The present invention includes a cellular pilot signal detector or searcher for use in a cellular mobile communications unit. The signal detector uses a matched filter to detect a pilot signal transmitted from a cellular base station. The matched filter includes a plurality of taps and a plurality of delays located between adjacent taps. The signal components of a received digital signal are held on the taps of the matched filter by the delays. The matched filter compares the signal components of the received signal to an expected or searched for digital pattern. The matched filter puts out a relatively large signal if the received digital signal matches the expected digital pattern. The matched filter can also be used in parallel with a correlator.

The present invention is related to detection of pilot signals by a digital cellular communications mobile unit. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus of using a matched filter in a digital cellular communications mobile unit to search for and detect pilot signals generated by cellular base stations.
In a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum communication system, a shared frequency band is used for communication with all base stations within that system. An example of such a system is described in the TIA/EIA Standard TIA/EIA-95-B entitled xe2x80x9cMobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular Systemxe2x80x9d, incorporated herein by reference. The generation and receipt of CDMA signals is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307 entitled xe2x80x9cSPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS USING SATELLITES OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERSxe2x80x9d and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459 entitled xe2x80x9cSYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING WAVEFORMS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEMxe2x80x9d, both; of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
Radio Frequency (RF) signals are exchanged between a respective mobile unit and one or more base stations. Mobile units do not communicate directly with one another. Base stations communicate with a base station cellular or personal communication system controller, referred to herein as a base station controller (BSC) using various media such as ground based wires or a microwave link, for example. The BSC can route calls to a public switching telephone network (PSTN) or can route packets to a packet switched network, such as the Internet. The base station also coordinates the operation of base stations within the system during soft handoff for example.
TIA/EIA-95 is one example of a CDMA communication system. Communication from a mobile unit to one or more base stations in a TIA/EIA-95 CDMA system takes place over shared frequency channels each of which occupies approximately 1.25 MHz of radio frequency bandwidth. More specifically, communication signals occupying a given frequency band are discriminated at a receiving station through the spread spectrum CDMA waveform properties based on the use of a high rate pseudonoise (PN) code. A PN code is used to modulate signals transmitted from the base stations and mobile units. Signals from different base stations can be separately received at a given mobile unit either by the discrimination of different PN codes, and/or by the discrimination of shifted versions of the same PN code. The high rate PN spreading also allows a receiving station to receive a signal from a single transmission station where the signal has traveled over distinct propagation paths. Demodulation of multiple signals is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,490,165 entitled xe2x80x9cDEMODULATION ELEMENT ASSIGNMENT IN A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF RECEIVING MULTIPLE SIGNALSxe2x80x9d and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,390 entitled xe2x80x9cDIVERSITY RECEIVER IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEMxe2x80x9d, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
The various channels within a given xe2x80x9cforwardxe2x80x9d (base station to mobile unit) TIA/EIA-95 CDMA channel include data channels, a synchronization channel, a pilot channel, and a set of paging channels, all transmitted from the base station to mobile units. The pilot channel carries a reference signal, commonly known as the pilot signal. The pilot signal is a regularly repeated digital pattern of xe2x80x9cchipsxe2x80x9d, wherein each chips is represented by a single binary digit. In the exemplary embodiment, the pilot signal is a pattern that is 32,768 xe2x80x9cchipsxe2x80x9d in length, which repeats at a chip rate of 1.2288 MHz. Thus, the pattern repeats itself every 26.6 milliseconds (ms).
The pilot provides for time reference and for amplitude and phase tracking. The pilot signal allows mobile units to identify and become synchronized with the relative phase of a base station that is within range of the mobile units"" communication capability. Synchronization with a base station allows the mobile unit to further refine its timing and receive data signals from the base station.
However, as the mobile unit moves, the base stations with which it is synchronized may become more distant or become blocked, and the signal from various stations may become too weak for continued reception. Further, as the mobile unit moves, a closer base station that was previously blocked may become unblocked. The more powerful signal from the closer base station may then suppress the reception of the weaker signal from the more distant, synchronized base station.
Accordingly, a mobile unit must periodically perform searches for pilot signals transmitted from other, alternative base stations in order to identify a base station with a stronger or higher power pilot signal with which to synchronize. In general, in order to facilitate these searches, the synchronized base station sends signals to the mobile unit that identify phase offsets of pilot channels for base stations neighboring the synchronized base station. Typically, to avoid pilot signal overlap, the pilot signals of neighboring base stations are phase shifted by at least 64 chips from each other. Thus, if a mobile unit is synchronized with a base station transmitting a pilot signal at a relative phase shift of 128 chips, the synchronized base station could have neighboring base stations broadcasting at relative phase shifts of 64 chips, 192 chips and, perhaps, 256 chips, for example. The mobile unit can then search for neighboring base station pilot signals around the specific phase offsets identified by the currently synchronized base station (e.g. 64, 172 and 256) on a periodic basis to determine whether to synchronize with another base station.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an earlier signal detection circuit or xe2x80x9csearcherxe2x80x9d 10 that can be used in a mobile unit to check the power of pilot signals at certain given phase offsets or to search for received pilot signals over an entire sequence of phase offsets. Searcher 10 includes a despreader 12, a correlator 14, an energy storage and sorting module 16, and a processing control 18.
The base station creates a pilot signal having two components: an in-phase, or xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x9d component; and a quadrature, or xe2x80x9cQxe2x80x9d component. Using these two components, the base station modulates or xe2x80x9cspreadsxe2x80x9d the pilot signal. Most often, the specific protocol used in spreading a CDMA signal is referred to as Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) spreading. QPSK spreading is discussed in detail, for example, in R. Prasad, CDMA for Wireless Personal Communications, (Artech House, 1996). After receiving a signal and passing the signal through an analog to digital converter (not shown), despreader 12 performs a mathematical algorithm on the I- and Q-components of a signal to ensure that the correct signal magnitude is detected. The mathematical algorithm used for PN despreading involves the exclusive-oring (XORing) of expected I- and Q-components with the I and Q components received. The specifics of the mathematical algorithm, as well as the specific components used in a typical despreader are well known in the art.
Correlator 14 compares an input despread signal from despreader 12 and compares it with a reference signal, commonly termed an expected signal. The expected signal can include a portion of the 32,768 chip pattern of the PN pilot signal provided to the correlator at a certain phase offset. Correlator 14 produces an energy output indicative of the level of correlation between the input despread signal and the reference signal. For example, while an exact match of all compared chips will yield a high energy output, and a match of 50% or less of all compared chips will yield a low energy output, various energy outputs between the high and low range will be yielded in accordance with a match that falls between these levels.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a greatly simplified correlator 14. A detected signal is input into a comparator 112 at input 114 and an expected signal is input into comparator 112 at input 116. For purposes of the present application, it is convenient to discuss the signal transmitted by a base station as a digital signal composed of 1""s and xe2x88x921""s. The comparator 112 can perform, for example, a multiplying function such that if the digital components of the signals at inputs 114 and 116 match (e.g. 1,1 orxe2x88x921,xe2x88x921), the output 118 is 1, or high, and if the digital components of the signals at inputs 114 and 116 do not match (e.g. xe2x88x921,1 or 1,xe2x88x921 ) the output 118 of comparator 112 is xe2x88x921or low.
Output 118 is then fed into integrator 120 which sums the outputs of comparator 112 over the total period of the portion of the PN signal used as the expected signal. For example, if the expected signal is 1024 chips in length, then the integration time will be (1024)(0.81 microseconds)=829 microseconds, because a chip arrives every 0.81 microseconds in the preferred embodiment. In this way, the output 14 of the correlator will have a relatively large magnitude when the detected signal matches the expected signal.
Additionally, even when there is a match of the pilot signal with the expected signal, the magnitude of the correlator output will be larger for a stronger signal. This is because as a signal becomes weaker, that is, if it is transmitted over a relatively long distance or reflected off various objects, it degrades. This degradation results in changes of the individual chip values of the pattern of the transmitted pilot signal. Thus, for a weaker signal, even though the pilot signal is being transmitted at a phase offset that is being searched for, it is likely that fewer chip values will result in matches, and the integrator of the correlator will therefore not sum as many positive values as would be summed were the signal stronger. Thus, the output of the integrator is a relative representation of the strength or energy of a given phase pilot signal that was searched for. The larger the magnitude of the correlator output 14, the stronger or higher energy of the detected pilot signal.
The output of the correlator 14 is fed into energy storage and sorting module 16. Energy storage and sorting module 16 can perform a number of functions. It can place in memory output energies from correlator 14 that are above a certain threshold. It can also place in memory the corresponding phase offset of the pilot signal that generated the stored energies. Alternatively, it can place in predetermined memory locations corresponding to given pilot phase offsets (such as offsets corresponding to neighbors of the synchronized base stations) the energy output of the correlator 14 at that phase offset. Specific components used for, and the operation of, typical energy storage and sorting modules are well known in the art and generally include RAM for storing energy levels and phase offsets, and logic for sorting the different energy levels.
Processing control 18 provides general control for the mobile unit and makes determinations concerning with which pilot signal, and therefore which base station, the mobile unit should synchronize. It can access the energy information in energy storage and sorting module 16 for data on which to base such determinations. Processing controls such as processing control 18 typically include a microprocessor, memory, and busses, the configuration of which is well known in the art.
Because processing control 18 provides general control for the mobile unit, it may only be able to allocate a small amount of time to checking the energy storage and sorting module 16 to determine if the mobile unit should be re-synchronized with another base-station. Additionally, the sequential collection of information concerning magnitudes of pilot signals having phase offsets other than that of the currently synchronized pilot signal can be time consuming. Thus, from time to time, the mobile unit may remain synchronized with a pilot signal of a given base station even though it could synchronize with the pilot signal of another closer, or otherwise more suitable, base station instead. This can undesirably lead to the signal jamming or weak signal difficulties described above.
Additionally, due to reflections off of buildings, hills or other obstacles and/or atmospheric conditions, the neighboring base stations may not appear to be phase shifted by exactly 64 chips from the synchronized base station. And, depending on the location of the synchronized base station, there may be other base stations in the area for which phase offsets were not provided by the synchronized base station. Thus, it may be desirable to search the full sequence of 32,768 phase offsets for pilot channels, not just pilot channels that are phase shifted by predetermined multiples of 64 chips from the currently synchronized base station. The searching, sorting, storing and processor control checking associated with such full sequence searches can consume considerable processing control resources.
Methods and apparatus are also known for determining when to handoff a signal from one base station to another as a mobile unit moves. One such method using a matched filter is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,578, to Yuen, et al., for a xe2x80x9cMATCHED FILTER BASED HANDOFF METHOD AND APPARATUS.xe2x80x9d However, the matched filter disclosed by Yuen must be programmable. Such a programmable matched filter can be relatively expensive to manufacture and can require a relatively large amount of power to operate and require extra circuitry. This can be disadvantageous as mobile cellular units typically operate with a limited power supply battery and have limited space for circuitry.
Accordingly, cellular pilot searching improvements are desired. In particular, such searching should be able to be performed relatively quickly while still encompassing a broad portion of the full PN pilot sequence. A searcher should also allow for relatively high frequency checks of high priority pilot phase offsets, such as those of base stations that neighbor the synchronized base station. Additionally, such searching should require a relatively small amount of processing control time to monitor. Also, the searcher should be relatively low cost to manufacture, consume relatively low power, and be relatively compact.
The present invention includes a signal detection circuit or xe2x80x9csearcherxe2x80x9d in a mobile unit of a digital cellular communications system. The signal detection circuit includes a matched filter for comparing a received digital input pattern with a predetermined expected digital pattern. The matched filter includes a plurality of taps, each tap for detecting a single digital signal component. The matched filter also includes at least one summer connected to the taps. The summer generates a relatively large signal when the digital signal components detected by the plurality of taps match the predetermined digital pattern.
The signal detection circuit can also include a correlator that is connected in parallel with the matched filter. The correlator is also for comparing the received digital input pattern with the predetermined digital pattern. Preferably, both the matched filter and the correlator are separate from a central processing control of the mobile unit.
The matched filter is advantageously able to search through an entire sequence of pilot signal phase offsets in a relatively short period of time. By including the correlator as part of the detection circuit, a parallel search for a small number of specific pilot signal phase offsets can advantageously be performed in an even shorter period of time. Additionally, if the matched filter and correlator are separate from a central processing control of the receiver, a minimum of processor resources are necessary to monitor search results from the matched filter and correlator.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a method for detecting a digital cellular communications signal. According to the method, the digital signal is input into a matched filter. The matched filter compares a digital pattern of the input digital signal to a predetermined digital pattern. The matched filter then generates a relatively high output signal if the digital pattern of the input digital signal matches the predetermined digital pattern.

Method and apparatus for pilot search using a matched filter


By means of the interlocking methods skillful applying on the combination of the blanks, the supporting structures of the inflation products are easily constructed by these complementary blanks, and the same features of these products can be achieved by the economical usage of the sheet bars. Also, the strength of these products can be increased by the multiple supporting area of the interlocked blanks. This interlocking methods can be not only satisfied the all purposes of the inflation products but also met the standards of the environmental requirements because of its less scraps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an interlocking method for manufacturing the inflation products. More particularly, the present invention relates to the sheet bars which are punched into a plurality of pairs of complementary blanks, wherein a single blank or both the complementary blanks from the sheet bar can be allocated in a sophisticated arrangement with a joint member so as to form the supporting structure of inflation products, and therefore the scrap can be eliminated.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the present inflation products, such as the air mattresses, the family-pool, and the self-inflating air-bed, etc., the flexible plastics are the principle sheet bar for composing the structure of these products. Basically, the structure of any inflation products comprises at least two pieces of plastic sheets jointed together and the closed space is formed therebetween. Then, the inflation product can be worked as long as the adequate air is injected into the space between two pieces of the sheets. The following will separately describe the conventional structures of these inflation products: the air mattresses, the family-pool, and the air-bed, and make a comparison between the same products with the interlocking inflation products according to the present invention.
The family-pool, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, is in comparison to the interlocking pool shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D;
The first conventional air bed, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, is in comparison to the interlocking air bed shown in FIG. 2C to FIG. 2E;
The second conventional air bed, as shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, is in comparison to the interlocking air bed with the annular tension belts shown in FIG. 3D to FIG. 3F;
The third conventional air bed, as shown in FIG. 4A, is in comparison to the interlocking air bed with the arrangement of the interlocking tension belts shown in FIG. 4B to FIG. 4G;
The air mattress, as shown in FIG. 5A, is in comparison to two kinds of interlocking mattresses air shown in FIG. 5B to FIG. 5J.

Interlocking method for manufacturing the inflation products


A socket, for electrically connecting an IC package and a printed circuit board, comprises a base received with a plurality of contacts, a stiffener surrounding the base and bolts mounting the socket to the printed circuit board. The stiffener has a horizontal plate, which has engaging holes by drawing, so the engaging hole has a sidewall extending beyond the horizontal plate to keep the bolt in the engaging hole of the stiffener.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, especially to a land grid array (LGA) connector for electrically connecting a semiconductor package to a printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional socket 5 for electrically connecting an IC package and a printed circuit board, comprises a base 51 received a plurality of contacts (not shown) and has a mating face 51, a stiffener 52 surround the base 51, a level (not shown) and a cover (not shown) pivotally assembled to the stiffener 52 and a plurality of bolt 53 retaining the stiffener 52 to the printed circuit board, wherein the stiffener 52 has engaging holes 520 for the bolts 53 passing through. However, since the bolt 53 is a small element and easily drops out of the socket when assembling the socket. Usually, a limitation member is added to retain the bolt to the stiffener, when the socket mounts to the printed circuit board, the limitation member also can abut against the printed circuit board to adjust an extending length of the bolt downwardly beyond the printed circuit board. Finally, the bolt engages with a backplane below the printed circuit board and mounts the socket to the printed circuit board.
However, since a thickness of the stiffener is too small, so an inner sidewall of the hole can not reliably restrict the bolt, the bolt may swing that may enhance an assembly difficulty thereof to the printed circuit board.
Hence, an improved connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.


A head-up display device for a vehicle includes a housing including a guide plate forming first and second surfaces thereof, the housing mounted on a dashboard of a vehicle, a display disposed in the housing for generating an image, a mirror disposed opposite from the display for reflecting the image provided by the display, a combiner device including a combiner for providing the image reflected from the mirror to a driver, and for moving vertically in opposed first and second directions relative to the housing, a shutter device including a shutter disposed on an upper portion of the housing for opening and closing the combiner in a sliding manner, and an operation device disposed in the housing for engaging a sliding movement of the shutter with a movement of the combiner device.

Generally, a driver operates a vehicle while checking vehicle information, such as the running speed of the vehicle, the rotating speed of an engine and the fuel amount displayed on an instrument panel. Since the instrument panel is located on a dashboard of the vehicle, the driver has to lower his or her head to check the vehicle information, and the driver's gaze may deviate from the front of the vehicle, leading to potentially adverse driving situations.
A head-up display (HUD) device for a vehicle has been developed as a device for aiding a driver's safety and convenience, and for effectively transmitting the vehicle information to the driver.
The HUD device for vehicle allows information of the instrument panel to be displayed on, or near, a front window glass in accordance with a height of the driver's eyes so that the driver may easily check the vehicle information.
Therefore, the driver may safely operate the vehicle by confirming the vehicle information without taking his or her eyes away the front of the vehicle while driving the vehicle.
The HUD device for vehicle may include a front window type HUD device to project an image to, or on, the front window glass and a combiner type HUD device to project an image to a separate combiner rather than the front window glass.
Unlike the front-window type HUD, the combiner-type HUD may include a shutter mounted at a front to protect the combiner and an operation device to drive the combiner and the shutter.
However, the combiner-type HUD does not cause inconvenience when driving-related information needs to be obtained from the combiner, but may disturb the driver in driving because the combiner in front of the driver distracts the driver's attention when there is no need for driving-related information.
Therefore, the position of the combiner needs to be adjusted such that the combiner is positioned in front of the driver only when the driving-related information is required. Also, the position of the combiner needs to be adjusted in consideration the driver's eye height by ascending/descending or pivoting to prevent a distortion of a virtual image displayed to the driver.

Head-up display device for vehicle and control method of head-up display for vehicle


An apparatus and method for abrasive flow machining the orifice of a workpiece by using an abrasive media whereby the apparatus may accommodate abrasive media having a range of viscosities by modifying the diameters of pistons and cylinders in positive displacement pumps within the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to abrasive-flow machining and, more particularly, an abrasive-flow machining apparatus, capable of processing an orifice within a part by using either a high-viscosity media, a low-viscosity media, or a media having a viscosity therebetween. The invention is also directed to a method for such processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Abrasive-flow machining is the process of polishing or abrading a workpiece by passing a viscous media having abrasive particles therein under pressure over the workpiece or through an orifice extending through the workpiece. For purposes of this discussion, media will be discussed as having high viscosity, in the range of between 150-1,000,000 centipoise and media having low viscosity, in the range of 1-150 centipoise. However, the distinction between low-viscosity and high-viscosity may not occur precisely at 150 centipoise and it should be appreciated that such a distinction is made to promote understanding of the subject invention. One example of high-viscosity media is a visco-elastic plastic media such as a semisolid polymer composition. One example of a low-viscosity media is a liquid abrasive slurry that includes abrasives suspended or slurried in fluid media such as cutting fluids of honing fluids. The fluid may have a rheological additive and finely divided abrasive particles incorporated therein. The rheological additive creates a thixotropic slurry.
In the past, abrasive-flow machining for high-viscosity media was performed using one type of abrasive-flow machine and abrasive-flow machining for low-viscosity media was performed utilizing an entirely different abrasive-flow machine.
In particular, high-viscosity media requires higher pressures for mixing and for flowing over or through a workpiece. Pressures in the range of 4,000 psi may be necessary for proper flow of high-viscosity media through the orifice of a workpiece. Additionally, high-viscosity media are typically thixotropic, which means the specific viscosity of the media is dependent upon the shear imparted to the media. In many applications, a pre-specified viscosity is required and, therefore, the high-viscosity media must be treated to satisfy that specific viscosity value. Conditioner stations accomplish this task by subjecting the high-viscosity media to shear until the desired viscosity is obtained. However, such desired viscosity may require pressures in excess of 800 psi to produce the desired shear and thereby obtain the desired viscosity.
Finally, the volume of high-viscosity media that must pass through the orifice of the workpiece to accomplish the desired result is typically less than the volume of low-viscosity media that may be passed through the same orifice to accomplish a desired result. Therefore, while high-viscosity media requires higher pressures for both conditioning the media and processing the workpiece, the volume of fluid necessary for such a task is less than for a low-viscosity media operation. It can then be appreciated that for a high-viscosity media, higher pressures and lower volumes dictate sizing of equipment in a specified manner.
On the other hand, when mixing and flowing a low-viscosity media, low pressures but high volumes are normally required. As an example, conditioning a low-viscosity media may be accomplished using pressures on the order of 150 psi, and such conditioning is intended to mix abrasive particles within the low-viscosity media to provide a homogenous mixture. Such low-viscosity conditioning is different from conditioning of high-viscosity media, which requires imparting shear to adjust the viscosity level of the media. Additionally, to force the low-viscosity media through the orifice of a workpiece, pressures on the order of 1,500 psi may be necessary.
When using a high-viscosity media to process the orifice of a workpiece, it has been found that accurate control of the volume of media through the orifice of the workpiece is a very effective manner of determining when the orifice has been sufficiently processed. This method may also be used for processing low-viscosity medium. Additionally, for low-viscosity media, the media may be applied to the orifice of a workpiece under constant pressure and the flow rate is monitored until a target flow rate is obtained, at which time the process is terminated. In the alternative, the media may be applied to the orifice of the workpiece at a fixed flow rate and the pressure monitored until a target pressure is obtained, at which time the process is terminated. Therefore, not only are the pressures and volumes different between low-viscosity and high-viscosity media processing, but the techniques for measuring and terminating these processes may also be different.
FIG. 1 illustrates a nozzle 1 having an orifice 2 extending through the wall 3 of the nozzle. The nozzle has a first end 4, and a second end 6. The orifice 2 has a wall 8 along its length. The behavior of high viscosity media when processing the orifice wall 8 is different than the behavior of low-viscosity media. In particular, both low-viscosity and high-viscosity media tend to condition the edges at the first end 4 of the orifice 2, while only high-viscosity media tends to polish the wall 8 from the first end 4 toward the second end 6. While a nozzle 1 having an orifice 2 will be used as an example for the method and apparatus described herein, it should be appreciated the subject method and apparatus may be applied to a wide variety of workpieces having orifices.
In many instances, an individual engaged in abrasive-flow machining has a need to process a part or parts using both high-viscosity media and low-viscosity media and, using the current technology, that user is forced to purchase two separate machines, one dedicated to high-viscosity media and the other dedicated to low-viscosity media. Not only does this contribute to expense, but it requires maintenance of two separate machines and consumes additional space on the factory floor. An abrasive-flow machining apparatus and method is desired to alleviate the need for two separate abrasive-machining apparatus for the use of high-viscosity media and low-viscosity media for processing a workpiece and to provide a single apparatus capable of using both, albeit one at a time, of either high-viscosity media or low-viscosity media for processing a workpiece.
A first embodiment of the invention is a system for abrasive flow machining an orifice in a workpiece wherein the system is capable of using abrasive media having a range of viscosity values, wherein the system is comprised of:
a processing station having a processing pump and a processing pump actuator to drive the pump, wherein the pump is supplied with media and wherein the pump forces media through the workpiece orifice to machine the orifice and wherein the pump is adapted to accommodate one of either
a primary processing piston and a primary processing cylinder, wherein the primary processing piston has a diameter and wherein the primary processing piston is slidingly positioned within a primary processing cylinder or
an alternate processing piston and an alternate processing cylinder, wherein the alternate processing piston has a diameter different than the primary processing piston diameter and wherein the alternate processing piston is slidingly positioned within an alternate processing cylinder, and
wherein the processing pump may utilize the primary processing piston and primary processing cylinder for pumping a low viscosity media through the orifice and may utilize the alternate processing piston and alternate processing cylinder for pumping a higher viscosity media through the orifice.
A second embodiment of the invention is a method of modifying a device used for abrasive flow machining with an abrasive media having a viscosity for forcing the media through an orifice of a workpiece, wherein the device has a processing station comprised of a processing pump and a processing pump actuator and wherein the processing pump has a primary processing pump cylinder and a primary processing pump piston with a primary diameter slidably within the primary cylinder for forcing the media from the processing station into the orifice, wherein the method is comprised of the step of modifying the diameter of the primary processing pump piston cylinder and the primary processing piston to accommodate media of different viscosities.
A third embodiment of the invention is a system for abrasive flow machining an orifice of a workpiece, wherein the system has
a processing station for introducing media through an orifice in a workpiece;
a return station, wherein the return station has a double acting piston and the piston is comprised of a return piston slidable within a return piston cylinder, wherein the piston cylinder with the piston in a retracted position accepts media discharged from the processing station and wherein the piston in the extended position forces media from the return station; and
wherein the piston has a rod attached thereto and each of the piston and the rod have a bore extending therethrough such that when the piston is urged toward the extended position, media is forced through the bore and is directed toward the processing station.

High precision abrasive flow machining apparatus and method


Apparatus and method for calibrating a display, such as a raster display, copier, liquid crystal display (LCD) or a printer is disclosed. The processor, under the control of an algorithm, generates adjustment images with a symbol that appears light on dark when misadjusted in one direction; dark on light when misadjusted the other way; and disappears at the point when the display is adjusted correctly. The invention can be used to calibrate brightness, color, gamma and sharpness.

The invention provides an innovative approach to calibrating displays. Prior art display calibration systems either required an expensive photometer, or were very subjective. Simple and objective calibration was a desired feature but unattainable in the prior art.
Examples of prior art techniques include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,091,411; 4,914,506 and 4,101,928 which disclose methods for adjusting saturation and color hue that are unrelated to the subject invention except in a tangential manner.
Aldus Photostyler.TM. in an example of a personal computer application running under windows that has image enhancement features. Photostyler is a professional color image processing application for use with Microsoft.RTM. Windows. It includes a rudimentary display calibration feature for initializing the display prior to enhancing the images.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,846 discloses a mechanical device for unrolling a test pattern over a display screen to adjust color and intensity appropriately. The test pattern is unrolled from the mechanical device on a spring loaded roller that resembles a window shade.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,447 discloses a method for verifying the calibration of cameras for photographing images generated from electronic data. The camera is initially calibrated using optical densitometers to bring the camera into a preselected initial calibration. After the initial calibration, a calibration pattern is displayed and photographed to produce a reference photograph. The calibration pattern includes at least two brightness and contrast calibration regions, each region having a background and a plurality of subregions. In each region, the subregions each have progressively greater contrast with the background portion such that the number of visible subregions varies with brightness and contrast settings. The number of visible subregions of each calibration region is recorded. At a subsequent time, the calibration is again verified by displaying the same calibration pattern and comparing the number of visible subregions with the recorded numbers of visible subregions.
None of the prior art references teach an objective instrumentless display calibration system or method.

International Business Machines Corporation


Differential pressure, countergravity casting apparatus includes a vertically-parted mold stack comprising a plurality of side-by-side mold members disposed on an underlying mold drag. First and second cam shafts are rotatably disposed inside a vacuum box confronting the mold stack and are rotated to engage respective first and second end mold members of the mold stack to clamp the mold stack sealingly together sans glue. Upper ends of the cam shafts extend above the ceiling of the vacuum box and are operatively connected to an actuator linkage for effecting cam shaft rotation in a manner to clamp the mold stack together or in a manner to release the mold stack after casting.

A vacuum-assisted, countergravity casting apparatus using a gas permeable mold is described in the Chandley et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,108 issued July 20, 1982 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,396 issued Aug. 19, 1986. Typically, the vacuum-assisted, countergravity casting apparatus includes a casting mold having a porous, gas permeable upper mold member (cope) and a lower mold member (drag) sealingly secured together at a common horizontal parting plane, a vacuum box confronting the gas permeable upper mold member and means for immersing the bottom of the lower mold member in an underlying molten metal pool while evacuating the vacuum box to draw the molten metal upwardly through one or more ingate passages in the lower mold member into one or more mold cavities formed between the upper and lower mold members.
Typically, the upper and lower mold members comprise gas permeable, resin-bonded sand mold members which are self-supporting and adhesively secured (glued) together at the common horizontal parting plane to minimize leakage of molten metal at the parting plane.
Improvements in vacuum-assisted, countergravity casting apparatus have eliminated, in some cases, the need to glue such self-supporting upper and lower mold members together at the horizontal parting plane. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,828,011; 4,809,767; 4,825,933; and 4,858,672 disclose resilient means or rigid means in the vacuum box for pressing the upper mold member into sealing engagement against the lower mold member sans glue at the horizontal parting plane when the mold is mounted to the mouth of the vacuum chamber.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum-assisted, countergravity casting apparatus wherein a mold stack comprised of a plurality of mold members disposed side-by-side at upright (e.g., vertical) parting planes is disposed atop an underlying mold drag and confronted by a vacuum chamber equipped with cam shaft means therein for holding the mold members in sealed engagement at the parting planes sans glue.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum-assisted, countergravity casting apparatus having means for holding a mold stack sealingly engaged against an underlying mold drag while the mold members are held in sealed engagement at upright parting planes between adjacent mold members of the stack.

Differential pressure, countergravity casting apparatus using a vertically parted mold stack clamp mechanism


The present invention relates to a funcidally active principle (fungicidal agent) obtainable by cultivation of fungi of the genus Phaeoramularia or Cercospora. The principle can be used for controlling fungi in plants and animals, including mammals.

Fungi are at present controlled in plants by applying synthetic inorganic or organic fungicides to the area to be treated. Such fungicides are costly and energy consuming in their production, and often they are not very effective in combating the fungi. This may often be due to climatic or environmental conditions prevailing in the area or time of application. Also, the use of a fungicide over a prolonged period of time tends to select for fungi which are tolerant to the fungicide. Most of the known fungicides being alien to the ecosystems wherein they are spread also tend to accumulate and eventually exhibit undesired side effects.
For these and other reasons it is desirable to develop biological fungicides that are easily digested or degraded in nature and do not consume the large amount of energy required for the chemical synthesis of most known fungicides.
The genus Cercospora is known worldwide as the cause of leaf spot diseases on a large number of hosts of different genera. Some species of Cercospora are known to produce different metabolites. For example, C. betiocola produces fulvic acid (Sakaki et al., Agric. Biol. Chem. 45(5):1275-1276 (1981)) and a yellow phytotoxin (Martin et al., Proc. Int. Bot. Congr. 13:296 (1981)).
C. kikuchii produces cercosporin (Matsueda, S., Takagaki, K., Shimoyama, M., and Shiota, A. Studies on fungal products. V. Antimicrobial aspects of Quinone derivatives and Yakugaku Zasshi 100(9): 900-902 (1980)) and ergosterol-5,8-peroxide (Matsueda, S., Shimoyama, M., Imaizumi, T., Tsushima, Y., Studies on fungal products 4. Biological effects of ergosterol-5,8-peroxide. Yakugaku Zasshi 102(4): 347-351 (1982)). Matsueda et al. found cercosporin to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli and Candida japonica. Cercosporin has been isolated as red crystals, Pfizer Handbook of Microbial Metabolites McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. N.Y. Toronto London from Shimpei Kuyama and Teiichi Tamura. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79:5725-5726 (1957).
C. arachidicola produces an anthraquinonoid metabolite (Stoessl, A., Stothers, J. B., Minor anthraquinonoid metabolites of Cercospora arachidicola. Can. J. Chem. 63(6): 1258-1262 (1985)), and C. cruenta produces metabolites structurally related to abscisic acid (Takayuki Oritani, Kyohei Yamashita. Isolation and structure of 4'-hydroxy-.gamma.-ionylidene acetic acids from Cercospora cruenta, a fungus producing (+) -Abscisic acid. Agric. Biol. Chem. 51(1): 275-278 (1987)), such as mutasteine (Japanese Patent No. 48920 issued 861027). C. rosicola produces abscicic acid (Japanese Patent Application No. 192674 filed 8211102).
C. fusimaculans has been isolated from a number of grasses (Ellis, M. B., More dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England (1976)) and has been reported to cause foliar disease or sorghum spp. (Wall, G. C., Mughogho, L. K., Frederiksen, R. A., Odvody, G. N. Foliar disease of sorghum spp. caused by Cercospora fusimaculans. Plant Dis. 71(8): 759-760 (1987)) and Bajra Pennisetum typhoides (Patel, K. S. A. Cercospora fusimaculans leaf spot disease of Bajra Pennisetum typhoides in Gujarat. Curr. Sci. (Bangalore) 42(1): 34). So far there has been no recording of C. fusimaculans producing a fungicidally active principle.

Cercosporal fungicide compositions and methods of use


This invention relates to methods for activation of T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) and for inhibiting tyrosine kinase signalling in an individual. The invention concerns a method for preventing or treating a disease or disorder in an individual, wherein said disease or disorder is curable by inhibiting tyrosine kinase signalling, and a method for preventing cancer, or preventing or inhibiting cancer growth, invasion or metastasis in an individual, based on activating T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP). The invention also concerns pharmaceutical compositions useful in the methods.

The publications and other materials used herein to illuminate the background of the invention, and in particular, cases to provide additional details respecting the practice, are incorporated herein by reference and set forth in the Bibliography.
Integrin-mediated cell adhesion regulates a multitude of cellular responses including proliferation, survival and cross-talk between different cellular signalling pathways1. Thus far, integrins have been mainly shown to convey permissive signals enabling anchorage-dependent receptor tyrosine kinase signalling2,3. In response to cell adhesion, integrins activate certain cytoplasmic signalling pathways directly and modulate signalling by growth factor receptors. indirectly. The cytoplasmic domains of integrins are essential in mediating these functions4-7. However, they lack intrinsic catalytic activity and require interactions with cytoplasmic proteins for signalling. Although collagen is a very abundant protein in the human body, relatively little is known about signalling of the four collagen binding integrins, α1β1, α2β1, α10β1 and α11β1. Integrin α1β1 is a receptor for collagens and laminins. Its a-subunit has been shown to associate with caveolin-1 and thus recruit signalling adaptor protein Shc8. This in turn leads to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and increased survival and proliferation of fibroblasts on collagen9. In addition, the conserved region found in all integrin a-cytoplasmic tails has been shown function in focal adhesion assembly via the association with paxillin, talin and focal adhesion kinase10. However, thus far signalling pathways specifically activated by α1 integrin alone have remained unidentified.

Method for activating T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase for therapeutic applications


Methods and compositions for treating skin conditions in animals, which tend to have higher skin pH than humans, including wounds, ulcers, rashes, burns, abrasions, and other irritations and relevant injuries are provided. The invention contemplates the use of an aqueous or emollient medium having non-occlusive properties with one or more pH raising ingredients in a composition specifically designed to deliver oxygen to the skin's surface.

The ability to provide oxygen to skin tissue is critical for many skin conditions in animals, including wounds, rashes, ulcers, saddle sores, burns, and abrasions. Insufficient oxygenation of compromised tissue will result in slow healing, infections, scar development, and in the worst cases, tissue death and amputation.
The effect of oxygen tension on wound healing has been extensively studied. (For a review, see Whitney, J. D. (1989)). Wound healing is dependent upon several processes including proliferation of fibroblasts, collagen synthesis, angiogenesis and re-epithelialization. Animal studies have shown that several of these processes are affected by the subcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (O2). For example, supplemental oxygen can lead to increased rate of collagen deposition, epithelialization and improved healing of split thickness grafts. Increased subcutaneous oxygen has also been shown to improve bacterial defenses.
Various methods of administration of oxygen gas in humans, either through inhalation of the gas, or by topical treatment with the gas have been disclosed, including administering oxygen gas to a patient in a hyperbaric chamber.
While a lack of oxygenation can be one cause of skin inflammation in both animals and humans, a second source of causality can be a lowered pH, or reduction, of the skin. While mammalian animals and humans share the same skin compositions and healing processes, mammalian animals sometimes have higher skin pH levels than do humans. For example, healthy horse skin tends to have pH levels around 7.4, and different breeds of dogs can have skin pH levels ranging from approximately 6.8 to 8.6, while the average human skin pH is approximately 4.8. Acidification of skin is associated with diaper rashes and bedsores in humans, and is also associated with conditions such as skin hot spots on dogs and saddle sores on horses, as well as other skin conditions and wounds.
Experts in the veterinary field have long held that alkaline treatments to both human and animal skin make the skin more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, such as rain rot and ringworm, as alkaline agents neutralize the skin's acid mantle, which has been seen as critical protection against such infections (see, Skin Deep, by Dr. Eric Witherspoon, TheHorse.com, January 2009, and A sensitive skin to protect, publications.royalcanine com).
Increased pH is also thought to be a symptom of any number of skin conditions, including eczema, contact dermatitis and atypical dermatitis (see, Alkaline pH Skin Problems, Andra Moldav, Apr. 20, 2010). For these reasons, nearly all pH-adjusting skin compositions, both for human and veterinary uses, have tended towards formulation for reduced, not increased, pH.
Dermatitis develops when the skin is subjected to conditions that breakdown the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the outer layer of skin and is composed of multiple layers of keratinocytes, with the number of layers varying according to the age and species of animal. The main purpose of this part of the skin is to reduce water loss, repel microbial infection, protect deeper layers, and provide a water-repellant layer. Damage to this layer can occur, for example, when an animal's skin is exposed to agents that lower the skin pH and result in the breakdown of the stratum corneum. Although moisture alone will loosen this layer and allow for friction irritation to occur, breakdown by agents such as urine and fecal enzymes can reduce, or acidify, the skin resulting in chemical irritation. Further, animals are more likely than humans to cause secondary irritation and abrasions by scratching and biting at already-irritated skin.
Environmental hazards such as moisture, contact with bacteria infused water, injuries from skin scratching, shampoo and/or other detergents and skin treatments can cause irritation and hot spots. More specifically, friction or pressure weakens the stratum corneum and eventually causes injury in both humans and animals. These wounds have been found to be at a lower pH than the recognized healthy norm for the relevant animal. Therefore, upward adjustment to the pH of the wound or skin irritation often provides an opportunity for healing. In this regard, the pH levels of skin are comparable to the effects of lowered pH in aquatic environments, which results in lower levels of oxygen content in water, thereby damaging or destroying both aquatic plant and animal life.
Despite the weight of expert opinion in the field against the use of pH-increasing skin products, it is known that increased pH levels and oxygenation promote healing of wounds or skin conditions, whether such conditions arise from external stimuli or from internal processes, such as allergic dermatitis or eczema. In either case, the symptoms may respond positively to a pH raised environment both in counteracting acidification of the skin and in providing increased oxygenation via the higher pH composition.
Pressure-inflicted skin conditions such as saddle sores on horses or collar sores on cats and dogs, like bedsores in human hospital patients, can occur when the skin is exposed to friction, moisture and a lack of oxygenation over an extended period of time. Under such conditions, irritation legions appear at the pressure points on the skin, such as the withers and girth of a horse or neck skin underlying a dog or cat's collar. The wound healing process, depending on the type of injury to the skin, is an intricate process that involves the steps of inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. During inflammation, bacteria and debris are phagocytized and removed, and factors are released that cause the migration and division of cells involved in the proliferative phase.
The proliferative phase is characterized by angiogenesis, deposition of collagen, formation of granular tissue, re-epithelialization, and wound contraction. In angiogenesis, new blood vessels are formed by vascular endothelial cells. In fibroplasia and formation of granular tissue, fibroblasts grow and form a new, provisional extracellular matrix (ECM) by secreting collagen and fibronectin.
Simultaneously, re-epithelialization occurs, providing a new epithelial layer. It is at this stage that oxygenation of the skin is critical to wound healing.
In the remodeling phase, collagen is remodeled and realigned along tension lines and cells that are no longer needed are removed by apoptosis.
Common treatments for the types of skin conditions described hereinabove include use of zinc oxide pastes, powders, petroleum-based creams, and even mild steroid creams to reduce excess moisture, provide antibacterial activity or barriers, and to reduce damage caused by the body's own inflammatory processes. Conventionally, such treatments include a barrier, or "occlusive" component. The purpose of these is to provide a film on the skin and thereby create a layer, which is impermeable to external irritants. Thus, this kind of skin preparation relies on the principle of occlusion, which means that a covering layer is provided on the skin, thereby constituting a certain degree of protection as long as it remains in place. Typically, such occlusive barrier agents are also impermeable to both water and oxygen.
One disadvantage of an occlusive treatment is that even a very small mechanical influence, such as contact that may arise between the skin and clothes, will remove the layer of ointment and thereby eliminate the protecting barrier. Other disadvantages of occlusive barrier ointments are that, due to the impermeability thereof, they increase the body temperature of the user and trap both perspiration and sebum against the skin, thereby further acidifying the skin. Consequently, there is a need of different preparations adapted for different substances, which the user may contact and which are permeable or oxygen and, perhaps, water, while remaining non-permeable to potential irritants.
While some treatments have focused on an antibacterial approach or an approach of keeping skin dry, other have focused on pH. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,875, to Bartels, discloses topical compositions and treatments of a skin condition in humans commonly known as "diaper rash" and more particularly, acidic-type diaper rash and other skin irritations caused by acidic bodily secretions, usually resulting from teething, antibiotic dosages, bacterial infections, and an acidic diet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,292 to Murad, discloses dermatological agents for treating dermatological disorders, including veterinary use. The dermatological agents include a therapeutically effective amount of at least one fruit extract in an amount sufficient to neutralize free radicals, a moisturizing agent in an amount sufficient to facilitate hydration of the skin, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such application teaches the use of inorganic bases, include metallic salts made from aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,318 to Hart, discloses a single medicine oxalic acid or oxalate composition or "magic bullet" and method of treatment or prevention of warm-blooded animals including humans and pets for infectious or pathogenic microbial, bacterial, or viral disease, preventing of bacterial or viral infections, and the like, is provided which includes at least one therapeutically effective form of oxalic acid or oxalate selected from oxalic acid in a free acid, ester, lactone or salt form and oxalate including sodium oxalate, oxalic acid dihydrate, anhydrous oxalic acid, oxamide, and oxalate salts, natural or processed foods including molds, plants or vegetables containing oxalic acid or oxalate, beverages, liquids or juices containing oxalic acid or oxalate, additives containing oxalic acid or oxalate, and combinations thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,830 to Friej, discloses a veterinary skin preparation comprising lipophilic and hydrophilic components, which is intended for application on skin. The skin preparation is characterized in that it exists as a two-phase system and it is capable of creating a semi-permeable membrane in the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,983 to Afriat, discloses the use of a silicone gum to stabilize ascorbic acid or one of its esters or salts in a topical composition and to novel compositions comprising these components and having an adjustable pH for use in the field of veterinary medicine.
Accordingly, there is still a need for methods and compositions for veterinary treatment of skin injuries that increase the oxygen delivery to the skin and neutralize acidity of the skin in a convenient and efficient manner.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of dispensing mercury into an arc discharge lamp containing a mercury capsule adjacent one of the coil electrodes is disclosed. The method includes the step of preparing a solution of a low ionization energy material and coating at least a portion of the mercury capsule. Thereafter, the mercury dispensing capsule is bombarded with a directed stream of electrons produced by the other coil electrode of sufficient energy to rupture the capsule causing the mercury to be released. The coating focuses the directed stream of electrons directly on the capsule, thereby reducing the amount of time necessary to rupture the capsule.

Fluorescent lamps are well-known in the art and are used for a variety of types of lighting installations. Such lamps are characterized as low pressure discharge lamps and include an elongated envelope, whose interior surface is coated with a layer of phosphor, and an electrode at each end of the envelope. The envelope also contains a quantity of an ionizable medium such as mercury, and a starting gas at a low pressure, generally in the range of 1 to 5 mm Hg. The starting gas may consist of argon, neon, helium, krypton or a combination thereof.
One of the most commonly used methods for introducing mercury into such lamps is a mechanical dispensing unit which forms part of a so-called exhaust machine. Mercury is dispensed by the action of a slotted plunger passing through a reservoir of mercury and into the closed exhaust chamber housing the exhaust tube. The mercury falls through the exhaust tube into the lamp. This method of dispensing mercury has many drawbacks. In the first place, the mercury dispensing unit complicates the exhaust machine. In the second place, the amount of mercury introduced into the lamp envelope by this method can not be precisely controlled.
The lamp during processing is at a high temperature and is in open communication with the exhaust machine. As a result, it is inevitable that a portion of the introduced mercury evaporates and disappears from the lamp, or a portion of the filling gas is driven out of the lamp. Furthermore, the introduction of mercury through the exhaust tube involves the risk of mercury getting stuck in the exhaust tube so that after lamp sealing, the lamp contains too little or no mercury at all. For these reasons a large excess of mercury, namely a multiple of the quantity required by the lamp is generally introduced. Finally, working with mercury on the exhaust machine requires additional safety precautions on medical grounds.
An alternative method of dispensing mercury is to place inside the lamp a mercury compound that is inert under lamp processing conditions but can later be activated to release mercury. Disadvantageously, this method releases impurities, which then require special gettering. Moreover, this method requires a relatively long period of time to activate the mercury compound (e.g., 20 to 30 seconds). As a result, this method of dispensing mercury does not readily lend itself to high speed production machinery.
Another method of introducing mercury into an arc discharge lamp is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,067 which issued to Roche et al on Nov. 12, 1985 and is assigned to the same Assignee as the present Application. Therein a mercury dispensing target is located within an exhausted lamp having a coil at each end of the lamp. The dispensing target is affixed to a lead-in wire adjacent one of the coils. During processing, the mercury target is heated by bombarding the target with a directed stream of electrons produced by one of the coils which causes the contained mercury to be released. Although this method reduces mercury release time to 3.5 seconds, it is desirable to obtain further reductions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,323, which issued to Parks, Jr. et al on Sept. 26, 1989 and is assigned to the same Assignee as the present Application, describes a method of dispensing mercury into a fluorescent lamp wherein portions of the mount structure are coated with an insulating coating (e.g., zirconium dioxide) to decrease the time needed to release mercury from a capsule within the lamp. A directed stream of electrons is focused to a portion of the mercury dispensing capsule devoid of the insulating coating. Although this method is effective in reducing the mercury release time, the application of an insulating coating to the various portions of the mount structure may be impractical in commercial production.

Method of despensing mercury into arc dishcharge lamp having capsule coated with low ionization energy material


The pin site shield having a separate sponge and retainer removably securable to an orthopedic pin, wire, or similar implement. The retainer comprises a body having a slot form therein for receiving the orthopedic pin and a clamping member hingedly secured thereto. The clamping member is selectively moveable between open and closed positions, with interlocking surfaces on the body and clamping member engaging one another when the retainer is in its closed position to secure the retainer at its appropriate position on the pin. Protrusions on the body and clamping member allow installation of the retainer by squeezing the protrusions between a thumb and forefinger, with removal of the retainer being effected by spreading the protrusions apart.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to orthopedic surgical devices and, more particularly, to an improved pin site shield retainer which may be easily installed and removed by the user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fixation of severely broken bones frequently requires the use of a plurality of surgical pins, wires, or similar implements inserted radially into the injured limb, with the distal ends protruding outwardly through the patient's skin. Such surgical implements, referred to generally as pins, may be integral components of complex fixation systems, and may remain in position for several days, weeks, or even months, depending upon the severity of the injury and other factors. In order to minimize the risk of infection, it is essential that antiseptics be regularly applied to the point of entry of each surgical pin through the patient's skin. Maintaining an antiseptic barrier at the pin site has become a recognized problem in the industry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,293 issued Jul. 24, 1990, to Lee, Jr., discloses a pin site shield which attempts to solve the aforementioned problem. The Lee apparatus comprises a surgical sponge containing a suitable liquid antiseptic, permanently attached to a collar which is removably securable to a surgical pin by means of a set screw. This apparatus effectively maintains antiseptic in the desired area, but suffers from at least two disadvantages. First, the collar is unacceptably difficult to install and remove for replacement by the patient, since the set screw is rather small and difficult to manipulate, particularly when the device is located in an area that is barely accessible. This problem is accentuated if the set screw is inadvertently removed from the collar, and must be located and reinserted into the threaded hole. Second, the Lee apparatus does not allow replacement of the sponge without replacing the collar as well, resulting in waste and unnecessary expense for the patient. While the sponges must be replaced on a regular basis, a single collar could be reused repeatedly if the sponges and collars were not fixed as a unit.


A process for producing a gel fiber comprises a step (N) of spinning a solution containing at least one polymer having at least one monomer unit as a constituent component for a gel to solidify the solution into a fiber, and step (M) of effecting crosslinking of the fiber to form a gel which can be swelled or shrunk reversibly by a thermal action in the presence of a liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for producing a fiber comprising a gel, particularly to a process for producing a fiber comprising a gel having the property of reversibly swelling and shrinking by an external action.
2. Related Background Art
A process for producing a synthetic fiber generally includes the spinning step of forming a polymer as the source material into a state readily flowable according to the method suitable for its physical properties, namely dissolving the polymer in an appropriate solvent to prepare a solution or melting the polymer into a molten state and extruding the solution or the melt through a nozzle with a predetermined size to solidify it into a fiber and the finishing step corresponding to various requirements for improvement of the physical properties of the fiber obtained.
As the spinning method when using a solution of a polymer as the dope for spinning, there are the wet spinning method and the dry spinning method.
The wet spinning method is a method for obtaining a polymer fiber by spinning out, namely extruding through a spinneret for spinning a solution of a polymer for formation of fiber (dope for spinning) into a solution for coagulation of said polymer, elongating the discharged liquid stream to a filament with a desired thickness and collecting the filament by means of a mechanical device such as rotatory bobbin, centrifugal device, etc. Fibers such as vinylon or acrylic fibers are produced according to this method.
For example, in production of vinylon using polyvinyl alcohol which is a water-soluble polymer as the source material, an aqueous PVA solution with a concentration of about 15% is used as the dope for spinning, while an aqueous solution of a salt such as Glauber's salt, ammonium sulfate, etc., or an alkali such as sodium hydroxide, etc., is used as the liquid for coagulation of the polymer.
On the other hand, the dry spinning method is a method in which the dope for spinning is extruded through a spinneret for spinning into a heated gas to solidify the polymer by evaporation of the solvent in the dope for spinning. Vinylon, acrylic fibers, vinyl chloride fibers, etc., have been produced according to this method.
For example, in production of vinylon according to the dry spinning method, an aqueous PVA solution with a high concentration of about 30 to 50% is used as the dope for spinning and the solution is spun into heated gas.
When the desired physical properties cannot be satisfactorily obtained in the fiber formed by the spinning step, the step for improving the physical properties of the fiber is further practiced if desired.
For example, in production of vinylon as mentioned above, the heat treatment step and the acetalization step are conducted after the spinning step.
In the heat treatment step practiced here, the fiber is heated in air of 210.degree. to 220.degree. C., whereby crystallization of the fiber progresses to impart primarily water resistance and strength to the fiber. On the other hand, in the acetalation step, the fiber subjected to the above heat treatment step is treated by dipping in an aqueous solution containing formaldhyde, sodium sulfate and sulfuric acid at prescribed concentrations, optionally under heating. By this treatment, hydrophilic hydroxyl groups in the polymer are crosslinked with each other to make the fiber resistant to hot water.
The synthetic fibers produced according to the methods as described above have been utilized primarily as fibers for clothing, or as fibers for industrial use such as ropes, tires, various fillers, etc., and these fibers are generally demanded to have sufficient tensile strength and water resistance, or adequate stretchability and uniformness in shape. Accordingly, for satisfying these requirements, the post-treatment after spinning such as heat treatment and acetalization treatment in production of vinylon as described above has been practiced.
The present inventors have made various investigations about production of a novel fiber having characteristics and functions not obtained in the fibers of the prior art as described above, and consequently found that a fiber having physical properties and functions not obtained in the fibers of the prior art can be provided by obtaining a fiber comprising a gel to accomplish the present invention.


A mold for the manufacture of glass products at least a portion of which consists of a cuproaluminum alloy that contains: 0.02% wt. or more of one or several elements chosen from among Sc, Sr, Y, Zr and Hf, and/or from 0.02% wt. or more of one or several lanthanides. The cuproaluminum alloy is one of a composition comprising 5 to 15% wt. Al, 2 to 7% wt. Ni, 2 to 7% wt. Fe, 0.05 to 1.5% wt. Si, 0.02% to 2% wt. Mn, and at most 0.25% wt. Zn, with the remainder comprising Cu; or a composition comprising 12 to 18% wt. Ni, 1% wt. or less Fe, 0.05 to 1.5% wt. Si, 0.5% to 2% wt. Mn, and 6 to 12% wt. Zn, with the remainder comprising Cu.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to molds for the manufacture of glass products, for example bottles.
2. Description of the Related Art
The manufacture of glass products is preferably carried out in two main stages: In the initial stage, the glass gob, preferably heated to a temperature of approximately 1100.degree. C. is placed in contact with a mold. The mold preferably comprises a rough-forming mold that has connected at its lower portion a ring mold. The portion of the gob in contact with the ring mold is preferably cooled to a point where the glass has almost solidified into its final shape as the neck of the glass product. The remaining portion of the gob is preferably kept at a high enough temperature to permit the further shaping and sculpting of this part of the glass product.
The different temperatures of the glass gob in the rough-forming mold and the ring mold are preferably produced by external cooling means, including the blowing of ventilated air on the sides of the ring mold. Different temperatures in the two molds are also preferably produced by the use of different materials for the ring mold and for the rough-forming mold. In this process, the material used to make the ring mold preferably possesses a higher thermal conductivity (or diffusivity), than the material used to make the rough-forming mold. As a result, heat is transferred away from the gob more rapidly in the ring mold than in the rough-forming mold and the temperature of the portion of the gob in the ring mold is lower than the gob temperature in the rough-forming mold.
After the glass gob is shaped in the rough-forming mold, it is preferably placed in a finishing mold. Finishing molds have to absorb a greater quantity of heat than the rough-forming molds, because the glass products in these molds generally drop to temperatures below the solidification temperature of glass.
Conventional methods for making the molds described above preferably include casting the molds. Unfortunately, the casting methods used produce molds that have coarse surfaces and that frequently crack due to thermal fatigue.
Bronze is an alloy that is preferably used in the molds and is very prone to corrosion and oxidation. In contrast, marine bronze produces molds with a very fine surface structure, good resistance to corrosion, and good resistance to cracking due to thermal fatigue. Marine bronze is preferably made from approximately 9-10% wt. Al, 4-5% wt. Fe, 4-5% wt. Ni, and the balance comprising Cu and customary impurities.
The manufacture of glass products as described above requires high temperatures, preferably 900-1300.degree. C., more preferably 1000-1200.degree. C., even more preferably 1050-1150.degree. C., and rapidly alternating thermal cycles, preferably 10 cycles/minute. Under these conditions, even molds made from marine bronze undergo a surface oxidation that forms pits and blemishes on the surface of the mold.
The erosion of the mold surface is further accelerated in a preferred glass manufacturing method that involves coating the surface of the mold with grease prior to contact with the glass gob: In this method, the grease forms graphite deposits on the oxidized portions of the mold at high temperatures. The graphite deposits accelerate the wearing away of the surface of the mold.

Mold made of cuproaluminum alloy for the manufacture of glass products


A two speed direct current electric motor comprising: an armature having a commutator assembly that is adapted to receive an electromotive force to cause the armature to operatively rotate. A brush assembly having a common brush and a low-speed brush is disposed about and in electrical communication with the commutator to provide a first electromotive force to cause the armature to provide a low-speed rotational output. The brush assembly further includes a high-speed brush having a convex shaped end in physical and electrical communication with the commutator to provide a second electromotive force to cause the armature to provide a high-speed rotational output. The convex shaped end of the high-speed brush is further adapted to wear to take the shape of the commutator such that as the high-speed brush wears the high-speed rotational output decreases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally to two-speed electric motors and, more specifically, to a two-speed electric motor having a convex shaped high-speed brush.
2. Description of the Related Art
Direct current (DC) motors are common and used in a wide variety of applications as a source of motive power. DC motors operate by causing an armature to rotate in a magnetic field to produce torque. In one form of DC motor, a magnetic field is developed within the motor case surrounding an armature that consists of a series of wire wound coils, or windings. Each end of each of the armature windings is electrically connected to one segment of a commutator. The commutator is a series of electrically separate cylindrical segments that are placed about the armature shaft. Brushes are set in contact with the commutator to deliver voltage and current flow to the armature windings. The current applied to the armature windings produces an electromagnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field within the motor case. This interaction drives the armature through a portion of its angular rotation. Due to the segmented commutator, the voltage polarity and the current flow will reverse in each of the armature windings at every half cycle of their rotation. This causes the armature to continue to rotate, which in turn produces a torque output on the armature shaft.
Many DC motor applications call for the motor to produce two output speeds. A two-speed DC motor has two sets of brushes, one for low speed and one for high speed. More precisely, it is common practice to employ one common brush that operatively interacts with one low-speed brush and with one separate high-speed brush to provide two different motor speeds. The relative location of the brushes about the commutator determines how many armature windings are connected in the circuit to produce the electromagnetic field to turn the armature. In typical two-speed DC motor construction, the common and low-speed brushes are placed 180 degrees apart. This causes the greatest number of available windings to be electrically charged during the rotation of the armature.
To achieve a high-speed output, the high-speed brush is physically located angularly closer about the commutator to the common brush. Therefore, as the armature turns there are fewer armature windings connected between the common and high-speed brush, than between the common and low-speed brush. This causes the armature to rotate faster when the high-speed brush provides the voltage and current. During the initial wear-in period of conventional two-speed DC motors, the seating of the brushes, and particularly the high-speed brush, causes the motor speed to increase. This is somewhat noticeable when the motor is operating at low speed, but becomes undesirably distinct at the high speed setting. It is common to radially offset the high-speed brush in an attempt to minimize this problem. However, a radial offset of the high-speed brush causes the brush to drag on the commutator and slow the armature during wear-in causing a like undesirable reduction in motor speed.
Furthermore, when running the two-speed DC motor in the high-speed mode, the initially slowed operation during the wear-in period may cause problems for the system it is employed in. Many mechanically complex systems, when newly manufactured, are stiff and require their own break-in period to overcome the initial tightness of the various joints and pivot points and to allow for the provided lubrication to reach all portions of the mechanism.
For example, windshield wiper systems commonly found in motor vehicles most often employ two-speed DC motors as their source of operative power. Conventional motor vehicle windshield wiper systems are mechanically complex with a number of rotating shafts, linkage arms, and pivot points. Additionally, the two-speed DC motors used in windshield wiper systems employ gear reduction assemblies to transfer output torque from the motor to the wiper system. All of the mechanical interaction between the parts of the wiper system and the gear reduction assembly of the DC motor, in addition to the slowed armature speed due to the high-speed brush wear-in cause the high-speed mode in many newly manufactured wiper systems to be nearly as slow as the low speed setting.
Eventually, the wiper system components loosen and the DC motor increases in speed as the break-in and wear-in periods complete. This generally brings the operating speed of the high-speed mode up into a desired speed range. However, this is an undesirably long process often requiring more than an hour of run time at the high-speed setting. Furthermore, when the motor speed increases and the wiper system loosens, the resultant speed change in the high-speed setting may be excessively high. For automotive manufacturers, this results in a high number of new car owner complaints regarding the high-speed operation of the wiper system.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the related art for a DC motor with an improved high-speed brush that does not increase or maintain its high-speed output as the high-speed brush wears in. Further, a need exists for a DC motor with an improved high-speed brush that has an initially faster high-speed output so that it may be employed in a newly manufactured mechanical system to overcome any speed reduction caused by the stiffness of the new system. Finally, there remains a need for a DC motor with an improved high-speed brush that subsequently reduces its initially faster high-speed output to a desired level after a certain period of time so that it may be employed in a newly manufactured mechanical system, to first overcome any speed reduction caused by the stiffness of the new system, and to second slow as the system loosens so that no apparent change in the system speed occurs.

Electric motor having convex high-speed brush


The present invention is directed to an adaptor for the conversion of laser connectors which will render a pre-existing laser system having an inside connector receptive to and connectable to an otherwise non-fitting generic or proprietary outside connector. This adaptor includes a locking sleeve and a captive sleeve located within the locking sleeve. The captive sleeve comprises of a pigtail attachment and a pre-existing laser system outside connector. The pigtail attachment has a forward end and a rearward end and is adapted to connect to a pre-existing laser system outside connector with extended fiber at its forward end and is adapted with connecting means for receiving a final outside connector different from the pre-existing laser system outside connector, at its rearward end. The pigtail attachment has locking means with a first position and a second position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for converting laser systems with custom or proprietary accessory connectors to a new type of generic connector. The invention is particularly advantageous for surgical laser systems having various interlock features.
2. Prior Art Statement
Many laser companies have made their own custom or proprietary connectors for output of laser systems to optical fibers. Such connectors only allow for attachment of accessories with the complementary connectors so as to preclude competition from selling accessories to owners or users of such laser systems. The laser manufacturer attempts to insure that the customers only buy their optical fiber attachments and accessories.
Prior to the present invention, the typical laser system would have an adaptor which would include the condensing lens as well as either the male or female proprietary connector. The optical fiber device or other accessory would have the counterpart, i.e. the female or male connector. Conversion to a different connector would require the removal of the existing adaptor and the substitution of a new adaptor in its place with the appropriate connector to receive substitute accessories and attachments which would have the proprietary or custom connectors of the manufacturer providing the adaptor. In other words, in order for a competitor to sell its accessories and optical fibers to someone owning or using an existing laser system with a proprietary connector arrangement, the adaptor had to be removed and replaced with a new adaptor to fit the new line of products.
It is an object of the present invention to provide for a laser connector conversion adaptor which would allow interchangability of various proprietary and non-proprietary connectors with adaptors and pre-existing laser systems having proprietary connectors without the need to remove and replace the existing adaptor containing the condensing lens and the connector.


A method and system are provided for deriving a resultant software code from an originating ordered list of instructions that does not include overlapping branch logic. The method may include deriving a plurality of unordered software constructs from a sequence of processor instructions; associating software constructs in accordance with an original logic of the sequence of processor instructions; determining and resolving memory precedence conflicts within the associated plurality of software constructs; resolving forward branch logic structures into conditional logic constructs; resolving back branch logic structures into loop logic constructs; and/or applying the plurality of unordered software constructs in a programming operation by a parallel execution logic circuitry. The resultant plurality of unordered software constructs may be converted into programming reconfigurable logic, computers or processors, and also by means of a computer network or an electronics communications network.

The prior art provides software programs that consist of sequences of machine-executable commands that are organized as ordered lists of instructions that may be executed by a conventional, general purpose computer and that may allow for and include logical branching. However the use of software designed to be sequentially executed line-line by one or more central processor or arithmetic logic units may not allow for a more efficient operation possible by the special class of computational devices that may be configured, programmed and/or executed at least partly with parallel logic processing techniques.
There is therefore a long-felt need to provide methods and systems that enable a conversion of an originating software program into a resultant software program that (a.) supports the operation, configuration, reconfiguration, programming and/or reprogramming made possible by computational devices having parallel processing capability; and/or (b.) generates non-sequentially ordered software encoded constructs that may be used to form digital logic circuits.

System and method for performing a branch object conversion to program configurable logic circuitry


Object inheritance is a programming feature that allows developers to designate a programming object as a “descendent” of one or more “ancestors.” Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for supporting inheritance in a programming language. In an embodiment, a first programming object is received from a first document, inheritance information about the first programming object is received and analyzed, a second programming object based on the first programming object and the inheritance information is created, the second programming object is sent to an editor for editing, a third programming object is received from the editor, a fourth programming object based on the first or second programming object, the third programming object, and the inheritance information is created, and the fourth programming object is stored in a second document.

Computer programmers have long relied upon object inheritance ("inheritance") to add versatility to object-oriented programming languages, e.g., computer languages that use programming objects. While inheritance has been available in programming languages since the 1960's, many modern programming languages, especially declarative programming languages, do not natively support this feature. Examples of declarative programming languages that do not currently offer inheritance are EXTENSIBLE APPLICATION MARKUP LANGUAGE (XAML) and SILVERLIGHT by Microsoft, Inc. of Redmond, Wash. Many programmers use the Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Designer to manipulate XAML objects, and adding inheritance support to the WPF Designer would have many significant benefits for program development. Object inheritance can have the benefit to the application developer of a more efficient, richer, rapid application development (RAD) environment via object-oriented programming (OOP) techniques and "code reuse."
Therefore, improved systems, methods and computer program products are needed to add inheritance to computer programming languages.

Adding inheritance support to a computer programming language


A power saw is provided with a mechanism for shielding the circular saw blade of the power saw. The shielding mechanism is composed of a first shield, a second and third shield rotatable relative to said first shield, a pivot, a master connection rod, and a slave connection rod. The master connection rod is fastened with the pivot and second shield while the slave connection rod is fastened with third shield and the master connection. The second shield and third shield can be extracted to shield the circular saw blade of the power saw at such time when the circular saw blade is moved away from the work piece. The second shield and third movable shield are retracted to expose the circular saw blade at such time when the circular saw blade is moved toward the work piece.

The conventional power saws are generally provided with a movable protective cover, which is operated by a device consisting of a connection rod provided with a slide slot, and of an eccentric wheel or cam.
Such a prior art device as described above is generally defective in design in that it is exposed and unprotected, and that it undermines the aesthetic effect of the power saw, and further that it is vulnerable to damage caused by the external force, and still further that the moving locus curves of the moving parts of the device is susceptible to distortion caused by the mechanical wear of the moving parts of the device.


A high frequency voltage generator (10) produces a high positive voltage and a high negative voltage. A parallel connected coil (26) and diode (30) are connected between the high voltage supply and a target (44) of an x-ray tube (40). A second parallel connected coil (28) and diode (32) are connected between the negative voltage and an electron source (42) of the x-ray tube. The coils are preferably a multiple pancake design (FIG. 3 ). When the tube starts to arc, the sudden increase in current flow through the coil is converted and stored in a magnetic field leaving only a small current to contribute to arcing. The coils are sized such that the current which passes to the x-ray tube is sufficiently small that the arcing is usually extinguished without an avalanche phenomenon occurring. The diodes permit the energy stored in the magnetic field to be converted into a current flow through the coil and diode such that the energy is dissipated as heat by the inherent electrical resistance of the coil with only a minimal amount of the energy passing over time to the x-ray tube.

The present invention relates to the arc suppression art. It finds particular application in conjunction with suppressing arcing of x-ray tubes in CT scanners operating at high voltages, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention will also find application in connection with x-ray tubes for other applications, and the like.
An x-ray tube commonly has a source filament which is heated to boil-off electrons and a target which emits x-rays when bombarded by a beam of the electrons. An electronic power supply provides a high voltage across the electron source and the target in order to draw the electrons towards the target in a beam with sufficient energy to cause the generation of x-rays. Conventionally, the power supply includes electronic controls for selecting the potential applied between the source and the target, known as the kV, and the milliamperes of current flowing between the target and the anode, commonly known as the mA. Typically, the x-ray tube of a high performance CT scanner has about 150 kV applied across the source and the target and controls the tube current between about 15-400 mA.
As might be expected, when two elements with 150 kV difference in potential are placed proximate to each other, there is a tendency to arc. In x-ray tubes, this tendency to arc often increases as the tube ages due to such factors as a degradation of the vacuum within the tube. When the x-ray tube arcs, a current on the order of hundreds of amperes can flow between the source and the anode. Once an x-ray tube starts to arc, an avalanche type effect occurs sputtering metal and the metal atoms as well as ionizing the contaminants in the vacuum, reducing resistance, and allowing the current to build very rapidly, on the order of microseconds, to hundreds of amperes where generators of high output capacitance are used. The arcing problem can be exaggerated with high frequency multiplier type generators, as are commonly used on high performance high voltage x-ray tubes since these generators, by necessity, are high capacitance type.
Typically, the electron source or cathode filament is connected with a -75 kV output of the generator and the anode target is connected with a +75 kV output of the generator. In this manner, a 150 kV potential is maintained between the source and the anode, yet each is at a potential of only 75 kV relative to ground.
In order to limit arcing, others have placed a resistor between the negative output of the generator and the electron source and another resistor between the positive output of the generator and the anode target. If the resistor is too large, there is a significant drop in the potential between the electron source and the anode target. If the resistor is too small, it has a negligible effect on arcing. An acceptable value for the resistance is about 350 Ohms. A 350 Ohm resistor in a 150 kV generator limits the arc current to about 210 amps (75,000 V/350 .OMEGA.). A current of this magnitude is not only detrimental to the x-ray tube, but produces a distinct discontinuity in the production of x-rays. In a CT scan, several views of bad or missing data result.
The inventors herein have determined that by limiting the arcing current at the beginning of an arc, the avalanche type effect can be avoided, and severe arcing can be minimized.


A method and system for automated clock wind-back recovery are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises requesting a license to access an application and storing a time anchor, the time anchor comprising a recent system time observation. Clock modification is detected, wherein detecting clock modification comprises comparing a license expiration date to a current system time. The time anchor is compared to a trusted time authority value, the trusted time authority value comprising the current system time and a tolerance. The time anchor is updated, clock modification is corrected, and access to the application is retrieved.

Device manufacturers commonly sell products into different markets or price points, though the devices have similar bills of material and/or manufacturing cost. The manufacturer differentiates the devices by the capabilities they offer, for example a device with fewer capabilities may sell for a lower price than the same device with additional or more sophisticated capabilities. Issues arise when customers become interested I upgrading a device for more capabilities. A customer may have initially desired a device with fewer capabilities at the lower price point, and later decided the more sophisticated (and, consequently perhaps, more expensive) suite of capabilities is necessary or preferred. In terms of licensing, rights are defined on a host and licensed software is tied to a particular hardware identity, thus limiting upgrade opportunities or hardware substitution.
An upgrade for a particular device can involve licensing a new application to provide a new functionality on the device. Some licenses are purchases in a permanent capacity, meaning they never expire. Other licenses can have expiration dates or times, while others are considered trial licenses. A user may usually request a new license when an expiration date or time has been reached, or when a trial has ended. Manufacturers and application publishers are faced with the challenge of users altering the clock on a device to provide for a longer period of use of the licensed application than was originally agreed to.
A method and system for automated clock wind-back recovery are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises requesting a license to access an application and storing a time anchor, the time anchor comprising a recent system time observation. Clock modification is detected, wherein detecting clock modification comprises comparing a license expiration date to a current system time. The time anchor is compared to a trusted time authority value, the trusted time authority value comprising the current system time and a tolerance. The time anchor is updated, clock modification is corrected, and access to the application is retrieved.

System and method for automated clock wind back recovery