The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. In detail, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for acquiring system information by a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring time and frequency synchronization from a synchronization channel; performing PBCH detection in a wireless frame on the basis of the time and frequency synchronization; and acquiring the system information from the PBCH, wherein, when the terminal is a non-MTC terminal, the PBCH detection is performed by a singular sub frame in the wireless frame, and when the terminal is an MTC terminal, the PBCH detection is performed by a plurality of sub frames in the wireless frame.

A wireless communication system has been widely developed to provide various kinds of communication services such as voice and data. Generally, the wireless communication system is a multiple access system that can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (bandwidth, transmission power, etc.). Examples of the multiple access system include a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, a time division multiple access (TDMA) system, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system, and a multi carrier-frequency division multiple access (MC-FDMA) system. In a wireless communication system, a terminal can receive information through downlink (DL) and transmit information through uplink (UL). Information transmitted or received by the terminal includes data and various types of control information and various physical channels are present according to the type and purpose of information transmitted or received by the terminal.

Signal transmission method for coverage improvement and apparatus for same


A pumping apparatus comprises a fluid end cylinder carrying a double-acting piston which is reciprocated by a hydraulic servo actuator to provide an expanded flow range ability for metering fluids. The hydraulic servo actuator comprises: a hydraulic cylinder carrying a drive piston connected to the fluid end piston; a servo valve; a position transducer; and a microprocessor-based controller. The controller is programmed to accommodate accleration and deceleration of the extend and retract phases of a pump cycle to maintain constant average flow rate out of the fluid end. A control apparatus for controlling a pump and a related method are also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to pumping apparatus and to pump control apparatus and methods. The invention more particularly, but not by way of limitation, relates to an apparatus for operating a pump which includes a movable member whose position correlates with the fluid output of the pump. It also relates to a method of metering fluid at a selected flow rate with a pump which includes a fluid end member that is reciprocated through a pumping cycle in response to reciprocation of a power end member by a controlled volume of actuating fluid communicated to the power end member, which pumping cycle includes an extend phase during which the power end member displaces fluid across a first area and a retract phase during which the power end member displaces fluid across a second area.
In various industries different types of fluids need to be pumped at accurately controllable rates to produce desired blends of materials. In the oil and gas industry, for example, blends of carefully controlled amounts of fluids are made to produce fracturing fluids. A fracturing fluid is a mixture which is pumped down a well to fracture a subterranean formation to improve the flow of hydrocarbons from the formation into the well, thereby enhancing production of the well. A fracturing fluid contains one or more different additives such as buffers, crosslinkers, surfactants, clay stabilizers, friction reducers, liquid gel concentrates, liquid fluid loss materials and paraffin chemicals. These include organic acids (e.g., glacial acetic acid), petroleum-based fluids (e.g., diesel, kerosene), alcohols (e.g., methanol), solvents (e.g., xylene and toluene), mineral acids (hydrochloric acid), bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide) and amines. These liquid additives have different viscosities and typically need to be added in different quantities to produce a desired fracturing fluid. Therefore, they need to be metered by a pump at different metering or flow rates. By way of a specific example, the following are characteristics for the aforementioned chemicals in typical applications made by Halliburton Services, the Halliburton Company division which performs oil and gas well fracturing services:
______________________________________ Flow Max- Fluid Flow Rate Rate Viscosity imum Temperature Range Control Range Pressure Range (gal/min) Accuracy (cps at 70.degree. F.) (psi) (.degree.F.) ______________________________________ 0.05-52 .+-.2% 1-600 200 additive pour point to 120 ______________________________________
Metering pumps are used on fracturing equipment to accurately inject chemicals, such as those mentioned above, into the composite fracturing fluid. The design requirements for a general purpose fracturing service metering pump are very demanding because of the many types of chemicals pumped and the wide range of flow rates over which they are typically pumped. Currently, several different types of pumps are used to meter the different additives and to accommodate the different flow rates. These include gear pumps (e.g., ECO G-8), progressive cavity pumps (e.g., Roper 72292), peristaltic pumps (e.g., Waukesha SP-25) and single-acting simplex pumps (e.g., Milton-Roy MILROYAL C-4 7/16). These pumps typically have a limited maximum pressure capability (e.g., 50-200 psi), and limited flow rangeability or turn-down ratio (e.g., 5:1-100:1).
Although there are individual apparatus which can be used to pump certain ones of the additives at the desired flow rates in the specific example concerning the production of a fracturing fluid, there is no pumping apparatus currently available which will reliably meter, throughout a substantially encompassing flow rate range, all of the liquid additives identified above with acceptable accuracy. Therefore, there is the need for such an apparatus in at least the application of metering fracturing fluid additives. More specifically, there is the need for a pumping apparatus or a control apparatus or method for a pump which can satisfy substantially more of the specific pumping characteristics listed in the table above than an existing metering pump has been able to satisfy. It is further contemplated that such a versatile apparatus or method capable of pumping different fluids across a broad spectrum of viscosities and throughout a broad range of flow rates is needed in general. Such a pumping apparatus should also, of course, meet conventional pump characteristics such as pressure and temperature ranges at which the apparatus needs to be used. The fluid-end of such an apparatus should have good chemical compability and good suction characteristics for pumping additives from remote locations. The controls at the power end of such an apparatus should be adaptable for interfacing with other equipment and be packaged in a ruggedized enclosure, especially for the exemplary application in producing fracturing fluids.

Pumping apparatus and pump control apparatus and method


A method for reducing the viscosity of a hydrocarbon fluid encountered in petroleum operations is disclosed. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one polymer having at least 25 mole percent cationic monomers.

Of the worlds proven oil reserves, over half are considered heavy oil and many of these are new production areas with rapidly evolving technology and new demands. One of the most challenging aspects of such heavy oil production is the transport of these highly viscous fluids. Transport of viscous fluids along pipelines for crude oil production, delivery to a refinery, or other storage facility presents a myriad of challenges. One major challenge is recovering and transporting high viscosity petroleum products from well sites to refineries or storage facilities. In many proven petroleum-containing sites, very little petroleum may be obtained by known means because of the high viscosity of the petroleum products.
When extracted from the subterranean formation, the viscous oil must be transported from the field to a refinery or shipping terminal. Various techniques are known for aiding in the recovery of viscous petroleum and facilitating its transport to a refinery, storage site, or other location. These techniques include, for example, mechanical pumping, mechanical pumping combined with steam injection, and mining. Pumping unit limitations have a negative impact on the economics of producing viscous oil from pumped wells found in many parts of the world. The high viscosity of these crude oils results in low pump volumetric efficiency, reduced flow rates, and high flow pressure drop.
Heavy oils exhibit a viscosity generally from 10,000 to 500,000 cP at room temperature. As a result, according to current practice pumping and heating stations are used to maintain a low viscosity for transport along pipelines. However, prolonged pumping interruptions often occur resulting in cold crude oil with concomitant plugging of pipes and pumps. Insulating hundred of miles of pipe to reduce heat loss is usually cost prohibitive. Heating the crude oil likewise consumes a large amount of energy and is cost ineffective. Diluents (e.g., fuel oil or kerosene) are sometimes used to reduce viscosity for pumping and transport. However, the large amount of diluent required is not readily available in the production area and, furthermore, in existing practices, the diluent has to be recovered at the fluid delivery site and pumped back to the field over great distances.
Current production of heavy oils (defined herein as having an API gravity of 20 or less) from the subterranean formation to the processing facilities results in significant pressure drop, fatigue of pumping equipment, and low fluid flow production rates due to the high viscosity of the crude oil component of the production fluid.
There thus exists an ongoing need for improved methods to decrease the apparent viscosity of produced fluids to improve pump performance and operating efficiency thereby enhancing production. There exists a specific need for enhancing recovery and transport of viscous and extremely viscous petroleum such as that found in heavy oil reservoirs and other deposits.

Method of reducing the viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids


Provided is a clip able to lock axial movement and circumferential movement thereof by employing a simple configuration. A hub of the clip can be inserted into an insertion hole formed in an undercover. In each elastic flap, a basal part is supported in a cantilever manner, and a free end part elastically deforms around the basal part which forms a fulcrum so as to approach or separate from an outer periphery. Each elastic flap spreads out from the basal part toward the free end part so as to increase in width in a circumferential direction. The clip is attached to the undercover such that axial movement and circumferential movement of the clip are locked.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a clip that is attached to a member to be mounted (especially, a cover such as an undercover for a vehicle).
2. Description of Related Art
For example, it has been found to improve an aerodynamic performance of a vehicle and hence a fuel cost thereof by mounting an undercover (a member to be mounted) on an underside of a vehicle body (a target member on which the undercover is mounted). Specifically, a cylindrical clip made of synthetic resin is attached to the undercover, and the undercover is mounted on the vehicle body via the clip. Therefore, such the clip is required to be free from backlash in an axial direction thereof when attached to the undercover, and to be held so as not to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof, that is, to be locked in its axial and circumferential movements.
In Patent Document 1, a clip is composed of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder (two components). In each of Patent Documents 2 and 3, a clip is composed of a single cylindrical member (one component). Both the former and latter clips have a function of locking an axial movement and a circumferential movement of the clip being attached to an undercover. These clips require twisting (rotation) after insertion in an attaching hole (insertion hole) of the undercover, and they also have a complicated locking structure involving rotation. In contrast, in Patent Document 4, it suffices that a clip composed of a single cylindrical member (one component) be only inserted into an attaching hole of an undercover (i.e., it does not have to be twisted). However, this clip requires a more complicated structure in order to separately lock axial movement and circumferential movement thereof.


A method for finding a parking space for a first motor vehicle includes determining a required minimum length of the parking space on which the first motor vehicle is parkable, scanning a length of the adjacent parking space through the second motor vehicle, and driving the first motor vehicle to the adjacent parking space bounded by the second motor vehicle when the length of the adjacent parking space corresponds to at least the minimum length. Related transmission devices and control systems are also provided.

Along a street, parking lanes are provided, on which motor vehicles may be parked in succession. If individual parking spaces are marked, an area of pre-defined length is available for each motor vehicle. This is typically measured in such a manner that an average motor vehicle is able to park in the parking space. If the parking spaces are not individually marked, gaps of various lengths may arise between the parked motor vehicles. For a newly incoming motor vehicle, prior to a parking operation, it is typical that there must be a check of whether the length of such a parking space is sufficient or not for parking the motor vehicle. Therefore, finding a parking space for the motor vehicle that is long enough may take a long time, and traffic on the street may be hindered by the motor vehicle.
DE 10 2011 112 149 A1 relates to a parking operation of a motor vehicle in a parking space that is carried out at least semi-autonomously. DE 10 2012 201 495 A1 proposes deciding, on the basis of determinations of two or three dimensions, whether or not a motor vehicle fits into a parking space. DE 10 2012 202 175 A1 relates to a control device for automatically parking a motor vehicle. Each of DE 10 2013 212 318 A1 and DE 10 2013 005 302 A1 relates to methods for carrying out an automated parking operation of a motor vehicle in a parking space.


A device for wiping a section of the human body surrounding the anus having a contoured body that is shaped to mimic the contours of the anatomy between the anus and groin within the natural depression. A ridge is formed on the contoured body. The ridge starts proximate a forward edge and progresses toward a rear edge. The ridge follows an ascending slope to an apex. Additionally, sloped side surfaces ascend from the side edges toward the ridge. A handle extends laterally from the contoured body. The handle enables the contoured body to be pulled laterally across the body. The contoured body is covered with a disposable wipe. As the wipe moves across the body, it wipes clean the contacted area. The wipe is then removed and thrown away.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to sanitary wipes of the kind used by people to wipe their posteriors. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices that position a sanitary wipe at the end of an extension handle.
2. Prior Art Description
It is important for the health of the body that a person properly wipe after having a bowel movement. If a person does not wipe properly, residual fecal matter can cause the skin to rash. If the rash is not treated, bacteria from the fecal matter can rapidly cause the rash to become infected.
Most people are taught proper wiping hygiene as a child. However, the physical action of wiping does require a certain degree of dexterity that many people do not have. For example, people with arthritis, muscle injuries, bone injuries and the obese are only a few groups that cannot wipe in the traditional manner.
In the prior art, there are many devices that have been developed to assist a person in the act of wiping. Many of these prior art devices have elongated handles that assist people to properly reach the areas of their bodies that require wiping. Such devices typically have small heads that are covered with a disposable wipe. A handle extends from the head so that the head can be manually manipulated by grasping and moving the handle. Such prior art devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,512 to Lathan, entitled Personal Hygiene Device, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,194 to Rosenfeld, entitled Sanitary Device.
The problem most associated with such prior art devices is that the head of the device that contacts the body is small. Furthermore, the contact head has a shape that is dissimilar from the contoured shape of the surfaces it is wiping. The result is that such prior art devices do not wipe efficiently and require complex manipulations to create a clean wipe. In understanding that people who use a handled wipe have heath issues that cause immobility, providing a wipe that requires complex manipulations is not an adequate solution to the hygiene problem.
A need therefore exists for a sanitary wipe that can be used by a person with limited mobility, yet provides a clean efficient wipe with limited manipulation. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

Personal hygiene device with extending handle and disposable wipe


Disclosed is an amorphous copolyester polymerized of a diacid and diols. The diacid is selected from a group consisting of terephthalic acid, 5-tert-butylisophthalic acid, and dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate. The diols are selected at least two from a group consisting of ethylene glycol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, and tricyclodecanedimethanol. The molar ratio of the tricyclodecanedimethanol is 30% to 95% of the diols.

Polyester film is an excellent plastic film, which can be applied as a peripheral material of a computer, e.g. keyboard, panel protection film, electrical insulative material for a panel back light module, or a magnetic substrate such as a computer magnetic tape. Alternately, the polyester film can be applied as food package, plated metal film, electrical insulative material, stationery, another livelihood industry, or another industry.
In general, the polyester film has excellent properties, e.g. high tensile strength, good impact resistance, high melting point for being used at a higher temperature. As such, the polyester film may serve as a protective material or a substrate material. Next, the polyester film has high transmittance, brightness, and smooth surface for being used in tag, adhering, printing, or the likes. The polyester film also withstand a high voltage, thereby being an electrical insulative material for wrapping wire, an insulative tape, a motor transformer, a capacitor, or the likes. The polyester film is not dissolved in organic solvents. Moreover, the polyester film has excellent acid resistance and oil resistance.
Since 1953, biaxial oriented polyester film is developed for various fields. The biaxial oriented polyester film is widely applied in electronics, equipments, magnetic records, packages, plate making printings, photosensitive materials due to its excellent physical and chemical properties.
The biaxial oriented polyester film is the major packaging material for high performance application or higher level products. For example, the biaxial oriented polyester film may serve as a brightness enhancement film substrate of a backlight module in a panel flat display (PFD), a protection film of optical degree and release film for a polarizer plate, an ITO substrate of a touch panel, and the likes.
The biaxial oriented polyester film for the PFD should simultaneously meet the requirements of high transmittance and low birefringence. In other words, a novel biaxial oriented polyester film is still called-for.

Amorphous copolyester, substrate, and optical film

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present invention is generally related to methods and systems for preventing onset or worsening of RHF in patients with implanted ventricular assist devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to identifying patients at risk for RHF following implantation of a ventricular assist device based on pulmonary artery pressure measurement and/or trends and adjusting a pump operating parameter to prevent or reduce the onset or worsening of RHF in such patients, improve patient outcomes, or reduce mortality risks associated with VAD implantation. In particular, a pump operating parameter may be adjusted to reduce or minimize particularly high pressure loads on a patient's heart or amount of time the patient is exposed to such high pressure loads following implantation.

This application relates generally to methods and systems for preventing the onset or worsening of right heart failure in patients with implanted ventricular assist devices, and more particularly to identifying patients at risk for right heart failure following implantation of a ventricular assist device based on pulmonary artery pressure measurement and/or trends and adjusting therapy to prevent or reduce the onset or worsening of right heart failure in such patients.
Ventricular assist devices, known generally as VADs, are implantable blood pumps used for both short-term (i.e., days, months) and long-term applications (i.e., years or a lifetime) where a patient's heart is incapable of providing adequate circulation, commonly referred to as heart failure or congestive heart failure. According to the American Heart Association, more than five million Americans are living with heart failure, with about 670,000 new cases diagnosed every year. People with heart failure often have shortness of breath and fatigue. Years of living with blocked arteries or high blood pressure can leave your heart too weak to pump enough blood to your body. As symptoms worsen, advanced heart failure develops.
A patient suffering from heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, may use a VAD while awaiting a heart transplant or as a long term destination therapy. In another example, a patient may use a VAD while recovering from heart surgery. Thus, a VAD can supplement a weak heart (i.e., partial support) or can effectively replace the natural heart's function. VADs can be implanted in the patient's body and powered by an electrical power source inside or outside the patient's body.
However, some studies show that left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients may have high mortality rates in the first year of the LVAD implantation. One of the main contributors to these mortality risks is right heart failure (RHF), which potentially accounts for 20-50% of LVAD-related deaths. Currently, strategies used to address RHF, when it occurs, include managing the preload and afterload of the right ventricle of a patient with inotropic support. However, increased use of inotropes may also be associated with an increased risk of mortality.
Therefore, there is a continuing need for improved methods and systems to reduce mortality risks related to poor management of RHF in LVAD patients, particularly during the first year of implantation. The present invention provides improved methods and systems for identifying patients at risk for new or worsening RHF following LVAD implantation and adjusting therapy to prevent such onset or worsening of RHF and to reduce mortality risks.

Methods for controlling a left ventricular assist device


An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel that includes first and second signal lines for supplying first and second voltages, respectively, and first and second inductors coupled to one terminal of a panel capacitor. A first current path is formed from the panel capacitor to the second signal line via the second inductor to drop the voltage of the panel capacitor from the first voltage to the second voltage. A second current path is formed to recover the current flowing to the second inductor towards the first signal line, while the voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage. A third current path is formed from the first signal line to the panel capacitor via the first inductor while the current flowing to the second inductor is recovered, to raise the voltage of the panel capacitor from the second voltage to the first voltage. A fourth current is also formed to recover the current flowing to the first inductor towards the first signal line, while the voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the first voltage.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-0030324 filed on May 30, 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for driving a plasma display panel. More specifically, the present invention relates to an address driver circuit for a plasma display panel.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, flat panel displays such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and the like have been actively developed. The PDP is advantageous over the other flat panel displays in regard to its high luminance, high luminous efficiency, and wide view angle, and accordingly, it is favorable for making a large-scale screen of more than 40 inches as a substitute for the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT).
The PDP is a flat panel display that uses plasma generated by gas discharge to display characters or images and includes, according to its size, more than several scores to millions of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern. Such a PDP is classified into a direct current (DC) PDP and an alternating current (AC) PDP according to its discharge cell structure and the waveform of the driving voltage applied thereto.
The DC PDP has electrodes exposed to a discharge space to allow DC to flow through the discharge space while voltage is applied, and thus requires a resistance for limiting the current. Contrarily, the AC PDP has electrodes covered with a dielectric layer that naturally form a capacitance component to limit the current and to protect the electrodes from the impact of ions during discharge, and is thus superior to the DC PDP in regard to long lifetime.
Typically, the driving method of the AC PDP is composed of a reset (initialization) step, an addressing (write) step, a sustain discharge step, and an erase step.
In the reset step, the state of each cell is initialized in order to readily perform an addressing operation on the cell. In the write step, wall charges are formed on selected xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d-state cells (i.e., addressed cells) in the panel. In the sustain step, a discharge occurs to actually display an image on the addressed cells. In the erase step, the wall charges on the cells are erased to end the sustain discharge.
In the AC PDP, the panel between address, sustain, and scan electrodes acts as a capacitance load and is therefore called a panel capacitor. Due to the capacitance of the panel capacitor, there is a need for a reactive power in order to apply a waveform for addressing or sustain discharge. A circuit for recovering the reactive power and reusing it is called a xe2x80x9cpower recovery circuitxe2x80x9d, some of which have been suggested by L. F. Weber (in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,866,349 and 5,081,400).
With the conventional power recovery circuit mounted on an address buffer board, a parasitic inductance component Lp as shown in FIG. 1 may be caused by the output pattern 10 running in the lengthwise direction of the address buffer board. In FIG. 1, the circuit on the left side of parasitic inductance component Lp is a power recovery circuit proposed by Weber, and capacitor Cp is a panel capacitor functioning as a capacitive load.
In detail, there is a need for a plurality of address-driving ICs in order to drive address electrodes, because all the address electrodes cannot be coupled to a single address-driving IC. With the plural address-driving ICs coupled to one power recovery circuit, a parasitic inductance component may be formed on the output pattern in which the address-driving ICs are coupled to the address buffer board. The parasitic inductance component causes an extreme distortion of the address-driving waveform. Namely, an undesired pulse rise may occur in the rise/drop interval of the address-driving waveform because of the parasitic inductance component.
In accordance with the present invention a power recovery circuit recovers a reactive power necessary for address driving and minimizes the effect of a parasitic inductance component existing in an address driver circuit. Energy is stored in both inductors and parasitic inductance components. First and second inductors have one terminal thereof coupled to both terminals of a path coupled to one terminal of a panel capacitor.
In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for driving a PDP. A first switch and a first capacitor are coupled in series between the other terminal of the first inductor and a first power source supplying a first voltage. A second switch and a second capacitor are coupled in series between the other terminal of the second inductor and the first power source. A third switch is coupled between a second power source for supplying a second voltage and the one terminal of the first inductor. A fourth switch is coupled between the one terminal of the second inductor and the first power source. The first and second capacitors are charged to a voltage substantially corresponding to half of the second voltage. Preferably, a parasitic inductance component is formed on the path. The apparatus further includes first and second diodes respectively formed on a path including the first switch and the first inductor and a path including the second switch and the second inductor. The apparatus further includes a first diode coupled between the first power source and the other terminal of the first inductor, and a second diode coupled between the other terminal of the second inductor and the second power source. Preferably, the third and fourth switches have a body diode.
In a second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an apparatus for driving a PDP. A first voltage changer changes the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to a second voltage using the energy stored in a first inductor and a resonance. A second voltage changer changes the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor to the first voltage using the energy stored in a second inductor and the resonance. A power supply section includes first and second power sources, the first power source supplying the first voltage and sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the first voltage, the second power source supplying the second voltage and sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the second voltage. The energy is stored in the first inductor through a current path formed from the first inductor to one terminal of the panel capacitor, while a terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at a first voltage. Further, the energy is stored in the second inductor through a current path formed from one terminal of the panel capacitor to the second inductor, while the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage. Preferably, the apparatus further includes first and second capacitors charged to a third voltage substantially corresponding to half of the difference between the second voltage and the first voltage. The apparatus further includes a first switch being coupled between the first inductor and the first capacitor and performing a switching operation to flow a current to the first inductor; and a second switch being coupled between the second inductor and the second capacitor and performing a switching operation to flow a current to the second inductor. Preferably, the apparatus includes a first path for recovering a current flowing to the first inductor, and a second path for recovering a current flowing to the second inductor. The first voltage changer further includes a switch performing a switching operation to sustain the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the second voltage and having a body diode through which a current flowing to the first inductor is recovered. Likewise, the second voltage changer further includes a switch performing a switching operation to sustain the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the first voltage and having a body diode through which a current flowing to the second inductor is recovered.
In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for driving a PDP. Energy is stored in a first inductor coupled to one terminal of a path coupled to one terminal of the panel capacitor, while a terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at a first voltage. The terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is changed to a second voltage using the energy stored in the first inductor and a resonance. A current flowing to the first inductor is recovering while sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the second voltage. Energy is stored in a second inductor coupled to the other terminal of the path, while the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage. The terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is changed to the first voltage using the energy stored in the second inductor and the resonance. A current flowing to the second inductor is recovered while sustaining the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor at the first voltage. In storing the energy in the first inductor, there is used a first capacitor charged to a third voltage substantially corresponding to half of the difference between the second voltage and the first voltage. In storing the energy in the second inductor, the difference between the second voltage and the third voltage charged on the second capacitor is used. Preferably, the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage using a power source for supplying the second voltage, and a current flowing to the first inductor is recovered through a path formed between the first inductor and the power source. Preferably, the terminal voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the first voltage using a power source for supplying the first voltage, and a current flowing to the second inductor is recovered through a path formed between the power source and the second inductor.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an apparatus for driving a PDP. A panel capacitor is coupled on a lengthwise conductive pattern and an address-driving waveform is applied to the panel capacitor. The apparatus includes first and second inductors each having one terminal thereof coupled to both terminals of the conductive pattern. Here, a first current path is formed to flow a first current through the first inductor and the conductive pattern. A second current path is formed to cause a resonance of the first inductor and the panel capacitor while the first current flows, thereby changing a voltage of the panel capacitor to a first voltage due to the resonance. A third current path is formed to recover a current remaining in the first inductor, while the voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the first voltage. A fourth current path is then formed to flow a second current through the conductive pattern and the second inductor. A fifth current path is formed to cause a resonance of the second inductor and the panel capacitor while the second current flows, thereby changing the voltage of the panel capacitor to a second voltage due to the resonance. A sixth current path is formed to recover a current remaining in the second inductor while the voltage of the panel capacitor is sustained at the second voltage.

Apparatus and method for driving plasma display panels


A rear tail assembly for an aircraft, including a fuselage, a wing and at least one propulsion engine attached in the rear portion of the fuselage located behind the wing along the X longitudinal axis of the aircraft, wherein the aforementioned assembly includes aerodynamic surfaces connected in the rear portion of the fuselage. The tail assembly essentially includes horizontal aerodynamic surfaces and essentially vertical aerodynamic surface arranged so as to form an annular structure including at least one ring attached to the fuselage. At least one engine is held in the ring formed by the tail assembly. In one embodiment, a central fin is used for defining two rings in the annular structure. In particular embodiments of an aircraft including such a tail assembly, one or two engines can be fitted in the ring area.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are in the field of aircraft with aft propulsion and aft tail sections.
More specifically, the disclosed embodiments propose an architecture having a set of aft aircraft tail sections forming an annular self-enclosed structure, combined with one or more propulsion engines, also located in the aft part of the plane.
On transport planes propelled by jet engines or turboshaft engines, such as unducted fans or UDF, as they are called in English, the aft tail sections most often have, in the so-called basic form of the approximately vertical aerodynamic surfaces, the vertical tail section, and others approximately horizontal, the horizontal tail section, attached to the aft part of the fuselage, aerodynamic surfaces that ensure the stability of the aircraft in flight and make it possible to control it by means of rudders and elevators attached to said aerodynamic surfaces.
This form of basic conventional tail section is widely used on many civilian transport planes, like the Airbus A320, for example.
In less frequently used forms, particularly on civilian transport planes, the horizontal tail section is attached to the vertical tail section either on top of the latter, the so-called T-shaped tail section, for example on the Bael 46 plane, or at mid-height position, the so-called cruciform tail section, on the Aerospatiale SE210 Caravelle.
In other forms also known, the vertical tail section has two vertical aerodynamic surfaces attached to the end of the horizontal tail section, the so-called H-shaped tail section, as on the Nord2500 Noratlas.
Another known shape of the aft tail section consists of two surfaces inclined between the vertical and the horizontal to form a V whose combination performs the functions of both vertical and horizontal aerodynamic surfaces. This type of so-called butterfly tail section is used mainly on the CM170 Fouga Magister.
The choice of the shape of tail section for an aircraft generally depends on aerodynamic and structural considerations, and is influenced by the position and type of propulsion engines that generate both aerodynamic and structural stresses, but also on operational safety since engine failures, such as a turbine explosion, should not have such an impact on the tail sections that the aircraft can no longer be controlled.
On current aircraft, the different basic tail section shapes, where the aerodynamic surfaces of the tail section are not individually attached to the fuselage, have aircraft architectures with aft tail sections, but the known shapes—T, cruciform, H and V—are very close in the design of their basic shape with no overall aerodynamic and structural optimization of the tail section units with propulsion engines.


Component mounting machine includes head, a device for moving head, transfer unit, and a mounting controller. Circular plate is an example of a container in which paste is placed. The bottom face of circular plate and the upper surface of the side wall have a predetermined height relationship. Height sensor is disposed on the lower face of head. Height sensor measures the height of the upper surface of the side wall of circular plate, which is a measurement point. The mounting controller recognizes the height of the bottom face of circular plate or the height of the surface of coating film disposed on circular plate from the height of the top surface of the side wall of circular plate measured by height sensor.

A component mounting machine is known in which a component supplied from a component supply device is picked up by a nozzle provided in a head, and then the head is conveyed to a location above a board to mount the component on the board. In this case, solder paste may be printed in advance on a component mounting position of the board. In recent years, the decreasing amount of paste printed on boards due to miniaturization of component sizes has made it difficult to print the paste in accordance with design values. For this reason, instead of printing the paste on the component mounting position of the board, the coating film of the paste is transferred to connection terminals such as disposed on the lower face of the component (such as BGAs). In order to transfer the coating film of the paste to the connection terminals of the component in this manner, a component mounting machine for calculating the film thickness of the coating film formed on the bottom face of a container is also disclosed (see Patent Literature 1). In this component mounting machine, the height of the bottom face of the container is measured in advance in an empty state in which no coating film exists in the container, and thereafter, a coating film is formed on the bottom face of the container, the height of the surface of the coating film is measured, so that the difference between these heights is calculated as the film thickness.


A thermal conditioning system for controlling a thermal comfort of an occupant of a building includes a vapor compression system to control an air temperature in the building space and a radiant system to control a radiant temperature in the building space. The system also includes a feedback controller to generate a first control signal for controlling a state of the vapor compression system to reduce an error between a set-point air temperature and a current air temperature in the building space and includes a feedforward controller to generate a second control signal control for controlling a state of the radiant system based on the state of the vapor compression system.

Thermal comfort greatly impacts a person's productivity and general well-being. Systems that automatically maintain indoor thermal conditions, including heat pumps, refrigeration and/or air-conditioning systems, can provide suboptimal thermal comfort in an energy inefficient manner, often because they are poorly controlled.
For the most part, communication with the thermal conditioning systems take place by either a wall thermostat or a remote control device, whose purpose is to turn the equipment on or off, and set temperature set-points. The on/off switch indicates when service is needed and when it is not. The temperature setting is a way of indicating a desired level of thermal comfort, in accordance with the needs and thermal condition of building occupants. In principle, the conventional thermal conditioning systems should be able to provide thermal comfort, when possible. However, in practice, this may not happen, due to a number of reasons.
For example, occupant(s) of a building rarely know the optimal value of their thermal comfort. That value depends on the current level of physical activity, respectively metabolic rate, the humidity of air, and the clothing worn by the occupant(s). For example, when an office worker has been sitting still at a desk for a long period of time on a cold winter day, the worker is likely to feel cold due to a lower metabolic rate, and request more heating by increasing the temperature set-point. Similarly, when a manual laborer has been performing vigorous physical work on a hot and humid summer day, the worker is likely to feel very hot, and can request more cooling by lowering the temperature set-point. In such a manner, the occupants can overestimate or underestimate their need for thermal comfort, which can lead to dissatisfaction and the inefficient use of thermal conditioning systems.
One way to address this problem is to take the control out of the hands of the occupants of the premises. For example, some methods aim to develop thermal models that are used to automatically sense and control the thermal comfort of the occupants. See, e.g., U.S. 2016/0320081. However, the thermal model creation can be a tedious and uncertain process.
Accordingly, there is still a need to develop new strategies and methods to improve the thermal comfort of building occupant(s), which do not depend on data that are not easily accessible.

System and method for thermal comfort control

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A sealing connector cover for a tendon in an encapsulated post-tensioning reinforcement system includes a plurality of circumferential cover segments each comprising a circumferential part of a female connector housing at one longitudinal end, and a male connector housing at another longitudinal end. Each segment has a locking element to engage a corresponding locking element on a longitudinally corresponding segment. Each circumferential segment comprises a circumferential part of a locking element in the female connector housing configured to engage the male connector housing of a longitudinally adjacent sealing connector cover or a connector on an encapsulated anchor.

This disclosure relates to relates to post-tension concrete reinforcing systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to post-tension systems having encapsulated anchors. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to sealing devices for preventing liquid intrusion into the exposed sections of tendons in the post-tension system.
Reinforced prestressed or post-tensioned concrete structures are known in the art to efficiently use materials to enable longer spans and thinner structural elements. In post-tensioning, high tensile strength metallic or composite strands or tendons are stretched to a certain determined limit after high-strength concrete is placed around them, and subsequently hardened. The reinforcing strand is then stretched by hydraulic jacks and securely anchored into place.
In a typical strand anchor assembly used in such post-tensioning systems, anchors are provided for holding the ends of the tendon suspended therebetween. In the course of tensioning the tendon in a concrete structure, a hydraulic jack or the like is releasably attached to one of the exposed ends of each tendon for applying a predetermined amount of tension to the tendon, which extends through the anchor. When the desired amount of tension is applied to the tendon, wedges or the like are used to capture the strand at the anchor and, as the jack is removed from the tendon, to prevent the tendon's relaxation and to hold it in its stressed condition. Stress in the tendon is thus transferred to the anchor.
There are known post-tension systems having multiple anchorages where the length of the concrete structure is too great to tension with a single anchor. In these systems, an intermediate anchor is interposed between a live end anchor and a dead end anchor at the longitudinal ends of the tendon. In the construction of such systems, the tendon extends for a desired length to the intermediate anchor. A portion of sheathing is removed from the tendon in the vicinity of the intermediate anchor. The intermediate anchor is installed onto a form board in accordance with conventional practice. The unsheathed portion of the tendon is received by a tensioning apparatus such that the tendon is stressed in the area between the dead end anchor and the intermediate anchor. After stressing the tendon, concrete is poured over the exterior of the sheathed part of the tendon, and over the dead end anchor and intermediate anchor. The remaining portion of the tendon extends from the intermediate anchor to either another intermediate anchorage or to the live end anchor. Intermediate anchorage systems are used whenever the concrete structure is so long that a single live anchor extending to a dead end anchor is inadequate. For example, two intermediate anchorages may be used for concrete structure having a length of approximately 300 feet or more.
A consideration that affects anchorage systems is the need to effectively prevent liquid intrusion into the unsheathed portion of the tendon. Therefore, it is required that the anchor be sealed to the sheathing in a water-tight manner. Over a substantial portion of the tendon, sheathing may provide the required water exclusion. For the wedges to grip the tendon, however, the sheathing must be partially removed proximate the anchor. The unsheathed portion will extend outwardly from the anchor in the direction of the dead end anchor. Another unsheathed portion will extend outwardly at the intermediate anchor toward the live end anchor. In normal practice with a single live anchor and without intermediate anchors, a liquid-tight tubular member is placed onto an end of the anchor so as to cover the unsheathed portion of the tendon. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,596 issued to Sorkin. This is relatively easy to accomplish at the live end of the tendon since the length of the tendon is minimal at the live end anchor. However, it is difficult to slide such a tubular member along the entire length of the tendon so as to form the liquid-tight seal at the intermediate anchorage. It is known in the art to use tape, or other corrosion protection materials applied to the exposed portion of the tendon adjacent the intermediate anchorage. Additionally, it is known in the art that sheathing is prone to shrinkage due to thermal change and stress relief. This shrinkage may be of a magnitude that causes the sheathing to retract out of a seal of a tubular member. Extensive practice with this technique has shown that it is generally ineffective for preventing liquid intrusion into the interior of the tendon or into the interior of the intermediate anchorage. As a result, a need has developed in which to protect the exposed areas of the tendon adjacent any anchorage regardless of location.
Conventionally, in order to install great lengths of tendon with sealed intermediate anchorage systems, it is necessary to thread the anchor and sealing tubular member along the length of the tendon so as to place the anchor in a desired position. A tendon sealing system known in the art is illustrated in FIG. 4. The system comprises two sealing tubes that may be attached to the anchor, but must be "threaded" over the tendon. The system shown in FIG. 4 may be used with unencapsulated anchors. Often during this "threading" of the tubular member, seals are damaged or compromised. Often, components of the anchorage system are omitted or the installation is carried out in an ineffective manner because of the large amount of manipulation that is required for the installation of the system. Inherently, each of the intermediate anchors will be located in a joint of the concrete structure; therefore, each of the anchors will be exposed to corroding elements. The liquid resistance of the tubular seals in known anchorage systems must be particularly good so as to prevent any damage to the exposed portions of the tendon. Another example is shown in FIG. 5, which is disclosed in Sorkin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,185. A corresponding system for encapsulated anchors is shown in FIG. 6, which is disclosed in Sorkin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,398.
Further, the seating of dead, or fixed end anchors for encapsulated systems requires that the wedge and strand be pushed into the anchor with great force. This requires specialized hydraulic equipment and is somewhat unreliable in making a reliable connection between the tendon, wedge, and anchor. An example of a sealing tube disposed over a tendon at the dead end is shown in FIG. 5. The dead end anchor may comprise a seal cap over the cut end of the tendon extending through the wedge receiving bore side of the anchor. Because of the threaded tubes and seals, a more reliable method of pulling the strand and wedge into the anchor is impractical, so a need has arisen for a sealing device that can be segmentally attached to the anchor and tendon after the dead, or fixed end is applied to the tendon in a fabrication plant. It will be appreciated that the anchor, seal tube and cap shown in FIG. 5 are also illustrative of a live end anchor
A cross sectional view of a sheathed tendon passing through an encapsulated anchor is shown in FIG. 7, which is disclosed in Sorkin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,235. An encapsulated anchor having retaining features for a seal cap or a further seal to engage a tendon when the anchor is used as a live end or intermediate anchor, and a seal extension tube when the anchor is used as an intermediate anchor is shown in FIG. 8, which is disclosed in Sorkin, U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,356.
In known forms of installing encapsulated post-tension reinforcing systems, the tubular seal will be joined to the anchor by various forms of connector. Travel of the close-fitting tubular seal along the length of the tendon during installation may cause the sealing capability to become compromised and may lead to the release of the tendon.

Sealing connector for post tensioned anchor system


Techniques and instrumentation for elbow reconstruction, specifically, for repairs of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The instrumentation provides for precise formation of sockets and tunnels along with easy suture/graft passage while accommodating all forms of elbow UCL reconstruction techniques. A V-drill guide is provided with a handle and two drill sleeves having intersecting trajectories for creating an intersecting V-shaped bone tunnel in the ulna. An adjustable humeral guide has an adjustable arm with an arc shape, and a peg and a block extending from each end of the adjustable arm. The peg is shaped to fit within an already-formed humeral socket. The block allows a drill to pass through and form other tunnels which intersect with the originally-formed tunnel at various positions.

When soft tissue such as a ligament or a tendon becomes detached from a bone, surgery is usually required to reattach or reconstruct the tissue. When the ligament is the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the medial elbow, a graft may be used to replace the entire ligament to facilitate regrowth and permanent attachment. Instrumentation and techniques to facilitate this repair are needed.

Elbow reconstruction instruments and techniques


A method of adapting tongs having a pair of pivotally connected arms for use with a disposable bag. The method involves the following described steps. Firstly, place a pair of opposed compressible contact members on an interior surface of the arms adjacent the pivotal connection. The contact members engage when the arms are partially closed and compress thereby permitting the arms to become fully closed. Secondly, place a bottom portion of a disposable bag between the opposed compressible contact members. Thirdly, partially close the tongs such that the contact members engage to tightly grip the bottom portion of the disposable bag. Fourthly, fold a peripheral edge of the disposable bag over tips of the arms. The disposable bag opens and closes with the manipulation of the arms.

Tongs come in a variety of configurations and are used to pick up an infinite variety of objects. There are areas of use where sanitary considerations are important. In the food industry, care must be taken to ensure that the tongs used do not contaminate the food. With other uses the concern is exactly the opposite, attempting to prevent the object being picked up from contaminating the tongs.
Attempts have been made to address this problem by making disposable tongs, as is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,055 entitled "Disposable Shovel Tongs" which issued to Green in 1980. It would be preferable, however, if a disposable bag could be used with tongs, so that the bag could be disposed of after each use and not the tongs themselves. There are problems, however, in placing a bag on tongs and maintaining that bag in a position to permit use.


Flame-spray transportation surface marking method employing a binder material selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers and copolymers, olefin polymers and copolymers having a number average molecular weight greater than about 10,000, urethane polymers and copolymers, curable epoxy resins, ester polymers and copolymers, and blends thereof, together with a particulate topcoat or particulate filler selected from the group consisting of reflective elements, skid-resistant particles, magnetizable particles, and mixtures thereof, wherein the binder adheres directly to the transportation surface.

Pavement marking systems that have been described in the patent literature or are commercially available include solvent-borne and water-borne paints, preformed adhesive tapes, preformed thermoplastic tapes, two-part reactive thermoset systems (e.g., epoxies and acrylates), hopper-borne molten thermoplastic systems and combustion flame-sprayed thermoplastic powder systems. The flame-sprayed thermoplastic systems are especially quick and easy to apply (even on roughened or cracked surfaces or under extreme low temperatures) and have relatively low cost. However, existing commercially-available flame-sprayed systems appear to be less durable than some commercially-available alternatives such as preformed tapes, and consequently may require more frequent replacement and greater long-term installation labor expense.
Aznar, A. C., Caprari, J. J., Meda, J. F., and Slutzky, O., "Study of Formulation Variables of Thermoplastic Reflecting Materials for Traffic Marking", Journal of Coatings Technology, 69, 868, pp. 33-38 (May 1997) describe typical thermoplastic pavement marking materials and their wear resistance using wet and dry Taber abrasion tests.
Andrady, A. L., "National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 392, Pavement Marking Materials: Assessing Environment-Friendly Performance", Washington, D.C. (1997) describes several types of pavement marking materials, including typical formulations for commercially available pavement markings (see pp. 9-13 and 52-57).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,410,185 (Harrington '185), U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,242 (Harrington et al. '242), U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,351 (Jorgansen), U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,468 (Condon et al.), and U.S. Pat. No.4,058,641 (Hnojewyj), and the brochures entitled "Green Lite.TM. Striping Powder and GLG-20 System" (publication 75-0299-7023-5) and "Green Lite.TM. Striping Powder" (publication 75-0299-7789-1 (120.5)ii) describe machines and compositions for use in flame-spray pavement marking applications.
Japanese published patent application (Kokai) No. HEI 9 [1997]-314032 describes flame-sprayable coatings for use on flood gates, valves and water pipes, liners, vanes and gates and other substrates but does not describe the use of such materials as pavement markings. An "acrylic type resin powder" and more specifically an "ethylene acryl acetate" is said to be employed, together with an alumina filler material.
The brochures entitled "The 124 System" and "Put on a PFS Coat" from Plastic Flamecoat Systems describe a handheld flame-spray applicator that can be used, inter alia, to line the interior of a pothole, and to seal and repair cracks, during asphalt repair procedures.
The brochure entitled "Elvaloy.RTM. AM" (publication H-37622) describes a reactive asphalt additive said to be an ethylene/glycidyl/acrylate terpolymer.
U.S. Patent No. 3,011,412 (Harrington et al. '412) describes a urea-based meltable temporary protective coating for thermoset or thermoplastic pavement marking paints.
Japanese patent (Kokoku) No. HEI 5[1993] - 33661 describes a preformed pavement marking tape made from a molded sheet containing a binder including an "ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer resin with 10 to 15 weight % methacrylic acid content", and bonded to pavement using a hot-melt adhesive which had been preapplied to the tape before use. No mention is made of flame-spraying the copolymer or the sheet ingredients onto pavement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,281 (Eigenmann), U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,359 (Ethen et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,432 (Jordan), U.S. Pat. No.5,127,973 (Sengupta et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,194, 13 (Lasch et al. '113), U.S. Pat. No.5,374,465 (Fulcomer) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,569 (Lasch et al. '560) describe various preformed pavement marking materials which typically have one or more layers in the form of a primer, pressure sensitive adhesive or conformance material between the marker and the pavement.

Wear-resistant transportation surface marking method and materials


A network mounting device in a coaxial type speaker including a woofer having a diaphragm, a center pole for forming a magnetic circuit of the woofer, and a tweeter mounted on a front end of the center pole. The network mounting device includes a frame for supporting an outer circumference of the diaphragm of the woofer, a plate for forming the magnetic circuit, a network for dividing a frequency and feeding divided frequencies to the woofer and the tweeter, and a substrate for mounting the network thereon, which substrate is sandwiched between the frame and the plate. The coaxial type speaker can be assembled easily, and the workability for wiring of the network can be improved.

The present invention relates to a device for mounting a network for dividing a frequency and feeding divided frequencies to a woofer and a tweeter in a coaxial type composite speaker wherein the tweeter is coaxially mounted on the front side of the woofer.
Conventionally in such a coaxial type composite speaker as mentioned above, it is general that the network is integrally mounted to the speaker.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of an example of the prior art coaxial type speaker. Referring to FIG. 3, a tweeter 1 is mounted on a front end of an extension 4 of a center pole 3 for forming a magnetic circuit of a woofer 2. A magnet cover 5 is provided to cover the magnetic circuit of the woofer 2, and network parts such as a choke coil 6 and a capacitor are mounted in the magnet cover 5.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing another example of the prior art coaxial type speaker. Referring to FIG. 4, a bobbin 8 for winding the choke coil 6 is mounted through a spacer 7 to the center pole 3 of the woofer 2, and the tweeter 1 is mounted on the bobbin 8.
In the former example shown in FIG. 3, as the network is mounted in the magnet cover 5, the magnet cover is necessary in addition to a substrate on which the choke coil 6, the capacitor, etc. are soldered, thus causing an increase in cost. Futhermore, after the tweeter 1 and the woofer 2 are assembled together, the magnet cover 5 installing the network is mounted, and a wiring from the network to a voice coil is connected, thus reducing the workability.
In the latter example shown in FIG. 4, the bobbin 8 winding the choke coil 6 therearound must be mounted in assembling the tweeter 1 and the woofer 2, and a wiring from the choke coil 6 to the capacitor and the voice coil is connected. Accordingly, there are problems in ensuring of a wiring path, assembling, workability for wiring, etc.

Network mounting device for coaxial type speaker


A process for deactivating Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalysts or catalyst systems "such systems are typically used for olefin polymerization". The process includes heating the active catalyst or catalyst system to a temperature sufficient to drive off volatile constituents, and to form complexes and compounds that are non-reactive or less reactive with ambient air than the active catalyst or catalyst system. The process includes steps for safe deactivation including scrubbing to substantially eliminate corrosive compounds, and burning volatile chemicals in a flare.. This process essentially eliminates the production of hazardous classification waste from conventional water catalyst deactivation techniques.

There are many processes for manufacturing polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene propylene rubber. Catalysts or initiators convert olefins, and optionally comonomers, into polyolefins. Development of new, better performing, less costly polyolefins has often been a result of catalyst development.
Polyolefin catalysts, such as Ziegler-Natta catalysts systems, are transition metal compounds like transition metal halides or transition metal alkoxy halides. These transition metal compounds are co-catalyzed with aluminum alkyls to form a catalyst system. It is estimated that close to 9,000 tons of Ziegler-Natta type catalysts were manufactured in 1992 to meet the worldwide capacity demand for polyolefins.
Metallocene compounds co-catalyzed with alumoxane compounds form the basis for another polyolefin catalyst system based on transition metal compounds and aluminum compounds. Examples of the latter are U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,299 and EPA 0-129368 to Ewen, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,561 to Welborn, Jr.
Catalysts tend to be active chemical compounds and those most often used for polyolefin formation are based on one or more transition metals. Many such catalysts are pyrophoric, igniting on contact with air and/or moisture. The active chemical characteristics of these catalysts make them desirable and useful as polymerization catalysts.
Deactivation and subsequent disposal of active catalysts is a problem. This problem is caused by catalyst manufacture that results in catalysts that do not meet the manufacturer's specifications, or even meeting those specifications, they may not meet the performance specifications of the catalyst user. Also, after polymerization, "heels" of active catalyst remain after polymer discharge from a reaction vessel. These "heels" are catalysts that are still active. Additionally, under normal manufacturing techniques, more catalysts will be produced than used. All of these situations result in active catalysts that must be disposed of safely.
Catalyst deactivation techniques are known. For example, flooding with water, alcohol, or similar liquid treatments cause the active chemicals of the catalyst to react violently with the flooding medium and/or themselves, resulting in inert or relatively inert substances. The flooding medium may be removed from the now inert or relatively inert catalyst components or alternatively the flooding medium and the deactivated catalyst are kept together for disposal.
Often after such flooding, the catalyst is no longer pyrophoric, and therefore relatively safe for disposal.
However, the flooding medium after catalyst contact, contains components that result from contact with and reaction with the catalyst. The flooding medium, after catalyst contact, may have a flash point that is lowered by volatile organic chemicals and a pH that is slightly to highly acidic.
A waste stream with a low flash point and low pH, will likely be categorized as hazardous. Such hazardous categorization will result in increased disposal costs. Such costs are escalating as environmental laws become more stringent.
In addition to flooding, other catalyst deactivation techniques, such as by exposure to air/oxygen, may be used. This technique, like flooding, causes the active chemicals of the catalyst to react violently, resulting in inert or relatively inert substances. This method, because of the violent reaction, is useful only for very small amounts of catalyst. This method may be preferably used for small amounts of catalyst, such as might be remaining on vessel walls after removal of a batch of catalyst.
It would be desirable to have a process that would allow catalyst deactivation at lower cost and fewer potential environmental concerns than previous deactivation methods.

Process for deactivating Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalysts


A user device receives a mobile application that defines multiple environments associated with the mobile application and launches the mobile application. After the launching the mobile application, the user device retrieves an environment selector value for the mobile application and initializes the mobile application with configuration data for a particular environment of the multiple environments. The particular environment is selected from the multiple environments based on the environment selector value.

Application software, also referred to as an "app," is computer software designed to help a user perform one or more specific tasks. Apps may be downloaded to perform particular tasks for mobile electronic devices (such as smartphones, tablets, multimedia players, gaming systems, etc.) or computing systems (personal computers, laptops, etc.). When developing software code for an application, the application code is typically executed within different environments during different test stages to facilitate testing and more effectively isolate problems.


A heater/driver array that includes heaters for generating thermal energy utilized to discharge ink and driver circuits for driving these is mounted on a substrate. The heaters are formed into a plurality of groups and are driven by block drive on a per-group basis. A block selection signal of driving-signal voltage level (VHT) and a heater driving signal corresponding to a selected block are generated based upon a print data signal, which has been input at a logic-signal voltage level (VDD), in any of an input circuit, shift register circuit and decoder circuit. The heater/driver array drives the heaters in accordance with the block selection signal and heater driving signal of the driving-signal voltage level.

In general, an electrothermal transducer (heater) of a printhead mounted on a printing apparatus in accordance with an ink-jet scheme and the driving circuit of the transducer are formed on the same substrate using semiconductor process technology as illustrated in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,334. In a proposed printhead structure, a digital circuit, etc., for sensing the state of the semiconductor substrate, e.g., the substrate temperature, is formed on the same substrate in addition to the driving circuit, an ink supply port is located at the center of the substrate and a heater is disposed at a position opposing the port.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a semiconductor substrate for an ink-jet printhead of this type, i.e., a semiconductor substrate for an ink-jet printhead that includes a circuit for outputting a digital signal indicative of sensed temperature.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a substrate obtained by integrally forming heaters and driving circuits by semiconductor process technology, 501 a heater/driver array having a structure in which a plurality of heaters and driver circuits are arrayed, and 502 an ink supply port for supplying ink from the reverse side of the substrate.
Further, reference numeral 503 denotes a shift register for temporarily holding print data to be printed. Reference numeral 507 denotes a decoder circuit that outputs a heater-block selection signal for driving the heaters in the heater/driver array 501 on a per-heater-block basis. Reference numeral 504 denotes an input circuit that includes a buffer circuit for inputting a digital signal to the shift register 503 and decoder 507. Reference numeral 510 denotes an input terminal that includes a terminal for supplying logic-element voltage VDD, a terminal CLK for inputting a clock and a terminal for inputting print data, etc.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart for describing a series of operations up to sending of print information to the shift register 503 and supplying of current to heaters to drive the same.
Print data is supplied to DATA_A and DATA_B terminals in sync with a clock pulse applied to the CLK terminal. The shift register 503 stores the supplied print data temporarily and a latch circuit latches the print data in response to a latch signal applied to a BG terminal. A block signal, which is for selecting a group of heaters that have been partitioned into a desired block, and the print data that has been latched by the latch signal are subsequently subjected to an AND operation in matrix form, and the heater current flows in sync with an HE signal that directly decides current drive time. This series of operations is repeated block by block to perform printing.
FIG. 6A is one segment's worth of an equivalent circuit for driving current into a heater for discharging ink. Further, FIG. 6B is an equivalent circuit that corresponds to one bit of a shift register and latch circuit for temporarily storing image data to be printed.
A block select signal that is input to an AND gate 601 is a signal sent from the decoder 507 for selecting heater groups partitioned into blocks. Further, a bit signal that enters the AND gate 601 is a signal transferred to the shift register 503 and thenceforth latched by a latch signal. In order to turn on each segment selectively by print data, the AND gate 601 obtains the AND, in matrix form, between the block select signal and bit signal.
Reference numeral 605 denotes a VH power-supply line that serves as a power supply for heater drive, 606 a heater and 607 a driver transistor for passing current into the heater 606. Reference numeral 602 denotes an inverter circuit for receiving and buffering the output of the AND gate 601. Reference numeral 603 denotes a VDD power-supply line that serves as a power supply for the inverter circuit 602. Reference numeral 608 denotes an inverter circuit serving as a buffer for receiving the buffered output of the inverter circuit 602. Reference numeral 604 denotes a VHT power-supply line serving as a power supply, which is supplied to a buffer 608, for supplying the gate voltage of the driver transistor.
In general, the inverter 602 and shift register 503, etc., are digital circuits and they basically operate in accordance with low/high pulses. Further, applied pulses for interfacing print information of the printhead per se and for driving the heaters also are digital signals, and an exchange of signals with the outside is performed in its entirety by low/high logic pulses. Generally the amplitudes of these logic pulses are 0V/5V or 0V/3.3V, and the power supply VDD of the digital circuits is supplied with a signal one of these voltages. Accordingly, pulses having the amplitude of the VDD voltage are input to the AND gate 601 and are input to the inverter circuit 608 of the next stage through a buffer constituted by the two-stage inverter circuit 602.
On the other hand, the smaller the resistance value of the driver transistor 607 when the latter is in the ON state, or the so-called ON resistance, the better. By making power consumed by components other than the heaters as small as possible, a rise in substrate temperature can be prevented and it is possible to drive the printhead stably. If the ON resistance of the driver transistor 607 is large, a voltage drop ascribable to heater current that flows through this portion increases and it becomes necessary to apply an excessively high voltage to the heaters. The result is wasteful power consumption.
In order to reduce the ON voltage of the driver transistor 607, the voltage applied to the gate of this transistor is required to be set high. In the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6A, therefore, it becomes necessary to provide a circuit for making a conversion to pulses having a voltage amplitude higher than the voltage VDD. In the circuit shown in FIG. 6A, the power-supply line 604 of voltage VHT higher than voltage VDD is provided and a segment selection signal that has entered in response to the pulse having the amplitude of the voltage VDD is converted to a pulse having the amplitude of voltage VHT by a buffer circuit that includes the inverter circuit 608. After the conversion is thus made to the pulse having the amplitude of voltage VHT, the pulse is applied to the gate of the driver transistor 607. In other words, an arrangement is adopted in which the exchange of signals with the outside and signal processing by the internal digital circuit are performed in their entirety by pulses having the voltage amplitude (voltage for driving the logic circuits) of VDD, and each segment is provided with a circuit (pulse-amplitude converting circuit) for effecting a conversion to pulses of the VHT voltage amplitude (the voltage for element drive) immediately before the gate of driver transistor 607 is driven.
In general, a printhead-takes on a form in which a plurality of individual segments are arrayed at a high density, and therefore in a case where the segments are arrayed at a density of, e.g., 600 dpi, segment width in the array direction is limited to about 42.3 μm. If it is attempted to fit the entirety of the circuit of the kind shown in FIG. 6A in this pitch for driving each of the elements, then the length of each segment will increase in a direction perpendicular to the array direction.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of an equivalent circuit in a case where the pulse-amplitude converting circuit in FIG. 6A is shown in detail. It will be understood from observing this diagram that the pulse-amplitude converting circuit, particularly a level converter indicated by the dashed lines, is composed of a number of transistors, and therefore a greater chip area becomes necessary.
However, when the layout structure of the printhead substrate having the above-described construction is considered, the pulse-amplitude converting circuit provided for each segment leads to an increase in the length of each segment, invites an increase in chip size and raises cost. More specifically, with the above-described layout, the chip becomes larger in a direction perpendicular to the segment array and the increase in chip size becomes pronounced. Further, in a case where the pulse-amplitude converting circuit is provided for every segment, e.g., in a case where consideration is given to a printhead having, e.g., 256 segments, the number of buffer circuits required necessitates at least 256 inverters. This invites a decline in yield and in a more complicated circuit structure and is a cause of higher cost.

Ink-jet printhead substrate, driving control method, ink-jet  printhead and ink-jet printing apparatus


A self-test prediction system predicts the impact that a host device has on an embedded wireless device's receiver performance by recording the wireless device's received power. No carrier or pilot signal is necessary to predict the impact. The wireless device's embedded receiver monitors its own received power (e.g., RSSI) from any type of radiated noise from the host device. For receivers that do not provide RSS referenced to absolute power, an external reference tone can be used in order to scale the measured receiver carrier to noise or signal to noise data to an absolute power. The increase in measured received power on the wireless device's receiver correlates to the impact the host device will have on the embedded wireless device's receiver sensitivity performance, providing a faster approach with less external equipment than current approaches that use external equipment to simulate the wireless device's forward link signal.

With advances in computing and communication technology, increasingly devices integrate a number of components to increase their versatility and performance. Many of these components emit electromagnetic noise that can couple into a receiving antenna of the device, degrading radiated sensitivity. Even for devices that exploit unprotected frequency spectra (e.g., WiFi, WiMAX, etc.), degradation in performance can cause customer dissatisfaction and support costs.
Upfront testing costs can be even greater for devices that exploit protected spectra. Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) testing is required to certify any new device for use on commercial networks and is essential to ensure a minimum quality of forward link service. However, TIS testing is a costly and time consuming process that requires formal testing at carrier designated certified labs (e.g., Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA).
Conventionally, a near-field probe can locate the general location within a device that is causing radio frequency (RF) emissions. However, the fact that such RF emissions are occurring does not necessarily mean that these emissions will couple into an antenna of the device or otherwise degrade performance. Consequently, such testing can result in unnecessary modifications before TIS testing or prove to be a time consuming method of troubleshooting after a TIS testing failure.
As an example of devices that are greatly disadvantaged by such certification requirements, notebook vendors routinely offer multiple hardware configurations for the same base model, with different processor speed, drive type, or display type, etc. Each configuration potentially has a different RF emission profile with the possibility of new interference sources in a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) module receiver band or other wireless format. Each configuration necessitates fresh evaluation of radiated sensitivity and this adds significant overhead to the introduction of minor device revisions and configurations. This is a particular if not unique barrier for notebook vendors.
As another example, measuring an embedded wireless device's receiver performance can use a network simulator in a shielded radio frequency environment. A network simulator is used to establish a test call from the emulator to the embedded wireless device using an over-the-air antenna inside an RF shielded chamber. The receiver performance is measured by monitoring errors in the wireless link from the network emulator to the wireless device (e.g., Packet Error Rate, Frame Error Rate, Bit Error Rate, and Symbol Error Rate). The signal level from the network emulator is adjusted until the target wireless link error rate is established. Each time the network emulator is adjusted, the error link measurement cycle requires 300 to 1000 data packets (or frames or bits) to get statistically significant measurement of receiver performance. These methods require expensive network simulators and take a long time to find the target link error rate at multiple channels.
As yet another example, it has been proposed that a spectrum analyzer can be connected to an antenna of an embedded wireless module in a device such as a laptop or notebook computer. The spectrum analyzer can detect a noise profile by scanning the signals received by the antenna. Analyzing the raw data poses certain challenges. Another challenge is testing uncertainties introduced by the invasive nature of testing with a spectrum analyzer. Disassembly to insert a cable to an embedded antenna can violate the integrity of the device, changing characteristics of the device itself, changing a grounding state of the device, and posing impedance matching problems.

Embedded module receiver noise profiling


A data signal peak error detector for monitoring and detecting undesired shifts in the peak levels of a multilevel data signal, such as an MLT3 Ethernet signal. A signal slicing circuit generates two signals: a data peak detection signal identifies occurrences of data signal peaks and is asserted when the input data signal level has transitioned beyond a value which is intermediate to preceding intermediate and peak (e.g., positive or negative) signal levels; and a data peak error signal identifies occurrences of data signal peak errors and is asserted when the input data signal level has transitioned beyond a value which corresponds to a preceding peak signal level. Assertion of the data peak detection signal initiates a count sequence by a counter. The count sequence is decoded to produce one or more signal pulses, each of which is provided at a respective time after assertion of the first data peak signal and identifies a valid state of the data peak error signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to circuits for detecting errors in peak signal amplitudes of digital data signals, and in particular, to peak error detection circuits for detecting and identifying valid detected peak signal errors during selected time windows within digital data signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recovering data from data signals which have been transmitted over long lengths of cable at high data rates requires that such data signals be equalized in order to compensate for the signal loss and phase dispersion characteristics of the cable. Further, in those applications where the cable length may vary, such equalization must be capable of adapting according to the length of the cable. Conventional adaptive equalization is typically accomplished through the use of a feedback control signal having an amplitude which is proportional to the pulse height of the equalized data signal. However, such a technique for controlling the adaptive equalization process is very sensitive to amplitude errors in the incoming data signal. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a peak error detector which, by detecting and identifying valid detected errors in the signal peaks of the incoming data signal, can be used to help generate more consistent and more accurate control over the adaptive equalization process.


An inner peripheral resin ring having a centering aperture unitarily molded with the inner periphery of a metal plate of a disc hub is given an anti-static effect to prevent build-up of a static electric charge. An inner peripheral resin ring (14) having on its center a centering aperture (17) unitarily molded with the inner periphery of the metal plate (12) of a disc hub (11) is formed by the molding process of a resin which is highly wear-resistant and relatively conductive.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disc used as a recording medium on which there are recorded various kinds of information signals and, more particularly, to a disc of a type such that the disc is chucked to a spindle in a magnet-chucking fashion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical discs such as a magneto-optical disc or the like have long been known as a recording medium on which there are recorded various kinds of information signals.
As an optical disc that is chucked to a disc rotating spindle of an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus in a so-called magnet-chucking fashion, the assignee of the present application has previously proposed Japanese Utility Model Application No. 62-199240 (Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 1-107072), etc.
An outline of this conventional optical disc will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As illustrated, an optical disc 1 generally depicted by reference numeral 1 is comprised of a disc body 2 and a disc hub 5 having a resin ring 4 unitarily molded with a circumferential edge portion of a metal plate 3. The disc body 2 has a disc-shaped configuration and is made by molding a synthetic resin, e.g., polycarbonate resin. One or both surfaces of the disc body 2 are used as recording surfaces in which recording tracks are formed in the circumferential direction thereof. A circular central aperture 2a is bored through a central portion of the disc body 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
The metal plate 3 of the disc hub 5 is formed as a disc from a magnetic material such as an iron plate or the like. A centering aperture 6 whose diameter is smaller than that of the central aperture 2a of the disc body 2 is coaxially bored through the central portion of the metal plate 3 of the disc hub 5. Then, the resin ring 4 is unitarily molded with the circumferential edge portion of the metal plate 3 by a so-called outsert molding method, thereby constructing the disc hub 5.
An annular welding rib 7, which is used to weld the disc hub 5 to the disc body 2, is formed on the resin ring 4 on its surface opposing the disc body 2. Further, a plurality of guide ribs 8 having a leg-piece configuration, are fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the central aperture 2a of the disc body 2, and project from the inner circumferential portion of the resin ring 4.
When the disc hub 5 is attached to the disc body 2, the resin ring 4 is located on the surface of the disc body 2 in such a manner that the welding rib 7 thereof opposes the surface of the disc body 2 while the guide ribs 8 are fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the central aperture 2a. If an ultrasonic horn (not shown) is pressed on the resin ring 4 and an ultrasonic vibration is applied to the resin ring 4 during a predetermined period of time under that state, then the welding rib 7 becomes molten to weld the disc hub 5 to the disc body 2.
In this fashion, the disc hub 5 is attached to the disc body 2 in a so-called centering fashion such that the centering aperture 6 of the metal plate 3 accurately coincides with the center of the recording tracks on the disc body 2. While the disc hub 5 is welded onto the upper surface of the disc body 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the disc hubs 5 are welded onto both upper and lower surfaces of the disc body 2 in actual practice.
The optical disc 1 thus arranged is generally preserved under conditions wherein it is accommodated within a disc cartridge. When the optical disc 1 is loaded onto an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus, the centering aperture 6 of the disc hub 5 is inserted into a spindle S made of a metallic material such as a stainless steel or the like and is thereby positioned. Also, the metal plate 3 of the disc hub 5 is chucked in a magnetic-chucking fashion to a disc table T which is provided at the outer periphery of the spindle S and around which there is embedded an annular magnet (not shown). Then, when the optical disc 1 is rotated by the spindle S, various information may be recorded on and reproduced from the optical disc 1 by means of an optical pickup (not shown).
However, because the spindle S is made from a metallic material, the conventional optical disc 1, in which the centering aperture 6 of the disc hub 5 is directly bored through the metal place 3, tends to produce very small metal powders when the metal plate 3 and the metal spindle S wear against each other during the magnetic-chucking process.
Also, because the spindle S must locate the optical disc 1 with high accuracy, a difference between the outer diameter of the spindle S and the inner diameter of the centering aperture 6 is generally set to a value as small as about 12 .mu.m.
Accordingly, if the inside of the centering aperture 6 and the surface on which the metal plate 3 is chucked to the disc table T are smudged by metal powders produced due to wear, then the normal chucking operation of the optical disc 1 to the spindle S may be hindered. If the optical disc 1 is rotated under the condition wherein the optical disc 1 is imperfectly chucked to the spindle S, then the optical disc 1, the disc hub 5, the spindle S, the optical pickup or the like will be damaged.
To solve the above problem, the assignee of the present invention has previously proposed a disc wherein a unitarily-molded inner peripheral resin ring is formed on the inner periphery of a metal plate of a disc hub by a wear-proof resin and a centering aperture is formed at the center of the inner peripheral resin ring, thereby preventing metal powders from being produced when the metal plate is subject to wear.
However, after the above disc has been in use for a long period of time, the centering aperture which is bored through the inner peripheral resin ring (made of the wear-proof resin) becomes worn by a very small amount, which unavoidably produces wearing powders. In addition, since the inner peripheral resin ring is made of resin, the inner peripheral resin ring tends to become charged with static electricity. Recent studies have revealed that, due to the static electricity charged, the inside of the centering aperture or the like tends to adsorb the above wearing powders, dust or the like, which hinders the normal chucking operation of the disc onto the spindle.

Disc with prevention of static electric charge build-up


A solar cell module 1a is constituted from a main frame member 10a and a sub-frame member 20a that hold a solar cell panel 9. The main frame member 10a is constituted from a main outer wall 11, a main holding upper piece 12, a main holding lower piece 13, and a main bottom piece 16 and, also, the sub-frame member 20a is constituted from a sub-outer wall 21, a sub-holding upper piece 22, a sub-holding lower piece 23, a sub-base piece 24, a sub-inner wall 25, and a sub-bottom piece 26. Then, the main bottom piece 16 and the sub-bottom piece 26 are formed so as not to collide with each other, such that the projecting position heights of the pieces are different.

Generally, solar cell modules are constituted from a solar cell panel and a frame member that holds this solar cell panel. As frame members used for such a solar cell module, members with various structures are known.
As the structure of the frame member, a frame member is known that has a structure provided with an outer wall perpendicularly formed along one side of the solar cell panel, and a solar cell panel holding unit that is horizontally formed at the upper part of this outer wall, and that has a U-shaped cross section.
With such a frame member, the solar cell panel is held using the frame member by inserting a side of the solar cell panel into the solar cell panel holding unit whose cross section is U-shaped, thus forming a solar cell module.
Further, in order to fix a solar cell module in an installation place, the frame member is provided with a bottom piece that horizontally projects at the lower edge of the outer wall of this frame member. As a solar cell module using such a frame member, various modules have been conventionally known (see FIGS. 1 to 3 of Patent Document 1, for example).
With the solar cell module described in Patent Document 1, a bottom piece provided at the lower edge of a frame member used for this solar cell module projects from the lower edge of the frame member toward the outer side, which is opposite the solar cell panel side (inner side).
Patent document 1: JP 119-96071A


A building element suitable for use in supporting model building sets. The building element is configured to be removably secured to a plurality of like or similar building elements to form a modular substructure for supporting model building sets. To that end, the building element may include a plurality of connector fitting arrangements disposed on the surfaces of the building element. In one embodiment, the building element is configured to be separable into half-sections and quarter-sections.

Miniature models of towns and buildings, such as model building sets, have been around for many years. Such model building sets offer educational opportunities to children as well as providing entertainment to both children and adult enthusiasts alike. Conventional model building sets, typically include connectable modular components. One such conventional model building set is shown in FIG. 1 and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,356, which is presently assigned to Parvia Corporation, of Seattle, Wash., and hereby incorporated by reference.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded view of a conventional modular model building set 20 is shown. The modular model building set 20 generally includes a modular substructure 24, a terrain 28, and playing components 30. As assembled, the modular substructure 24 supports, and is removably attachable to, the terrain 28. In turn, the terrain 28 supports, and is removably attachable to the playing components 30. The modular aspects of the substructure 24, terrain 28, and the playing components 30 allow a multitude of different configurations to be created from the modular model building set 20 while employing the same elements of the substructure 24, terrain 28, and the playing components 30.

Building element for constructing a modular substructure