.
Herein, the sub-channel represents a channel including at least one sub-carrier.
In order to solve such a problem, it is necessary to dynamically change a sub-channel allocated to a predetermined terminal depending on a fading characteristic of a wireless transmission line, thereby increasing a transmission efficiency based on a frequency diversity gain. Herein, dynamically changing sub-channels allocated to a predetermined terminal is called a 'dynamic resource allocation' scheme. A representative dynamic resource allocation scheme is a frequency hopping (FH) scheme.
When a channel of a system utilizing the OFDMA scheme is a quasi-static in which a channel state hardly changes, signals of a predetermined terminal, to which sub-carriers having a low channel gain are allocated, continuously suffer fading. In the following description, it is assumed that a multi-cell is based on the OFDMA scheme, uses a quasi-static channel, and has a frequency reuse factor of '1'.
First, because terminals located in a first cell of the multi-cell receive and use sub-channels different from each other, there is no interference between the terminals. However, terminals located in a cell, e.g., a second cell, adjacent to the first cell may use the same sub-channel as the terminals located in the first cell use, such that signals transmitted and received to and from the terminals located in the second cell may act as interference signals to the terminals located in the first cell. Therefore, when the FH scheme is connected with the OFDMA scheme to be used in a communication system, it is possible to prevent continuous fading and to prevent an interference signal from being received from an adjacent cell.
A scheme in which the FH scheme and the OFDMA scheme are connected with each other is called a frequency hopping orthogonal frequency division multiple access (FH-OFDMA) scheme.
According to the FH-OFDMA scheme, a sub-channel frequency allocated to each of terminals hops by using a predetermined FH code, thereby acquiring the effect obtained by the OFDMA, and also the effect obtained by the FH scheme.
Herein, the FH code may be a Latin-square code. The Latin-squire code is advantageous in that it distinguishes cells in a multi-cell environment and reduces inter-cell interference (ICI).
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a transmission apparatus in a conventional FH-OFDMA communication system. Referring to FIG. 1, serial-to-parallel converters 102, 104, and 106 receive data streams generated from each terminal, and output a predetermined number of sequences (i.e., the length of a data stream) in parallel. A frequency hopper 108 receives signals output from the serial-to-parallel converters 102, 104, and 106, and dynamically changes sub-carriers of each sub-channel according to a predetermined frequency hopping pattern. Thereafter, an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) unit 110 receives each of signals output from the frequency hopper 108, performs an inverse Fourier transform on the received signal from a frequency domain to a time domain, and outputs the transformed signal. The signal transformed to the time domain by the IFFT unit 110 is shifted to a signal of a radio frequency band through a normal OFDM transmission procedure, and is then transmitted.
The Latin-square code is the best-known FH code for the FH-OFDMA system. According to the Latin-square codes, each FH code set has a distinct slope, and a distinct FH code set is allocated to each cell. Therefore, a base station can differentiate cells by detecting the slopes of the FH codes.
A Latin-square code matrix includes a set of n codes, each of which has a length of 'n'. Each of the n codes includes the numerals of '0' to 'n−1' as its components. Every row and every column have all the numerals of '0' to 'n−1' just once. When the 'n' is a prime number, an n×n Latin-square code matrix {a} may be expressed as shown in Equation (1).{a}ij=ai+j(mod n)  (1)
In Equation (1), 'i' and 'j' are parameters representing a row and a column of matrix {a}, respectively, and are used as a frequency index and a time index, respectively, when a frequency is hopped.
To generate the Latin-square code a first row is generated by arranging the numerals of '0' to 'n−1' in sequence. A second row is generated by cyclically shifting the numerals of '0' to 'n−1' by 'a' from the their positions in the first row. A third row is generated by cyclically shifting the numerals of '0' to 'n−1' by 'a' from the their positions in the second row. Thereafter, the remaining rows can be generated by performing the above-mentioned process in sequence.
'n−1' number of Latin-square code sets that differ from each other can be generated by varying the value of 'a' from 1 to 'n−1'. Herein, the 'a' represents a distinct slope of the Latin-square code sets. In the code matrix generated as described above, each column corresponds to an FH code. Therefore, each terminal is allocated with a distinct column of the code matrix, and performs frequency hopping to a frequency corresponding to a numeral included in the column at every period.
Although the FH-OFDMA scheme is used, the shortage of radio resources, a basic problem in a wireless communication, is not solved. That is, in order to accommodate more terminals and simultaneously perform high-speed and large quantity data transmission, it is necessary to research and develop a superior multiple access scheme. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop a new multiple access scheme, which can solve the resource shortage problem, maximize frequency diversity gain, and transmit a large quantity of data at high speed.

Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data in a code division multiplexing-frequency hopping-orthogonal frequency division multiple access communication system

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A camera has a body and a taking lens mounted to the body. The taking lens defines a subject field. A viewing window is joined to the body. The viewing window is transmissive of a light image of the subject field. The viewing window bears a holographic image of a reticle. A light source faces the viewing window and illuminates the holographic image. The reticle produced can be binocularly viewable, that is, viewable by the photographer with both eyes while the photographer looks through the viewing window to compose a scene image for picture taking.

The invention relates to cameras and photography and more particularly relates to a binocularly viewable holographic viewfinder and camera.
Eyepiece-viewfinders of cameras present some difficulties for new photographers and persons wearing a facial encumbrance, such as a pair of eyeglasses, a diving mask, a costume mask, or, even a hat. A partial solution is increasing the size of the viewfinder eyepiece. This helps, but a relatively small increase in viewfinder eyepiece size is accompanied by a relatively large increase in camera size and weight. An alternative approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,702 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2001/0,016,084 A1. These publications disclose image capture devices that project marker beams toward a subject. Holographic optical elements are used as diffraction optical elements in the production of the marking beams. This approach is complex and is unsuitable for situations that present a risk of a marker beam appearing in a captured image. Such a situation occurs when many photographers shoot the same scene or overlapping scenes at the same time.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,239 discloses a camera viewfinder, which incorporates a holographic optical element that acts as a diffraction optical element. The holographic optical clement is used to redirect light from an information display through an eyepiece to the photographer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,607 discloses a camera having a viewfinder, in which a holographic element is interposed between the lenses of the viewfinder. Information and images can be projected onto the holographic element by a raster scanned light source. The holographic element can be permanently provided with framing radicals by etching or painting techniques or the like. Images of radicals can also be projected onto the holographic element by the scanned and modulated beam of the optical system.
The last two patents have the shortcoming that the user has to look through the eyepiece with one eye to see the viewfinder image. The earlier two patent publications, don""t require looking through the viewfinder, but interfere with the scene.
It would thus be desirable to provide a camera and viewfinder in which marker beams are not projected toward a scene to be captured and the scene to be captured is visibly delimited and can easily be perceived with both eyes.
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in broader aspects, provides a camera and viewfinder. The camera has a body and a taking lens mounted to the body. The taking lens defines a subject field. A viewing window is joined to the body. The viewing window is transmissive of a light image of the subject field. The viewing window bears a holographic image of a reticle. A light source faces the viewing window and illuminates the holographic image. The reticle produced can be binocularly viewable, that is, viewable by the photographer with both eyes while the photographer looks through the viewing window to compose a scene image for picture taking.
It is an advantageous effect of the invention that a camera and viewfinder are provided in which marker beams are not projected toward a scene to be captured and the scene to be captured is visibly delimited and can easily be perceived with both eyes.

Binocularly viewable holographic viewfinder and camera


A hyperbaric oxygen therapy system includes a pressure vessel containing a gas, an oxygen concentration measurement apparatus for monitoring the concentration of oxygen in the gas, an environmental control apparatus for controlling the temperature of the gas in the vessel, and a pressure/ventilation control apparatus for controlling the pressure of the gas in the vessel. The pressure vessel is capable of accommodating a patient. The oxygen concentration measurement apparatus includes an oxygen concentration analyzer and a plurality of gas lines connecting the oxygen analyzer to the pressure vessel. The pressure/ventilation control apparatus includes a pressure controlling valve, a pressure sensor, a ventilation valve, and a controller having a programmable pressure profile. The environmental control apparatus includes a scrubber, a heat exchanger and a blower located within the pressure vessel. A compressor for the system includes a compressor silencer. An airlock providing access to the pressure vessel includes a safety mechanism.

The present invention relates generally to hyperbaric chambers and more particularly to a hyperbaric chamber and associated control systems for delivering hyperbaric oxygen therapy to one or more persons.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is indicated for treating many medical conditions and for training regimens such as the treatment of severe burns, peripheral vascular disease, carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression illness and the like. Such therapy is generally administered in a hyperbaric pressure vessel. In the case of sports injuries or training, athletes can benefit from exercising within a hyperbaric pressure vessel.
Typically, hyperbaric therapy requires that the pressure in the vessel be varied at a predetermined rate from atmospheric up to a treatment level which may be as high as three atmospheres. The pressure is then maintained at a substantially constant level for a predetermined time or "soaking interval". Following the soaking interval, the pressure is reduced to atmospheric at a predetermined rate. During the treatment cycle, the temperature in the vessel is required to be controlled and the air is required to be circulated and cleansed of the carbon dioxide exhaled by the patient undergoing therapy. A means for passing articles into and out of the chamber while the chamber is pressurized, is also required.
Current hyperbaric chambers suffer from a number of deficiencies which cause discomfort to the patient, require excessive human intervention to monitor and control the treatment cycle and present safety hazards. Typically, the environment in the vessel is excessively noisy due to the noise generated by the compressor required to elevate the pressure in the vessel and due to blowers required to circulate the air in the vessel. Further, the pressure in typical hyperbaric chambers is manually controlled requiring constant attention by an operator. Further, airlocks for passing articles into and out of the pressure vessel may be operated in a manner which could cause injury by allowing the door to the airlock to be opened while the airlock is pressurized.
Accordingly, there is a need for a hyperbaric oxygen therapy system which: (1) provides automatic control of the pressure, ventilation and temperature of the gas in the pressure vessel, (2) reduces the noise in the pressure vessel and (3) provides a means for passing articles into and out of the pressure vessel which cannot present a hazardous condition to the operator.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy system controls


A rock bolt (10) is provided for frictionally engaging with the internal surface of a bore drilled into rockmass. The bolt comprises a tube having a circular cross-section (12) defining a longitudinal split (14) and a longitudinal axis (10a). The tube (12) in is radially expandable. The bolt (10) has a first leading end (12b) for insertion into a bore, a second end defining a head (12a) and expander means (30) for expanding the diameter of the tube at least one location along the tube. The expander means comprises first (42) and second (44) expander/wedge elements arranged so that relative movement of the two elements causes the diameter of the tube to expand at that location. The first expander element (42) is mounted on an elongate rod (30) which is aligned generally along the longitudinal axis of the tube. Rotation of the rod (30) causes the relative movement of the two elements to cause the diameter of the tube to expand at the location. The rock bolt includes an arrestor (100) in the form of a ring, which defines an aperture which locates on the proximal end of the rod (30). The aperture is larger than the proximal end of the rod so that the arrestor is able to move along the proximal end of the rod. The arrestor includes a laterally extending protrusion (102) which locates in the longitudinal split (14) and is narrower than the longitudinal split and which is configured to engage with the head of the friction bolt when moved towards the proximal end of the friction bolt.

Rock bolts are used in rock strata for the purpose of stabilising the strata or rockmass. One type of rock bolt commonly used in hard rock mines is known as a friction bolt. This type of bolt comprises a tube, typically made of steel, that is split longitudinally and which is forced into a bore, drilled into rockmass which is marginally smaller than the diameter of the tube. The tube becomes compressed so that the external surface of the tube engages the internal surface of the bore, anchoring the rock bolt inside the bore by friction forces.
Friction bolts are relatively cheap to manufacture and are easy to use compared with some other types of rock bolts which often require resin or cement to lock them into the bore. However, friction bolts do have a number of drawbacks. One significant drawback is the tendency for friction bolts to disengage from the bore when a sufficiently large force is applied to the bolt.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,604, to weld lands inside the tube, to narrow the internal diameter of the tube at a specific location along the tube, and use oversized, wedge shaped inserts which engage with the lands to expand the tube at that location to provide better engagement of the bolt in the bore at that location. However, the added complexity of the tube of U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,604 increases manufacturing costs, particularly due to the additional components, and the additional step of welding the lands in the correct location inside the split tube.
Recently, more cost effective friction bolts have been developed and are becoming more common in Australian mines exemplified by the friction bolt shown in Australian patent application No 2014215940, by the applicant for the present application, which at least partly addresses the cost and complexity issues of U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,604, by using a floating arrangement for the expander wedges which avoids the need for welding, and thus reduces the manufacturing costs. Other manufacturers have developed their own proprietary rock bolt designs.
A typical friction bolt comprises a generally circular tube defining a longitudinal split, the tube being radially expandable, the bolt having a first leading end for insertion into a bore and a second end defining a head, and expander means for expanding the diameter of the tube at least one location along the tube. The expander elements typically comprising first and second wedge elements arranged so that relative movement of the two wedge elements causes the diameter of the tube to expand at that location. The first wedge element is mounted on a rod which extends along the tube towards the head of the bolt. The second wedge element locates between the rod and the tube. When the rod is rotated the wedge elements move together and cause the diameter of the tube to expand.
One unforeseen problem that has arisen with friction bolts is that in use, when deployed in mines they can become stretched under tension as the rockmass in which they are located can move and become compressed as the material around the strata is mined and removed. In some cases the tension in the rod is such that the rod fractures and fails in tension or shear. The broken rod will then eject from the hole at considerable velocity due to the energy stored in the rod which was under tension. While there are no known instances to date of any injuries caused by the broken rods, these failures are clearly a major potential occupational health and safety issue.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.
Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.


A compact, highly flexible and efficient, multi-positionable, multi-dimensional and multi-stage gas-fired heat exchanger system as described. The system is connectable in a forced air duct regardless of the angular position and size of the duct. The heat exchanger comprises one or more heat transfer tubes which are shaped and dimensioned as dictated by the customized use of the heat exchanger. The tubes are secured to a support panel as well as the gas burner associated with each of the inlet openings of the tubes. A position orientable gas valve is secured to a gas distribution manifold. A turbulator may be associated with at least some of the tubes to cause turbulence in the hot combustion flow in each of the tubes to modify the efficiency in heat transfer along one or more sections of the tubes by directing hot combustion gas along an inner circumferential wall of the tubes. The outlet of the tubes connect to a collector which has an exhaust fan which is position orientable to suit the installation of the heat exchanger in the duct.

The present invention relates to a compact, highly flexible and efficient, multi-positionable, multi-dimensional and multi-stage gas-fired heat exchanger system for use in a forced air duct. The heat exchanger utilizes a cascaded array of serpentine heat transfer tubes. Particularly, the heat exchanger of the present invention utilizes a controller which controls the exhaust fan capacity to ensure a constant supply of gas/air mixture in the tubes which are in operation. The heat exchanger system is also adaptable to existing duct regardless of the size and orientation of the duct.
It is very difficult to substitute a gas heater for an electric hot water or oil-fired heater, as this requires a restructure of the existing ductwork. Accordingly, these conversions are extremely costly and not very practical and popular. However, there exists a commercial need to convert to a gas heater which is highly efficient in terms of energy delivered and non-polluting.
There is on the market place a multitude of gas heaters but these are all of substantially standard dimensions and installed in or equipped with air convection ducts. There is no gas-fired heating equipment on the market today that can be used to economically and efficiently convert an electric heating system to gas. The problem is that the heating equipment are of fixed dimensions, cumbersome and require large installation space. The installation of the equipment is also difficult as it must always be installed horizontal and this requires extensive modification to the ventilation ducts. Also, existing gas heaters need to be mounted horizontal as electric equipment does not. Another problem with gas heaters is that the gas supply as well as the exhaust systems are very cumbersome and do not provide much flexibility to the installer.
An example of a gas-fired heater used in a forced air system is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,010. It is a fixed system and it is located in a furnace unit which is supported on a floor located at the base of the ductwork. This patent deals primarily with the evacuation of combustion gases at the outlet of the heat exchange tubes. Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,042,453, 5,094,224 and 4,729,207 as other examples of gas-fired heaters used as a furnace associated with an air convection duct system.
With multi-stage gas-fired heat exchanger systems, a major problem has been the efficiency of the burners and hence the production of NOx only. In an attempt to resolve NOx reduction, U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,529 teaches disposing a metal mesh tube having a diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of the combustion tubes, at the inlet of the tubes. When the burners operate, the burner flames are forced through the meshtubes to reduce the cross-section of the flames to increase their axial velocity through the associated tube to diminish the intimate contact of secondary combustion air with the maximum temperature zones of the flames within the combustor tube. This arrangement has not proven adequate to resolve the problem, is more costly, and requires additional maintenance and repairs.
With a multi-stage system, there is a constant variation of the number of burners that are operated depending on temperature variation in the space being heated. Therefore, most often, not all tubes are used at the same time. This means that some tubes are often not operational. Therefore, combustion air is drawn through the tubes of least resistance, those which are not in use, and this results in less combustion air being fed to the tubes where the burners are operated and starving them from combustion air thus causing improper combustion and pollution.
We have found a solution to the above problem by modulating the exhaust fan capacity. Because the viscosity of hotter gas is more than cold gas, the tubes that are operational and therefore hotter, provide more resistance to the flow of gases. Therefore, contrary to conventional methods we have found that by increasing fan capacity when less tubes are operational, there is provided an adequate supply of combustion air regardless of the number of tubes in operation. When increasing numbers of tubes are made operational, based on external signal demand (i.e. thermostat), exhaust fan capacity is reduced by the controller and increased when the number of operational tubes are decreased.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a compact, highly flexible and efficient, multi-positionable, multi-dimensional and multi-stage gas-fired heat exchanger system which is adaptable to existing forced air ducts, and which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above-described which is easy to install in existing air ducts regardless of the size of the duct and the angular position thereof.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above described and which can be used to readily replace existing electric heaters which are more costly to operate.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above described and which is constructed in accordance with parameters of existing air ducts and wherein the physical characteristics of the construction can be determined by way of a dedicated computer software.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above described comprising a plurality of gas heaters and wherein the gas heaters can be modulated to adjust the heating capacity from about 5% to 100%.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above described and wherein the main component parts of the system are all accessible on a support panel which is located exteriorly of the convection ducts and easily accessible.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above described and wherein a novel turbulator is used within the heat transfer tubes to increase the efficiency of the heat exchanger.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired heat exchanger system as above described and wherein the flue combustion gases can be evacuated regardless of the position of the heat exchanger and by simple means and wherein the exhaust fan capacity is modulated by control means whereby the exhaust fan capacity is controlled in an inversed proportional manner to the number of gas burners in operation to ensure a constant supply of gas/air mixture in the tubes in operation whereby to obtain optimal combustion and maximum efficiency.
According to another feature of the present invention the control means can be effectuated by controlling the speed of the exhaust fan or by any other means of controlling the air supply capacity to the individual tubes such as inlet or outlet air dampers, etc.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect the present invention provides a compact, highly flexible and efficient, multi-positionable and multi-dimensional gas-fired multi-stage heat exchanger system for use in a forced air duct. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat transfer tubes which are provided in numbers depending on the desired BTU/h capacity needs of the heat exchanger. The tubes are secured to a support means. A plurality of gas burners are provided and each mounted on the support means and disposed for directing a flame at an inlet opening of an associated one of the heat transfer tubes. A gas distribution manifold is provided for supplying gas to the burners. A position orientable modulating gas valve is secured to the manifold and connectable to a gas supply line for controlling the gas pressure to the burners and therefore the intensity of the flame. The gas valve is disposed horizontal regardless of the angular position of the system when secured to a duct. A plurality of solenoid valves is secured to the manifold and to a respective one of the burners whereby to operate the burners independently from one another. The tubes each have an outlet connected to a combustion products collector housing having an exhaust fan to evacuate the combustion products. A system programmed controller means is connected to an external heating demand device for receiving an input signal dependent on an air temperature requirement. The solenoid valves are controlled by the controller means dependent on the input signal to control the operation of the gas burners. The controller means controls exhaust fan capacity in an inversely proportional manner to the number of gas burners in operation to ensure a constant supply of gas/air mixture in the tubes in operation whereby to obtain optimal combustion and maximum efficiency.

Flexible gas-fired heat exchanger system

Technologies Echangeur Gaz Air (TEGA) Inc.


Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques for facilitating personalized neuromodulation treatment protocols. In one embodiment, a predetermined treatment position of an energy application device is used to guide future treatments for the patient. In one embodiment, a position of the energy application device relative to the predetermined treatment position is determined. In one embodiment, a total dose of ultrasound energy applied to the region of interest is determined.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques to identify, target and/or dose regions of interest in a subject via application of neuromodulating energy to cause targeted physiological outcomes. In particular, the disclosed techniques may be part of a personalized or at-home neuromodulation treatment protocol.
Neuromodulation has been used to treat a variety of clinical conditions. For example, electrical stimulation at various locations along the spinal cord has been used to treat chronic back pain. An implantable device may periodically generate electrical energy that is applied to a tissue to activate certain nerve fibers, which may result in a decreased sensation of pain. With regard to spinal cord stimulation, the stimulating electrodes are generally positioned in the epidural space, although the pulse generator may be positioned somewhat remotely from the electrodes, e.g., in the abdominal or gluteal region, but connected to the electrodes via conducting wires. In other implementations, deep brain stimulation may be used to stimulate particular areas of the brain to treat movement disorders, and the stimulation locations may be guided by neuroimaging. Such central nervous system stimulation is generally targeted to the local nerve or brain cell function and is mediated by electrodes that deliver electrical pulses and that are positioned at or near the target nerves. However, positioning electrodes at or near the target nerves is challenging. For example, such techniques may involve surgical placement of the electrodes that deliver the energy. In addition, specific tissue targeting via neuromodulation is challenging. Electrodes that are positioned at or near certain target nerves mediate neuromodulation by triggering an action potential in the nerve fibers, which in turn results in neurotransmitter release at a nerve synapse and synaptic communication with the next nerve. Such propagation may result in a relatively larger or more diffuse physiological effect than desired, as current implementation of implanted electrodes stimulate many nerves or axons at once. Because the neural pathways are complex and interconnected, a more selective and targeted modulated effect may be more clinically useful.

Neuromodulation energy application techniques


A device for measuring the diameter of an object that is generally cylindrical such as, for example, an optical fiber, without contact.. This device includes a laser (4) capable of emitting a luminous beam, optical means (6, 8, 10) provided to form first and second luminous beams from the luminous beams emitted by the laser and to illuminate the object (2) with these first and second luminous beams, so as to obtain two luminous beams reflected by the object which interfere with one another, and means (CCD, 14) of photo-detection and analysis of the interference between the two reflected beams, capable of determining the diameter of the object from the interference fringes.

This invention concerns a device for measuring the diameter of a largely cylindrical object.
This device makes it possible to measure the diameter of such an object without contact.
This invention applies particularly to measuring the diameter of an optical fiber and, specifically, to measuring the diameter of an optical fiber while it is being drawn.
Various techniques for measuring the diameter of an optical fiber without contact are already known, namely:
Photometric measurements, in which the quantity of light masked is proportional to the diameter and which give low resolution, equal to 1 micrometer, PA1 Spatial measurements, in which an image of the fiber is formed on a charge-coupled device ("charge-coupled device" in English-language publications), or CCD cell, which also give low resolution, equal to 0.5 micrometer, and PA1 Temporal measurements, in which the interception time of a laser scanning beam is measured, which also give low resolution, equal to 0.5 micrometer. PA1 since the fringes observed are the result of interference between the reflected beam and the refracted beam, whose nature and intensity are different, the calculation, which is made in this other technique to determine the diameter of the fiber, involves the quality and, more precisely, the refraction index of silica, of which the fiber is composed, an index which not always known to within .+-.10.sup.-5, and PA1 The interference fringes do not contrast much; they are superimposed on a high, noisy continuous background. PA1 which are reflected by the object, outside of its refraction pattern when the object is capable of reflecting part of an incident light and transmitting another part of it, like, for example, an optical fiber, and PA1 which result from the simultaneous illumination of the object by two luminous beams that come from the same laser. PA1 a laser that can emit a luminous beam, PA1 optical means provided to form first and second luminous beams from the luminous beams emitted by the laser and to illuminate the object with these first and second luminous beams, so as to obtain two luminous beams reflected by the object which interfere with one another and PA1 means of photo-detection and analysis of interference between the two reflected beams which can determine the diameter of the object from the interference fringes. PA1 means of dividing the beam emitted by the laser into two beams, PA1 first means of reflection provided to form the first beam from one of these two beams that come from the means of dividing and PA1 second means of reflection provided to form the second beam from the other beam that comes from the means of dividing. PA1 a charge-coupled device provided to receive the two beams reflected which interfere with one another, and PA1 electronic means for processing signals provided by this charge-coupled device to determine the diameter of the object.
Another measurement technique without contact is also known, according to which the optical fiber is illuminated by a laser, and the interfringe in the interference pattern that is given is measured in a chosen direction by a refracted luminous beam and by a luminous beam reflected by the fiber.
This other technique is described in the following document (1):
Thesis presented to the University of Saint Etienne by Lionel DeLaunay, entitled "Study and Realization of a System for Measuring the Diameter of an Optical Fiber" (1986).
It gives great resolution, equal to 0.1 micrometer, but has some drawbacks:

Device for measuring the diameter of an object that is largely cylindrical, for example an optical fiber, without contact

France Telecom Etablissement Autonome de Droit Public


A windrow door for controlling a direction of flow of crop residue expelled from a combine is disclosed. The windrow door may generally include a door panel extending lengthwise between a first end and a second end. The door panel may be configured to be move relative to a spreader of the combine between a closed position, wherein the crop residue being expelled from the combine is directed along the door panel and into the spreader, and a chute position, wherein the crop residue is directed through a rear opening of the combine and onto the door panel.

Axially arranged rotary threshing or separating systems have long been in use in agricultural combines for threshing crops to separate grain from crop residue, also referred to as material other than grain (MOG). Such axially arranged systems typically include at least one cylindrical rotor rotated within a cage or concave, with the rotor and surrounding concave being oriented so as to extend forwardly to rearwardly within the combine.
During operation of the combine, crop material is fed or directed into a circumferential passage between the rotor and the concave and is carried rearwardly along a generally helical path through such passage by rotation of the rotor as grain is threshed from the crop material. The flow of crop residue remaining between the rotor and concave after threshing is typically discharged or expelled at a rear or downstream end of the rotor. After discharge from the threshing system, the crop residue is typically directed into a crop residue distribution system located below and rearwardly of the rear end of the rotor. The crop residue distribution system typically includes a rotary beater or chopper or other apparatus that beats or chops the residue into smaller pieces and propels the finer crop residue rearwardly towards an area within the rear end of the combine, hereinafter referred to as a distribution chamber. The crop residue provided within the distribution chamber may either be discharged therefrom onto a field as a windrow or directed into a chopper and/or spreader mounted on or at the rear end of the combine that is operable for spreading the residue over a swath of the field.
Windrowing typically occurs when, under certain conditions and in certain localities, users desire to retain the crop residue for post-processing. In such cases, the residue, which may be chopped or un-chopped, is discharged from the combine, without entering the chopper/spreader, to form a windrow directly behind the combine. Such windrow may, for example, contain only straw residue or both straw residue and chaff, and may typically be produced by the expulsion of the residue flow over the top of the chopper/spreader, such as when the crop residue is discharged through a rear opening of the distribution chamber. As is generally understood, a windrow door is typically positioned at the rear opening and is pivotable about its top end between a closed position, wherein the crop residue is diverted into the chopper/spreader, and an open position, wherein the crop residue is directed over the chopper/spreader and through the rear opening.
When crop residue is to be discharged onto a field as a windrow, it is typically preferred that the crop residue be distributed onto a windrow chute to allow the residue to be formed into a desired windrow shape. Currently, conventional windrow chutes are configured as separate, independent components of combines. For example, a windrow chute is typically mounted via a bracket or linkage at the rear end of a combine so as to be positioned below the point at which the crop residue is expelled from the windrow door. However, by configuring windrow chutes as separate components, the inclusion of a windrow chute onto a combine often results in a significant increase in the overall weight and cost of the combine.
Accordingly, a windrow door that is configured to double as a windrow chute would be welcomed in the technology.

Windrow door for an agricultural combine


In one embodiment, an improved circuit breaker module is installed in an electrical panel of a customer structure that receives power from a solar cell module and a utility company. The circuit breaker module may include a current sensor for sensing electrical current drawn by the customer structure from the utility company. The circuit breaker module may further include a current processing unit for capturing sensed electrical current values to generate energy consumption data and a data transmitter for transmitting energy consumption data to a remotely located data collection computer. The circuit breaker module may transmit energy consumption data over a wired or wireless data link. The circuit breaker module advantageously allows for relatively low cost and easy installation, encouraging installation of solar cell modules even in existing customer structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical power generation and distribution, and more particularly but not exclusively to methods and apparatus for monitoring energy consumption.
2. Description of the Background Art
A solar cell module comprises a plurality of solar cells configured to collect solar radiation for conversion to electrical energy. As the price of oil and the need for renewable power sources continue to increase, so too is the demand for solar cell modules. Solar cell modules may be installed as an additional power source in a customer structure, which may be residential or commercial. For example, a residential home with solar cell modules may continue to receive power from a utility company. For accounting, cost analysis, energy conservation improvement, or other reasons, it is advantageous for the customer (the home owner in this example) to determine how much energy he is receiving from the utility company compared to the solar cell modules. This determination is part of the customer's energy balance, which is the relation between energy consumption and generation. Some solar cell module vendors, such as Sunpower Corporation of San Jose, Calif., incorporate in their solar cell modules mechanisms for readily determining the amount of energy generated by the solar cell module. However, the amount of energy drawn from the utility company is not so easily determined. Although utility companies provide utility meters for manually reading the amount of energy consumed by the customer, utility companies generally do not provide an interface for third parties to electronically access information from the utility meters. This makes it difficult for solar cell module installers, who are essentially in competition with the utility companies, to calculate the customer's energy balance.

Method and apparatus for monitoring energy consumption of a customer structure


Partially crosslinked polyurethane polymers comprising diisocyanates and aliphatic hydrocarbon soft segments with a short-chain diol chain extender and a multifunctional amine and/or alcohol crosslinker to provide a polyurethane polymer with useful properties for the production of medical implant devices such as heart valves, are described. The polymers have an unexpected linear elastic region in a range from 5-100% and preferably between 10-35%. In some embodiments the polyurethanes are a thermally convertible gel formulation which may be converted to a liquid formulation by extended heating to render the polymer suitable for solvent processing techniques such as casting, spraying, spinning, etc. The invention also provides for living hinge polyurethane polymers which are thermally modifiable from a gel to a liquid and reaction injection moulded (RIM) polyurethanes with an enhanced flex life.

Polyurethanes (PUs) have been extensively studied for use in medical applications such as pacemaker leads, blood bags, catheters, bladders, artificial hearts, vascular grafts and synthetic heart valves.
Although there are a number of formulations offering a great variety of chemical and physical properties, they are mostly thermoplastic compositions and there remain two major drawbacks of PUs used in medical applications: they are susceptible to certain conditions that can cause chemical degradation of properties in vivo and they may be prone to excessive strain relaxation (creep) especially where cyclic stress is incurred, such as in cardiovascular prostheses.
There have been a number of attempts to improve the chemical and mechanical properties of PUs. As the chemical stability of PUs is closely linked to the chemical nature of the macroglycol units constituting soft segments of PUs, the polyester macroglycols initially used and found to be hydrolytically unstable in vivo, were replaced with soft segments based on polyethers. However, subsequent studies showed that although the polyether segments were hydrolytically stable, certain polyether urethanes were susceptible to oxidative degradation in the presence of metal ions and other strong oxidants present in physiological media. Further studies toward full or partial replacement of the polyether functionalities with carbonates, siloxanes, hydrocarbons and fluorinated ethers continue.
The use of polycarbonate soft segments has been reported to increase chemical stability, but have been shown to still be susceptible to hydrolytic and oxidative degradation. Although siloxane based polyurethane materials were initially thought to be both hydrolytically and oxidatively stable, they have also recently been shown to degrade in aqueous media. Siloxane soft segment-based PUs also tend to have lower toughness than their polyether soft-segment counterparts. Medtronic Inc. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,308) eliminated the use of polyester, polyether and polycarbonates by basing an experimental urethane on hydrocarbon (dimerol) soft segments. Dimerols are derived from dimer acids: The dimer acids as the term is used herein are described and discussed in the book "The Dimer Acids", edited by Edward C. Leonard, published by Humko Sheffield Chemical, 1975. Dimer acids are the reaction product of a Diels-Alder addition or other coupling process of two aliphatic, unsaturated, predominantly 18 carbon fatty acids. Dimer acids take the form of single ring, double ring or branched chain structures predominantly having two carboxylic acid functionalities. This modification indeed produced enhanced biostability, but being uncrosslinked polymers, they would still be prone to significant plastic deformation.
In this specification, "living hinge" is defined as a polymer which induces a yield strain in the hinge zone. A yield point can be defined as an increase in strain without a corresponding increase in stress. It is an initial extension of the polymer specimen beyond its elastic limit and this results in an alignment of the polymer molecules in the hinge which gives enhanced flex life. It results in a necking down relative to the thickness of the specimen on either side. The patent by Moe (U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,169) which generally discloses a heart valve having a living hinge attachment describes heart valves where the valve cusps are integral with the valve sheath and thus appears to be different from this definition. Silicone polymers sometimes described in synthetic valve designs, (Reference V. M. Parfeev, I. V. Grushetskii, E. V. Smurova: "Mechanical Properties of Elastomers for Artificial Leaflet Heart Valves," Mechanics of Composite Materials, January-February, 1983, Volume 19, Issue 1, pp 92-99) generally do not have a true yield point and it is also uncommon for polyurethanes to have one.
There is thus a need for chemically and mechanically stable linear and crosslinked polyurethane polymers for use as medical implant devices that alleviate some of the above mentioned problems.
The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the art as at the priority date of the application.

Strait Access Technologies Holdings (Pty) Ltd.


A magnetic element is provided on the outer periphery of a ring member which is operatively connected with diaphragm blades. This magnetic element is either shaped or constructed so that it exhibits a magnetic gradient (viz., produces non-uniform magnetic leakage flux properties). A Hall sensor is mounted stationarily with respect to the ring member so as to respond to the change in magnetic leakage flux and indicate the amount of rotation of the ring.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mechanism for detecting a rotation amount of a diaphragm for use in an optical system such as a camera.
2. Description of the Background Art
A camera such as a still camera, a video camera and the like has a driving actuator which rotatably operates diaphragm blades through a rotating ring. Conventionally, the actuator is also used for detecting a rotation amount of the diaphragm blades of the camera. FIG. 5 depicts a conventional driving actuator which serves for detection of operation of the diaphragm blades. Referring to FIG. 5, a driving actuator 50 includes a rotor 51 and a stator 53. The rotor 51 consists of semi-circular north- and south-polar magnet halves 51a and 51b which are attached together symmetrically around an axis 52 so as to form a rotor of circular shape. The stator 53 is provided, on an inner surface thereof, with a Hall element 54. The Hall element 54 faces a boundary defined between the magnets 51a and 51b and detects change in leakage flux generated from the rotor 51, which is rotatingly driven by energization of a coil 55 disposed on the stator 53.
When the rotor 51 rotates, the leakage flux traversing the Hall element 54 is altered. The amount of rotation of the diaphragm blades is ascertained by detecting change in an amount of the leakage flux which traverses the Hall element.
However, the driving actuator 50 has a small diameter so that only a small peripheral surface area of the rotor 51 moves relative to the element 54. Accordingly, the accuracy of leakage flux detection is lowered. In case that an opening defined by the diaphragm blades has a small diameter, it is difficult to precisely determine the amount diaphragm blade rotation since the detection can be made only within a limited range.

Mechanism for detecting a rotation amount of a diaphragm for use in optical systems


A converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and a robot implementing the converter are disclosed. The converter includes a shaft rotated about a first axis relative to a casing, a hub defining a bore about a second axis, the shaft rotating in the bore. The first axis is parallel to the second axis, and a distance between the first axis and second axis defines an eccentricity. At least two pistons are movably disposed in radial housings of the shaft with the at least two pistons bearing against the bore. Movement of the pistons feed a hydraulic fluid into one of two annular grooves of the casing arranged in an arc of a circle about the first axis, and the hub is configured to translate along a third axis to modify the value of the eccentricity between two extreme values.

The invention relates to a converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and to a robot implementing said converter. The invention can be particularly used in the production of humanoid robots in which autonomy is to be improved.
Such robots are equipped with actuating mechanisms that allow the different parts of the robot to be moved. These mechanisms connect a power source providing mechanical energy such as, for example, an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor, to a load. In other words, an actuating mechanism transmits mechanical power between a motor and a load.
An essential parameter of an actuating mechanism is its transmission ratio which is chosen so as to adapt a nominal working point of the load to that of the motor. In a known actuating mechanism in which the transmission ratio is constant, formed for example from a set of gears, the choice of the ratio is limited to discrete values and changing the ratio necessitates complicated devices such as a gearbox to adapt the transmission ratio. Now, in robotic applications, the working point of the loads is generally highly variable. If the reduction ratio is constant, this means that the motor must be dimensioned for the most unfavorable circumstances in which the load is used.
Devices exist which allow the transmission ratio to be varied continuously but these are complicated and their performance is often poor. Belt speed reducers are known, for example, whose transmission ratio is varied as a function of the speed of the motor by means of inertia masses.
The above-described actuating devices are bulky, heavy and complex, which is disadvantageous for robotic applications.
Moreover, of the abovementioned motors, electric motors are well suited only to high speeds and low torques. In robotic applications, the opposite situation is common: low speed and high torque. The use of electric motors for low speeds entails high reduction ratios that are thus complicated to achieve.
As is known, in robotic applications, a central hydraulic power unit is used that is connected to different joints to be driven by lines transporting a pressurized fluid. When the robot includes a large number of actuators, the network of lines becomes complex. Moreover, the hydraulic power unit must provide to all the joints the maximum pressure required by the joint that is subject to the greatest demand.

Converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and robot implementing said converter


In one embodiment, a method is provided to intelligently frame groups of participants in a meeting. This gives a more pleasing experience with fewer switches, better contextual understanding, and more natural framing, as would be seen in a video production made by a human director. Furthermore, in accordance with another embodiment, conversational framing techniques are provided. During speaker tracking, when two local participants are addressing each other, a method is provided to show a close-up framing showing both participants. By evaluating the direction participants are looking and a speaker history, it is determined if there is a local discussion going on, and an appropriate framing is selected to give far-end participants the most contextually rich experience.

A video conference system includes an endpoint that captures audio and video of participants in a room during a conference, for example, and then transmits the audio and video to a conference server or to a "far-end" endpoint. The video conference system may frame close-up or zoomed-in camera views of talking participants (i.e., talkers). The video conference system may detect faces in the captured video to assist with framing the close-up camera views. Speaker tracking improves the meeting experience by showing close-up views of the active speakers.

Group and conversational framing for speaker tracking in a video conference system


A railcar unit has a pair of opposed side sills that are joined by structure that performs the function of a web in a deep beam or bracing in a truss. The joining structure is able to transmit loads that are applied transversely to the longitudinal direction of the car from one sill to the other, and is also able to transmit a bending moment couple, in the form of opposite longitudinal tensile and compressive forces, also transmitted to the side sills. The locations at which the transverse forces are imposed on, or by, the intermediate structure have longitudinal slip. When the railcar unit is placed in longitudinal tension under draft loads, the longitudinal slip allows the floor structure not to be subject to the longitudinal draft loads. In the embodiment described the joining structure serves the additional function of acting as a floor panel for vertical loads carried within the well car unit.

Railway well cars may be considered as upwardly opening U-shaped channels of a chosen length, simply supported on a pair of railcar trucks. Although single unit well cars are still common, there has been a trend in recent years toward articulated, multi-unit railcars which permit a relatively larger load to be carried on fewer railcar trucks.
Contemporary well cars may carry a number of alternative loads made up of containers in International Standards Association (ISO) sizes or domestic sizes, and of highway trailers. The ISO containers are 8'-0" wide, 8'-6" high, and come in a 20'-0" length weighing up to 52,900 lbs., or a 40'-0" length weighing up to 67,200 lbs. Domestic containers are 8'-6" wide and 9'-6" high. Their standard lengths are 45', 48' and 53'. All domestic containers have a maximum weight of 67,200 lbs. Recently 28' long domestic containers have been introduced in North America. They are generally used for courier services which have lower lading densities. The 28' containers have a maximum weight of 35,000 lbs.
Two common sizes of highway trailers are, first, the 28' pup trailer weighing up to 40,000 lbs., and second, the 45' to 53' trailer weighing up to 60,000 for a two axle trailer and up to 90,000 lbs. for a three axle trailer. It is advantageous to provide well cars with hitches at both ends. This permits either a single 53' three axle trailer to be loaded in either direction, or two back-to-back 28' pup trailers to be loaded.
The wheels of a trailer can rest in the well, with the front, or nose of the trailer overhanging the car end structure at one end or the other of well car unit. A second trailer may rest in the well facing in the opposite direction. Alternatively, shipping containers, typically of 20 ft., 28 ft, or 40 ft lengths may be placed in the well, with other shipping containers stacked on top. Further, well cars may carry mixed loads of containers and trailers.
Whichever the case may be, a well car is required to withstand three kinds of loads. First, it must withstand longitudinal draft and buff loads inherent in pulling or pushing a train, particularly those loads that occur during slack run-ins and run-outs on downgrades and upgrades. Other variations of the longitudinal load are the 1,600,000 lbs. squeeze load and the 1,250,000 lbs. single ended impact load. Second, the well car must support a vertical load due to the trailers or shipping containers it carries. Third, it must be able to withstand lateral loading as the well car travels along curves and switch turn-offs. It is important to carry these structural loads while at the same time reducing the weight of the railcars themselves, first to permit a greater weight of freight to be carried within the overall maximum car and load weight limit, and second to reduce the amount of deadweight that must be pulled when the car is empty. Third, a lighter car may be less costly to build.
The U-shaped section of the car is generally made up of a pair of spaced apart left and right hand side beams, and structure between the side beams to support whatever load is placed in the well, and to carry shear between the sills under lateral loading conditions.
In earlier types of well car the side sills tended to be made in the form of a single, large, beam. While simple in concept, they were often wasteful, having an unnecessary amount of material in locations where stress may have been low. It is advantageous to have a sill in the form of a hollow section, of relatively thin walls, and to provide local reinforcement where required. It is also desirable that the hollow section be as manufactured at the mill, whether as tube or roll formed section, if possible, rather than welded. This often yields a saving in effort, may permit the use of a higher yield stress alloy, and may also reduce the number of defects or stress concentrations in the resulting structure. As the wall thickness decreases the prospect of buckling under buff loads and vertical loads increases, and measures to deter buckling would be advantageous. It would also be advantageous to provide protection for the sills to discourage damage to the sills due to clumsy loading of trailers or containers.
In the past, one method of dealing with areas of higher flange stresses in the side construction was to use a member of greater weight. As the thickness of structural members is reduced it would be advantageous to transfer loads from the railcar trucks to the bolsters, and thence to the side sills, more smoothly to discourage or reduce stress concentrations. One way to do this is to increase the depth of section at the bolster, with a consequent increase in height of the end decking.


An extruder head assembly includes an extruder head having an abutment face and an internal flow channel terminating at the abutment face; first and second preforming dies and a preforming die drum removably accommodating the first and second preforming dies in a spaced relationship to one another. The drum is supported at the extruder head for rotation about an axis relative to the extruder head for selectively aligning one of the first and second preforming dies with the internal flow channel at the abutment face of the extruder head. Further, a releasable immobilizing mechanism is provided for pressing the drum against the abutment face, thereby placing the preforming die--aligned earlier with the flow channel--in an operative position.

This invention relates to an extruder head combined with a preforming die which has a rear surface--as viewed in the direction of extrusion--that is urged into a face-to-face engagement with a support face (abutment face) forming part of the extruder head. The extruder head has at least one flow channel which terminates, open-ended, on the support face.
It is known to exchange a preforming die or an extruder final die in an extruder by displacement in its own longitudinal direction laterally into and out of a recess provided for this purpose in the extruder head. Such arrangements are disclosed, for example, in German Patent Document Nos. 3,629,096 and 3,709,248. Due to the substantial length of the preforming dies (up to 1200 mm), even at high feed rates it takes a significant time period until the preforming die to be replaced is pushed out of the region of the extruder head and a new preforming die is inserted. Since during such a replacement period, a significant amount of material would be extruded and lost, for preforming die replacements in prior art structures the extruder must be stopped. This, however, not only results in an immediate stoppage of production, but it also makes a new adjustment of the extrusion process necessary upon startup. Further, because of the non-stationary flow behavior during the starting phase, a considerable amount of the extruded profiled material is waste.

Fried. Krupp Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


A probe for optical measurement is provided with an optical fiber, a ferrule in which an optical fiber is inserted such that one end of the optical fiber is exposed from one end of the ferrule and the other end side of the optical fiber is exposed from the other end of the ferrule, a cylindrical body sleeve having non-flexibility in which at least a part of the other end side of the ferrule is inserted, the body sleeve covering a part of the other end side of the optical fiber, and an optical fiber fixture filled in a gap between the optical fiber and the body sleeve and composed of a member formed by solidification of a material having fluidity.

As a method of measuring concentration, etc., of a target gas contained in a measurement target gas, an absorption spectroscopic method is known. In an absorption spectroscopic method, measurement light in the absorption wavelength band of a target gas is irradiated to a measurement target gas, and the intensity of the transmitted light is measured. Then, the absorbance of the target gas is obtained from the light absorption amount by the target gas, and the concentration, etc., of the target gas is obtained from the absorbance.
Such an absorption spectroscopic method is used for measuring concentration, etc., of, for example, oxygen contained in a combustion gas supplied to an engine of an automobile, carbon dioxide contained in an exhaust gas from an engine. In this case, in order to perform the measurement in real time with the engine actually running, a probe is inserted into the combustion chamber of the engine or into the exhaust gas pipe, and the tip of the optical fiber is fixed at a predetermined position for the measurement. Such a probe is also used for measuring concentration, etc., of a gas in a flow path in a fuel cell or in a living body.
In Patent Document 1, a probe for optical measurement having a ferrule for fixing a tip of an optical fiber is described. In this probe for optical measurement, an optical fiber is inserted into a ferrule so that the tip of the optical fiber is taken out from the tip of the ferrule, and the periphery of the ferrule and the periphery of the portion of the optical fiber on the rear end side (the opposite side of the tip) than the ferrule are covered by a body sleeve formed of a metal tube. There is a gap between the optical fiber and the body sleeve on the rear end side than the ferrule, and a flexible protective tube is inserted in the gap. At the time of measurement, the tip of the probe for optical measurement is inserted into a hole provided in a combustion chamber of an engine, an exhaust gas pipe, etc., and the probe for optical measurement is fixed. With this, the tip of the optical fiber is fixed at a predetermined position in the combustion chamber or the exhaust gas pipe. According to this probe for optical measurement, the optical fiber is covered with the flexible protective tube on the rear end side than the ferrule. This prevents disconnection of the optical fiber due to bending.

Probe for optical measurement and method of producing the same

Nishinokyo-Kuwabaracho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto


The invention is directed to methods, apparatus and systems for processing a data packet that has a destination address. In the event that in a routing table cache and in a routing table, there is no entry with a destination address prefix that is a prefix of the destination address, a default-route-prefix is determined in a default-route determination step.

IP-Forwarding is the process in which an Internet router uses the IP destination address of an incoming packet to search a routing-table using a longest-matching prefix search method in order to determine the next router, i.e. next hop, to which the packet shall be forwarded. If no matching prefix is found then the packet is routed according to a so-called "default route".
Two developments can be observed in the routing-table lookup function in Internet routers: First, high search rates for increasing link speeds (OC-192, OC-768, etc.) force the lookup function to use fast but expensive memory such as embedded DRAM and SRAM, having only limited storage capacity. Second, exponentially growing routing-tables force the lookup function to support very large routing-tables. These two developments drive a renewed interest in the use of caches for routing-table lookups.
EP 1122927 is directed to a route lookup engine for determining a next hop. That route lookup engine receives a lookup key and performs a multi-bit trie search with prefix expansion and capture of a variable stride trie.
EP 1011231 describes a method an apparatus providing for router redundancy of non Internet protocols using the virtual router redundancy protocol.
U.S. Ser. No. 20020,091,856A1 describes a default route coding method. A multilevel lookup table includes a plurality of search levels with each search level including a plurality of subtrees, each subtree representing a plurality of nodes. A search of the multilevel lookup table for an entry corresponding to a search key results in a value stored in an entry associated with the node in a subtree. A default value is associated with the root of the subtree. Multiple entries for the subtree can store the default value. To minimize route update time, the default value associated with the subtree is stored in a single location. Instead of storing the default value in multiple entries, each entry stores a use default indicator to indicate that the default value stored in the single location is to be used. To further reduce the number of locations to modify to update the default route, the single location can store an inherit indicator to indicate that the default value for the subtree is inherited from another subtree.
Within enterprise networks, a significant portion of the traffic is likely to be routed according to the default route. The default route, however, does not relate to a specific prefix and is therefore not cached. Consequently, packets that are routed according to the default route, will always result in cache misses.

International Business Machines Corporation


A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array, in which electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells are arranged; a sense amplifier circuit configured to read data of the memory cell array; and a pass/fail detection circuit configured to detect write or erase completion based on verify-read data stored in the sense amplifier circuit in data write or erase mode, wherein the pass/fail detection circuit comprises a data latch, into which a defective column isolation data is writable in accordance with a command input.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrically rewritable and non-volatile semiconductor memory device (EEPROM).
2. Description of Related Art
A write sequence of an EEPROM flash memory is usually performed by repeat of a write pulse application and the following write-verify for driving a data threshold distribution into a certain range. After the verify-read operation, verify-judgment (i.e., pass/fail detection) is performed for checking whether the entire write data have been written or not. In case the write completion is detected for all bits, the write sequence ends, while in case it is detected that there is an insufficiently written bit, the write voltage will be applied again.
The maximum, value of the number of write voltage applications, Nmax, (i.e., write cycle number or loop number) is usually predetermined. When data write completion is not detected in spite of that the write cycle number has already reached Nmax, the write sequence is finished in failure.
In a case that a flash memory system has an ECC function outside or inside of the chip, it will be permitted to contain certain failures (fail bit number or fail column number) determined with relation to the ECC function. Therefore, it is desirable that the fail number is detected at when the data write sequence ends in failure, and when the resultant is in a range of the permissible fail number, it is dealt with "pseudo-pass".
From such the view point, there has already been provided a flash memory, in which the verify judgment can be performed at a high speed, and pass/fail can be detected with relation to the permissible fail number (refer to patent document 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-140899).
In a flash memory with a large capacitance, it is usually used a redundancy system for relieving the memory of its defects. That is, there is prepared redundant cell arrays for so replacing a defect portion (for example a defective column) with a redundant cell array in such a case that permissible defects have been founded at a test time before shipment. Further, in the memory chip, there are prepared a defective address storage circuit and an address matching circuit for detecting address matching between the externally supplied address and the stored defective address in the defective address storage circuit. With these circuits, the defective address replacement may be controlled.
Usually, the defective address storage circuit is formed of a fuse circuit or a ROM circuit. Alternatively, there has been provided such a scheme that defective addresses are stored in the memory cell array together with various initial setup data without using the above-described fuse circuit and ROM circuit (for example, see patent document 2: Unexamined as Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-176290).
In case the above-described redundancy system is adapted, it is in need of excluding the defective portion from the verify target in the verify-judgment. If not so, the data write cycle is repeated until the cycle number reaches the maximum value Nmax, and the write sequence ends in failure. This is the same as in the erase mode. Therefore, data latches are disposed in the verify-judgment circuit to store isolation data for isolating defective columns (see, the patent document 1).

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device with pass/fail detection circuit


A circuit configured to control a switching device to reduce a current in a charged coil is disclosed. The circuit is configured to monitor a kickback voltage generated by the decreasing current in the coil. The circuit is further configured to adjust a rate at which the current is reduced in order to limit the kickback voltage. Limiting the kickback voltage during shutdown can prevent a spark at a spark gap that is inductively coupled to the coil and can allow for greater flexibility in the time taken to shut down the coil without overheating components or generating an unwanted spark. Additional, limiting the kickback voltage during shutdown can allow for a pseudo ramp wave to control the circuit during the shutdown because voltage spikes cause by abrupt changes in the pseudo ramp wave are limited.

An ignition system includes circuitry to create a spark to ignite combustion in a combustion engine (e.g., of a vehicle). The circuitry includes a primary coil in series between a voltage source (e.g., a battery) and a switching device coupled to a ground. The primary coil is inductively coupled to a secondary coil that is in series with a spark gap. When the switching device is configured to conduct (i.e., is turned ON), the primary coil is charged by a coil current flowing from the voltage source and through the primary coil and the switching device to the ground. After the coil is charged, the switching device may be configured (i.e., turned OFF) to block the coil current. The abrupt change in the coil current creates a large voltage across the primary coil as the primary coil begins to discharge. This large voltage is transformed by a windings-ratio between the primary and secondary coil. The transformed voltage is sufficiently high to generate a spark at the spark gap.
The electronic processes of a vehicle can be monitored and controlled by an engine control unit (ECU). For example, the ECU may generate a first signal (i.e., a rising edge) to begin charging the coil and a second signal (e.g., a falling edge) to trigger the spark. The period between the first signal and the second signal is known as a dwell period. If the dwell period is too long (i.e., over-dwell), overheating of the circuitry (e.g., the coil, the switching device) may occur. Accordingly, an over-dwell may trigger a discharge of the coil to prevent damage (e.g., thermal damage).
Because the timing of the triggered discharge may not be aligned with the timing of the combustion engine (i.e., engine), circuitry can be configured to discharge the coil gradually to prevent a spark. This gradual discharge of the coil is known as a soft shutdown (SSD). During a soft shutdown, the coil current in the primary coil is gradually reduced to minimize a kickback voltage created by the changing current (i.e., V=L·dI/dt). It is in this context that implementations of the disclosure arise.

Circuit and method for a kickback-limited soft shutdown of a coil

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


Fluorescent compounds useful in the determination of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) enzyme activity are described. The compounds are "fluorescent derivatives related in structure to chloramphenicol and are acylated in the presence of CAT to produce fluorescent mono- and diacylated products, which are then physically separated from the reaction mixture and quantitated by means of their fluorescence and/or absorbance. Fluorescent molecules conjugated to chloramphenicol include derivatives of fluorescein, rhodamine, coumarin, dimethylaminonaph-thalene sulfonic acid (dansyl), pyrene, anthracene, nitrobenz-oxadiazole (NBD), acridine and dipyrrometheneboron difluoride.

The study of gene expression has required the development of genes which are relatively easy to assay and can serve as markers to monitor expression of foreign genetic material which has been introduced into cells. The foreign genomic DNA fragments are inserted into a recombinant plasmid along with a marker gene, and after introduction of the plasmid into the target cell, the quantity of protein coded for by the marker gene is determined. When compared to the quantity of protein produced by a plasmid without the insert, the result is indicative of the activity of the inserted fragment.
Marker genes which have been used for this purpose fall into two main categories: those which code for proteins which are detected by antibodies and those which code for proteins which are detected by their enzyme activity. Genes in the first category require the production of specific antibodies to the protein and development of a suitable detection method for measurement of antibody-protein binding. The second group includes genes which code for enzymes such as betagalactosidase, glucuronidase, thymidine kinase, and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT).
Enzyme marker genes have the advantage of being easy to assay by simply measuring enzyme activity in the cellular extract, while immunoassay-based systems require the development of specific antibodies and an immunoassay technique which may be complex and tedious. However, many enzyme assays are subject to background interference by endogenous enzyme activity in the cells being measured. The CAT gene from bacteria is not normally found in mammalian cells and therefore offers the benefit of a simple, sensitive enzyme-based assay which is free from background interference.
Use of the CAT gene as a marker for measuring promoter function in transfected recombinants was first described by Gorman, et al, "Recombinant Genomes which Express Chloranphenicol Acetyltransferase in Mamalian Cells," Mol. Cell Biol. 2:1044 (1982). In this work, CAT enzyme activity in cell extracts was measured by extracting the [.sup.14 C]chloramphenicol mixture into an organic solvent (ethyl acetate) and separating the mono- and di-acetates by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. After autoradiography of the separated chloramphenicol derivatives, the spots were cut from the plates and counted to give a quantitative estimate of CAT activity. Other investigators [Young, et al , "Detection of Acetyltransferase Activity in Transfected Cells: A Rapid and Sensitive HPLC-Based Method," DNA 4(6):469 (1985) and Burzio, et. al., "Assay of Chloramphenicol Acyltransferase by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gene Anal. Techn. 5:5 (1988)]have measured CAT activity by HPLC of the organic extract and claim sensitivity equivalent to the original TLC method with the added advantage of a substantial reduction in processing time and the elimination of radioactive materials. A third method for assaying CAT was reported by Neumann, et al , . . "A Novel Rapid Assay for Chloramphenicol Acetyltransferase Gene Expression," Biotechniques 5(5):444 (1987). Using [.sup.3 H]acetyl Coenzyme A (which transfers acetyl to chloramphenicol in the enzymic process), the cell incubation was performed in a scintillation vial overlaid with scintillation cocktail. Under these conditions, the only radioactive product that diffuses into the cocktail is acetylated chloramphenicol, allowing kinetic analysis through direct measurement of the radioactivity without requiring a manual separation step. This method is fast and convenient, but requires expensive and hazardous radioactive materials of high specific activity.
The use of fluorescence as a means of detection in enzyme assays and immunoassays is recognized to provide many advantages over methods that employ spectrophotometry or measurement of radioactivity for detection [Gerson, "Fluorescence Immunoassay," J. Clin. Immunoassay 7(1):73 (1984)]. Among these advantages is the elimination of the danger and expense of handling radioactive materials and the higher potential sensitivity afforded by measurement of a fluorescent signal as compared to spectrophotometry. Higher sensitivity provides, in turn, the potential advantages of greater accuracy and faster assay times.

Fluorescent chloramphenicol derivatives for determination of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity


New expansion compensating device and manufacturing method of the same, of those used in solar power absorber tubes featuring a dual bellows design where the height of the waves of the bellows is not regular, but the second wave is greater (where it supports more load) and diminishes towards the ends. With this design improving the performance of the receiver is achieved because it shortens the length of the device and consequently there is more surface area receiving solar radiation as well as it decreases the necessary diameter of glass tube and therefore its cost.

The general principle of solar thermal technology is based on the concept of the concentration of solar radiation to produce generally steam, which is then used in standard power plants.
Solar energy collection, which has a relatively low density, is one of the greatest challenges in the development of solar thermal power plants. There are two types of solar concentrators: linear concentrators and point concentrators. Linear concentration is easier to install since it has fewer degrees of freedom, but it has a lower concentration factor and therefore it can reach lower temperatures than point concentration technology.
That is why an effort is made in order to progress in the development of the receiving tubes used in linear concentration, to try to increase the collection efficiency thereof and reduce thermal losses, such that the overall performance of the concentration plant increases.
The invention before us revolves around one of the elements that are part of said receiving tubes in particular, it is the expansion compensating device.
In general, a receiving tube consists of two concentric tubes between which the vacuum is produced. The inner tube, through which the fluid that is heated flows, is made of metal and the outer tube is made of glass, usually borosilicate.
The element described here, the expansion compensating device, is placed between both tubes so that it allows the movement of the tubes lengthwise and ensures the vacuum, absorbing the stresses created by the difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of metal and glass.
In the state of the art several developments for this element are known, but the one that offers the best results is disclosed by SCHOTT in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,887. In said document the expansion compensating element consists of a folding bellows that binds to the metal tube by a connection element and to the glass tube by a glass-metal transition element.
Said connection device has a number of drawbacks. One of them is the decrease in the performance of the system because a longer or shorter glass tube portion is covered inside by this bellows, such that no solar radiation penetrates the metal tube.
Another drawback is derived from the height of the waves of the bellows. The height of these waves is what determines the diameter that the borosilicate tube should have, because the expansion compensating device is located inside of it. Therefore, the greater they are, a greater tube diameter is required, which makes the product more expensive and increases heat losses.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to devise a new compensating device that meets the requirements for this type of elements and at the same time improves its performance with a view to the existing products on the market.

Expansion compensation device and method for manufacture thereof