A reinforcing matrix is produced using a plurality of regulating members (pins) removably arranged in rows in a predetermined direction on a base. Yarns are woven between the pins on the base repeatedly looping back and forth between spaced apart positions to form a yarn lamination consisting of a plurality of yarn layers over the base. The yarns forming the yarn layers are arranged in at least two directions. Thereafter the yarn lamination is removed from the base together with the pins. Then the pins are replaced sequentially in rows arranged in the predetermined direction with separate vertical yarns which are inserted into the yarn lamination so as to form loops. A selvage thread is inserted in the predetermined direction through the loops of the vertical yarns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to three dimensional fabrics, and more particularly, it relates to a method of producing a fabric reinforcing matrix for composites.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fabric reinforcing composites are commonly used as light structural materials. A three-dimensional fabric is conventionally used as a reinforcing matrix for a composite. A three-dimensional fabric generally includes three kinds of threads or yarns respectively extending along the X, Y and Z directions. Composites having such a three-dimensional fabric as a frame member, are expected to be widely used as structural materials for rockets, aircraft, automobiles, marine vessels and buildings. The frame member is impregnated with a resin or other inorganic substances. The use of five-axis three-dimensional fabrics, having yarns that are angularly arranged with respect to the longitudinal direction, is proposed. These yarns are provided in addition to the yarns extending along the X, Y and Z directions.
An exemplary method of producing a three-dimensional fiber structure is to laminate a plurality of yarn layers, each formed by arranging lines of yarn repeatedly looped back at both ends, and to interconnect these yarn layers by the lines of yarn running in the thickness (vertical) direction. Such a method is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-42955. As shown in FIG. 29, of the present application, this Japanese publication describes apparatus that utilizes a plurality of yarn guide pipes 32 that are placed upright at predetermined pitches on a base plate 31.
Plate-like separators 33 are placed in parallel between the yarn guide pipes 32. A plate-like spacer 34 lies on, and extends perpendicularly to the separators 33. The lines of the first endless yarn Y1 are looped back and engage with the yarn guide pipes 32 located at the peripheral portions of the base plate 31. The lines of the first endless yarn Y1 also weave between the yarn guide pipes 32 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the arrangement of the spacer 34, yielding a yarn layer.
The lines of the first endless yarn Y1 are arranged on the yarn layer and are looped back in a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the first endless yarn. The arrangement of the first endless yarn Y1 is repeated in the same manner to provide a lamination of a predetermined number of yarn layers, thus yielding a yarn lamination. Next, a spacer 34 is placed on the yarn lamination in the same manner as described above. The yarn lamination is then tightened by the spacers 34 from the top and bottom directions. Then, the yarn guide pipes 32 are replaced with the lines of the second endless yarn Y2, for completing a reinforcing matrix for the composite.
The yarn guide pipes 32 are replaced with the lines of the second endless yarn Y2 in the following manner. First, the separators 33 are removed in order, and the yarn guide pipes 32 are pulled up in succession to the vicinity of the lower spacer 34. Then, the second endless yarn Y2 is bent in a loop (L), and is hooked on a yarn guide 35, which in turn, is inserted into the associated yarn guide pipe 32. Then, the yarn guide pipe 32 is pulled up so that the loop L comes out on the top of the lamination of the first endless yarn Y1. In this condition, the loop L is removed from the yarn guide pipe 32 and the third endless yarn Y3 is inserted as a tacking yarn through the loop L. Then, the second endless yarn Y2 is pulled down to tighten the yarn lamination. The foregoing steps are repeated each of the yarn guide pipes 32, to complete the replacement of the yarn guide pipes 32 with the lines of the second endless yarn Y2.
In the above method, the yarn lamination is tightened by the cooperation of the lines of the second endless yarn Y2 for coupling the yarn lamination, and the lines of the third endless yarn Y3, which are inserted through the loops L of the endless yarn Y2. The direction of arrangement of the lines of the second endless yarn Y2 on the opposite surface of the yarn lamination to the one where the lines of the third endless yarn Y3 are arranged, is the same as the direction of arrangement of the third endless yarn Y3.
Accordingly, the yarn lamination is firmly tightened at those portions where the lines of the second endless yarn Y2 face the lines of the third endless yarn Y3. As a result, the portions between the tightened portions will rise, causing the yarn lamination to undulate. In other words, the yarn lamination does not have a uniform thickness. This not only causes a periodic variation in the fabric filling factor, but also shortens the length of the reinforcing matrix along the direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the lines of the third endless yarn Y3. Therefore, the intended three-dimensional fiber structure will not be obtained.
In impregnating such a three-dimensional fiber structure with resin, if this structure were not simultaneously pressed and stretched in the direction perpendicular to the undulation, the variation in the fabric filling factor is transmitted directly to the composite and the final product.
In order to provide a large reinforcing matrix, more than ten thousand yarn guide pipes 32 might be needed. Consequently, it would be difficult to replace the yarn guide pipes 32 one by one, with a single second endless yarn Y2.
Further, in the above method, the yarn guide pipes 32 serve as means through which the lines of the second endless yarn Y2 are inserted, and the second endless yarn Y2 is inserted into the yarn lamination at the same time as the associated yarn guide pipe 32 is removed. This method however requires that the yarn guide pipes 32 be pulled from the opposite side to the inserting side of the yarn guide 35. This will not cause any problem when the reinforcing matrix for composite is of a flat type, but will be inconvenient when the reinforcing matrix is U shaped, box shaped, or with narrow spaces between the opposite faces. This is because when the yarn guide pipe 32 is driven out from one side toward the opposite side, the yarn guide pipe 32 might encounter the opposite surface and might not be removed. Further, in pulling the yarn guide pipe 32 in the direction away from the opposite surface, it would be troublesome to insert the yarn guide 35 with the second endless yarn Y2 hooked thereon, into the associated yarn guide pipe 32.
Japanese Patent Publication Sho 61-30059 discloses a method of sewing a plurality of laminations of two-dimensional yarn layers with a sewing machine to produce a three-dimensional fiber structure. The sewing machine used in this method is equipped with an auxiliary needle 37 in addition to a sewing needle 36, as shown in FIG. 30 at the present application. The lamination of yarn layers 38 is stitched with a sewing yarn 39 and a shuttle yarn 40. The auxiliary needle 37 pierces the yarn layers 38 before the sewing needle 36, to facilitate the insertion of the sewing needle 36.
As the plurality of laminations of two-dimensional yarn layers are sewn together using the sewing machine, it is unnecessary to replace yarn guide pipes or pins with the coupling yarn. The fabric materials that are used in a reinforcing matrix are glass fiber, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber and the like, which do not stretch very much, and which are generally fragile. At the time the auxiliary needle 37 pierces the dense fiber structure, the needle 37 is likely to damage part of the fiber stricture. In addition, it is difficult to secure sufficient space for the sewing needle 36 with the sewing yarn 39 inserted through its eye, to be smoothly inserted into the space formed by the auxiliary needle 37. Thus, when the sewing needle 36 pierces the fiber structure, it is likely to damage the fiber structure again.
Another method of producing a three-dimensional fabric has also been used. In this method, the yarn is placed between regulating members (pins) arranged at predetermined pitches on the base, and is looped back at the edges of the base, forming a lamination. The pans are replaced with vertical yarns using replacing members which hold coupling yarns (vertical yarns). In this case, the pins and the yarn lamination are removed from the base before the replacement operation. Then, the replacing member is placed on the associated pin and is pressed to drive out the pin and, at the same time, to insert the vertical yarn into the space formed by the pin. When the pins are removed from the base, however, both ends of each pin become free, so that the pins could tilt under the pressure of the laminated yarn layers. At this time, positions of the tips of the pins are not stable, thus making it difficult to mechanically abut the replacing members on the pins. It is therefore difficult to perform automatic replacement with a machine without misplacement of the vertical yarn.

Method of producing fabric reinforcing matrix for composites

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


A radio mesh network gaming system comprises a gaming device that includes a controller. The controller maintains a routing table and game state information. The gaming device forms a radio mesh network along with other gaming devices. The routing table stores next hop information for communicating with other devices over the radio mesh network. The radio mesh network determines a playing area of a game and the playing area changes as gaming devices move throughout the playing area and are added or removed from the game. In one example communication between from a first and third device, the first device communicates the information to a second device in accordance with next hop information stored in the routing table of the first device. The second device then communicates the information to the third device in accordance with next hop information stored in a routing table of the second gaming device.

Gaming systems often involve two or more gaming devices. Each player holds one of the gaming devices and uses the gaming device to play the game. In the example of laser tagging gaming systems, the gaming device is a laser tagger device. Each player has a laser tagger device and targets other players during the game. In one version of laser tag, when a player is hit by another player, the hit player loses health. When all of a player's health has been depleted, the player loses and is out of the game. The player or team with most hits wins the game.


A system for providing advertising information. The system includes a plurality of motion sensors and a database. The plurality of motion sensors are configured to detect traffic information along one or more roadways and transmitting the detected traffic information. The database is configured to receive and store the detected traffic information transmitted by the plurality of motion sensors. The database includes advertising information of advertisers. The database is configured to presented at least a portion of the advertising information of advertisers when at least a portion of the detected traffic information is requested.

In almost every metropolitan region, automobile traffic congestion is identified as one of the greatest obstacles to economic growth, productivity, and quality of life for area commuters. Despite the interminable efforts of city planners to improve roadwork and highway systems, new roads always eventually result in increased traffic that ultimately exceeds the intended capacity. In the attempt to avoid insufferable delays, many commuters rearrange their commuting schedule or otherwise travel by alternative routes when there is known to be a traffic backup. However, it is generally difficult for drivers to make alternate commuting plans because adequate traffic congestion information is not available to drivers at the times when needed.
There are several resources available that are intended to assist drivers' daily commutes by providing traffic information. In most cities, news radio stations periodically broadcast traffic reports during the "rush hour," which can alert drivers to traffic accidents and congestion in certain areas. In some locations, computerized overhead displays are placed on major roads or highways that flash messages to warn drivers of road closings or accidents that are just ahead. To assist drivers in locating alternative routes, GPS systems are now available in automobiles to show point-to-point directions on a mapped display.
While radio traffic reports and programmable signs provide useful information to commuters, these resources cannot be customized for an individual driver's commute, and therefore have only a limited effect. The GPS systems are invaluable for providing directions for alternate routes, but fail to provide any information about the expected traffic for any of the routes. Presently, there is a need for a system that monitors automotive traffic and can be customized by drivers to provide detailed information about the traffic conditions at particular, specified locations.

Method and system for monitoring vehicular traffic using a wireless communications network

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


Control apparatus (30) forcefully stops inverter (14) and inverter (31) when DC/DC converter (12) is anomalously stopped. Additionally, when one of inverters (14, 31) is anomalously stopped while DC/DC converter (12) is normal, control apparatus (30) forcefully stops the other inverter. Then, when a recovery condition is satisfied after the other inverter is forcefully stopped, control apparatus (30) recovers the other inverter.

Recently, hybrid vehicles are widely attracting attention as environment-friendly vehicles. The hybrid vehicles have partly been brought into practical use.
The hybrid vehicle is powered by a DC (Direct Current) power source, an inverter, and a motor driven by the inverter, in addition to a conventional engine. Specifically, while it is powered by driving the engine, it is also powered by converting DC voltage from the DC power source to AC (Alternating Current) voltage by the inverter and rotating the motor by the converted AC voltage.
Among such hybrid vehicles, a hybrid vehicle equipped with two AC motors M1 and M2 as shown in FIG. 5 can be found. AC motor M1 is a motor for producing torque for driving the driving wheels of the hybrid vehicle. AC motor M2 is a motor connected to the engine of the hybrid vehicle and generates electric power by the rotation of the engine at regenerative braking of the hybrid vehicle.
Inverter 330 receives a predetermined DC voltage from a positive bus L1 and a negative bus L2, and converts the received predetermined DC voltage to AC voltage based on a control signal from a control apparatus (not shown), and drives AC motor M1. Inverter 340 converts AC voltage generated by AC motor M2 to DC voltage based on a control signal from a control apparatus (not shown), and supplies the converted DC voltage to positive bus L1 and negative bus L2. DC voltage supplied to positive bus L1 and negative bus L2 is supplied to inverter 330, or it may be used to charge a DC power source (not shown).
In a hybrid vehicle equipped with such two AC motors M1 and M2, when one of two AC motors M1 and M2 is stopped due to failure or the like, it is a critical issue how to control the other AC motor for the safe driving of the hybrid vehicle.
From such a viewpoint, when one of two AC motors M1 and M2 mounted on a hybrid vehicle is stopped due to failure or the like, generally the other AC motor is stopped. Specifically, when one of the AC motors stops, the other AC motor stops as well.
However, among hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles, some hybrid vehicles are each equipped with a system for boosting DC voltage from DC power source and supplying the boosted DC voltage to two inverters driving two AC motors. In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-166012, there exist a problem in such a system with a voltage converter for boosting DC voltage, that when one of the AC motors stops, the other AC motor cannot practically be controlled.

Electric load apparatus, method for processing abnormality, and computer readable recording medium recording program for causing computer to execute processing of abnormality in electric load apparatus


A system and method to expand capabilities of simulation and durability testing of a specimen under test utilizing a virtual signal that is generated by combining the actual measured signal from a transducer with a supplemental or simulated signal created by a function based on position, load or another known or measurable parameter. This virtual signal may then be inserted into a control loop to adapt the system to this new, calculated or combined signal.

The present invention relates generally to durability testing of test specimens such as but not limited to, artificial orthopedic implants (e.g. hip, knee, spine, etc.). More specifically, the present invention pertains to a system and method for combining measured signals with virtual signals generated by a model to extend the range of mechanical methods of load testing.
Laboratory simulation is a technique that is often used to validate the durability of orthopedic implant designs and to verify manufacturing quality assurance. In the case of the artificial knee joint, it is desirable to place the Anterior-Posterior and Tibial-Rotation degrees of freedom in load or torque control, while at the same time controlling the load in the vertical degree of freedom. Pure displacement control in these directions is deficient because it does not account for the changes in specimens over time or variation between specimen designs (e.g. levels of constraint). In addition, pure load control is made difficult by the variation in constraint levels between specimens and within a given specimen over its operating range (e.g. transitions from static to kinetic friction states, collision with hard mechanical limits built into the specimen, etc.). Previous research exists for the force inputs into the body, relative displacements expected in a healthy joint and the behavior of the surrounding soft tissue. It is also known that over time, as specimens wear, constraint levels and coefficients of friction change. It is not feasible to do long-term durability tests that incorporate all aspects of the in-vivo environment, such as, the living soft tissue. Therefore, commonly utilized test systems face an increasingly difficult task of applying forces to specimens that adequately emulate realistic conditions in addition to compensation techniques in the event of partial failure of the specimen. Design of simulators to apply varying loads is complicated by cross talk between channels and the continuously varying nature of each programmed load. Further difficulties arise from the large variation in implant design and the associated widely varying degrees of joint constraint.
Once an artificial joint is implanted, it is constrained by a combination of mechanical interlock, frictional forces and the soft tissue surrounding the joint. The mechanical interlock and frictional forces may be directly replicated in the specimen, whereas the soft tissue is more difficult to simulate.
Soft tissue reaction forces have been implemented in orthopedic simulators in the past by use of mechanical springs which have significant disadvantages including limited durability, difficulty in changing values, limited mathematical nature of the reaction forces, difficulty in attaining appropriate configuration and overall complexity of the machine.
Therefore, there is a significant need to improve systems that are used to test specimens for durability and other factors. A system that addresses one or more of the shortcomings discussed above would be particularly useful.

Method to extend testing through integration of measured responses virtual models


A novel flow sensor which includes a wall in a fluid path, a substrate installed on the wall, a flow sensor constructed with at least one electric resistor formed on the substrate, and a construction for reducing turbulence caused by an existence of the flow sensor. The construction for reducing turbulence may be that an upstream side edge of the substrate is formed into a slope shape, a stair shape or a streamline. The construction for reducing turbulence may also be that the substrate is embedded into the wall. In a case that the substrate of the sensor is installed on a support board set in the fluid path, at least an upstream side edge of the support board may be formed into an acute angle or a streamline. Using the apparatus, the turbulence caused by the existence of a vertical wall is reduced because a size of vertical wall portions is small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow sensor installed in a fluid path for measuring a physical property of a fluid, i.e., a gas or liquid, flowing through the fluid path, and in particular, the present invention may be applied to a thermal-type flow sensor formed on a substrate which is applicable to the control and measurement of a flowing velocity or flow volume of a gas flow or liquid flow.
2. Discussion of the Background
Various types of sensors for measuring various physical properties, e.g., a flowing velocity or a flow volume, of a gas flow or a liquid flow are known, including one in which a thermal-type flow sensor is formed on a substrate.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a background thermal-type gas flow sensor formed on a substrate as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (KOKAI) 5-157603.
As shown in FIG. 1, a bridge-like thin film sensor 5 is suspended over a hollow 3 of a square semiconductor substrate 1. An upstream-side temperature sensing portion 9 and a downstream-side temperature sensing portion 11 each constructed with an electric resistor are formed on the bridge-like thin film sensor 5. A heater constructed with an electric resistor is formed between these sensing portions 9, 11 on the bridge-like thin film sensor 5. In a case that a gas does not flow in the flow direction A, the upstream-side sensing portion 9 is heated the same as the downstream-side sensing portion 11 by the heater 7. However, in a case that a gas flows in the direction A, the upstream-side sensing portion 9 is heated more than the downstream-side sensing portion 11 by the warm gas heated by the heater 7. As resistance values of these sensing portions 9, 11 vary due to the temperature variation, a flowing velocity or flowing volume of the gas can be measured by the resistance value difference between these sensing portions 9, 11.
FIG. 2 is sectional side view showing a tube 15 as a fluid path and the substrate 1 of the thermal-type gas flow sensor installed in the tube 15.
The substrate 1 of the flow sensor is installed on an inner wall 17 of the tube 15. A wire 13 outputs measurement signals from sensing portions 9, 11.
According to an experiment of the sensor as shown in FIG. 2 using a circuit as shown in FIG. 3 conducted by the applicants of the present invention, a relation of power of an output signal V from the sensing circuit and a flow rate Q is shown as in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the power of output signal V becomes unstable on a fast flow. This unstableness is understood to be caused by a turbulence of the flow. As can be seen from the above description, it is very important to reduce a turbulence of the flow.

Flow sensor apparatus installed in a fluid path


Disclosed herein is an electrical angle calculation device including a signal value extraction section that extracts a signal value that monotonously increases or monotonously decreases with respect to an electrical angle of a motor from output signal values of a plurality of Hall sensors embedded in a stator of the motor, and an electrical angle calculation section that calculates the electrical angle from the extracted signal value.

The present disclosure relates to an electrical angle calculation device, an electrical angle calculation method, and a program.
Vector control for a brushless direct-current motor (BLDC) may need information regarding a rotor position with respect to coils (electrical angle). In general, as in a technology described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2018-117414, an external rotary encoder is used to acquire the electrical angle with the rotor stopped.

Electrical angle calculation device, electrical angle calculation method, and program


A piezoelectric actuator includes a first ceramic sheet having an individual electrode formed thereon, a second ceramic sheet having a common electrode formed thereon, a top ceramic sheet having a surface electrode for the individual electrode and a surface electrode for the common electrode formed thereon, wherein the surface electrode for the common electrode is divided by a plurality of slits into a plurality of electrode-portions each having a area of not more than a predetermined area. Accordingly, when these ceramic sheets are calcinated to be integrated together, this construction makes it possible to lower the affect due to difference in the amount of thermal shrinkage between the surface electrode for the common electrode and the top ceramic sheet, thereby suppressing the arching deformation of the top ceramic sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric actuator and a method for producing the piezoelectric actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional ink-jet head, there is known an ink-jet head having a cavity unit which is constructed by stacking a plurality of sheets and which has a plurality of pressure chambers formed and aligned in rows therein, and a piezoelectric actuator which has active portions (energy-generating mechanism) corresponding to the pressure chambers respectively and which is joined to the cavity unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2005/162484A1 and FIG. 4 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2005/248628 (corresponding to FIG. 4 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-15539), there is known a piezoelectric actuator including a stack-portion in which ceramic sheets each having a pattern of individual electrodes is formed on a surface thereof and ceramic sheets each having a pattern of a common electrode formed on a surface thereof are stacked alternately, and a top ceramic sheet which is arranged above the stack-portion and which has surface electrodes for the individual electrodes (individual-surface electrodes) and surface electrodes for the common electrode (common-surface electrodes) formed on a surface thereof; wherein these ceramic sheets are calcinated to be integrated, and the surface electrodes for the common electrode are formed to be elongated on the surface of the top ceramic sheet.
In such a piezoelectric actuator, the surface electrodes for the common electrode are formed on the surface of the top ceramic sheet at both end portions in a row direction of the surface electrodes for the individual electrodes, and the surface electrodes for the common electrode are formed in a direction orthogonal to the row direction.
In the recent years, there is a tendency that the number of the nozzles is increased for increasing the recording speed and for realizing higher resolution. As the number of nozzles is increased, the number of surface electrodes for the individual electrodes is increased as well. With this, the electric current passing in the surface electrodes for the common electrode are increased, which in turn makes it necessary to secure a larger area for the surface electrodes for the common electrode. As a result, the surface electrodes for the common electrode are formed to be elongated on the surface of the top ceramic sheet.
A material forming the surface electrodes for the common electrode has a thermal shrinkage greater than that of a material for forming the top ceramic sheet. Therefore, when the surface electrodes for the common electrode are formed to be elongated on the top ceramic sheet, and when the top ceramic sheet is subjected to the calcination as described above to be integrated to form the piezoelectric actuator, there is a fear that the piezoelectric actuator is damaged or broken due to the difference in the amount of thermal shrinkage between the top ceramic sheet and the surface electrodes for the common electrode. Namely, the piezoelectric actuator is arched or warped with a side of the surface electrodes for the common electrode being the valley of the arch or warpage, and there is a fear that the piezoelectric actuator is cut in some cases. For example, in a case that a flexible flat cable is used for inputting a driving signal, it is difficult to connect connection terminals of signal lines of the flexible flat cable to the surface electrodes of an arched piezoelectric actuator, respectively. Further, upon joining the arched piezoelectric actuator to the cavity unit of the ink-jet head, it is difficult to make the piezoelectric actuator to be attached tightly with respect to the pressure chambers in a uniform manner, which results in causing ink leakage, thereby making the jetting force and/or the like to be non-uniform.
An object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric actuator and a method for producing the piezoelectric actuator capable of lowering the influence of the difference in the amount of thermal shrinkage between the top ceramic sheet and a surface electrode for the common electrode when the piezoelectric actuator is subjected to the calcination, thereby suppressing the arching deformation of the piezoelectric actuator to secure a predetermined flatness thereof.

Piezoelectric actuator and method for producing the same


A safety device for children, specifically a cover for use with a variety of surfaces that provides a barrier to protect a child from the heat and/or contamination of a surface. In some embodiments, the device can prevent a child from being burned or uncomfortable by the heat of a swing seat or car seat by minimizing thermal transfer between a child's skin and the swing seat for an adequate amount of time. In some embodiments, the cover can be used in a planar configuration as a changing pad or play mat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to the field of protective equipment for children, specifically a cover that can be used as a protective barrier between a child and a hot and/or unsanitary surface.
2. Background
Each day, children come into contact with multiple surfaces, whether they are at home, in restaurants, on playgrounds, in parks, at school, or in cars. However, the surfaces on which children sit or play are often soiled, germ-filled, and/or too hot for a child's delicate skin. Thus, it is often necessary to cover surfaces with a protective barrier to shield a child and protect their skin and health. However, many protective products are not designed for use outdoors, over surfaces that become extremely hot, and/or are difficult to clean. Moreover, many products that are currently on the market are unable to be configured for various uses, such as for use with bucket swing seats, high chairs, stroller, car seats, and shopping carts. Therefore, it is necessary to buy multiple products for each individual use. Additionally, many products on the market are not adapted for use as changing pads or play mats, and/or they are multi-part designs rather than one-piece products.
What is needed is a portable protective cover that can be used in a variety of applications. The cover should be lightweight, easy to clean, and in some embodiments should be a single unit having insulating properties to minimize thermal transfer between a hot surface and a child's skin for an adequate amount of time. The cover should be adapted to substantially conform to the interior surface geometry of a bucket-style swing seat, a high chair, and various other child seats. The cover should also be adapted for use as a changing pad and play pad. In some embodiments, the protective cover should also adequately shield all parts of a child's body that would normally come into contact with a swing seat or high chair seat without a cover. In some embodiments, the cover should be disposable after a single use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Two or more buck converter circuits are cascaded in such a manner that the output of one serves as the input to the next, with the input voltage to each succeeding buck converter stage being reduced in magnitude. The total circuit losses are substantially reduced as compared to the losses generated in a single buck converter having the same input voltage range and the same output voltage and output current. Both positive and negative output terminals may be provided for an output stage.

This invention relates to power supply circuits, and more specifically relates to a novel cascaded buck converter circuit for producing a relatively constant, low output voltage from an input source voltage which may vary over a large range.
Buck converter circuits are well known, and generally comprise a switching transistor connected in series with an inductor, an output capacitor and a diode connected across the series-connected inductor and capacitor circuit, with its forward conduction direction such that it permits current to continue to flow through the inductor when the switching transistor is off. The input voltage may vary over some given range, for example, between 90 volts and 450 volts, and the output voltage is intended to be maintained at a constant voltage, for example, 15 volts. Such a circuit can be used as the power supply for any other electrical circuit or device. The output voltage is maintained constant by properly adjusting or varying the duty cycle of the switching transistor. This can be accomplished by a simple control circuit connected to the control electrode of the switching transistor so that the switching transistor is turned on for a longer or shorter period of time depending upon the sensed output voltage in order to maintain a constant output voltage.
A buck converter chip or power integrated circuit is sold by the International Rectifier Corporation of El Segundo, Calif., the assignee of the present invention, under their trademark "IR2100" and consists of a switching transistor structure and its control circuit integrated on the same chip. The structure of the power section of the chip is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 07/054,627, filed May 27, 1987, in the name of Daniel M. Kinzer, entitled "HIGH POWER MOSFET AND INTEGRATED CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREFOR FOR HIGH-SIDE SWITCH APPLICATION" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
The IR2100 buck converter IC is connected in appropriate electrical circuit relation with an external diode, inductor and capacitor to define the complete buck converter circuit.
Buck converter circuits generate a given power loss during their operation where components of that loss include losses in the switching transistor, the inductor and the diode. Losses associated with the switching transistor are from two sources: the ohmic losses which occur during conduction, and switching losses which occur during commutation of the switching transistor between on and off conditions.
The power conduction loss of the switching transistor can be shown to be generally proportional to the maximum input voltage to be applied to the transistor and inversely proportional to the area of the power chip which is available for current conduction. The reason for these relationships is that the switching transistor must use a higher resistivity epitaxial layer in its construction to withstand higher input voltages and, therefore, will have a higher on-resistance. Thus, the power loss is generally proportional to input voltage. The area of the chip used for the switching transistor must be sufficiently large to handle the output current of the converter circuit. Consequently, higher output converter currents require a larger device area. The on-resistance of the transistor is reduced when area is increased, all other things remaining equal. Therefore, the power loss in the switching transistor is inversely proportional to its current carrying area.

Cascaded buck converter circuit with reduced power loss


A first surface, a second surface, and a third surface are set in order in a direction of a scene, and the first surface has a plurality of cells and a plurality of sub-cells divided from each of the plurality of cells, the second surface has a plurality of segments, and the plurality of cells and the plurality of segments are associated respectively. A trace direction of a ray passing through each sub-cell is determined based on a segment associated with a cell including the sub-cell. Ray tracing on the determined trace direction is performed for each sub-cell so as to generate light-field data of the scene between the second and third surfaces.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing of rendering a scene by tracing rays.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there is proposed a technique, called computational photography, of generating image data based on information (to be referred to as "light-field data" hereinafter) about the directions and intensities of rays in a space (see, for example, literature 1). Since image data for which the focus is adjusted after image capturing can be generated using this technique, it is possible to advantageously compensate for a failure in focus adjustment at the time of image capturing with image processing.
In computational photography, image data (light-field data) for which focus adjustment is possible after shooting is obtained using a light field camera. Examples of the light field camera are a Plenoptic camera in which a microlens array is arranged in front of an image sensor and a multiple-lens camera in which a number of sets of image sensors and lenses are incorporated.
The user may want to synthesize an image (to be referred to as a "CG image" hereinafter) created using a computer graphic rendering method (to be referred to as a "CG rendering method" hereinafter) on the image for which focus adjustment is possible. To do this, if CG rendering is performed without using light-field data, it is necessary to prepare CG images which are focused on all distances. In this case, however, since it takes long time to create such CG images, it is not preferable to prepare the CG images which are focused on all distances.
Therefore, it is desirable to create a CG image by computational photography by generating light-field data similar to that captured by the light field camera using the CG rendering method, and using the generated light-field data.
As a method of creating light-field data by the CG rendering method, there is provided a method described in literature 2. Since, however, this method generates light-field data based on one ray for each pixel of an image, the quality of the generated light-field data is insufficient to be synthesized with captured light-field data.    Literature 1: R. Ng, M. Levoy, M. Bredif, G. Duval, M. Horowitz, P. Hanrahan "Light Field Photography with a Hand-held Plenoptic Camera" Stanford Tech Report CTSR 2005-02, 2005    Literature 2: Steven G. Parker et al. "OptiX™: A General Purpose Ray Tracing Engine" ACM Transactions on Graphics, August 2010

Image processing apparatus and method therefor


An information transfer system for a refrigeration air-conditioning apparatus in which one or more heat-source units for the refrigerating/air conditioning apparatus, one first relay unit, and one or more second relay units are connected by refrigerant piping, and the second relay units and one or more indoor units are connected by water piping, wherein communications are performed discretely between a pair of the heat-source unit and the first relay unit, a pair of the first relay unit and the second relay units, and a pair of the second relay units and the indoor units through transmission lines respectively.

Hitherto, there have been cooling apparatuses and air-conditioning apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as refrigeration air-conditioning apparatuses) including a water circuit and a refrigerant circuit (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). In such an apparatus, a circuit that inputs a pump driving signal of a water circuit to a heat-source unit having a compressor and that does not operate the compressor when there is no input, so-called interlock circuit, has been often configured by hardware.

Information transfer system for refrigeration air-conditioning apparatus


A method of making an article having both a polymeric substrate and a metallic spray deposited layer is disclosed. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the polymeric substrate and the metallic layer are preferably similar.

Graphite composite laminates are light weight, high strength materials useful for many different applications. In fact, it is highly desirable to construct certain objects out of such materials. For example, certain supports have been produced which are light weight and provide the proper support strength. Nevertheless, graphite composite laminates, such as epoxy impregnated with carbon/graphite fibers, are relatively expensive and, although suitable for certain applications, do not provide the exact properties typically provided by other materials such as metals.
As such, heretofore, there have been several attempts to combine metal and carbon composites to achieve certain metallic properties, while also retaining the benefits of the composites (e.g.—reduced weight). However, most of these attempts have resulted in providing a metallic core with an exterior of carbon fiber or the like. Clearly, such constructions result in an object having an exterior surface with the properties of the composite material. While this may be desirable in certain applications, it may not be in others. For example, such an object lacks the ability to be welded and may provide an object having less damage resistance. Similarly, certain metals are useful in reflecting/absorbing RF signals or the like, as well as for EMI shielding, and thus, would be better suited as the exterior material of an article.
One such attempt at depositing metal over composite materials is discussed in an article entitled "Spray Deposited Metal-Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Structures" by P. S. Mohanty and A. Argento (hereinafter referred to as "Mohanty"). Essentially, Mohanty discloses and teaches fabricating tubular structures consisting of a fiber-reinforced polymeric core having a spray deposited outer metal surface. However, Mohanty does not teach constructing the structures out of materials with like properties to ensure compatibility over a wide range of temperatures and different uses.
Therefore, a method of depositing metal over composite materials where materials with similar properties are utilized is desirable.


A fiber-optic array includes a plurality of optical fibers, each encased by a cladding material that significantly absorbs light. The refractive indices of the fiber core and its cladding are selected such that the acceptance angle of each fiber includes all rays incident upon the face of the fiber. Thus no unguided light enters one fiber and exits another fiber, and flare is controlled. By further having the cladding preferentially absorb totally internally reflected off-axis rays, the "effective" acceptance angle is limited to a value that provides increased depth of field in applications, e.g., involving film scanning.

In known glass-clad fiber-optic arrays, both the fiber and the cladding are made of non-absorbent material to minimize transmission loss through each fiber. If the refractive index n.sub.1 of the fiber core and the refractive index n.sub.2 of the fiber cladding are sufficiently different that EQU n.sub.1.sup.2 <n.sub.2.sup.2 +1
then the acceptance half-angle for rays impinging upon the input face of each fiber is at a maximum, namely, 90.degree.. This means that light at all incident angles is transmitted by total internal reflection down the fiber (except for small losses due to Fresnel reflection at the input and exit faces). In an imaging system using such an array, the depth of field is very shallow. Moreover, in utilizing diffuse illumination to suppress the effect of scratches on a scanned original, the collection of widely off-axis rays produces noticeable image blurring.
In order to reduce the aforementioned blurring and to increase depth of field of an imaging system to a useable range, it is necessary to decrease the acceptance angle. The conventional approach has been to decrease the difference between the refractive indices of the core and cladding so that the above inequality does not hold. As this difference decreases, the acceptance angle decreases. The problem then is that light rays striking the input face of the fibers at greater than the acceptance angle are not internally reflected, and instead transmit through the fiber walls to exit through another fiber. This generates flare light that severely degrades resolution in an imaging system. High quality film scanners, for example, must operate under extremely low levels of flare light to read the full dynamic range of densities and to capture the fine details of film images.
If the cladding or the interstitial spaces between fibers can be adapted to attenuate stray light within the fibers, then this problem can be alleviated to some extent. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,060,789 the cladding of a fiber is formed of a light-absorbing glass having absorption characteristics selected such that substantially only the light entering the fiber within the acceptance angle of the fiber will be transferred through the fiber, whereas light entering the fiber at angles beyond the acceptance angle will be absorbed by the cladding. Another technique is to add an array of small light-absorbing fibers located interstitially among the light-conducting fibers. The absorbing material, usually a dark glass, gradually absorbs the stray light as it wanders through the plate. The thicker the plate the more effective the absorption. Such a material is often referred to as extramural absorption, or EMA, material (see "Fiber Optics" by W.P. Siegmund, pp. 1-29 in Applied Optics and Optical Engineering, R. Kingslake, ed. Vol. IV, Academic Press: New York, 1967). The problem with such techniques is that enough unguided light is still passed through the fiber-optic array to cause significant flare. Moreover, the light absorbing cladding inherently absorbs, at each reflection, a small portion of the light which entered the fiber within its maximum acceptance angle.
The latter problem can be alleviated to some extent by providing a multiple coating or cladding on the core of the fiber (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,500). The fiber comprises a core of a relatively high index flint glass or the like having an inner coating or cladding of a clear relatively low index crown glass and an outer coating or cladding of a light-absorbing glass. Since the inner cladding, being a clear crown glass, will not absorb light, substantially all of the light within the acceptance angle of the fiber will be internally reflected at the interface and transferred through the fiber without in any way contacting the outer light-absorbing cladding. As with prior arrays, some unguided light, that is, light entering the fiber beyond its maximum acceptance angle, is still passed through the array to cause flare.
In the known structures cited above, the refractive indices of the core and cladding are such that the some input angles of incidence do not result in total internal reflection. U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,297 discloses a fiber-optic array structure for which the refractive indices are chosen such that all input rays are transmitted through the fiber. The problem now is that some rays enter the array through the glass cladding itself and obliquely travel through the structure, passing several times through the clad fibers and thus causing flare. According to this patent, an ion exchange process operative along the facial surface of the array darkens the cladding to a depth of 10 to 20 microns (approximately 1% of the thickness, top to bottom, of the array). This is said to absorb the radiation incident upon the cladding without causing unduly large absorption of the radiation captured by the core. However, the depth of field, as mentioned before, remains too shallow for use with high resolution image scanners.

Fiber-optic array of limited acceptance angle


A sensor assembly (10) for monitoring movement of an object (13) near a first body region (11) of an animal (12) includes one or more sensors (16) and a signaling unit (24). The sensor (16) is coupled to the animal (12) and detects movement of the object (13) near the first body region (11) of the animal (12). The signaling unit (24) generates a sensory signal that is received by the animal (12) when the sensor (16) detects movement of the object (13) near the first body region (11). In one embodiment, the sensor (16) can include an infrared sensor. Alternatively, one or more of the sensors (16) can include a directional sensor, a positional sensor, an inclination sensor and/or another suitable type of sensor (16). The sensory signal can be an audible sound, a vibration, a visual signal and/or an electrical impulse. The sensor assembly (10) can also include a counter (26) that monitors the number of times that the sensor (16) detects movement of the object (13) within or near the first body region (11).

It is generally accepted that extremity-to-face contact is a primary means of transmitting upper respiratory infection diseases. For example, one or more viruses can be collected on the hand when touching contaminated surfaces such as doorknobs, shopping carts, pens, other hands, etc. Generally speaking, viruses can survive from a few hours to as long as four days or more on nonporous surfaces, and for at least two hours on human skin. Over the course of a day, an individual may contact several contaminated surfaces and may subsequently touch his or her face up to 100 times or more. Such extremity-to-face contact increases the likelihood that a virus will ultimately reach the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, eyes, etc., resulting in a serious disease or other illness being contracted by the individual.
Unfortunately, attempts to prevent spreading of respiratory diseases and other viruses have not been altogether satisfactory. For example, in the case of human beings, vaccines are commonly used to inhibit contracting and spreading of various influenza viruses. Regrettably, because these types of vaccines only account for a limited number of existing strains of the influenza virus, they are not entirely effective. Other attempts to control spreading of communicable diseases include the use of protective devices such as masks and eye goggles. However, such devices can be cumbersome and have not been completely well-received even by individuals in high-risk work environments such as hospitals and schools.
Additionally, trichotillomania is a condition that affects up to approximately 2% of the human population. Trichotillomania is characterized by the habitual pulling out of one's eyebrows, eyelashes, or hair. Two current methods of treatment are behavioral therapy and the use of medication. Behavioral therapy is often considered to be more preferred than medications because of the lack of potential side effects or contraindications. Current behavioral therapy tools can rely on a patient to count and record the number of occurrences of the undesirable behavior, which can result in inaccuracies. Other devices that are not completely effective may only passively remind the patient not to engage in the particular behavior. In addition, the efficacy of certain medications can decrease over a relatively short, continuous period of time.

Device and method for preventing upper respiratory diseases and for modifying certain OCD behaviors


A cable connector assembly useful for properly aligning/positioning and retaining (during connecting and disconnecting) a number of connectors for computing devices. The assembly uses left and right side walls with flexible and resilient connector engagement members that provide at least some amount of outward “give” or movement to facilitate assembly but are designed to spring back into place after insertion of the connectors. The engagement members of the left and right side walls may each take the form of a leaf spring that can be flexed a distance outward but then spring back to or towards a non-deformed state to mate with and apply an inward retention force against the adjacent connector. The assembly includes removable and rotatable middle walls or dividers that are placed on posts extending upward from the inner surface of the assembly's base and allowed to rotate about the posts during the assembly process.

1. Field of the Description
The present description relates to connector assemblies for servers, data storage devices such as disk and tape drives, and other computing devices and, in particular, to a connector assembly designed to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs while providing proper alignment (or positioning) and retention of a set of connectors for a computing devices such as a server or service processor (SP) tray in a rack or other mounting structure for computing devices (e.g., data storage devices, servers, trays containing processors, and the like).
2. Relevant Background
In the data storage and computer industry, there are many implementations where it is desirable to mount devices, e.g., servers, drives, storage devices, and other computing devices, in close proximity. For example, many data rooms will include one-to-many racks, chasses, and other enclosures that are used to vertically stack numerous computing devices, which are arranged in horizontal slots or spaces. Within each slot or space, a computing device such as a service processor (SP) tray, a drive, a server, or the like may be inserted or slid into the rack or enclosure. Within each slot or space, a set of connectors typically are provided that allow the computing device to be inserted and to have its connection devices (e.g., male or female communication or power connectors) received and engaged for proper mating to deliver power to the computing device and to allow the computing device to digitally communicate within a system or network.
An ongoing challenge for enclosure and computing system designers is how best to provide the set of connectors within the racks or enclosures to facilitate ready insertion and removal of the computing devices from the slots or spaces. One example of a support structure or rack used in the computing industry is a truss, which may in turn be provided in an enclosure or a chassis, that is used to receive and support a number of SP trays (or the like). To facilitate power and communication connections, cable connector assemblies can be mounted onto the truss, and each of these cable connector assemblies in turn includes a connector alignment and retention assemblies to provide the desired connectors (e.g., customized connectors for the SP tray or other computing device to be received in the truss slot/space) in a known position and to retain these connectors in these positions while the computing device is inserted into the truss.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a connector alignment and retention assembly 100 that is presently used in the computing industry within a cable connector assembly (not shown in FIG. 1), and FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the assembly 100. The assembly 100 is made up of a number of machined parts that have to be fit together and assembled in a predefined order. As shown, the assembly 100 includes a base or bottom plate 120 that supports a set of connectors in the form of three connectors 110 of a first type/configuration (e.g., a 4 by 16 connector) and one connector 114 of a second type/configuration (e.g., a 4 by 20 connector). FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevation view of the connectors 110, 114 as they may appear within the assembly 100 with gaps 119 between adjacent connectors 110, 114 with a predefined size or width, WGap. FIGS. 4A and 4B show left and right side perspective views of the connectors 110 showing tabs or raised elements 111, 113 used to retain the connectors 110, 114 within the assembly 100.
The assembly 100 further includes a cover or top plate 130, with the connectors 110 and 114 being sandwiched between the base 120 and the cover 130. The base 120 and cover 130 each have grooves 121 (seen in FIG. 2) and 132 for receiving a pusher/holder assemblies 140 that each couple at one end with one of the connectors 110, 114 to preload the connectors 110, 114 to apply a spring force that acts to bottom out or fully couple each connector 110, 114 with a corresponding connector of a mated or received computing device (e.g., an SP tray or module or other computing device adapted for use with connectors 110, 114).
The assembly 100 is adapted to align or position the connectors 110, 114 and also to retain their positions during connection with a computing device such as an SP tray or the like. To this end, the assembly 100 further includes a left side wall assembly 150, three middle walls 154, and a right wall assembly 158. Each of these is sandwiched between the base 120 and the cover 130, and each includes slots or openings 151, 155, 159 for receiving tabs or raised surface elements 111, 113, and 115 (with elements 113 and 115 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B) provided on the sides of the connectors 110, 114, i.e., with two tabs provided on the left sides of the connectors 110, 114 and one tab on the right sides of the connectors 110, 114. The mating of these two features limits the amount of in and out (or forward and back) movement of the connectors 110, 114 during engagement with a computing device. The wall assemblies 150, 158 and the walls 154 provide a desired spacing between the connectors 110, 114 by maintaining the gaps 119, which may be relatively small in width, WGap, such as 0.4 to 0.6 mm or the like, as seen in FIG. 3, and the wall assemblies 150, 158 and walls 154. also prevent side-to-side movement of the connectors 110, 114 (e.g., retain the connectors in an aligned arrangement) in the assembly 100.
In some particular implementations, the spacing provided by the wall assemblies is 0.5 millimeters (mm), which only allows connectors 110, 114 to move side-to-side by 0.5 mm in the assembly 100. Similarly, forward and back allowable movement is controlled by the spacing between the tabs of the connectors and the slot edge of the wall assemblies. Top and down allowed movement is controlled by the gap between the connector and the cover and base. In some cases, it may make sense to define WGap as the gap between the middle wall and the connector surface as it can useful in supporting proper functioning, rather than the gap between two connectors as this is often simply a clearance space maintained to be bigger than 2 times WGap combined from each side.
Presently, the majority of the components of the assembly 100 are machined, rigid parts including the left wall assembly 150, the middle walls 154, and the side wall assembly 158 as well as the base 120 and the cover 130. The use of machined parts has increased the cost of fabricating the assembly 100, and the assembly 100 also is relatively expensive to assemble as the parts typically have to be put together onsite in a particular order. Stated differently, an existing problem in the computing industry is how to fit a number (e.g., four) of customized connectors into a tight space while restraining their movement well. The industry has, as shown in FIGS. 1-4B, attempted to address this problem by using a large number of separately machined parts that then have to be assembled together in a costly manner.
In this regard, a typical process for assembling the parts of the assembly 100 is shown in FIGS. 5A-5G. In a first step shown in FIG. 5A, the left wall assembly 150 is affixed to the left edge of the base 120. In a second step shown in FIG. 5B, the first connector 110 is placed on the base 120 and against the left wall assembly 150, and, then, a first one of the middle walls 154 is attached to the base 120 so as to hold the connector 110 in place. In a third step shown in FIG. 5C, a next or second connector 110 is placed on the base 120 so as to abut the previously placed middle wall 154. Then, in the step shown in FIG. 5D, an additional middle wall 154 is attached to the base 120 so as to retain the second one of the connectors 110, and, then, a third or next connector 110 is placed on the base 120 so as to abut the previously attached middle wall 154.
In the step shown in FIG. 5E, the last of the middle walls 154 is attached to the base 120 to retain the third connector 110 in place, and, then, the fourth or last connector 114 is placed on the base 120 in contact with the middle wall 154. To fully retain the connector 114 from side-to-side movement the right wall assembly 158 is attached to the base 120 so as to abut the connector 114. Next, in the step of FIG. 5F, the cover 130 is placed over the connectors 110, 114 and affixed (e.g., screwed) to the wall assemblies 150, 158 and middle walls 154. Finally, in the step of FIG. 5G, the pusher/holder assemblies 140 are mounted to the cover 130 so as to engage and preload the connectors 110, 114 within the assembly 100. As will be appreciated, the assembly process has to be followed in this exact order to have the rigid, machined parts fit together properly. This manual assembly process can be relatively time consuming and exacting such that the combination of use of machined parts and relatively difficult fabrication process results in increased costs for the producing the assembly 100.
Hence, there remains a need for improved designs for a connector alignment and retention assembly for use with racks and enclosures used to support computing devices. Preferably, the new designs would reduce manufacturing and/or material costs of the components used within the assembly. Additionally, it is desirable for the new design to support a less complex and/or less time consuming method of assembling the components of the assembly. The new design described herein integrates the assembly of the pusher/holder assemblies into the base or cover assembly, which now can be done right at a sheet metal manufacturer site. This is significantly less expensive and less time consuming than having a sheet metal manufacturer providing metal parts including pushers/holders to cable/connector vendors who put the assembly together.

Connector retention and alignment assembly for use in computer and data storage mounting racks


The present invention provides a grading boot attachment which when attached to a roadway grading moldboard allows for more accurate and uniform grade cutting or leveling with the moldboard. The attachment includes amounting plate for mounting to the moldboard, a winged section and an adjustable leveling gate which may be adjusted to the appropriate angular position for any desired task. A compressive strut retains the leveling gate in an operable position.

In paved road construction, it is common practice to establish a compacted roadbed using a scraper blade to scrape the road bed surface at a proper roadbed depth. Procedurally, the compacted roadbeds are typically prepared from a rock base comprised of gravel or stone which must then be leveled and compacted to the appropriate height before paving with a suitable top surface such as concrete or blacktop which typically mates onto the gutter of the curbstone. Within recent years, there have been developed sonic and laser tracking devices which attach to a road grader. These tracking devices typically include a transducer which generates laser beams or sound pulses which enables the tracking device to measure the roadbed depth and control the grade with physical reference to base lines such as a curbline surface, a string line, or other existing road surface landmarks. This provides an appropriate road bed for laying the concrete, black top or other surfaces onto the road bed. These sonic or laser tracking devices are designed to include software and hardware which automatically adjusts the grader moldboard to the appropriate grading height so as to provide the proper rock bed grade prior to the laying of the finished road bed surface. Exemplary of such sonic or laser devices which measure and control the roadbed grading elevation are referenced in an owner's manual entitled the BLADE-PRO™ Motorgrader Control System, copyrighted 1992, Spectra-Physics Laserplane, 5475 Kellenburger Road, Dayton, Ohio, and an operator's manual entitled Motorgrader System Five™ by TOPCAN Laser Systems, Inc., 5758 W. Las Positas Blvd, Pleasanton, Calif. 94588, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In order to prepare a suitable road bed for paving, the finished rock bed grade must be within ¼ inch tolerance so as to meet mandated road building engineering specifications. This will normally require a number of passes before the roadbed meets the required specifications. A major problem with such sonic and laser measuring devices is the fact that the monitoring measurement relies upon the perceived curbstone flag or gutter surface as a guideline to control the elevation of the moldboard. Unfortunately, if, in fact, there exists any debris from past grader passes upon the curbstone gutter surface (e.g. such as gravel) then the automated reading for positioning the grading moldboard will become grossly distorted. The sensing device will react to the more elevated debris resting along the targeted beam line causing the moldboard to be inaccurately raised to an inaccurate grading elevation. Accordingly, the perceived evaluation of the curb control line becomes distorted by whatever debris may be resting upon the curbstone gutter surface. It is customary to initially manually sweep graded materials from the curbstone flagging so as to permit the sonic or laser measuring devices to record an accurate measurement of the actual distance between the rockbed and the curb flagging edge. Conventional grading moldboards will accordingly inherently sweep excessive or unwanted material onto the curbstone flagging or gutter. This in turn distorts the true curbline depth resulting in automatic adjustment of the moldboard to an excessive amount of road bed abutting onto the curbstone and places the road bed in non-compliance with road building specifications. The need to constantly sweep graded debris from the curbstone flagging increases the costs, manpower, equipment and time needed to complete a roadway project. The advantage of a grader moldboard regulated by an automatic sensing device can be readily frustrated by an inability to maintain the targeted beam line in condition for an accurate reading. There also exists a need to more accurately control the amount of material cut or graded along the leading edge of the moldboard as well as being able to more accurately and more uniformly control the distribution of graded material along the trailing edge of the moldboard. The ability to effectively limit graded spill and unwanted debris at a moldboard grading edge would significantly enhance the efficacy of moldboard grading.
The present invention provides an attachment which alleviates the problems attendant to the conventional use of the grading moldboard. The present attachment serves as a moldboard attachment to accurately cut and grade the roadbed while maintaining and preventing accumulation of debris onto the curb or work site. The attachment provides a more uniform and accurate distribution of graded material. This allows the sonic or laser measuring device to provide an accurate and more uniform control of the moldboard in a grading operation.


A tugger cart is provided for transporting a load about a factory or the like. The tugger cart includes a support frame and a wheel assembly operatively connected to the support frame for supporting the support frame above a supporting surface. A bed is rotatably mounted to the support frame and is rotatable about a vertical bed axis that extends through the center of the bed. The bed may be locked in a predetermined position by a user. The tugger cart also includes a handle assembly slidably connected to the support frame. The handle assembly is movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position.

In order to transport pallets, containers and materials throughout a factory, wheeled tugger carts are often used. These tugger carts allow an individual to deliver the pallets, containers and materials to the desired workstation in the factory. It can be appreciated that when transporting containers or the like to various locales throughout a factory, these containers must often be unloaded or removed from the tugger cart in order to allow access to the user to the desired container to be delivered at the workstation. However, there may be insufficient space at the desired workstation to temporarily place the container(s) removed from the tugger cart. Hence, it is highly desirable to provide a tugger cart with a temporary storage capability for supporting containers intended to be transported on the tugger cart.
It can be further appreciated that the pallets, containers or materials transported on the tugger carts must often be reorientated when delivered to a desired workstation. For example, a pallet may have to be reorientated at the workstation in order to allow for access to the pallet by a forklift. Alternatively, a container delivered to a desired workstation may require the container to be orientated in a certain manner to allow access to the interior thereof. When the pallets, containers or materials transported on a tugger cart are of significant size and/or weight, it may be difficult for a user to reorientate the pallet, container or material delivered to the workstation. Consequently, it is highly desirable to provide a tugger cart which allows for a user to more easily orientate the pallets, containers, or materials transported thereon.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a tugger cart for transporting pallets, containers and materials throughout a factory that is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a tugger cart for transporting pallets, containers and materials throughout a factory that allows for a user to reorientate the pallets, containers and materials supported thereon.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a tugger cart for transporting pallets, containers, and materials throughout a factory that provides a secondary support structure for temporarily supporting a portion of the containers and/or materials transported by the tugger cart.
In accordance with the present invention, a tugger cart is provided for transporting a load. The tugger cart includes a support frame and a bed having a center. The bed is rotatably mounted to the support frame and is rotatable about a bed axis perpendicular to the bed and extends through the center of the bed. A wheel assembly is operatively connected to the support frame for supporting the support frame above a support surface.
The tugger cart also includes a handle assembly slidably connected to the support frame. The handle assembly is movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position. The handle and the assembly includes a generally horizontal leg having a first end slidably connected to the support frame and an opposite second end. A lower arm projects from the leg and an upper arm is pivotably connected to the lower arm. The upper arm is pivotable between an extended position wherein the upper arm is generally co-planar to the lower arm in the retracted position. A locking structure is operatively connected to the support frame for locking the leg of the handle assembly in a user desired position.
The handle assembly further includes a load support member extending from the lower arm and a bracing arm extending between the leg and the load support member. The load support member includes a load support arm extending upwardly from the lower arm of the handle assembly and a retaining plate extending vertically from a terminal end of the load support arm.
A bed locking structure is provided for locking the bed in a selected position on the support frame. The bed locking structure includes a retractable pin operatively connected to the locked support frame. The pin is movable along a vertical pin axis between an extended position and a retracted position. The pin axis is a predetermined radial distance from the bed axis. A locking plate is connected to the bed and has an aperture therethrough for receiving the retractable pin.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a tugger cart is provided for transporting a load. The tugger cart includes a support frame having an end and a bed received in the support frame. A wheel assembly is operatively connected to the support frame for supporting the support frame above the supporting surface. The handle assembly is slidably connected to the support frame adjacent the end thereof. The handle assembly is movable toward and away from the end of the support frame to a plurality of user selected positions.
The handle assembly includes a generally horizontal leg having a first end slidably connected to the support frame and an opposite, second end. A lower arm projects from the leg and an upper arm is pivotably connected to the lower arm. The upper arm is pivotable between an extended position wherein the upper arm is generally co-planar with the lower arm and a retracted position. A locking structure is provided for locking the leg of the handle assembly in one of the user selected positions.
The handle assembly also includes a load support member extending from the lower arm. A bracing element extends between the leg and the load support member. The load support member includes a load supporting arm extending upwardly from the lower arm of the handle assembly and a retaining leg extending vertically from the terminal end of the load support arm.
It is contemplated for the bed to have a center and to lie in a generally horizontal plane. The bed is rotatable on the support frame about a vertical bed axis that extends through the center of the bed. A bed locking structure is provided for locking the bed at a selected position on the support frame. The bed locking structure includes a retractable pin operatively connected to the support frame. The pin is movable along a vertical pin axis between the extended position and a retracted position. The pin axis is a predetermined radial distance from the bed axis. A locking plate is connected to the bed and has a bed aperture therethrough. The bed aperture has a center being a predetermined radial distance from the bed axis. The locking plate includes a horizontal base having first and second opposite sides. A pair of ramp plates diverge from opposite sides of the base and interconnect the base to the lower surface of the bed.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a tugger cart is provided for transporting a load. The tugger cart includes a support frame having an end. A bed, having a center, is rotatably mounted to the support frame. The bed is rotatable about a bed axis perpendicular to the bed and extending through the center of the bed. A retractable pin is operatively connected to the support frame. The pin is movable along a vertical pin axis between an extended position and a retracted position. The pin axis is a predetermined radial distance from the bed axis. A locking plate is connected to the bed and has an aperture therethrough for receiving the pin in the extended position so as to maintain the bed in a predetermined position on the support frame. The aperture has a center being the predetermined radial distance from the bed axis.
The tugger cart may also include a handle assembly slidably connected to the support frame adjacent the end thereof. The handle assembly is movable toward and away from the ends of the support frame to a plurality of user selectable positions. The handle assembly includes a generally horizontal leg having a first end slidably connected to the support frame and an opposite second end. A lower arm projects from the leg and an upper arm is pivotably connected to the lower arm. The upper arm is pivotable between an extended position wherein the upper arm is generally co-planar with the lower arm in the retracted position. A locking structure is operatively connected to the support frame for locking the leg of the handle assembly in one of the user selected positions.
The handle assembly further includes a load support member extending from the lower arm. A bracing element extends between the leg and the load support member. The load support member includes a load support arm extending upwardly from the lower arm of the handle and a retaining plate extending vertically from a terminal end of the load support arm.
It is contemplated for the locking plate of the tugger cart to include a base having first and second opposite sides. A pair of ramp plates diverge from opposite sides of the base and interconnect the base of the locking plate to the lower surface of the bed.


The invention relates to an item of games and sport equipment in which an rebounding body (1), preferably a ball, is connected to a variable-length distancing or pull cord (2), is guided by way-of a sliding and deviating member (6), and is provided with a handle region (8). By pivoting a swing-providing device the rebounding body orbits and the direction of the rebounding body is reversed by the rebounding effect. The radius of the trajectory of the rebounding body is altered by guiding (pulling or loosening) of the distancing or pull cord. The direction of the trajectory is caused by changing the movement of the swing-providing device.

This invention relates to game and sport equipment.
Game and sport equipments are known in a big variety.
Ball games of different kinds are very popular.
For most of the ball games more or less space requirments are necessary.
Because of insufficient space and due to the traffic density ball games in the city are almost impossible so that playful and sporting activities with balls are often done inadequate.


In an oscillation apparatus formed by a ring oscillator including an odd number of inverters (more than two inverters) connected in a ring, each of the inverters having one drive MOS transistor and one load MOS transistor, a constant voltage generating circuit is adapted to generate a constant voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the drive MOS transistor, and a voltage-to-current converting circuit is adapted to convert the constant voltage into load currents. Each of the load currents flows through the load MOS transistor of one of the inverters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oscillation apparatus formed by a ring oscillator including an odd number of inverters (more than two inverters) connected in a ring, each of the inverters having one drive MOS transistor and one load MOS transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, ring oscillator incorporating oscillation apparatuses have been used in a high frequency superposing module of an optical pickup laser diode driver for reading information from an optical disk such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) or a MiniDisk (MD). In such a module, a high frequency current of several hundreds of MHz is superposed onto a laser diode drive current to reduce various laser noises, which requires a stabilization of the oscillation frequency.
In a prior art oscillation apparatus formed by a ring oscillator including an odd number of inverters (more than two inverters) connected in a ring, each of the inverters having one drive MOS transistor and one load MOS transistor, a constant current generating circuit is adapted to generate load currents, so that each of the load currents flows through the load MOS transistor of one of the inverters (see: JP-2003-283305A). This will be explained later in detail.
In the above-described prior art oscillation apparatus, however, when the threshold voltages of the drive transistors fluctuate due to the manufacturing steps such as the impurity implantation and diffusion steps, the oscillation frequency would fluctuate.

Oscillation apparatus capable of compensating for fluctuation of oscillation frequency


Disclosed is a DC thermal energy generator for heating localized regions of an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a pair of static circuits whose outputs are shorted, and are in contention. Contention causes current to flow through the circuits, generating heat. Integrated-circuit temperature can be varied by turning on more or fewer thermal energy generators. The thermal resistance of a packaged integrated circuit is computed using a well-known relationship among the integrated circuit's measured temperature, power consumption, and the ambient temperature.

The operating temperature of an integrated circuit (IC) affects both the life and the speed performance of the IC. Higher internal operating temperatures will shorten the life of an IC; elevated but safe temperatures often reduce the quality of performance in a circuit, for instance degrading frequency response or increasing distortion. Hence, manufacturers specify IC performance at a particular temperature and power consumption. IC users must then ensure adequate cooling to maintain their ICs within an acceptable range of temperatures.
Modern miniature IC packages allow great space savings in products by allowing more ICs to be placed on a given area of a printed circuit board (PCB). Unfortunately, high IC densities concentrate heat generated by the ICs into smaller spaces. This concentration of heat exacerbates the problem of ensuring adequate cooling. To make matters worse, ever increasing IC speeds and complexities promise to generate still more heat in still smaller spaces. Such problems demand careful attention in designing effective thermal management schemes.
A packaged IC comprises a semiconductor die enclosed within a package (e.g., a PLCC or BGA package) and leads that transmit signals to and from the die through the package. "Thermal resistance" is an important parameter in designing effective thermal management schemes for ICs. The thermal resistance of an IC mounted on a PCB (i.e., the "mounted thermal resistance") represents the ability of the package to conduct heat away from the IC die through the package and package leads and into the surrounding environment. Mounted thermal resistance (ΘJA) of a packaged IC varies with die size, package type, and circuit board features, and can be computed using a well-known relationship among IC temperature, power consumption, and ambient temperature.
Various methods are used to estimate mounted thermal resistance of a packaged IC. These methods include resistive heating of a thermal test chip, thermal simulation of the packaged IC, and AC activity heating of the packaged IC. The thermal-test-chip method utilizes a packaged thermal die of a different type but of the same size as the actual packaged IC die. The thermal die has an on-chip temperature sensor for determining die temperature and resistors that resistively heat the thermal die.
The thermal-test-chip method of determining thermal resistance can be imprecise for a number of reasons. For example, the physical profile of an IC die is non-uniform. Non-uniform profiles drastically affect the way heat is transmitted through the die, and hence how the package conducts heat away from the die and into the environment; the thermal-test-chip method does not take this into account. Similarly, other differences between the form and function of the thermal test chip and the IC of interest can introduce measurement errors.
Thermal simulation of an IC and the board environment is another method that can be used to determine the thermal resistance of packaged ICs. Thermal simulation method is fast but can result in grossly erroneous thermal resistance values because of the difficulty of forming accurate models.
Some methods of measuring thermal resistance of a packaged IC use AC activity on the IC to heat the die. Such methods require a substantial portion of the IC be activated. This method has two major flaws: one, it can be difficult to produce uniform AC activity across the IC and, as a result, some regions of the IC may be at a higher temperature than others; two, AC activity causes substantial power fluctuations, which can introduce errors in the measurement of power consumed by the IC.
In light of the foregoing, there exists a need for a method of accurately determining the thermal resistance value of a packaged IC.

Methods and circuits for measuring the thermal resistance of a packaged IC


A pneumatic cylinder designed to convert compressed air into mechanical output is disclosed. The pneumatic cylinder includes a piston and rod assembly with supporting components coaxially disposed and arranged to achieve a linear mechanical force in accordance with a differential pressure across the piston. A cylindrical sleeve, secured to end caps on both openings, encircles the piston and rod assembly and helps guide the piston during travel. Additionally, a manifold, which serves as a conduit for airflow between each individual cylinder volume and an external air control device, is disposed such that the cylindrical sleeve and end caps are nested, in a concentric manner, within the manifold. This arrangement results in a dynamic relationship between airflow and differential pressure that is conducive to precision force and motion control.

Conventional pneumatic cylinders provide a conduit for airflow into and out of the head and rod end volumes by means of ports machined into the respective head and rod end caps. Said ports serve as anchor points for plumbing that then communicates airflow to a control valve network. While such an arrangement has a certain level of operability, it typically creates a poor dynamic relationship between desired airflow and differential pressure. Consequently, attempts to apply such devices in precision applications have met with limited success.

Pneumatic cylinder for precision servo type applications


A process for repairing a crack in a recreational court or surface comprising cleaning the crack to remove loose material, filling the crack with a crack filling material, such as a flexible sealant material which adheres to the edges of the crack and securely seals the crack, applying a laminate to the recreational surface and to the exposed sealant material to completely cover the crack, wherein the laminate comprises a waterproof adhesive applied to a flexible material, and securing a polyester flexible fabric to at least the edges of the laminate using an adhesive material.

This invention relates to a method for repairing a crack, particularly in a recreational court or surface.
A variety of methods exist for repairing cracks in surfaces, such as roadways, pavements and other concrete or asphalt surfaces, and particularly for recreational courts or surfaces, such as tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, volleyball courts, running tracks and multi-sport play courts. Such cracks are a significant problem, especially in those areas of the country where there are significant variations in temperature throughout the year. The conventional process for repairing cracks in recreational courts or surfaces requires cleaning debris out of the cracks and filling the cracks with a crack filler material which solidifies to a hardened state. Prior to hardening, this crack filling material is leveled to the level of the recreational court or surface.
Unfortunately, crack repairs made using this conventional process are only a temporary fix. Continued maintenance of the recreational court is necessary because of the formation of new cracks or the further deterioration of the earlier crack caused by changes in temperature and moisture in the environment as well as ground movement or settling and problems with the construction of the court or surface. Cracks repaired using this conventional process often tear open again as the asphalt or concrete pavement expands or contracts caused by temperature changes, moisture level increases, ground movement or settling, or the freeze and thaw of the surrounding ground.
A more complex process for repairing cracks in recreational courts or surfaces, particularly tennis courts, requires covering the filled crack with a slip-sheet, i.e. a non-adhering material which isolates the crack from the surrounding environment. This process requires the crack to be cleaned and filled with a hardened crack filler to the level of the surrounding pavement or recreational court. A slip-sheet is then secured, usually by an adhesive, to the surface of the recreational court, completely covering the filled crack. The top surface of this slip-sheet, which is applied over the crack, is required not to adhere to other materials which cover the slip-sheet. Another layer or layers of material, such as one or more fiberglass sheets, are then placed over the non-adhering surface of the slip-sheet and are secured at least at their peripheral edges to the pavement or recreational court. By this method, the top surface of the slip-sheet is isolated from the remaining materials, enabling the slip-sheet to expand and contract with the court or surface without putting stress on the crack repair. Early slip-sheet methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,663,350 and 3,932,051.
Another method of crack repair using a slip-sheet utilizes a tape material with a shiny outer surface, prepared from polyethylene, Mylar, Teflon or other such materials, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,729. An adhesive tape, such as duct tape, which has a non-adhering polyethylene top surface, is one example of a slip-sheet of this invention.
In an alternative method, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,304, a liquid waterproofing material is applied directly over the filled crack. This liquid waterproofing material dries with a non-adhering top surface that isolates the crack from additional materials placed over the non-adhering surface. Over this non-adhering surface are secured several fabric layers by use of acrylic binders. The key step in this process, however, is the crack isolation step produced by the application of the liquid waterproofing material to the recreational court.
The process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,304 is similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,729 in that both rely on the application of a non-adhering material to the recreational court or surface over which other materials are placed. Many different types of materials and adhesives may be applied over the slip-sheet or other non-adhering surface to complete the crack repair.
While these processes for filling cracks in recreational courts or surfaces have shown utility, they can be difficult to apply, require an extensive amount of time to cure and still result in problems caused by the recurrence of the cracks.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to disclose a method for repairing a crack in a court or surface, particularly a recreational court or surface, which addresses the problems of the prior art. These and other objects can be obtained by the process for repairing a crack in a recreational court or surface that is disclosed in the present invention.

Method for repairing a crack in a recreational court or surface