An exemplary method and optical network that provide optical network restoration using refreshed state tables are disclosed. The exemplary method for recovering from a failure in an optical network using refreshed switch state tables includes generating and storing connection information in switch state tables of associated optical switches that define optical link connections to be made in the event of a failure, monitoring whether a failure has occurred, and refreshing the switch state tables by continuing to generate and store connection information in the plurality of switch state tables that are associated with the plurality of optical switches of the optical network until the failure in the optical network is detected. Once the failure is detected, optical switching is automatically performed in the optical switches based on the lookup table connection information in the switch state tables that are associated with the optical switches. The exemplary method may then include determining whether any of the telecommunications traffic in the optical links of the optical network was not restored due to the optical switching that was automatically performed.

Optical networks include various optical switches or nodes coupled through a network of optical fiber links. Optical network failures or faults may be caused by any number of events or reasons, including damaged or severed optical fibers, or equipment failure. Because optical fibers may be installed virtually anywhere, including underground, above ground or underwater, they are subject to damage through a variety of ways and phenomena. Optical fibers and optical equipment may be damaged or severed, for example, by lightning, fire, natural disasters, traffic accidents, digging, construction accidents, and the like.
Because optical fibers carry far greater amounts of information than conventional copper wires used to transmit electrical telecommunications signals, the loss of an optical fiber can cause far more user disruptions when compared with the loss of a copper wire. Because dozens of fibers may be routed within a single cable or conduit, a damaged or severed cable or conduit will potentially result in far greater user disruptions and outages than the loss of a cable or conduit of copper wires.
To reduce the negative effects of optical network failures, optical network topologies are provided in arrangements and configurations, such as mesh or ring topologies, so that telecommunications traffic may traverse the optical network using multiple optical links. This allows such optical networks to be reconfigured to route around network failure point. An optical network may include both working links or paths and spare links or paths that may be used to assist with optical network restoration. The optical switches of the network may be programmed to configure their ingress and egress ports based on a switch state table. During optical network restoration, these switch state tables must be modified, changed or implemented to route telecommunications traffic around the failure and to minimize the loss of telecommunications traffic. Because of the large amount of data or bandwidth an optical network carries, the amount of time it takes to identify the location of an optical network failure, and the time it takes then to reconfigure the optical network, significant amounts of telecommunications traffic are often lost. Further, the reconfiguration of an optical network may result in the loss of other telecommunications traffic if not done efficiently or optimally. The capability to detect failures in an optical network is generally considered more difficult than detecting a failure in a telecommunications network that operates in the electrical domain. This failure detection difficulty normally results in increased time to locate a network failure, which further complicates the capability to efficiently restore a failure in an optical network.
The capability to quickly recognize a fault or failure and to efficiently and quickly restore normal traffic flow is crucial to the overall performance and reliability of the optical network, which is critical to an optical network operator, such as a telecommunications carrier or business enterprise, and its users. Prolonged outages result in decreased network revenues, business losses by commercial users, and an overall reduction in user confidence and satisfaction. For example, the loss of a single optical link, such as an optical link carrying a Wavelength Division Multiplexed ("WDM") signal, may result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of phone calls and computer data transmissions.
Prior restoration techniques and methodologies were generally designed for restoring telecommunications networks operating in the electrical domain as opposed to the optical domain, which presents additional challenges. Unfortunately, each of these techniques suffer from significant problems and disadvantages.
One technique involves the use of a central control and central database to model the network, to monitor network operations, and communicate instructions to each node or OCCS in response to a failure. The central control and dispatch model suffers from a serious speed disadvantage because of the time it takes to detect failures, communicate failures to the central control, to calculate an acceptable solution, and then to communicate back to each node a desired switch configuration. Often, the central control approach is inaccurate because the most recent model of the network is not used. This approach is not acceptable in most optical networks, especially WDM optical networks.
An improvement, in some respects, on the central control technique is the use of central control with predetermined switch configurations for various potential optical network failures. This provides faster restoration because of the elimination of the need to calculate an acceptable solution each time a failure occurs. This solution still may suffer significant disadvantages, such as excessive time to contact each such OCCS with the needed provision information and the results may be based on bad or inaccurate network model information.
Another technique includes the use of a Distributed Restoration Algorithm("DRA"). When DRA is used, it is assumed that the various cross connect switches can communicate messages to each other in a peer-to-peer fashion. This may be achieved through the use of excess network capacity, through a signaling network or the use of a separate wide area network. These messages may include flooding messages where, when a connection fails or is lost, a sender node or cross connect switch sends out a message that will eventually be passed around the network until the message is received at the other node of the lost link. In this manner, the two affected nodes or switches can communicate and a second path can be setup to work around the failed link. Unfortunately, for optical networks, this technique of messaging before the link is restored takes too long. Response times as short as 100 to 200 milliseconds may result in dropped traffic. Another disadvantage is that the various nodes may get into a loop condition where the nodes are contending against one another for network resources.

Network restoration using refreshed switch state tables


A single optical source is shared by a plurality of optical communication paths to communicate different information signals on the different paths. A high power optical carrier generator provides a carrier signal to an optical multiplexer. The multiplexer splits the optical carrier into a plurality of paths, each including an external optical modulator. The external optical modulator in each path is used to modulate the carrier in its respective path by a desired information signal. An additional modulated optical carrier can be coupled to one or more of the optical communication paths for the communication of additional information such as a standard set of television channel signals in a cable television network.

The present invention relates to optical fiber communication systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for sharing an optical source among a plurality of external optical modulators provided in different communication paths.
Optical fiber communication systems are well known. Such systems are enjoying increasing use in the telecommunications industry, in the cable television industry, and in local area networks used to couple personal computers and/or workstations together.
In the cable television industry, signal distribution via coaxial cable has dominated to date. Such systems are typically arranged in tree and branch networks that carry television program signals from a headend to various nodes that ultimately feed the cable signals to individual subscriber homes. Typically, the headend provides a single optical carrier signal that is modulated by RF subcarriers containing a plurality (e.g., 40-80) different television program channels. The carrier is communicated via the distribution path to individual subscriber homes, each of which receive the same television channel signals.
In certain situations, such as narrowcasting, it is desired to provide different programming to different subscribers. In narrowcasting, programming is directed to smaller audiences with special tastes, such as those who want foreign movies, folk music, performing arts, and the like. Although the provision of narrowcasting services can result in additional pay subscriptions for a cable system operator, in the past the incremental costs to the operator for implementing a narrowcasting system have tended to outweigh the incremental gains.
In an optical fiber distribution system, the provision of narrowcasting services has required separate signal lasers to generate a separate carrier for each band of narrowcast program channels that is to be added to the core channels offered to all subscribers. The need to provide a separate optical source for each category of narrowcast channels increases the cost and complexity of the distribution system. This has hampered the implementation of narrowcasting in emerging optical fiber distribution systems.
It would be advantageous to provide an optical fiber communication system that enables narrowcasting and other specialized programming schemes to be achieved at a relatively low cost with high system reliability. It would be further advantageous to provide such a system that utilizes known optical components and provides a high degree of flexibility in establishing, maintaining and revising the signal distribution plant. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sharing an optical source among a plurality of different external optical modulators, thereby achieving the aforementioned advantages.

Communication of signals sharing a single optical source


o-Dihydroxylated aromatic compounds, for example pyrocatechol, are selectively prepared by reacting an o-fuchsone with an oxidizing agent, for example hydrogen peroxide, optionally in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an acid catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation of dihydroxylated aromatic compounds, and, more especially, to the preparation of o-dihydroxylated aromatic compounds, in particular pyrocatechol, via the oxidation of o-fuchsones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of techniques for hydroxylating phenols are known to this art. Compare, for example, FR-A-2,071,464 and FR-A-2,266,683.
The known methods produce a mixture of diphenols with substantially equal amounts of the ortho and para isomers, but with the ortho isomer predominating.
Need continues to exist, however, in order to respond to fluctuating market demand, for an industrial process which can selectively produce one of these isomers.

Preparation of o-dihydroxylated aromatic compounds via oxidation of o-fuchsones


A tubular electro-luminescent light includes an inner member around which an electro-luminescent panel having electrodes is coiled, and at least one additional wire connected between ends of the light for carrying electric signals related to the function of an external device. The external device may be an audio, video, or communications device, or a power supply for a household appliance or the like, and the electric signals carried by the additional wire, or sensors, may be used to trigger the light. For example, the external device may connect an ear-phone set of a cellular telephone, the device being arranged in a loop to be worn around a body part of the user, a handbag, or the like, and the light being triggered by electric signals indicative of an incoming telephone call.

The current invention is a tubular light device with an inner tube member that can protect twisted EL elements from any damage.
More particularly, the present invention involves applications of the tubular light devices disclosed in the co-pending parent patent applications in which panel-type EL elements are twisted and situated within an elongated geometric tube-like protective member, in which conductive members are provided to not only carry electric signals for the lighting element but also to carry electric signals to and/or from device(s) with which the lighting element is associated. The inner tubular members protect the plurality of conductive elements by providing a cushioning effect that protects both the EL elements and conductive members from damage caused by bending, and also allows the tubular lighting element to deliver appropriate electric signals between ends of the element, i.e., to devices other than the lighting element itself. The devices may be selected from the group consisting of video devices, communication devices, radio, MP3, cellular telephones, walkie talkies, extension cords, evacuation lighting, and incoming phone call display devices.
The current invention thus involves a combination of twisted EL panel light elements within a protective means such as tube, and a plurality of conductive elements arranged in a way that allows the inner member of the tubular lighting element not only to provide EL light signal(s) but also to deliver electric signal(s) to and from other devices, for example to deliver cellular phone ear-phone signals from the phone to the ear-piece.
The current invention may further incorporate a trigger means which may selected from the group consisting of sensors that detect signal(s), vibration, motion, light, brightness, humidity, water, heat, shaking, sound, and/or chemicals which can allow the circuit to turn on and turn off based on pre-designed function(s) and duration times so as to allow the light to have special effects based on the features of said device(s).
For example, the current tubular EL light may include motion sensors to provide stairs illumination. The tubular EL light may be installed in stairs areas along the steps so that the lighting elements will turn on when people walk near by the tubular EL light for people to see the each step without falling down.
This is a very good safety feature for normal house application, and is also good for evacuation purposes in case of emergencies in a building, house, or office.
The current invention also can be incorporated into a cellular phone device, walkie talkie, or CD player to enable the existing electric wire to provide more features such as an incoming phone call display. In the example of a cellular phone with incoming phone call display, the tubular EL light kits will be triggered by the incoming phone call electric signal(s) and turn on for illumination of the whole wire, which may be worn around a part of the human body, such as the neck or shoulder, or the wire may be strung around bags or another location. It will help people to know the phone is ringing in a noisy environment or to assist persons who are hear of hearing and so improve the quality of life of such people without any problem. Furthermore, for the ear phone of audio devices such as MP3 or CD players, or radios, the tubular EL light can be arranged on the wires so as to allow the tubular EL light to be triggered by music, resulting in pulses the can make different light shows to provide young people with a good music environment with sound and light functions.
Also,
                (1) The EL element can have different colors for different light taste.        (2) The EL element(s) may be installed on an inner tube which can deliver the electric signals.        (3) The inner tube can be a non-elastic member for protecting the EL elements.        (4) The inner tube can include electric wires, conductive means, or FPC to deliver signals.        (5) The inner tube can be any size, thickness, diameter, shape, or material, as desired.        (6) The EL element can have different colors to indicate location, length, width for different light effects.        (7) The conductive means of the inner tube can serve as a bus means to allow signal delivery to multiple elements for a desired length.        (8) The incorporated bus means can include means to connect multiple elements to the bus means.        (9) The EL elements can overcome the EL panel's limitation for Minimum Bending Radius by using a super thin substrate of PET material and a laminated layer to reduce peel off strength.        (10) The EL elements have a rivet terminal, which is considered to be incorporated with the tubular EL so that it can easily be passed though the outside tube means to allow easy installation during assembly of products.        (11) The EL elements have inner conductive means which offer less resistance to deliver electricity having a certain voltage and frequency so as to provide even brightness and color along the extremely long length of the tubular light means.        (12) The EL elements have BOLT silver paste, or conductive means, at the most easily damaged areas so as to allow the EL panel(s) to be twisted into a very tiny bending radius without damaging the EL material, including the ITO phosphor, isolating, and dielectric layers.        (13) The EL elements may further incorporate waterproofing using a most simple method at lower cost by isolating the common electrode from other EL electrodes connected with signal ends to enable some light performance.        (14) The EL elements have at least one inner tube by at least one conductive wire/device to hook the EL material, electrode material, conductive means, phosphor, and silver paste.        (15) The EL elements may apply etching techniques to remove all EL material and only have conductive means such as a silver paste coating so as to prevent short circuits caused by water, humidity, etc.        (16) The EL elements can be connected with signal ends over a large distance even when using the standard terminal stamping procedure.
Tubular shape Electroluminescent (EL) light devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,355 Voskoboinik et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,381 Feldman et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,594 Hay, but the tubular devices disclosed in these references have a number of limitations, including the disadvantages that they are too expensive and too slow to produce, too limited in brightness, too difficult to apply etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,594 Hay discloses a Tubular EL Lamp which includes strips within a glass tube and a glass fiber between the light emitting surface and the tube to gather light from the strip. Also, the tube is an optical element. Such an optical tube is not flexible, does not permit viewing of the light from 0-360 degree, is not available for bending into any shape, does not protect the EL strips, cannot generate linear light over a soft and curved surface, does not provide a colorful light arrangement, is not subject to bending and fixing of the shape, is not stitchable and cannot be glued on a main object surface, and cannot have unlimited length or by joined with other strips for a desired length with the same function.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,629 Gubernick discloses a phosphorescent tube with which offers light beams in a dark environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,027 Lekson teaches a running board with illumination which includes an electroluminescent element within a transparent tube and one optical element position in front in the light emitting direction. This arrangement is essentially the same as that disclosed in the Hay patent. Lekson uses a small EL panel to get the light out to the viewer, who must have to have one optical member to focus the light and provide strength. Lekson does not provide for 0-360 light emission, a method to make a desired length, flexible and bendable features for tube light, a protect member inside and on the back of in a light emitting direction, use of the conductive means of the bus to build unlimited length, a method to overcome the minimum bending radius for EL strips, or stitching or gluing to a main object surface, The current invention use a low-cost panel type of electro-luminescent element sealed within the inside of the tube shape to provide a substantially lower cost, a simple production procedure, super brightness, and the ability to easily make the lighting element have any diameter.                1. The current invention provides a way to make any diameter of tubular EL light device by a simple process.        2. The current invention provides a way to prevent a sharp-angle while bending the plastic tube.        3. The current invention provides a colored plastic tube as a cosmetic purpose for a tubular EL light device.        4. The current invention teach a proper wall thickness for the plastic tube to overcome some bending problems.        5. The current invention provides a way to make an extended Electro-Luminescent panel having an unlimited length.        6. The current invention provides a way to make a multiple colors tubular light device for desired effects.        7. The current invention provides a way to make a tubular EL light device with optical features and properties.        8. The current invention provides a way to have a super brightness tubular EL light device.        9. The current invention provides a way to have a tubular EL light device with any desired bend and fixed shape.        10. The current invention provides a way to have a tubular EL light device with twisted panel(s).        11. The current invention provides a way to have a tubular EL light device that resembles a Neon light by placing panels back to back.        12. The current invention provides a way to have a tubular EL light device for any bending angle by twisted panel(s).        13. The current invention provides a way to have a flat tubular EL light with twisted panel(s) for a weaving effect.        14. The current invention provides a way to have a Magnetic Means incorporated with the tubular EL light device.        15. The current invention enables a tubular light device to be used in joint areas of main objects, such as a tool box or automobile/truck door.        16. The current invention provides a mixed color for twisted EL panels to improve the cosmetic appearance.        17. The current invention provides a variety of applications to different categories of illumination.
The current invention improves upon the above listed US prior art because it is simple to make all kinds of tube shapes with a desired diameter. Also, The brightness can be designed for any brightness requirement without investment in machinery because the marketplace already has available machines that can provide tubes having a lower cost and the ability to quickly make big quantities and provide people with a good lighting device at lower cost and increased safety.
The current invention also offers a Bend-N-Shape features as described in a co-pending US patent application, which offers great performance as a working lamp to provide desired illumination for certain work environments. The current invention also offers a twisted EL panel(s) arrangement for consumer application to items such as a Shoe, Slide, Slipper, Sandal, Automobile, Boat, Bus, Aircraft, Garden, Traffic equipment, Bag, Purse, House, Building, Christmas, Seasonal Item, Bicycle, Tricycle, Toy, Moving Device, Skating or Jogging equipment, Watch, Garment, Clothing, Jeans, Box, Tool Box, Working Lamp, Furniture, Giftware, Headgear, Jewelry, Hair Accessories, Partywear, Sign, Indoor lighting, Outdoor lighting, Street lamp, Guide lamp, Bridge lamp, Traffic cone, New Jersey Deck, Fence, Mail Box, House Number light, Window Sign, Wall Sign, Poster, Passway, Stair, Curb, Line divider for queues, Evacuation light, Fishing Marker, Decoration device for Safety, Decoration, Advertisement, Promotion, Point-Of-Purchase display, Warning light, Accent light, illumination light, Floor light, Delineator guide light, and Evacuation light, which can be found from market place with other light means such as an L.E.D., incandescent light bulb, fluorescent tube, Neon tube etc. The current invention preferably can use an EL light with sufficient light brightness with very low power consumption, as described in the current Inventor's variety of U.S. issued patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,746,501, 5,980,060, 5,722,760, 5,504,397,5,475,574, 5,479,325, 5,570,946, 5,469,342, 5,570,945, 5,704,705, 5,611,621, 5,860,727, 5,865,523,5,879,069, 5,572,817, 5,752,337, 5,794,366, 5,833,508, 5,688,038, 5,871,269, 5,720,651, 5,806,960, 5,947,980, 5,775,016, 5,566,384, 5,876,108,5,836,671, 5,601,358, 5,754,064, 5,921,653, 5,667,394,6,082,867, 6,170,958, 6,183,101, 6,171,117, 5,926,440, 6,158,868, 6,182,282, 6,179,431, 5,599,088, 5,213,616, 6,179,431, 6,280,053, 6,170,958, 6,168,282, 5,926,440, 5,683,164, 6,183,101, 6,123,616, 6,280,053, 5,926,440, 5,754,064, 5,879,069 and other issued patents owned by the current inventor. The advantage of electro-luminescent lighting elements in a variety of contexts are explained in several co pending US patent application include U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/305,294; 08/343,404; 08/343,915; 08/383,404; 08/383,405; 08/409,925; 08/421,647; 08/432,707; 08/438,373; 08/444,064; 08/436,007; 08/444,064; 08/489,160; 08/498,258; 08/510,701; 08/522,940; 08/561,973; 08/611,049; 08/614,001; 08/522,940; 08/712,484; and 08/734,872, which cover more utilities for Electro-Luminescent elements. The light panels or elements listed above can be attached on any single radius surface without any problem. The current invention uses the "wider tube" space to install narrow EL panel(s), offering the extra space to allow panel(s) to be bent or twisted with any ugly shape that can not be seen by viewer. It also has several arrangements to make the tube look like a Neon tube or a pretty good cosmetic light arrangement. Other features resulting from use of a tube with panel(s) are that they can fit a Sphere-Surface which has more than one radius curvature and can fit pretty well without an ugly shape that would destroy the value of the light. Also, the method uses limited length EL panel(s) that can be connected to provide unlimited length panels as desired.

Tubular electro-luminescent light incorporated with device(s)


A system for cleaning the fouling and clogging of particulate matter associated with a fluidized gas bed. The system is particularly suited for use with Selective Catalytic Reduction reactors but its use is not limited thereto. The system includes a gas compressor to force cleaning gas through gas injection lines adjacent to retaining structures to be cleaned. The compressor produces sufficient pressure to cause the cleaning gas to dislodge the particulate from the retaining structures. A vacuum system withdraws the dislodged particulate and mixed gas from the reaction chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the removal of particulate from systems having high flow volume therethrough. More particularly, the present invention relates to Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) reactors. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to removal of the accumulation of fly ash on the catalyst used in the reduction process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) reactors are being employed in fossil fuel-fired electric utility boilers to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions generated in the combustion process for such boilers. These reactors are normally installed downstream of the boiler economizer, just upstream of the air preheaters. Operating temperatures range from 600xc2x0 F.-750xc2x0 F.
Particulate fly ash matter from coal-fired boilers ranges 5%-30% of coal burned in the boiler. The quantity of fly ash particulate from oil and natural gas-fired boilers is substantially less. This particulate matter is generally transferred with the flue gas through one or more systems designed to clean the flue gas prior to emission. Such systems include SCR reactors, air pre-heaters, precipitators, scrubbers, and others well known to those skilled in the art. As a result of the transfer of ash matter and other contaminants, it is not particularly surprising that these systems, to varying degrees, become contaminated with the matter passing through.
For the SCR reactors that are used to remove certain gases from the flue gas, there are typically two to five layers of catalyst beds installed therein to facilitate removal of the NOx emissions. It is to be noted that the flue gas flow through the SCR reactor is normally vertically downward and so the catalyst beds are installed horizontally to allow the passage of the flue gas therethrough. Alternatively, however, the catalyst layers can also be arranged in a vertical fashion inside the reactor to permit horizontal flue gas flow through the SCR reactor.
An ammonia (NH3) injection system is located in the flue gas ducting upstream of many of the currently designed SCR reactors. The introduction of ammonia may have some effect on the overall treatment process when used in conjunction with the present invention. Of course, in those systems where ammonia input is not used, this is of no concern. It is to be noted, however, that chemical reagents alternative to ammonia may be employed to accelerate the catalytic reduction of the NOx. It is intended that the present invention is directed to the broader design of the SCR reactor and is not limited to any one embodiment associated with chemical reagents that may or may not be used.
Continuing with the specific operation of an SCR reactor, during NOx removal, ammonia gas or its alternative, is injected with the flue gas duct and into the SCR reactor vessel. In the presence of that particular reagent, the following catalytic reactions take place, resulting in conversion of NOx compounds in flue gas to harmless nitrogen compounds and water vapor.
4 NO+4 NH3+O2xe2x86x924N2+6 H2O
NO+NO2+2 NH3xe2x86x922 N2+3 H2O
Two types of catalyst beds of defined geometry are generally used in the SCR reactor. The two types typically used are: 1) honeycomb-type (or grid-type) and 2) plate-type. Either of the two catalyst beds is normally assembled into standard commercial-size modules to facilitate loading and handling in approximately half-meter or one-meter increments per layer. The catalyst is suspended within the SCR reactor, ordinarily in a plurality of layers, with the catalyst installed one-half to one-meter in depth per layer.
In an exemplar processing operation, flue gas resulting from a combustion process enters the first catalyst layer at a velocity of about 8-20 feet per second. The flue gas passes through holes (honeycomb-type) or slots (plate-type) in the first catalyst layer, exits the first catalyst layer, enters the second catalyst layer, and so on. Holes or slots (also known as hydraulic diameter or pitch opening) in the catalyst layer are normally about 3 mm to 8 mm, closely spaced. In this manner, 70% to 95% of the catalyst layer surface is open to passage of flue gas through it.
Fly ash particle size distribution and particle sizes are highly dependent on the nature of fuel burned and boiler process conditions. In general however, fly ash particles entering the SCR reactor can range in size from about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm in diameter. However, these particles do agglomerate with each other causing particle sizes of 1 cm or larger to form. Of course, particles larger in size than the available catalyst pitch opening, cannot traverse through the catalyst layer, hence these particles collect and continue to build up upstream of the catalyst layer. Moreover, particles nearly equal in size to catalyst hydraulic diameter often lodge inside the catalyst in the holes or slots.
The agglomeration of particles can have a significant adverse impact on the efficiency of the SCR reactor and the boiler. Specifically, the effective reaction zone of the SCR reactor is diminished and so the reaction time is diminished. This naturally affects the entire energy generation system in an adverse way and so it is undesirable to have a build up of particles in the SCR reactor. Since power generation systems, particularly those including SCR reactors, are designed in fine balance, it is important that all subsystems operate substantially as designed. When the operating conditions of the SCR reactor change, the balance of the entire reaction process and therefore the power generation can be altered adversely. In particular, the flue gas must have enough treatment time to ensure NOx removal in line with the design of that reactor. If the SCR reactor is plugged with agglomeration, that treatment time is not provided and the system passes NOx gasses through the remainder of the system. Moreover, if the SCR becomes partially plugged, the fan system used to move gases through the system may not be adequate to overcome the additional pressure drop through the reactor. In sum, there is a fine balance in the system and plugging of the SCR reactor throws that balance off.
Two methods are currently employed to facilitate passage of the flue gas, including the entrained particles, through the catalyst layers. In the first method, traveling sootblowers inject a superheated steam stream of sufficient pressure into the catalyst layers, concurrent with flue gas direction. In the second method, sonic horns are also operated inside the SCR reactor vessels in an effort to excite or vibrate the fly ash particles through the catalyst openings using low-frequency sound energy.
Both of the noted existing methods have an important deficiency. Specifically, neither process acts to remove the particles; instead, they are designed to simply agitate agglomerations in an attempt to dislodge them, assuming that the loosened particles will pass through the catalyst beds. This works to various degrees of effectiveness, however, when a hole or slot is plugged, neither of the noted options is substantially successful in unplugging plugged holes and slots. That results in diminished capacity of the SCR reactor in that the number of reaction sites available in the reactor as designed are not contacted by the flue gas and ammonia mixture.
In regard to the traveling sootblowers in particular, steam is typically drawn from system boiler operation to perform the particle dislodging. That operation consumes a significant amount of system steam that would otherwise be employed in the energy generation operation. Therefore, traveling sootblowers diminish the heat rate of the boilerxe2x80x94an undesirable outcome particularly as even very small changes in system efficiencies translate into significant energy product cost increases. Further, the steam which is used, and which must be used with the sootblower, subsequently can condense within the SCR reactor. That water diminishes catalyst effectiveness and life.
As an alternative cleaning arrangement, the SCR reactor can be shut down, allowed to cool, and the particulate manually removed from the catalyst bed. This process may be time consuming and costly in terms of the power generation process.
Therefore, what is needed is a means for removing particulate matter from systems used to transfer large volumes of particulate-containing fluid. What is also needed is a system for removing particulate from such transfer systems that is relatively non-intrusive to the operation of the system being cleaned and that can be accomplished while the system remains online. Further, what is needed is such a cleaning system that is relatively simple to operate. Yet further, what is needed is such a system for use in association with SCR systems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for removing particulate matter from systems used to transfer large volumes of particulate-containing fluid. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning system for removing particulate from such transfer systems that is relatively non-intrusive to the operation of the system being cleaned and that may be used while the system remains online. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a cleaning system that is relatively simple to operate. Yet further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning system that may be used in association with SCR systems.
These and other objects are achieved in the present invention, which offers an easier and more reliable method of particulate removal. In particular, the present invention is well suited for fly ash particle collection and removal upstream of each catalyst layer in an SCR reactor.
In one proposed embodiment, the invention includes means for injecting relatively high-pressure gas upward through the catalyst layers counter to the direction of the flow of the flue gas to be treated in the SCR reactor. Although the high-pressure gas may come from some external source, it preferably is obtained from the flue gas downstream of the catalyst layers in order to minimize disruption of the catalytic process within the SCR reactor. That is, the high pressure heated reduced flue gas or, alternatively air when the volume of downstream gas is inadequate, is injected counter to the direction of the flow of the flue gas. On the other side of each catalyst layer, fly ash particulate matter is vacuumed at the opposite side of each catalyst layer and re-injected into ducting upstream of the primary particulate collection device, such as an electrostatic precipitator or a fabric filter, or it may be injected downstream beyond the catalyst beds for subsequent cleaning. Optionally, a cleaning unit is coupled to the vacuum system so as to enable removal of the vacuumed particles while further optionally enabling return of the removed gas to the SCR reactor.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the detailed description, the accompanying figure, and the appended claims.

Device and process to remove fly ash accumulations from catalytic beds of selective catalytic reduction reactors

Southern Company Services, Inc. P.O. Box 2625


An airbag fabric, airbag and method for making the airbag fabric, the fabric consisting of warp and weft yarns of synthetic fiber yarn, characterized by satisfying the following requirements:    (1) the total fineness of the synthetic fiber yarn is 100 to 700 dtex;    (2) Nf/Nw≧1.10wherein,    Nw represents the weaving density of warp yarns (yarns/2.54 cm) and    Nf represents the weaving density of weft yarns (yarns/2.54 cm);    (3) EC1≧400N and EC2≧400Nwherein,    EC1 represents the edgecomb resistance (N) in the machine direction, as determined according to ASTM D6479-02, and    EC2 represents the edgecomb resistance (N) in the crosswise direction as determined according to ASTM D6479-02;    (4) 0.85≦EC2/EC1≦1.15; and    (5) the air permeability, as determined according to the Frajour type method specified in JIS L1096 at a test pressure difference of 19.6 kPa, is 1.0 L/cm2·min or less.

Recently along with increasing concern about traffic safety, various airbags have been developed for assured safety of passengers on car accident and commercialized rapidly because of recognition of the effectiveness thereof.
An airbag protects a driver or a passenger by expanding itself in a quite short period of time after vehicle collision and thus, capturing the passenger thrown away in reaction of the collision and absorbing the impact then. For that purpose, the fabric for the bag desirably has low air permeability. The fabric should also have a strength higher than a particular value for endurance to the impact during inflation of the airbag. It is further needed to reduce the yarn displacement, i.e., to improve yarn displacement resistance, in the sewn region as much as possible, to keep the internal pressure in the bag at a particular value or higher for inflation of the airbag and protection of passengers. In addition, compactness in packing is desirable from the points of appearance in the car and relationship with other parts, and there is increasing demand for cost reduction.
Coated fabrics, i.e., airbag fabrics coated with a resin or bonded to a film, have been proposed as means for reducing the air permeability of fabric.
However, resin coating or film bonding is unfavorable for airbag fabrics, because it leads to increase in fabric thickness and decrease in compactness in packing. In addition, addition of such a resin coating step or a film-bonding step also causes a problem of increase in production cost.
To solve the problems above, recently proposed were uncoated fabrics having low air permeability that were prepared by weaving synthetic filament yarns such as of polyamide or polyester fiber at high density without resin processing. For example, disclosed as a means for improving air permeability is a method of using a fabric in a symmetrical fabric structure that was prepared by using a synthetic filament yarns having a yarn fineness of 300 to 400 dtex (see, for example, Patent Document 1). If prepared by the method, a fabric consisting of warp and weft yarns of synthetic fiber yarn having a fiber fineness of 300 to 400 dtex at a yarn counts of 23 to 28 yarns/cm in a symmetric fabric structure, wherein the warp yarns and the weft yarns are woven substantially symmetrically in yarn density, has an air permeability of 10 L/dm2·min or less at a test pressure difference ΔP of 500 Pa and shows mechanical properties isotropic in the warp and weft yarn directions.
However, the method demands production of a fabric containing the warp and weft yarns respectively at a density of 23 to 28 yarns/cm, for obtaining favorable air permeability and particular mechanical performances. For that reason, if the edgecomb resistance, an indicator of the degree of airbag yarn displacement in the sewn region by inflation of the airbag for passenger protection, is examined, there is a problem of ill-balance thereof in the fabric warp and weft directions.
On the other hand, known for improvement in productivity while making the base cloth isotropic in strength and flexibility, is a method of specifying the so-called density coefficient rate defined by Formula: {weft yarn density (yarns/cm)×(weft yarn fiber fineness (denier))1/2}÷{warp yarn density (yarns/cm)×(warp yarn fiber fineness (denier))1/2}, (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
The method allows reduction the difference in bending resistance between in the fabric warp and weft directions if the density coefficient rate is adjusted to 0.92 or less, and thus, allows improvement in airbag compactness in packing.
However, the document only focuses on isotropy in bending resistance. Reduction of air permeability, the most important property for airbag, was not even mentioned there. In addition, when the edgecomb resistance is examined, the fabric edgecomb resistance in the weft direction is extremely low, compared to that in the warp direction, causing a problem of extremely ill-balance between the edgecomb resistances in the warp and weft directions.
In addition, disclosed is an airbag fabric wherein the weaving density of warp yarns and the weaving density of weft yarns are made different from each other for improvement in productivity while keeping the airbag isotropic during inflation (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
However, the document discloses fabrics wherein the weaving density of warp yarns is higher than the weaving density of weft yarns. In the fabrics prepared by the method, the fabric edgecomb resistance in the weft direction is extremely lower than that in warp direction, causing a problem that the balance in the edgecomb resistances in the warp and weft directions is very low.
Alternatively, an airbag base cloth woven at ultrahigh weaving density was disclosed as a base cloth superior in the yarn displacement resistance in the sewn region (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
However, the invention described in the document uses a fabric having high weaving density as the means of raising the edgecomb resistance. Thus, the fabric is inferior in the compactness in packing needed for airbag, and thus, is not a base cloth superior both in edgecomb resistance and compactness in packing.
As described above, there is no airbag fabric produced by conventional technology that is superior all in low air permeability, high strength and compactness in packing that are needed for airbag fabrics and smaller in yarn displacement in the airbag sewn region when the airbag is inflated for protection of passenger.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-137245 (Claim 1)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-200447 (Claim 1, Paragraph 0013)
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-303303 (Claims 3 and 7, Paragraph 0038)
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-16707 (Claim 1)

Woven fabric for air bags, air bags and process for production of the woven fabric


A method and apparatus for recovery of lipids from microbial biomass, including providing wet microbial biomass to thermal pretreatment of at least 100° C. in a pressure vessel, subjecting the thermally pretreated microbial biomass to extraction using a liquid hydrocarbon as an extractant, and subsequently, recovering a product containing lipids.

Microorganisms such as algae, bacteria or fungi may contain triglycerides up to 80% of their total dry matter content. However, oil from microbial biomass which is suitable as precursor for fuel production is scarce on the market. This is mainly due to lack of efficient and economical methods for providing good quality oil from microbial biomass.
The available methods for extracting oil or lipids from microbial biomass typically require the biomass to be dried and/or the microbial cells to be disrupted. Drying of the biomass consumes much energy and is, for example, performed by heating or freeze-drying, or even spray drying is used. The typical water content or the dry matter content of the biomass is dependent on the microbial material used. Typically dry matter contents from 15% up to 40% can be achieved by traditional cell harvesting techniques such as centrifugation or filtration. Essentially, it is typically aimed at as low free water content as possible in order to maximize the extraction yields.
One alternative method to acquire oil from biomass is to apply non-selective extractants which typically produces oil containing high amounts of impurities. Impurities such as metals, phosphorus and amino acids cause problems e.g. in catalytic fuel production in form of catalyst poisons and/or corrosive materials. Therefore, it is often required to use post processing for removal of these undesired components from the extracted oil product.
In general, methods available suffer either from lack of selectivity to produce good quality oil or poor yield which are compensated by additional processing steps or selection of uneconomical processing conditions.
One of the commonly used extractants for retrieval of oils from oil containing materials is carbon dioxide in subcritical or preferably supercritical state. Unfortunately carbon dioxide has a weak dissolving capacity towards vegetable neutral lipids. This property has been modified by incorporation of entraining agents exhibiting better dissolution such as propane or butane. Supercritical fluids have better dissolution capacities but require high operating pressures. Moreover, the extraction times also tend to remain uneconomically long.
CA-2165387 discloses a selective extraction of fats and/or oils from solid natural materials, such as microbial solids, like dried and pelletized fermentation residues having water content less than 5%, with compressed gases. The extraction is carried out using a mixture of propane and maximum of 50% by weight of carbon dioxide at temperatures below 96° C. and pressures below 73 bar. These two pure gases each are in the subcritical state. In this method an energy consuming drying step prior to the extraction is carried out.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,695 discloses a method for extracting fats or oils from animal or vegetable products, such as soya flakes or maize, by contacting the product with a hydrocarbon solvent, such as propane, in the liquid phase and at a temperature below the critical temperature, separating the solvent containing extracted fat or oil from the residue of the product, and precipitating the extracted fat or oil from the solvent by heating the solvent to above the critical temperature of the solvent without taking up heat of vaporization. The resulting fat or oil is suitable for use in foodstuffs without further processing to remove solvent. The temperatures of propane may be 0-100° C. during extraction and 50-200° C. during precipitation of oil and fat, and the pressure may be the same during extraction and precipitation. The disclosed method does not disclose any pretreatment of the material to be extracted and the method does not include extraction of microbial biomass.
Occasionally, when extracting oil from microbial biomass mechanical disruption, dissemination or crushing of biomass cells has been used or even microwave assisted disruption of biomass cells to aid in increasing the extracted oil yield.
US-2003/0143659 discloses a process for isolation of compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids from micro-organisms, in which process the biomass is first granulated and subsequently dried before extraction of the biomass. The biomass can be pasteurised in the growth medium, i.e. heated to 60-100° C., typically preferably to 96° C., up to 90 minutes in order to kill the micro-organism and also to deactivate enzymes which might otherwise destroy the fatty acids. The pasteurisation has no reported effect on the subsequent extraction.
WO2006136539 discloses an extraction process where lipids are obtained from wet biomass. In this process a desiccant is added to the wet biomass prior to extration to remove excess water. The biomass is pasteurised at 65° C. for 1 h prior to the extraction process.


A coaxial cable connector receptacle comprises a cylindrical shield casing made of a metallic plate and having openings at both ends, and an inner casing made of an insulating material and housed inside the shield casing and having apertures at both ends corresponding to the openings of the shield casing. The inner casing is formed of a protruding portion at the side surface thereof, the protruding portion being formed of a groove communicating with the inside of the inner casing and receiving a contact of an external circuit. A contact member having a first and second contact is provided inside the inner casing and the first contact is positioned for receiving a center conductor of a coaxial cable at the position opposing one aperture of the inner casing, while the second contact is formed at the position opposing the groove of the protruding portion in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction for receiving a contact of the external circuit. The center conductor of the coaxial cable is placed in contact with the first contact of the contact member through the opening of the shield casing and the aperture of the inner casing, while the contact from the external circuit is placed in contact with the second contact of the contact member through the groove of the protruding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coaxial cable connector receptacle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coaxial cable connector receptacle that can be advantageously utilized as an antenna terminal of a television receiver, for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As well known, typically a television receiver utilizes an antenna terminal board for feeding a received signal from an antenna to a television receiver circuit. Typically, a coaxial cable of 75.OMEGA. and/or a feeder line of 300.OMEGA. are used as a line for connection between an antenna and an antenna terminal board.
The present invention is directed to a coaxial cable connector receptacle that can be advantageously employed in an antenna terminal board of a television receiver, for example. It is desired that such an antenna terminal board is structured such that an antenna feed line can be connected to a television receiver on a foolproof basis irrespective of whether an antenna line is a coaxial cable of 75.OMEGA. or a feeder line of 300.OMEGA. even if a connection is made by a layman. However, an existing antenna terminal board is complicated in structure and is liable to cause an erroneous connection, as compared with the present invention.


The invention provides a sintered body for high-hardness tools which, when used for cutting work of cast irons where the cutting edge undergoes high temperature and abrupt impact, holds high chip-off and abrasion resistances and exhibits good cutting performance. The sintered body for high-hardness tools is obtained by sintering 60 to 75% by volume of cubic boron nitride powder and remaining part of a binder powder under a superhigh pressure, the binder comprising 5 to 15% by weight of Al, and the remaining part comprising a compound represented by (Hf.sub.X Ti.sub.y M.sub.1-x-y)(C.sub.Z N.sub.1-z).sub..alpha. (where M denotes an element belonging to IVa, Va or VIa group in the periodic table except Ti and Hf, and where 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.5, 0.5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.9, 0.7.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.9, and 0.6.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.8) or a mixture of a plurality of compounds that totally results in the aforementioned composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sintered body for high-hardness tools using cubic boron nitride (abbreviated as cBN hereinafter).
2. Description of the Prior Art
cBN has a hardness next to diamond, and its sintered bodies are used for various types of cutting tools.
As an example of cBN sintered bodies suitable for cutting tools, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication SHO 62-228450 discloses a sintered body which is obtained by sintering 65 to 75% by volume of cBN powder and the remaining part of a binder under a superhigh pressure, wherein the binder comprises 25 to 50% by weight of Al and carbide or carbide-nitride of Ti, and the sintered body obtained has good chip-off resistance in the intermittent cutting of hardened steels and other like processes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication HEI 3-170638 discloses a sintered body for high-hardness tools, which is obtained by sintering 45 to 75% by volume of cBN powder and the remaining part of a binder under a superhigh pressure, wherein the binder comprises 5 to 25% by weight of Al and the remaining part comprises at least one of the compounds represented by (Hf.sub.1-Z M.sub.Z)C (where M denotes an element belonging to IVa, Va or VIa group in the periodic table except Hf, and where 0.ltoreq.Z.ltoreq.0.3), and the sintered body obtained exhibits good abrasion and chip-off resistances in the processing of cast irons.


Mechanical and operational design considerations for the antenna, speaker and image capture functionalities, in a multi-media mobile communication device are combined and carried in a common shared antenna-speaker-image capture chamber. The common shared chamber permits greater focal lengths and larger optics packages compared to conventional multi-media communication devices with separate, individual chambers within the device.

The present invention relates generally to the field of mobile communication devices and deals more particularly with a package and housing design that combines the mechanical design considerations for the RF, acoustic and image capture functionalities to reduce the overall physical size of the device and at the same time enhance the RF, accoustic and optics performance.
The growth in the use of portable electronic devices such as, for example mobile communication devices, cellular telephones and the like, has driven the design of such devices to become smaller and more convenient and include further features and functionalities. These newer feature and functionality laden mobile communication devices have led to a new product category in the mobile phone industry as multi-media phones. Multi-media phones are highly desirable and are characterized by some type of camera or image capturing feature and a wide range or diversity of audio features and functionality, such as, music playback, which may or may not be combined with some type of video or graphics.
Consumers have become accustomed to the convenience and portability of cellular telephones and have demanded that those cellular telephones become even more convenient and even more portable. The constant thrust in cellular telephone design is to make them as small as possible and the same demands are placed on multi-media mobile phones.
Conventional multi-media mobile communication devices such as for example, of the type shown by the prior art in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and generally designated 100 typically include an internal antenna 102, a speaker or audio transducer component 104 to provide audio functionality and a camera system or other similar imaging sensor 106 to provide image capture functionality. The multi-media mobile communication device may be, for example, a cellular telephone and include a display such as an LCD or other visual display panel generally designated 110 and include keys 112, 112 which are used for dialing the desired telephone number or for activating and utilizing features of the multi-media cellular telephone 100. The internal antenna 102 includes an RF-emitter that is generally held or located in a spaced separation with respect to a ground plate mounted in a chassis or sub-assembly within the housing of the device 100. The RF-emitter electrically connects to the operational electronic circuitry of the mobile communication device. The spaced separation between the RF-emitter and the ground plate area defines the mechanical outline of an antenna chamber volume generally designated 120, that is, the area or space beneath or under the antenna profile outline is clear of interference.
The audio functionality for the multi-media phone is typically provided by an audio transducer 104, such as, a loud speaker, earpiece and microphone which are located separate and away from the antenna RF-emitter to prevent interference with the emitter. Typically, the transducer or speaker 104 is mounted in an enclosure of some sort defining a chamber generally designated 130. The chamber 130 functions as an acoustic resonator and the physical size or volume of the chamber 130 influences the audio quality, and a larger volume generally results in better audio quality.
The image capture functionality of the multi-media phone is typically provided or carried out by a camera system or other similar sensor 106, such as an optics package or module that is also located separate and apart from the antenna functionality and audio functionality to prevent interference. The image capture functionality is also enclosed within the housing of the multi-media phone in an area or enclosure of a desired configuration defining a chamber generally designated 140 to accommodate the camera system. The camera system may include but is not limited to the camera lens, focus and image capturing components including any of the optic and electronic components necessary to carry out the intended function. As illustrated in the schematic functional block diagram shown in side elevational view in FIG. 2, the internal antenna 102, speaker component 104 and image capture unit 106 are maintained in a spaced relationship with respect to one another and typically consuming a large amount of space and volume within the housing thus adding to the overall size of the multi-media mobile communication device. The camera system or image capture functionality specifically, the size of the camera optics package or module 106 has been forced to be reduced in size and volume to accommodate the demand for smaller and more convenient mobile phones. To obtain the size reduction, lenses have been made smaller and accordingly the focal length of the camera system made shorter. As a consequence, the captured image quality (aberrations, brightness and other image quality characteristics) worsens and is less than desirable due to fundamental optics laws, manufacturing problems and tolerances and lens purity. In order to improve the captured image quality, the size of the camera optics package or module 106 must be made larger or high precision optics made of glass must be used. Accordingly, the internal antenna 102, audio transducer 104 and camera optics 106 impose separate mechanical design requirements and operational considerations that must be taken into account to insure the proper operation of each functionality to obtain the desired results. These functionality design and operational considerations add to the overall physical size of the multi-media mobile communication device 100, and each requires a relatively large air volume cavity within the mobile communication device to provide the desired and acceptable performance level.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/099,476 titled, "Mobile Communication Device and Related Construction Method" and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention discloses a possible structure and method for sharing at least a portion of the volume required to provide the RF functionality and the acoustic functionality to further reduce the size of the mobile communication device while maintaining acceptable performance levels. In the referenced application, which is incorporated herein by reference, a common shared chamber provides sufficient air volume for the RF antenna functionality and required back cavity air volume for the audio transducer. However, the image capture functionality remains physically separate in its own space or area within the housing.
Consequently, there is a need to identify further construction methods and designs that provide the desired overall physical size reduction and yet provide a chamber having a sufficient air volume to accommodate RF antenna, acoustic and image capture functionalities while overcoming the disadvantages of known multi-media mobile communication devices.
Therefore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a mechanical design that reduces the size of the multi-media mobile communication device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a design method to combine the RF functionality, accoustic functionality and image capture functionality without increasing the size of the multi-media mobile communication device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reduced size multi-media mobile communication device by sharing a common physical volume for the RF antenna, the audio transducer and the camera system that accommodates the mechanical and operational design requirements of the RF antenna, speaker and camera system, respectively.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a reduced size multi-media mobile communication device wherein the RF antenna common shared volume chamber provides the required back cavity air volume for the audio transducer and image capture camera optics.

Multi-media mobile communication device and related construction method


A passive seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant comprises a movable slider member connected to a seat belt, an elongate track along which the slider member moves, and a limit switch mechanism which cooperates with the slider member to stop movement of the slider member. A bracket supports the limit switch mechanism in the vehicle. A spring clip releasably locks the bracket to the track.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,964 discloses a passive seat belt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle. The passive seat belt system disclosed in the '964 patent includes a seat belt and an elongate track. The seat belt is anchored to a slider which is moved back and forth along the length of the track by a motor. When the motor moves the slider to the rearward end of the track, the slider carries the seat belt to a rearward position in which the seat belt extends across the torso of a vehicle occupant. When the motor moves the slider to the forward end of the track, the slider carries the seat belt to a forward position spaced from the vehicle occupant.
The passive seat belt system disclosed in the '964 patent also includes forward and rearward limit switches. The forward limit switch stops the motor when the slider reaches the forward end of the track, and the rearward limit switch stops the motor when the slider reaches the rearward end of the track. The forward limit switch is supported at the forward end of the track by a bracket. The forward limit switch is connected to the bracket by bolts, and the bracket is connected to both the track and the vehicle body by bolts. Another bracket associated with the rearward limit switch is also connected to the vehicle body by bolts.

Spring clip for passive seat belt system


A photodetector circuit provides a highly accurate digital signal output in response to incoming optical pulses from an LED having an inherent optical output fall time. The LED is optically coupled to a photodiode which produces an input current in response to the optical output. The input current is amplified by an amplifier having two stages to produce an output voltage signal for switching an output transistor. An RC circuit is coupled between the first and second stage amplifiers for introducing a transient into the output voltage signal for reducing propagation delay and increasing the noise margin of the circuit.

An optical isolator (sometimes referred to as an optocoupler) provides isolation between a digital input circuit and a digital output circuit. A typical optical isolator has a light-emitting diode (LED) electronically coupled to the input circuit. The LED is optically coupled across an electronically isolating gap to a photodetector device, such as a photodiode. The photodiode receives an optical signal from the LED and converts the signal to an electric current pulse. Typically, this current pulse is amplified in a switching circuit coupled to the photodiode and delivered as a digital output signal to the output circuit.
It has been observed in systems with optocouplers that there are times when apparently random signal errors arise. Such "glitches" are not found in all systems, nor do they occur with sufficient regularity that their source can be readily identified. In fact, workers have for many years sought to improve the reliability of digital data and eliminate such random errors.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an integrated photodetector for an optical isolator having improved reliability at high speeds over a broad range of LED speeds and despite power supply noise.

Integrated photodetector with moving destination circuit


A user equipment method and a user equipment in idle mode, for enabling the compilation of information concerning the radio coverage within a cell of a base station. The user equipment is configured to communicate with the base station. The method comprises the actions of detecting a loss of coverage and transmitting coverage information, to be received by the base station. A network node receives the coverage information from the idle mode user equipment. The received coverage information is identified as information related to the occurrence of lost coverage for the user equipment. Thereafter is the received coverage information logged and usable for adjusting the transmission power of the base station and/or for network planning purposes.

There is a strong drive to reduce unnecessary power used in the wireless communication networks, such as e.g. Global System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) networks or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), primarily due to energy efficiency reasons.
One suggestion is to reduce the output power of the Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) carrier. As transmissions are made over the BCCH twenty-four hours, all around the year, also a small reduction of output power may result in large power savings aggregated over time. However, operators are reluctant to reduce BCCH power, since they are afraid of loosing coverage. In GSM the power of the BCCH carrier defines the cell border towards the noise floor.
It has been suggested to reduce the BCCH power for capacity cells. That is, for cells with no traffic close to the noise floor, for example, cells covering a park in a city or a cell covering a football stadium. Since the BCCH carrier is transmitting all the time, a large proportion of the power used on a site is to provide the BCCH carrier.
Another problem in today's GSM networks is that operators have very little information about where coverage holes are for mobile phones that are in idle mode. In active mode there are many different ways to know where radio traffic has poor coverage.
Statistics exists for Circuit Switched (CS) traffic that is in active mode, i.e. have a call up and running. Here it is possible to monitor if the traffic have good signal strength or not with tools that log e.g. measurement reports and/or other signalling that takes place in active mode. A mobile phone that have a CS call ongoing in GSM will transmit four signalling bursts every 480 ms to the base station, where the received signal burst is derived into a measurement report. However, there is no information about mobile phones that are in idle mode.
For Packet Switched (PS) traffic there are limited possibilities to monitor the signal strength of the traffic. In Packet Transfer Mode there will be information reported by the handset that show what signal strength a connection has. In Packet Idle mode there is no information about signal strength.
Also, a human user may, due to human behaviourism develop a conditioned reflex to avoid coverage holes e.g. by not letting the mobile phone enter active mode in a place where he/she knows the coverage is bad, e.g. in the basement within a building, and instead move to the upper floor before making a phone call, or leave the mobile phone on the upper floor when going down in the basement. Thus by e.g. counting the number of lost connections in active mode does not necessarily give an appropriate picture of the coverage situation in idle mode.
With better knowledge about coverage holes within a wireless communication network, it is possible to build sites and/or adjust transmission power of base stations and/or add nodes to improve coverage.
A GSM mobile in idle mode can "lose coverage" and according to the specifications 3GPP TS 23.122 and 3GPP TS 24.008, a mobile user camping on its home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) will not signal when it returns to coverage unless the cell it re-enters in another Location Area or the timer T3212 has expired.
In 3GPP TR 36.805, the minimization of drive tests is discussed and more advanced ideas are discussed.
The operators have problem to know when a GSM mobile phone in idle mode goes out of coverage and comes back into coverage. Cell planning tools may not give enough accuracy and these tools may not have all information about the real traffic.

Methods and devices in a wireless communication network


An air gun with a quick-releasing device has a body, a head tube attached to the body and a detachably functional tip, wherein the quick-releasing device is attached to a distal end of the head tube to secure the detachably functional tip. The quick-releasing device has a slit defined in the distal end of the head tube to communicate with an inner space of the head tube, a locking sheet movably received inside the slit to partially enter the inner space of the head tube, and a locking lever pivotally mounted on the head tube to drive the locking sheet to move in a vertical direction. Thereby, the locking sheet is allowed to leave the inner space of the head tube when a user presses the locking lever to enable easy release of the attached functional tip and then to exchange the original tip for another functional tip.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an air gun with a quick-releasing device, and particularly to an air gun with which functional tips can be changed easily and conveniently.
2. Description of Related Art
Air guns are sorted into two types according to their different functions. One is a dust-removing gun and the other is a gas-filling gun. With regard to the dust-removing gun, the dust-removing gun has a connector attached to the front of the gun to specifically connect with a gas tube. Therefore, the dust-removing gun has only one function of blowing dust away whereby a user has to spend more money and save space for this, and accordingly other single-use tools.
With regard to the gas-filling gun, it also has a connector with a specific configuration to connect with only inflating nozzles. Therefore, when a user who already owns a dust-removing gun wants to inflate tires, balloons, balls or inflatable boats, the user can not use the dust-removing gun but has to buy a gas-filling gun instead. Therefore, the user spends twice to buy two air guns for those individual purposes. Two air guns also take double the space in a storage room and may cause twice as much trouble in maintenance.
The present invention has arisen to provide an air gun with a quick-releasing device to eliminate or obviate the drawbacks of the conventional dust-removing gun and the conventional gas-filling gun.


An aqueous resin composition with gas barrier properties contains (i) polyurethane resin having aurethane group and a urea group in a total concentration of 25 to 60% by weight and having a acid value of 5 to 100 mgKOH/g, (ii) a swelling inorganic layered compound (e.g., a water-swelling mica, and a montmorillonite), and (iii) a polyamine compound having an amine value of 100 to 1900 mgKOH/g. The polyurethane resin (i) is obtained by a reaction of (A) an aromatic, araliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanate, (B) a polyhydroxyalkanecarboxylic acid, and at least one component selected from (C) a C2-8alkylene glycol and (D) a chain-extension agent (e.g., diamine, hydrazine and a hydrazine derivative), and neutralized with a neutralizing agent. The proportion of the acid group of the polyurethane resin (i) relative to the basic nitrogen atom of the polyamine compound (iii) is 10/1 to 1/5 as the equivalent ratio. A laminated film with high gas barrier properties is obtainable by coating a base film with the aqueous resin composition. The present invention provides an aqueous resin composition with excellent gas barrier properties, and a laminated film using the same.

As films having high gas barrier properties for food packaging or the like, a film has been known in which a base film is coated with a vinylidene chloride copolymer (hereinafter, simply referred to as PVDC). However, the burnt PVDC generates a toxic or hazardous gas, and in addition, produces an organic chlorine-containing compound with high carcinogenicity upon incineration at low temperatures. For such reasons, switching over from PVDC to other materials has been strongly desired.
Moreover, as films having high oxygen-gas barrier properties, a film coated with a polyvinyl alcohol (hereinafter, simply referred to as PVA) or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter, simply referred to as EVOH) has been also known. Due to high hydrophilicity of PVA and EVOH, however, such a film tends to deteriorate gas barrier properties (particularly barrier properties against water) remarkably under a highly humid environment.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 93133/1994 (JP-6-93133A, Patent Document 1) discloses a resin composition containing a resin and an inorganic layered compound (expansive clay mineral) having a particle size of not more than 5 μm and an aspect ratio of 50 to 5000, or a film using the composition. This document mentions that examples of the resin include a polyvinyl alcohol, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyvinylidene chloride, a polyacrylonitrile, a polysaccharide, a polyacrylic acid and an ester thereof, and that the resin is preferably a resin highly forming a hydrogen bond.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57066/1994 (JP-6-57066A, Patent Document 2) discloses an aqueous composition consisting of an aqueous dispersion of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol-series copolymer which may have an ionic group, and an inorganic filler, wherein the ethylene content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol-series copolymer is 15 to 65% by mol. This document describes that a water-swelling philosilicate (such as a montmorillonite) is preferred as the inorganic filler.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 48994/2001 (JP-2001-48994A, Patent Document 3) discloses a gas barrier film which comprises a thermoplastic resin base (e.g., a polypropylene film), and a coating layer containing an inorganic plate-like particle and a water-soluble polymer (e.g., a polyvinyl alcohol-series polymer) as constituent components, the coating layer being formed on at least one side of the base, wherein the film is defined by the relationship between the thickness of the coating layer and the number of projections having a given height on the surface of the coating layer.
However, since the water-soluble or water-dispersive polymer (particularly a water-soluble polymer which highly forms a hydrogen bond) is used in these compositions, coating agents employing these compositions are high in viscosity, as a result, it is difficult to apply (or coat) these compositions in a high concentration. Further, due to easiness of water retention, the coating layer is low in drying characteristic and remains insufficient in gas barrier properties under a highly humid condition.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 98047/2001 (JP-2001-98047A, Patent Document 4) discloses a gas barrier polyurethane resin which is obtained by a reaction between a diisocyanate component and a C2-8 alkylene glycol, wherein the total concentration of the urethane group and the urea group is not less than 15% by weight. This document mentions that an aqueous dispersion is obtained by allowing a dihydroxycarboxylic acid such as dimethylolpropionic acid to react with an alkylene glycol to produce a prepolymer, neutralizing the prepolymer with an amine, and elongating the prepolymer chain with the use of a chain-extension agent such as a diamine or a hydrazine. Further, the document also describes that the polyurethane-series resin may contain an expansive inorganic layered compound or a silane coupling agent. Use of the urethane-series resin ensures to improve gas barrier properties. However, higher gas barrier properties are desired for the aqueous (or water-soluble) urethane-series resin.    [Patent Document 1] JP-6-93133A (Claims)    [Patent Document 2] JP-6-57066A (Claims)    [Patent Document 3] JP-2001-48994A (Claims)    [Patent Document 4] JP-2001-98047A (Claims, Paragraph Numbers [0035] to [0039], and [0076] to [0079])

Aqueous resin composition having gas barrier properties and laminated film using the same


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for remote configuration of battery charging settings. In one embodiment, an example device may include a battery, at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to determine that a charger is connected to the device, determine a first length of time that a maximum charging voltage for the battery has been set to a first voltage value, determine that the maximum charging voltage is to be reduced from the first voltage value to a second voltage value, and charge the battery at a maximum of the second voltage value.

Electronic devices may include batteries or other portable power sources. Certain batteries may be subject to swelling, expanding, or otherwise changing form over time. For example, batteries may swell or otherwise react to thermal events, age, corrosion, damage to components of the batteries, and other factors. Damaged batteries, or batteries that have been used a number of times, may still be charged at charging voltages that do not mitigate any potential adverse effects or further damage to the batteries. In addition, in some instances, battery charging policies may need to be modified without having to implement modifications at individual devices. Accordingly, remote configuration of certain battery settings may be desired.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict example embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosure and shall not be deemed to limit the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. The use of the same reference numerals indicates similar, but not necessarily the same or identical components. Different reference numerals may be used to identify similar components. Various embodiments may utilize elements or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. The use of singular terminology to describe a component or element may, depending on the context, encompass a plural number of such components or elements and vice versa.

Remote configuration of battery charging settings


The invention relates to a telescope mounting for a telescope. The telescope mounting is attached on an arm-band. The arm-band could include a watch. The telescope mounting ensures a stable support for the telescope. The length of the telescope should not be longer than 15 cm, preferably 6-7 cm so that the telescope will not be a burden on the arm of the telescope wearer. The diameter of the telescope is no larger than 1.5 cm. The telescope and telescope mounting could be releasable from the arm-band. A slip-on lens could be attached at the front of the telescope.

This invention relates to a combination of a telescope and a telescope holder.
Telescopes and telescope holders have been known for a very long time. The best known and most widely used is a strap for binoculars, that allow the binoculars to be hung around the neck.
Telescope holders are also known that hold a telescope to the user's head or spectacles or allow the telescope to dangle on the arm.
Straps for telescopes have the disadvantage that on rapid movement, the telescope can move uncontrollably and be damaged. Such telescopes are therefore usually carried in a storage container.
Attaching the telescope to the user's head has the disadvantage that quite a bulky head frame is required. Attaching the telescope to the user's spectacles has the disadvantage that the telescope is relatively heavy and loads the bridge of the user's nose.


A mounting and control system for a sensor module of a driver viewer enhancement system located external of a vehicle. The mounting and control system including a tube for supporting the sensor module and that is interconnected to a sleeve bearing by a ball and socket joint that provides for the limited pivotal adjustment of the module about a horizontal axis. The sleeve bearing is support by a mounting block, which provides for rotational adjustment of the sensor module about a vertical axis. The sleeve bearing has an inner hollow region having rectangular and trapezoidal cross-sectional configurations that extend within two vertical perpendicular planes. The tube is free to pivot within the sleeve bearing in the plane including the trapezoidal cross-section only, thereby providing for elevational adjustment of the sensor module. The tube is restricted to rotation within the plane including the trapezoidal cross-section by a pin fixed to the sleeve bearing for slidably engaging a ball portion of the ball and socket joint.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to viewing systems, and more particularly to a mount and control for a driver viewer enhancement system.
2. Discussion of the Background
In recent years thermal imaging systems, based on uncooled detector arrays, have come to be an important aid in driving at night and under adverse weather and battlefield conditions. These systems are generally known as driver viewer enhancement (DVE) systems. The application of such DVE systems in combat vehicles has caused problems that are derived from the fact that the DVE system is typically configured in a periscope fashion. The openings in the vehicle armor are typically rectangular in shape and approximately 2.5 inches wide by 6 to 10 inches long. The DVE systems normally replace periscope day sights in these openings. The DVE systems typically include a head protruding out of the armor through a mounting block adaptor. The head consists of a window, a folding mirror, and three or more tenses. An elevation control mechanism is required for the folding mirror to provide a wide field of regard. The optics (lenses) are placed vertically in a cylinder neck within the mounting block, thereby permitting azimuth movement of the periscope. A seal is required in the neck. The uncooled detector array and electronics are in a housing under the mounting block inside the vehicle.
One problem with such periscope based systems is that they are more costly due to the need for extra optical elements, i.e., a folding mirror, an actuation mechanism, and a window. It is advantageous to reduce the cost of such a system. A unique new configuration is needed that utilizes a forward looking (telescopic) sensor instead of a system using periscope architecture.
A second problem with periscope based systems is the large amount of space they require and the limited number of mounting positions that are possible with such a configuration. It is desirable that the sensor module be as small as possible to allow maximum flexibility in mounting the unit in armored vehicles. In some vehicles the protruding housing underneath the mounting block adaptor of a periscope based system obstructs hatch movement and driver egress.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective driver viewer enhancement system. This object is achieved through the use of a mounting and control system that provides for a forward looking (telescopic) sensor instead of a system using periscope architecture.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a compact mounting and control system for a driver viewer enhancement system that provides for maximum flexibility in mounting the unit within a vehicle. This object is achieved through the advantageous use of a mounting block adaptor for the sensor module that is simple and cost effective in construction to permit quick and easy installation and removal in a vehicle opening, simple environmental sealing, independent elevational and rotational (or azimuth) movement, simple one hand operation, and low mounting block control adaptor cost.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention provides for mechanical interconnection between a controllable optical imaging sensor module located external of a vehicle and an operator control located internal of the vehicle that includes an orthogonal journal arrangement for facilitating internal operator control of the sensor module. The sensor module is supported by a tube that is interconnected to a sleeve bearing by a ball and socket joint that provides for the limited pivotal adjustment of the module about a horizontal axis. The sleeve bearing is support by a mounting block, which provides for rotational adjustment of the sensor module about a vertical axis. The sleeve bearing has a generally cylindrical outer surface, and an inner hollow region having rectangular and trapezoidal cross-sectional configurations that extend within two vertical perpendicular planes. The tube is free to pivot within the sleeve bearing in the plane including the trapezoidal cross-section only, thereby providing for elevational adjustment of the sensor module. The tube is restricted to rotation within the plane including the trapezoidal cross-section by a pin fixed to the sleeve bearing for slidably engaging a ball portion of the ball and socket joint.

Mounting and control system for optical imaging systems


A surgical implant deployment system for deploying and removing an implant into a vertebral body. Upon insertion of the implant into the vertebral body, the actuator handle is turned causing the actuation rod to expand or compress the implant.

The invention generally relates to the field of spinal surgery. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of surgical access to the spine. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods of deployment of an implant.
The spine is a series of individual bones called vertebrae, separated by cartilaginous disks. The spine includes seven cervical (neck) vertebrae, 12 thoracic (chest) vertebrae, five lumbar (lower back) vertebrae, and the fused vertebrae in the sacrum and coccyx that help to form the hip region. While the shapes of individual vertebrae differ among these regions, each is essentially a short hollow tube containing the bundle of nerves known as the spinal cord. Individual nerves, such as those carrying messages to the arms or legs, enter and exit the spinal cord through gaps between vertebrae. The spinal disks act as shock absorbers, cushioning the spine, and preventing individual bones from contacting each other. Disks also help to hold the vertebrae together. The weight of the upper body is transferred through the spine to the hips and the legs. The spine is held upright through the work of the back muscles, which are attached to the vertebrae. While the normal spine has no side-to-side curve, it does have a series of front-to-back curves, giving it a gentle "S" shape. The spine curves in at the lumbar region, back out at the thoracic region, and back in at the cervical region.
In some cases, a procedure known as vertebroplasty is used to treat compression fractures in the vertebra such as those caused by osteoporosis, cancer, or stress. Vertebroplasty is an image-guided minimally invasive non-surgical therapy for injecting an orthopedic cement mixture through a needle into the fractured bone. The mixture fills or substantially fills the cavity of the compression fracture and is limited to certain chemical compositions, thereby limiting the amount of otherwise beneficial compounds that can be added to the fracture zone to improve healing. In an alternative procedure known as kyphoplasty, a ballon is first inserted in the compression fracture and the vertebra is expanded before the cement is injected into the newly formed space. All of the above devices do not contain an implant that mechanically deforms in bone creating superior interdigitation and restore vertebral body height. However, these devices are readily available in prepackaged and sterilized form along with disposable instrumentation.
Examples of alternatives to the above devices may be found in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0071356, entitled "Expandable Support Device and Method of Use" and incorporated herein by reference. However, the instrumentation and tools for these types of devices requires considerable amounts of force to deploy the devices. Cleaning and sterilization of the reusable instrumentation requires additional effort and time and may be costly over long periods of time. The instruments and methods of the present disclosure attempts to solve these problems as well as others.

Implant deployment system and methods of use


There is disclosed a current control circuit, disposed between a primary terminal and a secondary terminal, for controlling a current flowing from the primary terminal to the secondary terminal. An overcurrent flowing through a resistance R1 is detected by a PNP transistor. A maximum value of a current flowing through a MOSFET is determined by a voltage dropped by a voltage drop correspondence by a diode from a voltage of the collector of the PNP transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a current control circuit, disposed between a primary terminal and a secondary terminal, for controlling a current flowing from the primary terminal to the secondary terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, there is known a rush current preventing circuit, disposed between a source output terminal of a power supply and a source input terminal of an arbitrary electronic circuit, for preventing a rush current so that an output of the power supply does not exceed a predetermined rated output.
Further, there is known an overcurrent detection circuit for detecting an overcurrent to prevent fumes and going up in flames from occurring even if the electronic circuit of the secondary is subjected to a short-circuit and the like, while a sufficient current is supplied even if the maximum load is involved within a usual operating range of the electronic circuit of the secondary.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a current control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. a circuit diagram showing a state that both the rush preventing circuit and the overcurrent detection circuit are provided.
Usually, a considerably large capacity of capacitor C is disposed at the secondary. At the time of a power supply is turned on, a rush current will occur for a charge of the capacitor C and the like. The rush preventing circuit is disposed to prevent the primary power supply from being damaged by the rush current. Further, the overcurrent detection circuit is connected in series to the rush preventing circuit to prevent an overcurrent from conducting when an electronic circuit connected to the secondary is subjected to a short-circuit and the like. When the overcurrent detection circuit detects the overcurrent, a detection result is transmitted to an overcurrent recognition circuit (not illustrated). Thus, the overcurrent recognition circuit recognizes that the overcurrent, which is not to be accepted, conducts. And then the overcurrent is suppressed by an overcurrent control circuit (also not illustrated).
According to the circuit constitution as shown in FIG. 4, both the rush preventing circuit and the overcurrent detection circuit are provided on a current path directed from the primary to the secondary. This constitution brings about power loss on the respective circuits and voltage drop at the secondary. This causes shortage of ability in operation for the electronic circuits connected to the secondary, or alternatively increments of a circuit scale and a circuit cost for suppressing power loss on the rush preventing circuit and the overcurrent detection circuit to avoid the occurrence of the shortage of ability in operation for the electronic circuits.
Individual provision of the rush preventing circuit and the overcurrent detection circuit as shown in FIG. 4 brings about necessity for design and test of respective circuits. This involves an increment of process.


Tea polymerized polyphenol-containing beverages having reduced bitterness and astringency of tea polymerized polyphenols while maintaining tea-like preferable flavors, methods of production thereof, and the like are provided. The content of tea polymerized polyphenols in a beverage is adjusted to within a certain range, the total content of RebM and RebD in the beverage is adjusted to within a certain range, and the weight ratio of the total content of RebD and RebM to the content of the tea polymerized polyphenols is adjusted to within a certain range.

Physiological effects of polyphenols have recently attracted attention due to the increase in health consciousness and the demand for polyphenol-rich beverages has increased too. For example, tea polymerized polyphenols, a type of polyphenols, are known to have a lipase inhibition effect, as described in Patent Literature 1, and there are needs for beverages containing tea polymerized polyphenols.
Patent Literature 2 describes sweetener compositions and sweetened compositions containing one or more steviol glycosides including Rebaudioside X (RebX).

Beverage containing tea polymerized polyphenol and RebD and/or RebM