A portable oxygen generator comprises an air pump, a molecular tube and a molecular seat, the molecular tube is detachably fixed on the side wall of the molecular seat, the air pump is disposed at the lower part of the molecular seat. An air filter bucket, an oxygen storage bucket and an exhaust silencing bucket are disposed inside the molecular seat, the air filter bucket is provided with an air inlet communicated with the outside air. An air channel, an oxygen channel and an exhaust channel are disposed inside the molecular seat, the air channel is respectively communicated with the air filter bucket, the air pump and the molecular tube, the oxygen channel is respectively communicated with the molecular tube and the oxygen storage bucket, the exhaust channel is respectively communicated with the molecular tube and the exhaust silencing bucket, the air channel, the oxygen channel and the exhaust channel are respectively connected with a solenoid valve.

With the development of social civilization and medical technology, researches and controls on diseases are improved prominently, so the life expectancy of human beings increases. As a result, the coming of aging society has become an inevitable trend. However, relatively speaking, this will also cause many negative effects, of which the heavy damage to the global environment is most obvious. For example, sometimes human beings will surfer the counterattack of unknown diseases (for example, SARS) or severe environment (for example, rainstorm or bitter cold, intense heat or earth flow). Nowadays, the external environment is worrying. To reduce the invasion possibility of increasingly severe environment and unknown diseases, human being should make various preparations. As oxygen is an indispensable gas for human existence, an oxygen generator, into which molecular sieve material is filled and high pressure air is imported to generate and then export oxygen itself, becomes an important device.
Besides for emergency, the oxygen generator is often used in symptoms of many chronic diseases. For example, it is necessary for asthmatics and patients with breathing difficulties to prepare an oxygen generator in reserve at any time. In addition, more pure oxygen may promote the blood circulation, make the brain clear, remove fatigue and effectively improve the working efficiency; therefore, no matter in daily life or workplaces, preparation of an oxygen generator to be ready to use at any time is also a healthy lifestyle.
However, as the majority of the existing oxygen generators are assembled from ready-made components and have complicated airflow conduits outside, the existing oxygen generators has incompact and huge assembly space. It is inconvenient for carrying or transportation. Even the whole cost is influenced so that the price of the existing oxygen generators is still high.


Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising: a signal selecting circuit for receiving, at first and second inputs thereof, respectively, a first signal output from a first initial-stage circuit that receives a data strobe signal from a first terminal, which is an input/output terminal, and a second signal output from a second initial-stage circuit that receives a data mask signal from a second terminal, which is an input terminal, and based upon a control signal that is supplied thereto, outputting the first and second signals from first and second outputs or interchanging the first and second signals and outputting the interchanged first and second signals from the second and first outputs; a buffer circuit for receiving an output signal from a third initial-stage circuit that receives a data signal from a data terminal; and a data latch circuit for latching a signal from the buffer circuit. The signal from the first output of the signal selecting circuit is supplied to the data latch circuit as a latch timing signal.

In a semiconductor storage device that has an IO pin for receiving a strobe signal that decides input/output timing in data input/output, an output signal of an initial-stage circuit of the strobe signal at the IO pin, and an output signal of another initial-stage circuit of a driver pin which is separately provided from the IO pin, are interchanged in a mode setting or test function.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a typical configuration of a semiconductor storage device [DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)] of the related art. As shown in FIG. 6, the device includes:
a plurality (n+1) of initial-stage circuits DI provided in correspondence with input/output terminals DQ0 to DQn, respectively, and comprising receivers (input buffers) having inputs DIN connected to input/output terminal data DQ0 to DQn, respectively, and outputting respective ones of signals IDQT0 to IDQTn from output terminals IDQT upon comparing the data with a reference voltage VREF;
an initial-stage circuit SI provided in correspondence with an input/output terminal DQS and comprising a receiver circuit for receiving a strobe signal DQS at an input DIN and outputting IDQS upon comparing the strobe signal with the reference voltage VREF;
an initial-stage circuit MI provided in correspondence with an input terminal DM and comprising a receiver for receiving a DM signal as an input and outputting IDM upon comparing the input with the reference voltage VREF;
a plurality of latch circuits DLD for receiving respective ones of the signals IDQT0 to IDQTn from the initial-stage circuits DI as inputs, latching these signals in response to IDQS and outputting latch data (DIR0, DIF0), . . . , (DIRn, DIFn); and
a latch circuit DLM for outputting latch data (DMR, DMF) that is the result of latching IDM from the initial-stage circuit MI at the timings of rising and falling edges of IDQS. Meanwhile, there is adopted such a notation that R and F provided in a last position or in a position preceding to a last index number of the signal names in data latch circuits indicate signals sampled responsive to rising and falling edges of latch timing signal, respectively.
The data strobe signal (DQS) is a bidirectional strobe signal and functions as a reference clock at the time of data input/output. At the time of a read cycle, edges (rising and falling edges) of DQS coincide with edges of read data. At the time of a write cycle, a controller (not shown) controls the data strobe signal (DQS), which is synchronized to a clock signal and the DDR-SRAM captures the data based upon the data strobe signal (DQS).
Further, DM is a write-mask enable signal that masks input data when it is at the high level. The input/output terminals DQ0 to DQn and DQS are connected to associated IO pins of a semiconductor test equipment (not shown), and the input terminal DM is connected to a driver pin of the semiconductor test equipment.
In a semiconductor test equipment or test board, an IO pin involves more wiring and load for a comparator than a driver pin or an IO pin. By the way, a driver pin of the semiconductor test equipment is usually connected to an input terminal of a device under test (DUT) and an IO driver pin of the semiconductor test equipment is connected to output and input terminals or an IO terminal of the device.
The input waveform of an IO pin having a heavy load has a slope [(amount of change in voltage)/(unit time)] smaller and less steep than that of the input waveform of the driver pin.
Consequently, in case of high speed operation, the amplitude of the input signal supplied to the test board from the semiconductor test equipment is of a level less than that set by a program or the like.
Further, since the slope of the waveform of the input signal supplied to the test board from the semiconductor test equipment is small, the input signal contains a large error referred to as jitter. This becomes more conspicuous in case of high speed operation with a large input amplitude.
Patent Document 1 discloses an arrangement for changing over an internal signal. Specifically, the arrangement suppresses an increase in number of terminals by assigning a mask address signal IDQM as is or a mask address signal obtained by decoding this signal to address signals that accompany a decrease in input/output data terminals when a test mode is in effect. Specifically, a test-mode activation signal is supplied internally as an internal mask decode signal when at the high level. When the test-mode activation signal is at the low level, an internal address mask signal is supplied internally as is as an in-phase signal. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an arrangement in which buffer means is connected in series between an initial-stage circuit and a latch circuit. However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is not disclosed any arrangement of reducing error in a measurement system for measuring the setup and hold characteristics of data, ascribable to the fact that the IO pin has a blunter waveform than the waveform of the driver pin.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2003-151300A
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2000-231787A
The following analysis is given by the present invention. In a semiconductor test equipment, only a driver controller need be provided for a driver pin. On the other hand, an IO pin involves the inclusion of a driver controller and a comparator controller. Consequently, jitter involving IO pins is generally set larger than jitter involving the driver pin.
Accordingly, the slopes of waveforms of a data signal and data strobe signal from IO pins of the semiconductor test equipment are both small and the amounts of jitter of both signals are large. As a result, a device under test (DUT) cannot capture a data signal received at an IO pin thereof responsive to a data strobe signal received at an IO pin thereof under accurate conditions. A problem which arises, therefore, is that accurate input setup and hold characteristics cannot be measured.
In relation to sampling by a latch circuit of a data signal DQ/write mask-enable signal DM based upon a data strobe signal DQS in a DDR-SDRAM, if it is attempted to capture DQ/DM data at high speed by DQS, which is received at an IO pin, the input signal of DQS will not reach the preset level, as mentioned above. In addition, since there will be a great amount of jitter, the output signal of the initial-stage circuit (receiver circuit) of the corresponding signal also will contain a large amount of jitter.
Similarly, since the data signal DQ sampled also is received at an IO pin, jitter is great and the setup and hold characteristics decided by IO pins for both DQ and DQS signals exhibiting large amounts of jitter are shifted from the correct characteristics.


Devices and techniques are provided in which an OLED panel is operated in two modes. The first mode operates in a standard way to display an image or video or otherwise illuminate sub-pixels of the panel. In the second mode, some pixels are operated at a lower brightness than in the first mode. The use of multiple modes allows for improved sub-pixel lifetime and reduced sub-pixel and image degradation.

Opto-electronic devices that make use of organic materials are becoming increasingly desirable for a number of reasons. Many of the materials used to make such devices are relatively inexpensive, so organic opto-electronic devices have the potential for cost advantages over inorganic devices. In addition, the inherent properties of organic materials, such as their flexibility, may make them well suited for particular applications such as fabrication on a flexible substrate. Examples of organic opto-electronic devices include organic light emitting diodes/devices (OLEDs), organic phototransistors, organic photovoltaic cells, and organic photodetectors. For OLEDs, the organic materials may have performance advantages over conventional materials. For example, the wavelength at which an organic emissive layer emits light may generally be readily tuned with appropriate dopants.
OLEDs make use of thin organic films that emit light when voltage is applied across the device. OLEDs are becoming an increasingly interesting technology for use in applications such as flat panel displays, illumination, and backlighting. Several OLED materials and configurations are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,844,363, 6,303,238, and 5,707,745, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
One application for phosphorescent emissive molecules is a full color display. Industry standards for such a display call for pixels adapted to emit particular colors, referred to as "saturated" colors. In particular, these standards call for saturated red, green, and blue pixels. Alternatively the OLED can be designed to emit white light. In conventional liquid crystal displays emission from a white backlight is filtered using absorption filters to produce red, green and blue emission. The same technique can also be used with OLEDs. The white OLED can be either a single EML device or a stack structure. Color may be measured using CIE coordinates, which are well known to the art.
As used herein, the term "organic" includes polymeric materials as well as small molecule organic materials that may be used to fabricate organic opto-electronic devices. "Small molecule" refers to any organic material that is not a polymer, and "small molecules" may actually be quite large. Small molecules may include repeat units in some circumstances. For example, using a long chain alkyl group as a substituent does not remove a molecule from the "small molecule" class. Small molecules may also be incorporated into polymers, for example as a pendent group on a polymer backbone or as a part of the backbone. Small molecules may also serve as the core moiety of a dendrimer, which consists of a series of chemical shells built on the core moiety. The core moiety of a dendrimer may be a fluorescent or phosphorescent small molecule emitter. A dendrimer may be a "small molecule," and it is believed that all dendrimers currently used in the field of OLEDs are small molecules.
As used herein, "top" means furthest away from the substrate, while "bottom" means closest to the substrate. Where a first layer is described as "disposed over" a second layer, the first layer is disposed further away from substrate. There may be other layers between the first and second layer, unless it is specified that the first layer is "in contact with" the second layer. For example, a cathode may be described as "disposed over" an anode, even though there are various organic layers in between.
As used herein, "solution processible" means capable of being dissolved, dispersed, or transported in and/or deposited from a liquid medium, either in solution or suspension form.
A ligand may be referred to as "photoactive" when it is believed that the ligand directly contributes to the photoactive properties of an emissive material. A ligand may be referred to as "ancillary" when it is believed that the ligand does not contribute to the photoactive properties of an emissive material, although an ancillary ligand may alter the properties of a photoactive ligand.
As used herein, and as would be generally understood by one skilled in the art, a first "Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital" (HOMO) or "Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital" (LUMO) energy level is "greater than" or "higher than" a second HOMO or LUMO energy level if the first energy level is closer to the vacuum energy level. Since ionization potentials (IP) are measured as a negative energy relative to a vacuum level, a higher HOMO energy level corresponds to an IP having a smaller absolute value (an IP that is less negative). Similarly, a higher LUMO energy level corresponds to an electron affinity (EA) having a smaller absolute value (an EA that is less negative). On a conventional energy level diagram, with the vacuum level at the top, the LUMO energy level of a material is higher than the HOMO energy level of the same material. A "higher" HOMO or LUMO energy level appears closer to the top of such a diagram than a "lower" HOMO or LUMO energy level.
As used herein, and as would be generally understood by one skilled in the art, a first work function is "greater than" or "higher than" a second work function if the first work function has a higher absolute value. Because work functions are generally measured as negative numbers relative to vacuum level, this means that a "higher" work function is more negative. On a conventional energy level diagram, with the vacuum level at the top, a "higher" work function is illustrated as further away from the vacuum level in the downward direction. Thus, the definitions of HOMO and LUMO energy levels follow a different convention than work functions.
As used herein, a "red" layer, material, region, sub-pixel, or device refers to one that emits light in the range of about 580-700 nm; a "green" layer, material, region, sub-pixel, or device refers to one that has an emission spectrum with a peak wavelength in the range of about 500-600 nm; a "blue" layer, material, sub-pixel, or device refers to one that has an emission spectrum with a peak wavelength in the range of about 400-500 nm; and a "yellow" layer, material, region, sub-pixel, or device refers to one that has an emission spectrum with a peak wavelength in the range of about 540-600 nm. In some arrangements, separate regions, layers, materials, regions, or devices may provide separate "deep blue" and a "light blue" light. As used herein, in arrangements that provide separate "light blue" and "deep blue", the "deep blue" component refers to one having a peak emission wavelength that is at least about 4 nm less than the peak emission wavelength of the "light blue" component. Typically, a "light blue" component has a peak emission wavelength in the range of about 465-500 nm, and a "deep blue" component has a peak emission wavelength in the range of about 400-470 nm, though these ranges may vary for some configurations. Similarly, a color altering layer refers to a layer that converts or modifies another color of light to light having a wavelength as specified for that color. For example, a "red" color filter refers to a filter that results in light having a wavelength in the range of about 580-700 nm. In general there are two classes of color altering layers: color filters that modify a spectrum by removing unwanted wavelengths of light, and color changing layers that convert photons of higher energy to lower energy. Alternatively or in addition, a specific-color emissive component may be described as having a "dominant spectral distribution" of the specific color. For example, a "red sub-pixel" may emit light having a dominant spectral distribution of red light. Generally, when an emissive layer, region, sub-pixel, or other component is described herein as emitting "a color," such description refers to a single color such as red, green, light blue, deep blue, yellow, or the like, excluding white. A "white" emissive component typically is formed from multiple single-color components that are not individually addressable because the components always operate in tandem to produce white light due to the physical structure of the white device.
More details on OLEDs, and the definitions described above, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

OLED device with controllable brightness


An image display panel assembly includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC), an image display panel, a gate driver integrated circuit (IC) package, and a source driver IC package. The FPC is configured to receive gate and source driving signals. The image display panel is electrically connected to the FPC, and includes a gate driving signal transfer pattern along a first edge of the image display panel, a source driving signal transfer pattern along a second edge adjacent to the first end, and a plurality of pixels. The gate driver integrated circuit (IC) package is configured to receive the gate driving signal through the gate driving signal transfer pattern and provide the gate driving signal to the plurality of pixels. The source driver IC package is configured to receive the source driving signal through the source driving signal transfer pattern and provide the source driving signal to the plurality of pixels.

Example embodiments relate to an image display apparatus, and more particularly, to an image display apparatus including an image display panel assembly.
An image display apparatus includes a plurality of image display devices. The image display devices may display respective different images based on a voltage applied to a source terminal, in response to turn-on signals of a gate terminal. The image display apparatus may include source and gate driver integrated circuits (ICs) for applying signals to source terminals and gate terminals of the image display devices.

Source driver, an image display assembly and an image display apparatus


The present invention provides an apparatus and method that will allow surgeons to produce bone growth masses for use in spinal surgery that are capable of maintaining their physical integrity during placement and during the acute post operative period.

When performing spine surgery for the purpose of fusing segments together, a common practice known in the art is to obtain trabecular bone pieces from the iliac crest and position these pieces along the transverse processes of the spine posteriorly. Frequently, the surgeon will squeeze the trabecular pieces to form an approximately cylindrical mass, herein after called "mass" or "masses". However, the mass frequently falls apart when being placed in the desired location.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an apparatus and method that will allow surgeons to produce masses, in the operating room, that are capable of maintaining their physical integrity during placement and during the acute post operative period.
However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this field that the identified improvements should be made nor would it have been obvious as to how to make the improvements if the need for such improvements had been perceived.

Bone fusion material compressor and method of use


Improved prosthetic components and a method for assembly therefor are described wherein the prosthesis comprises prefabricated modular components including a socket adapter, shank or pylon, a keel, and a foot. The method for preparation of the improved prosthesis reduces the time required for prosthesis preparation over that of the prior art, and includes the steps of making a cast of the remaining leg stump and forming a socket therefor; placing the socket in an alignment jig; assembling modular pieces including a prefabricated keel, pylon, and socket adapter; attaching the socket adapter to the socket; draping a final coating of copolymer on the prosthesis; and removing the pylon and socket adapter from the interior of the prosthesis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to artificial prosthetic components and assembly methods therefor for use in a human lower limb prosthesis. More particularly, this invention is directed to improved human prostheses and methods therefor wherein the prosthesis comprises modular prefabricated components.
2. Description of Related Art
The most common artificial leg for below knee amputees is of a rigid nature. A solid shank connects the socket, which mounts the artificial leg to the residual limb of the amputee, and the artificial foot. The shank is often made out of a rigid alloy, such as one containing titanium, or from shaped wood or plastic. It can be solid for strength, or it can be hollow for lightness.
In a typical conventional prosthesis fabrication technique, a significant amount of time and effort is wasted in duplicating fabrication steps. Generally, conventional fabrication includes taking a cast of the patient""s stump and making a socket incorporating the necessary fittings, including (a) an alignment fitting for angular adjustments; (b) a tubular fitting for length and rotational adjustment; (c) a fitting for linear adjustments; and (d) an ankle fitting for angular adjustments and to allow attachment of a foot. The prosthesis is assembled for bench alignment and the patient is scheduled for dynamic alignment. When the patient and prosthesis are satisfied with both the fit of the socket and the alignment of the prosthesis, the prosthesis is duplicated in an alignment device that captures the prosthetic alignment and allows removal of the metal components and replacing them with polyurethane. The area between the top of the keel and the bottom of the socket is foamed in place, and when the foam hardens, the shank is hand shaped to the desired configuration between the keel and the socket. The prosthesis is prepared for the final draping of copolymer plastic. If the finished prosthesis is not satisfactory and can not be adjusted, the process is repeated using the same components. The approximate fabrication time for this procedure is 5 to 8 hours.
As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,398 discloses a method of making a lower leg prosthesis comprising the steps of (a) forming a temporary prosthesis socket having an inner shape corresponding to the remaining lower leg stump of the amputee to which the prosthesis is to be attached; (b) forming a test prosthesis by fixing an adjustable position testing device to the temporary socket and connecting the testing device to the prosthesis foot through a temporary connecting member; (c) testing the test prosthesis on the patient and adjusting the testing device so as to obtain a proper alignment of the temporary socket in relation to the prosthesis foot; (d) providing a positive prosthesis socket in the temporary socket of the test prosthesis and reproducibly fixing the assembly comprised of the positive socket, the temporary socket, the testing device and at least the temporary connecting member in a support device; (e) removing the test prosthesis parts from the support device; (f) placing the connecting member adjacent the positive socket in the support device in the aligned relative position reproducibly set in the support device in step (d); and (g) forming the prosthesis socket on the positive socket while simultaneously securing the connecting member to the prosthesis socket in the aligned relationship thereby obtaining an individually aligned lower leg prosthesis. However, the method associated with this reference requires duplicating assembly steps; i.e., fixing the adjustable position testing device to a temporary socket and temporarily connecting this device to the prosthesis foot, followed by removing the test prosthesis and replacing it with a permanent member in the position formerly occupied by the testing device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,800 discloses a below the knee prosthesis and method for making the same. The prosthesis includes a socket for receiving the stump of the below-the-knee amputee, a keel having a peripheral groove formed about the periphery of a bottom portion of the keel, a tubular shin member extending from the socket and surrounding lateral and medial portions of the keel and filling the peripheral grooves formed about the bottom portion of the keel leaving a substantial portion of the bottom of the keel exposed. A resilient foot member is then secured to the exposed portion of the keel with the material of the tubular shin member being formed into the grooves of the keel and maintaining such keel within the shin member. The method thereof includes the steps of forming a socket for receiving a stump of the below-the-knee amputee; constructing a shin support about the socket including an ankle block and keel about the socket in accordance with the size and stature of the amputee; forming a retaining means in a bottom surface of the keel for retaining the keel in a predetermined position with respect to the socket; molding a sheet of copolymer material about the shin support, into the retaining means and over the bottom surface of the keel to form a shin member; removing the copolymer material from the bottom surface of the keel; removing a substantial portion of material used to construct the shin support from within the shin member; and securing a foot member to the keel. The method for assembly of this device does not take advantage of a prefabricated socket adapter/pylon/keel assembly, instead requiring several distinct steps for assembling the prosthesis including assembling a shin support between the socket adapter and the keel, foaming the support, draping a copolymer exterior on the assembly, and drilling out the foam shin support.
The prior art also includes continuous one-piece prostheses, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,364. That prosthesis offers the advantages of light weight and improved energy storage and release characteristics. Because of its design, however, this prosthesis can require multiple patient trips to the prosthetist for fitting. In certain cases the patient may have to be fitted with another prosthesis which will be adjusted for various parameters, including height, pylon length, inversion, and eversion. Once the prosthesis is adjusted, the measurements from the adjusted prosthesis are then used to form the one-piece prosthesis, following a time consuming process. Further, once the prosthesis is manufactured, adjustments may require reheating and reforming the prosthesis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,487 discloses a prosthetic component for use in a human lower limb prosthesis. The component consists of an preformed integrated pylon-keel or foot component. In practice, the prosthetist would perform a stump measurement on the amputee to determine the overall height of the prosthesis from which the pylon length could be determined, then cut a preformed integrated pylon keel prosthesis to fit the pylon to an adjustable tube clamp, whereby the clamp itself is secured to the socket. Then the prosthetist adjusts the tube clamp for inversion eversion, foot position, and rotation, then the integrated pylon/keel is attached to the tube clamp and the apparatus is covered with plastic. However, this is not a complete prosthesis, but merely the pylon/keel assembly. Further, the invention requires the use of an adjustable tube clamp attached to the socket. This additional component adds complexity and weight to the structure. Moreover, because the keel and pylon are an integrated unit, an inventory that could allow for the naturally occurring variety of needed keel sizes and pylon lengths would require an extremely large assortment of integrated keel/pylon units.
It would be advantageous to provide an improved method and prosthesis therefor that avoids the problems associated with the prior art. It would further be advantageous to provide a lightweight modular prosthesis and a method of assembly therefor that can be assembled in a single sequence of steps, maximizing simplicity and minimizing the time expended by the wearer in achieving an acceptable fit.
The difficulties associated with the prior art are overcome by providing an improved prosthetic component and method for assembly wherein the prosthesis comprises prefabricated modular components including a socket adapter, shank or pylon, a keel, and a foot. The method for preparation of the improved prosthesis reduces the time required for prosthesis preparation over that of the prior art, and includes the steps of making a cast of the remaining leg stump and forming a socket therefor; placing the socket in an alignment jig; selecting and assembling a prefabricated keel, pylon, and socket adapter; shaping the socket adapter to a desired configuration; attaching the socket adapter to the socket; draping a final coating of copolymer on the interior pieces, and removing the pylon and socket adapter. There is a single method of adjustment of the prosthesis, which is accomplished by presetting the position of the foot prior to attaching the socket adapter/pylon/keel to the socket. The connecting face of the socket adapter is shaped to incorporate the proper alignment between the socket and the keel, and the length of the pylon is selected to provide the proper length of the prosthesis. The approximate fabrication time for this method is less than one hour, which is a substantial time savings per unit. Because of the reduced preparation time, should the prosthesis prove unsatisfactory, which is common in prosthesis manufacturing, making another prosthesis results in much less wasted man hours.
A solid cast of the residual stump is made in a standard method. When making this cast, a hollow tube or pipe is put in the cast, which provides a basis for vacuum forming a polymer socket over the cast. The socket is allowed to cool and harden, and the plaster is removed. After this, another pipe is held in a correct position in the socket, and a new cast is poured using the socket as a mold.
The socket is supported by the pipe and set up in a support jig until proper orientation is achieved. This can be achieved by aligning and bending the metal pipe to a proper orientation. After this, the appropriate keel, pylon, and socket adapter are selected and assembled under the properly oriented socket. The components are glued to each other, and the assembled keel/pylon/socket adapter is then placed in the correct orientation to the socket and bonded to the socket using rigid foam.
The unit is then removed from the alignment jig, and a majority of the socket is cut away from the cast. The cast then receives any desired modifications. The final coating of copolymer is then applied to the unit, shaped, and allowed to cool and harden. After this step, the pylon, socket adapter, and socket are removed from the shell, and the socket is then returned to the shell and secured. The foot is then glued to the keel.


An apparatus to protect a body and facial piercing and its affected area during a healing period, has a body assembly. The body assembly has top and bottom faces, an exterior wall, and an interior wall. The body assembly further defines a cavity that extends inwardly from the interior wall. A permeable cover covers the top face and the cavity to allow ambient-air to enter and circulate therethrough. This allows healing of a body or facial piercing, and specifically the opening created by the piercing, and the surrounding area around the piercing. A removable cover covers the bottom face and the cavity. The bottom face has an adhesive, and the removable cover is removably attached to the bottom face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to body and facial piercing aftercare, and more particularly, to an apparatus to protect a piercing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Body and facial piercing usually refers to the piercing of a part of the human body for the purpose of wearing jewelry in an opening created. Body and facial piercing is an invasive procedure and is not without risks. These risks can be minimized in order to enjoy a safe and healthy piercing experience. Usually, a new piercing will be sore, tender or red for several days up to three weeks. Complete healing normally takes several weeks or more. During the healing period, care must be taken to avoid infection and touching is usually discouraged. Among the risks associated with body and facial piercing are bacterial and viral infections, particularly from contact or spilling with dirt and/or contaminated substances; and trauma, usually associated with unintended entanglement of the piercing jewelry with another object.


An electronic apparatus includes: a cover having an optically-transparent base and a shielding film for making an inside invisible; and a substrate disposed inside and covered by the cover, the substrate being mounted with a light emitting element for emitting light toward the cover and a touch sensor disposed at a position surrounding the light emitting element to detect a touch of an outer surface of the cover by a finger. The electronic apparatus further includes an icon board disposed at a position between the substrate and the cover and having a light transmitting section formed to define an outline of light emitted by the light emitting element toward the cover. The shielding film shows light emitted by the light emitting element and passing through the icon board.

In many of electronic apparatus, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and various shapes of symbols respectively associated with the LEDs are often arranged side by side on the outer surface of a cover of the housing accommodating the electronic apparatus. This arrangement is provided to inform a user that the electronic apparatus is in the state represented by a symbol, by way of turning on or blinking the LED associated with the symbol. Similarly, when push buttons are employed, symbols are provided on or next to the respective push buttons so that a user can understand what kind of operation would start upon a press of a button by merely looking at the symbol associated with the button.
However, arranging multiple symbols and LEDs on the outer surface of a cover of the housing accommodating an electronic apparatus has such a problem that the electronic apparatus appears untidy, impairing the design of the apparatus.
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-33334 discloses a technique for solving the above-described problem. This publication discloses an illumination switch having a cover. On the outer surface of the cover, a flexible film is disposed. A mark is formed on the inner surface of the flexible film, and a smoke material layer is disposed on the mark. In this structure, the inside of the switch is invisible. The illumination switch contains a light source disposed under the mark. When light is emitted from the light source, the mark appears on the surface of the smoke material layer as it is illuminated.
According to this illumination switch, since the mark appears on the outside only when the light is emitted from the light source, flexibility in design can be achieved, thereby improving the design of the entire device.
In the illumination switch according to the above-mentioned Publication No. 6-33334, a pushbutton switch is disposed inside the cover. Therefore, when the part where the mark appears on the smoke material layer of the flexible film is pressed, the operation according to the mark begins.
In the case of the Publication No. 6-22224 however, since it is difficult to arrange the push button switch at a position corresponding to the light source disposed on the inner side of the flexible film, the push button switch is arranged adjacent to the light source. Accordingly, the Publication No. 6-33334 requires a member that allows a pressing force by a finger to be transmitted to the pushbutton switch disposed next to the part of the flexible film where the mark appears (i.e. adjacent to the light source), when that part is pressed by the finger. Further, the flexible film per se requires a complicated structure because it is formed by disposing the smoke material layer and forming the mark on a transparent sheet-like base. For this reason, the illumination switch requires a large capacity inside the cover, increasing the cost. Furthermore, the illumination switch is very likely to have a problem in durability because the flexible sheet is deformed every time a pressing force by a finger is transmitted to the push button switch.


A load securement assembly is provided and consists of a pair of brackets which are each mounted into an E-track belt rail on an opposite side wall of a trailer so as to accept a beam therebetween to hold articles in place during transportation in a railroad environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to damage prevention devices and more specifically it relates to a load securement assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous devices have been provided in the prior art such as taught by the U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,286 to Jantzen and U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,761 to Angel that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for executing, by a first framework, a service provided by a second framework. The method may include initiating, by the first framework, a request to access the service provided by the second framework. The method may also include identifying metadata for the service, the metadata being stored in a metamodel runtime repository. The method may further include translating the metadata into a format that the first framework can use to invoke the service and executing, using the translated metadata, the service provided by the second framework.

Software applications are used by individuals and companies for a variety of purposes. Software applications may be distributed, such that a portion of the software executes at a user site, also known as "front-end," and a portion of the software executes at a remote location, such as a server or a "back-end." Further, software applications may provide a number of services, which may be used to perform a specific function. A service, such as a Web service or program, represents a piece of application functionality that can be found and accessed by other applications. A service may be self-describing because all the information on how to use the service can be obtained from the service itself, which may be centrally stored.
Services receive input parameters that are used to execute the services' functionality. For example, a service for retrieving a destination of a flight must receive an input parameter indicating the flight number. Using the flight number, the service, which may be located at a back-end, may determine the destination by, for example, searching a database.
Companies often use multiple software applications to handle their business needs. For example, a company may use a first software application to handle accounting, a second software application to retrieve information on customers, and a third software application to maintain records. Each software application may execute services at a front-end and a back-end. In certain cases, a user that is working with a first software application may want to use a service provided by a second software application. For example, a user that wants to generate a bill with an accounting system may want to lookup a customer's address using a service offered by a second software application.
Software applications and their services may be spread across different frameworks on a back-end. A framework is a system having one or more processors that can execute computer-readable program code to make classes of transactions accessible to a system or other frameworks. A first framework may be, for example, a stateful framework, which may include stateful software applications that maintain the context after each request to the back-end. A context may be the state of an application or service, and may be stored using, for example, cookies on a local computer. Assume that a user is entering data into a form, which may divided into several parts or "screens." After a user enters data on the first screen, the user may select to move to the next screen and continue entering data. A stateful software application may store the entered data from several screens at the user's local site using cookies. The stateful software application may then transmit the entered data to a back-end server in a group.
A second framework may include stateless software applications that release the context after each request to the back-end. Assuming that a user enters data into a form including multiple screens, the context may be released after each screen. That is, after a user completes the first screen, the entered data may be transmitted to a back-end server for storing, but the entered data may not be stored locally.
Software applications that are provided by a first framework typically cannot execute services of software applications offered by a different framework. Software applications and the services implemented by the software applications require specific input parameters, such as the flight number to determine the flight destination. Moreover, the service may have a unique name and require that the input parameters be formatted in a particular manner. Further, each framework may use different service interfaces for accessing and executing the services. The service interfaces and frameworks may be based on different programming languages, such as Java and C++. Because the first software application running on a first framework is not aware or able to access the interface on the second framework, or the second software application's service name, required input parameters, and/or formatting of the required input parameters, the first software application typically cannot execute services of a second software application on a second framework.
Accordingly, a need exists for solutions that allow software applications to execute services of other software applications on a different framework.

Systems and methods for using application services


A computer system and process for facilitating the administration of a facultative automatic reinsurance agreement through the generation of draft and final bordereaux. Information regarding insurance policies to be reinsured, including its terms, are entered into a database in the computer system. The terms of the insurance are compared versus reinsurance criteria which establishes the guidelines for what types of primary insurance is subject to reinsurance per the agreement. If the policy terms comply with the reinsurance criteria, information regarding the policy may be included on a draft bordereau. If the policy terms do not comply, the cedant is prompted to seek a special acceptance to allow the policy to be entitled to automatic insurance coverage.

The present invention relates to methods for administering automatic type reinsurance contracts.
The purpose of insurance is to redistribute risks. Insurers or risk carriers assume portions of the risks of their customers or insureds in exchange for premiums. Insureds may also be referred to as cedants in that they cede risks to a risk carrier or insurer. Reinsurance is used by insurance companies to redistribute their exposure to other insurers. In a reinsurance agreement, an insurer, often referred to as a primary insurer, ceding company, or cedant, transfers or cedes some or all of its exposures and premiums to a reinsurer. The reinsurer then agrees to indemnify the ceding company for a predetermined type and amount of losses sustained. In general terms, any party that transfers risk, through either a primary insurance policy or a reinsurance contract may be referred to as a cedant or a ceding party.
There are two broad types of reinsurance contracts: treaty and facultative. Treaty reinsurance involves an agreement in which the primary insurer agrees in advance to cede certain classes of business or types of insurance to the reinsurer. Under a treaty reinsurance contract, the reinsurer agrees to reinsure some portion of the risk of all of the primary insurer's insurance contracts related to a particular line of business or type of insurance. Individual risks are not underwritten or discussed. The reinsurer relies on the primary insurer to accept only risks that fall within acceptable underwriting criteria and reinsures all risks that fall within the reinsurance treaty agreement. On the other hand, facultative reinsurance involves separate reinsurance agreements for each risk or policy that is being reinsured.
Automatic facultative reinsurance is generally a hybrid between treaty type and facultative reinsurance. Automatic facultative or facultative automatic reinsurance describes a reinsurance program or agreement in which the parties establish in advance criteria (reinsurance criteria) for the types of risks or classes of business to be reinsured which will be automatically covered by the reinsurance agreement, without further underwriting by the reinsurer, and at the election of the primary insurer or ceding party. The criteria established usually relate to the amount of coverage for any risk to be reinsured, the term of coverage, ceding commissions and premiums.
Although treaty type reinsurance usually offers the best rates, reinsurer's are unwilling to provide such reinsurance if the size of the classes of business at issue is too small. In treaty type reinsurance, the underwriting focuses on the performance and underwriting expertise of the primary insurer as a whole for a particular class of business. Whereas with facultative automatic type coverage, more specific underwriting is performed through the establishment of the reinsurance criteria for the ceded policies which will be reinsured.
In treaty type reinsurance, the treaty typically covers all policies written by the primary insurer in the classes of business covered. In facultative automatic arrangements, the primary insurer may have the option of deciding whether or not to cede certain risks or policies.
Under facultative automatic reinsurance agreements, the primary insurer must periodically provide a report to the reinsurer identifying those policies it wants to be reinsured. This report is typically referred to as a bordereau. Any primary insurance contracts listed on the bordereau which meet the criteria of the facultative automatic agreement are then automatically covered or bound. In performing under a facultative automatic agreement, the primary insurer (also referred to as reinsured) remits to the reinsurer, the percentage of premiums it is entitled to under the agreement, less any ceding commission retained by the primary insurer.
Facultative automatic reinsurance agreements also typically permit a primary reinsurer to try to obtain reinsurance coverage for a policy under the automatic agreement even though it does not meet all of the established criteria. The process for doing so, is often referred to as making a request for special acceptance. In such a situation, the cedant submits to the reinsurance underwriter information and remarks to support its request for the special acceptance of the primary insurance policy under the facultative automatic agreement even though not all of the reinsurance criteria are met. The underwriter can accept or deny such a request. The process for doing so typically involves written correspondence, faxes and phone calls.
The primary insurer and the reinsurer generally maintain separate systems for monitoring which primary insurance policies are covered by the facultative automatic reinsurance agreement.

Online method for binding automatic type reinsurance


Embodiments of this application disclose a picture processing method, including: when a copy instruction is detected, obtaining positioning information included in a picture; modifying the positioning information in a preset information modification manner; and copying the picture whose positioning information is modified. The embodiments of this application further disclose a picture processing apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. According to the embodiments of this application, user privacy can be better protected, and information security can be improved.

With rapid popularization of the mobile internet and enhancement of a photographing function of user equipment, for example, a mobile phone, a user may use the user equipment to photograph anytime and anywhere to record life. Most user equipments have built-in global positioning system (Global Positioning System, GPS) functions. When the user equipment is used for photographing, current GPS location data may be written to a photographed picture in an exchangeable image file format (Exchangeable Image File Format. EXIF), and both the GPS location data and the picture are stored. However, when the picture with the GPS location data is copied to another location or is copied and shared to a network, the GPS location data is also shared. However, the user does not realize that private location information of the user has been exposed. Consequently, a track of the user may be maliciously used, and personal privacy cannot be protected.

Picture processing method and related device


A hoop for a drum is presented. The hoop having a ring having an inward face, an outward linear plane face, a top edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the inward face is stepped such that the bottom edge has a width less than the width of the top edge and a shoulder is formed therebetween.

This invention is directed to a hoop for a drum. Hoops for drums are known in the art. Drums typically have a layer of membrane or a plastic skin that is stretched over a frame and pulled taut. A drum hoop is a ring that holds the drum head (i.e., membrane) stretched tightly over one end of a generally cylindrical shell.
The hoop may be adjusted relative to the shell to tighten or loosen the drumhead by the adjustment of a plurality of bolts mounted around the circumference of the shell and hoop through a boss, tab, or ear.
Older wooden designs do not offer much structural integrity, do not hold consistent tuning due to variables in the weather that changes or warps the shape of the wood, are highly prone to damage due to stick battering, and are very difficult to mount microphone clips too. Metal hoop designs improve on the structure slightly, but due to their thin metal flange construction, are also prone to twisting and deformation over time and under high tensions. Other metal flange hoop designs also cause significant stick damage and premature stick failure due to the thin structure on the top section of the hoop when struck with a stick. This thin top section also offers very little variation in the tonality and playability of what is commonly known as a "rim shot". Thus, there is a need in the art to improve on all of these deficiencies.
An objective of the present invention is to improve the consistency and uniformity of the tunability of the drum.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a metal hoop having greater rigidity.
A still further objective is to provide a hoop that is more acceptable to receiving attachments.
Yet another objective is to provide a hoop that modifies and produces a unique and clear tone when struck.
These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description.


A jacket for protectively covering an insert comprising a cover material having greater resistance to deterioration than the insert and at least one pocket for receiving at least a portion of the insert. A tab member having an aperture therein is at least partially attached to the cover material for mounting the jacket upon a display rack. The connection has sufficient strength to retain the tab member at least partially secured to the cover material while the jacket is mounted upon the display rack, but facilitates separation and removal of the tab member from the cover material before use thereof.

Protective covers or jackets are well known in the art. Such jackets are widely used to protect books, notebooks, checkbooks, appointment calendars, and other materials from dirt and contaminants which accelerate wear and tear. The jackets are typically formed of a durable protective material and are available in various sizes. Most commonly, the jackets are formed of a water resistant, cost effective material such as plastic.
Typically, these types of jackets are displayed for promotional purposes in retail establishments. Often the covers are sold in card or stationery stores for use in connection with other products sold in the store. The jackets may be displayed alone or in combination with some form of insert material such as, for example, a calendar or a note pad. When sold alone, the covers are commonly displayed in box or bin-type displays. In these types of displays, the consumer must often hunt through several jackets in order to locate the particular size or color desired, which is both inconvenient and time-consuming.
The jackets may also be displayed on racks or hanging rods, alone or in combination with some form of insert material. When displayed in this manner, the jackets with or without inserts are often sold in wrapping or packaging adapted for the particular display. When purchased, the jacket and any materials contained therein must be removed from the packaging and the packaging discarded prior to use. This packaging produces excess waste and also results in increased costs which are passed along to the consumer.


A heat exchanger is configured to adjust a flow restriction of flow passages through the heat exchanger in response to changes in temperature of elements that define at least a portion of the flow passages. The elements include a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers, and in particular to heat exchangers with flow regulation.
Heat exchangers are often used to transfer heat between two fluids. For example, in aircraft environmental control systems, heat exchangers may be used to transfer heat between a relatively hot air source (e.g., bleed air from a gas turbine engine) and a relatively cool air source (e.g., ram air). Some heat exchangers, often referred to as tube-fin heat exchangers, include a tube core and heat transfer fins, often formed of a material with high thermal conductivity (e.g., aluminum), attached to the tube core and oriented in the direction of the flow within the passage. The heat transfer fins increase turbulence and a surface area that is exposed to the airflow, thereby enhancing heat transfer between a hot fluid traveling in the tube core and the airflow. A first fluid travels through the tube, and a second fluid flows through the fins of the heat exchanger. Commonly the heat transfer of such a heat exchanger is actively controlled by either altering the flow of the liquid through the tube or using blocker doors to control the flow of the air around the fins. Due to existing structures and manufacturing techniques, known tube-fin heat exchangers are heavy, require control loops, and add failure modes to the system.


A rotary die moulding machine used in the commercial production of baked goods, which includes plastic inserts for the moulding cavities on the die roll, is disclosed. Each moulding cavity is formed as a bore with a first wall section extending inwardly from the outer surface of the die roll a depth corresponding to the desired thickness of the baked good being moulded, and a second wall section with an undercut edge beneath the first wall section. The plastic insert has a face portion with a designed face for imprinting a design into the dough, and has a base portion with a protruding edge which conforms to the undercut edge of the second wall section. The plastic insert fits snugly by snap action into the moulding cavity. The plastic insert further provides improved release of bakery dough. The plastic insert and the moulding cavity may be modified to accommodate different shapes, thicknesses and designs of commercially produced cookies, biscuits and other baked goods.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotary die moulding machine, and in particular to a plastic insert or wafer on a die roll of a rotary die moulding machine used for making cookies, biscuits and other baked goods.
2. Background of the Related Technology
Commercial bakeries typically produce baked goods like cookies and biscuits on a conveyor line or production line on which the goods are moulded and baked on a conveyor system. One known and often used device for moulding bakery dough is a rotary die moulding machine. The machine force feeds the dough into an engraved cavity on a die roll to mould it with the desired shape, thickness and design, and then removes the moulded dough blank from the die roll and transfers it to a conveyor oven.
On the rotary die moulding machine, bakery dough is introduced between a forcing roll and the die roll. The die roll, which is the heart of the rotary die moulding machine, is a long metal cylinder which extends across the width of the conveyor. The die roll, normally made from bronze, may be one piece or made in sections and it has engraved into its outer surface a number of cavities in the shape and design of the baked good to be moulded. The dough is forced into the engraved cavities on the die roll thereby moulding the dough into the desired shape and thickness and imprinting it with a design. Excess dough is trimmed with a shear knife. The moulded dough blank is then extracted from the cavity by pressing it against a fabric extraction web which releases it from the die and then transfers it to an intermediate web for deposit onto a baking band and into an oven for baking.
Sandwich cookies such as OREOS.RTM. are commonly produced by this process. Rotary die moulding machines are used to make a wide variety of shapes, designs and thicknesses of baked goods.
Despite being widely accepted by high production commercial bakeries, rotary die moulding machines have a number of disadvantages and objectionable features. The engraved design in the cavity may become roughened or slightly pitted due to the action of soda or ammonia and other ingredients in the dough or by foreign objects inadvertently introduced into the machine. Furthermore, bakery dough has a tendency to stick to particularly intricate designs engraved into the cavity. For these reasons the dough blank occasionally does not release well from the cavity in the die roll, causing an accumulation of dough and greatly reducing the definition of the detailed engraving imprinted on the baked product. This results in difficulty in maintaining the specified weight of the baked product as well as objectionable visual blemishes on the surface.
TEFLON.RTM. or other nonstick surface treatments have been applied to die rolls in an effort to improve release characteristics. Nonstick coatings, however, wear off, especially when rougher types of bakery dough are used. Reapplication of a nonstick coating is possible, but reapplication requires removal of all the old coating. Removal and reapplication of coatings requires that the die roll, shaft, and hubs be completely disassembled, thoroughly cleaned by blasting with glass beads, cavities de-burred, coated, heat treated, excess coating on the outer surface of the die roll removed and re-assembled. This process typically takes the die roll out of service two to three weeks, and costs 12 to 15 percent of the cost of a new die.
An engraved die roll is also expensive to make, and, if only one of the engraved cavities becomes disfigured, replacement of the entire die roll may be required. In an effort to reduce cost, one known system provides a replaceable metal insert for the die cavities, depicted in FIG. 8 of the drawings. On this known system, the die roll cavity is formed as a simple bore with straight sides. The metal insert is placed into the cavity and, from within the center of the die roll, bolted into the bore. In the event a foreign object disfigures the designed face on a particular metal insert, the metal insert may be replaced. However, replacement of the metal insert requires an extensive amount of labor to access the center of the roll to unbolt the insert and install a new one. After replacing the insert(s), the die surface must then be machined on a lathe to ensure that the new inserts are at the same surface level as the others, which may be different because of wear. Further, bakery dough and shortening have a tendency to be forced into the crevice between the bore wall of the cavity and the side of the insert, which is extremely difficult to remove and causes a sanitary problem.


A ring for fitting to a resilient support containing two metal cores interconnected by a piece of elastomer, the ring serving to limit the extent to which the cores can be moved apart accidentally. The ring is rectangular in section and is made up of a succession of alternating layers respectively constituted by tapes of elastically deformable material and by sheets of parallel threads that are strong in traction.

Such rings should not give rise to sudden reactions in the event of the support to which they are fitted being caused to deform exceptionally.
On the contrary, the traction limit that they provide must be applied very progressively.
In one advantageous way that has been proposed for manufacturing such rings, a rubber sheath is molded around a ring made up of strong threads, particularly threads made of rayon, Kevlar or carbon (see French patent No. 2 586 278).
A particular object of the invention is to make rings of the kind in question that are simultaneously stronger in traction, easier to manufacture, and cheaper.

Limit rings for resilient supports and methods of manufacture therefor


The system may be configured to perform operations including identifying, by a processor, personally identifiable information (PII) within a data model based on processing rules, to create identified PII, wherein the data model comprises entity information about an entity; comparing the identified PII with established PII in a standard data bank; validating the identified PII in response to the identified PII matching the established PII, to create validated PII; and marking the validated PII with a PII marker in response to the validating the identified PII.

The handling and/or storing of personally identifiable information ("PII"), or information that is able to personally identify an entity (e.g., an individual or company), may pose a risk to those entities in possession of the PII and those entities to which the PII belongs. Therefore, in processing and identifying types of data and information stored within a repository, it may be necessary to identify which data comprises PII. Identifying PII allows the entity receiving, storing, and/or utilizing the PII to take appropriate measures to protect the PII (e.g., through encryption) in order to comply with certain requirements (e.g., HIPAA) or to reduce risk exposure posed by possible PII misappropriation.

Personally identifiable information identification

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.


A subsurface aircraft servicing pit is provided with a hold down assembly that secures a pit lid mounting frame in position on a bearing seat at the top of a prefabricated pit enclosure. A frame mount latch ring is suspended in spaced relation beneath the underside of the pit lid mounting frame and inwardly from the walls of the pit enclosure. At least a pair of frame mount latches are provided on opposite sides of the pit. The latches have bases secured to the pit walls and hooks that extend over the top of the frame mount latch ring. The frame mount latches are constructed so as to exert a downward force on the frame mount latch ring, thus holding the peripheral margin of the pit lid mounting frame tightly against a peripheral bearing seat surrounding the pit opening. The necessary force exerted by the frame mount latches may be provided by a coil spring located within the structure of each frame mount latch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a latching or fastening mechanism for securing a pit lid mounting frame to a subsurface chamber for servicing aircraft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At modern aircraft terminals the servicing of aircraft on the ground is often performed using subsurface pits, which frequently are prefabricated structures. Such aircraft servicing pits are installed at aircraft docking, fueling, and loading areas beneath the surface of the tarmac across which aircraft travel during docking and departure maneuvers. The pits forming subsurface chambers are typically constructed of fiberglass, steel, concrete, or aluminum. These pits are quite often constructed as complete enclosures with surrounding walls, a floor, and an access lid at the top seated within a frame disposed upon the bearing flange at the top of the prefabricated pit. When the lid is closed it lies substantially flush with the surface of the tarmac. Such pits are installed below the surface of loading and refueling aprons at aircraft terminals, remote parking locations, and aircraft maintenance bases.
The purpose of the pits is to allow ground support functions to be carried out from subsurface enclosures. These ground support functions include the provision of fuel, the provision of electricity to the aircraft while it is in the docking area, the provision of air for cooling the aircraft interior, the provision of pressurized air for starting the aircraft engines, and for other aircraft support activities on the ground. The use of subsurface pits eliminates the need for mobile trucks, carts, and other vehicles which are otherwise present in the loading area and which interfere with the arrival and departure of aircraft in the vicinity of a loading gate.
The use of subsurface pits also allows the provision of fuel, power, cooling and pressurized air, and other supplies from a central location. The necessary fluid supplies and electrical power can be generated or stored with a greater efficiency at a central location, as contrasted with mobile generating or supply vehicles.
The pits located below the aircraft terminal area house valves, junction boxes, cooling air terminations, and other terminal equipment that is temporarily connected to an aircraft that has been docked. Umbilical pipes and lines, otherwise housed within the pits, are withdrawn from them through hatches therein and are coupled to a docked aircraft to supply it with fuel, air for cooling the aircraft interior, pressurized air for starting the engines, and electrical power.
The pits are constructed with either hinged or totally removable lids that are set within mounting frames which are positioned atop the prefabricated pits. The pit lid is set within the pit lid mounting frame. The pit lid can be moved relative to the surrounding mounting frame between an open position allowing access to the interior of the pit and a closed position flush with the surfaces of the docking, loading, or refueling areas across which aircraft travel and beneath which the pit is buried.
The pit lid mounting frames are constructed with outer peripheral margins that rest upon peripheral bearing ledges formed at the upper extremities of the prefabricated pits. The peripheral bearing ledges of the prefabricated pits extend laterally outwardly from the mouths which serve as access openings at the tops of the pit enclosures.
Each peripheral bearing ledge typically includes an edge that is turned upwardly to form a surrounding rim. The prefabricated pit thereby forms a peripheral bearing seat to receive the mounting frame for a lid that is hinged or otherwise raised relative to the pit lid mounting frame so as to provide access to the interior of the pit. The pit lid mounting frame is set within the rim of the peripheral bearing ledge. The pit lid mounting frame bears downwardly and is supported by the horizontal surface of the peripheral bearing ledge located therebeneath.
In conventional practice hold down bolts are employed to attach the pit lid mounting frame to the peripheral bearing seat formed at the top of the fiberglass pit. These mounting bolts are installed from the top of the mounting frame and have threaded shanks that extend through internally threaded nuts that are molded into the underside of the structure of the peripheral seat of the prefabricated pit. The bolts are tightened to anchor the pit lid mounting frame to the prefabricated pit in a permanent or semipermanent fashion.
A resilient gasket is normally located in a channel formed in the undersurface of the peripheral margin of the pit lid mounting frame. Tightening of the bolts resiliently compresses the gasket so as to form a watertight seal that prevents rainwater, melted snow, and other surface water from leaking down into the pit enclosure between the edge of the pit lid mounting frame and the peripheral seat upon which it is disposed at the top of the buried pit.
One difficulty with this pit lid mounting frame attachment system is that the hold down bolts can bind up due to exposure to the elements. Once they are removed for any reason they are quite difficult to reinstall. This is because debris can collect in the internally tapped bolt holes. If these bolts are not properly reinstalled or otherwise secured they can become loose on the runway. Runway debris and other foreign objects on an aircraft loading apron can be sucked into the jet engines of an aircraft and create serious damage.

Frame mount latch assembly for subsurface aircraft servicing pit


The invention herein provides an inclined recovery device for a patient's upper body and an aperture so that a prone patient will still have a broad field of vision when lying thereon. The device is well suited to holding a person's head in a stable position as required when recovering from eye surgery.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus which functions to support the upper portion of the human body in a prone position for selected extended periods of time, for example, during convalescence from eye surgery.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Objectives of the Invention
Individuals may prefer to be prone for any of a number of different reasons. Perhaps the most important need occurs during or following some types of surgery. The patient is required to remain in a prone position during certain types of surgical procedures, such as orthopedic back surgery. A number of therapeutic devices have been devised which provide support for the body in a prone position and some of these devices also serve to immobilize the head.
A somewhat different set of requirements is imposed on patients recovering from certain types of surgical procedures performed on the eye such as a macular surgery, as may be needed for macular degeneration, or a detached retina. In order to allow certain tissues to reattach properly to the interior of the eyeball, it is necessary for the recovering patient to remain in a prone position with the head stabilized during a period of approximately three weeks following surgery. Due to cost-containment considerations, it is customary for the patient to spend this period of convalescence at home. These surgeries are usually performed on older individuals and reflux, or fluid traveling from the stomach to the mouth, is a concern, especially for individuals resting on their stomachs.
These inactivity standards place psychological as well as physical stress on the patient. Even if the patient is physically comfortable, sheer boredom can make it extremely difficult for the patient to remain in a prone position for the required periods of time. Unfortunately, if the patient turns his head frequently, for example, to read or watch television, proper tissue reattachment may not occur. This may result in the need for a second operation or total vision loss in extreme cases.
Therefore, a therapeutic post operation upper body support device is needed which 1) provides for proper distribution of weight of the head and upper body while the patient is in the prone position with face downwards; 2) allows the patient to read or watch television as desired; 3) is portable for use in the home; 4) is inclined to prevent reflux; 5) allows the patient to touch, clean or scratch his face as needed without over-extending the arms; 6) allows air to circulate freely under the patient; and 7) is comfortable enough to be used in excess of 12 hours a day. Portability allows the device to be rented and returned after use, thus helping to meet the goal of cost-containment.
Certain devices provided by the prior art meet some, but not all, of the above requirements. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,064 includes a pillow device provided with a T-shaped void through which the patient in a prone position may observe a television monitor during a surgical procedure in a hospital environment. Other prior art devices provide proper support for the head, but cover the eyes of the patient such as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,377. Thus, a need exists for a device meeting all of the features reiterated above.
A primary object of the invention is to provide an inclined upper body support device for supporting the head and upper body in a prone position on a bed with the face down.
Another object of the invention is to allow the user to view objects such as a book in order to be entertained while recuperating face down.
Still another object of the invention is provide such a device which is portable, so that it may be easily carried and used in the home on a temporary basis.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide fastening for a moisture-absorbent towel or the like such that the towel does not block the user's field of vision while face down.
A further object of the invention is to provide an inclined support to prevent stomach reflux during prone recovery.
Another object of the invention is to provide a body support which allows the patient to freely touch his face without having to reach around a mattress or other obstruction.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a body support which allows air to freely circulate beneath the upper body of the patient for comfort during prone recovery.
Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.


A projector is provided with a first lens array, a polarized beam splitter for splitting a beam of light into beams of linearly polarized light components whose polarization axes are normal to each other, a second lens array in vicinity of a position where the beams of linearly polarized light components converge, and a converter for converting one of the linearly polarized light components so as to have the same axes of polarization as the other linearly polarized light components. The polarized beam splitter includes a prism having the following relationship: ##EQU1## wherein .psi. denotes an angle of incidence with respect to the parallel plate, W denotes a width of the first lens, H denotes a height of the first lens, F denotes a focal length of the first lens, and N denotes a refractive index of the prism.

This invention relates to a projector for projecting an optical image on a screen.
A projector is known as a means for projecting an optical image formed in accordance with a video signal on an image panel, e.g., a liquid crystal panel, with illumination light and projecting the optical image projected by the illumination light on a screen via a projection lens.
FIG. 11 shows an illuminating optical system used in a known projector. A randomly polarized light irradiated from a light source 101 as well as a light reflected by a reflection surface 102a of a parabolic mirror 102 which is a partial surface including a pole of a paraboloid of revolution have light components in an unnecessary wavelength area removed by an IR-UV filter 103. The light having the light components in the unnecessary wavelength area is separated into a plurality of beams by a first lens array 104.
A plurality of beams split by the first lens array 104 are split by a polarized beam splitter 105 into beams 106 of first linearly polarized light components and beams 107 of second linearly polarized light components, the axes of polarization of the first and second linearly polarized light components being normal to each other.
On an emergence surface of a second lens array 108 where light sources formed by the beams 107 of the second linearly polarized light components, among light sources formed on the second lens array 108 by the first lens array 104, half-wave plates 109 are mounted to convert the axes of polarization of the second linearly polarized light components of the beams 107 into those of the first linearly polarized light components, thereby aligning the axes of polarization of all small light sources.
Thus, if the linearly polarized illumination light issued from the illuminating optical system is projected on an optical image on the liquid crystal panel formed in accordance with a video signal and the optical image illuminated by the illumination light is enlargedly projected onto the screen, a large image can be displayed.
However, such a projector needs to improve the reflectivity of the beams 107 in order to ensure a highly efficient utilization of light. Accordingly, coating of silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), or the like needs to be applied to the reflection surface 105b. This is one of factors hindering the reduction of operation steps in manufacturing the projector.
Further, the right angle prism of the polarized beam splitter 105 weighs about 700 g. This is one of factors hindering the projector from being made more lightweight.

Projector capable of projecting polarized illumination light


A low voltage arrester works as a lightning arrester with high energy tolerance. With installation of the lightning arrester on power lines, telephone lines or other signal input lines, all electric apparatus connected to the lines are effectively protected against lightning surges including high energy surges caused by close thunderbolts. The lightning arrester includes two elements connected in parallel. One is a series circuit of a zinc oxide arrester and a non-inductive resistor, and the other element is a spark gap formed of brass electrodes. All the arrester elements are installed in one refractory porcelain case. In order to install the arrester in a limited space and to insure tolerance of high energy surges, the non-inductive resistor uses bifilarly or Ayston-Perry wound Nichrome wire.

In recent years, as a result of automation, many electronic devices are used extensively in various locations in plants, laboratories, offices, hospitals, sporting facilities such as golf courses, and agricultural facilities, etc. These electronic devices are usually vulnerable to surge voltages from lightning.
The surge voltages can enter electronic devices via telephone and other communication lines, as well as via a power source. Therefore, lightning arresters are often needed at both points of entry. Some of the above-mentioned facilities may be located in regions where thunderstorms frequently prevail. Furthermore, when the facilities are located at mountainous regions, dry riverbeds or sand dunes, the resistivity of the facility sites is relatively high. Consequently lightning currents at high resistivity sites will not immediately dissipate in the ground but can travel through adjacent electric power lines to other areas where such currents can cause great damage.
In addition, unmanned, electronically controlled facilities increase in number with the spread of automation. These unmanned facilities require that personnel be dispatched from distant locations when problems occur in the lightning arresters.
Since the demand for lightning arresters is steadily increasing, there is a need for an improved lightning arrester to simplify maintenance requirements and reduce maintenance costs. The improved lightning arrester should be capable of withstanding greater energy surges than known lightning arresters, protect electronic devices from repeated strikes of heavy lightning surges, and also avoid burnout within the lightning arrester itself.
A lightning arrester for high sensitivity of low voltage circuits, in accordance with the present invention, is thus proposed for the above-mentioned purposes, and for extensive application in various fields.

Compound lightning arrester for low voltage circuit


A biocompatible fastener that may be used for attachment of a fixation plate to bone is described herein, where the fastener has features that facilitate its deployment in a surgical environment. The fastener is composed of a screw, having a threaded shaft and slotted head, and a detachable body that is used for deploying the screw and is then broken away and discarded. The slot in the head of the screw has stress concentrating notch features that direct the fracture lines into the screw head upon detachment of the secondary body, thus ensuring that the screw head surface remains smooth after deployment. A suitable driver for applying the fastener is also described.

There are currently a variety of metallic screws available for attaching bone plates to fracture and surgery repair sites; spinal, cranial, and maxillo-facial plates have all been fastened using metal screws. The disadvantage of metal devices is that they are permanent and must be removed through a second surgical procedure. If they remain in the body, tissue atrophy and subsequent loosening of the screw may occur. Synthetic absorbable biocompatible polymers are well known in the art. Such polymers are typically used to manufacture medical devices, which are implanted in body tissue and absorb over time. Synthetic absorbable biocompatible aliphatic polyesters include homopolymers, copolymers (random, block, segmented and graft) of monomers such as glycolic acid, glycolide (d, l, meso and mixtures thereof), lactic acid, lactide, .epsilon.-caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate and p-dioxanone. Numerous U.S. Pat. Nos. describe these polymers including 5,431,679; 5,403,347; 5,314,989; 5,431,679; 5,403,347; and 5,502,159.
With the advent of absorbable polymers has come a new generation of fasteners (screws, pins, etc.) that are designed to be gradually absorbed by the body as their functional use declines. Screws made of an absorbable material have an advantage in that they remain only for the period of time required for healing. There are a number of threaded fasteners disclosed in the prior art which utilize absorbable materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,400, hereinafter Muhling et al., discloses a bone screw made of resorbing plastic material comprising an internal tool insertion channel that is coaxial with the screw shaft and extends along most of the length of the shaft, where the cross-section of the insertion channel is non-circular and matches the cross-section of the insertion tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,334, hereinafter Ross et al., discloses a bioabsorbable interference bone fixation screw having an internal coaxial channel into which a rotatable driver may be inserted for screw application. The channel defines a number of radial forces receiving surfaces for transmitting forces from the driver to the screw.
U.S Pat. No. 5,695,497, hereinafter Stahelin, discloses a biodegradable screw and suitable screwdriver. The screw consists of an internal coaxial channel, with a plurality of lobe areas arranged uniformly about the channel area, which is radially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis in regular rotary steps.
All of these patents relate to screws having an internal coaxial channel that is used for insertion of the device. The disadvantage of having an internal coaxial channel becomes evident when considering a screw with a shaft diameter of 1-2 millimeters or less. Including an internal channel in such a small fastener would leave little remaining material, thus greatly compromising the strength of the device. Such a design is therefore not desirable when the goal is to maximize the strength of a very small threaded fastener, such as would be required in cranio-facial surgical applications where small plates and fasteners are used. However, a very small fastener without an internal channel is difficult to handle during a surgical procedure. A feature is therefore required that will enable the surgeon to grasp and deploy the fastener with ease.
What is needed in this art is a novel solid threaded fastener consisting of an integral component that is used for inserting the fastener and is then detached and discarded while also providing the surgeon means to remove the screw if repositioning is required. The current invention discloses such a device, and an instrument for deploying such a device.

Biocompatible absorbable polymer fastener and driver for use in surgical procedures


A medical needle includes a needle body including a needle tip on a front end of the needle body; a shaft provided on a base end of the needle body; a housing pipe including a first tube, and a second tube; and a lock member that includes at least one engaging unit that is releasably engaged with the shaft, and at least one engagement release unit. The shaft is slidable from a first position at which the front end of the needle body protrudes from the housing pipe by a predetermined length, to a second position at which the front end of the needle body is located in the housing pipe. Engagement of the at least one engaging unit with the shaft is releasable by pressing the at least one engagement release unit inward.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a medical needle used, for example, for blood collection, blood transfusion, or fluid infusion.
Background Art
A medical needle that is used, for example, for blood collection, blood transfusion, or fluid infusion while being connected, for example, to a blood collection device, a blood transfusion set, or a fluid infusion set of a blood bag or a blood processing circuit (such as an apheresis circuit, or a hemodialysis circuit) is known. The medical needle described above generally includes a needle body having a sharp needle tip on the front end, and a hub provided on the base end of the needle body. When a used medical needle is disposed, it is necessary to cover the needle body in order to prevent the person who disposes the needle from carelessly touching the needle body. In light of the foregoing, a medical needle including a protector capable of covering the used needle body has been proposed (e.g., refer to JP 3134920 B1).
The winged indwelling needle (medical needle) disclosed in JP 3134920 B1 includes a cannula (needle body), a hub provided on the base end of the cannula, and a holding pipe (protector) configured to house and hold the hub therein. The front end of the cannula supported with the hub can slide from a first position in which the front end of the cannula protrudes from the front end of the holding pipe to a second position in which the front end of the cannula is housed in the holding pipe along the inner wall of the holding pipe. A first engaging unit configured to releasably seize the hub at the first position of the holding pipe and a second engaging unit configured to substantially unreleasably seize the hub at the second position of the holding pipe are provided between the hub and the holding pipe.
When the medical needle is used, the user holds the trunk (the holding pipe in JP 3134920 B1) of the medical needle with the fingers to insert the needle body into the patient's skin. In that case, if the trunk of the medical needle has an appropriate small diameter, it is easy to stabilize the needle tip because the user readily holds the trunk. Also, it is easy to accurately insert the needle into a hard blood vessel or a thin blood vessel.
However, when the winged indwelling needle disclosed in JP 3134920 B1 is used, the front end of the hub is inserted into the position of the front end of the holding pipe. This makes it difficult to narrow the holding pipe that is the trunk.


A system comprises power management logic and an electrical load coupled to the power management logic. The electrical load is configurable to operate in accordance with any of a plurality of power states. The power management logic forces the electrical load to operate in a reduced power state if an operating voltage for the system is between two thresholds.

In some situations, an electronic device requires more electrical power than a power source can provide. For example, some airplanes provide electrical outlets at some or all passenger seats to permit a passenger to plug in a portable computer. Such airplane power outlets may be power limited by a circuit breaker or comparable mechanism. In at least some airplanes, the power limit is 75 watts. As such, if a passenger plugs in a portable computer into such an outlet and attempts to operate the computer in a mode that requires more than 75 watts, electrical power will be shut off automatically to that electrical outlet thereby undesirably preventing all use of the passenger's computer.

System and method for power management when an operating voltage is between two thresholds

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A valve is formed by machining a silicon wafer 18 bonded to a glass wafer 2. This machining forms a membrane 44 and a sealing ring. Part of the surface of the membrane 44 and optionally the sealing ring are oxidized in order to impart a mechanical pre-tension to the membrane holding the valve in a closed position. Further etching 52 may be carried out in a manner such that in the absence of the aforesaid pre-tension the valve is in the open position at rest.

Pumps of this type can be used notably for the in situ administration of medicaments whereby miniaturisation of the pump enables the patient to wear it on his person or optionally to have a pump directly implanted in his body. In addition, using pumps of this type small quantities of liquid can be accurately administered.
In an article entitled "A piezoelectric micropump based on micromachining of silicon" published in "Sensors and Actuators" No. 15 (1988), pages 153 to 167, H. van Lintel et al. describe two embodiments of a micropump each comprising a stack of three wafers, i.e., a wafer of machined silicon arranged between two wafers of glass. Another embodiment of such a micropump is described in Swiss Patent Application No. 02 241/89-1 of Jun. 14, 1989.
In this article a silicon wafer defines a pump chamber with one of the glass wafers, it being possible for the part coinciding with this chamber to be deformed by a drive means, in the present case a piezoelectric crystal. The latter comprises electrodes which, when connected to an alternative voltage source, cause deformation of the crystal and thus of the glass wafer, the latter in turn causing variation in the volume of the pump chamber.
The pump chamber is connected on both sides to check valves in which a membrane and a sealing ring are machined from silicon and the seat of which is composed of the other glass wafer.
The construction of such a valve is carried out in two stages. In a first step, the silicon wafer is etched in order to form the membrane, part of the wafer being protected from the etching in order to form the sealing ring and in a second step a thin layer of oxide is formed on the sealing ring and optionally on part of the membrane. This gives to the membrane a certain mechanical preconstraint or pre-tension whereby the seat of the valve is forced towards the sealing ring.
One of the disadvantages of this type of micropump is that the yields of such micropumps, which may seem to be identical, are not the same. This mainly results from the fact that even though it is relatively easy to control the depths of the etching of the silicon, it is more difficult to control the thickness of the membranes since the thickness of a wafer of silicon is not constant over the whole of its surface, but on the contrary shows certain variations. The thickness of the membranes governs the amount of the pre-tension and hence ultimately the parameters for the opening and closing of the valves. This is particularly important in the case of the outlet valve which requires a greater pre-tension.

Valve and micropump incorporating said valve