A system of detection and analysis of gas or fuel oil flames using optical devices, consisting of a sensor that targets the flame's reaction zone through an optical access, a processing and control module, and an actuator, responsible for controlling the damper. The system optimizes combustion equipment operation by controlling the damper, obtaining better performance and reducing polluting emissions.

Combustion research performed in the Combustion Laboratory has obtained important results based on the use of spectroscopy techniques and CCD imagining techniques. These results, obtained at laboratory level, have characterized different flame types according to the emission of free radicals and shooting particles [see Farias, Combustion Control in a Fuel Oil Boiler Frame the Flame Spectrum (1997) the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.]
Citing Zuo (1992), Tartari & Ngendakumana, [A Photodiode for Combustion Control, (2003) the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.] present the application of photo diodes to detect radicals at particular wavelengths in order to define combustion control variables. This work, made in the laboratory of Thermodynamics of the University of Liége, Belgium in 2002, corresponds to one of the first investigations in the application of photo diodes to sense the photons of specific radicals. The used device corresponds to the combination photo diode-amplifying JIC 1EI17, which can be used externally with fixed or adjustable gain. The photo diode is sensitive in the 210-380 rank nm (UV) and has been used without interference filters. Due to the produced optical phenomena and the lack of rigor in the construction of the electronics responsible for device handling, the results were unsatisfactory.
On the other hand, it has been determined that CCD cameras have a linear spectral response and that this answer depends on the spectral sensitivity of the different sensors or filters for the colors of each camera individually. Additionally, they linearly depend on the incident power density and the wavelength. Finally, the spectral response is affected by noise, which can be diminished with a correct calibration. [Vora, Farell, Tietz and Brainard, (2000)].
Studies of the different color models and the advantages or disadvantages in their use of in different applications exist. The best known color system is the RGB because a computer program can easily decompose an image into the 3 channels of red, green, and blue. Furthermore, these channels are correlated to each other and certain procedures that require independence of the different color channels cannot be performed [Angulo, (2005)].
The HSB (Tonality, Saturation and Brightness) color model does allow this interdependence between the channels and it is very useful for procedures to recognize patterns in images. Additionally, the L*a*b* color model, which also allows us to obtain dependency between the channels, has also been studied [Ward, (2006)].
Several image processing strategies to identify certain indices characteristic of the flames have been developed, making control possible. Furthermore, certain correlations are determined between the luminous signal intensity captured with CCD cameras through their R, G and B filters, and some burner combustion or adjustment parameters. It is concluded that the excess of air in the combustion is correlated with the luminous signal intensity, explaining why these strategies can be used in combustion control. [Boysen, (2004)]
There are two commercial products, Spectra Tune and Flame Doctor, oriented to combustion optimization using optical signals.
SpectraTune is a combustion diagnosis and optimization system based on the analysis of spectral frequency, the visible phantom and the near TO GO, developed by Mark J. Khesin through the company Physical Sciences Inc. At present, the system is commercialized by GE Power Systems under the denomination "MK Optimization Combustion System". Its design is limited to applications in power stations that use pulverized coal and its application depends on operator criteria and does not allow total automatization for burner control. Its cost is around US$ 25,000 for each Burner.
Flame Doctor is a system that provides real time analysis for each burner of a furnace. It analyzes the individual burner performance, identifying those with low yield and provides a diagnosis that orients the necessary adjustments. Flame Doctor uses signals from optical flame sensors, which with mathematical professing tools determine the degree of deviation with respect to the optimal degree. Its application has been developed for coal combustion and its price is in the order of US$ 150,000. The mentioned technologies are oriented to large-size facilities (on 350 MW).
Patent GB1396384 describes a sensor and a furnace control method that uses photoelectric sensors with two attachment lines to intercept the flame, producing two electrical exits or signals (x and y). The system consists of two tubes similar to a telescope, where the photodetector provides the optical image. Two types of sensors can be used: photovoltaic sensors if the fuel is coal or oil and infrared photodetectors if the fuel is natural gas. The signals x and y are processed electronically using a band pass filter of 200 Hz to 1000 hz, post-amplified, rectified and finally the signal is smoothed in a new filter. The time required is between 0 and 5 seconds, and action on the fuel source is soon taken when the flame is not detected.
The system correlates the information in three levels: the first one indicates flame absence, the second one indicates a normal flame, and the last level indicates an intermediate level of abnormal flame. The simple use of these optical radiation detectors (infrared, visible or ultraviolet) is believed to give a false indication about to the flame presence because they receive additional radiation from the furnace walls and a neighboring flame. In a large furnace, there are many burners and it is difficult to have a line of view of only one radiation, considering especially that the flame morphology depends on the fuel source as well as other factors. For these reasons, although devices sensitive to radiation amplitude can work satisfactorily with a single burner, the high level of background radiation disables the use of such devices in a furnace with multiple burners.
This circuit can not only distinguish the flame type, it can also be used to obtain the air-fuel relation, which depends on the flame position and is also influenced by the provided air flow. Therefore, this correlation can be used to obtain a warning device or a control system if the obtained correlation is outside certain range values.
This publication's detectors use the particular characteristics of the flames. One detector is a differentiated system in which two photoelectric cells are placed to observe the dark and light flame areas, respectively. Such a detector is applicable to coal flames where there is a dark area associated to the pulverized coal. Nevertheless, such a detector is very sensitive to changes in combustion conditions that modify the distance along the flame axis in which the fuel ignites. With a differentiated flame detector, the blockage of one of the vision tubes could even cause a differentiated signal when the flame is absent.
This patent publication uses photoelectric sensors to detect the flame presence and thus to act on the fuel source (three levels: without flame, normal flame and intermediate or abnormal flame) in order to provide flame monitoring when there is more than one burner, avoiding fuel injection when the flame has been extinguished in order to avoid possible explosions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,149 describes a sensor and flame control method in a furnace, which manipulates the air/fuel variable in order to maintain maximum furnace efficiency. This sensor is based in the use of a radiometer with an infrared detector to observe the flame. The control system is based on the radiation signals emitted at three different wavelengths, using suitable filters.
The control parameter uses the ratio of at least two signals of infrared radiation to control the fuel/air mixture, maintaining furnace operation at its maximum efficiency. This publication uses a radiometer to detect the intensity emission in the flame's infrared range. The use of the radiometer in the visible spectral radiation range could increase the costs.
British patent GB1032697 publication describes a device for safety control of the flame in gas burners equipped with a pilot flame to ignite the main flame. This control device includes two flame detectors (one normally near to the flame pilot and another one near to the region of the main flame) and the circuit controls the main gas valve, whereas both detectors respond to the flame presence.
There are many flame detectors for this type of application, such as thermocouples, photoelectric cells, elements that respond to flame or gas conductivity and photodiodes in the ultraviolet or infrared range. Therefore, this device is used to maintain a safe flame operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,656, also discloses a combustion control circuit that includes the integrated circuits of a semiconductor used to control the furnace to warm up water, air or similar. This is a conventional combustion control circuit that uses the temperature signal, which means that the operation exit signal is adjusted using the voltage provided from the source to initialize the circuits.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,615, discloses a combustion control device based on the oxygen content, using an electrode in contact with the flame. Depending on the oxygen content and the source's voltage, the detection circuit produces a voltage that is compared with a reference voltage, and this information is used to control the fuel source's valve. The detection system is an intrusive method and the control is applied on the fuel flux. Thus, the control strategy does not consider combustion quality, which in addition to the power control (depending on the fuel flow) is given by air adjustment.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,924 and 4,509,912 disclose a system that uses an axis union to control the combustion in a furnace in order to maintain an optimal air/fuel mixture relation for all furnace power levels. The system consists of an adjustment of the mechanical connection in which a main arm is connected with an axis to control fuel valves and an auxiliary arm is connected to the air ventilator. This mechanical adjustment establishes a master-slave relation between the fuel and air valves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,499 discloses a combustion control system for a furnace based on the monitoring of content of oxygen and carbon monoxide contents as well as the smoke's temperature in the combustion chamber. This system uses a conventional combustion control circuit based on gas concentration. The measurement parameters are used to calculate the on-line heat loss associated to combustion products. Based on the heat losses, the combustion air is controlled, minimizing heat losses and maximizing the furnace's thermal efficiency under different operation conditions. The disclosed system basically corresponds to a system of conventional combustion control based on the gas concentration and temperature, which corresponds to an invasive method.
Japanese Publication JP60036825 describes a combustion control system based on measuring temperature distributions in a flame without contact. The spectral analysis carried out by a light detector, and then the vibration spectrum of the OH radical is calculated to determine the flame's temperature distribution. This temperature is compared with an optimal distribution stored in the system, and this difference is then used to control the system. Only the radiation of the OH radical is used to determine the temperature distribution and the control action is based on this estimated temperature. The analyzed request is quite different to the proposed method, and thus does not affect this novelty.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,742 describes a combustion control system that uses radiation intensity at different, non-specified wavelengths. This ratio is then used by a master controller to regulate the air-fuel ratio. The detector is a complex system consisting of several mechanical and electro-optical components. The detector's signals are used to calculate a ratio between the intensities of two wavelengths that are correlated with the air-fuel ratio.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,747 describes a system using several detection techniques, such as CCD cameras, photo detectors, and laser based systems. A neural network analyzes the images and characterizes the combustion flame. Other forms of sensors monitor and generate data signals defining selected parameters of the combustion process. All the signals are analyzed using a fuzzy-logic based system, which generates control signals defining adjustments to optimize the combustion process. This system has many measuring sub-systems requiring sophisticated data processing techniques, resulting in a very complex and expensive system. As a result, this solution is not attractive for small-scale combustion systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,549 describes a system based on the flame temperature measurement using solid state CCTV cameras in furnaces that operate with pulverized coal. This system involves an image processor, a monitor adapted to exhibit the processed information, and a controller that regulates air-fuel ratio. Its strategy is based on reaching the ideal furnace functioning by controlling NOx emissions since a linear relation exists between the above mentioned emission and the combustion temperature. Coal presents higher NOx emissions that are more temperature dependent than gas and oil. Therefore, this strategy used would not be valid for gas and oil flames
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,851 discloses a control system used in a radiant pipe gas burner installed in an oven. This system is based on the integrated, rectified signal of the voltage given by a germanium photodetector that feeds from the flame's luminous signal transmitted across an optical fiber. The sign of the integrated voltage is related to the fluctuation of the flame's intensity. The control action in this system is exercised in a discrete range to identify incomplete combustion, finished combustion and flame absence conditions. This control system establishes a wide operation region (finished combustion) and does not allow identification of the ideal one.

Combustion control system of detection and analysis of gas or fuel oil flames using optical devices


A skating/walking support which includes a base, a first roller assembly, a first securing mechanism and a second securing mechanism. The base includes a support surface, a ground contact surface, and a first pivot element. The first roller assembly is pivotally connected to the first pivot element and is moveable relative to the base between first and second positions to effect a skating state and a walking state of the support, respectively. The first securing mechanism releasably secures the first roller assembly in the first position and the second securing mechanism releasably secures the first roller assembly in the second position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multi-state support and, more particularly, to a support which provides skating and walking states.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roller skating has always been an exciting recreational sport. In order to provide rollers on which one may skate, it has been necessary to either remove one's shoes and replace them with roller skates or attach to one's shoes, removable skating assemblies. In either case, however, one must remove the skate in order to walk without significant difficulty. Examples of skates and skating assemblies which are known in the art are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,271,891, U.S. Pat. No. 1,616,442, U.S. Pat. No. 2,548,391, U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,623, U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,122, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,076. Each of the references listed above teaches a roller skate that must be removed to permit walking without significant difficulty.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,474 teaches a flexible sheet to be placed over the wheels of a traditional roller skate so as to provide a walking surface and thus, eliminate the need to remove the skates to permit walking. The sheet, however, must be removed from the skate and must be carried by the user. Since this sheet is removable, it is susceptible to loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,842, U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,643, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,249, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,970 each illustrate mechanically positioned retractable rollers which may be stored in the shoe sole to provide a shoe or which may be extended from the sole to provide a skate. In each of the references teaching mechanically extending rollers, the height of the skate is increased due to the increased thickness of the sole to provide a storage location for the rollers, thus increasing the risk of serious ankle injury to the user while walking and/or skating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,122 illustrates a skate which removably connects to a roller assembly or an ice skate assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,144 illustrates a ski boot which is convertible to a walking shoe.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a support which converts easily between skating and walking states.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a support which easily stores the roller assembly without substantially increasing the distance of the support surface from the ground when the support occupies the walking and/or skating states.
It is a further objective of the present invention to minimize the risk of injury to a skater using the skating/walking shoe.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a skating/walking shoe which converts between skating and walking states, the individual components thereof being attached to the support while the support occupies either the skating or the walking states.


In a soot-deposition container, raw material gas and at the tip of a starting glass rod, combustion gas, and carrier gas are supplied to a core-depositing burner and raw material gas, combustion gas, carrier gas, and gas for doping of fluorine are supplied to a cladding-depositing burner, thereby forming porous glass soot comprised of glass soot for core and glass soot for cladding. With growth of soot, the supply amount of the fluorine-doping gas is increased while supply amounts of the other gases are kept constant. Next, dehydration process and transparentizing process of soot are carried out to obtain a glass preform for optical fiber. Fabricated in this way is the glass preform for optical fiber having the silica glass portion doped with low-concentration fluorine with high uniformity in the growth direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a glass preform for optical fiber having a silica glass portion doped with fluorine, which has a step of performing deposition of fine glass particles by the vapor phase axial deposition (VAD) process.
2. Related Background Art
Optical fibers have the structure of the core and the cladding having a lower refractive index than the core and surrounding the core. Utilizing the refractive index difference between the core and the cladding, light is transmitted as confined in and near the core.
Thus, in order to achieve the function as an optical fiber, a dopant for raising or lowering the refractive index is added to a base material, thereby realizing a desired refractive index profile. If the base material is silica glass, fluorine is suitably used as a dopant for lowering the refractive index.
The optical fiber having the silica glass portion doped with fluorine is fabricated by heating and drawing a glass preform for optical fiber having the silica glass portion doped with fluorine. Such glass preforms for optical fiber have been fabricated heretofore as follows.
The first conventional method for forming the silica glass portion doped with fluorine (hereinafter referred to as conventional example 1) is arranged, for example as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-38292, in such a manner that, for growing a body of fine glass particles by the VAD process, glass raw material gas and combustion gas are supplied and glass particles are deposited in the direction of target axis by flame hydrolysis and thereafter a consolidating step of glass particles is carried out under an atmosphere of fluorine compound gas, thereby obtaining a glass preform for optical fiber having the glass portion doped with fluorine.
The second conventional method for forming the silica glass portion doped with fluorine (hereinafter referred to as conventional example 2) is arranged, for example as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 59-232934, in such a manner that, for growing a body of fine glass particles by the VAD process, the both glass raw material gas and combustion gas, or only the combustion gas containing the fluorine compound gas in a concentration kept constant in terms of the time is supplied and fine glass particles are deposited in the direction of target axis by flame hydrolysis and thereafter the fine glass particles are consolidated, thereby obtaining a glass preform for optical fiber.
The following methods are proposed as methods for making fluorine doping concentrations uniform mainly in the radial direction in the glass preform for optical fiber the base material of which is silica glass.
In the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,325, first, the fluorine compound gas is mixed in the glass raw material gas and fine glass particles are deposited by the outside vapor deposition process. Next, the volume of a heating furnace is set slightly larger than that of a deposit body of glass particles and heating is effected on the deposit body as decreasing supply amounts of the atmospheric gas upon heating so as to transparentize the deposit body. As a result, a vaporization amount of fluorine is decreased from the peripheral portion upon the heating transparentization, thereby obtaining the glass preform for optical fiber with the fluorine doping amounts uniform in the radial direction.
In the method as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 61-236626, first, fine glass particles are deposited using a mixture of the fluorine compound gas mixed in the glass raw material gas in lower concentration as approaching the peripheral portion. Next, the deposit body is heated to be transparentized under an atmosphere containing fluorine or a fluorine compound. As a result, differences of fluorine doping amounts in the radial direction upon deposition of glass particles are canceled by differences of fluorine doping amounts in the radial direction upon heating transparentization, thereby obtaining a glass preform for optical fiber with fluorine doping amounts uniform in the radial direction.

Increasing a fluorine compound flow rate during a VAD process


A system for replacing a page stored in system memory when reading the page incurs a multiple-bit error. Upon reading a page in system memory for which a multiple-bit error is detected, backup data in flash memory is loaded into a redundant page in the system memory, and a re-mapper is configured so that future accesses to the page are redirected to the redundant page.

DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) technology will eventually scale down to less than 20 nm feature size, leading to a decrease in memory cell capacitance and an increase in cell transistor leakage. The probability distribution of memory cell retention in system memory may be modeled by a normal distribution, but decreasing the feature size does not necessarily tighten the normal distribution, that is, the distribution will continue to exhibit tails with cells having a significantly reduced cell retention compared to the mean cell retention associated with the distribution.
Conventional techniques to address reduced cell retention include increasing the frequency of refresh operations. However, increasing the refresh frequency adversely impacts the available memory bandwidth and leads to an increase in standby power consumption. Alternatively, another conventional technique to address the issue of reduced cell retention is to employ an error recovery scheme such as block error correction (of codewords) used along with a refresh operation to read-correct-write the stored data. However, multiple-bit errors may occur within a codeword. Furthermore, multiple-bit error correction may adversely impact the DRAM die area.

Method and apparatus for multiple-bit DRAM error recovery


An apparatus and method for allowing avalanche photodiode based single-photon detectors to be driven by the same electrical circuit in gated and in free-running modes is proposed. The high-performance working of all the running modes relies on the capability of tuning the rise-time value of the electrical pulse driver which activates the avalanche photodiode in Geiger mode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of single-photon detection, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for allowing the driving of avalanche photodiodes in several single-photon detection operating modes with a single electronic circuit by enabling the tunability of the rise-time of the electrical signal used for activating the photodiode in Geiger mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A single-photon is the elementary quantum of the electromagnetic field. Recently the detection of single-photons has generated a lot of interest. On the one hand, it allows reaching the ultimate sensitivity in the detection of light. This is useful in applications such as spectroscopy, single-molecule detection, range finding or photoluminescence where the probed system emits or reflects only a small quantity of light, which cannot be detected with a classical detector.
Single-photon detection also allows the exploitation of the quantum properties of photons to study quantum optics and to perform tasks which are not allowed by classical physics, such as quantum key distribution (Nicolas Gisin, Grégoire Ribordy, Wolfgang Tittel, and Hugo Zbinden, "Quantum Cryptography", Rev. of Mod. Phys. 74, (2002), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto).
Good single-photon detectors working in free-running mode exist for visible and near-infrared wavelengths up to about 900 nm. At these wavelengths, Silicon avalanche photodiode operated in Geiger mode (S. Cova, M. Ghioni, A. Lacaita, C. Samori and F. Zappa, "Avalanche photodiodes and quenching circuits for single-photon detection, Appl. Opt. 35 (1996), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto) achieve simultaneously high detection efficiencies (up to 80%) and low dark count probabilities (below 100 counts/s). They also feature low timing jitter (50 to 500 ps depending on the type of detector). Their afterpulsing probability is low, which makes it possible to use a short deadtime after each detection and in turn to achieve counting rates as high as ten megahertz.
Unfortunately, the situation is radically different beyond a wavelength of 900 or 1000 nm. Silicon based detectors cannot be used at these wavelengths, because the energy of the photons is smaller than the bandgap of this material, making band to band excitation by optical absorption impossible.
These wavelengths are however of great scientific and technological interest. As attenuation reaches a minimum around 1550 nm in optical fibers, most practical optical communication systems, both classical and quantum, work at a wavelength close to this wavelength. For quantum communications, good single-photon detectors are needed to build receivers. In the case of classical communications, such detectors are useful for characterization instruments, such as optical time domain reflectometers. When shined into an eye, 1550 nm light is absorbed in the vitreous humor, before it reaches the retina. Because of this important property, this wavelength is considered as "eye safe". It is used in applications such as LIDAR and range finding, where strong light pulses are sent into the atmosphere and can possibly be reflected in uncontrolled and hazardous manners. As the reflected and backscattered intensities can be low, single-photon detectors are also useful in this kind of applications.
In most cases where single-photon detection is needed at a wavelength beyond 1000 nm, people use InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode operated in Geiger mode (Grégoire Ribordy, Jean-Daniel Gautier, Hugo Zbinden and Nicolas Gisin, "Perfomance of InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode as gated-mode photon counters", Appl. Opt. 37 (1998), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto). These detectors unfortunately exhibit a high afterpulsing probability due to fabrication quality issues. Because of this, free running operation is quite difficult to implement. Hence, they are used in gated mode in a large majority of the applications. The gated operating mode is implemented with a gate pulse driver which activates the avalanche photodiode in Geiger mode during the duration of the gate applied by the driver. The fabrication quality of InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes has, nevertheless, been strongly improved those last few years. Free running operation has been demonstrated (Robert Thew, Damien Stucki, Jean-Daniel Gautier, Hugo Thinden, Alexis Rochas, "Free-running InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode with active quenching for single photon counting at telecom wavelengths", Appl. Phy. Lett. 91 (2007), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto). Even if the free-running mode has lower noise performances than the gated mode, it is more and more appreciated by people working with asynchronous optical signals.
The best for a commercial single-photon device based on InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes is to give the possibility to the user to operate it either in gated mode or free-running modes. However, those two operating modes have some antagonistic requirements. Especially, when the detector is activated with short gates (width <5 ns), the rise-time of the gate needs to be very short. If the same rise-time value is used for long gate (>5 ns) or free-running operations, the overshot of the electrical signal implies an oscillation of the efficiency of the detector for a period of several nanoseconds after the rising edge of the electrical signal. This phenomenon avoids the capability of effectively driving the avalanche photodiode in all the operating modes with a single electronic circuit if it is impossible to tune the rising time of the electrical signal.
What is needed therefore, to allow the effective driving of avalanche photodiodes in all the possible single-photon detection operating modes with a single electrical driving circuit, is a technique which enables the tunability of the rising time of the electrical signal used for activating the photodiode in Geiger mode.

Apparatus and method for allowing avalanche photodiode based single-photon detectors to be driven by the same electrical circuit in gated and in free-running modes


An optical axis restriction surface, which restricts movement of a first lens frame in an optical axis direction, and a fixing slit, which is located in rear of the optical axis restriction surface, are formed on an end portion of a second lens frame. Lens frame hold portions, which restrict rotation of the first lens frame about an optical axis and movement of the first lens frame in a right-and-left direction, are formed on both sides of the fixing slit. The lens frame hold portions are provided with assembly reference surfaces which restrict movement of the first lens frame in an up-and-down direction. An engaging portion, which is engaged with the fixing slit, and two projection portions, which come in contact with the assembly reference surfaces, are formed on the first lens frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope including an objective optical system which guides an observation image to an image pickup element while varying a direction of guide by a prism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. H09-149883, for instance, discloses a side-viewing electronic endoscope which can exactly and easily dispose an optical axis of an objective optical system. In this side-viewing electronic endoscope, the objective optical system including a prism is precisely composed of two units by two frame members. Further, the two units are assembled by using position restriction means which comprises an engaging groove and a projection portion, whereby rotation about the axis is restricted (corresponding restriction in an up-and-down direction and restriction in a right-and-left direction) and back-and-forth movement in the axial direction is restricted (focus position adjustment). Thereby, in the side-viewing electronic endoscope, the optical axis is exactly and easily disposed in the normal position, and the optical performance is ensured.


An schedule-control method for managing and controlling projects is described. The method is implemented on components including an electronic user interface, relational database, and computational component. These components are designed to process input data in a well-defined format called a receivable/deliverable (rec/del) format. Using this format, the project is broken down into a series of smaller components or "tasks". Each task involves a contract between a supplier and a receiver, and results in the production of a "product". Suppliers and receivers can enter up-to-the-minute input data in the rec/del format concerning a particular product. Input data are entered through the electronic user interface which can be e-mail or a user-interface computer program. Data are entered into tables of the relational database in the rec/del format. The input data are then rapidly processed with the computational component to generate output data indicating the status of the project.

Large, complex projects typically produce items such as designs, components, tests, and reports. These items are supplied by one party and received by another. Variables such as request dates, due dates, costs, and specifications are associated with each item. Each variable must be coordinated and scheduled between multiple sets of suppliers and receivers to prevent cost overruns and delays in the project's completion.
Both the variables in the project and the complexity of organizing these variables increase with the project's size. The project, in turn, becomes more difficult to manage.
Manufacturing projects for one-of-a-kind items (e.g., a NASA spacecraft) are particularly difficult to manage. These projects typically include larger numbers of supplied and received items than projects for manufacturing similar, well-established items (e.g., automobiles). A NASA spacecraft, for example, includes a large number of specialty parts which are not commercially available. These parts must therefore be fabricated in-house or sub-contracted to outside firms. Such parts often require specialized testing and detailed performance reports. This introduces more supplied and received items, and thus even more variables, into the project.
Control methods are implemented by manufacturing firms to organize and facilitate completion of the project. A standard control method features a hierarchy of managers (such as Project, Area, and Technical Managers), each of whom supervise a group of employees responsible for completion of a portion of the project. During day-to-day operations, individual employees supply, receive, and/or deliver particular items of the project; the status of each item then reported to the supervising manager. Information is then collected, tabulated, and evaluated to manage the project.
Several problems exist with conventional methods for project management. The inventor recognized that these methods lack a structured methodology for defining, recording, and processing the multiple variables that are associated with the project. Instead, information is typically communicated from employees to supervisors, and then through the management chain. Eventually, the information is somehow used to determine the project's status.
Standard project management requires the information to be communicated from one party to another. Good communication between suppliers and receivers is needed for efficient project management. The inventor recognized significant advantages from recording information directly in a centralized database. Otherwise, all employees cannot receive updated, real-time information about the status of the project. A lack of information can result in mis-communications between suppliers and receivers. These factors become even more pronounced as the size and number of the project's variables are increased.
Applicants have developed a schedule-control method for managing and controlling projects to overcome these and other limitations. The method is implemented using an electronic user interface, relational database, and computational component. Each of these components work together to process input data in a special format that is defined herein as a "receivable/deliverable" (or "rec/del") format. Using the rec/del format, the method breaks down the project into a series of smaller components, referred to herein as "tasks". Each task involves a "contract" between a supplier and a receiver. The contract results in the production of a "product". Users can enter and access up-to-the-minute input data concerning a particular product or task from the rec/del system.
The schedule-control method includes several steps for receiving, processing, analyzing, computing and sending information for monitoring the status of the project. In a first step, suppliers or receivers enter the first set of input data to the method to identify the input and output products of their particular task. The first set of input data processed by the computer upon receipt are "bids". Bids are sent by suppliers and receivers over an electronic user interface and stored in the relational database of a computer.
The electronic user interface is either e-mail or a user-interface computer program. Both of these interfaces can be implemented on conventional personal computers connected and distributed over a local-area network (LAN) or over a wide-area network such as the internet. Each supplier and receiver must have access to a computer connected and distributed over the local-area or wide-area network. The combination of these features allows users to quickly and easily supply input data and access output data.
The input data within a bid identify a particular product by: 1) naming the product; 2) associating a receiver's identification number (i.e., an account identification code) with the product; 3) associating a supplier's identification number with the product; 4) associating the receiver's required delivery date with the product; and, 5) associating the supplier's available delivery date with the product. These input data are provided for each product in the project. A contract is formed when both the supplier and receiver agree to the criteria used to define the product.
The input data within the bid are then analyzed by the computational component to determine the "state" of each product in the project. For example, the states of a product include "reconciled", "date not agreed", "product not agreed", or "no impact". If one party changes one of the criteria during the course of the project, the product's state is no longer in agreement. This change must be reviewed and accepted by the other party to complete a new contract.
Each state includes different "comments" for describing the particular product. For example, a comment such as "completed" can be entered under the "reconciled" state; a comment such as "no deliverable" can be entered under the "product not agreed" state. The comments are sent as a first set of output data to the appropriate suppliers and receivers. These users can then negotiate and update the product's state by responding with new input data. For example, work performed or further negotiation may drive the product's state from "date not agreed" to "reconciled".
The negotiating process is repeated, and work on the contract is carried out, until the state is reconciled and the product is finished. The receiver ultimately determines when the product delivery date has been successfully completed.
The status of the entire project is determined by collectively processing the various states for each individual product or task. For instance, the states can be summed together. Once determined, the actual status of the project can be packaged as a second set of output data. Data are computed to generate real-time reports so that the status of the project can be determined at any particular time. These data can be accessed via the electronic user interface by the various suppliers and receivers involved with the project.
The second set of output data can be in the form of plots, charts (e. g. GANTT charts), and reports. These data can track a particular product or the entire project. In a preferred embodiment, the second set of output data is in the form of a plot comparing the project's actual status to its predicted status. Planning and performance reports serving as metrics for identifying problem areas can also be generated. Planning reports identify products where the delivery dates conflict with those requested by the receiver, the supplier is missing, or there is no receiver. Performance reports compare the actual and planned quantities of individual products over time.
All levels of the project's suppliers and receivers--ranging from high-level Project Managers to Technical Managers to Engineers--can use the schedule-control method to control and iterate their portion of the project. Users access a timely, robust set of processed data. Suppliers and receivers can predict future time periods which may require changes in the project's structure or adjustments in the deployment of the project's resources. Ultimately, the schedule-control method facilitates successful completion of the project.
The above-described techniques have many advantages when compared to conventional organizational methods. In particular, the rec/del format facilitates efficient communication between the suppliers and receivers of a particular product. Data are supplied and received by those directly involved with a particular area of the project. Input data in the rec/del format can be modified independently without modifying the schedule of the entire project.
Distributing the control of the project over a group of users is also advantageous. Individual users can focus more resources on monitoring and controlling the flow of products within the project. Less time is spent monitoring a single product and conveying and distributing data concerning the product to supervising managers.
Distribution of control also alleviates some of the responsibilities of the project manager. Personnel dedicated exclusively to planning the project are unnecessary, as each individual user has direct control over his or her plans. In effect, the schedule-control method becomes the project's centralized control center which simultaneously facilitates decentralized decision making. This decreases the probability of cost overruns, and increases the probability that the project will be completed according to plan.
The method is particularly effective when used with large, complex, one-of-a-kind projects. Such projects typically involve large numbers of interactions between suppliers and receivers, and consequently have large degrees of uncertainty in their schedules. For example, the method can be used to effectively manage projects such as the construction of a NASA spacecraft.


A pallet stop generally comprises a support frame, an internal enclosure, a rotating actuator, a pivoting stop, and a counterweight assembly. The rotating actuator has an upper arm portion that extends just above the surface of the enclosure. The enclosure is received in and supported by the support frame. As a pallet load moves across the enclosure, its leading edge will contact the upper arm portion of the rotating actuator, which causes it to rotate clockwise. A lower portion of the rotating actuator is positioned below the pivoting stop. As the rotating actuator rotates clockwise, the lower portion of the rotating actuator moves downwardly, thus allowing a counterclockwise rotation of the pivoting stop. Once the pallet load travels over the rotating actuator, the counterweight assembly causes the rotating actuator to return to the upright position to ensure a proper positioning of the pallet load.

The present invention relates to material handling systems and technology, and, more particularly, to a pallet stop for use in a pallet load transport system for moving pallet loads from a pick-up location to a deposit location.
In one common application of such a pallet load transport system, a pallet load is picked up from a mainline conveyor and deposited at an automatic storage and retrieval (ASRS) crane interface station. Alternatively, a pallet load may be picked up at the crane interface station and deposited onto the mainline conveyor. In any event, the pallet load system includes a shuttle car that moves between the mainline conveyor and the crane interface station to transport the pallet load.
In pallet load transport systems of the prior art, there is a pick-up and delivery (P&D) shuttle car that transports a pallet load between a mainline conveyor and a crane interface station. Specifically, the shuttle car is supported by and moves along a track between the mainline conveyor and the crane interface station. The shuttle car itself is generally comprised of a lower carriage and an upper carriage (or lift assembly), and the upper carriage can be raised or lowered relative to the lower carriage. Accordingly, as the shuttle car carries a pallet load between the mainline conveyor and the crane interface station, the upper carriage is commonly in a raised position relative to the lower carriage, but as the shuttle car approaches the mainline conveyor or the crane interface station, it is in a lowered position to pick-up or deposit a pallet load.
Furthermore, such prior art systems often include a spring-actuated pallet stop that is forced downward against the spring force as the pallet load moved over an upper surface of the stop. Once the pallet load clears the stop, the spring force causes the stop to raise and prevent the pallet load from moving back over the stop. However, because of the nature of the spring force, the upward force on the pallet load increases as it moved over the stop and the spring is further extended. Such increased upward force could actually cause the pallet load to be forced upward and off of the shuttle car, especially if the pallet load was unusually light. Additionally, because of the constant sliding motion of the pallet load over such a spring-loaded stop, wear can prove to be a problem, and the stop often gradually shifts position, making it less effective in ensuring proper positioning of a pallet load. Thus, there remains a need for an effective and reliable pallet stop for use with pallet load transport systems.

Pallet stop for pallet load transport system


A resonant inverter includes a first driver and a second driver for driving a first and second switching devices, respectively, a dead time generator for generating a first drive signal and a second drive signal respectively, a current-controlled oscillator for supplying, to the dead time generator, an output clock having a frequency determined based on a first current input to the current-controlled oscillator, and a current mirror for supplying the first current to the current-controlled oscillator in an amount proportional to a second current flowing through an external resistor. The current mirror includes a track/hold circuit, to supply the second current in an amount equal to an amount of the second current supplied before a variation in the amount of the second current, during a transition of an output signal between the first and second switching devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resonant inverter, and more particularly to a resonant inverter exhibiting a depressed duty variation.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a conventional resonant inverter 100. In FIG. 1 a voltage/current converter 110 includes an OP amplifier 111 and a transistor M3. Voltage/current converter 110 is connected to an external resistor RT. In operation, a reference voltage VREF is applied to a non-inverting terminal (+) of the OP amplifier 111. An inverting terminal (−) of the OP amplifier 111 and a source of the transistor M3 are connected to the external resistor RT. A current IC is drawn by the voltage/current converter 110 through the external resistor RT. A drain of the transistor M3 is connected to a current mirror 120. The current mirror 120 includes two transistors M4 and M5. The current mirror 120A outputs a mirror current Icm, proportional to a current IC. Mirror current Icm is applied to a current-controlled oscillator (CCO) 130.
The CCO 130 generates a square output clock CLK in accordance with the output from the current mirror 120. The output clock CLK is input to a dead time generator 140 which, in turn, generates a high-side input signal HIN and a low-side input signal LIN. The high-side input signal HIN is input to a high-side driver 150, whereas the low-side input signal LIN is input to a low-side driver 160. The high-side driver 150 controls a transistor M1 via the high-side input signal HIN. The low-side driver 160 controls a transistor M2 via the low-side input signal LIN. A source of the transistor M1 and a drain of the transistor M2 are connected to each other at an output node. A resonant tank 170 is connected to the output node. One of the functions of the resonant tank 170 is to be an output terminal of the resonant inverter.
FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram illustrating an operation of the resonant inverter of FIG. 1. The current IC can be expressed by the following Equation (1):
                    IC        =                  VREF          RT                                    (        1        )
The CCO 130 outputs an output clock CLK having an output frequency determined by Icm. When the transistors M1 and M2 are simultaneously turned on, the resonant inverter may be damaged due to short-circuit current flowing through the transistors M1 and M2. The dead time generator 140 prevents the transistors M1 and M2 from turning on simultaneously by an appropriate high-side input signal HIN and low-side input signal LIN. The dead time generator 140 introduces a dead time td, during which both the high-side input signal HIN and the low-side input signal LIN assume a low level, in short, both HIN and LIN are low. An output signal OUTPUT transitions during the dead time td. When the high-side input signal HIN is high, the transistor M1 is turned on and the transistor M2 is turned off. In this state, the output signal OUTPUT is high. On the other hand, when the low-side input signal LIN is high, the transistor M1 is turned off and the transistor 2 is turned on. In this state, the output signal OUTPUT is low.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram to illustrate an electrostatic coupling phenomenon occurring in the resonant inverter of FIG. 1. A parasitic capacitor Cp may be formed between the output node of the resonant inverter and the node where the external resistor RT and the voltage/current converter 110 are connected. The formation of the parasitic capacitor Cp may be caused by various factors, for example, various patterns on a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the resonant inverter is formed.
A consequence of the presence of the parasitic capacitor Cp can be that the current IC flowing through the external resistor RT can be influenced by the output signal OUTPUT. As a result, the duty and output frequency of the CCO 130 can vary. Although such a phenomenon can be suppressed by reducing the capacitance of the parasitic capacitor Cp, this reduction can be difficult in practice. The influence of a current IP flowing through the parasitic capacitor Cp may also be reduced by increasing the current IC. In this case, however, the size of an oscillating capacitor (not shown) internally included in the CCO 130 may need to be increased, occupying excessive chip area.

Resonant inverter exhibiting depressed duty variation


A hanger assembly for suspending an external store from an aircraft includes left and right side panels in hinged connection to a center panel, where the panels, in combination, form a band for substantially circumferentially surrounding the external store. The center panel includes an interface for engagement with an attachment pod on an aircraft, and the side panels are fastened in tension to each other diametrically opposite the interface. The length, thickness and material strength of the band are selected to minimize the bending moment, which is induced in the hanger assembly based on loading experienced during operational use, at a region of the band at which an interface is established with the aircraft.

Various hanger assemblies for suspending an external store from aircraft exist in the prior art. These hanger assemblies are used, for example, to suspend aerial missiles, which are released while an aircraft is in flight, or, alternatively, suspend instrumentation pods, which generally are maintained fixed to the aircraft for indefinite periods.
A hanger assembly for suspending a missile to be launched from aircraft often includes a T-shaped hanger member which functions as the mechanical interface between the hanger assembly and a launcher mechanism fixed to an aircraft. In the prior art, the T-shaped member is attached directly to, or to a thin narrow strap that is clamped around, the external casing of the missile, and is configured to slide along a guiding rail of the launcher. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,393,105 and 5,970,842, incorporated by reference herein.
It is well known that a hanger assembly is subjected to heavy wear during use. The weight of a suspended external store itself, which can be substantial in the case of missiles, applies a load upon the hanger assembly, particularly at the region of the hanger assembly including the mechanical interface. Further, aerodynamic loading on the external store, which can be caused by vibration, shock and wind shear during flight, in combination with the weight of the suspended store, applies a heavy load upon the hanger assembly. If the loading on the hanger assembly is severe enough, the member establishing a mechanical interface with the aircraft can bend or deflect, which can result in failure of the entire hanger assembly.
In addition, the loading that can occur during operational use of the hanger assembly can apply stress to the casing of an external store, which in turn can cause the store, such as an instrumentation pod or a missile, to break in half and fall off or hit the wing of the aircraft. In many military applications of prior art hanger assemblies, it has been found that a hanger assembly which is bolted directly onto a missile does not provide the casing of the missile with adequate stiffness to avoid failure of the casing at the region associated with the hanger assembly.
Several prior art hanger assemblies are in the form of a band having an aperture through which an electrical connection between the external store and the aircraft can be established. For these hanger assemblies, the repetitive vibration and shock occurring during operational use generates stresses at the region of the band where the aperture is defined, which sometimes can result in failure of the band at such region.
Failure of a hanger assembly or an attached external store during flight in a military aircraft application is highly undesirable, because of the potential of damage to the military aircraft and of the adverse affect on the ability of the aircraft to counter an enemy aircraft.
Therefore, a need exists for a hanger assembly for use on an aircraft which is easy to manufacture and use, provides for flexible use among various types and sizes of external stores, reduces loading at a region of the hanger assembly that interfaces with the aircraft and reduces loading upon the casing of an external store suspended by the hanger assembly.


An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a fixing portion, a cartridge including a photosensitive member, a transfer unit disposed facing the photosensitive member of the cartridge, and a separation member configured to separate the photosensitive member from the transfer unit and including a fixing portion. The cartridge is configured to be disposed in a first position in the main body where the photosensitive member is separated from the transfer unit and in a second position in the main body where the photosensitive member contacts the transfer unit. When the separation member is fixed in the main body by engagement of the fixing portion of the separation member to the fixing portion of the main body, the cartridge is disposed in the first position, and when the separation member is removed from the main body, the cartridge is disposed in the second position.

A known electrophotographic image forming apparatus, e.g., a printer, includes a main body and a cartridge that contains developer therein and is detachably attachable to the main body.
When such a printer is packed in a carton, it may be considered that the cartridge is mounted in the printer to reduce the size of the carton.
For example, there is a color image forming apparatus including process cartridges having photosensitive drums, a conveyance belt disposed facing the photosensitive drums, and transfer rollers disposed inside the conveyance belt and facing the photosensitive drums via the belt. When the color image forming apparatus is packed in a carton, the process cartridges are mounted in the color image forming apparatus.
The color image forming apparatus further includes state changing members each configured to move a transfer roller into or out of contact with a corresponding photosensitive drum. The color image forming apparatus is configured such that the state changing members maintain the transfer rollers separated from the photosensitive drums until the power is turned on for the first time, and moves the transfer rollers into contact with the photosensitive drums when the power is turned on for the first time.


The selective filtering of light by polarization interference may be used to enhance vision and/or protect eyes from harmful light rays. For example, such filtering may be used in sunglasses, color corrective eyewear or protective eyewear. The selective filtering of incident light may provide any desired spectral transmission (including visible light and light not visible to the eye) and is performed by a pair of polarizing elements that sandwich a retarder stack. The filtering structure may be formed by multi-layer polarizing structures and may be formed by fabricating sheet laminates that are die cut to form inexpensive laminates. The laminates may be flat or curved in one (e.g., wrap-around) or more dimensions.

Sunglasses, which suppress glare, may be made with films having moderate neutral polarizing efficiency. Sunglasses, which selectively filter transmitted light, may be made with multilayer thin-films, diffractive structures that selectively reflect light or dyes with chromatic absorption. Most of these sunglasses have spectral profiles with a small first derivative such that the slope at any point in the transmission spectrum is shallow. Such spectra are generally suitable to produce a desired hue and photopic transmission. Other sunglasses have spectral profiles with more aggressive slopes. For example, certain blue blocking sunglasses made from suitable dyes strongly suppress blue transmission, improving sharpness at the expense of color balance. Other sunglasses block one band of inter-primary light (500 nm cyan or 580 nm yellow light) and may partially block the other band of inter-primary light with rare-earth doped glass or with multi-layer coating technology. Unfortunately, rare-earth doped sunglasses have a fixed spectrum and multi-layer coating sunglasses may have an objectionable image due to light reflection. Multi-layer sunglasses may also suffer from angle sensitivity effects.
Glasses including dielectric mirrors to enhance the vision of those with color vision deficiency are known. As with other multiple layer coatings, glasses with dielectric mirrors may have an objectionable image due to light reflection and may suffer from angle sensitivity effects.
Retarder stacks as described in the present application are N linear retarders that have been designed using Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter techniques, wherein the impulse response of the N retarders generate at least N+1 output impulses from a polarized impulse input. As such, a placing retarder stacks between neutral polarizers forms FIR filters, and these FIR filters can be designed using standard signal processing methods. The amplitude of each responsive, output impulse is determined by the orientations of the retarders (and the analyzing polarizer) relative to the input polarization of the input impulse. Algorithms are used to determine the orientations of the retarder films and the analyzing polarizers so as to satisfy a prescribed impulse response. Further details of the design approaches for the described retarder stacks are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/754,091, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Filter for enhancing vision and/or protecting the eyes and method of making a filter


A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one actuator operatively connected between the reel and the bedknife, and a sound detector. A controller is signal-connected to the actuator and the sound detector and coordinates the reel-to-bedknife clearance adjustment. During adjustment, reel-to-bedknife clearance is reduced by the actuator until a contact sound between the reel blades and the bedknife is detected and signaled to the controller, which then reverses the actuator and increases the clearance by a pre-selected precise amount.

Conventional mowing machines have an attached cutting reel unit or multiple units. Such machines typically move the cutting reel unit across the ground adjacent to the machine. Grass beneath the cutting reel unit is mowed as the machine travels forward. Conventional reel mower vehicles can include a plurality of arm members that extend from the vehicle, each arm having a cutting reel unit attached to its outer end portion.
The cutting reel units typically include front and rear skids or rollers that support or carry the cutting reel unit across the surface of the ground during mowing operation. Such vehicles and cutting reel units are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,343,680; 5,412,931 and 5,459,984.
Conventional cutting reel units provide a plurality of blades coupled together to form a generally cylindrical reel that rotates about a transverse axis. The blades pass in close proximity to a bedknife to create a scissoring action for cutting vegetation such as grass. A frame typically houses the reel and bedknife. Wheels, rollers or skids are coupled to the frame for engaging or rolling across the ground to operatively support the reel and bedknife at a predetermined height above the ground. The height at which grass is cut is therefore determined by the height at which the wheels, rollers or skids carry a frame, reel and bedknife above the ground. Cutting reel units are typically used for mowing golf courses or other areas were a relatively low and accurate cut is desirable.
Reel mowers cut properly only if the reel-to-bedknife clearance is properly adjusted. Currently, the reel-to-bedknife clearance is manually adjusted. The adjustment is made on a regular basis, typically before use, or made when poor cut quality is detected during or after use. Sometimes the adjustment is made such that the reel touches the bedknife and then the reel and bedknife are allowed to wear into place. Adjustments are also made after repair or replacement of the reels or the bedknife.
Specifically, the reel-to-bedknife clearance is adjusted by moving the reel away from the bedknife to allow a specific gap—that is even across the length of the reel and bedknife—between both the reel and bedknife. The gap is then measured by inserting a feeler gauge (of the same thickness as the adjustment gap) between the reel and bedknife. The adjusted gap between the reel and bedknife is determined to be accurate when the feeler gauge can be moved smoothly between the reel and bedknife across the entire length of the reel and bedknife, such that there is only a slight drag of the feeler gauge as it is moved across this length. To verify reel and bedknife sharpness and a correct reel-to-bedknife adjustment, a single strip of paper is often inserted between the reel blade and bedknife while the reel is turned forward by hand. If the reel cuts the paper, the sharpness and adjustment are usually determined to be correct. The quality of the cut of the piece of paper across the single sheet can be examined to indicate whether the clearance is correct.
Reel adjustments are also necessary when a cutting reel unit is "re-tasked," in effect, adjusted for cutting another type of grass or grass to be cut to a different height. For example, a cutting reel unit could be re-tasked from an adjustment appropriate for a golf course fairway to adjustment appropriate for a golf course green, the two areas having different grass height requirements. However, re-tasking a cutting reel unit is time-consuming. To avoid re-tasking cutting reel unit, many golf courses have cutting reel units or cutting machines which remain designated or pre-adjusted for particular grass requirements, in effect, a designated group of cutting units for different areas of the golf course. This technique necessitates multiple cutting units or cutting machines. Multiple cutting units or machines can result in higher capital costs and maintenance costs.
The present inventors have recognized that the cut quality of a reel mower is largely determined by the accuracy and precision of adjustment of several key factors. The present inventors have recognized that proper mower adjustments are often hard to achieve through manual adjustment methods.
The present inventors have recognized that the reel-to-bedknife adjustment is one such adjustment that needs to be adjusted accurately and precisely, but is often hard to achieve on individual mowing reels.
The present inventors have recognized that ease, speed, accuracy and precision of these adjustments can be improved through automated adjustments.
The present inventors have recognized that a need exists for dynamic adjustment capability for multi-area mowers or mowers that are capable of mowing multiple areas having different cutting requirements. The present inventors recognize that a need exists to be able to re-task a cutting reel unit dynamically to allow a single machine to mow multiple area types with different cutting reel unit setup requirements.
The present inventors have recognized the need to provide reel-to-bedknife contact detection, and to make reel-to-bedknife clearance adjustments during operation of the cutting reel unit.
The present inventors have recognized the need to improve the adjustment process to ensure a shorter required time, ease of adjustment, and improved reel operation quality.

Method and apparatus for setting and maintaining reel-to-bedknife clearance


Methods and apparatuses are provided for dynamic frequency scaling of an intermediate frequency (IF) signal within a radio device.

1. Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses for use in a radio device.
2. Information
Wireless communication systems are fast becoming one of the most prevalent technologies in the digital information arena. Satellite and cellular telephone services and other like wireless communication networks may already span the entire globe. Additionally, new wireless systems (e.g., networks) of various types and sizes are added each day to provide connectivity among a plethora of devices, both fixed and portable. Many of these wireless systems are coupled together through other communication systems and resources to promote even more communication and sharing of information. Indeed, it is not uncommon for some devices to be enabled to communicate with more than one wireless communication system and this trend appears to be growing.
Another popular and increasingly important wireless technology includes navigation systems and in particular satellite positioning systems (SPS) such as, for example, the global positioning system (GPS) and other like Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). SPS radios, for example, may receive wireless SPS signals that are transmitted by a plurality of orbiting satellites of a GNSS. The SPS signals may, for example, be processed to determine a global time, a range or pseudorange, an approximate or accurate geographical location, altitude, and/or speed associated with a device having the SPS radio.

Radio device having dynamic intermediate frequency scaling


A toothbrush device including a brush member and a grip. The brush member includes an electric terminal accommodation chamber and an electric terminal plate accommodated in the electric terminal accommodation chamber. The electric terminal plate includes a contact, which comes into contact with a contact portion of a coupler shaft of the grip through a window providing communication with a receptacle of the brush member. The brush member includes a holding portion supporting the coupler shaft. The receptacle includes a fastener mount portion and an engaging piece which cooperates with the fastener mount portion to hold the coupler shaft therebetween. The engaging piece and the contact portion are arranged at the same side of the axis of the coupler shaft. The fastener mount portion is arranged opposite the contact portion with respect to the axis of the coupler shaft.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-140453 describes an example of a toothbrush device that uses a potential gradient to improve a plaque removal effect. Such a toothbrush device includes a grip (main body) and an exchangeable brush member. A basal end of the brush member is connected to a distal end of the grip. A coupler shaft projects from the distal end of the grip. The brush member includes a receptacle formed in the basal end. The coupler shaft is inserted into the receptacle. Further, the coupler shaft has a basal end electrically connected to one of the electrodes of a battery, which is retained in the grip. When attaching the brush member to the grip, a distal end of the coupler shaft moves into the receptacle of the brush member to a position at which an electric terminal plate is located. An electric terminal accommodation chamber accommodates most of the electric terminal plate. However, the electric terminal plate has a contact that is exposed through an opening, which communicates the electric terminal accommodation chamber and the receptacle. Through this opening, the contact of the electric terminal plate resiliently contacts the distal end of the coupler shaft. The other electrode of the battery in the grip is electrically connected to an exterior electrode portion arranged on an outer surface of the grip. When a person brushes his or her teeth, the person's hand holding the grip touches the exterior electrode portion. This forms a closed circuit when the brush member comes into contact with the person's mouth. As a result, the battery sends a very weak current into the mouth via the coupler shaft and the electric terminal plate.


A gas filtering device for a light gas tank includes a tank, a control valve, a filter, a position block and a position bolt. The control valve is combined with a center hole of the tank body and has a passageway communicating with a hollow interior of the tank, with the filter positioned under the lower end of the passageway. Thus fuel gas is filtered become pure with water and miscellaneous matters removed by the filter when it flows out, so fuel gas may burn completely, with heat energy elevated in burning.

This invention relates to a gas filtering device for a light gas tank, particularly to one combined on a tank and a filter combined under a lower end of a gas passageway in a control valve for filtering fuel gas stored in the tank when it is to be used so that water and miscellaneous matters in the fuel gas may be removed and the fuel gas may become pure to burn completely.
Common conventional gas tanks always have a control valve combined with a tank for controlling fuel gas stored therein to flow out for use. The tank is made of steel, and in cold and wet weather, moisture may penetrate into the tank to become water mixed in fuel gas. In addition, fuel filled in the tank may also contain some water and miscellaneous matters more or less. Besides, the steel tank itself may produce corrosion by oxidization, resulting in miscellaneous oxidized matters mixing in fuel stored in a tank. Then fuel gas mixed with water and miscellaneous matters produces a large quantity of carbide in burning, possible to block the nozzle of a gas appliance. In addition, it will burn with red color, with heat gain decreased naturally. So its burning is unstable, either resulting in incomplete burning or a large quantity of carbon monoxide or dioxide, giving rise to danger of a user or dying out of an oven fire.

Gas filtering device for a light gas tank


In one embodiment, a first interface of a switch interconnects with a broadband modem within a wide area network (WAN), while a second interface of the switch interconnects with a WAN interface of a router, where the router provides a gateway between the WAN and a local area network (LAN). Additionally, a web server is provided at the switch, where the web server is reachable to the WAN on the first interface and to the LAN on the second interface. The switch may then inspect traffic received at the first and second interfaces, and determines, based on inspecting, whether to transparently forward the traffic between the first and second interfaces or to redirect the traffic to the web server.

As users grow and mature in their Internet knowledge and experience, they begin to realize that any given home network can be part of "the cloud". Current thinking and positioning of "the cloud", however, is that it is something "out there, outside the home". If so, then one person's home network is part of another person's "cloud" and vice versa. In actuality, all home networks should be part of the cloud.


A surgical retractor device for manipulating organs during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The retractor device includes a loop of material at a distal end of the instrument which is extendable and retractable from the elongated body portion of the instrument. The loop of material may be detached to be wrapped about an organ and reattached to secure the organ. Once the organ is secured, the loop of material may be retracted into the body portion of the instrument to manipulate the organ.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to a surgical retractor which includes a grasping mechanism formed as a loop which may be wrapped around tissue or organs for manipulating the tissue or organ during an endoscopic surgical procedure.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures, it is often necessary to provide instrumentation to move or manipulate tissue and organs in the area of operation. Generally, laparoscopic surgical procedures involve the introduction of carbon dioxide to insufflate a body cavity, e.g., the abdomen, to provide a working area for the surgeon. After the abdomen is insufflated, a trocar device is utilized to puncture the peritoneum to provide an access port through the abdominal wall for the introduction of surgical instrumentation. Generally, a trocar cannula is placed through the abdominal wall for each piece of surgical instrumentation which is necessary to carry out the surgical procedure. In this manner, the surgeon may view the surgical site through an endoscope provided through a first trocar cannula, and utilize a second trocar cannula to introduce a surgical instrument such as a grasper, scissors, clip appliers, stapler, and any other surgical instrument which may be necessary during that particular surgical procedure.
Although the insufflation gas expands the abdomen to permit the surgeon to view the surgical site, it is often necessary to manipulate the internal organs or tissues to provide a clear path to the surgical objective. In the prior art, it has been known to utilize grasping tools which pull on the organs or tissues to move them out of the way to provide a clear visual path for the surgeon. However, these devices may damage the organs or tissues which they grasp, and consequently these devices are utilized only when absolutely necessary. In order to avoid the problems associated with grasping tools, endoscopic retractor mechanisms have been developed which are utilized to push and hold the tissue or organs away from the surgical site. Typically, these devices include paddles and/or fingers which expand after the retractor has been inserted into the abdomen through the trocar cannula. Such devices are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,028 to Suma, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,789 to Taguchi et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,505 to Josefsen. Other retractor devices include collapsible fingers joined by webs of resilient material which expand to form the retractor. These devices are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,042 to Sinnreich and U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,363 to Hasson. Other devices include retractors having expandable frames for supporting expandable latex sheaths or covers, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,133 to Pena.
While one or more of the aforementioned devices has been successfully used in laparoscopic procedures, larger organs, such as the intestine and/or stomach, tend to be too large and too heavy to be properly supported by these retractors. Consequently, the retractors have difficulty in clearing the surgical field to provide access for the surgeon to the surgical site. Due to the small size of the instrumentation, particularly the trocar cannula through which these instruments must pass, it is difficult to provide a retractor mechanism which can support or otherwise manipulate large and pliable organs such as the intestines or stomach.
Therefore, a need exists for a retractor mechanism which may be utilized to manipulate large organs without damaging the tissue of these organs, and which is reliable as far as the strength and durability of the instrument is concerned. A need also exists for a retractor instrument which may clear the surgical site of heavy organs and tissue, where the instrument is small in relation to the organ and may be utilized with conventional trocar cannulas to provide access to the site during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure.
The device disclosed herein overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art and provides a lightweight retractor device which allows the surgeon to manipulate large organs and other pliable tissue.


In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, an interface associated with the pump designed to receive input instructions from a user, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller determines a blockage condition based on a power consumption value of the motor, and further includes an auto-restart function that is designed to allow the pump to automatically restart after detection of the blockage.

Conventionally, a pump to be used in an aquatic application such as a pool or a spa is operable at a finite number of predetermined speed settings (e.g., typically high and low settings). Typically, these speed settings correspond to the range of pumping demands of the pool or spa at the time of installation. Factors such as the volumetric flow rate of water to be pumped, the total head pressure required to adequately pump the volume of water, and other operational parameters determine the size of the pump and the proper speed settings for pump operation. Once the pump is installed, the speed settings typically are not readily changed to accommodate changes in the aquatic application conditions and/or pumping demands.
Generally, pumps of this type are often operated in a non-supervised manner. However, a number of problems can develop in the aquatic application that can pose a risk to damage of the pump and/or even injury to a user (i.e., a swimmer) of the aquatic application. Examples of these problems can include a deadhead condition and an entrapment condition. In one example, a deadhead condition can be caused by an obstruction or the like in the plumbing downstream from the pump. The obstruction can be caused by various reasons, such as sedimentary build-up that occurs over time, a foreign object that is lodged in the plumbing, or a valve that has been inadvertently closed. The obstruction can cause damage to the pumping system, such as by a "water hammer" effect and/or by excessive loading of the pumping system. In another example, entrapment can occur when part of a user's body becomes attached to a suction drain (e.g., pool drains, skimmers, equalizer fittings, vacuum fittings and/or intakes for water features, such a fountains, slides or the like) because of the powerful suction of the pumping system. Though most pools and spas include suction drain grates, the grates can be loose, missing, and/or damaged over time. Thus, when a user stands or sits on the loose, missing or damaged drain grate, the suction from the pumping system can hold the user underwater and can cause drowning or other injuries.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a pump that could be readily and easily adapted to respond to a deadhead and/or entrapment condition to protect the users and/or the pumping system. Further, the pumping system should be responsive to a change of conditions and/or user input instructions.

Anti-entrapment and anti-dead head function


Compositions comprising Methylobacterium with anti-fungal activity, methods for controlling plant pathogenic fungi, and methods of making the compositions are provided.

One-carbon organic compounds such as methane and methanol are found extensively in nature, and are utilized as carbon sources by bacteria classified as methanotrophs and methylotrophs. Methanotrophic bacteria include species in the genera Methylobacter, Methylomonas, Methylomicrobium, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylosphaera, Methylocaldum, and Methylocella (Lidstrom, 2006). Methanotrophs possess the enzyme methane monooxygenase that incorporates an atom of oxygen from O2 into methane, forming methanol. All methanotrophs are obligate one-carbon utilizers that are unable to use compounds containing carbon-carbon bonds. Methylotrophs, on the other hand, can also utilize more complex organic compounds, such as organic acids, higher alcohols, sugars, and the like. Thus, methylotrophic bacteria are facultative methylotrophs. Methylotrophic bacteria include species in the genera Methylobacterium, Hyphomicrobium, Methylophilus, Methylobacillus, Methylophaga, Aminobacter, Methylorhabdus, Methylopila, Methylosulfonomonas, Marinosulfonomonas, Paracoccus, Xanthobacter, Ancylobacter (also known as Microcyclus), Thiobacillus, Rhodopseudomonas, Rhodobacter, Acetobacter, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Arthobacter, and Nocardia (Lidstrom, 2006).
Most methylotrophic bacteria of the genus Methylobacterium are pink-pigmented. They are conventionally referred to as PPFM bacteria, being pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs. Green (2005, 2006) identified twelve validated species in the genus Methylobacterium, specifically M. aminovorans, M. chloromethanicum, M. dichloromethanicum, M. extorquens, M. fujisawaense, M. mesophilicum, M. organophilum, M. radiotolerans, M. rhodesianum, M. rhodinum, M. thiocyanatum, and M. zatmanii. However, M. nidulans is a nitrogen-fixing Methylobacterium that is not a PPFM (Sy et al., 2001). Methylobacterium are ubiquitous in nature, being found in soil, dust, fresh water, sediments, and leaf surfaces, as well as in industrial and clinical environments (Green, 2006).
Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat, barley, and other cereals. This pathogen is also responsible for ear and stalk rot in corn. In addition to causing significant reductions in yield and grain quality, F. graminearum produces harmful mycotoxins that are a major concern in the animal feed industry. Furthermore, there is an increasing problem in farming with fungal pathogens such as F. graminearum becoming resistant to a wide range of chemical fungicides. Thus there exists a need in the farming and animal feed industries for the development of effective new approaches for control of fungal pathogens.
Rhizoctonia solani is a polyphagous basidiomycete fungus, with a broad host range that encompasses many economically important monocot and dicot plants. R. solani is known primarily as a damping off pathogen because it attacks young seedlings, either preventing their emergence from the soil or killing them shortly after emergence. This soil-borne pathogen persists for years in soil both by surviving as a saprophyte and by forming dormant survival structures known as sclerotia. Aside from fumigation, which is often not feasible due to expense and environmental concerns, multi-year rotations away from host crops, chemical seed treatment, and cultural practices that promote plant health are preferred methods of disease management. None of these treatments, however, is completely effective, particularly in cool, wet years that promote pathogen growth and stress seedling health.
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a polyphagous ascomycete fungus, with a host range that encompasses thousands of dicot plants. White mold, caused by S. sclerotiorum, on soybean and other leguminous crops is of particular agronomic importance. Under cool, moist environmental conditions, this disease causes premature senescence and drastically reduced yields. There is no available complete genetic resistance to white mold and partial resistance is only marginally effective. Further, fungicide applications specifically for white mold are only applied in years when disease is highly likely and must be applied within a narrow window to provide effective protection.
Sudden death syndrome of soybean first appeared in Arkansas in 1971 and has since spread to states across the Midwestern region of the United States (Rupe et al. 1991). The disease is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium virguliforme, previously known as Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, and is exacerbated by conditions of high soil moisture and soil compaction (Ringler, 1995; Roy et al. 1997). Symptoms of SDS include a mosaic-like appearance of leaf tissue in which main veins remain green while other leaf areas become chlorotic or necrotic, reddish discoloration of xylem tissue, blackening or rotting of root tissue, and significant reductions to overall plant health and yield. From 1994-2010, soybean yield losses to diseases caused by Fusarium species were estimated at c. 36.2 million bushels/year and the majority of these losses were attributed to F. virguliforme (Wrather et al. 2010).
Lack of effective disease management measures is the primary reason that the majority of soybean yield losses to Fusarium spp. during this time can be attributed to F. virguliforme. Due to the soilborne nature of this disease, there are few options to eradicate the pathogen once it has been introduced. Consequently, cultural methods that promote plant health, resistant cultivars, and seed treatment are preferred SDS management tactics. None of these tactics provides complete control of the disease, and options for resistant cultivars and seed treatments labeled for SDS are limited. Further, iLevo (fluopyram; Bayer CropScience), the primary seed treatment option for SDS, is expensive and has a negative impact on early-season plant health. Applications of PPFM bacteria in conjunction with other strategies to combat SDS provide an attractive method for improving suppression of this economically important disease and combating the significant yield losses to which it contributes.


A trailer backup assist system includes a sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer backup assist system also includes a steering input device that provides a backing path of the trailer. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a controller that generates a steering command for the vehicle based on the hitch angle and the backing path. The controller generates a countermeasure for operating the vehicle when the sensor fails to sense the hitch angle.

Reversing a vehicle while towing a trailer can be challenging for many drivers, particularly for drivers that drive with a trailer on an infrequent basis or with various types of trailers. Systems used to assist a driver with backing a trailer frequently estimate the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle with a sensor that determines a hitch angle. The accuracy and reliability of this hitch angle estimation can be critical to the operation of the backup assist system. It is also understood that reliable hitch angle estimation can be useful for additional vehicle features, such as monitoring for trailer sway.

Sensor failure mitigation system and mode management


Apparatus for feeding paper webs and the like, for producing cardboard tubes, characterized in that it comprises a plan modular structure (1) with a development mostly longitudinal and exhibiting two opposite surfaces (1a, 1b), one (1a) of the surfaces supporting pairs of shafts or axes (2, 2′) horizontally oriented parallel to the one surface and located at a preset distance from the ground, each of the shafts or axes (2, 2′) intended to support at least a reel (3, 3′) from which a paper web unwinds, so that the output webs run parallel and superimposed to each other along the other surface (1b) of the structure, and in that it comprises automatic means, associated with the structure (1), for the cutting and mutual gluing of the webs which unwind from two different reels (3, 3′) of a same pair of shafts (2, 2′).

A technique commonly adopted for the production of cardboard tubes is one making use of tube-forming machines provided with a spindle on which there are wound—to form a series of spirals being superimposed and offset of a predetermined pitch—a plurality of webs of paper or similar material suitably glued in correspondence of a surface intended to result in facing relationship to the spindle. The gluing is not operated on the first web of the series, as it is intended to directly make contact with the spindle. The motion of the webs is ensured by a belt wound around the spindle which, in addition, causes the rotation and the advancement of the tube under formation with respect to the spindle's longitudinal axis.
A tube-forming machine so constructed and operating is described in WO 95/10400 and WO 95/10399.
The webs, being spirally superimposed and mutually glued to form the tube, unwind from corresponding feeding reels.
Each of the reels is mounted on a corresponding support associated with means for gluing the respective web. A plurality of supports, independent from each other, are mounted in such a way as to form in their entirety a kind of fan-like figure, so that each web is directed towards the spindle of the tube-forming machine according to a corresponding angle of incidence. In relation to this, the devices presently known for supplying webs to tube-forming machines are relatively bulky, take up excessive space and force the webs to run along cross routes and in different planes, thereby contributing to a poorly rational exploitation of the available spaces at the production site.

Apparatus for feeding paper webs and the like, for the production of cardboard tubes


Events in an interactive application (e.g., a location-based parallel reality game) are triggered by a user's real-world activity meeting one or more criteria. A background process executing on the user's client device periodically extracts activity data from an activity monitoring application (e.g., a fitness application) and provides it to a server hosting the interactive application. The server determines whether received activity data triggers an event and, if so, sends a notification of the event to the client device.

Location-based games use the real world as their geography. Parallel reality games are a type of location-based game that use a virtual world that parallels the real-world geography. Players can interact and perform various game objectives in the parallel virtual world by navigating and performing actions in the real world. However, when actions are primarily undertaken with reference to the virtual world, the virtual world can act as a barrier to players experiencing the virtual world as truly parallel to the real world. Rather, players may experience the real and virtual worlds as distinct and relatively unconnected.

Background process for importing real-world activity data into a location-based game